The most in-form Irish players of the last three months.
For 13 weeks, we’ve been tracking the form of Martin O’Neill’s options in Euro 2016
Shane Long, Robbie Brady, James McCarthy, and Glenn Whelan have been ever-presents in the weekly stats-based team.
In all, 27 men featured at one stage or another on the team of the week according to the statistics but, throughout, we saw some radical changes in shape and personnel.
Week one
Straight away, it was clear that the science would work.
The best players were on the form team – and Paul McShane and Mark Bunn squeezed their way into contention as well. Before Villa’s season went from disastrous to hilarious of course and Bunn eventually lost his place.
Week two
Players out: Mark Bunn, Jon Walters.
Players in: Keiren Westwood, Harry Arter.
Week three
Players out: Keiren Westwood, Paul McShane, James McClean, Wes Hoolahan.
Players in: Mark Bunn, Shane Duffy, Alan Judge, Jon Walters.
Week four
Players out: Mark Bunn, Shane Duffy.
Players in: Rob Elliot, Wes Hoolahan.
Fairly ambitious formation, mind you.
Week five
Players out: Alan Judge, Jon Walters, Harry Arter.
Players in: Stephen Ward, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy.
Week six
Players out: Matt Doherty, Stephen Ward.
Players in: James McClean, Jon Walters.
Week seven
Players out: Shane Duffy, John O’Shea, Wes Hoolahan.
Players in: Paul McShane, Greg Cunningham, Eunan O’Kane.
Week eight
Players out: Greg Cunningham, Stephen Ward, Eunan O’Kane.
Players in: Richard Keogh, Matt Doherty, Alan Judge.
Week nine
Players out: Paul McShane, Alan Judge.
Players in: Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark.
Week 10
Players out: Richard Keogh, Rob Elliott.
Players in: Greg Cunningham, Keiren Westwood.
Week 11
Players out: Seamus Coleman.
Players in: Stephen Quinn.
Week 12
Players out: Greg Cunningham, Matt Doherty, Stephen Quinn.
Players in: Darron Gibson, Wes Hoolahan, David McGoldrick.
Week 13
Players out: Keiren Westwood, Cyrus Christie, Darron Gibson.
Players in: Darren Randolph, John O’Shea, Jon Walters.
The key players hit form at the right time and it left Ireland’s realistic team with a realistic formation looking like this.
The injured Seamus Coleman (who’s back in training) and maybe Richard Keogh are the only potential starters not featuring in the form team that the stats have thrown up.
List of players on stats-based team of the week
Robbie Brady – 13
Glenn Whelan – 13
Shane Long – 13
James McCarthy – 13
Seamus Coleman – 10
James McClean – 10
Wes Hoolahan – 7
John O’Shea – 7
Rob Elliot – 6
Jon Walters – 5
Ciaran Clark – 5
Matt Doherty – 5
Keiren Westwood – 4
Cyrus Christie – 4
Paul McShane – 4
Shane Duffy – 3
Harry Arter – 3
Alan Judge – 3
Greg Cunningham – 3
Richard Keogh – 2
Stephen Ward – 2
David McGoldrick – 2
Mark Bunn – 2
Darren Randolph – 1
Stephen Quinn – 1
Eunan O’Kane – 1
Darron Gibson – 1
The science works.
