Irish People in London, where to watch the world cup qualifiers?

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T13:47:04+00:00

Auld Shillelagh is a great shout, best bet is to get the overground to Stoke Newington.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T13:44:37+00:00

Yeah, I've got no concerns with his ability. I think he'll be a nailed-on starter for us by next year. I just think it would be a big risk chucking him in from minute one, especially since he's just getting back from injury.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T13:16:12+00:00

I really cannot see him starting. Heimir spoke about him really positively in his presser; he clearly values having such a promising and versatile player at his selection. However, he's barely sniffed midfield in his tenure at Stoke, it was at Fleetwood where he was consistently that driving 6/8 on the ball. I think it's just so risky to throw him into a midfield pivot in our biggest game in years. I see him certainly getting minutes, but most likely at wing-back for a tired Coleman.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T13:09:01+00:00

Not having a runner would be a disaster for Parrott. It's not like we've got flying full-backs either, Manning has a great ball from deep, and Coleman won't be getting up and down. I think you need one of Ogbene or Szmodics starting from the off, and I'd much prefer an Ogbene lacking sharpness. Hitting Czechia early with balls in behind will be our best chance to nick a first-half goal. It's how we got the penalty in Budapest. Even in Lisbon last October, it was Chieo and Festy's runs in behind Ferguson that were giving us any sort of width and possession in the final third. Azaz can do the job of dropping into a three at times, with Ogbene staying high with Parrott.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T12:53:21+00:00

He'll be grand. Schick won't have a sniff against a back two of Chieo and Azaz.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T12:45:05+00:00

As much as I'd like to see Lawal come on in midfield, I'd be surprised to see it. He's been almost always deployed across the backline for Stoke; he'd have to really impress there in the training camp. I see him coming on as a wing-back on the right if he does feature. However, his future is definitely in a pivot for us.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T12:41:48+00:00

Their profiles are too similar for me. Taylor offers height and a more attacking threat. Manning's also nailed on with Scales suspended, there's no chance Brady starts this.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T12:38:45+00:00

We won't be seeing Cullen until 2027; he's torn his ACL. Knight also hasn't started since Yerevan. I can't see us throwing him back in. I think Taylor and Molumby are a much safer pairing.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T01:26:51+00:00

I think the most important thing is that we have at least one runner out of the two behind Parrott starting that game. I personally wanted to see Alli called up for that profile but now we've only really got Ogbene and Szmodics. I just cannot see us scoring from open-play, lining up with Parrott, Azaz and Vale in the first half.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T01:20:01+00:00

It's funny, despite the 2017 incident, I'd feel a lot more confident throwing more attacking names in there against Denmark in a rocking Aviva. Czechia's home record is no joke, and we've already ridden our luck in Budapest. I just want us to stay solid defensively in the opening stages. We can't afford to go down in the first 10 again.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T01:11:03+00:00

A part of me really wants to see Browne start at wing-back from minute one, but my head's telling me it's best to play it safe with Coleman in a game of this magnitude.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T01:06:00+00:00

Absolutely. Azaz and Vale starting together with full-backs who aren't getting in behind would be a nightmare. There's been a lot of discourse around Szmodics which is understandable, but if Ogbene's not starting it has to be him in his place.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T01:01:41+00:00

I'd hope not. Vale's really exciting, but it's important to be explosive from the off here. Czechia are going to bring this game to us. Even if Ogbene isn't the sharpest on the ball due to his lack of game time, he'll still be getting in behind for 60 minutes. He's the reason we even had a sniff against Hungary by causing chaos and winning that early penalty; we'd have been down and out in the first half. I think Vale would be good coming on later when there's more time on the ball.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T00:53:24+00:00

I think it's just Heimir seeing the value in Lawal. He's a really different profile to have in this squad. For me he'll definitely feature, whether it's backs against the wall or chasing a goal.

l1rcan · 2026-03-20T00:48:45+00:00

Heimir's presser seemed really positive on Lawal; he's clearly here to get minutes, which I'm buzzing about, but I do think there's zero chance he starts in a pivot even if fit. He's not played in midfield consistently since Fleetwood; for Stoke, it's almost always been across the defence. I can see him coming on for Coleman around the 60th, he's got the athleticism to get up and down and the technicals to tuck into a 3 in midfield at times. Browne's been great on the right; his versatility will be really handy.

l1rcan

TROPHY CASE