Estonia V Ireland - Friday, 11th November 2011 - Euro 2012 Play Off 1st Leg [Archive] - Page 7

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zero

28/10/2011, 4:05 PM

Including Long is ambitious, maybe it's done as a shot across the bows of Best?

can't replacements be called up if players are injured? or is that only if they get injured post call up?

SwanVsDalton

28/10/2011, 4:13 PM

well hes probably playing reserve footie every week, isn't he their captain? So to say hes played no football isn't true, hope to god he moves in january so we can see what hes really made of

Far as I can tell from the Utd website he hasn't played any football, reserves or otherwise, so he must not be ready. Presumably he's been included because he's expected to be fit but he'd surely at least need 90 minutes in the reserves to prove his fitness after a three month lay-off.

Kingdom

28/10/2011, 4:43 PM

I know we crib about the composition of the squad a lot of the time, but one thing that is impressive is the degree of versatility in the squad. All grievances aside, no matter what 23 are picked, across midfield and defence, so many player are interchangable.
From the available pool of players we have,
Kelly, O'Shea, Wilson, Foley, Coleman, Clark, Hunt, McGeady, Duff, Fahey all can cover at least one other position reliably. Without tempting fate, that should go a long way if we get to the stage of picking a squad for a tournie!

pineapple stu

28/10/2011, 9:39 PM

can't replacements be called up if players are injured? or is that only if they get injured post call up?
They can be called up anytime. But if Long is going to be out for six weeks, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth for Best that Long still gets the call up.

Sullivinho

28/10/2011, 10:21 PM

The sentimental in me was sparing a thought for one Zinedine Kilbane until my inner pragmatist appeared and frowned him into submission. Anyway, I boldly predict there's enough there to overcome Estonia. Not precisely the squad I'd have picked but then I was one of those guys who'd occasionally reload Championship Manager if a result didn't go my way.

So on the surface it's a logical call on Gibson. However, the fella can't be fit - he's played no football at all!

He's gone months without 'releasing a thunderbolt'. Long shot chastity. If I was Estonia I'd pack four keepers and call it 'The Gibson contingency'.

Including Long is ambitious, maybe it's done as a shot across the bows of Best?

According to Dan McDonnell (http://twitter.com/#%21/McDonnellDan) Trap did mention them in the same breath, suggesting Best as an option should Long not make it:

"However, Trap suggests that if Shane Long is ruled out, we have 'the other options'...with Leon Best the one player he names."

Crosby87

28/10/2011, 11:59 PM

tricky_colour

29/10/2011, 12:35 AM

It's didn't look like a Long injury. :D

SkStu

29/10/2011, 2:03 AM

Closed Account

29/10/2011, 2:53 AM

Some comments from Trap:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/975825/trapattoni-takes-punt-on-ireland's-shane-long?cc=5901 (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/975825/trapattoni-takes-punt-on-ireland's-shane-long?cc=5901)

The guy we need to watch out for is... Martin Vunk.
I wonder does Trap do pre match interviews without mentioning "mentality" ;)
"These games will be a huge challenge for us, and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.''

I see Dan McDonnell and Trapattoni press conference quotes are often hand in hand. Would it be hard to record these press conferences on video and put them up on the public domain? I hate trying to decipher what was actually said from all the vested reports.

Closed Account

29/10/2011, 3:38 AM

It's always the last to reach my feed, but generally the best and most comprehensive. From the examiner:

Trap looks on the bright side

By Liam Mackey
Saturday, October 29, 2011
THERE was plenty of forward thinking from Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday as his press conference to announce his European Championship play-off squad was dominated by the injury concerns ahead of next month’s games against Estonia.
The good news from the manager is that he is optimistic Robbie Keane will be fit for duty and he has not yet ruled out Shane Long’s chance of making an unexpectedly speedy recovery from his recent knee injury.

Keane informed Trapattoni he is back in training and expects to be able to answer his country’s call, even if he fails to play in LA Galaxy’s games between now and the first leg of the play off against Estonia. "He answered me that he’s very optimistic," said the manager of his captain. He said the injury has improved. He said he started training and played a friendly game in training.. If he is fit he will play with his country. He told me. That’s important."
Trapattoni made similarly encouraging noises about Shane Long, though his knee injury would appear to pose a much bigger problem.

"I was in touch with him. He said to me: ‘I think it’s not bad’. My friend [Roy] Hodgson said six weeks but I think in the next few days we can know more. But if he is not fit for the first game then three days might mean it’s impossible for him to play in the second."

Of course, the silver lining for Trapattoni is that Kevin Doyle will be back from suspension for that second leg but, in the meantime, the manager was happy to talk up the quality of his other options, like Simon Cox, Jon Walters and Andy Keogh. As for Leon Best, Trapattoni indicated there could yet be a call-up for the in-form Newcastle man if the injury problems deepen into a crisis.

It also seems like it will take something of that magnitude to trigger a recall for Kevin Kilbane, a very familiar name absent from a very familiar squad. Trapattoni said he’d informed the veteran before the Armenia game that, henceforth, he would be concentrating on other options at full-back but added that Kilbane will still be available if required.

"We keep him in our heart," said the manager.

Right now, the signs all point to a likely starting duo of Robbie Keane and Simon Cox in Estonia but Trapattoni will happily settle for a goal from anyone on the road.

Clearly, short of a defeat, the last thing he wants is to come back to Dublin with the scoreless draw which would mean only Estonia could benefit from a goal which could count double.

"It is important that we look to score an away goal," he said.

"But we have to start with a high tempo. Of course, our supporters can be the 12th player on the pitch at home but I am confident that we can score a goal in Estonia. We did that away to Armenia, Italy, Andorra and others so why shouldn’t we look to score in Estonia?"

But, again, Trapattoni was at pains to stress no-one should underestimate Ireland’s opponents. Noting that FAI Chief Executive John Delaney had been seen smiling on television after Estonia had come out of the pot in the draw in Krakow, the manager conceded that, yes, there could have been tougher opponents but when he spoke soon after to Cesare Prandelli – whose Italy side came up against Estonia in the qualifiers – his fellow countryman had a stark warning: "Be careful".

And Trapattoni expressed his appreciation Brian Kerr, whose former charges the Faroe Islands also played Estonia in that group, has also been helpful in the run-up to the play-offs.

"He sent me his observations," said the manager. "And from watching the DVD, I agree with what he said about this team. Their mentality is strong. Estonia are compact, support each other, have a good attitude and a good system, a bit like us. Sometimes when we make analysis we speak only about whether there are technical players or not.

"But managers think about what is strong. I have respect for all managers. Our job is a beautiful job but it’s a difficult job."

Trapattoni wants everyone, including and especially his players, to realise that overcoming Estonia will be a difficult job too.

"Favourite is a word that is not in my vocabulary," he said yesterday, the turn of the discussion reminding him that when Ireland faced Italy in the World Cup qualifiers, he’d likened the contest to David versus Goliath. Inevitably, he was asked if that analogy still held.

"No, now we are the same," he said, adding with a grin, "now it’s David v David."
Link

(http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfqlcwkfqlmh/rss2/)1st Bold: Warms the heart doesn't it... :)

2nd Bold: At first I thought, "don't tell them we're trying to score! But then I grew up and realised, who'd expect us not to attack.

3rd BoLd: MENTALITY............

Stuttgart88

29/10/2011, 8:38 AM

Trap mentioned mentality when he was saying he felt sorry for the rugby team going out. Everyone picked up that maybe he was questioning their mentality. He wasn't. He just always says mentality, no matter what the context!

pineapple stu

29/10/2011, 9:15 AM

He just always says mentality, no matter what the context!
Mentality!

M-mentality?

http://www.seeklogo.com/images/T/Timmy-logo-60C27D9596-seeklogo.com.gif

geysir

29/10/2011, 11:15 AM

He just always says mentality, no matter what the context!
Except of course, when he refers to personality.

Crosby87

29/10/2011, 11:40 AM

BonnieShels

29/10/2011, 11:44 AM

tetsujin1979

29/10/2011, 12:25 PM

Which of the following # applies to you?

1. The closer we get to match time the less confident I get.Could be playing Spain or San Marino, and I still get less and less confident the closer a game gets. Oddly enough, on the day of a game itself, I'm relatively calm. I think it's the build up that kills me.

BonnieShels

29/10/2011, 1:17 PM

Could be playing Spain or San Marino, and I still get less and less confident the closer a game gets. Oddly enough, on the day of a game itself, I'm relatively calm. I think it's the build up that kills me.

Would be very like you Tets. Once I'm walking to Lansdowne I'm okay.

Stuttgart88

29/10/2011, 1:38 PM

All of the above, at varying times.

French Toasht

29/10/2011, 1:53 PM

I would say 3. Not overly confident or arrogant, but I feel the same way I did the day the draw was made, that I think we will qualify for the Euros.

Sullivinho

29/10/2011, 2:25 PM

Which of the following # applies to you?

1. The closer we get to match time the less confident I get.

2. The closer we get to match time the more confident I get.

3. I have been confident since the draw.

4. I have been worried since the draw.

5. I am completely in the middle (50/50 chance) as if we move on or not. Convinced it could go either way.

6. None of the above.

For some reason I am a #1. I am very curious to see what you all think.

On this occasion, #3. Not underestimating Estonia or overestimating ourselves but...a solid 3 so far. Most other times I tend to veer between lanes 1 & 2, inebriated on the permutations. I'd also add that I feel more 'comfortable' watching games live than on the box. For some reason it feels like less can go wrong. Also, I haven't been able to watch a corner taken against us since Skopje '99. I'll observe the placing of the ball and the run-up but that's enough. Because, like, if Ireland concede from a corner and I'm not around to see it...does it make a difference to the scoreline?

Oddly enough, on the day of a game itself, I'm relatively calm. I think it's the build up that kills me.

Ditto. The uncertainty is the killer. Lookin' at a long 13 days or so right now..

IsMiseSean

29/10/2011, 2:26 PM

Nervous wreck all the way up to the final whistle...
One of the reason's why I love supporting Ireland, wouldn't change it for the world!!

zero

29/10/2011, 5:07 PM

Which of the following # applies to you?

1. The closer we get to match time the less confident I get.

2. The closer we get to match time the more confident I get.

3. I have been confident since the draw.

4. I have been worried since the draw.

5. I am completely in the middle (50/50 chance) as if we move on or not. Convinced it could go either way.

6. None of the above.

For some reason I am a #1. I am very curious to see what you all think.

3 for me, though no doubt there will be a few hairy moments.

it really is one of those 'if we can't beat this lot we don't deserve to be there' situations. looking at their squad we have better players in every position.

just as we had v armenia and macedonia - and we beat them home and away. it will be interesting to see how the estonians approach the game though. i reckon their best chance is to just keep it really tight at home and see how they get along. hopefully though they'll go gung ho to get a result in front of their own fans, which would play into our hands i think.

SkStu

29/10/2011, 5:09 PM

6. permanently pessimistic since Trap took over. Strange really considering what he has achieved.

geysir

29/10/2011, 7:50 PM

The Trap All-season Disorder or ice fishing just doesn't do it anymore?

shakermaker1982

01/11/2011, 11:44 AM

I spotted this on my lunch break http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/the-great-trapattoni-debate-2921293.html by Dan McDonnell

The questions

1. Should Giovanni Trapattoni stay on as Ireland manager regardless of what happens against Estonia?

2. His system has been cited as a reason for falling attendances. Does the style of play matter?

3. The FAI spent a lot of money to bring in Trapattoni in 2009. Has the Italian experiment been worth it?

4. Who would you like to see starting up front against Estonia in the first leg in Tallinn on November 11?

5. Prediction time. Do you believe that Ireland will qualify?

1: If we qualify then health permitting I think he should be offered another campaign. If we don't beat Estonia then I think public pressure would force him out.

2: No. I think it's down to the economy. Of course I'd like to see a bit more passing but I don't think that has had an impact on attendances.

3: Yes. We are no longer a laughing stock and are hard to beat. We aren't pretty on the eye and could make things easier for ourselves if we kept the ball but there is no doubt in my mind that he has improved us as a team substantially.

4: Keane (if fit) and Walters. Leon Best should be in the squad.

5: Yes.

shakermaker1982

01/11/2011, 11:46 AM

To answer Crosby Q I'd put myself in category 3. It's now or NEVER.

SwanVsDalton

01/11/2011, 12:33 PM

Gibson a doubt. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15519554.stm)

Hardly a surprise since he hasn't played a game in months.

geysir

01/11/2011, 1:15 PM

That's an interesting article in the Indo linked by Shaker, it makes a change for the journalist to stand back and let a diverse range of people give their opinions on a set of questions.

Imo, either one of the - 'mental disposition' - of Walters/Best is enough for the squad. Both Newcastle and Stoke hoof the ball relentlessly into space or in the vague general direction to the head of one their own players.
Presuming Robbie is fit enough, if we are going to hoof the ball more than play it, then Walters arguably is a better partner option than Cox.
A Cox/Keane selection would demand the balance to be swayed to a bit more football/less hoofing approach, to get the best out them. That's what I would prefer and have Walters available for the last 20/25 minutes.
Personally I would despair if Best or Walters muscled their way in, ahead of Long or Doyle to be the standard partner for Robbie. That means to me, we would just surrender and accept we can't play football and eliminate any hope that we could. I can tolerate the way we play but I need some hope.

SwanVsDalton

01/11/2011, 1:37 PM

Personally I would despair if Best or Walters muscled their way in, ahead of Long or Doyle to be the standard partner for Robbie. That means to me, we would just surrender and accept we can't play football and eliminate any hope that we could. I can tolerate the way we play but I need some hope.

If we did 'surrender', we might potentially play a bit better. Best or Walters (in particular) would likely hold the ball up better than Doyle (as good as he can be) and bring our midfield into play more. Instead of aimless hoof balls, we'd be playing direct balls to target men who can actually bring people into the game in the final third and hold possession in that area.

We hoof no matter what, so we might as well hoof to players who can use it right.

cufc champions

01/11/2011, 2:01 PM

The questions

1. Should Giovanni Trapattoni stay on as Ireland manager regardless of what happens against Estonia?

2. His system has been cited as a reason for falling attendances. Does the style of play matter?

3. The FAI spent a lot of money to bring in Trapattoni in 2009. Has the Italian experiment been worth it?

4. Who would you like to see starting up front against Estonia in the first leg in Tallinn on November 11?

5. Prediction time. Do you believe that Ireland will qualify?

1/ No he has taken us as far as he can, very little has changed since the initial impact of making us hard to beat.

2/ No, Stupid ticketing policy when moving back to Landsdowne and also the current economic crisis.

3/ Yes he has brought the team back into contention for Qualification

4/ Keane and Cox

5/ Yes We will score in Tallinn and in Dublin 1-1 & 1-0

Irwin3

01/11/2011, 2:01 PM

Gibson a doubt. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15519554.stm)

Hardly a surprise since he hasn't played a game in months.

Strange timing as this article appears on the same day that Gibson is seen training with the first team for the first time since the injury. Ferguson said over the weekend that he started jogging last week.

geysir

01/11/2011, 3:05 PM

Afaiu, the article says Gibson is merely a fitness doubt, due to later than expected recovery.
Josh is a big doubt due to his hamstring injury and Long is a major doubt.
I guess major doubt is more serious than a big doubt.

No classification of O'Dea's concussion, we don't know if there is a major or big doubt or just concern.

Sullivinho

01/11/2011, 3:13 PM

I only saw highlights of the Leeds/Cardiff game but I assume O'Dea's concussion occurred some time prior to Mason's goal.

French Toasht

01/11/2011, 4:56 PM

Striker Sergie Zenjov (Karpathy Lviv-Ukraine) who was suspended from the first leg, has been withdrawn from the squad due to injury picked up on Sunday and is replaced by Vladimir Voskoboinikov (FC Khimki - Russia), who has not been used at all during the qualification campaign.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=1707646.html#duo+bolster+estonia+squad

Yard of Pace

01/11/2011, 6:39 PM

We hoof no matter what, so we might as well hoof to players who can use it right.

I've been thinking this all campaign. It's our tactic, we may as well admit it. Walters was a revelation against the Armenians in terms of how he was able to chest the ball down, shield it and give it to a team-mate. If we could have him doing that with McGeady or Duff bombing on for the pass or Whelan or Andrews to receive it and do something with it, we'd be a lot more dangerous. I don't know who the Estonian centre-halfs are but Walters, judging from recent showings, should be able to bully the hell out of them. He made a hollow mockery of the two lads at the back for Armenia.

Junior

01/11/2011, 7:26 PM

As good as Walters was when he came lets not forget the context. Last 10 minutes against a team playing with 10 men for most of the game.

Robbie & Cox for me. Walters/Best as a good option from 60 mins onwards.

ArdeeBhoy

01/11/2011, 9:25 PM

Have to disagree;Walters & Best are in form.
Robbie & Cox should be the ones on the bench, or at least not be playing the whole 90.

Yard of Pace

01/11/2011, 9:34 PM

I'd never put Robbie on the bench, his record refutes any suggestion of such an idea. I'd start Walters though, on current form. He's starting for Stoke, he's scoring, he's confident, he's fit. Cox is a West Brom sub. Not a helluva lot in it, but I'd go with Walters. I respect that he was against a 10 man Armenian team at the closing stages of a match but I think unless the two Estonian centre halves are fantastic, which I doubt, he should have a lot of joy.

Junior

01/11/2011, 10:56 PM

Yeah not a lot in it between Walters and Cox. I wouldn't bee too upset/excited either way.

ArdeeBhoy - Away Playoff game is not the time to be trying out a new partnership with barely a cap between them. Both could do a job from the bench as I already suggested.

Charlie Darwin

02/11/2011, 12:16 AM

Yeah I'd have Walters and Keane, but have they started together before? In the Wales match maybe?

Kingdom

02/11/2011, 12:46 AM

Walters did all his good work while we had ten men as well remember. Also, it doesn't matter what stage the game is at, a centre forward that kills a Shay Given punt stome dead from 70 yards deserves respect.

Gingray

02/11/2011, 10:03 AM

Lads and Ladies

Looking for some advice if possible, I cannot start my own post since i have only lurked on here since 2007.

I have been on the Block Booking waiting list since 2003, which got me tickets to friendlies and eventually 15 tickets for the fixtures at Croke Park during the 2008 euro qualifiers. Went along to the away games in wales and prague in 2007. Since then I have been living in South America, still on the waiting list, climbing slowly up to number 732 last year. Made it down for the slovakia, macedonia and scotland games this year. I recently contacted the FAI about the waiting list � been told there is no longer a waiting list.

Does anyone know if this is the case? Has the block booking waiting list been scrapped? If it has, what has been put in its place?

Additionally, I live in Belfast and I have asked the FAI about supporters clubs up here. They don�t know of any. Is there anyone here who could help me out and point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

Euro 2012 - Is f�idir linn.

Crosby87

02/11/2011, 10:30 AM

Who is Estonias best player? (Other than Martin Vunk)

tetsujin1979

02/11/2011, 10:51 AM

Who is Estonias best player? (Other than Martin Vunk)If you listen to some here, it's Paul McShane. Hey-oh!

nigel-harps1954

02/11/2011, 10:51 AM

I would assume Raio Piiroja. Big centre half. Going by his record scores a few goals too.

nigel-harps1954

02/11/2011, 11:00 AM

Since then I have been living in South America...............

............Additionally, I live in Belfast

Am I the only one confused by this?

pineapple stu

02/11/2011, 11:07 AM

I have been on the Block Booking waiting list since 2003, which got me tickets to friendlies and eventually 15 tickets for the fixtures at Croke Park during the 2008 euro qualifiers. Since then I have been living in South America, still on the waiting list, climbing slowly up to number 732 last year.
Didn't think there was a waiting list any more. Been replaced by empty seats by the looks of things.

Stuttgart88

02/11/2011, 11:10 AM

...and a season ticket scheme

French Toasht

02/11/2011, 11:28 AM

Who is Estonias best player? (Other than Martin Vunk)

Konstantin Vassiljev. The guy who scored twice recently against NI. He's the danger man who plays off the front man in a 4-4-1-1 formation. He's clinical on set pieces, so Ireland have to be disciplined in and around the box. He's a great passer of the ball and really makes the Estonian team tick. Has got virtually no game time of late with his Russian club Amkar Perm and will hopefully be lacking match fitness. That said, he came off the bench after 65 minutes against NI and scored Estonian's two goals in his 25 minutes on the park.

Raio Piiroja, the captain, is an imposing centre back who plays for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland. Middlesbrough's Tarmo Kink is a goal threat and can play left wingor up front on his own. Good news is that striker Sergei Zenjov (who would have been suspended from the first leg in any event) has been withdrawn due to an injury picked up with his Ukrainian club on Sunday. Zenjov has a relatively good strike rate by Estonian standards (One in four). His replacement is Vladimir Voskoboinikov hasn't featured in a single qualification match so that can only be a positive.

lionelhutz

02/11/2011, 11:44 AM

Any update on the O'Shea and O'Dea injuries? If both don't make it, who will the starting back four be? Ward, Dunne and Sledge are certainties but who will start right back? Foley is a long term absentee so I take it Kelly will start right full. Ward is a liability imo but we have a dearth of decent Irish left fulls so we've no other option. Hopefully he'll improve dramatically.

The midfield almost names itself and with Keane fit, I'd have Walters and Keane up front but he might go with Cox & Keane.

Also, it seems inevitable that Long won't make it so I think Best should be drafted in ASAP.