Now it’s getting serious.
Martin O’Neill has named his provisional squad for the upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia and there are a number of players making a dash to make their way further up his pecking order.
With some FA Cup ties and fixture postponements, not everyone was in action with their clubs but there has been some serious shifting in the top half of the country’s top 30 players.
Fresh from his goalscoring exploits and man of the match performance with Burnley in their win against Huddersfield, Stephen Ward’s already consistent displays have improved further and the left back has barged his way into the top 10.
He’s joined there by fellow full back and Wolves star Matt Doherty who has justified his call-up to O’Neill’s provisional squad with the best performances of any Irish player on current form. (Remember, Championship players are ranked lower.)
A reminder of the stipulations:
- Only league games are considered (based on the WhoScored rating each player receives).
- Stats only include Premier League and Championship performances.
- Each player’s last three league games constitutes their form rating.
- 0.5 will be deducted for each match a player misses in his own ‘Last Three Games’ period.
- To account for standard, Championship players will be rated at 80% of their form.
Shane Duffy and John O’Shea are hogging the centre half positions whilst Rob Elliot keeps his place as the country’s top-rated goalkeeper for a second week in a row.
Here’s the form-based starting 11.
For the first time. Robbie Brady is freed to move away from his full back role but, if we were going solely on the top 11, Seamus Coleman also has to move to make room.
Alternatively, Matt Doherty can be shifted to his usual left back slot, Coleman can drop back and 12th highest ranked Irishman James McClean can come into one of the flanks.
