Is a goalkeeping crisis not being discussed?

With the play-off for Euro 2020 a month away, a lot of the recent discussion on the squad Mick McCarthy is set to announce on March 13th has been on the strikers - will Troy Parrott be named, has Shane Long's recent form earned him a recall, will David McGoldrick be recovered in time, can Aaron Connolly get back into the Brighton starting XI, does Scott Hogan's recent good form count, etc.

However, we think another conversation should be happening - who is going to be in goals against Slovakia?

Since the final whistle was blown against Denmark in November, first choice Darren Randolph played once for Middlesbrough before a thigh injury sidelined him. On recovering, he earned a move to Premier League side West Ham during the January transfer window. Unfortunately the Bray native has only appeared three times for the Hammers since the move, with his last appearance coming a month ago against West Brom in the FA Cup.

Mark Travers was named on the bench against Denmark, and has had a similar player record to Randolph since November - appearing three times for Bournemouth, twice in the FA Cup and once in the Premier League. Fellow unused substitute against the Danes Kieran O'Hara has played more games than any other number 1 since then, he's named in the starting XI for loan side Burton Albion, 21 times since that night in Aviva stadium. The Brewers currently sit twelfth in League One.

Looking at the other Irish goalkeepers playing outside Ireland, only five men - James McKeown, Jack Bonham, Max O'Leary, Danny Rogers, and Conrad Logan - have ten or more appearances since November, and none of them at a higher level than mid-table in England's third tier.

Of the other players capped at, or called up to, senior international level, Joe Murphy has appeared six times for Shrewsbury Town, Kristiansund's Sean McDermott's season ended in early December, and the Norwegian 2020 season will not kick off until early April. Caoimhin Kelleher has played twice for Liverpool, but is expected to be on U21 duty, and Kieren Westwood clarified on Twitter recently why he has not appeared for Sheffield Wednesday since the end of November.

So, with all that in mind - do we have a goalkeeping crisis?
Who would you like to see named in the squad?

Round up for weekend of Saturday, 23rd November 2019

Saturday, 23rd November 2019

Premier League

Arsenal 2-2 Southampton

Michael Obafemi started a game for Southampton for the first time in two months

Championship

Derby County 1-0 Preston North End

Joe Rafferty was booked for the first time this season - almost a year after his last yellow card in December 2018

Luton 1-2 Leeds United

James Collins' goal was his first strike in two months

Stoke City 2-1 Wigan

Stephen Ward was booked for the first time this season - 15 months after his last booking in August 2018
James McClean's first booking in two months was also his fifth yellow card of 2019/20

Swansea 0-1 Millwall

Alex Pearce made his 25th appearance for Millwall, two months after his last appearance for the Lions

League 1

AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham

Ryan Delaney was booked for the first time since September

Accrington Stanley 7-1 Bolton

Seamus Conneely was booked for the fifth time, and completed his fifth assist for Accrington Stanley in this game

MK Dons 2-3 Rotherham

Joe Mason scored his first goal for MK Dons, this was his first goal since scoring for Colorado Rapids in June 2018

Rochdale 0-3 Portsmouth

Jimmy Keohane started his 25th game for Rochdale
Ronan Curtis scored his 15th and 16th goals in League One

Sunderland 1-1 Coventry

Aiden McGeady's start was his 50th appearance in League One

League 2

Northampton 2-0 Grimsby

James McKeown was booked for the first time this season

Plymouth 2-1 Bradford City

Niall Canavan's own goal was his second for Plymouth, and the third of his career

Swindon Town 1-0 Mansfield Town

Eoin Doyle's goal was his 30th in League Two

Scottish Premier League

Hibernian 3-1 Motherwell

Daryl Horgan scored his tenth goal for Hibernian

St Mirren 2-1 Ross County

Both Sam Foley and Sean McLoughlin scored their first goal for St Mirren

Scottish Championship

Inverness CT 1-0 Dundee

Aaron Doran was booked for the first time this season, and scored his fifth of the season in this game

Slovakian Super Liga

Zemplín Michalovce 5-0 DAC

Connor Ronan's start was the 50th of his career

Sunday, 24th November 2019

Premier League

Sheffield United 3-3 Manchester United

Callum Robinson completed his first assist of the season for Sheffield United's late equaliser

Round up for weekend of Friday, 8th December 2017

Friday, 8th December 2017

Championship

Sheffield United 1-2 Bristol City

Enda Stevens' first booking since October was also his fifth yellow card of the season and he is suspended for the next game

Saturday, 9th December 2017

Premier League

Burnley 1-0 Watford

This was Kevin Long's first appearance in the Premier League this season and his first appearance for Burnley since Tuesday, 19 September

Championship

Aston Villa 0-0 Millwall

Shaun Williams returned from injury as a second half substitute. This was the midfielder's first appearance since Tuesday, 26th September
Glenn Whelan was booked for the fifth time this season and is suspended for the next game

Burton Albion 1-2 Preston North End

Daryl Horgan's late winner was his first goal of the season

Hull City 3-2 Brentford

David Meyler unfortunately scored his first own goal of his career in this game
John Egan scored his first goal since Tuesday, 22nd August and was booked for the second time this season

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Sunderland

Darron Gibson's start against Wolves was his 25th appearance for Sunderland

League 1

Bristol Rovers 3-0 Southend United

Rory Gaffney made his 25th appearance of the season

Charlton 0-1 Portsmouth

Billy Clarke started his first game for Charlton in a month

Oldham 5-1 Northampton

The first goal of Jack Byrne's brace (the second time he's scored twice in a game this season) was the tenth goal of his career, and earned him a spot in the EFL team of the week

#EFL Team of the Week! 💫

Our selection of standout performers from the weekend action >> https://t.co/OxkIVUQynQ pic.twitter.com/6ufuKc6PIk

— EFL (@EFL) December 11, 2017

Sam Foley's consolation for Northampton was his first goal in a month and also his 15th goal in League 1

Plymouth 2-1 Gillingham

Graham Carey made his 250th start in British football

League 2

Cheltenham 1-0 Crewe Alexandra

Eddie Nolan made his 25th appearance for Crewe Alexandra

Colchester 3-1 Exeter

Liam McAlinden made his 25th appearance of the season

Grimsby 1-0 Forest Green

James McKeown was booked for the first time this season, before this the goalkeeper hadn't been booked since September 2016

Scottish Premier League

Kilmarnock 5-1 Partick Thistle

Niall Keown scored the first own goal of his career for Partick in this game

Monday, 11th December 2017

Championship

Reading 2-2 Cardiff

Liam Kelly was booked for the first time this season

Round Up - Week of 4th October 2016

Tuesday, 4 October 2016

Football League Trophy

Bolton 1-0 Blackpool
Eddie Nolan returned to the Blackpool starting XI for his first appearance since Tuesday, 30 August

Cambridge United 2-1 Middlesbrough U23
Coincidentally, Sean Long also returned to the Cambridge starting XI for his first appearance since Tuesday, 30 August

Carlisle United 2-0 Blackburn Rovers U23
Anthony Stokes made his first appearance since 27 August 2016

Fleetwood 0-2 Oldham
After coming off the bench against Bradford a week ago, Cian Bolger made his first start since Tuesday, 30 August

Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Derby County U23
Paul Keegan made his first appearance of the season and was booked for the first time in more than a year

Rochdale 2-1 Notts County
Niall Canavan made his 25th start for Rochdale
Graham Burke's start for Notts County was his first appearance since 31 August 2016

Grimsby 0-1 Leicester City U23
James McKeown was sent off for the first time in his career

Sheffield United 1-2 Walsall
Kevin Toner was booked for the first time this season

Bristol Rovers 0-0 Yeovil
Kevin Dawson was sent off for the first time in his career

AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Plymouth
Connor Smith scored his first goal of his career

Southend United 1-0 Leyton Orient
Alan Dunne made his first appearance of the season, before this the defender had not played since Sunday, 15 November 2015

Millwall 2-1 Gillingham
Emmanuel Osadebe made his 25th appearance for Gillingham

Thursday, 6th October 2016

FIFA World Cup European Qualifying

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Seamus Coleman scored his first goal in what was his 40th appearance for Ireland
Jeff Hendrick was booked for the fifth time in his 20th start for Ireland
James McCarthy made his 40th appearance for Ireland
Robbie Brady made his 30th appearance for Ireland
Shane Long made his 70th appearance for Ireland
Jonathan Walters made his 30th start for Ireland