Republic of Ireland

[NewCorkSeth]

Hogan, Maguire and O'Brien all called up for a potential first cap but again no Kelly.

Baffling to me at this point. What does he have to do? Grow?

[Hoop Blah]

Hogan, Maguire and O'Brien all called up for a potential first cap but again no Kelly.

Baffling to me at this point. What does he have to do? Grow?

Play in a different position perhaps?

Aren't they all forwards?

[NewCorkSeth]

Hogan, Maguire and O'Brien all called up for a potential first cap but again no Kelly.

Baffling to me at this point. What does he have to do? Grow?

Play in a different position perhaps?

Aren't they all forwards?

Apologies. I mention them to show that they are willing to give places to uncapped players.
They called up a crocked James McCarthy ahead of Kelly. That struck me as odd.

[Winston Biscuit]

give us the players in his position that he would have to displace to get a call up?

[NewCorkSeth]

give us the players in his position that he would have to displace to get a call up?

In my opinion?
The aforementioned McCarthy, Hoolahan, O'Kane and Whelan.

Obviously when fit McCarthy needs to be there and Hendrick, Meyler and Arter are ahead of him but he's next in line surely.

[From Despair To Where?]

So there's at least another 7 players vying for his position?

Of those 7 players, I'd say McCarthy, Meyler, Arter and Hendrick are ahead of him, Hoolihan is possibly ahead of him and he's on par with O'Kane.

[NewCorkSeth]

So there's at least another 7 players vying for his position?

Of those 7 players, I'd say McCarthy, Meyler, Arter and Hendrick are ahead of him, Hoolihan is possibly ahead of him and he's on par with O'Kane.

Personally, despite how under-rated Hoolahan was, he's 35 and not going to add much to the future of the team. If we are to some how qualify he's not going to be on the plane (Same goes for John O'Shea and Daryl Murphy)

Players like Liam Kelly and Declan Rice need to start getting called up to the full squad to get used to the international scene.

[Hoop Blah]

So there's at least another 7 players vying for his position?

Of those 7 players, I'd say McCarthy, Meyler, Arter and Hendrick are ahead of him, Hoolihan is possibly ahead of him and he's on par with O'Kane.

Personally, despite how under-rated Hoolahan was, he's 35 and not going to add much to the future of the team. If we are to some how qualify he's not going to be on the plane (Same goes for John O'Shea and Daryl Murphy)

Players like Liam Kelly and Declan Rice need to start getting called up to the full squad to get used to the international scene.

Surely this week is a week for experienced heads and a bit of know-how.

Once they've qualified, or not, it's probably a better time to start building for the longer term future.

[NewCorkSeth]

So there's at least another 7 players vying for his position?

Of those 7 players, I'd say McCarthy, Meyler, Arter and Hendrick are ahead of him, Hoolihan is possibly ahead of him and he's on par with O'Kane.

Personally, despite how under-rated Hoolahan was, he's 35 and not going to add much to the future of the team. If we are to some how qualify he's not going to be on the plane (Same goes for John O'Shea and Daryl Murphy)

Players like Liam Kelly and Declan Rice need to start getting called up to the full squad to get used to the international scene.

Surely this week is a week for experienced heads and a bit of know-how.

Once they've qualified, or not, it's probably a better time to start building for the longer term future.

A very fair point but to include an injured player who is unlikely to play ahead of a young, talented, up and coming footballer who could still make an impact off the bench or offer something in training is madness.
I don't think Kelly should be starting or anything but it's strange he's not included.

[BR0B0T]

The Irish team really is devoid of any real talent at the moment

[John Smith]

The Irish team really is devoid of any real talent at the moment

Been downhill ever since Gary Breen retired

[NewCorkSeth]

Kelly has done nothing to prove himself yet.

Getting the ball in acres of space and passing it 5 yards without taking any risks is hardly groundbreaking midfield play.

It's the way Stam plays him though I suppose.

Same as Winks eh..

[NewCorkSeth]

The Irish team really is devoid of any real talent at the moment

Been downhill ever since Gary Breen retired

I would argue that Coleman, McCarthy, Hendrick, Brady and Long have talent enough to break into a good few European national sides. Of course I'm biased.

Its funny looking back at the talent we used to have at our disposal. I'd do anything for a team of Denis Irwins.

[BR0B0T]

Its funny looking back at the talent we used to have at our disposal. I'd do anything for a team of Denis Irwins.

xackly....used to have some decent players now it's mid level prem at best

Denis Irwin, Kevin Moran, Paul McGrath, Roy Keane, Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton, John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelan, Niall Quinn, Frank Stapleto, Duff, Shay Given etc

[NewCorkSeth]

Its funny looking back at the talent we used to have at our disposal. I'd do anything for a team of Denis Irwins.

xackly....used to have some decent players now it's mid level prem at best

Denis Irwin, Kevin Moran, Paul McGrath, Roy Keane, Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton, John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelan, Niall Quinn, Frank Stapleto, Duff, Shay Given etc

Liam Brady being the obvious omission there. A few of those are world class. I wonder what happened?

[Hoop Blah]

Liam Brady being the obvious omission there. A few of those are world class. I wonder what happened?

If most of those players were playing now they'd probably only be at mid-table Premier League sides. With all the Premier League money floating around our club sides have the pick of pretty much any player in world football so I don't think the likes of Moran, McGrath, Townsend, Houghton, Aldridge or Quinn would be playing for a top 4 side.

[Winston Biscuit]

I remember back in 94, and to a lesser extent in 2002, when Ireland were everyone's 2nd team.

Not any more. Maybe Northern Ireland have taken that, possibly Wales even.

[Silver Fox]

Does anyone really give a shit about anyone other than their own country until the finals? The latching on to the Oirish in '94 was pretty obvious with England's massive qualifail

[Hoop Blah]

Those sides being peoples second side is probably in part due to the number of Englishmen playing in them!

[BR0B0T]

Liam Brady being the obvious omission there. A few of those are world class. I wonder what happened?

If most of those players were playing now they'd probably only be at mid-table Premier League sides. With all the Premier League money floating around our club sides have the pick of pretty much any player in world football so I don't think the likes of Moran, McGrath, Townsend, Houghton, Aldridge or Quinn would be playing for a top 4 side.

As good as Henderson, Livermore, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Jesse Lingard etc who are in the England squad

...McGrath was fcuking gr8 btw