Conor Hourihane

When Kenny described McCarthy as our best passer of the ball, I was pretty flummoxed too honestly. I’ve been watching closely for the last 8 years and he is an outstanding DM on his day but in no

way a distributor - never mind a playmaker.

Thinking about it, I think Kenny was trying to motivate McCarthy and get him in a positive state of mind. He’s just never going to be that player, although I still think he is our best DM. I’d want to see Cullen there too

Personally I think he should have been given more of a chance than he has been. But, as he wasn't, I think it's unlikely that he will be thrown in against Serbia.

If he can get a few more good games before the ireland games I really cant think as to why we wouldn't select him.

There is no midfield or forward position where you would think a player is irreplaceable at the moment.

I'd go as far as to say there's not one single player in the Irish set up who can consider themselves undroppable. Not one player that deserve the tag of "first name on the team sheet".

And given that's the case, it's a pretty sad indictment of we're at and the form/standard the players are currently playing to.

I would largely agree with that. It's a clear sign that we're in transition as much as anything though, I'd rather have the younger lads there putting pressure on and creating that situation, rather than not have them there, as was the case in the last campaign - if that makes sense.

But the current situation is that a lot of our previous regulars - Duffy, Hendrick, Hourihane, McClean etc. just aren't good enough anymore while a lot of the younger lads aren't yet quite ready to step in and be a clear improvement. So we're just going to have to live with that for the next year at least. 

When the playoff got kicked out from this time last year to October I was delighted i said to myself This is a good thing the young lads will be after improving and if we mange to get over the playoffs we would be in better place come the euros in 2021 but what has transpired is if anything we are now worse if anything than this time last year if I was picking a team now this is what it would be

                   Randolph 

Coleman     Egan    Clark      Stevens

                   McCarthy

   Hendrick.                     Hourihane 

    Robinson.    Long.      Connolly

Randolph hasn’t done anything wrong to be dropped and was key for us in games Kelleher will just have to wait unless he gets 4 or 5 more games between now and March then his case becomes stronger 

I could be sold on o Shea at centre back 

And would have no hassle in having Molumby instead of Hourihane or Hendrick.

I haven’t seen enough of Cullen to put him if he is the real deal then of course he has to be considered 

Up top with the exception of Connolly any of them could drop out if we could find a player who could score 

I like Idah but just needs to play more games 

Long is a short term solution 

Brady is very hit a miss

Robinson has yet to get going for us

Hogan and Collins are scoring the most for their clubs but I really feel they aren’t good enough but maybe I’m wrong they would do against the weaker teams and maybe even Serbia if the rest of the team was performing .

I'd agree with a lot of that. I think Cullen and Knight's form puts them in the frame. We're greatly in need of some additional energy and impetus in midfield. 

Do people think if we get a new manager in our strikers who can’t score for their clubs will start scoring at international level?