New thread as the last thread seems to be broken.
the O’Toole one is a bit random , but if something happened to Scales (who himself isn’t really a left back), who else could play left side ? In or out of the squad.
We are without Brady, O’Dowda, Manning, Doherty.
I mean I’ve always being a bit curious why molumby wasn’t tried more as a wing back. Hes a strong running tireless physical player with a good physique. Hes a very limited midfielder but a good athlete. Not someone you want to see coming towards you if you’re a winger or full back. Seems an ok fit for wing back. He have to work on his one on one defending and be coached on having a chop or a trick.
Brighton tried him there but that’s being it.
The way his skill set is molumby is always going to be a limited midfielder. Seems a missed opportunity.
who would be better?
Things are pretty grim pick wise
Bit surprised Alan Browne hasn't come into the reckoning… haven't seen much of him this year, but he's been playing regularly at DM for Boro.
Anyone know how Joe Hodge is doing off in the Portuguese top flight?
well, he’s probably in our top 3-4 midfielders so we need him there. Given we start with 2-3 center mids.
as a wingback of limited experience, he’d normally be behind Brady, Manning and O’Dowda.
Just don’t think his skillset is that of a midfielder. Not just talking about his Irish career. He’s never going to be anything as a midfielder. It’s just not in him. Last month vs modest oppositions like Armenia, just plays the same game as always. Can’t even look the part as a midfielder against that level.
Era he's doing alright at Championship level as a midfielder, which in itself is a huge achievement in the scheme of things, so probably isn't too eager to go reinventing the wheel in a new position. There's no shortage of half decent right fullbacks/wingbacks out there (he's a right footer) so would be a big risk.
For this camp he looks a big throw of the injury dice, like Ferguson… has been out injured since the last camp, and will miss the Portugal game with suspension, so really is just there as a fingers-crossed option against Hungary. I could see both himself and Ferguson not making it back to fitness in time and getting replaced.
Jake O'Brien on the bench today.
Dropped ? Or is he coming back from injury ?
Not even Coleman coming in the replace him
I think it was maybe more about getting James Garner into the team, who Moyes loves.
Garner was always in the team. It was Iroegbunam coming into midfield that shifted Garner to RB. Maybe it was just tactical.
That's what I meant. Wanted to bring in another midfielder, but still wanted to get James Garner into the team. (like Liverpool bringing in another midfielder at times but getting Szoboslai onto the team sheet at right back). For clarity I probably should've said "keeping" instead of "getting".
ah I see yeah I thought you were saying Garner was brought in over O'Brien.
Gasperini apparently saying that Ferguson won't travel.
Kenny will be called
Ferguson and Sykes out
Kenny and Mcgrath in
Dovbyk out for Roma for 4-6 weeks, could be another opportunity for Ferguson?
if he gets fit himself
Could be.
Could also force the hand of Roma's board/owners/whatever to bring in new personnel up front during the January window.
I hope it's the former.
they can’t bring anyone in till January so it’s not really an either /or situation
Ferguson may well be out of there January but hes got a free run at the no 9 for a month as dobyk as well as Bailey and Dybala are all injured
it really is do or die time for him now, what a great opportunity. Hopefully he takes it with both hands
it’s a good opportunity but I’ve watched Roma a lot play with and without Ferguson and I find them an absolute nightmare to watch in terms of servicing their no 9.
I’ll be surprised if it works out for him there.
Roma are starting to score goals though.
I had forgotten about Will Ferry also, who was called in as left back cover last month.
O'Toole is different in that he's more attacking (as I understand it - I've never actually seen either of them play).
Maybe O'Toole could actually play, coming on at left back if we're chasing the game ?
My predicted team is:
Hopefully we can keep it tight at the back and somehow nick a goal via a set piece or something.
Packie Bonnar was well liked afaik.
What's the best result for us on Thursday between Hungary and Armenia; from what I'm reading it's anything execpt a Hungary win. Correct?
A Hungary Armenia draw means a win from us in Hungary and we're through.
An Armenia win means a win for us in Hungary and we're through, as long as Armenia don't beat Portugal in their last game (if they did beat Portugal, we'd have to have also beaten Portugal to go through. If Armenia draw Portugal and beat Hungary, it'd come down to goal difference between us and Armenia unless we also took something off Portugal).
I don't want to see us sneak anything on Thursday night through other results. We've been the 4th best team in the group. That's where we deserve to be.
We can't have any complaints.
If we beat Portugal fair enough but otherwise no one is going to be disappointed at the end of the campaign!
Huh? I don't get it. Yes we're awful, but if we somehow manage to finish second that'd mean we're the second best team in the group.
Do I think it will happen? No.
But I would like us to have a chance going into the last game.
