Portugal vs Éire Sep 1st Match Thread

Scully surely over Shane long! Long hasn't scored for us since 2016. He a striker who doesn't score. That midfield is comical too. 

The Huntacha wrote: Banjaxed wrote: Left foot wrote: Banjaxed wrote: It's amazing how a squad selection can suck the life out of an International window so quickly. Kenny seems to have shat his pants. Has to be worried about his job and is reverting to "safe" options to get through this window. Think it will have opposite effect. We could be in for a sh!tshow here.  To be fair, losing Robinson and Knight is a blow. He's left with selecting players that aren't playing. Kenny picks the team but it looks to be a burden with the options available. I genuinely would love to here detailed explanations on player inclusions, especially Hendrick and Hourihane. They have been detrimental to our team. What's the answer? I don't know. But it's evident that they aren't. While I agree that the midfield is the weakest aspect of the team, injuries have left us very short in this area.

Edited by Banjaxed - 26 Aug 2021 at 2:09pm

McG wrote: The Huntacha wrote: [QUOTE=Het-field]Five lads playing in League 1, several lads who are attached to PL teams, in name only. One lad who is on the transfer list in the lower half of the championship, and out of the reckoning as far as selection is concerned. Its bleak. Defensively, we have decent options and a strong defence can be moulded. The fact that lads like Ciaran Clark can be left out shows that we are not confined by lack of options in the area I also admire Kenny for selecting the two goalkeepers who are playing on a weekly, and the third who is sitting on the bench weekly in the PL.  I agree with this. Our players, no matter how experienced, shouldn't be rewarded for putting themselves in positions where they have no chance of playing football. Randolph's case is different to just being dropped or being out of form.  Hopefully it'll serve as an incentive/kick up the hole to our other players who aren't actively seeking out first team opportunities. Ive a sneaky feeling DR has asked to be dropped down the order and called on if only absolutely necessary. We had those retirement rumours not so long ago.  Not sure this is entirely SKs call.

 

Denis Irwin wrote: reddladd wrote: The quality of the squad shows why Kenny shouldn't be getting the sh*te he's getting. It's without doubt the weakest we've ever been player wise. Stan had better quality players as did every other manager in my time watching Ireland. Kenny is not the problem.  Is the correct answer.

Forget about ability or talent. Trying to even match up with the Portuguese when it comes to match fitness 

Bukowski wrote: I imagine the only reason not to select Kilkenny is that Kenny doesn't want to scare the crap of him by being overrun by Portugal in his first international game. Kenny wants options like Molumby and Arter because it we will be playing in our own half for 90% of the game. Hopefully the game will be 9 behind the ball at all times, at least keep the score to 2 or 3 for them. I cannot see who we could put in that midfield at this point that isn't selected today.

Badgersboys9 wrote: So Kenny echoed a few posters on here re Arter in that its unfortunate that he hasnt played any football but he can play that holding mid role, has a great attitude and done well in the summer training camp. Still not for me though.

Edited by Fozz - 26 Aug 2021 at 2:26pm

shakeyshamrock wrote: or let him play twice for the U21s in their qualifiers..

Edited by Het-field - 26 Aug 2021 at 2:47pm

Not surprised to see both Kilkenny and Scully left out - neither were standouts for Kenny at Under 21 level. Seems to underline the theory that, if you weren't a Kenny favourite at under 21 level, you have a long road ahead to get picked under him at senior level, apparently regardless of what you may have done at club level in the last year or 18 months since he left the Under 21s. He seems to have already made his mind up on those lads.

Edited by You Tell Me - 26 Aug 2021 at 2:50pm