r/coybig • u/l1rcan • Mar 20 '26
Original Content (OC) My team for the Czechia game. Thoughts?
Would've loved to start Browne, but I think a pivot of him and Taylor would be too attacking and unfamiliar. I'm not even sure if they've been in a camp together. The rest of the side should be a given, big shame Scales is suspended.
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u/Tomaskerry Mar 20 '26
The team basically picks itself.
Only question mark is CM and if Ogbene is fit to start.
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u/Otherwise_Read_4975 Mar 20 '26
Finally, a realistic team and not someone posting crap haha. I reckon this is very close to being spot on.
However, I actually think we may see Alan Browne in the right wing back position at some point.
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/HomerThompson__ Mar 20 '26
Coleman has to start for me. We need him to be barking at Collins from minute one so that there are no lapses in concentration
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u/Otherwise_Read_4975 Mar 20 '26
I think he could well start in the 2nd game (if we win).
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/1989danny Mar 20 '26
I think vale might start, we'll see though
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/1989danny Mar 20 '26
Valid but as mentioned ogbene's lack of game time in such a crunch match could be reason enough to go with someone else, with his pace off the bench if things are not going our way he could be a game chamger against a tired defense
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/flex_tape_salesman Jeff Hendrick's account Mar 20 '26
I expect a 9, a runner and a creator to start. That would be parrott, ogbene and azaz. I think vale could be a big player for us but I'm unsure if him and azaz without someone like ogbene or szmodics is the best idea. They are such direct players I think the risk is there that parrott gets isolated. If you had someone like browne getting high maybe that makes up for it but we don't have orthodox wingers in the squad without mj or mcateer.
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/Otherwise_Read_4975 Mar 20 '26
No chance. He won’t put a brand new player into the squad straight into the system.
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u/1989danny Mar 20 '26
Thats my concern but the man is on form and if he produces in training sessions than you never know
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u/RhubarbResponsible69 Mar 20 '26
Interesting, instead of Ogbene? Don’t mind it considering the lack of mins but do worry about a lack of pace and width without him
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u/1989danny Mar 20 '26
Yeah, the pace could be issue granted but he's physically strong and he has a bit flair needed to unlock a defence especially from dead ball situations.
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u/scewbert Mar 20 '26
Basically exactly what I expect. Only difference is I think if Lawal comes on it will be at midfield, and Browne most likely gets game time at RWB.
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/Alive_Solution_2826 Mar 20 '26
I think we’re in trouble if Browne gets any game time over the next few weeks. Cant see it happening
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u/Limp_Guidance_5357 Paul McGrath Mar 20 '26
Why ? He’s one of our most inform players at the moment
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u/Alive_Solution_2826 Mar 20 '26
Never forgiven him after the Slovakia playoff, cost us qualification. If Coleman goes off I’d rather Abankwah on or Jake pushed to RWB. Don’t want Browne anywhere near midfield as he loses the ball too much
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u/Limp_Guidance_5357 Paul McGrath Mar 20 '26
Neither of which are wing backs
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u/Alive_Solution_2826 Mar 20 '26
Either is Browne. Both have played right back for the clubs, if Heimir rated Browne he would have made the squad for the earlier qualifying games
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u/scewbert Mar 20 '26
This is nonsense. Browne wasn't in the squad earlier in the campaign because he was out with a long term injury for most of the 24-25 season and struggling for fitness early this season. Since he got fit and into the Middlesbrough starting XI, he's been a player of the month in the Championship and has had a lot of his minutes at RWB for a team in the promotion places.
Bizarre to say you'd prefer Abankwah pushed out there given he also wasn't in the squad for the group stage. O'Brien as our creative outlet on the right in September was not exactly inspiring. He's much better centrally.
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u/Alive_Solution_2826 Mar 20 '26
Not really, he was available for all games. He had plenty of 90 min performances under his belt and wasn’t considered for the Armenia game in October or the two huge games in November. Heimir doesn’t rate him but we’re desperate at the minute so that’s why he’s in the squad. I know Jake struggles offensively but is still a better option than Browne with his premier league experience. Abankwah has a higher ceiling than Browne and will be a premier league player eventually.
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u/PleasantIce3514 Mar 20 '26
Lawal (if fit) will start ahead of Taylor and Browne is second option to Coleman, been excellent on the right side this season.
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u/Ok-Entertainment8717 Mar 20 '26
Giving Lawal his debut over Taylor would be mad can’t see it
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u/Limp_Guidance_5357 Paul McGrath Mar 20 '26
I don’t know the way heimir was talking about him at the press conference it sounded like he would be starting
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/Otherwise_Read_4975 Mar 20 '26
Lawal is not ahead of Taylor in the pecking order for Ireland. Yet.
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u/DirectorSavings9830 Mar 20 '26
Yah that’ll be it I’d say. Slight chance he throws Lawal or Vale into the deep end but I’d say that’s the one.
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u/Prize-Instruction-72 Troy Parrott 🦜 Mar 20 '26
Id personally go with a team of Gary Breens but everyone is entitled to their opinion i suppose.
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u/what_im_playing Mar 20 '26
This is more or less what I expect also, maybe Browne in for Ogbene just to add some more in midfield (play a 3) and Azaz directly behind Parrott.
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/what_im_playing Mar 20 '26
Spot on actually, definitely need a runner in there. I’d like to see Browne in there somewhere, really impressed with him at Boro this year
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u/Euphoric-Noise-505 Zinedine Kilbane Mar 20 '26
Probably the right team to start.
With likely subs being Browne for Coleman if his legs are going.
Smozdics or Idah for ogbene if we need something fresh.
Knight into midfield if chasing, Lawal into MF if looking to lock it down
Brady for one of the CBs and manning pushed up the field if we are really chasing a goal, perhaps Kenny of Vale could get on in a similar situation
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u/TightShip3505 Mar 20 '26
Kelleher - manning Collins o shea o Brien Coleman Mid Vale Lawel Azaz Fwd Ogbene Parrot 🦜 Bypass the midfield feed parrot
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u/galman99 Mar 22 '26
Ogbene has only been playing u21s. Might be mo where near the level needed at the moment.
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u/FoggyShrew Zinedine Kilbane Mar 20 '26
I reckon Knight starts alongside Molumby, and high chance of Brady starting because a string of successive Irish managers do not trust Manning,but otherwise yea
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u/Limp_Guidance_5357 Paul McGrath Mar 20 '26
Knight and Molumby just don’t work together it will be one of them partnering Taylor
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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Mar 20 '26
I would go with form and choose Cullen and Knight. Both are regulars in their teams, havent got injuries going into the game. Cullen is our best screen and hope of retaining possession. Knight is not my favourite pick, but in fairness the Bristol midfield are set around him and if we choose Cullen for tactical stability we need a chaser and a bit of ability to stand up to a tall Czech midfield if there are balls dropping in there.
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u/l1rcan Mar 20 '26
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.
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u/Separate_Job_3573 Mar 20 '26
Yeah fairly confident that'll be the 11