Predict the Squad/ Starting Lineup for Macedonia

[paul_oshea]

Can the interview take place while she is showering? And be muted?

I'd rather the sound on please...

[paul_oshea]

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12606_6830091,00.html Here is the Sky interview which definetely suggests McCarthy will not start but will play some part in the game.

Noely you have confused me with the bolded word above? earlier you were saying he would start?! There was 40 or so mins between posts

[Noelys Guitar]

Noely you have confused me with the bolded word above? earlier you were saying he would start?! There was 40 or so mins between posts

I've confused myself Paul. The interview earlier on RTE radio seemed to suggest McCarthy would start. The Skysports one clearly suggests McCarthy won't start.

[SwanVsDalton]

I've confused myself Paul. The interview earlier on RTE radio seemed to suggest McCarthy would start. The Skysports one clearly suggests McCarthy won't start.

Scotland or Ireland? Injured or fit? Bust-up with Trap or no? Start or not?

James McCarthy - the Rubik's Cube of foot.ie.

[geysir]

Trap only gave one press conference.
One voice but many versions.
He wouldn't have made it as a preacher,

[SkStu]

Trap only gave one press conference.
One voice but many versions.
He wouldn't have made it as a preacher,

but would have been the perfect politician. :)

About time McCarthy gets some game time. Trap gets no credit for this one. This should have been settled eons ago. It shouldnt have been the issue it is and it should never have been let go for such a long time.

[shakermaker1982]

So the team now looks like this (going on reports and assuming St Ledger has been hacked by Clark)......

Westwood

Foley Clark Dunne Kilbane

McGeady Whelan Gibson Duff

Keane Doyle

Bring McCarthy on for 30 minutes, get a result and it's job done.

[paul_oshea]

Can people stop saying get a result. It means absolutely nothing - unless preceded by an adjective.

[shakermaker1982]

Can people stop saying get a result. It means absolutely nothing - unless preceded by an adjective.

Tad pedantic PO'S?!!!

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0323/lawrencel.html

RTE and Liam Lawrence are on the same wavelength.

[paul_oshea]

No it has nothing to do with being pedantic in this case. That would be around syntax and semantics really. Its just the word makes no sense and footballers dont have the ability to differentiate between the two. RTE are just repeating his wording as a headline. just one of my many hates....:)

[geysir]

Either Paul's account is hacked on occasions by a literati or he is afflicted by a peculiar form of manic mood shifts which are confined to affecting his written expression.

[shakermaker1982]

I think the Macedonia game is getting to him.

He uses big words like syntax and semantics yet cannot use an apostrophe to save his life?!

[paul_oshea]

Whats an apostrpohe? Is it something to do with aristotle? I just write quick and don't read what I'm writing, all in one breath obviouslly :D I'm sure you all have noticed by now :p

I only know those two words because of the profession I work in :D

[geysir]

The exclaimed question is certainly a breathless work of expression

[Stuttgart88]

So the team now looks like this (going on reports and assuming St Ledger has been hacked by Clark)......
Reports this morning said it was just a bang that he recovered quickly from, and he was walking freely after the training session.

[Noelys Guitar]

Ok the team at this stage is very probably
Westwood
Foley, Dunne St Ledger Kilbane51%/Clark49%
McGeady, Whelan, Gibson, Duff
Doyle and Keane

Foley deserves his chance and I would go with Clark at left full over Kilbane. Duff and Doyle back improves our attacking options. I would prefer to see Long starting as Keane himself has admitted he is not fully match fit and Long is on fire and played well for us in his last two games. But no real biggie. Going to be a very tough game against a team who I believe are better than Armenia. Got to win it.

[EastTerracer]

On the Twitter machine from Tommy Martin of TV3 Sport

"#ROI (http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23ROI) update: Dicky Dunne and Gibson train, but no Duff, resting Achilles injury and St Ledger sat out after knock yesterday."

"No sign of J Walters baby yet. Tardelli says McCarthy can play anywhere "like Platini!....no, not like Platini yet, maybe someday!" #ROI (http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23ROI)"

[shakermaker1982]

Reports this morning said it was just a bang that he recovered quickly from, and he was walking freely after the training session.

Clark has another 3 training sessions to finish the job off!

What formation do Macedonia play? Anybody know? I'll google it myself now....I hope it's not 4-5-1. I don't want another team hogging the ball for 90 minutes.

[Closed Account]

Clark has another 3 training sessions to finish the job off!

What formation do Macedonia play? Anybody know? I'll google it myself now....I hope it's not 4-5-1. I don't want another team hogging the ball for 90 minutes.
Think I read a quote from their manager on Uefa.com (http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/news/newsid=1605243.html) that says they are going to play 3 Attackers. So 4-3-3.


Star striker Goran Pandev, left-back Goran Popov and midfielder Darko Tasevski all return to Mirsad Jonuz's squad after missing the October fixtures through injury. Also included is Muhamed Demiri, who made his debut against China in December. "This is an experienced 20-man squad, who are in top shape, especially our captain Pandev and Popov," Jonuz said. "The match against Ireland is important for both teams, yet not vital, as by the end of the qualifying round there will be many surprises in our group. We will play offensively, with three attackers."

[paul_oshea]

Am i making this up in my head, but hasn't Duff in the past been haunted by an achilles problem. those achill people i always had a problem with them too!

Its a real shame they don't play russia or slovakia in between us, because like many other of these ranked teams, once they lose a couple they don't seem to perform as well in the latter stages of the group. If we beat them twice - which we have to - then I cant see them doing us a favour in their remaining fixtures.

[geysir]

I'm a bit concerned that a Clark bite carries no venom.

[Wolfie]

He asked were you a wolves supporter.

I said no you support your legs...

...because your legs support you :D

Indeed. A symbiotic relationship involving myself and the oul pin pegs - all of which is pivotal to the threads current discussion surrounding our build up to Macedonia game.

[Wolfie]

Clark has another 3 training sessions to finish the job off!

What formation do Macedonia play? Anybody know? I'll google it myself now....I hope it's not 4-5-1. I don't want another team hogging the ball for 90 minutes.

I'd imagine Russia's formation and game plan in Dublin may become the template tactic against us.

[Sullivinho]

Jonuz: We can handle "predictable" Irish (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/jonuz-we-can-handle-predictable-irish-149020.html)


Tardelli says McCarthy can play anywhere "like Platini!....no, not like Platini yet, maybe someday!"

About time someone talked this lad up. Vastly underrated fella that McCarthy. ;)

[Stuttgart88]

I'd imagine Russia's formation and game plan in Dublin may become the template tactic against us.Score two deflected goals and completely lose the plot in the last 15 minutes? :)

[Charlie Darwin]

The jinx has struck. Leon Best pulls out with an ankle injury.

[Stuttgart88]

He was injured before he came over. The jinx hasn't struck yet. Hopefully Jon Walters' missus will pop the sprog out promptly and he can come over.

[paul_oshea]

Why do all these teams come over here acting like we are the underdog and always say we will win.

I mean in all my time supporting Ireland i cant remember any (Ireland) manager saying to teams ranked relatively simliar (seeds terms) to Macedonia, say "we will win, we know what to do to win" etc. They might say they are confident of winning but never actually say that, and we are the favourites everytime. Why are these continental teams always so cocky? I acknowledge that some words/phrases may be lost in translation but come on.

[paul_oshea]

The jinx has struck. Leon Best pulls out with an ankle injury.

His moves on the dance floor aggrevated the injury further.

[DannyInvincible]

Jonuz had promised six points from Macedonia’s October games against Andorra and Russia, but only got three after beating Andorra 2-0 but losing to Russia 1-0 in Skopje.

Sounds like a bit of a spoofer, as Dunphy might say. Apparently his job's on the line.

[geysir]

Pandev limped out of Inter’s last game with blood pouring out of an open wound on his leg, but Macedonia’s team doctor Victor Kamilovski declared that the striker ..., is fine.
Kamilovski revealed: "Pandev’s injury is not serious, it’s only a scratch, He will be available."
:D

[SwanVsDalton]

Confirmed: Best out (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0323/ireland_dunner_keaner.html)

Shame, with the form he was in. Walters will carry our Plan B (lump it) hopes now.

[geysir]

I'll go with the same team I (cough) really always thought would start.
Westwood
Foley Dunne St Ledger Clark
McGeady Whelan Gibson Duff
Keane Doyle

I'd say Trap has not decided yet, 50/50 between Gibson/Green and Kilbane/Clark

[Noelys Guitar]

Sounds like a bit of a spoofer, as Dunphy might say. Apparently his job's on the line.

I'm really glad he came out and said we are predictable (that must be news to Duff and McGeady). Hope he keeps up the rhetoric.

[paul_oshea]

We are though Noely in fairness, an awful lot of hoof ball still considering we have duff and mcgeady two out and out wingers. Hopefully Mccarthy can be that player, the midfielder who picks the ball up from the box, and spreads it quick and neat out to the wingers to do their stuff, and then is up to support them on the edge of the opposition box, either waiting for a pass or a clearance from a defender after a cross .

[Stuttgart88]

We are though Noely in fairness, an awful lot of hoof ball still considering we have duff and mcgeady two out and out wingers. One of whom hasn't played for us in ages.

[tetsujin1979]

We are though Noely in fairness, an awful lot of hoof ball still considering we have duff and mcgeady two out and out wingers. Hopefully Mccarthy can be that player, the midfielder who picks the ball up from the box, and spreads it quick and neat out to the wingers to do their stuff, and then is up to support them on the edge of the opposition box, either waiting for a pass or a clearance from a defender after a cross .
I really thought Steven Reid would be that player for us, go back and watch the Norway away friendly, and the qualifier against Montenegro for his performance in linking defence and attack.

[geysir]

I guess the predictability he is talking about is not just about the use of the hoofed ball.

[Stuttgart88]

Any updates from any of the hacks who were at today's training?

I guess no news, other than Best, is good news.

[geysir]

Seamus Coleman has a strange Donegal accent, strange in the sense that it's easy on the ears and understandable.

[the bear]

Seamus Coleman has a strange Donegal accent, strange in the sense that it's easy on the ears and understandable.

eye sir eye sir

[EastTerracer]

Any updates from any of the hacks who were at today's training?

I guess no news, other than Best, is good news.


http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked-b/Library/SF695/500436.jpg

Caption: "What do you mean, I'd be better off at Stoke?"

[geysir]

Trap is asking, what are you doing over here? - the ball is over there!

[Stuttgart88]

Dunne & Keane both fit according to Tardelli.

Coleman and Gibson both trained today after recovering from minor injuries.

Duff and St. Leger sat out training but are expected to be fit.

All of above from Sky Sports News.

[paul_oshea]

Seamus Coleman has a strange Donegal accent, strange in the sense that it's easy on the ears and understandable.

if as in strange you mean different as in uncommon its not strange at all just yer typical killybegs kilcar south west donegal accent.its almost like a mellow more monotone donegal accent without the high pitch wavy animated accent one generally associates with donegal. i find a lot that are out of south donegal for a while have that more subtle accent more than the ever present natives.

[tetsujin1979]

Seamus Coleman has a strange Donegal accent, strange in the sense that it's easy on the ears and understandable.
just on that, a Donegal lad I work with had to do a voiceover for an instructional video recently. It was uploaded to youtube, and when we checked it out, he'd been replaced with some dope from the States.

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, he gave his notice last week.

[mark12345]

Regarding James McCarthy. The concensus now seems to be that James will play the last 30, 20 or 15 minutes of the game. I'm already typing up my letter of resignation for Trap if we don't win. Not playing McCarthy from the off is playing with fire. The reason we're in the chasing pack instead of out in front in Group 2 is because we can't hold the ball in midfield. Then, when given a player who is one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League, and one who can hold and distribute the ball, we pass up the chance at playing him?? He is quite a bit better than both Whelan and Gibson (it should be a Gibson/McCarthy partnership in the middle). Another needless gamble by Trap if in fact he does keep MCarthy out of the starting eleven.

[geysir]

if as in strange you mean different as in uncommon its not strange at all just yer typical killybegs kilcar south west donegal accent.its almost like a mellow more monotone donegal accent without the high pitch wavy animated accent one generally associates with donegal. i find a lot that are out of south donegal for a while have that more subtle accent more than the ever present natives.
Well then obviously most Donegal accents I'm exposed to are of the hyper high pitched wavy variety.
Probably the closer to Roscommon one is, the more mellow the heart becomes.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm not sure I've ever heard an accent commented upon with such authority. PO'S - dialectologist.

[paul_oshea]

accent and dialect Stutts?are they the same thing

no Stutts you left your roots in Dublin. i still very much associate with mine. :p