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.

[Kingdom]

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

For me, Jason Knight's best use in an Irish team is when we are away to the first and second seeds as an aggressive pressing option as part of a front 3. We won't have much of the ball, we'll be sitting in and trying to force errors and that's what he is good at and has the engine for.

[Kingdom]

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.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025...im-at-hungary/

"Repetition, repetition, repetition; a Ryan Manning mantra when it comes to practising free-kicks back at his club, Southampton.

The left-footer, comfortable in defence or further upfield, appears to have found the midas touch around the penalty area, already scoring twice from setpieces this season.

And it is a role that the Galway native would relish should he get the nod to start Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Hungary on Saturday at Aviva Stadium.

Manning forced his way into Heimir Hallgrimsson’s emerging side, and has since become one of the creative outlets in the team, while establishing a potent partnership with fellow ciotóg Robbie Brady.

An injury for Preston’s Brady means that the manager will need to rethink how he accounts for the left flank of the field at Lansdowne, however, it would appear that Manning will certainly be asked to play a role either in attack or defence.

"I had a good start to the season," said Manning, speaking to the press after training. "A couple of free kicks and some good performances.

"Just happy to be back in the squad and obviously we're prepping now for two massive games and I think there's 20-22 lads that are ready to play. It's just about showing a bit in training now over the next few days, taking on all the information and prepping for Saturday."

"I don't know, I'm happy just to be on the pitch," he added, when asked where he might be utilised for the visit of the Hungarians.

"For me, obviously playing a bit further forward in the last few camps, I've really enjoyed. It just gives another option for me to get up the pitch and gives the manager something else that he can do with me.

"Missing Robbie is a big miss for us because he's done so well over the last few years. But yeah, like I said, I'm just ready to be in contention and hopefully play."

And Manning said that he would be more than willing to put his hand up for set-piece duty, should Ireland find themselves in prime position in and around the penalty box.

"I'm not too sure about penalties, but for free kicks I'll put my hand up," he said. "I've been fortunate enough to score a couple over the last few weeks and confidence is pretty high at the minute. Hopefully we get something within shooting range on Saturday.

"I suppose I compare it a little bit to golf, you find something that just works and you sort of go with it.

"I've been doing that, I don't want to speak too much in case I lose it again. It's just repetition - just putting the walls up in training and just doing them over and over again and then a bit of luck on the day that they go in."

And when it comes to repetition, Manning has something in common with Hallgrimsson, who employs similar methods when it comes to getting his message across to the players.

"Consistent and clear message" was how John O’Shea put it when it comes to maintaining the players’ focus ahead of games, and Manning believes that the communication methods are paying dividends.

"He's very clear in his information," said Manning. "It doesn't really change game by game, it's just a standard way that we play.

"Because we all play different ways at clubs with different formations, different styles, it's very clear here now that it's something that we don't have to change each camp.

"I think that's shown with the performances, each camp we're improving, the results have been improving. He’s just really clear in his information. I think we're all starting to gel and get used to it now."

Hallgrimsson referred to Manning as a potential matchwinner within the collective, and the former QPR man admitted that the expression of trust really helps to concentrate on performing at the highest level.

"I think for anyone having the sort of backing of the manager and him realising that you can potentially win a match is a massive help.

"And it just probably allows you to be able to prepare properly for the game and relax, enjoy the environment.

"I think that comes with [the fact that] it's my fifth or sixth season coming away with Ireland and you know, you're used to everyone.

"You’re one of the senior members of the squad, and that means you have to take on other roles and responsibilities in terms of new boys coming in and hoping that they settle well."

Manning echoed the sentiments of goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, who believes that the next step for the squad is qualification, and the Southampton man added that it was time for the players to "step up" and embrace the challenge.

As a six-year-old, Manning was hauled off to the local pub back in 2002 to watch Ireland’s last involvement in the World Cup, a penalty-shootout defeat to Spain in Seoul, and he feels that it is time to hand the next generation similar experiences, watching the national team on the biggest stage.

"We've had a tough few years with qualification campaigns but I feel like the squad now, when you look at it, you've got four or five club captains within the squad, you've got a lot of people who have a lot of caps, good experienced Premier League players and Championship players.

"The squad is probably in as good a place as it has been in the last few years so I think now is probably the time that we need to step up as a group and put in the performances to qualify and get to a tournament.

"Believe it or not, I remember the penalty shootout against Spain," he said. "I think I was in my local pub with my family watching it. So we want to be able to create memories like that in a World Cup campaign.

"I remember the Euro campaigns and it's such a good time at home here in Ireland. I think we definitely need to qualify for a major tournament now and sort of create some memories for the younger generation."

On a more sombre note, Manning paid tribute to former manager Ollie Horgan who died last week, and recalled some great days playing under his tutelage with the Ireland schoolboys.

"It was awful news to hear during the week about Ollie," said Manning. "He brought me off, I spent some time in his car, he's bringing me to different schoolboy camps, and we had such a brilliant campaign under him when I was doing my Leaving Cert.

"He was such a good character, some funny stories. He's obviously an incredible servant to Irish football, schoolboys and the League of Ireland. I know he’ll be missed hugely at Galway United, I think he had such a good influence there. He worked with my brother for a few years. It's a huge loss for Irish football."
"

[CraftyToePoke]

Is Cullen the banker everyone thinks ?
He wasn't available for the last two games v Senegal and Luxembourg and there was some consensus we had a midfield that began to look and behave like a midfield for the first time in a good while. He'd drawn criticism previously too.

And he's tiny, with HH clearly wanting big intimidating disruptor types.

[Kingdom]

When I refer to 'banker' it's in the context of what I think 88 wants, not what I consider should be a banker.

But your point is fair. However...it would be a massive call to not pick the starting sitting midfielder of a club in the Premier League who has had a significantly better start to the season in the PL than he's had previously, by picking, relatively speaking, a nobody.

[CraftyToePoke]

But your point is fair. However...it would be a massive call to not pick the starting sitting midfielder of a club in the Premier League who has had a significantly better start to the season in the PL than he's had previously, by picking, relatively speaking, a nobody.

Oh indeed. It'd take some set of balls to drop Mr EPL when we have so few. Equally, he hasn't played well in green for some time and wasn't missed in last window. He was also on the pitch for pretty much all the long range concessions that blighted us with most of them fired from his patch of pitch. Its an interesting one, I expect he'll play but needs to play well.

[Kingdom]

anyone have a contact point in the FAI for away tickets? My SSC didn't ask members about Lisbon~!

[Razors left peg]

Is Cullen the banker everyone thinks ?
He wasn't available for the last two games v Senegal and Luxembourg and there was some consensus we had a midfield that began to look and behave like a midfield for the first time in a good while. He'd drawn criticism previously too.

And he's tiny, with HH clearly wanting big intimidating disruptor types.

Im not Cullens biggest fan, but he has started pretty well in the Premiership this season so Id expect him to play

[elatedscum]

Listened to that RTE podcast. Few interesting things from it. Journalist reckoned that it wasn’t a certainty than Kerkez would start and he thought he wouldn’t be surprised if Nagy started cause he’s better defensively and more orthodox and experienced and Kerkez has missed a lot of games and hasn’t really done well in the system. He was also hugely complimentary of Alex Toth and his elite potential and his development under Robbie Keane but was doubtful he’d fit both him and Szoboszlai in the same team. He also highlighted Sallai who will play right wing and plays right back for Galatasaray as a noted attacking threat and said Varga would play as centre forward and was playing very well for Robbie Keane after a long term injury last summer and taking a while to return to his best form. He also said he was very surprised that Callum O’Dowda wasn’t called up, especially considering that five of his teammates were involved with Hungary and many were likely to start, so even the insider knowledge us to their strengths and weaknesses would be a huge benefit.


Finally, I think it’s worth noting that Bence Dardai has chosen to play for Hungary. Not a stretch to make comparisons with both Paul Nebel and Liam Delap. Nebel in that he’s German born and grew up there and was a really highly regarded Germany u16, 17, 18 and 19 before switching at age 19 while playing regularly in the Bundesliga. Delap in that his father was a Hungary international and he began representing the country of his birth rather than the country his father represented before eventually switching. Our record over the last decade has been really poor in recruiting the elite options with us failing to get Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Liam Delap, Paul Nebel, Jack McGlynn, Conor Bradley to name but a few. Hungary got Dardai and they also got Kerkez who is born and raised in Serbia and qualifies for Hungary just through his grandmother to name but two.

[SkStu]

Yeah but the only thing not Hungarian about Dardai is where he was born and that was because his dad was playing in Germany at the time. Everyone and everything around him was Hungarian. His dad is a former Hungarian manager as well as played for them, his brothers play for Hungary. His favourite dinner is goulash. Its remarkably different from Delap and Nebel to be fair. We do still suck at convincing potential quality players to love the EIRE. In addition to the list of yours, imagine Dewsbury-Hall in an Irish jersey? Swoon.

Liams dad was an Ireland international btw, not Hungarian

[Razors left peg]

I think our success in acquiring "elite" options would dramatically improve if we were qualifying for tournaments.

[elatedscum]

Yeah but the only thing not Hungarian about Dardai is where he was born and that was because his dad was playing in Germany at the time. Everyone and everything around him was Hungarian. His dad is a former Hungarian manager as well as played for them, his brothers play for Hungary. His favourite dinner is goulash.

Except he was born in Berlin, grew up and lived his entire life in Germany, his first language is German, he went to school in germany, he collects jerseys from all his underage german teammates. When asked what he watches, he says German youtubers. And for the record, his favourite dinner is a smash burger, specifically from Berlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Nj58NTQiA

You could compare him to Owen Elding in that his father moved to Ireland for work or to Cheo Ogbene or Festy Ebosele in that both parents are from Nigeria. But the fact is, he was a german u15-u19, winning an u17 euros in Hungary for Germany and he chose to defect less than 2 years later. I know nationalities are very complicated but he's clearly both Hungarian and German. Hungary got both Kerkez and him.

We get Oisin Gallagher and Sean Moore but lose Conor Bradley and Justin Devenny. We get Josh Cullen and Conor Coventry but not Declan Rice. We get Callum Robinson and lose Jack Grealish. We get whoever that random lad who plays in MLS was and we don't get Jack McGlynn. We get Connor Noss but don't get Paul Nebel.

It's not that we're not winning any battles (see Michael Obafemi, Rocco Vata), it's just seems that the ones that really matter, we've lost to both bigger teams and smaller teams.