Slovakia v Republic of Ireland - 8th October 2020 - Euro 2020 Playoff Semi Final

[elatedscum]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020...-for-covid-19/

Hopefully everyone passed the tests when they arrive. Could be a disaster.

Not a member of the coaching or playing staff. Medical staff maybe?

[paul_oshea]

Physio. Means McCarthy's F****

[Eirambler]

Cullen called up. Must be a while since we called up a Belgian based player to the senior squad?

[sadloserkid]

Cullen called up. Must be a while since we called up a Belgian based player to the senior squad?

Gary Waddock the last, possibly?

[pineapple stu]

Dominic Foley?

[Olé Olé]

I'd say so. Is Dominic Foley the last Irish player to play in the Belgian league? Wasn't called up during his time there though.

[Eirambler]

Graham Stack played for the under 21s while in Belgium in the early 2000s, but not the senior squad.

[Diggs246]

Darren Gibson? ( royal Antwerp)

[pineapple stu]

John O'Shea made his debut three months after returning groom Antwerp; don't know was he called up while there though?

Gibson is the same actually

[geysir]

No, John made his infamous debut in the 2-2 v Croatia after his loan period ended.
Close but no cigar.

[Eirambler]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6313743.stm

Darron Gibson, "the Londonderry lad", seems to be the answer, was at Antwerp when first called up.

Didn't realise Randolph was involved that far back, he was in the same squad but didn't make his debut for another five years. Was behind Wayne Henderson and Nick Colgan in the pecking order at that point.

[Trequartista20]

No, John made his infamous debut in the 2-2 v Croatia after his loan period ended.
Close but no cigar.

Can't quite remember that one.

What made his debut infamous?

[Trequartista20]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6313743.stm

Darron Gibson, "the Londonderry lad", seems to be the answer, was at Antwerp when first called up.

Didn't realise Randolph was involved that far back, he was in the same squad but didn't make his debut for another five years. Was behind Wayne Henderson and Nick Colgan in the pecking order at that point.

Yes, of course.

Playing in the semi-professional Belgian second division at the time. A typically nonsensical decision from Stan. I think he later went on.loan at Wolves before finally making his debut for United.

[backstothewall]

Can't quite remember that one.

What made his debut infamous?

He came on with about 5 minutes left. Presumably Mick was throwing on an extra defender to help see out the win.

He handled the ball in the box shortly after, gave away a penalty, and Davor Suker smashed it home for the equaliser.

[elatedscum]

With Arter out, seems very likely that it’ll be Hourihane, Hendrick and McCarthy. Will be interesting to see who of Cullen, Browne, Byrne, Brady and Molumby will come off the bench when the centre midfielders tire...

[irishfan86]

With Arter out, seems very likely that it’ll be Hourihane, Hendrick and McCarthy. Will be interesting to see who of Cullen, Browne, Byrne, Brady and Molumby will come off the bench when the centre midfielders tire...

Those are our three best mids but have to say I’m concerned that Hendrick and Hourihane are just too hit and miss to play together in the same team. The benefit with a guy like Arter or Molumby is that even if they don’t have the best game, they at least disrupt the opposition. Hendrick and Hourihane at their worst can literally disappear. They both are capable of game changing moments with their technique but it really doesn’t come as often as you’d like.

I’d be inclined to drop one at this point. If Brady is fit I’d go for him over Hourihane. One should be on the field for set pieces. Just frustrating as both Hendrick and Hourihane can both individually be so effective at certain moments.

[pineapple stu]

No, John made his infamous debut in the 2-2 v Croatia after his loan period ended.
Close but no cigar.

I know that. The question is when was he first called up though. He may have been called up for a previous match

[Olé Olé]

I agree with much of the above but Brady can go missing too. He looked well off it against Finland, having looked lively against Bulgaria.

If we play Robinson, McGoldrick and Connolly then we have three forwards who are getting club games and goals of late. Our back five is settled and strong. The missing link would be our midfield which is decent on paper but, as you say, could be hit and miss.

I'd love to see the day we get a Hendrick goal from arrive late into or around the box and finishing emphatically. Couple this with Hourihane whipping an inswinging free onto the head of Duffy for another goal. All the while, McCarthy is sitting in midfield battling well against likes of Hamsik and Lobotka and providing good ball to his colleagues.

Maybe Kenny can get a tune resembling that out of them on a more consistent basis as he gets more time with them.

[Eirambler]

I'd probably expect Brady for Hourihane to be the midfield substitution during the game, unless there is an injury to one of the others. Molumby would probably come on for either of the others if needed. Hard to know what Browne's rating is in the squad, seems to always be there but rarely plays.

[geysir]

I know that. The question is when was he first called up though. He may have been called up for a previous match

That was his first call up.