Duffy probably has as well.
Nope.
Thereās no need for Byrne if McGoldrick plays up front. Didsy will drop into the midfield more often than not and occupy that space and look to link it.
Could actually get joy of the wingers coming inside and making it a two when Didsy inevitably drops and looks to link it.
We are going to do it lads
In theory Connolly and Robinson on the wings, essentially two strikers, should work well with Didsy dropping deep as they will want to get into the box. Also if you look at our chances in Spockās opening two games our best chances did come through Connolly and Robinson
I thought Hendrick played well in Bulgaria, but it didnāt really get noticed. Or else I was wrong. But Iām hopeful too that heāll be a driving force tonight.
We should see a bit more possession in the final third tonight. It looked like we were passing for the sake of it in previous games with no real put ball.
Didsy gives that link between back 4 and midfield as heāll drop and get turned in awkward positions.
If Didsy plays on the line, then Byrne is realistically the only other fella who can do that.
I think thereāll be huge improvement tonight
Of course you wouldnt.
Based on one game you saw him play for Newcastle. I admire your optimism.
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He looked better alright and I saw him for Newcastle and saw a spark. Hes had a long time where he wasnt allowed play football under Oneill and Dyche.
Run around there and kick lads Jeff.
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Itās more than I saw at Burnley.
Itās a hunch.
I simply cannot muster any enthusiasm for tonight.
Well then fuck off. Now is the time to be wildly optimistic.
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These are not wildly optimistic times.
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Iāll buy that. Ireland to win comfortably. (One scrappy goal around 62mins and a sealer in the last few mins). Hendrick and Long to score.
Iām getting giddy. Might get a few bottles for it before prohibition kicks in
Not to go over old ground, but I thought he had a good spell under OāNeill before and during Euro 2016, when Ireland got some success playing a diamond midfield.
It was kinda lopsided, as we played with Walters as a wide attacker on the right and one striker through the middle.
But Hendrick was good playing narrow on either side of the holding midfielder in the diamond, and getting up and down the pitch.
I think heās best in a midfield three or a diamond where he can get around the pitch rather than being in a disciplined central two.
His passing isnāt great (whose is?), but itās more his workrate, support and link up play that stood out. If Kennyās committed to having McCarthy as a holding midfielder in a three, then Hendrick should in theory be able to utilise these qualities again in one of the other midfield spots.
His form nosedived completely for Ireland over the last good while though.
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Orangeman hates McLean bombshell
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A pattern I noticed in the recent friendlies was Hourihane and Hendrick both drifted too far out on their side. Presumably looking to create triangles out wide, but it got wrong somehow and you had 3 in a line, effectively killing all the space for the full backs and wingers and no outball. If this is fixed it should improve.
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After those Euros, a McCarthy-Hendrick-Brady midfield looked like the future. Injuries disrupted it and then Brady has been shunted around the place a lot when selected. But they worked very well together when fit.
That team played plenty of good football under MON.