Comeback pair in Silva service
O’Neill ripped to shreds as TV pundit Andrews tells him: You don’t know what you’re doing
MARCO SILVA claims Andre Gomes and James McCarthy will boost Everton when they return from injury.
And the Goodison pair are poised for first-team action after coming through a training match unscathed.
Blues boss Silva said: “Gomes is working with confidence and, in his mind, he is strong while McCarthy is another quality player. He’s powerful and strong in the challenge.” MARTIN O’NEILL is facing calls for him to be sacked after being branded ‘clueless’. changing, but do I think it should? Probably.
“It has been one of the worst years in living memory in Irish football, it’s has been that bad.
“A lot of it is down Martin, of course it is.
“There has also been the loss of the old guard, certain players retiring, top-quality individuals that have made a difference at key times.
“But you have to play the hand you are dealt. There is no transfer window, you can’t go and buy players. Ireland should still be doing better over the last year.”
Andrews’ blast came after to the latest Wales defeat on Tuesday night which leaves Republic of Ireland fearing relegation from their Nations League group, which also includes Denmark.
Andrews added on Sky: “O’Neill mentioned technical ability, and we do lack that in certain areas, but they don’t have a clue what they’re doing.
“Matt Doherty, when he is in a Wolves shirt, he drives down the right-hand side and knows Helder Costa or Jota are rolling inside. He has two or three options.
“The players that have shone in an Ireland jersey in the last five to 10 years are the ones with that technical ability who can drop shoulders and open up the game a little bit. Now we have players like Jeff Hendrick, Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie playing midfield – I don’t agree with it.”
O’Neill should also forget about trying to find a like-forlike replacement for Robbie Keane, Ireland’s 68-goal record scorer.
“Martin keeps going on about Robbie Keane – leave it. Before Robbie, our top goalscorers got 20 goals in their international career,” said Andrews. “That’s normal for our country. Robbie Keane was a one-off.
“What you have to do is stop moaning about what you have and try to create a team spirit because the more they hear that, what’s it going to do for their confidence?
“You’ve seen the reaction from them at the end. The morale is rock bottom at the moment.”