New Ireland Manager’s Predicted Starting XI for Finland Showdown

After the disastrous opening two matches of the Heimir Hallgrimsson era in September against England and Greece at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the new Republic of Ireland boss must now prepare his new side for two away games against Finland and Greece.

The Ireland Team we want to see take on Finland.

The same old problems were evident in those two defeats in September but let’s hope the new manager will be able to formulate a plan and deliver some much needed results in the two big away games against the Finnish and Greece. Below, is the starting eleven we believe will give him the best chance of doing so.

GK: Caoimhin Kelleher

The Liverpool shot stopper is still quite secure in his position as Ireland’s number 1 in the continued absence of Gavin Bazunu through injury. The Cork man has proven when given the chance at Anfield that he is capable of being a high quality first choice goalkeeper somewhere, so is a no brainer to start both games against Finland and Greece.

RB: Festy Ebosele

The on loan Watford player will be hoping to start as many games as he can for his new club which should push him into the reckoning for a regular starting spot with the national team. Given the issues we currently have on the right hand side of defence with Seamus Coleman’s ongoing injury problems and Matt Doherty’s lack of game time at Wolves, it may be worth giving the Wexford man his opportunity to show his worth in an Ireland shirt.

CB: Nathan Collins

Another of the manager’s guaranteed starters Collins has firmly established himself as the Republic of Ireland’s main option at centre half. The former Burnley man has played every game for Thomas Frank’s Brentford game so far this campaign, and captained the national side during the home game against Greece.

CB: Dara O’ Shea

A big money signing for Ipswich from Burnley as they look to survive in the Premier League, O’ Shea looks to be best option to pair alongside Collins at the moment if the Ireland manager decides to play with a back 4 in these two Nations League games. The 25 year old is versatile also though and can easily slot in to a back 3 or do a job in one of the full back positions if required.

LB: Liam Scales

The Celtic player is currently Ireland’s only regular starter at a Champions League club, having become a mainstay of Brendan Rodgers Celtic side over the last 12 months. Though he is primarily a centre back for his club, he is pushed out to left back here, where he is more than capable of doing a better job than the other options Hallgrimsson has at his disposal. Solid in possession he will also offer defensive protection on the left side with the more attacking Ebosele playing on the opposite wing.

CM: Josh Cullen

The Burnley man missed the September internationals through injury but will surely slot back into his defensive midfield role in the Irish team after appearing in every Burnley game since his return. The 28 year old is fully expected to add to his 36 caps over the next two games in a part of the pitch Ireland have struggled in for many years.

CM: Jayson Molumby

If Will Smallbone is missing with the hamstring injury that has ruled him out of Southampton’s last few matches the next choice is probably West Brom’s Jayson Molumby. The West Brom man has found himself out of the Baggies line-up over recent weeks, but did start Ireland’s first two Nations League matches against England and Greece which should see him given the nod over Jamie McGrath or even Ipswich player Jack Taylor.

RW: Chiedozie Ogbene

Ogbene who has consistently been Ireland biggest attacking threat over the last couple of years has had a quiet enough start to his Ipswich career since his move from Luton in the summer. He has rarely let Ireland down though since making his debut for the national team in 2021, and his pace, power and work ethic mean he is almost guaranteed to start against Finland on October 10th.

CF: Troy Parrott

The Dubliner is arguably Ireland’s most in form player at the moment hitting 5 goals already for his new club AZ Alkmaar since his summer move. He also scored the winner for John O’ Shea’s Ireland team against Hungary in the summer, which made it strange he did not see any action at all during the September internationals. His current form more than justifies his selection in our team however, so let’s hope he can bring his club football form into the Irish setup.

LW: Sammie Szmodics

Ogbene’s new teammate at Ipswich, the former Blackburn man earned his Premier League move by hitting 33 goals for the club in the Championship last season. He has already found the net for his new club and will be hoping to kick on over the coming months as he looks to establish himself in the EPL.

ST: Adam Idah

With doubts around the fitness and form of Evan Ferguson, Idah gets the nod on the basis that he has been appearing regularly for Celtic, mostly from the bench however, but he has scored 4 goals already this season, including 1 in the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava.

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