Not horrifying. That’s what we’re going for.
It’s a bad state of affairs when a suspension to Jeff Hendrick and a couple of potential injuries mean you’re going to Moldova with anxiety.
Such is the life. Such is Ireland.
Hendrick is out for the away game in Chișinău after picking up a yellow on Thursday night and, whilst Robbie Brady is said to be well – nursing a sore head and bruised ribs – but is ruled out with concussion and Martin O’Neill won’t use him for the clash against the group minnows who have leaked seven goals in two games.
Heart like a lion https://t.co/gCGLlF7w3d
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 7, 2016
So there are a number of options that the manager has to line out his team and a number of players who haven’t really been given a proper look-in just yet.
There’s some relatively untried talent in the squad but boys who could go on to flourish.
Eunan O’Kane has just four caps for his country. Stephen Gleeson has two, Callum O’Dowda the same. Adam Rooney has none and yet Ireland opted to bring no striker on the bench with them for the Georgia game, but instead brought two goalkeepers and three centre halves.
If these lads are ever going to get competitive game time, this is the opportunity – but it probably won’t be taken.
Option #1
In the absence of Brady and Hendrick, O’Neill will surely recall Glenn Whelan. That could see the Stoke man sitting alongside McCarthy in midfield and perhaps a free role for Wes Hoolahan who got no game time on Thursday but would come in crucial at breaking down these type of sides.
Option #2
Ireland haven’t played a 4-2-3-1 in a long time but they are more familiar with the diamond formation. Playing that though means you need Robbie Brady and you don’t have him – plus it means putting James McCarthy back into a role he last played against Belgium.
Option #3
If he was to stick with the 4-3-3 shape, he’d again need Brady to make it happen, which we don’t have. We need Brady for everything.
On the pitch above are the realistic options that the manager will use. What would your team be?
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
