I 100% agree, arter doesn't deserve to be near the squad, however, I'd say he's unlikely to play and swapping him for kilkenny doesn't change the optics on how bad the squad is.

Absolutely childish sh*te again from CM wasn't even the 5th post on the thread 

Pathetic Murph. The warning issued around the last batch of games still stands regarding abuse of players/manager. 

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. 

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. Randolph could have been an easy selection.

The midfield is decimated by injury. Browne, Knight, and possible McCarthy would all be in there if fitness was on their side, and in fact, you might even start all three. Robbie Brady is also absent, but if he were attached and fit, he would be in there. Given the lack of options, there was genuine reason to call up Kilkenny. You might also have given Coventry a call too.

Up front, there are options, just not ones I expect to score goals. Long continues to warm the bench at Southampton, Collins has been replaced by Moore in Cardiff's starting lineup. Parrott has been scoring this term, and hopefully he can bring that form with him.

But, I'm pessimistic about our chances. I think our midfield will be bullied, and I think our forward options will give no headaches. Kenny needs to set up from the back, and establish a robust, and difficult to breach back-line, and expect Cullen to drop deeper. Given what we have got, if we play open football, we'll get stuffed.

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.

If ever we needed someone to lay down an early marker its now but we don’t have that player.

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.

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.

While I agree that the midfield is the weakest aspect of the team, injuries have left us very short in this area.

Kenny is not the problem. 

Is the correct answer. 

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. 

Hourihane is supposedly our deep lying "playmaker". Yet he goes out of his way not to be in possession. He's afraid of making mistakes. Rarely passes forward. Passes back and sideways in an endless and futile recycling of the ball. Also, his passing in general has.been shocking.

I'm not saying other players should be starting, but why not include Kilkenny in the squad or Scully up front? Give yourself the option at least.

At this stage Kenny should know the players that just aren't working, but his persistence in picking.them defies logic.

Just on this Randolph was only raving in an interview not that long ago how talented the 3 lads were and it will be a case of when he passes the baton. This was before any of them had even played much senior football certainly not regularly I often think since fairplay to Randolph he was well aware of the talent on offer even back then! 

Generally this point is correct. However there are some braver calls he could of made. Very string arguments to be made for Kilkenny, Scully and Scales.

Can see us getting pumped in Portugal. Maybe the crowds back in Lansdown might help us nick a result in the other 2 games. This is the most pessimistic I've ever been going into an international window 

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.

As a Kenny fan, seriously worried about this window and what horrors could await..

He referenced Scales in his press conference and said he's next in line at left full - McClean and Manning ahead of him at the minute..  

He wasn't asked about either Kilkenny or Scully so the esteemed members of our 4th estate are obviously not as up to speed as posters on here! 

Kilkenny doesn't have to play. Put him on the bench. 

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

Adds up and he's simply a backup for Cullen, who not long ago was a backup for McCarthy.

I understand the inclusion and it goes to prove how few options we have.

Every chance he doesn't see much time unless Cullen needs a rest or gets a knock.

Looking to the future, I'd have Scully in ahead of Long.
And Kilkenny in ahead of Hourihane.

But one is operating at a relatively low level (I'm ignoring Parrott's inclusion here for convenience) and the other has only a handful of games under his belt, so the choices are understandable, even if I disagree with them.

Other than that, we're loudly complaining about the midfield but it's like complaining about the weather - not a lot we can do about it if we have nobody stepping up to take the places off the established lads.

But you could say the same for Collins and Omobamidele who, given our options, may not see much game time. On a rotational basis, Doherty/Coleman would step in on the right, Manning/McClean on the left, with Egan, O'Shea and Duffy rotating in the centre. Like I said, Kenny could also have picked Clark. But this experience will stand to them.

The major difference is that we are short stocked in midfield and the moment a single player, particularly in the middle goes down with injury, we dont have deep options, and will need to resort to calling up players. This is where there is a legitimate case for Kilkenny.

Some other odd picks also - Omobamidele over Clark? Omobamidele is certainly a big prospect for us but surely you'd have Clark closer to the starting team against Portugal at the moment.

Arter and Hourihane - what can you say really, he clearly has his favourites who cannot be dropped regardless of form. Curtis, based on what we've seen of him, is a waste of a pick also. 

I'm surprised he hasn't included a League of Ireland player, when you see the Twitter comments under the squad announcement it's all LoI fans giving out about that. Given that they're the only section of the support base that he still has on his side, it would have seemed pragmatic to call up Scales or someone to keep them on board. You can just see that last bit of support for him dripping away from here.

Realistically the Portugal game is down to him now, if he can't set them up sensibly and pragmatically they'll be destroyed out there and his position will become even less tenable than it already is.

Be worth a try. If we start with a midfield 3 of hendrick, Hourihane and arter in any of these games he’ll lose a lot of support.

I'd be fairly sure he's next in line which seems to be what you're saying here, but it's hard to know because none of the journalists at the press conference asked about him.. Kenny also didn't bring him up.. I'd imagine it's maybe similar to Scales with Kilkenny doing well in that position in recent games, but it being quite new for him (he was a more advanced midfielder before..) - I'd say in that "defensive" role he views Cullen > Arter > A.N. Other as the pecking order and it's up to Kilkenny to play consistently well in that position over a period of time to change his mind.. I don't know that 3/4 games is enough.. 

I guess if we take it that Kenny rates "position knowledge" highly, which his comments seem to indicate, then with the centre halves there's less of a "new to the position" aspect to them, they know the role and it's just about being around the squad and learning about international football.. 

Anyway, Kilkenny now joins the long list of cause célèbre players omitted from Ireland squads, joining luminaries such as Andy Reid, Stephen Ireland etc.. 

Next in line for his position was what he said.. made the decision difficult for them

i see. may get a call up yet with injuries or what not so.

I'd agree completely. 

A heavy loss to Portugal away (with that squad) is highly probable. Especially with their front line and knowing that more than likely will just be sitting back for 90 minutes.

Then two home games back to back. A draw to Azerbaijan and suddenly that Serbia game gets heaped with pressure.

A good few managers have been spared by the lack of fans at games in the last year. The optics of booing fans is usually what tips a wavering higher Archy. (If.they are wavering)

As a fan of Kenny, by not even including certain players and persisting with what doesn't work, all he's doing is making rod for.his own back and making his own supporters question where he's going.

That may be fair enough, but the midfield is woefully short, to the point that there ought to be an opening there for somebody like Kilkenny. This would be different if Browne was available, but he isn't. There is a genuine reason to question the inclusion of Arter simply on the basis of football played. He didnt even make the bench for the League Cup game the other night. And surely, your reference to learning about international football is also applicable to Kilkenny, especially in a big squad.

I dont think people are making him a cause celebre, but are acknowledging that in terms of form, and football played the potential to select him is higher because of our lack of options.

Speaking of safe options, I can't understand why Randolph isn't in the squad. He's never let us down. And, yes, he isn't getting first team football, but that hasn't stopped him calling up Hendrick, Hourihane and countless others in the same boat.

I don't trust Bazunu or Travers, and Kelleher is badly lacking first team football (just like Randolph).

Who are the anti vaxxer muppets in the squad? Looking forward to a raft of positive cases off the back of them. Last thing we need.

DublinScouse1916 wrote: 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.

None of the strikers score. Parrott scored x2 against Andorra but I'll bet you anything he wouldn't score in these 3 games if he started all of them. Has Idah even had a goal opportunity in half-a-dozen appearances? Connolly looks bereft of confidence.

yep, and I think he's likely next in line, but I don't think the plan worked on at the summer training camp and the continuity the manager is looking for between that time and these fixtures can be overlooked.. I think Cullen is the man at the base, and Arter is cover for him.. If position-knowledge is the criteria (which the press conference made it out to be) then Arter trumps Kilkenny at this moment in time, even if he is only staying fit by playing U23s games..

I also think that it's only on twitter and here that his name his popping up - the journos didn't ask about him at all, and if you watch the presser around 30 names are mentioned of players in, out and around the squad.. so there is an aspect to this of him being the latest of a long line of players to have his ability elevated simply by virtue of not being named in a squad.. I think he'll play (hopefully well and in that position) for the U21s and then he'll have a better chance of a call up in October or November.. 

I wouldn't be particularly optimistic about us getting anything from either the Portugal or Serbia games anyway to be honest, so I think Kilkenny is better off with the U21s for now.. get him in fresh in October when the real rebuild can start and there's a bit of time in the window to work with him (only 2 games) 

Kenny never mentioned names. Just basically what's in that tweet.

                         Bazunu

Coleman Duffy Egan O'Shea Manning

          Cullen Molumby Hendrick

                  Parrott Connolly

Horgan and Idah would offer something off the bench. Hourihane will presumably see some game time given the lack of options in midfield. I could have gone with him or Hendrick - one is as bad as the other really, but figured Hendrick might give us more when we don't have the ball, which will be most of the time.

                        

I like that 11 and it's about as good as we can put out.

I'd also pick Hendrick over Hourihane as he puts in a bit of the off-the-ball work that will be essential next Wednesday.

Doherty Duffy Egan Manning

                 O'Shea

Coleman    Cullen   Hendrick

            Parrott Connolly

Any takers for this type of team for Portugal. Try and use our better players.

Different if it's a player who is clearly better than what we have. I wouldn't put Scully or Kilkenny in that bucket yet so for me, kenny is right to stick with the guys he had the summer camp with and know what's expected of them. 

Would argue that Kilkenny is clearly better than Arter. 

I suppose the question is, are we pausing the rebuild, and reverting to a results based model? If we are approaching these games to ensure results, and they aren't delivered, what then?

You gotta love that experience. 

Can you post what your drinking?

Yeah but Kilkenny is not a holding midfielder like Arter, is he?

Its like the aul argument of Glenn Whelan being in the team when Wes Hoolhan wasnt in the squad.

2 completely different types of player that play in different positions.

Arter is merely there as cover to Cullen in that holding role. In all likelihood wont play unless Cullen gets injured.

If we get anything out of these three games you would have to say Kenny, Andrews and Barry will have worked some magic.

One point in two home games to Azerbaijan & Luxembourg is completely unacceptable and the players will almost certainly have lost belief in him then. He would have to be sacked even if he sees out the Serbia game imo. 

Leaving that doomsday stuff to one side, I think we'll get the win against Azerbaijan and may get a result against Serbia with a better referee than the coont we had in Belgrade. 

 Get the flights to Qatar booked mate

Kenny mentioned he spoke to him and he isnt ready due to his latest injury and hopefully could see him for the October games.

Like another said, Arter is cover for Cullen. 

Scully, has he been tested at a higher level than L1 or played in any friendlies or even been in the squad before, no. 

It a much of a muchness. You could put him in instead of Long. But Long will clearly be a back up but could also be a go to in certain situations in games, e.g. chasing lost causes

Healy52003 wrote: Id say Ronaldo is worth more than half the irish squad combined

Try the entire squad. Nathan Collins is the only one pulling up the numbers with his move to Burnley.

Worked magic if we get anything out of the three games? We're playing Azerbaijan at home FFS.

If we can't beat them at home on top of the Luxembourg loss, the manager is gone by Christmas, simple as that.

You could somewhat accept that Luxembourg performance if it were more of a suckerpunch. if we had been playing well and missed loads of chances. But we were terrible.

If something similar happens against Azerbaijan, Kenny's in real trouble. A lot of fans can accept poor results (especially given the players available to him) as long as there is obvious progress being made. If that's not even a positive to focus on, then things may get dicey.

I hate to say it but if the unthinkable was to happen and we end up with one or two points, there will have to be a forensic discussion as to whether the project has actually been derailed, whether we are in a worse position than we were in December 2019, and whether it is the edge of the wedge, or whether that is as bad as it gets. Even the most hardcore supporters of what Kenny is seen to be doing will have to think twice.

Sure brining new players but who ever got the job was going to do this as there is very limited options.

We'll likely see idah or parrot up front rather than Long. We have a new keeper and the defence of oshea and collins is looking likely sooner rather than later. They will eventually replace Egan and Duffy.

Midfield needs more time to replace hendrick, hourihane, mccarthy and Brady etc.

Hopefully we'll see Molumby and kilkenny step up like Cullen and Knight have.

I would say in one years time we'll have a new team to the one that mccarthy left.

Where are you seeing this?

A little media outlet called Rte 😀😀😀

Azerbaijan is Kennys Cup Final.

The other 2 games are a free shot but failure to beat Azerbaijan will mean 1 point from 6bin the 2 home games against the bottom 2 seeds. I wouldn't see a a way back from that.

that could very well happen. could be 2 more campaigns before we see real progression, and that is if we actually do see any. we could be in for years and years of hardship. not doom and gllom just an every increasing possibility i think.

Yeah I made the Toshack

Reference months ago on here and I think it will

Come to pass.  

Top supporter! 

I always find it a bit odd that so many people on here seem to hate all of our players and despise watching us play.. like, you could get another hobby either? 

The biggest laugh I get is people shocked at the squad announcements.  

Azerbaijan is a must win. Anything less than 4 points from the three games moves him closer to the exit door.

I was hoping Kilkenny would make the squad as we lack a player such as him and there's plenty of cover in the 21s.

I'd have him in as a extra body with the aim of making hs debut over one of the three matches.

I'd not have Arter in the squad but then you see he's the only specialist cover for Cullen, so it makes sense and who would you have in for that position instead?
Coventry? Hardly ever kicked sa ball at senior level?
Maybe, but as an extra, not a replacement.

Maybe we like the misery!!!!

Poor brick thought it was going to be ole ole ole all his life!

If it comes to pass that we have a fit Robinson available for for the Azerbaijan & Serbia games, then the covid infection could actually be a blessing in disguise tbh.

He could've been a bit tired going into the Azerbaijan home match with the amount of covering and tracking back he'd be doing out against Portugal so it would be great to have a fresher Robinson (and to a lesser extent Browne who has a knack for goals) available for the two games that we'll be aiming to pick up the minimum 4 points.  

Really depends on how badly Covid has affected him too, would be great if it did work out too, as you said might be for the better.

It's a bit of a stretch to say that this team, with less experienced players who play at a lower level, is going to do better at home against Serbia than the 2017 team who lost against them while playing against 10 men.. That same 2017 team drew 2-2 away with them - this team lost to them away.. 

Don't get me wrong, I'd love us to beat them or even sneak a draw, but realistically, either of those results would be an upset... I'm sure the odds will reflect that in the bookies.. 

Even taking all the bad luck Kenny has had and the depleted/weakest Irish squad etc etc would you acknowledge that Kenny's position would be practically untenable if we finish in 4th or 5th spot behind Luxembourg & Azerbaijan irrespective of other factors?  

In those dire circumstances, would you still give Kenny the EURO 2024 qualification campaign?