Goalkeeper
YOU COULD MAKE a case for both Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliot — the latter is playing at a higher level than Darren Randolph currently, while the former has been more consistent at club level over the past year or two. Yet Randolph has started off life well at Middlesbrough and is one of only two players (along with Jon Walters), who has played every minute of action for Ireland in the campaign so far. Consequently, Martin O’Neill is unlikely to take a risk by changing net-minders for this big qualifier, and rightfully so.
Defence
Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy seem to have been established as the first-choice central defensive pairing, though Kevin Long came in when Clark was injured for the home match with Austria. Yet with the Cork native unable to get in the Burnley team and the other two playing regularly at Premier League level since the start of the season, expect Clark and Duffy to retain their places.
Cyrus Christie has no obvious challengers for the right-back slot, while at left-back, Stephen Ward hasn’t ever let Ireland down during this campaign. However, with Ireland likely to come up against a stubborn Georgia outfit, the extra attacking thrust that Robbie Brady would provide at full-back could come in handy ultimately.
Midfield
A key question is whether O’Neill will use Glenn Whelan for this game. Only six Ireland players have more minutes under their belt during this campaign than the Aston Villa midfielder, but at 33, it would be a big ask to start him for two big games in the space of three days.
Moreover, against a Georgia side that will likely sit back, Ireland can perhaps adopt a more attacking approach than usual. O’Neill may be tempted to use a goal threat like Conor Hourihane. However, the midfield triangle of Harry Arter, David Meyler and Wes Hoolahan excelled in the Boys in Green’s most recent away match — arguably their best performance of the campaign so far, a 1-0 win over Austria in Vienna. So with that in mind, they can probably be trusted to do a good job again.
Attack
Assuming Jon Walters is fit to play, it will be interesting to see whether O’Neill opts to go with him or Shane Long as the lone striker. Nonetheless, getting two strikers in the team against Georgia, a side that could prove difficult to break down, may be necessary. Daryl Murphy is also a decent alternative — he was excellent when given a chance for the first 70 minutes against Italy in the famous 1-0 win at the Euros, while he made a big difference after coming on in the home match against Austria, helping Ireland to rescue a point last June.
On the left, James McClean, who has played 535 out 540 minutes of the campaign so far, will probably be retained. Meanwhile, Aiden McGeady, so often the hero against Georgia in the past, could be a useful player to bring off the bench if necessary.
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What a farce! Why call him up? This conversation needed to be had before the squad announcement. Making a mockery of our national team.
@Luke Jordan: getting sick of this shit now !!
@Luke Jordan: yeah-no problem with the fella still deciding but get him the fook out of the squad while he’s at it-absolute joke
@Luke Jordan: we are better off without him,and O’Neill can go as well.We are the laughing stock of football.Keane walks out on his country bye to him . Delaney is a clown.
@Luke Jordan: It’s a huge decision that needs to be made as an adult ie @18. Let him be and call him up again at 19. If he’s not interested then he’s not. I’d hate to be pressured into such a huge decision when I simply don’t know the facts. Not a great fan of MOL but he’s got this right. You can’t force boys to make decisions they could regret when they are men. We need commitment, not boots.
@Denis McClean: if they speak with an English accent,don’t call them up.Granny rule my a–e.
@Peter Kiernan: Well he was born in Dublin so I don’t think his accent matters, except to you of course.
@Denis McClean: Sensible comment. People losing it over an 18 year old, unproven top flight player? Nonsense stuff.
@Denis McClean: Sensible comment. People losing it over an 18 year old, unproven top flight player? Mad stuff.
@Denis McClean: Sensible comment. Why people are losing it over an 18 year old, unproven top flight player?
@Peter Kiernan: Zinedine Kilbane, an absolute legend for the Boys In Green.
Sorry state of affairs, surely he should have talked to him before he called him up?.
@Dan Finlay: this is getting rediculuce. Just pick players interested in playing. Not young fellas who can’t decide what country they want to represent.
@Dan Finlay: a lot of people were happy and excited about this guy and one statement from MON and his popularity slumped!
Realistically why would he choose Ireland unless hes not good enough for England or Nigeria. He was born here to Nigerian parents but moved away at a young age so in all reality probably doesnt have much affinity to Ireland. Being born in a stable doesnt make you a horse. However if your parents are horses then you’re a horse, and if you grow up in a stable then either you are a horse or at least more likely to feel like a horse
@Frank Scanlon: too many neigh-sayers on here. Lets keep to the mane point before this turns into a complete mare
@Frank Scanlon: Brilliant
@Frank Scanlon: why did he accept the call? Call his bluff, play or go away!
@Frank Scanlon: needs to reign himself in . Clearly he’s looking down his nose at us too. Someone needs to get the whip out and settle this young stallion down !
@Tranceformer: we’ve been at this furlong enough.
I heard he’s not great under a pieball.
He’s no Pony Cascarino anyway.
Sorry I canter resist.
@Fiach Moriarty: black beauty
@Fiach Moriarty: Ah this is great
A coupe of lads just having a bit of harmless unbridled banter!
@Frank Scanlon: great point , so why play underage for us then
@O Riada Keith: bring back Caleb Foal-an
Unfair on players who actually want to play for their country. What a farce of an organisation
Our national side is fast becoming the door mat for others. Shocking new low. The FAI are woeful negotiators and O’Neill is a dreadful salesman. As an international manager you have months to prepare and he has known about Obafemi for some time now, could easily have spoken to the parents in advance of these games. Meanwhile there are lads in Dundalk chomping at the bit to play for the national team and are seen as “not good enough”. Sorry state for football here, lacking domestically and internationally.
Put him on against Denmark or tell him to get stuffed and don’t come back. I’d rather they played Barry the sparks from Tallaght instead of the clowns who couldn’t care less about representing Ireland. Should be told outright at U15 level. Can’t be allowed use us at underage level and then change allegiances if there’s even a whiff of an England call up. Where was England and Nigeria last year when he was deemed not good enough for their teams?
Jesus here we go again… lets warm him up while he decides when he wants to play elswhere.
Absolute shambles of a decision.
@IrishOwl: international football is gone beyond a joke at this stage, to the point that I won’t even watch it anymore. And I’d watch bloody any sport. Bores me to tears. Lackluster performances from both players and management. Garbage.
@Tony Murphy: couldnt agree more !!
Why is he calling up someone that is unwilling to play. I’m sure there is lots of players in the LOI that would give their right arm to be involved in the squad. Its becoming a joke at this stage. That laughing stock of international football.
We don’t want him same as Rice. If you’re unsure it means you’re not committed and are hedging your bets, cut him loose.
@John: Then he will play for nobody as he hasn’t decided any country yet
@John: plus he’s useless as well. I saw him play for Southampton and he was like a headless chicken on red bull.
Why was a uncommitted player called up in the first. He should be removed from the squad and someone who wants to be there should be given the chance,
pick him for the Danish game and if he turns down the cap the tell him piss off.
Getting sick of all these plonkers playing underage teams with Ireland and training with senior squads then stalling to see if a better option comes alone.
O Neill and the FAI would want to grow a pair of balls and stop this on going circus……
Worked out well for Grealish didn’t it. He’s still waiting by the phone for his England call up & by the looks of things he will be waiting for a while. Why are we letting these players into our under age system in the knowledge that they are highly unlikely to want to play for us at senior level if the think a better offer might come along. This guy should be removed from all Irish squads.
@ciaran kehoe: international football is not a necessity for a playing career, whatever country you choose at any level should always be your country
Seems like these lads are taking the absolute piss. Not good enough for England but take the call up for Ireland to get their profiles raised and get them noticed by England. What use are these players to O’Neill if he can’t rely on them to play. The fai and that goon Delaney are too blame. There should be no players called up to the senior squad unless they’ve declared for Ireland.
Just tell him he’s playing and if he refuses cancel the passport and let him go where he likes. The same should be done with Rice .
Give him some space. Sure he might be Irish after all
O’Neill and Keane need to go now. They are making a mockery of the National team by calling up players who have not committed to the team. It’s forcing the players hands in a very public way.
Doesn’t want to be Irish Family living in the UK on a Irish passport stolen citizenship’s it should be revoked.
@Martin Forde: You do realise that he is Dublin, surely that’s Irish enough to be allowed keep his passport
@Dan: *from Dublin
We are becoming the country that youngsters don’t want to play for !!! …. why ?
@John Healy: cos we are crap
Delaney and co are some joke
@Martin Brennan: Delaney is well worth his €350k plus salary. Because he said so.
Play him against Denmark or tell him to piss off
Martin O’Neill has just lost the little bit of credibility he may have had left, out ta f**k with the whole lot of them!
Another lad that needs to be told to fxxk off, ask once then bye bye ….
This England B pantomime keeps getting more ridiculous, how many Irish teens are slipping through as we try and give these mercenaries a chance?
@Santi Charlie Bravo: couldn’t agree more
Waste of time him even being there. If he has any doubt, good riddance
Calls this lad up who has no intention of playing with 2 sub appearances, no call for dan Crowley who is playing full time in holland and waiting on a call. O’neill is the cause of this bringing up ‘I’m going to talk to him because I don’t want to tie him down’. You call him up tell him he’ll be an important player for year to come fire him on against Denmark and all the b***shitis over with.
Is O’Neill try to make Ireland,Englands academy tell the young lad good luck .
He might get 1 game for england but if he was really wanted he would of been picked already @ underage level.
If he wanted to play for us he would. using Ireland as 2nd or 3rd choice is not on.
Hope he has a good career but go & take rice with u.
Tnks but no thanks
Jokeshop in every single way. Laughable in every single way. Who do these guys think they.
Out of the team with him so and he probably grew up here too
Common denominator here ….Martin O’Neill !!! And if he needs time after training in the green top tell him and Mr Rice to kindly f**k off please !!
League of Ireland should go on strike
@PurpleRain: the season over so who’d notice.
Joke
Give someone else a chance then
They get called up train with hoof O’Neill and then say “eh forgot to mention I don’t wanna play with your team anymore!” Coincidence?? I think not! Also why call him up if he’s thinking about future??? Makes Irish team a laughing stock beyond a joke!
This is sadly where the R. of I. currently is as an international team. Obafemi will only play for us if his other options don’t check out. If England (his first preference) and Nigeria (his second) fail to make an approach then maybe, just maybe, he might consider the inferior choice – Ireland. Who is this guy? Some proven, seasoned Premiership player? No, a teenager who has yet to become a regular for a poorly-performing Southhampton team. Let’s face it, the only way Obafami becomes an Irish international is if in a few years time he ends up in the Championship (a distinct possibility) and he has no other suitors.
Calls this lad up who has no intention of playing with 2 sub appearances, no call for dan Crowley who is playing full time in holland and waiting on a call. O’neill is the cause of this bringing up ‘I’m going to talk to him because I don’t want to tie him down’. You call him up tell him he’ll be an important player for year to come fire him on against Denmark and all the b*ll*x is over with.
@BobWallace87:
Dan Crowley? Lol. England don’t want him and even Ireland don;t want him either. He is a poor player