Ireland v Hungary and Armenia - September 2025

[Kingdom]

I read that in a 'Flaming Dragon' Tropic Thunder accent

[Razors left peg]

From reading a few pieces the last few days, I'm wondering is Lawal a banker to start? And if he is, at who's expense?

Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, Cullen, Knight, Ferguson. They are bankers - I'm not sure anyone can disagree with that given what we've seen from 88 and what is available.

Dara O'Shea is likely, but was dropped specifically in one of the recent games.
Manning is probable, given issues with set-pieces in Smallbone & Brady's absence.

So that makes:
Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, O'Shea, Manning, Cullen, Knight, Ferguson. and leaves 3 places available.

If Lawal goes into centre-midfield given his versatility (and my hunch above), that would leave 2 wide players or 2 supporting attack players behind Ferguson.
Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, O'Shea, Manning, Cullen, Lawal, Knight, Ferguson.

So that would be 2 from Azaz, Szmodics, Ogbene, McAteer, Johnston. I cannot see him omitting Azaz, nor can I see him picking one of the wider players (Cheo/Johnston) along with Azaz as it would seem imbalanced. So I'm gonna suggest he'll pick both Azaz & Smodzics who will play off Evan, and go wider on the defensive and in the press, and narrow when countering on the attack. That would tie in with not losing the game in Dublin and then rotating as has been suggested given the 4 day turnaround in Yerevan where there might be more scope for front-foot football and playing a higher attacking team with Cheo and Johnston in from the start.

Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, O'Shea, Manning, Cullen, Knight, Azaz, Ferguson, Ferguson.

On the other possibilities (352; O'Brien vs Manning in a 4231; etc):
- I think it would be an extremely bad idea to play Jake O'Brien right back in a 4 up against a high-positioned Kerkez; imo it would be a recipe for disaster.
- despite my preference for 3 at the back given our strengths, we just can't adapt to it sufficiently, so I'd prefer the 4 defenders that we seem comfortable with.

Im not sure I agree that Knight is a banker. A probability for sure but I think we've seen enough evidence that a Knight Cullen midfield is crap.

[SkStu]

I thought banker = HH seems to really like him...

[pineapple stu]

I am desperate for Lawal to be the answer to the MF problem we have but it might be a step too far to hand him his debut in a start v. Hungary in a WCQ?

You'd have to think so. He's got so little first-team experience really - relegation with Fleetwood, not a dozen games in the Championship

We had a lot of those kind of players under Kenny and it was part of why we didn't do so well. (Along with, for example, not bothering to defend long shots). It's a bit worrying that we're still in that position five years later to be honest - we seem to have had a fair few players just not really make it.

That said, if he's in the squad (ahead of Molumby, for right or wrong), he has to be an option to start I'd say

[Razors left peg]

Could Knight play in one of the 10 positions beside Azaz?

[Diggs246]

Yep, Taylor is the better player and far more likely to score or assist imo

It's a big call though, Knight has the international experience.

Id take the chance on Taylor and Cullen.

[Razors left peg]

Yep, Taylor is the better player and far more likely to score or assist imo

It's a big call though, Knight has the international experience.

Id take the chance on Taylor and Cullen.

Taylor also adds a bit of size in the midfield

[zero]

i would expect O'Shea at RB with his pace to get back and block kerkez if he gets free. probably that's Doherty then at LB and Collins and either O'Brien or Scales in the middle.

Would be very surprised to see Lawal starting.

[elatedscum]

I think McAteer will be very close after June. Question might be whether HH considers Manning to be strong enough defensively to play left back, or whether he wants to move Doherty across or play Scales there.

Kelleher
O'Brien Collins O'Shea Doherty
Cullen Knight
McAteer Azaz Manning
Ferguson

I think this is as likely a team as any.

He could switch the back line up whatever way he wants, the way it's currently laid out or playing Doherty at right back, O'Shea on the left and O'Brien in the middle. O’Shea has played LB for both Kenny and HH. Alternatively, either O’Brien or O’Shea at RB to handle an overlapping Kerkez. He has preferred to play Manning at LW/LM rather than LB. He’s also played Szmodics in that wide position whenever fit, so I probably think that’s 6 players into 5 slots, with the back 4 and the LM/LW. I suppose Scales has an outside chance to start somewhere but it seems far less likely.

Kelleher and Ferguson will surely start.

Right wing is probably between McAteer and Ogbene. McAteer did well against Senegal and is probably more fit than Ogbene. Ogbene maybe provides more pace across the pitch than anyone else. The ultra conservative John O’Shea team would have Knight playing wide right - but Jesus talk about a lack of pace in attack with Szmodics, Ferguson and Knight.

As for the midfield, Cullen starts - he’s playing well in the premier league in midfield. Pretty sure Knight will start, given how much he’s played so far. He’s started 8 of the 9 games he’s been available for under HH, the only one he didn’t start being HH’s first game. I guess Azaz starts over Taylor in the third midfield slot. Maybe they give Lawal the job of marking and handling Dom Szoboszlai. Lawal is probably the most athletic and physical of the midfielders but it’d be asking a huge amount. Seems like more of a Molumby job.