Time for Martin and Roy to make their minds up.
After Ireland took a point from two qualifiers against Scotland you might have been forgiven for thinking a pre-Euro 2016 friendly between the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands would see the Dutch preparing for France.
Instead Danny Blind and his team, who shockingly failed to make the finals, arrive in Dublin as lab rats upon which Martin O’Neill will perform some last-minute experimentation.
The Ireland boss has already indicated he will not name his final squad until after Tuesday’s friendly against Belarus in Cork, so we can expect O’Neill to try a few more combinations in the Aviva Friday night as he looks to whittle his travelling party down to 23.
The defence and forward divisions, through injury and lack of options, look pretty predictable, but O’Neill has some serious decisions to make in the midfield, where the likes of Stephen Quinn, David Meyler (absent on play-off duty), Eunan O’Kane, Darron Gibson and Harry Arter are all pushing for spots alongside the definite travellers.
So, this is no normal friendly XI O’Neill is picking. He needs to run the rule over the borderline squad members, give game time to the likes of Aiden McGeady, who have played very little club football, and keep building towards that all important Group E opener with Sweden on June 13th in Paris.
What team should Martin O'Neill pick against the Dutch on Friday? Tweet us and @SPARIreland with your starting XI #COYBIG
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 24, 2016
So, in the spirit of cooperation we asked you to pick your team to take on Dutch on Friday evening.
What team should Martin O'Neill pick against the Dutch on Friday? Tweet us and @SPARIreland with your starting XI #COYBIG
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 24, 2016
Some of you are happy with the defence but want to have a look at the Bournemouth boys in midfield.
Randolph, Coleman, Clark, Duffy, Brady, McClean, Hendrick, O'Kane, Arter, Walters, Long
— James G (@Jimbo_G_81) May 25, 2016
Some think Shay Given needs some game time, and Daryl Murphy needs a goal (just one goal!) if he is to make the plane.
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Given, Coleman, Clark, Duffy, Ward, McClean, Hendrick, O'Kane, McGeady, Walters, Murphy
— Enda Conway (@EndaConway) May 26, 2016
Others want Keiren Westwood to play two games in a weekend, which seems harsh. (However here at SportsJOE we are big fans of the Sheffield Wednesday keeper and also believes he deserves a shot.)
https://twitter.com/KevKc/status/735188042558775297
Think we need to test out a few more players before O'Neill's final decision. So this: pic.twitter.com/5wQkTRuyXf
— Niall Swan (@NiallMacSuain) May 25, 2016
We also approve of any team that has Jon Walters at the sharp end.
Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Clark, Ward, Arter, McCarthy, McClean, Hoolahan, Brady, Walters
— Andrew Pierse (@AndrewPierse) May 26, 2016
Most recognise the need to give Seamus Coleman some minutes after his hamstring injury, but will Robbie be asked to run around so soon after arriving from the US of A?
. @SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph, Coleman, O'Shea, Keogh, Brady, McCarthy, Hendrick, Walters, Hoolahan, Keane, Long
— Kevin Mc Gillicuddy (@KMcGillicuddy86) May 26, 2016
Some of you just can’t get over the past.
bonner irwin Mccarthy mcgrath Staunton Houghton keane whealan townsend cascarino quinn
— Graham O'hare (@GrahamOhare) May 24, 2016
While others know a good thing when they see it.
1) Gary Breen, 2) Gary Breen, 3) Gary Breen, 4) Gary Breen ……I think you know where I'm going with this 😂
— Cathal (@CathalU2ie) May 25, 2016
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