Axe set to fall on unlucky few as O’Neill sharpens his focus ahead of Euros cull
FROM the modern wonders of Wembley yesterday to the unpretentious confines of Turner’s Cross on Tuesday, Martin O’Neill is overseeing one last pre-Euro 2016 sweep.
Not much before the 11pm deadline in two days’ time, the Ireland manager will submit to UEFA the 23 players he will lean on for European Championship battle.
‘It’s not easy, and it won’t be easy,’ he stressed. ‘Some have made a bigger impact that others, some have been around a wee bit longer than others, although that doesn’t give them the automatic right to be in the squad.
‘There will be one or two tough decisions to make but that is my job. There will be disappointment of course, that’s the nature of it.’
No previous Ireland manager has left it so late to name a squad for a major tournament but O’Neill feels justified in keeping those on the bubble on their toes.
By now, so close to the deadline, O’Neill has his mind all but made up on the key decisions which remain, chiefly who to jettison from the quartet of ‘keepers, and whether to bring an extra midfielder or a fifth forward.
With one, maybe two, exceptions, O’Neill’s final selection will reward those players who soldiered in the trenches over 12 qualifiers.
Asked on Friday night after the 1-1 draw with Holland if Keiren Westwood, the goalkeeper of the season in the Championship and who was excellent in Sheffield Wednesday’s play-off defeat to Hull City yesterday, could do anything more to earn selection, O’Neill’s reply was intriguing.
‘I’ll make the calls. And there’s a number of things that you make calls on. So there’s no point in me elaborating on that.’
The eight defenders appear secure with Shane Duffy joining John O’Shea, Richard Keogh and Ciaran Clark – the latter trained yesterday and should partner Keogh in Cork. Seamus Coleman and Robbie Brady are the first choice full-backs with Stephen Ward and Cyrus Christie as cover.
Across midfield, six players are certain to travel. Glenn Whelan, Wes Hoolahan, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean, Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy, who is due to resume training tomorrow.
That would leave two slots if O’Neill decides he can get by on four forwards, one of them being Jonathan Walters.
Stephen Quinn has a competitive edge about him that O’Neill leaned on frequently in the qualifiers and it was the flame-haired midfielder’s intercept on Friday which ignited Ireland’s wee spell on the front foot against the Dutch.
Quinn is likely to make the cut which would leave the last place between Darron Gibson, Bournemouth boys, Eunan O’Kane and Harry Arter, and David Meyler.
‘David Meyler has played a big part for us,’ acknowledged O’Neill.
‘I’ll never forget the blocks he made as emergency right back against Germany. He didn’t blink at being told he was going to play there. He did it brilliantly, magnificently, forcefully.’
Arter buzzed about when others may not have been so enthusiastic. He shipped a booking and had to be wary thereafter but his high energy levels could swing his selection over Meyler.
‘That’s the way Harry plays. I’m not so sure you can take that away from it. I think you can hone it in,’ said O’Neill.
A late curve ball is the availability of David McGoldrick, a deep-lying forward of vision and languid style. Is he perhaps too lackadaisical for O’Neill, who places a premium on using the ball wisely?
‘He’s not lackadaisical. He’s just searching for that proper fitness, from what I call big matches. This (Holland) was a big match for him. I like David,’ he said.
If Holland was big for McGoldrick, Belarus is huge for Kevin Doyle, who may have to claim the match ball to elbow someone out of the 23.
What counts against him is his negligible contribution to the Euros, just 27 minutes against gormless Gibraltar. Shane Long, Walters, Robbie Keane and Daryl Murphy all made a far greater impact.
At least Doyle can expect to be involved after his 4,400 mile trip from Colorado. ‘We’ll change the side around,’ said O’Neill. ‘Robbie Keane will start. Murph (Murphy) has to start. McGeady will start.
‘I’ll have to find a place for Doyler (Doyle) if he’s travelling all that distance, otherwise he might take my head off,’ he said in jest.
Others might feel equally blood-thirsty towards O’Neill if the Euro axe falls on them on Tuesday evening.