Talking Points

With the return of English Premier League football, how many of the 32 Irish players registered with English clubs will play in the EPL this season?
Noe Baba has signed for Championship side Birmingham City after his release by Fulham, can he progress to their first team?
It's less than a month to the Euro 2016 qualifiers, will there be any new call ups for those games?
After missing Aston Villa's opener against Bournemouth through injury, will Jack Grealish get a chance to impress the management side before the squad is announced?
Josh Cullen has already appeared three times this season for West Ham in the Europa League, should he be called into the squad to avoid a future tug of war with England for his services?
Similarly, Cillian Sheridan has found the back of the net three times already for new club Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League, is this enough to give the Cavan-born striker his first call up by the manager?
After impressing for Orlando City, Sean St Ledger has signed for Colorado Rapids. Despite playing in the MLS, should he be brought back into the senior setup?
Promising youth midfielder Jack Byrne is on loan in Holland with SC Cambuur, with the U21 campaign yet to complete, should he be promoted to the senior side?
Of the sides promoted to the Championship, who is a prospect for a senior cap? Greg Cunningham is the obvious choice, as a natural left full, but has he spent enough time at a high enough standard to be ready to return to international football?
Several players have been released by sides in England, and Scotland, over the summer. What can be done to entice them to return to play in the League of Ireland, alongside Damien Duff, Keith Fahey, Paddy Madden and Ian Morris?

Irish Abroad player statistics for May 2015

Appearance data for May 2015: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=5
Defender Daniel Devine and midfielder Wes Hoolahan started four wins each, two more than any other player
Hoolahan was substituted in all four of these games which equals Jonathan Walters' record of four substitutions in the final month of the season
Conversely, midfielder Aaron Doran was introduced from the bench more than any other player, the tricky winger came off the bench three times for Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Sean St Ledger continued his American adventure with three draws in May, one more than fellow defender John O'Shea
St Ledger and Devine, along with Aston Villa's Jack Grealish also started more games in May, all three lined out for their respective sides five times, with St Ledger and Devine completing 90 minutes in all five
Everton duo Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy join Hull City trio Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn and Robbie Brady, as well as Richard Dunne, Jonathan Hayes and Grealish in starting three losses in May
Coleman also managed to accumulate three yellow cards in the four games he started
Joey O'Brien managed the rare feat for an outfield player of being an unused substitute more than any other player in May - remaining on the bench for four games in May, just ahead of goalkeeper Jack Bonham who was unused in three games
Daryl Murphy and Shane Long's two strikes were enough to top the scoring charts for Irish players in May, with Murphy scoring one of only two penalties in the month, along with Hoolahan
Murphy's brace came in a single game, which Ipswich still lost 3-2 to Blackburn, while Long's two goals were part of an emphatic win 6-1 for Southampton over Aston Villa

3x3 Reds

The three red cards shown yesterday to Irish players Jack Grealish, Tommy Hoban and Lee Frecklington was the third time this season that three Irish players have been sent off in England. Previous to the current 2014/15 season, it had only happened at most twice in a single season
On the 28th December 2014, Hull City's Stephen Quinn, Southend United's Cian Bolger and Millwall's Shaun Williams were all shown red cards by the referee, while on two months earlier Willams was again given an early bath, alongside Birmingham City's Darren Randolph and Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney.

Talking Points

Lamar Neagle of Seattle Sounders has expressed an interest in playing for the Republic of Ireland, but does he have the ability to replace one of the current squad's wingers - McClean, McGeady, Brady, or Pilkington?
Sean St Ledger is currently on trial at new MLS franchise Orlando City SC, after failing to get a contract at DC United, what would playing in Florida do for his international prospects?
Staying the MLS, with Kevin Doyle linked to Colorado Rapids, will a move to Denver affect his position in the Ireland squad?
Another recent exile is Kevin Foley, after moving to FC Kobenhavn of Denmark. Currently lying second in the Superliga, can playing on the continent get the full back into the senior side?
Kevin Walker scored a superb free kick for his new club Djurgårdens IF of Sweden, should the management team be booking a flight to Stockholm to watch the midfielder?
Following Rob Kiernan's loan move to Birmingham, and ironically moving up the Championship table, can he solidify their backline and make a late push for the play offs?
19 year old former Shelbourne winger Dylan Connolly was named on the bench for Ipswich this weekend, after a protracted transfer was finally completed. With the Tractor Boys challenging for a promotion this season, will we see him in the Premier League next season?
Seamus Coleman was linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich in the weekend's papers, but can he replace Philip Lahm?
With a change in management at Aston Villa, how will this affect the careers of the Irish contingent at Villa Park?
Stephen Henderson returned in goals for Charlton at the weekend, with the keepers in the squad aging, can he make a case for inclusion?

Talking points

Brian Lenihan retained his place in the senior international squad despite still having not made his debut for his new club, should another player have been called up, or is his continuation in the squad a sign of how highly the management rate him?
Jack Grealish was again omitted, but will he be a late call up for the USA friendly?
If their paperwork is completed in time, will David McGoldrick or Cyrus Christie be included in the friendly squad
Following Shane Long's first goal for Southampton, what's a realistic target for the Tipperary striker?
After his loan move to AFC Wimbledon, can Frank Sutherland play his way into the QPR first team?
With Richie Towell's trial at Cardiff City, can other League of Ireland players make their way across the Irish Sea during the close season?
Despite returning to the West Ham bench, Joey O'Brien was omitted from the squad, given the defender's injury history will he retire from international football to prolong his club career?

Talking points

How big a loss are Glenn Whelan and Wes Hoolahan for the upcoming Scotland qualifier? Whelan has been a regular starter since 2008, but Hoolahan has been used sparingly, especially away from home - bearing that in mind, would he have started in Glasgow in three weeks?
Darron Gibson and Jeff Hendrick both played against Germany in midfield, David Meyler was at right full but has played his entire career in the centre of the park, and Paul Green was on standby for the game in Gelsenkirchen. Assuming James McCarthy is fit and starts, which of these players, if any, is poised to step up to partner him against Scotland?
Despite a lacklustre cameo against Gibraltar,  Daryl Murphy has continued scoring for Ipswich, will the former Celtic man be an option in Celtic Park?
Brian Lenihan only trained with the senior team, and didn't make the bench for either qualifier in October. With Seamus Coleman's return to fitness, and Cyrus Christie rumoured to be accepting a call up to the Ireland squad, can the former Cork City player retain his position without appearing for Hull City?
Although a regular starter for Celtic, Anthony Stokes only scored his third and fourth goals of the season last weekend, and claimed an assist against FC Astra, is this enough to keep him in the international manager's thoughts?
Following Darren Randolph's red card last weekend, Colin Doyle made his first league start for Birmingham City since 2012 this week. If he can continue in the first team, can he make a return to the senior side?
Chris McCann made his comeback for Wigan in a friendly this week following another long term injury, can he progress to his clubs first XI and from there to the senior side?
Following more crumbs of information, rumours and leaks, there is still no indication from Jack Grealish which international side he will pledge his allegiance to, should he be called into the senior side for the either the qualifier against Scotland or the friendly against the USA?
In a similar vein, Arsenal's Daniel Crowley was ommitted from England's recent U19 qualifiers amid rumours that he is going to appear for the Boys in Green. The U19's will play their qualifiers in Waterford's RSC in November, given that Crowley previously appeared for both England and Ireland's U17 sides, should he be included in the squad?

Talking points

Is there anything more to be read into Jack Grealish's withdrawal from the U21 squad for their friendly on Thursday against Norway, other than his ongoing contract negotiations and a behind closed doors game for his club?
With Everton duo James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman both injured, what impact will their absence from the squad have in the two upcoming qualifiers?
Premier League defender Damien Delaney was omitted from the final squad for the qualifiers in favour of several players from the Championship - should he be involved, despite Crystal Palace's recent form?With Roy Keane's book being leaked, what (if any) repercussions will the revelations contained in it have in the current Ireland and Aston Villa setups?
Alan O'Brien made his first start for Millwall last weekend, can we expect to see the U21 striker progress to the senior international side in the near future?
Congratulations are in order for Hull City's Brian Lenihan on his call up to the senior internaitonal side, but are there other players with more recent playing experience (in England, Scotland and the League of Ireland) who deserved a call up?With his inexperience at this level, should he be given a run out against Gibraltar, to prepare for the following game against Germany?
Following Poland's seven goals against the Gibraltarians, what scoreline should Martin O'Neill's men be looking to get on Saturday?
Will Daryl Murphy's recent form mean his first Irish goal will come in the next two games?
Should key players be rested in what will surely be our easiest qualifier - at home against Gibraltar - so they can be ready for our toughest - away against Germany?