Four Month Hiatus

Dont want any more changes to staff and that means keeping Anto Barry.  Everything is settled now and things are looking up.  Last thing we need is another coach coming in etc..

Parrott, Obafemi, Connolly and Idah.. can one of them come good? Parrott might struggle to prove he should be a nailed on starter when he's at League One level but if he can go on another good run for a sustained period then I'm sure Kenny would give him a chance. Obafemi needs to establish himself and buck up at Swansea but if he can buck up he might be best positioned to kick on. Connolly and Idah have an awful lot of work to do to play themselves into their sides and show good form. A Championship spell would probably give them more of a shout. 

That's my big hope but they are all young so maybe it takes another year. 

Other than that, it would be great to see Kilkenny keep going and make himself too good to be ignored for the senior squad. Bar the time out of the team and squad at Bournemouth, he's had a very productive season. I love the look of him. And I feel we need a good back up option to Cullen and Hendrick. My worry at present is that Kenny likes Hourihane as back up for that pair. That's worrying.  

I think we are in good shape with the back 6 players. Another option midfield in case of injury to the established pair and another forward behind or as the striker are my two big hopes. Other than that, hopefully Omobamidele, Doherty, Hendrick can feature more for their clubs but it hasn't hurt their international form too much to date- though 4 months is a long gap if they're not getting a lot of minutes (Omobamidele getting more recently). 

Interesting thread this main things I'd like to see are.

1. With all Klopps "I hope his international manager saw how good he was" nonsense after the Watford game he really ought to go and start him in the 2 CL games now. If he wants to hold long term Kelleher give him the required rewards. 10-15 games for Kelleher this season as back up at such a big club alone would build a CV for him to attract plenty interest if he ever left/was loaned. Those 2 games a League Cup 1/4 final bring him up to 5 already. 

2. Doherty getting gametime at Spurs is important he may get it at both RWB/LWB. Can play both and Conte brought him on for Reguilon the last day. Id also add looking at a potential young WB Ebosele and Kioso two very promising young WBs.

4 Smallbone key to him for me is just not getting injured get a few Cup game 23 games and hopefully will start coming off the bench for South as the season goes on. I know you think he can be starting regularly by March.

5 Very hard to know what Smith does here with our two boys. Worry he will be cagey and play experience over Omobamidele. Idah is a target man which Smith has often used so for all I don't think he's quite ready to play regular PL football yet Idah thiis new manager may actually end up suiting him better.

10. January moves McGrath will almost certainly get it. Knight Derby may well sell as well. Scully is another one Lincoln could cash in on him linked with plenty clubs tonight. If Tarkowsk was cashed in on Collins could find himself playing weekly very quickly. Tierney moving to Motherwell interesting to see can he hit the ground running for them such an important signing him to work out. Could set a template where SPL clubs really start sourcing young LOI players if he does. 

12. Travers should be fine. Kilkenny has stiff competition strongest midfield in the Championship stronger then a few PL clubs even but is playing so well think he can remain competitive. Need back up to Cullen/Hendrick badly Kilkenny the standout candidate. Taylor Molumby Coventry Doyle Hayes Johansson etc important these boys continue to get gametime and emerge. Hourihane and Arter are nearly next outside Cullen Hendrick Molumby. That's wildly concerning.

 

You keeping score?? Might as well offer odds on me posting it under or over 30 times by March while your at it run a book!

However, with him being quite young, he might see it as a great opportunity to get valuable tournament experience for his CV.

4 months ago most Irish fans hadn't a Scooby who Ogbene was, now he's in our starting 11. For good or for bad I wouldn't be making any predictions about where the Irish team might in 4 months.

One thing we know about Kenny is that he takes risks and makes unexpected decisions out of left field. If there's one thing I do expect it's that I don't expect that aspect of Kenny to change.

Parrot was out due to Corona he wasn't dropped.

Also the West Brom boys were better of not being associated with that performance Saturday. The team quite frankly disgraced themselves. WB fans are aghast that Molumby isn't getting a run I notice too. Ismael is very married to Livermore. 

The big negative for me actually is the Norwich.lads. I think Smith there will have a negative effect on Omobamidele very typical Farke got sacked after they won and he played well. Was all set to get a proper run I think and at would have been a certainty to start with Gibson in the Championship next season. I can see Smith reluctant to play him even in the Championship next season. 

Idah it may work out better he will get a loan if nothing else. 

The first 5 as you say were massive positives and the 4 young lads in the Bournemouth Derby game in particular Knight/Ebosele played fantastic and Kilkenny/Travers despite losing was the highlight. All 4 have the potential to play PL football in time for me. Wether they will is another question of course.

Smallbone hopefully he can get a regular spot on the bench and start coming on the odd game. Hassenhuttl it's plain to see rates him.

Where did you see this hotlips?

Would be good if the FAI have some kind of fast track system for players but I'm not aware that they do.