I think he has performed very well for us down through the years. He has deserved the caps he as won, but i just feel his legs are starting to go.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
I feel vindicated after that Hungary result, albeit Norway are always Norway, that Hungary wouldn't be the easy draw that everyone expected them to be.
Surely they'll get tonked in Budapest now though!
Last edited by Kingdom; 13/11/2015 at 10:08 AM.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
What did you say about the Hungary game Kingdom?
Is there a general feeling that Keogh will start even if Ward does? That's definitely the feeling I'm getting but it scares me to be honest. If he goes with Ward, I think it should be Wilson & Clark.
Had a look at Bosnia's record there. They seem to be on a good run of form at home in 2015 having beaten Wales 2-0 and Israel 3-1. However, Cyprus beat them in Zenica in September last year and Belgium held them to a draw (good Belgian side though). They look susceptible to a bad performance away from home- they've been beaten by Israel 3-0, Belgium 3-1 and scraped past Cyprus with a 3-2 win.
People are saying it will be an open game but if we're getting the 2015 Bosnia then that's the last thing I'd want. This is after persuading me that, with all the clichés unfortunately intended, we need to contain them away and bring them back to Dublin and nick a win...
Very tough one that. Maybe the best way to contextualize it is on the basis of the Germany and Poland line-ups, ignoring right back:
Germany: Keogh, O'Shea, Ward
Poland: Keogh, O'Shea, Brady
Clark and Wilson missed both and Ward missed Poland. Now, Clark, Wilson and Ward are all back but O'Shea is out.
You could say that if Keogh and Ward are to start then Clark should add pace to that side of the defence but O'Shea isn't a speed merchant and O'Neill was willing to play that trio against the Germans, a superior side to Bosnia, and he has liked Wilson in the past.
In conclusion, it's pretty bloody impossible to tell who he'll pick back there, aside from Seamie.
Yeah, it's impossible because Keogh, Clark and Wilson haven't been available at the same time yet, or at least any time recently. He did choose Keogh over Clark in Glasgow, but Clark wasn't getting a kick at Villa at the time. As recently as the Gibraltar/Georgia games Clark was included ahead of Keogh though and did well.
Joe - that's an interesting suggestion from Brady with regards Wilson playing in midfield, I think it would be overkill though with McCarthy and Whelan likely to start. Maybe he'll start all three of McCarthy, Whelan and Gibson though if he's going to go down that route, as Gibson would have more flexibility than Wilson in midfield terms.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Or Hoolahan! Long is a huge loss in the circumstances, we don't even have a decent sub option up front.
Doyle? Keane?
Unfortunately I don't think Keane will ever be a impact player from the bench. Your unwavering faith in Doyle is admirable but he hasn't done anything meaningful for us (or anybody else until very recently) in over two years. I'd be very surprised if we see him.
Well if a converted goalkeeper playing for Kilmarnock can score for Northern Ireland I have faith that Keane or Doyle might score for us.
If Jonathan Wilson is right and they are vulnerable in the air I have hope. Doyle hasn't forgotten how to jump
Arsenal v Spurs was funny last week. Spurs much the better side in open play, Arsenal should have scored 4 headers from set pieces and crosses.
Anybody can nick a goal, I was talking about decent sub options that you'd be confident would an impact on the game if introduced. I'd have very little faith in Keane, having seen him come on in that scenario. He's just pretty easy for decent defenders to deal with. Could he nick a goal?... of course, is it likely?... I don't think so. Doyle could actually be more of a handful, maybe win a free kick or two but, like I say, I doubt we'll be seeing him. Neither of them come close to Long anyway which is the point I was making when OF played down the significance of his absence.
Last edited by DeLorean; 13/11/2015 at 1:52 PM.
Norway are not always Norway, as in stodgy football terms
Norway play a different game since Drillo was retired, shot in the head, packed into a leaden sack and dumped into an icehole, they're not defensively minded. They couldn't break down Hungary, not very different from our attempts to break down teams who go a goal up. Bosnia are a more classy team than Hungary.
Don't think anybody thought Hungary would be easy, just the easiest we could have got. I've a feeling Slovenia will knock Ukraine out.
Randolph, Coleman Keogh Clark Ward, Hendrick Whelan(c) McCarthy Brady, Hoolahan, Murphy.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
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