Form players should be starting.
He’s scored four goals in eleven Championship starts for Preston, he’s assisted three others. Sean Maguire has slotted into the Preston North End team seamlessly since his arrival at the end of July.
The 23-year-old’s latest heroics came at the weekend against Brentford, when he scored a superb individual goal after a flowing counter-attacking move.
It was a top quality goal, and one that so few Irish players past and present would have the ability to score.
Maguire received the ball near the half-way line on the left wing, and brought it under control immediately with a fine first touch. He cut inside, just showing off that trademark zip and acceleration, and his direct opponent, the Brentford defender, Henrik Dalsgaard had no answer for his dashing drive towards the edge of the box.
Maguire turned him left, turned him right and had him tied in knots, before breezing past him and slotting a low drive to the bottom left corner of the net.
That defender, (Brentford number 22) will be starting in defence for Denmark when we take them on in our crucial world cup qualifier game next Friday, and you can be guaranteed that after Saturday’s cameo, he’ll be hoping Maguire is left on the bench, and he’ll be dealing with Shane Long instead.
Another Denmark squad member, defender Andreas Bjelland, was playing for Brentford on Saturday, and he struggled against Maguire’s verve and swagger.
Great solo goal from @Seani_Maguire_ yesterday pic.twitter.com/OzI2GJYaRS
— billy fisher (@billypnefc) October 29, 2017
Ireland will most likely start with a 4-4-2 formation against Denmark. There is expected to be one change to the team that won in Cardiff, with the suspended David Meyler being replaced by Shane Long, who missed out that day due to injury.
Jeff Hendrick, who was playing in a more advanced role that day, is expected to revert to a more holding midfield berth alongside Arter.
If Martin O’Neill doesn’t undertake a radical character change, Shane Long and Daryl Murphy are predicted then to lead the line.
Now Murphy well deserves his place. His first half brace against Moldova was a continuation of the prolific form he has been in for club Nottingham Forest in the Championship, with six goals to his name in 11 starts.
Murphy is a very useful outlet for Ireland, and he so often offers himself for that out-ball from Ireland’s defence. He will contest, and more often than not, win and hold-up high balls, and he will chase down lost causes like his life depends on it.
His confidence in front of goal is sky-high, which is so crucial for a team that creates so few chances.
Shane Long offers a lot to Ireland, but much of that is similar to what Murphy gives – the main difference being his lack of confidence in front of goal, and his profligacy in front of goal is a vulnerability a team like Ireland simply can’t afford.
And it’s not just with Ireland, he’s been going through the same slump with Southampton – He has only started five games and hasn’t netted once.
On the other hand, Sean Maguire’s dander is up. The whole of Ireland have been backing him, following his every move, cheer-leading his goals, roaring for his inclusion.
But he has confidence for a reason. He has the ability to drop deep to collect a ball, the ability and speed to work off the breaks of Murphy.
Many will use it as a stick to beat him with that he only plays at Championship level, but in all truth, there’s not much difference between that and international football.
Just imagine the confidence that gives him, and compare it to Shane Long, with the criticism and impatience of Ireland fans surely weighing down on him.
Even the strongest characters aren’t immune to such appraisals.
O’Neill will probably stick to the tried and tested, but what’s the point in having an Ace in your hand if you’re not going to use it?
