The squad is out but how do Ireland line up against Scotland and Armenia?
Nick looks at how Stephen Kenny’s side could lineup against Scotland and Armenia as the Irish boss faces a challenge of balancing loyalty with form.
Stephen Kenny named what is arguably one of his strongest sides since taking the reigns of Ireland as the Nations League campaign concludes. Long gone are the days of seeing players operating at the top of the Premier League in the squad but in terms of what is available to Kenny, he can have few complains about who will report for duty next week.
Robbie Brady returns to the squad off the back of some tremendous form for Preston, as does Callum O’Dowda who has resurrected his career with Cardiff City. Andrew Omobamidele and Matt Doherty return from injury and Michael Obafemi is included despite being out of the frame at Swansea. It shows Kenny’s willingness to pick the best availability players and really, there were no shock omissions.
What many will wonder now is who will take to the field from the start in Glasgow and Dublin. Kenny’s formation was slightly altered after poor displays against Armenia and Ukraine saw him revert to a three man midfield which was further enforced by an injury to Chiedoze Ogbene.
Kenny now has some decisions to make. Does he start those he has stayed loyal to or will he alter things with an injection of some more technology talent and returning players?
Goalkeeper
A no brainier really. Gavin Bazunu is the first Irish keeper to operate consistently in the Premier League for quite some time and the youngest ever Premier League number 1. Mark Travers was in a similar boat before he was dropped after Bournemouth’s 9–0 loss to Liverpool where despite the claims of some Irish fans, was certainly at fault for at least three of the goals. Bristol City’s deputy Max O’Leary is a strange selection to replace the injured Caoimhin Kelleher with Jack Bonham a starter for Stoke in the Championship. Bazunu reclaims his place from Kelleher.
Defenders
An incredibly strong selection of defenders with a blend of youth and experience. Seamus Coleman and Shane Duffy have two minutes of Premier League football this season but could still be used by Kenny but the trio of Andrew Omobamidele, John Egan and Dara O’Shea are some of the stand out defenders in the Championship with Nathan Collins standing out in the Premier League. Collins and Egan will start but it will be a toss-up between Omobamidele, Duffy and O’Shea for the final spot.
Despite his lack of game time, Matt Doherty has to return in place of makeshift right-back Alan Browne. The question then is who starts at left wing-back? Robbie Brady is a better footballer than James McClean but it is hard to see Kenny dropping a player that has improved so much under him which could see Brady pushed into a more advanced role in midfield.
Midfield
This could be a big debate. The midfield three of Molumby-Cullen-Knight certainly fared better than the Hendrick-Cullen combo but with Hendrick hitting form with Reading, Robbie Brady returning and Chiedoze Ogbene perhaps returning to a wide position, Kenny may have the slight temptation to revert back to a midfield two.
Realistically, the three will stay given the success against Scotland and struggle of a two against Armenia. One decent shout could be putting Robbie Brady on the left of the three to enhance creativity, perhaps in place of the inconsistent Molumby who would be ideal to break up the play later on in a game.
Forwards
Similarly to midfield, Kenny may want to see a front three in operation with an interchanging Ogbene-Robinson-Parrott combination generally favoured. Despite his form in the last international window and undoubted quality, Michael Obafemi’s lack of game time could hurt him with Ogbene’s goal scoring form as a striker possibly an incentive for Kenny to make a straight swap between the two. Troy Parrott is likely to retain his place given his ability to drop deep and wide.
Callum Robinson’s fruitful end to 2021 didn’t carry much momentum and despite Scott Hogan’s blistering form for Birmingham, they may have to settle for a place on the bench, as will Callum O’Dowda who will probably only fit into a front three or as a left wing-back in Kenny’s system.
We have gone with the following lineup which realisticly, will alter between the Scotland and Armenia game. Let us know what your preferred lineup would be on our socials!
Nick, The Green Machíne Podcast
