Squad to face Norn Iron, Scotland and Macedonia

[Sullivinho]

I was half expecting him to make this squad since that article spoke about him possibly having things sorted for the Macedonia/Uruguay games.

[Yard of Pace]

Just thinking about it...when was the last time we had our first choice 11 to choose from?
We seem to be cursed with injuries, and always have been in the 20 or so years I've been watching.

[SkStu]

There hasn't been much activity in Folan's thread, after some early promise with the Rapids.


he's been doing well when selected. Got an assist in their win over Houston on Wednesday night.

[AlaskaFox]

The lack of Conor Sammon should be the thing people are complaining about rather than Wes Hoolahan. Sammon should be ahead of Cox and Folan in the striking pecking order.

[Irwin3]

The lack of Conor Sammon should be the thing people are complaining about rather than Wes Hoolahan. Sammon should be ahead of Cox and Folan in the striking pecking order.

Sammon's only played 96 minutes for Wigan in the last 3 months.

[Charlie Darwin]

Folan's had the most football out of all of them. Not sure Sammon or Cox have really earned their way into the squad, but obviously Cox gets a bonus for having his passport in order.

[Irwin3]

Folan's had the most football out of all of them. Not sure Sammon or Cox have really earned their way into the squad, but obviously Cox gets a bonus for having his passport in order.

The passport helps but at least in the last month or so he's been starting games in the premier league after forcing his way into the team.

[Charlie Darwin]

Fair enough. I didn't know he'd been starting games, and he did score a very good goal.


The Celtic Cup games are official friendlies. If the friendlies are fixed for the designated international dates then afaiaa clubs are mandated to release the player.
The question is, is a MLS club required to comply, if they don't want to release a player?
I assume if Folan is in thoe 23 man squad for Macedonia then he would have to be released.
The Rapids are playing 4 games right through this period.
I see the USA are playing a few friendlies at the start of June
Spartak have refused permission for McGeady to join the squad for the Celtic Cup games, so I guess that settles it. Can't imagine Colorado will be more accommodating considering the distances involved.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2011/0506/1224296370774.html

[gastric]

The lack of Conor Sammon should be the thing people are complaining about rather than Wes Hoolahan. Sammon should be ahead of Cox and Folan in the striking pecking order.

I agree Alaska. Sammon's lack of game time should not take away from the opportunites he has created when he has played. He is big, quite fast and surprisingly creative. He would bring more to the squad than Folan in particular.

[geysir]

The injured squad members could fill a hospital ward.

Ciaran Clark - 'pulled up in training today with a hamstring strain that is likely to rule him out of tomorrow's game against Wigan'

[AlaskaFox]

Sammon's only played 96 minutes for Wigan in the last 3 months.

96 more than Given. :P Ah no, I'm not questioning Given's inclusion and never would, but Trapattoni hasn't always paid that much attention to gametime in the past. Stephen Kelly v Macedonia is the best most recent example.

[Irwin3]

96 more than Given. :P Ah no, I'm not questioning Given's inclusion and never would, but Trapattoni hasn't always paid that much attention to gametime in the past. Stephen Kelly v Macedonia is the best most recent example.

That's true enough. However those are old faces that he has stuck with rather than someone breaking in to the squad/team. Once Sammon starts some games/scores a goal he'll get a chance (hopefully).

[Stuttgart88]

I said it already on anothoer thread - that whilst Sammon has nearly scored a few times already, it looks to me that he needs that extra second or half second that he used to get at Killie to get his shot away. It looks to me like he is still adjusting to the speed of top flight footie so I think his ommssion is no great crime. Next season maybe.

[Stuttgart88]

Seems like Doyle will be fit. (http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2011/0508/1224296462215.html)

Great news, but with the form of Walters & Long and Robbie's lack of it I'm relatively relaxed about our forward options.

[BonnieShels]

Great news. Better to have him than not. I hope he's left out of the NI CNC game though. I have a nervy feeling about how some of our players will be treated by the Wee fellas.

[SwanVsDalton]

I'd play almost a second string against NI, with the possible exceptions of Given and Keane for game time. Be a competitive game for some of the squad players to get stuck into, without risking the big hitters. I doubt Doyle would need to be involved pre-Macdonia at all. Something like:

------Given-------
Foley-------Dunne----Clark----Delaney
Lawrence---Whelan---Fahey---Hunt
--------Keane-----Long------

Between withdrawals and injury, team almost picks itself. Rotate in a few others like Coleman, Wilson and Walters for Scotland...

[AlaskaFox]

No McCarthy? Get SvD out!

[ifk101]

Rumours are that NI will field a weak squad for their remaining games in the tournament. (Anyone know when the NI squad is to be announced?) If so, and judging from their match against Scotland, we should be relatively comfortable against them regardless of what team we field and as such a good opportunity to test players on the fringes. Given needs the game time so should start. I think Foley needs to play to build up his confidence at this level, and I like us to play Coleman and Wilson.

Given
Foley, Kelly, Dunne, Clark;
Coleman, Wilson, Fahey, Hunt;
Walters, Stokes.

[SwanVsDalton]

No McCarthy? Get SvD out!

I swear, was lying in bed last night just about to doze off when I realised, bolted upright and thought: 'I didn't put McCarthy in my team!' Thought I'd log-on here looking at some kind of ban...

[Not Brazil]

Rumours are that NI will field a weak squad for their remaining games in the tournament. (Anyone know when the NI squad is to be announced?)

The rumours are true.

Tuesday 17th May for the squad announcement.

[elroy]

Fcuk didnt realise Sledge is injured, whats the story there?

[geysir]

A Ciaran Clark tackle did him in.
Another entry into The Doc's black book.

[shakermaker1982]

Why would Northern Ireland want to field a weak team/squad?

[TrapAPony]

Why would Northern Ireland want to field a weak team/squad?

So as to give us a look at their up and coming players. :)

[geysir]

It remains to be seen what team NI will put out, but it's normal enough for many players to have reached the end of their tether in May.
NI next qualifier is in Sept. a juicy away game (for the fans) against Estonia. Probably they will be looking to tune up in a friendly intl before that game.

[Gather round]

NI next qualifier is in Sept. a juicy away game (for the fans) against Estonia

The next qualifier is at home to the Faeroes in August.

[Not Brazil]

NI next qualifier is in Sept. a juicy away game (for the fans) against Estonia. Probably they will be looking to tune up in a friendly intl before that game.

We have home qualifiers against the Faroe Islands (10th August) and Serbia (2nd September), before travelling to Estonia.

[Not Brazil]

Why would Northern Ireland want to field a weak team/squad?

Not so much a case of wanting to, more a case of having to.

[shakermaker1982]

Not so much a case of wanting to, more a case of having to.

Is your first 11 burnt out or have you got a lot injuries? (Evans has hardly played for United this season). I understand testing out new options but surely you'd want to have a few senior/established players along for the ride just in case.

[Not Brazil]

Is your first 11 burnt out or have you got a lot injuries? (Evans has hardly played for United this season). I understand testing out new options but surely you'd want to have a few senior/established players along for the ride just in case.

Evans already declared his unavailability - small matter of a European Cup Final the following weekend.

Premier League's final matches are being played two days before this match - that'll be that for some players - a beach somewhere awaiting.

Players involved in Play Offs won't be in the squad - Lee Camp already declared unavailable.

I think the squad will be stronger than featured against Scotland, but not by much.

Davis and Lafferty will, hopefully, be available.

[the doc]

A Ciaran Clark tackle did him in.
Another entry into The Doc's black book.

:D Yep, hes down in bold in the Black Book!

Bad injury from a ruthless tackle during the very first training session prior to the last game.

Medial Knee Ligament damage, still not back to full training according to sources at PNE.

The Saint hasnt played since, and has been stuck on 199 appearances for PNE because of it, not to mention missing out on a few more caps.

[elroy]

Not happy with the timing of these Carling Cup games, surely wouldve made more sense to play them after the qualifiers.........not liking the risk of injury etc.

[Stuttgart88]

On the flipside it'll give the likes of Wilson, Walters, McCarthy a run out and a chance to play themselves into the Macedonia team.

With Dunne, SSL and O'Dea likely to all be out, we'll need to experiment a bit.

[mark12345]

On the flipside it'll give the likes of Wilson, Walters, McCarthy a run out and a chance to play themselves into the Macedonia team.

With Dunne, SSL and O'Dea likely to all be out, we'll need to experiment a bit.

Sledge and O'Dea are out as you say, but for the life of me I can't see the sense in playing Dunne. He's out of the Macedonia game so there's nothing for him to prove against NI and Scotland - he should have been packed off and sent to Donabate Beach for his summer holidays.

On the flip side Trap needs to come up with an all important center-back partnership for the Macedonia game. Clark and O'Shea? With Wilson at left back and Foley on right side. A bit too many untried and untested parts for my liking.
It may sound strange but I would go for Keith Andrews in an emergency center-back role. I think he'll end up there next season for whatever club he's with. Keith has a bit of bit in the tackle and is half decent in the air - could be an option at center-back down the road?

[Stuttgart88]

I always felt Rory Delap had it in him to be an emergency CB.

Unless Wilson or Clark impress in the Carling Cup we may well be looking at McShane's return. I wonder if Delaney may even figure. JOS simply has to be fit.

[Paddy Garcia]

I always felt Rory Delap had it in him to be an emergency CB.

Unless Wilson or Clark impress in the Carling Cup we may well be looking at McShane's return. I wonder if Delaney may even figure. JOS simply has to be fit.

Desperate I know but perhaps your right - worth trying John Delaney if all we are left with is McShane.

[ArdeeBhoy]

So as to give us a look at their up and coming players. :)

For a second I read 'their' as 'our'....
Maybe it was wishful thinking??
;)

[ArdeeBhoy]

I always felt Rory Delap had it in him to be an emergency CB.

Unless Wilson or Clark impress in the Carling Cup we may well be looking at McShane's return. I wonder if Delaney may even figure. JOS simply has to be fit.

Even if they don't, they're both still better than that donkey. And RD would be a better option on the left, even at his distinguished vintage....

[SwanVsDalton]

Sledge and O'Dea are out as you say, but for the life of me I can't see the sense in playing Dunne. He's out of the Macedonia game so there's nothing for him to prove against NI and Scotland - he should have been packed off and sent to Donabate Beach for his summer holidays.

I'd play Dunne in at least one game, to hand hold possibly Clark. Maybe then use two new guys against Scotland as a straight audition to play against Macedonia. But I can certainly see the benefits of playing Honey Monster - the idea of Clark, Kelly, McShane or Wilson getting torn apart by NI or Scotland days before one of them has to play a crucial qualifier gives me the heebies. We saw what happened against Uruguay but that was irrelevant - one of these guys needs confidence and Dunne can play a part in providing it.


It may sound strange but I would go for Keith Andrews in an emergency center-back role. I think he'll end up there next season for whatever club he's with. Keith has a bit of bit in the tackle and is half decent in the air - could be an option at center-back down the road?

Andrews already thinks he can play a bit more ball than he likely actually can - a suicidal trait for a CB.

[tricky_colour]

So as to give us a look at their up and coming players. :)



Are they not turning up then? :p

[Crosby87]

Are they not turning up then? :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY

[SwanVsDalton]

Ciaran Clark is ruled out for Villa at the weekend (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2359544,00.html), though there's hope he'll be back for the final game of the season. Either way doesn't look like he'll be coming into these games particularly fit.

[geysir]

Doyle is now definitely out of the squad for all these games, aggravated his injury on Sunday.

[elroy]

Lads are we seriously fcuked for the Macedonia game? Long list of injuries now. No Sledge, Clark, Westwood, Doyle, Dunne out suspended.......

Defo need JOSH to come through the CL final ok and S Long to come out of Reading playoff ok too.

[Kingdom]

I'm a bit all over the place at the moment, does anyone have definite news on the squad, i.e who is out?
Elroy above references Ledger, but wasn't he on the bench vs the North?

I know JOSH, Gibson, Long, Kilbane and McGeady all have club committments, Dunne is suspended while Stokes has pulled himself off, and Doyle, Duff, Green, Westwood and Walters are injured. Is there any other certainties out?

That leaves:

Given, Forde, Randolph
Foley, Kelly, Delaney, Ward, O'Shea, Ledger, Kilbane
McGeady, Lawrence, Hunt, Treacy, Fahey, Gibson, Whelan, Andrews
Keane, Long, Cox, Keogh

Is that correct?

[SwanVsDalton]

O'Dea's in the squad too - he was named on the bench on Tuesday. But that seems about right. What chances they'll be any call-up's next week? And is there anyone to call-up? Best, if he's fit perhaps?

Edit - Coleman's in the squad too.

[shakermaker1982]

That looks right to me Kingdom. Rumours going about that Best might join up but I'm not sure how concrete they are.

[DannyInvincible]

St. Ledger was on the bench, aye, so I'd imagine he'll be OK despite initial concerns he wouldn't make it.

[Kingdom]

Thanks guys, knew someone was missing from the right flank. So,

Given, Forde, Randolph
Foley, Kelly, O'Dea, Delaney, Ward, O'Shea, Ledger, Kilbane
McGeady, Coleman, Lawrence, Hunt, Treacy, Fahey, Gibson, Whelan, Andrews
Keane, Long, Cox, Keogh, Best

with the emboldened names the ones with injury concerns. It's not the worst - I would be a lot more worried if Ledger isn't fit to play, and while it's old ground, I wouldn't be perturbed by any of the central midfield combinations he could pick now that someone is back fit, and someone isn't....
It remains to be seen just how big a loss Doyle is. That is my worry. As good and all as he is, and he was impressive against Uruguay, with a fantastic 2nd half of the season also, Shane Long was disappointing starting against Slovakia, and Doyle is a hard guy to replace.
I'm in a fantastically happy place (even more so than usual POShea!) and I'm quite upbeat that we'll have enough within the remaining squad to get a win. What I've found encouraging in the past two performances is that the players have been very willing to get the ball down and knock it around before looking for the opening. Is it a coincidence that the age of the squad seems to be getting younger too?

All going according to plan, and considering that we were easily the better of the Maces in the first leg, I think this will see a comfortable win by two goals...

---------------------------Given------------------------
Foley--------------Josh-------------Ledger------------Kilbane/Ward

-Coleman---------Whelan-----------Andrews----------McGeady

------------------Keane-------------Long--------------------

Bench: Forde, Kelly, O'Dea, Fahey, Hunt, Cox, Gibson

I'd be happy with Fahey starting over Andrews or with Hunt over Coleman, Hunt's delivery is excellent, but with Doyle out, that might not be as much of a priority.

[geysir]

Whilst it may not be strange for a Kerryman to be confident, I find that I'm also in a confident mood about the task ahead in Macedonia.
As I have never ever experienced confidence about getting a victory, before a crucial away game, I don't know whether the jinx will set in because of it.
It's unknown territory.