Some lads are bankers to start while there have to be serious doubts over others.

 Coleman Egan Duffy Stevens

Maguire Hourihane McCarthy (?) Hendrick Robinson

               McGoldrick

Is what i would like to see. In reality, i imagine it'll be Keogh, Brady and McClean rather than Egan, Maguire, Robinson. McCarthy will need to get game time before we think of throwing him in, but assuming he does he's likely to start with Whelan not having a club. Arter may get a recall for this one and if he does, might be the most likely to start in the middle with the other two.

Arter’s not a great player but at least he’s back fit now which gives us another option in midfield. Ditto James McCarthy. 

Hopefully McClean and Brady are dropped. 

I don’t think Whelan will feature. 

I think we’ll get a 1-1 draw from this game so long as we don’t have a heap of injury withdrawals in the build up. 

Brady should be dropped. Hourihane's set piece expertise takes away any reason for him being in the team until his form improves significantly.

It will be same back 4 and goalkeeper. 

Hendrick and Hourihane Infront of McCarthy. Although Hendrick is skating on thin ice. 

Robinson McGoldrick ?????

Brady/McClean/O'Dowda not deserving of starting place, so maybe Mick with a curve ball. I dont think he'll give debut to Crowley or Byrne but could see him playing Curtis. 

Except the starting 11 hasn't been the same 

The vast bulk of the team will be determined, as most of the players MM was picking are still in reasonable form.

Randolph, Coleman, Stevens, Duffy, Robinson, McGoldrick, Hendrick are all nailed on starters. Then it’s a straight shoot between Egan and Keogh (although) one would expect Keogh to probably get the nod. After that, it depends on how MM views Whelan, McClean and Robbie Brady. He may well just stick with them.

No way can he stick with whelan if he's spent the entire pre-season without a club. He'll be miles off fitness. It'll be Arter or McCarthy if the latter plays enough between now and then.

Doubt he'll be playing this weekend and then only 2 games until the international break.

Mick might call him up to the initial 40 man squad. It's not the worst if he's not ready.

a draw would be a good result against he Swiss and then experiment in the Bulgaria game with a few new players 

The swiss winning would cause us a lot of issues going into the last 3 games with 2x of thoses been tough away trips to Georgia and Geneva.

What is this about? 

On the flip side if we were to pull off a mini upset and best the Swiss that would leave us probably only needing 4pts from 3 games to qualify. 17 pts would be enough I reckon. The Swiss would still have to go away to Denmark so we have a real opportunity to land a substantial blow to their qualification hopes. Mick has to try and win the home games. I don't mind us being defensive but we have to have a proper go at winning this game. A draw would be a good result but we have to aim for the win and not just settle for the draw. I reckon this will be the line up Mick will go with 4-3-3

Randolph

Coleman. Duffy. Keogh. Stevens

Hendrick. McCarthy. Hourihane.

Robinson. McGoldrick. McClean.

No reason for McClean to start over him, especially considering McClean has started to play LB for his club, and not very well at that.

Same team as above with that change. Arter in for McCarthy if McCarthy doesn't play for Palace as Arter was Fulham fans man of the match at the weekend. Obafemi looks like he will be starting soon for Southampton and should be a good option off the bench. 

McCarthy has seen a preseason at least. On that basis Whelan should be nowhere near this squad

Arter is the logical choice.

And has played a bit of an under-23 game. The odds of him having another injury are much shorter than him starting for Palace!

Yeah first I’ve heard of this. Is it horsesh*te ??

Most interesting call for these games will be who gets the holding midfield role. I think we would all like to see McCarthy get it but he will need to get at least a game or two under his belt with Palace I'd imagine. Other options would be Whelan or Arter you'd imagine.

As limited as McClean is, managers like and trust him because he can put in a shift and is almost guaranteed to cause some kind of problem for the opposition. I can’t see him losing his place until Kenny comes in.

If it was nil all with 15 to go, they would be the ones you'd want sprung from the bench.

It's a fact. Most of his family including both parents didn't attend his wedding. He has had a major falling out and apparently it's down to his wife.

One of my mates knows the family and used to live beside them in Baldoyle.

Who gives a f**k? Let them get on with their lives. f**king hell, it's like Love Island and Coronation St. rolled into one.

Horsebox is right.We struggle to score goals so much, McClean  probably still just about deserves a place in the team for his goal threat.

McGeady would have a few medals from his Celtic days as well, though dunno if he is really a squad member any more- probably not if everyone is fit anyway. 

Their Kris Kindle has been f**ked the last few years

I think Mick will play it a small bit safe but I would like to see a few changes. 

Randolph 

Seamus 

Duffy 

Egan 

Stevens 

Whelan

Hourihane 

Robinson 

Hendrick 

?

McGoldrick

Don't know what will do with the last wing position - 4-5-1 obviously.

Dreaming but would like to see Doherty, Maguire and ***Crowley all feature then. 

Just presuming it will be tight and I'd love us to for it.

***  Well aware he may not be in squad but can't see a single creative player aside from him

Either jack Byrne or Crowley will get a call up. More for an eye on the Bulgaria friendly. 

Besides Judge(ish) we otherwise will have no out in out creative option. Just seems crazy to not even have one of them. All our current options from the bench is pretty much rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic.

Could be a similar outcome. We were horrendous that night and Waterford losing the AI final 2 days before really added to the misery ha

This will have some logic though. Expect some first 11 players to be sent home after Switzerland game. 

If it's 40 man, then both Byrne and Crowley getting called. Bulgaria sounds like it's exclusively for blooding players.  

Says it will be cut to 23 for the game, unless he calls up some dropped for the Bulgaria game then?

Struggle to name 40 players for us tbh 

Hardly any point in McCarthy blooding new players if hes not gonna be around this time next year. Be better off picking his strongest team and trying to build a bit of momentum 

Was actually one of the better performances of post euro monroy era. We were far better than in the Georgia game just before birr the goal was a sucker punch

Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, K Long, Stevens, Doherty, Cunningham, Egan, Clark, Williams, Lenihan, Christie. 

Whelan, Mcclean, Hendrick, Brady, O'Dowda, Hourihan, judge, Curtis, Cullen, Browne, Mcgeady, Manning, McCarthy, Arter, Byrne, Crowley. 

Mcgoldrick, Maguire, Robinson, Long, Hogan, Collins, O'brien, Obafemi.

That will be the squad imo. When is the u21 squad to be announced? 

 

randy westwood kelleher mcdermott

 

doherty Coleman duffy egan clark keogh nathan Collins cunningham stevens

 

lenihan arter mccarthy hourihane hendrick Brady mcclean

 

mcgoldrick Robinson parrott Long odowda hogan

Haha - probably easier if he tells us who's not included 

I read 4:30

f**king Kieran sadlier!!!give me strength. Why no Crowley 

I.e will Mick get to see Parrott in training before trimming down from 40?

.

Hopefully thats the case

If so, is the paperwork going via China? How long is this transfer going on now?

Has Connell been in a senior match day squad up at Celtic?

Not yet, no.

Mick mentioned that in his FAI interview. Didn't necessarily say he would have included him if it had been sorted though.

The senior players are really poor with the slight exception to Doherty (who wont play) Coleman/Duffy who are not beyond criticism.

The younger players (although have potential) haven't got a few hours of senior football between them.

Couple that with the way we play and you could see any team fancying their chances against us.

Crowley will get his chance once he is proved eligible:

https://www.balls.ie/football/mick-mccarthy-admits-questions-dan-crowleys-ireland-eligibility-415840" rel="nofollow - https://www.balls.ie/football/mick-mccarthy-admits-questions-dan-crowleys-ireland-eligibility-415840

Is it really though ? Collins, Obafemi & Parrott are likely going to the U21s - unless they play for their clubs & score in the meantime- so says Mick here;  https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/if-im-not-going-to-play-them-theyll-travel-with-stephen-mccarthy-says-new-callups-likely-to-drop-to-u21s-38410183.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/if-im-not-going-to-play-them-theyll-travel-with-stephen-mccarthy-says-new-callups-likely-to-drop-to-u21s-38410183.html  Had those 3 not been named today, there would have been a fair bit more whinging on here, yet they likely aren't going to play anyway. 

Give the squad a bit of scrutiny and you will find that the final 23 will be much the same as the last few squads. 

GK's Randolph, Westwood- one of O'Hara or Travers will stay in it, or both when Westwood hands in the latest sicknote. (3)

CB- Duffy, Keogh, Egan - one of Clark or K Long stays, the other goes (on previous squad, Long stays in), Lenihan drops out, Collins goes to U21s. (4)

LB- Stevens, and likely both of Cunningham & Williams drop out as McClean can cover LB and it frees up an extra midfield or forward spot. (1)

RM & LM - McClean, Brady, O'Dowda, Robinson might be included either here or with the forwards. Curtis & Sadlier drop out. (4)

CM - Hourihane, Hendrick, Whelan, and 2 from Browne, Cullen, Byrne, Judge & Arter. McCarthy might be in this too, but maybe only for Bulgaria. THink Cullen has a chance of being in it this time, if only to get a look at him V Bulgaria. (5)

FW- Long & McGoldrick are definite (2), Parrott & Obafemi to U21s, so another 2 from Hogan, Maguire, Collins & O'Brien. If previous squads are much to go by, Hogan & Maguire stay, though I'd imagine Hogan's place in the squad must be under threat at this point. (2 more)

Edit; Forgot Judge there, and he could well be one of the players who stays in squad too, Mick seems to like him. 

1. Randolph- playing regularly, 1st choice for club

2. Westwood- same

3. O'Hara- playing for Burton Albion

4. Travers- 3rd or 4th choice for Bournemouth

5. Coleman- 1st choice for Everton

6. Doherty- 1st choice for Wolves

7. Christie- Unused sub last game, came on in game before that, kind of irrelevant anyway, won't be in squad unless one of above 2 get injured. 

8.Duffy- playing, 1st choice

9. Keogh- playing & first choice

10.Egan, likely plays today, 1st choice

11. K.Long- Unused sub, then not on bench in 2 Burnley games so far.

12. Collins- Came on after 80 mins today, Mick already indicated he is going to U21 squad

13. Stevens- likely plays later today

14. Cunningham- played for Blackburn today, unlikely to make final squad

15. Lenihan- same as Cunningham.

16. Williams- same again, tho played at CB for Blackburn today

17. Clark- unused sub for Newcastle so far, might play in next 1 or 2 given crap defence so far.

18. Hourihane- played first game for AV, then dropped.

19. Whelan- On bench for Hearts in 1st game, will probably make 1st team next game or 2

20. Cullen- played all games for Charlton so far

21. Hendrick- unused sub today, lost his place to Gudmunsonn at Burnley

22. Brady- injured, and unlikely to replace McNeil at Burnley just yet

23. Browne- started season as sub for PNE

24. McClean- played 2 of 3 games for Stoke at LB, though in our squad as an attacking winger

25. O'Dowda- out of favour at Bristol City

26. J McCarthy- Yet to play for C.Palace, probably get a few minutes in the next few games, Mick has indicated likely won't be enough. 

27. Jack Byrne- Tipping away for Shams, LOI player of month for July, likely not enough to keep him in final squad. 

28. Judge -playing regularly in L1

29. Arter- Playing in champ for Fulham

30. Curtis - playing in L1 for Portsmouth

31. Sadlier - playing in L1 for Doncaster

32. Robinson- started for Sheff U, probably will continue to do so

33. Hogan- playing for Stoke, scored yesterday

34. Obafemi- Came on as sub for Southampton in 1st game, unused sub in 2nd, Mick indicated he is going to U21s

35. McGoldrick- likely plays today for Sheff U, keeps his place for Ireland regardless

36. Collins- playing for Luton in Championship

37. O'Brien- playing for Millwall, though as some class of midfielder/wide forward so far

38. Parrott- Playing for Spurs U23s, Mick indicated he is also going to U21s

39. Maguire- playing for PNE, but on the left wing

40. S Long- either injured or out of favour 

Out of the giant squad, we have 3 keepers playing (can only pick one)

2 RB's playing (likely only pick one to be in 1st 11)

3 CBs playing, 4 if we count the inexperienced Lenihan, 5 if we count Williams as well, not counting Collins as Mick has indicated he won't be playing for the senior team just yet. Can only pick 2 anyway. 

2 LB's playing, but Cunningham unlikely to make cut

3 CM's playing, Arter, who has yet to convince in the ROI jersey, Cullen, who has yet to play for us, and Byrne, who is in the LOI. Though Whelan will likely get a game for Hearts before too long. 

Wingers; McClean playing, but not in same position as he plays for Ireland. O'Dowda out of favour, Robinson might be playing wide for SU, Curtis & Sadlier in L1

Very promising - all did well in the last game so let's hope that continues 

They're the new Everton (of 2014)!

Doesn't matter. We don't call up Forwards to score goals.

We won’t get many chances like that against the Swiss if any 

Egan and Steven's have been solid so far

Robinson and mcgoldrick don't look out of place at this level either (saying that mcgoldrick should have scored)

Hamstring injury. That’s him out for Swiss game anyway. 

We are cursed for injuries. 

Nasty challenge on McCarthy as well, he was down injured for a minute but looks OK now. 

Let's be honest, Robinson being out would just mean McClean or Brady (or some other pragmatic) choice moves into contention. 

Spot on 

Ya PL defender over a championship defender. Makes sense.