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Post by lyonsee on May 3, 2006 10:07:15 GMT
After the great start for Staunton against Sweden we need to build on it and continue to give the new faces much needed experience. Liked the formation last time and would stick with it. The team I'd like to see start:
-----------------------Given---------------------
J O'Brien----A O'Brien----Dunne----Finnan
-----------S Reid------------O'Shea-----------
McGeady--------Keane--------------Duff
--------------------Doyle--------------------
Stevie Ireland should get more of a run than he did last time I think. Maybe he could take Keane's role as I'd like to see Doyle and McGeady play 90 minutes. Here's a bit of a poser - could Keane drop back and play where O'Shea is? Don't like having O'Shea in my team but he probably just shades Kavanagh for a place. Alternatively sub Duff for Ireland and move Keane out left of the three with Ireland central. Doesn't really matter for the purpose of the friendly but thinking a bit longer term we do have options. Would really love a decent centre-half to emerge from nowhere to partner Dunne.
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Post by therock67 on May 3, 2006 10:54:49 GMT
Not a bad starting lineup - agree with giving McGeady and Doyle the 90 minutes to get them plenty of experience so they're a viable option when the qualifiers come around. Doyle looks like he'll be starting in the qualifiers anyway but the likes of McGeady (and Miller when he was a prospect) suffered under Kerr because he was reluctant to give them a chance in qualifiers when they hadn't played in friendlies even.
No way could you contemplate playing Keane any deeper than that.
I think the FAI's policy of milking cash from every possible game will backfire on us again. Yet again we are playing a series of home friendlies before our qualifiers and we have no experience of playing away from home at all. I understand the need to generate revenues but when was the last time we played a friendly away from home? Netherlands?
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eamo
Ger Loughnane
Posts: 331
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Post by eamo on May 3, 2006 10:55:42 GMT
I would go along with that line up as well Lyonsee. I would switch McGeady and Duff though. 26 counties is injured as far as I know. We do need a centre half but I would rather a central midfielder or even a striker. Steven Reid is playing excellent stuff and is vital to the cause. By all accounts O'Shea has been playing great stuff for United and is easily as good as Kavanagh. I cannot understand why McGeady hasnt been given(!) his chance yet...
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Post by lyonsee on May 3, 2006 11:05:32 GMT
I would go along with that line up as well Lyonsee. I would switch McGeady and Duff though. 26 counties is injured as far as I know. We do need a centre half but I would rather a central midfielder or even a striker. Steven Reid is playing excellent stuff and is vital to the cause. By all accounts O'Shea has been playing great stuff for United and is easily as good as Kavanagh. I cannot understand why McGeady hasnt been given(!) his chance yet... Central midfielder maybe but I don't think we're too badly off in goal-scoring terms. We don't have an out and out striker really but there be goals in that team. 26 counties? Controversial. |
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Post by therock67 on May 3, 2006 12:42:57 GMT
I would go along with that line up as well Lyonsee. I would switch McGeady and Duff though. 26 counties is injured as far as I know. We do need a centre half but I would rather a central midfielder or even a striker. Steven Reid is playing excellent stuff and is vital to the cause. By all accounts O'Shea has been playing great stuff for United and is easily as good as Kavanagh. I cannot understand why McGeady hasnt been given(!) his chance yet... McGeady was injured for the Sweden game and he was never likely to figure in Kerr's ultra-conservative setup. He could do with a run of games for Celtic as well. Started the season in mixed form then lost his place but just before his injury he was playing some excellent stuff off the bench. He looked sharp in his eight minutes in the last rangers game. With him Duff and Keane in the supporting roles for Doyle we would have a genuinely exciting and talented side. |
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eamo
Ger Loughnane
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Post by eamo on May 3, 2006 13:26:24 GMT
I would go along with that line up as well Lyonsee. I would switch McGeady and Duff though. 26 counties is injured as far as I know. We do need a centre half but I would rather a central midfielder or even a striker. Steven Reid is playing excellent stuff and is vital to the cause. By all accounts O'Shea has been playing great stuff for United and is easily as good as Kavanagh. I cannot understand why McGeady hasnt been given(!) his chance yet... McGeady was injured for the Sweden game and he was never likely to figure in Kerr's ultra-conservative setup. He could do with a run of games for Celtic as well. Started the season in mixed form then lost his place but just before his injury he was playing some excellent stuff off the bench. He looked sharp in his eight minutes in the last rangers game. With him Duff and Keane in the supporting roles for Doyle we would have a genuinely exciting and talented side. I take all those points but are we not relying a bit too heavily on Kevin Doyle. He hasnt played top flight football yet and is unproven. He may well turn out to be a quality player but at the moment I dont think that we can judge. 26 counties comment was designed to be controversial, not that I have an opinion either way |
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Post by lyonsee on May 3, 2006 14:24:32 GMT
Doyler needs to be blooded in these friendlies. Germany will be our hosts on 2 September by which time he'll have a couple of EPL games under his belt. Then Stan can decide. The other option of course is to play Keane where I had Doyle above and bring in Ireland/A Reid.
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Post by cully on May 3, 2006 18:06:34 GMT
i'd prefer to see steve eire in there ahead of andy reid, he needs a move in the summer , i assume there's other prem clubs out there who'd be interested
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Post by bandage on May 8, 2006 22:33:56 GMT
I liked the formation too in that at home it's attacking but away if the work is done on the training ground it can easily be manipulated into a 451 or a 4411.
Totally agree on the away friendly point - we have discussed this before. What cost us qualifying for another 2 tournaments in the McCarthy era was a crippling inability to play away from home. That Dutch game 2 summers ago is the last away friendly (lit up by a piece of genius from our skipper). It is critical to have tested the formation and shape away from home prior to the Germany game but that's not going to happen.
I suggest Stan tells Van Basten before the friendly in August that they use the home dressing room and we approach it like an away game using counter attacking tactics.
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briantinnion
Ray Houghton
I love Sarah-Louise Platt
Posts: 90
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Post by briantinnion on May 12, 2006 16:08:39 GMT
Whats the general view on Terry Dixons inclusion? I agree with Stan's decision, I know some people think its ridiculous that he's bringing this child along and that the likes of Long should be in there before him ,but what happens if the English snatch him away on us (rumour is that his Dad wants him to play for England) Stan would be lashed for not keeping him. If he turns out to be something special it'll be seen as a master stroke by Stan. Not sure if it is true but the FAI were supposedly tracking Wayne Rooney when he was 14, obviously he slipped through the net (not sure how the fat bas*ard managed that) so lets hope that something like that doesnt happen again.
I'll announce my team selection at a later date.
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Post by iamthelaw on May 12, 2006 16:16:52 GMT
Whats the general view on Terry Dixons inclusion? I agree with Stan's decision, I know some people think its ridiculous that he's bringing this child along and that the likes of Long should be in there before him ,but what happens if the English snatch him away on us (rumour is that his Dad wants him to play for England) Stan would be lashed for not keeping him. If he turns out to be something special it'll be seen as a master stroke by Stan. Not sure if it is true but the FAI were supposedly tracking Wayne Rooney when he was 14, obviously he slipped through the net (not sure how the fat bas*ard managed that) so lets hope that something like that doesnt happen again. I'll announce my team selection at a later date. If the reasoning is to give him five minutes now & we have him for life, its a bit cynical and perhaps in an ideal world not a factor that would be taken into account in awarding international caps, but much better that than risk losing him to England imo. Then again, I've never seen him play, maybe he is something special and deserves inclusion on his own merits; if Walcott is good enough for the England World Cup squad, who am I to argue that this lad isn't good enough to try out in a friendly? |
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briantinnion
Ray Houghton
I love Sarah-Louise Platt
Posts: 90
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Post by briantinnion on May 12, 2006 16:24:32 GMT
I don't agree with the principal behind it but it has to be done really. God knows the English have done it to us enough times.
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Post by lyonsee on May 19, 2006 11:05:55 GMT
Have procured my ticket and am really looking forward to this now. Hopefully Stan will show us more of his ideas. McGeady played well for the 21s last night apparently albeit against Azerbaijan and I'm really hoping to see him in the flesh next Wednesday.
On a separate note, I've just read on another messageboard that Stephen Reid may be off to Spurs. A bad move I'd be thinking.
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Post by cully on May 19, 2006 11:15:26 GMT
is reid near the end of his contract or is the transfer speculation all down to him playing one good season with rovers?
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Post by bandage on May 23, 2006 11:54:22 GMT
Don't think he's near the end of his contract but he was a bit of a revelation this season so he's attracting a bit of attention.
Got my tickets for this yesterday - actually looking forward to it and hope we build on the positive start we made. Don't know if I'd like to see him try to bed down the 4-2-3-1 formation further or try something else so we'll be capable of adapting if required in competitive games.
What I am looking forward to seeing though is if the players again play with enjoyment and without any inhibitions. I'd be more than satisfied if that was the case. Also hope to see McGeady get a decent chunk of the game and if Andy O'Brien is out I'd prefer if he didn't pick Gary Breen. Would also like to see Doyler get another 90 mins under his belt so he's not totally green (pun intended) come the qualifiers.
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Post by bandage on May 23, 2006 12:52:56 GMT
From BBC - he's picked Breen, unattached. Memories of the World Cup
Breen celebrates Republic return
Gary Breen has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland side
Gary Breen has won a recall to the Republic of Ireland team, despite being released by relegated Sunderland.
The defender, who last played for the Republic in the 1-0 win over Croatia in November 2004, is included in the team to face Chile in Dublin on Wednesday.
Reading striker Kevin Doyle will partner skipper Robbie Keane in attack in what will be Steve Staunton's second match as Irish manager.
Staunton enjoyed a great start with a 3-0 win over Sweden in March.
The Irish have a further friendly against Holland in Dublin on 16 August with the first Euro 2008 qualifier against Germany in Stuttgart on 2 September.
Republic of Ireland: Given (Newcastle United), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Breen (Unattached), Dunne (Manchester City), Kilbane (Everton), Finnan (Liverpool), O'Shea (Manchester United), Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Duff (Chelsea), Doyle (Reading).
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Post by cully on May 23, 2006 13:16:57 GMT
in picking him , is he helping breen out in looking for a new club.? it'd appear so
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eamo
Ger Loughnane
Posts: 331
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Post by eamo on May 23, 2006 13:20:09 GMT
in picking him , is he helping breen out in looking for a new club.? it'd appear so Think it may be a case of us having no one else..... |
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Post by cully on May 23, 2006 13:28:58 GMT
oh dear....
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Post by lyonsee on May 23, 2006 13:31:12 GMT
Looks like a 4-4-2. Finnan not really dynamic enough to play as part of a 3 behind Doyle. Disappointed not to see McGeady there but happy for Kelly and Doyle. Don't think there's any need to 'experiment' with a 4-4-2 as it's the most conventional formation there is. Would have preferred to have seen 4-2-3-1 again.
There isn't really an alternative to Breen at CB with Andy O'Brien injured and Paddy McCarty injured too. I've heard Man Utd's Paul McShane who was on loan at Brighton this season is pretty decent - maybe he could've been given a call-up. I've never seen him play and he didn't play with the 21s against Azerbaijan so not sure what the story is there. We're pretty fooked at CB tbh.
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Post by bandage on May 23, 2006 13:40:21 GMT
Only other option for CB was O'Shea and I won't even go there. Didn't know Paddy McCarthy was injured - had wondered why he wasn't included. He's a wholehearted player but has a definite lack of pace. Wouldn't be too sure of McShane either - any time a young Irish guy gets signed by ManU they're almost always touted as being something special. A lot of the time they're not - see O'Shea above. The lack of CB talent coming thru is a concern alright - if the great Richie Dunne is injured for any of the qualifier games then it looks like we're properly fooked.  |
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Post by lyonsee on May 24, 2006 11:05:05 GMT
Finnan's out. Miller in. Wold've preferred McGeady but presumably he'll get on.
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Post by bandage on May 24, 2006 11:16:05 GMT
Finnan's out. Miller in. Wold've preferred McGeady but presumably he'll get on. Had to laugh at Miller getting the curly finger after an hour for Leeds the other day. Disloyal, arrogant piece of scheidt. This has triggered another thought in my head - I'll start a new thread. |
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