Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

You do realise that Obafemi is stringing form together?

Nothing wrong with a debate about the squad selection. Freindlies are a chance to blood new players. Daragh o shea for example is included. Should he not have to string games and form together too?

Scott Hogan has zero form atm.

The form argument is out the window.

100 percent. Looks like Kenny was calling him up. Fairs fair and a good move. Id have assumed he'd have been in for Scott Hogan.

We have very few strikers in form at the moment. To be fair a debate on his inclusion/exclusion is warranted. I havent read anyone saying he is the next Robbie Keane? The fact is we dont have a Robbie Keane at the moment.

We're in dire straights in terms of player quality. Really worrying and very little to be getting excited about in that squad. Apart from our GKs who all could potentially play in the PL the rest of the squad is underwhelming. It is what it is I suppose.

Similar Arron Connolly seems to be carrying a knock. Kenny says he's not training and playing games with some pain.

Says Obafemi was never in the picture for this U21s. Probably didn't stop the likes of Pundit Arena from running with Crawford's comments and making it sound like he turned him down again. Says he had a good conversation with the player at the Bristol City game and again this week.

Also says he would have liked to announce a replacement for Barry today but should be announced in the next few days.

He doesn't have 4 in 8, he has 4 in 4. Or 5 in 7. Or 6 in 9. Whichever you prefer.

I really hope what's written in the tweet above is as it reads - that he was contacted, and they agreed between them that recovery time was of more value at this stage. It does at least sound like Kenny has grown up a bit in terms of actually reaching out to useful fringe players and keeping them in the fold (something he was woeful at early on!).

However if he did actually want to be called up, then it would be baffling to me. He's starting a lot more games than much of our squad, and playing really well for a few months now as well. We also only have 1 goalscoring number 9 in the squad as it stands in Robinson, could've done with another. We've a tonne of these support or link players like Ogbene, Parrott, Keane, Hogan, and Ronan, but really only one player with any expectation of being up on the end of a final ball.

That's all great to hear, exactly the right noises from everyone involved.

I think of all players he's earned the benefit of the doubt at this stage. No-one with multiple real options on the table has ever come out as effusively certain about wanting to play for Ireland as he did at 18. I'll never forget how refreshing that felt in the aftermath of the Graelish and Rice debacles. From those various interviews etc, it sounds like that hasn't changed. Of course you never know for sure, but he's backed it up with actions in the past, so I'm content to believe him now.

Don't think there's any comparison with lads choosing England over Ireland and Nigeria over Ireland.

But I'd say he's definitely choosing his career over Ireland which is fair enough.

Good to see Enda Stevens back on the bench after missing the last 8 weeks with a calf injury.

Eiran Cashin starting his 8th game in a row for Derby. Pity he's not a couple of months younger and underage for next season's U21s. Abankwah is the only CB playing senior football and he might find himself in the reserves next season at Udinese though.

Rooney came out yesterday and said Ebosele will be signing for a team in Italy soon so looks like Ebosele and Abankwah will be teammates at Udinese next season, and probably Watford the season after 😂

Has another year left on his contract. Don't think Rooney knows what to really do with Knight, and it's why you see him playing in different positions more than others. But most Derby players are probably off in the summer anyway. Fans expecting to be starting next season in League One with a 15 points deduction.

Yet another clean sheet for Travers today. Thats 15 in 36 now.

Surely he'll get 90mins in one of the games with that form.

Bazunu is something similar. 14 in 34 i think albeit at a lower level.

You'd feel that Kelleher will have a decision to make in the next 6 -12 months about getting out somewhere for football if he is to stay in the race for number1/2.

With Travers looking likely to be in the PL next season he could easily be our number 1. Depends on what Bazunu does of course. He'll more than likely be championship.

Not sure myself. Kelleher will need to start playing more at some stage. Travers distribution has improved no end this season. Its probably not as fashionable to want a shot stopper but there you go. Its more important to us i think. There is a huge differ knocking the ball out to VVD and TAA than Enda stevens or Shane Duffy. If we have a PL keeper doing well it will be a huge plus.

All the more that you want your keeper to be better with the ball at his feet and pick out passes beyond the defence.

Plus why not have a keeper that can do both. Bazunu has shown he's not only comfortable being that extra player at the back to recycle possession, or pick out a pass into midfield but has come up trumps with some big saves.

I'd agree with you about Kelleher being Kenny's preferred no1. If Bazunu wasn't performing so well for us Kelleher would be straight in as number one. Regardless of his game time he suits how Kenny wants a keeper to play.

You reckon it's gonna be 45mins a game with Bazunu also playing against both, or could the lads get the full 90. Think myself it might be Bazunu 90 against Belgium and Kelleher 90 against Lithuania.

Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander Arnold

Seems to be nothing online about why he's missing, but Andy Robertson is missing through illness which probably means covid so could be a chance Kelleher is missing because of covid. Whether he has it or just a close contact.

Maybe Klopp just wanted to let Adrian sit on the bench this week in order to boost his morale.

Himself and Hendrick would have been teammates for two seasons at Derby before he retired from injuries. Probably why Hendrick ended up at QPR instead of Boro.

Might also put in a word for Jimmy Dunne.

Hendricks has been brutal for QPR.

Couple of interesting names with Baba Adeeko getting his first call up, plays with Wigan and has been around the first team this season. Made his senior debut in the EFL trophy and got a few minutes in the EFL cup.

Glory Nzingo with his first call up since his move to Stade Reims. Has only played U15s for us.

Alex Murphy and Sean Grehan have only played U18s for us so their first involvement competitively. Though Murphy was with the U21s when they had to call up a bunch of LOI players when they weren't sure if UK based players would be allowed travel to Montenegro.

Ollie O'Neill though, wasn't he called up to the U21s or do we have two Ollie O'Neills.

A five year deal, how far does he get into that deal before he's a Watford player though 😂

Maybe 2 years on loan, before an official sale if he's doing well?

Theres a few more of the squad could have stayed with their clubs if thats the case.

Unless he puts in a very good pre-season, he still looks a bit too raw for Serie A to me. A loan period would be fine, the important thing for him is that he's playing competitively next year. Kids football would be a waste of his time.