Finland v Republic of Ireland - Match Thread - K.O 17.00 14/10/20 - Sky Sports

DM_7 · 14-10-2020 08:25AM #1

Early kick off for this one: 5pm
TV: Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/1013/1171237-all-you-need-to-know-finland-v-republic-of-ireland/

As things stand, Stephen Kenny continues to be without the services of John Egan, Callum Robinson, Callum O'Dowda, Alan Browne and Derrick Williams after they all missed Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Wales.

David McGoldrick is also out with an adductor muscle injury.

Aaron Connolly is back and available for selection again, having missed games with Slovakia and Wales games while Adam Idah - who missed the Slovakia game - had already returned to the squad for that clash with the Welsh.

Meanwhile, Dara O'Shea, Jason Knight, Ryan Manning and Ronan Curtis have all been drafted into Kenny’s squad for the trip the Helsinki.

Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).

Defenders: Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Long (Burnley), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Fulham), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion).

Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jason Knight (Derby County), Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers).

Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Shane Long (Southampton), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).

Wuff Wuff · 14-10-2020 08:39AM

Really hope Kenny can get his first win tonight

Brock Turnpike · 14-10-2020 09:53AM

We're overdue (a) goal(s). Hopefully tonight is the night it clicks and we can nick a win.

You would expect he must be considering giving Hendrick and/or Hourihane a rest of some sort. They've both played every minute so far in this international break.

Wouldn't mind seeing

Randolph

Doherty
Duffy
O'Shea
Stevens

Molumby
Hourihane
Cullen

Horgan
Idah
Connolly

Some minutes for Manning, Curtis, Knight would be interesting too.

Mantis Toboggan · 14-10-2020 11:31AM

Hopefully we'll see a few goals, badly need to start getting a few wins too.

NewMan1982 · 14-10-2020 12:45PM

What type of midfielder is knight? Should we be looking to him ahead of Byrne.

johnnyryan89 · 14-10-2020 01:23PM

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

You would expect he must be considering giving Hendrick and/or Hourihane a rest of some sort. They've both played every minute so far in this international break.

I don't know, think if he was going to rest them it would have been against Wales rather than Finland.

NewMan1982 wrote: »

What type of midfielder is knight? Should we be looking to him ahead of Byrne.

More box to box, you'd play him with Byrne in a midfield three imo.

14-10-2020 01:59PM

NewMan1982 wrote: »

What type of midfielder is knight? Should we be looking to him ahead of Byrne.

Byrne isn't with the squad for this game.

That should reduce the amount of posts on the thread by about 80%

TheCitizen · 14-10-2020 02:26PM

Exactly wrote: »

Byrne isn't with the squad for this game.

That should reduce the amount of posts on the thread by about 80%

Is it confirmed that Byrne is the Covid positive?

happyoutscan · 14-10-2020 02:26PM

Would be nice to see a goal or three.

14-10-2020 02:31PM

TheCitizen wrote: »

Is it confirmed that Byrne is the Covid positive?

I don't think they officially give the name out but it is reported he was the one this time.

~Rebel~ · 14-10-2020 02:35PM

With our 3 up top system, it's frustrating that we've still not gotten to see the two nailed-on forwards playing together under Kenny yet, and still won't today. Especially as they theoretically compliment each other so well. Connolly having someone to play off to come inside for 1-2's, and McGoldrick's ball winning and clever passing as he drops deep to leave space behind before setting Connolly away.

Idah looks promising and all, but McGoldrick is still a good level ahead, and that role is the key position in our team to bring the wide forwards into dangerous positions.

Brock Turnpike · 14-10-2020 02:35PM

TheCitizen wrote: »

Is it confirmed that Byrne is the Covid positive?

Dan McDonnell mentioned in his article today that Byrne was unavailable for tonight.

johnnyryan89 · 14-10-2020 02:36PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I don't think they officially give the name out but it is reported he was the one this time.

Yeah think what they reported was that the player who tested positive didn't play against Wales and that leaves him, Travers or Kelleher, and think the two keepers have been pictured training with the team.

johnnyryan89 · 14-10-2020 02:47PM

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1316388893428715520

Francie Barrett · 14-10-2020 03:00PM

Finland were hammered 5-1 by Poland during the week there, so they can be got at. With Kenny having a few games under his belt, I am hopefully that we can turn things around and get a win today.

Ireland 2-0 is my prediction. Hendrick and Maguire to score.

Brock Turnpike · 14-10-2020 03:04PM

sugarman wrote: »

I presume we'll line up
Randolph
-Doherty--Duffy--O'Shea--Stevens-
Molumby
Hendrick----Hourihane
-Horgan
Connolly
Maguire-

Id expect some rotation thoughout the game across that front 3 given they can all play on the left and Maguire and Connolly can play centrally.

It's an interesting front three. None of the three you would describe as being great with back to goal to bring the others into the game.

simongurnick · 14-10-2020 03:22PM

Bit of pace up front with Seanie and Aaron. Horgan might play as more of a winger, but he did get himself into the box a lot against Wales too.
I feel like the last two games we have come so close to scoring more than once, that the deadlock might break tonight. Something poxy early on might do the trick.
Good to see Molumby in there again. Thought he played well against Wales.
COYBIG

TheCitizen · 14-10-2020 03:22PM

I expected to see Idah or Shane Long up front with Connolly and perhaps Maguire either side of them. They'll be coming in off the bench probably although Long is definitely being phased out of the Ireland team these days.

event · 14-10-2020 03:36PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

With our 3 up top system, it's frustrating that we've still not gotten to see the two nailed-on forwards playing together under Kenny yet, and still won't today. Especially as they theoretically compliment each other so well. Connolly having someone to play off to come inside for 1-2's, and McGoldrick's ball winning and clever passing as he drops deep to leave space behind before setting Connolly away.

Idah looks promising and all, but McGoldrick is still a good level ahead, and that role is the key position in our team to bring the wide forwards into dangerous positions.

If he gets fit and is scoring, Parrott could be a great option for McGoldrick. IIRC kenny played him a lot for the U21s

sugarman wrote: »

I presume we'll line up
Randolph
-Doherty--Duffy--O'Shea--Stevens-
Molumby
Hendrick----Hourihane
-Horgan
Connolly
Maguire-

Id expect some rotation thoughout the game across that front 3 given they can all play on the left and Maguire and Connolly can play centrally.

maybe swap maguire and connolly positionally

~Rebel~ · 14-10-2020 03:39PM

Happy to see Maguire starting instead of Idah.. I like Idah, and he has a future, but he's not quite enough of a threat yet. I'd be more confident of Maguire actually scoring, and it gives us something a little different than we'd seen in previous games.

I think it will be Maguire central, but the most important aspect is that those 3 - or at least 2 of them - have to operate close together. Any one of these lads will be completely negated if they're left isolated, but if Connolly or Horgan (or both) are playing more narrow than our wide forwards have previously, it'll open space for all of them to get behind.

As an aside I'm a fan of Seany anyway, think there's a really great player in there, so am happy to see him get another start.

~Rebel~ · 14-10-2020 03:43PM

event wrote: »

If he gets fit and is scoring, Parrott could be a great option for McGoldrick. IIRC kenny played him a lot for the U21s

maybe swap maguire and connolly positionally

Yeah, totally, just have to wait for him to be fit for one of these batches of games... i'd say he's already ahead of Idah in the reckoning, he's just had a continuously rough time with injuries.

event · 14-10-2020 03:44PM

that formation can go to a 4 across the middle quickly if needs to as well. Horgan back to the right and hourihane out to the left

~Rebel~ · 14-10-2020 03:54PM

Phill Babb looks bloody great for a lad about to turn 50!

happyoutscan · 14-10-2020 03:57PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Phill Babb looks bloody great for a lad about to turn 50!

My missus just said the same.

Mr.Nice Guy · 14-10-2020 03:59PM

There's more creativity from the off than in the last line-up which I welcome, but not sure why they persist with Hendrick given the supposed style desired. Also not seeing this pace we kept hearing about in that front line either. Wasn't that the reason given for starting Idah against Bulgaria? Not a fan of Shane Long and agree with him benched, but if they want pace presumably there aren't many in the squad quicker than him. Definitely a feel of 'throw everything against the wall and hope something sticks'.

We need to see something, anything, positive from this game because there are going to be far tougher tests down the line. I want to see some brave performances. Big fan of Molumby and want him to grab this game by the scruff of the neck. Want some end product in the final third too. I'll be content with a narrow win by a goal if we can get that.

Loafing Oaf · 14-10-2020 04:02PM

Any surprise in Horgan starting ahead of Brady?

unplayable · 14-10-2020 04:04PM

this on the radio anywhere?

Duff · 14-10-2020 04:05PM

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Any surprise in Horgan starting ahead of Brady?

Not particularly. Horgan has pace which Brady doesn't and he played his best football under Kenny at Dundalk. Worth a shot.

tayto lover · 14-10-2020 04:12PM

The final ball to release the forward is just too feckin slow.
Otherwise they’re playing well.

tayto lover · 14-10-2020 04:13PM

Just as I say that they speed it up and nearly score.

~Rebel~ · 14-10-2020 04:13PM

Lovely little piece of play there.

It's those little moves like that, and the Hourihane chance against Bulgaria, that bring the hope.

Finland v Republic of Ireland - Match Thread - K.O 17.00 14/10/20 - Sky Sports

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