Wing Backs - Doherty, Coleman???, Mc Clean, O'Dowda???

Centre Backs - Collins, Egan, O'Shea??? Omobamidele

Centre Mid - Cullen, Molumby, Knight, Hendrick, Browne???

Attacking Mid/Wingers - Smallbone, Johnston, McGrath

Forwards - Ferguson, Ogbene, Obafemi, Idah, Robinson???, Parrott

Fringes

GK - O'Leary

Wing Backs - Manning, Brady, Ebosele, Sykes, Christie???

Centre Backs - Lenihan, Duffy, McNally

Centre Mids - Coventry, Taylor, Hodge

Attacking Mids - Ronan, Azaz, Moran, Szmodics, Jack Byrne

Forwards - Cannon, Keane, Hogan, Connolly???

Not sure on the injury status of Coleman, O'Dowda, O'Shea, Browne, Robinson, Christie and Connolly. Their absence could see the likes of Ebosele, McNally, Taylor get call ups. I'll add in any others people think are realistic prospects. Those in bold are U21 eligible. Those in red are confirmed out with injury, so any updates are welcome.

O'Shea was back on grass a few weeks ago so you'd think he'll be fine for June. Not sure on the others.

Is Moran going to be the latest nom du jour after Hodge and Cannon. He has barely kicked a ball at senior level, lovely prospect but time enough for him, these games arent friendlies.

Not ideal.

I didn't suggest playing him but bring him along. One way or another he will be getting game time come september either at Brighton in the Conference league or out on loan in the championship.

Not ideal, but it's much the same for Greece, most European leagues are over/in their final throes at this stage.

Cant agree with you on that Kevin. He may or may not be playing for Brighton come September, but lads should have to earn squad call ups imo and at this point in time Moran and Hodge havent done enough yet. Cannon and Ebosele are the only two U21s (asides from the already established squad members) who have shown enough this season at senior level to be considered.

Starting XI of: 

                 Bazunu

The heat and the lack of match fitness is going to be a factor in the game.

I mini training camp in England for 3-4 days then 9 day training camp in Turkey for climate/heat adjustment? And there will be an unofficial, behind closed doors friendly with another international team a week before the Greece match.

So I assume there will be an extended squad called for the mini training camp in England, with the players who are currently struggling with injury/fitness (O'Shea, Ogbene, Browne, O'Dowda, etc) will be assessed whether they will be fit enough or not ,with a reduced squad named for traveling to Turkey.

Good to see there were lessons learnt from last years with a longer training camp and climate adjustment. The players who have no injury issues should be better conditioned this time.

I think Coleman, Browne and Robinson are all defo out.

Are you going to play him at Right Wing Back horse? Cant have it, I'd prefer Azaz, Ronan or Szmodics, even Moran if we are looking to add another creative player to the squad. In any case, the lads have a training camp in England and then a further 1 week conditioning camp in Turkey before the Greece game.

Evan was a different animal tbf, physically a beast, unlike Hodge or Moran and the world and his wife knew he was about to break through at that stage. 

No, I'd have him as a creative midfielder and I'd have him in ahead of the others solely based on the fact that he will be more match fit than the others.

The endless circle of Jack Byrne tearing up the LOI, getting a call-up and flopping in another league. He's at his level, let's just leave him there and proceed with lads who play serious football.

Ronan is playing regularly in the MLS which is ongoing, the others only finished up a week ago as did a number of the Greece squad, we have a training camp in England and then a full 9 days in Turkey with a behind closed doors friendly lined up. Too much is being made of this imo.

I don't see a situation whereby Doherty does not play. Do you?

It's very likely none will be included to be fair.

Agreed, from what I gather Jack is out of contract shortly? If he wants to have another crack at a level above LoI, then he should go for it, but as things stand at 27yo, I dont see a role for him in the Irish set up currently.

Cannon should be in the squad at whose expense? Also, are we sure that he is prepared to pledge allegiance to us at this point in his career, I havent heard anything definitive on this?

I think Manning will be called up only if O'Dowda is out. Mc Clean is nailed on for one of the LWB slots.

Didnt look out of place whatsoever when he played for the eire

Just to add the Greek League finished up yesterday as far as I can make out. Half their squad plays there. They also have 3 lads finished up in the Chship and Tsimikas who is unlikely to kick a ball again for LFC this season. The other leagues they draw players from, mainly Turkish and Dutch finish up Sunday week, same as the PL.

Obafemi, for a start. He's done more this season than Idah, Obafemi and Parrot combined. I dont buy the whole "they've played a part for us previously etc". If hes good enough and deserves a call up, which he should, he should be in the squad.

As far as allegiance, hes happy enough to take a U21 spot so give him a chance at the snr squad and if he turns it down or whatever, it's no skin off anyones back.

Kenny once said never trust a man with a double n in his surname.

Adam Idah's.

Even though he has the double n himself. Connor Ronan should amend his first name to Conor so.

He does seem to like his double l's though, Kelleher, Collins, Smallbone, Cullen!

Dont see it, Idah was very effective when introduced vs France!

Ogbene missed the last couple of games for Rotherham with an apparent hamstring injury.

Robinson has been injured since February.

O'Dowda has been struggling with injuries since March, & missed the last few games.

Brady has barely played since November, having only started 6 games since then. Also missed the last few games with injury.

Obafemi has apparently been struggling for fitness too, and has barely played since November.

I don't see how O'Shea can be considered to start, he's been out since the France game. Even if he's technically recovered, he won't have played in nearly 3 months. We have Lenihan & McNally in the Championship Play-Offs, the final being on May 27th, so both will be match fit (& both should be ahead of Omobamidele, who has had a poor season).

Can't be loading the team up with players that either haven't played in months and/or are carrying knocks, especially when there's other options. That's something that bit us vs Armenia last summer, Coleman, Stevens & McClean were all carrying knocks (& are all old), & were nowhere near full fitness, that cost us in the heat.

Doherty will & should start both games, he's showed he can play well for us even when not playing at club level. But he won't last the full 90 in either game. That's about as far as I'd go playing unfit players.

There won't be loads of changes but with the extended camp I'd be looking to get Festy, Cannon, McNally & Coventry (if fit, if not then Hodge) involved.

                           

28 man squad:

                                 Ferguson

                Parrott       Obafemi

                Idah           Cannon

 

                        Smallbone

     Johnston      McGrath           Ogbene

                         Byrne  

                                   Molumby

Manning     Cullen         Knight          Doherty

McClean    Coventry     Hendrick      Ebosele

                Lenihan Egan Collins

                O'Shea  AO  McNally

                         Bazunu

                         Kelleher

                         Travers

If we need to turn to the bench vs Greece, I'd much prefer to see Obafemi or Idah come on rather than an untested Cannon. If he is to be called up and I dont think he will, it will surely be at Parrott's expense.

Cannon being called up doesn't have to be at anyone's expense, except maybe Keane's.

Robinson is out.

Obafemi has barely kicked a ball since November (only 2 starts since then), and won't be able to start either game.

Ogbene is a doubt.

Ferguson, Parrott, Cannon, Idah & Keane are the only close to fully fit strikers we have.

Byrne wont be called up. Cannon and Manning will only be called up if injuries rule Ogbene and O'Dowda out. Coventry has a chance but I think he finished the season out with an injury, Hodge wont be called up, Taylor would be next in line imo but I dont think he will be needed. Think he'll name 26 rather than 28, that seems to be his preference. Probably unlikely to take 6 CBs, so Mc Nally may not make the cut. I'd have any of Azaz, Ronan or Szmodics ahead of Byrne.

At the back Lenihan should feel aggrieved if he's left out what with Duffy not playing at all, O'Shea not back from injury and Omobamidele hitting a bit of a flat-spot (still want him in the squad).
McNally will be very close and could make a bigger squad and it would be deserved.

It's been said multiple times that we need some sort of Cullen fallback so for that reason bring in Coventry again.  No need for him to make a matchday squad barring a Cullen injury but get him integrated into how we play.

Finally the age-old playmaker debate.
I'd have one of Ronan, Azaz, Szmodics or Byrne in and will trust Kenny to pick his best one.

Parrott, Idah - take your pick. He outperformed both of them at Championship level this season. Id be more inclined to take Idah given he had a decent cameo against France. Parrott has 5 fewer goals than Cannon this season in the Championship having played 9 more times. And don't give me any rubbish about Parrott not being an out and out striker, because he has literally 0 assists, so isn't creating anything for anybody either.

As for Cannon's allegiance, I saw nothing at Turners Cross to doubt him. In fact, after that performance and his general demeanour, I was quite sure he is happy with us.

We had 6 strikers in the last camp:

Ferguson, Obafemi, Idah, Parrott, Ogbene & Keane.

Cannon can come in for Keane. If Ogbene isn't fit then Sykes would probably come in as a RW/RWB option.

It will be a larger camp for the English leg only (5 days) I'd imagine - he's unlikely to take more than 26 to Turkey. Lenihan should definitely be included in that 26 and should probably start if O'Shea is ruled out. McNally will be close but that will likely depend on O'Shea's fitness. 

I would have no issue with a call up for Coventry or Taylor in Browne's absence. Cannon's inclusion likely rests on the fitness and availability of Ogbene and Obafemi. Ebosele should get a call up in Coleman, Christie and Brownes' absence. Manning should too if O'Dowda misses out.

I would favour Azaz over Ronan/Szmodics if we include an extra creative midfielder. It's a big no to Jack Byrne from me - cant see SK calling him up either tbh. If match fitness is the sole reason for lads advocating for him, then I'd prefer the younger Connor Ronan who is mid season in the MLS. In any case I dont think any of them have a chance of starting vs Greece, but one could come in handy vs Gibralter.

You can take Christie off the list. He's in the same boat as Hourihane, sailing off to Never-Getting-Called-Up-Again-Land.

Christie is still a viable option imo although I think he is injured currently. When fit he was playing very well in the Championship for Hull and we dont have a lot of options in the RWB position in Coleman's absence. It's Doherty or the likes of Ebosele/Ogbene who are more offensive minded Browne (also injured)/Sykes who just arent really RWBs. He's still only 30.

Greenie50 wrote: We had 6 strikers in the last camp: Ferguson, Obafemi, Idah, Parrott, Ogbene & Keane. Cannon can come in for Keane. If Ogbene isn't fit then Sykes would probably come in as a RW/RWB option.

Doherty the defensive option lol. There is a reason he plays his best football as a wing back and I say that as a fan!

 

Might get a couple of interesting new faces. 

Will be interesting to see if Manning/Hourihane/Cannon make this extended squad, for different reasons…

Nah, I think at this stage (30 caps, turns 31 in September) we can conclude he isn't good enough, isn't going to improve further & should be moved on.

He was dropped last summer in the middle of a 4 game window (where Doherty & Coleman were already out injured) and was soundly outperformed by Browne in the following 2 games.

I'd much rather invest in other lads (Ebosele, McNamara, Lyons) than go back to Christie.

From reading Dan's piece it doesn't look like there'll be a squad named until after the 4 day UK camp.

Would seem that the camp is a chance to take a look at lads who's seasons have ended.

UK camp is next week and then the squad for the June games meets up 5th June & goes to Turkey.

The Championship/League 1 camp is a good idea, hopefully we see the likes of McGuinness, Azaz, Taylor and McNamara in there as well, ideal chance to compare them to our existing squad options. Cannon as well as he's not going to be involved at Everton again this season. In particular McGuinness has a much higher ceiling than Sean McLoughlin I would say.

McNally, Cashin, Dunne, Connolly (if fit), Connell, Szmodics, Lyons are others that might benefit

Well tbf, the others are all converted wingers/midfielders, Doherty at least started life as a defender and has played there to good effect for Ireland too (seem to remember him playing as the left sided centre back in a game for us?).

Agreed it is a good chance to have a proper look at some of the up and coming lads.

On a side note, it's not beyond the realms that we could have as many as 9 starting players in the PL next season. Obviously dependent on a few things Kelleher/Doherty/Manning getting moves and Boro going up but our first XI could look sthing like this

Kelleher

Doherty/Coleman

Manning/Stevens

Collins

Egan

Lenihan

Cullen

Molumby

Knight

Obafemi

Ferguson/Cannon

It's entirely possible that only Molumby and Knight will not be featuring in the PL, that's some turn around from a couple of years back. 

Outside chance that the likes of Azaz gets a chance at Villa also or a promoted club takes a punt on Ogbene. McNally could be retained by Burnley while Parrott, Cannon, Hendrick, Connolly and Duffy remain under contract to PL clubs. Even Omo and O'Shea could have PL suitors while Festy will hopefully be featuring regularly in Serie A.

Good to get new faces around the team, and doesn't automatically mean that they have to be called up to the actual squad in June. 

Agreed, the actual squad should be in or around the 26 man mark as it has been for previous windows, but getting a look at lads on the fringes (and giving them the impetus to push on next season) is important also. I still think there is a clear rationale for a B international at some point, maybe against a LoI selection..

A team from your Fringes panel would be very capable of beating your Probables. The only major factor is Ferguson - in fact, the Fringes team have buckets more proven scoring power. Currently, Obafemi, Robinson, Parrott and Idah are dead in the water. 

Wouldnt entirely disagree with you there Brick. The probables are pretty much the last squad we named (bar Keane and Brady). Anyway good to have strength in depth and we are starting to see that in most positions now.

Tbf to Robinson, he was having a pretty good season prior to injury, while Obafemi has scored a reasonable number of goals despite not getting enough game time. Idah is really just coming back after a couple of long term injuries while Troy has had a disappointing season, although he was showing signs of improvement in his play towards the end. Dead in the water is a stretch, I'd prefer to say not at the peak of their powers.

Good opening post, John, to set the wheels in motion.

Taylor is a miss being involved in the play-off final barring some mad result in the 2nd leg.

Aye, I'd assume Ronan and Ebosele can only be released for the official international window, so wouldn't be eligible for release for the training camp in England.

Doubt it.

The UK camp is only to look at those who's seasons have finished. 4 days next week and then the squad for June meets on 5th June.

More than likely just name the standard 26 or 28 man squad for Turkey & the 2 games.

Unfortunately for us, the Chship Play Off Final despite featuring 2 hot beds for Irish settlement over the years in Luton and Coventry, will likely only have one Irishman starting in McNally and given that he is only there on loan, he may not even benefit from any promotion.

Interesting squad and good to see the likes of Cannon and McNamara in there. Mark McGuinness is a surprising omission though and I hope it's not a case that he turned down a call up or anything like that. Obviously we have a lot of centre backs, but his ceiling is absolutely miles above Sean McLoughlin's.

Interesting also that he's bringing over two keepers from Ireland to make up the numbers rather than digging any deeper into the GK pool in England (e.g. Jack Bonham at Stoke). But to be fair, after the three regular keepers and O'Leary, there's a big drop off in quality anyway.

Hourihane's omission presumably confirms the end of his international career. Azaz clearly not on the senior radar at this point in time, but I'd rate him ahead of Farrugia personally.

Farrugia is a classy player, he's probably the player in the LOI with the best mix of skill and physical attributes to make it at a high level. I had a feeling Kenny would include him, he's a big fan of his.

I'm saying this from the perspective of watching him a lot. Kenny still sees the player of the under 21's. The potential. I get that. Loyalty is an admiral trait to have, but there is a tipping point, and Kenny I feel is blinded by loyalty at times. 

Neil has some petty decent performances this season. I get Kenny calling him up, absolutely. I just didn't see an Ireland call up. Once again, another samey player in the forward line, who is no improvement (if that) on what we have. 

I can see where you're coming from for sure (Horgan springs to mind in first year of Kenny), but equally lads like Ogbene and more recently Mikey Johnston have shown they have something to offer, when most would have thought they weren't playing at a high enough level (or playing at all).

Coventry is injured I think. But I'm not sure he's done enough at Rotherham anyway (though it's still not clear who the backup for Cullen is - just Molumby dropping back?).

Also just realised he seems to have gone for Farrugia over Szmodics - that's an interesting call...

But, aside from all that, the big story here is that Cannon is in. Hopefully he will be straight into the main squad and get his first cap next month. He's more than ready for it.

If you think Farrugia is a forward then you've not seen as much of him as you are making out. 

He's turning 24 tomorrow and has 1 goal and 1 assist in the LOI this season. He's not making it a high level but I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a good League One or middling Championship player.

Farrugia plays wing back.

Especially in this type of a meet up nothing to lose 

What an opinion. McLoughlin is a better player than McGuinness imo and can't see that changing any time in the future either. Smashing defender who had the advantage of being left footed and comfortable on the ball the same I feel cannot be said of McGuinness who is an old fashioned type and liable to make a mistake quite often.

What is the story with Omobamidele? With rumours of a transfer is that his focus over the next week or two? Fair enough if it is.

Also the lack of urgency to bring in fresh faces into the midfield places compared to other areas on the pitch has been a bit disappointing particularly now we have a few playing well and making progress like Connell and Coventry. 

Also no disrespect to McLoughlin who is an honest pro no doubt but with the CB options we have it would be absolutely ridiculous having him on the pitch as anything other then 9th choice.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I take the point about McLoughlin being a left footer as most of our centre backs are right footed, but I have have watched a fair bit of both McLoughlin and McGuinness - McGuinness has kicked on massively this season and looks like he could be a Premier League player in two or three years if he keeps progressing at his current rate. Being a big unit disguises that his all round game is tidy enough I think. 

McLoughlin always strikes me as the one with more of a mistake in him. He's not a bad player by any means, but I don't see him going much higher than mid table Championship, unless he finds another level from what I've seen so far, and he's four years older than McGuinness so less likely to do that I would say.

Fair on Connell sorry. Omabamidele loves a niggly injuries.

I'm sure he doesn't.

He gets plenty niggly injuries for a lad so young would be a slight concern

Wouldn't agree with that tbh. McLoughlin is a solid Championship defender who has probably hit his ceiling, he's not good enough on the ball to go much higher. McGuinness has EPL potential, good size and mobility and very comfortable in possession.

McNally and Ebosele not being namechecked is very strange.

Maybe in the Premier League/other leagues paragraph they just name checked players that were in the last squad - McGrath, Johnston and Doherty. These blurbs are sometimes just written by the PR lads, I wouldn't necessarily read too much into it.

Would be interested to know about Szmodics though. Currently on a golfing holiday in Portugal apparently.

Not really. It's only a training camp. If he hadn't called him up, he would have been criticised. 

Calling him up and then snubbing him for Greece and Malta is still a possibility.