O’NEILL HAS TO RALLY IRELAND’S RESERVES
O’Neill is short of sure starters
STEVE Bruce’s sacking by Aston Villa yesterday marked the start of the annual October managerial cull. Ahead of the autumnal international double-header, chief executives across the Irish Sea traditionally get trigger-happy and many managers will be desperate for a decent result this weekend to avoid the guillotine.
Steve Bruce got the heave-ho after one win in nine Championship games, a record not too dissimilar to Martin O’Neill, whose Irish team has won twice in their last nine competitive games.
Currently, there is no enthusiasm within the FAI to move against O’Neill, but the mood among the blazers could shift if the next two Nations League games go badly after competitive hammerings by Denmark (5-1) and Wales (4-1).
The Danes have lost Christian Eriksen for the game in Dublin due to a stomach muscle injury and the Welsh have concerns over Gareth Bale, but it is nothing to O’Neill’s selection problems.
In an ideal world, the Derry man could pick a team to face the Danes on Saturday week along these lines: Darren Randolph; Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clark, Cyrus Christie; Jon Walters, Jeff Hendrick, Declan Rice, James McClean; Robbie Brady; Shane Long.
Most Irish supporters would agree that’s an XI capable of applying a bandage to the Nations League bleeding. Yet four of those are injured to varying degrees (Coleman, Walters, Brady and Long) while a fifth (Rice) has asked not to be considered while he considers an England switch.
Of the back-up boys, Harry Arter remains unavailable until Roy Keane says sorry, while neither Sean Maguire nor James McCarthy are match fit.
It leaves O’Neill with little skin on the deal as he names his squad at Aviva Stadium today.
He can expect a grilling regarding Rice’s future and whether Keane’s verbal attack on Arter played a part in the West Ham teenager’s decision to review his international options.
This paper has remained consistent that Rice has an issue with Keane since that eruption in the team hotel, which Rice witnessed. More likely, it is Gareth Southgate who can shed light on the Rice riddle today when he names his England squad for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain.
As things stand, the vibes from the Rice camp indicate the 19-year-old’s Irish flirtation is over, which would be a huge blow to O’Neill as Rice could be a 15-year mainstay, as well as a future captain.
As for the current skipper, Coleman hasn’t played since September 6 because of a stress fracture to his foot sustained in Cardiff and the stance of Marco Silva suggests his return will be in blue, not green. The Everton manager is keen to arrange practise games behind closed doors during the international break for Coleman, McCarthy and other players on their way back.
Would he allow Coleman, who was injured playing for Ireland, make his return at international level rather than his club? It’s not likely, although Coleman will be desperate to come over and play some part.
Brady is in a similar position and would need Sean Dyche to look very favourably on any request to make his comeback for Ireland before he does so for Burnley.
As for Long, his toe issue ‘is not settling down’, according to Southampton manager Mark Hughes, after a scan showed a fracture which will rule the striker out for a few weeks.
It leaves O’Neill with a weaker hand than he had in Cardiff, especially in attack where Ronan Curtis, who scored Portsmouth’s winner in League One on Tuesday night, can expect another call-up. Perhaps David McGoldrick, playing regularly for Sheffield United in the Championship at 31, should be considered for a recall.
Much was made of the encouraging efforts of Kevin Long, John Egan, Enda Stevens, Shaun Williams, Aiden O’Brien and Matt Doherty in the 1-1 draw with Poland in Wroclaw.
Some of them can expect even greater responsibility against the Danes on Saturday week.