Pick the first team for the World Cup qualifiers

[CraftyToePoke]

Has Naughton even declared for us??

No. Again I think I read or heard he was now receptive to a call up though. I could be wrong. Would we want him, he clearly held out a little, so possibly not. Is he eligible and better than what we have in that spot, possibly.

I am really not looking to open a can of worms on it, it has been discussed to death on here several times over, however, in a New Team & Formations thread there's room for it I think. There is also a big heave publicly for a bit of change and a seeming acceptance of this from Trap also, I am expecting a few recruits and wondered if there would be any surprise under the radar ones.

[Serb]

A nice breakdown of our older players there Sean. I don't see O'Shea, Dunne or Keane retiring but it seems very likely Given and Duff will call it a day (although I think Given could easily keep going as he's still top quality in my eyes).

It will be interesting to see if Trappatoni really does experiment with the formation for the next series of games, but I've always felt that 4-4-2 is a system enforced by the players on Trappatoni (through lack of quality), rather than Trap forcing it on the players. To decide on a new formation, you need to play to the strengths of the players you have. Defence is the real problem — our centre backs are decent but they have no pace at all so are forced to defend quite deep and we have a real shortage of any quality in the full back positions. We'll play with a flat back four no matter what happens further up the pitch. It looks like we have some real quality coming through for central midfield and wide positions and we have pace and physicality up front, but a shortage of goals. Based on that, and apart from 4-4-2, we only really have two options: 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1.

4-2-3-1
I've thrown Clark in at left back even though that's probably not going to be his long term position, mostly because I don't rate Ward and we don't have many other players coming through. Marc Wilson could be an option here too. Two defensive mids, straight forward enough. Maybe David Meyler in there instead of Andrews in the long term.

In attack, I think Long or Cox could occupy one of the wide positions despite them not being a winger. I'm not sure McClean is ready, next season will be a good test to see where he's at. Keane can't play the lone striker, and we have the kind of players that can throw themselves around in Doyle and Walters. My preference would be for Walters currently, but either play could fill that role. I think McGeady is quality and improving all the time and Keane is in the hole, although that's also a position I think Gibson could play. I would definitely have Keane in the team somewhere as he's our best player for me.



Given / Westwood


Kelly O'Shea Dunne Clark


McCarthy Andrews


McGeady Keane McClean / Long


Doyle / Walters


4-4-1-1
Dropped Coleman into the back four — I think you need an outlet from defence when you play this formation, otherwise you end up defending deep and reverting to long balls. I think you need out and out wingers for this formation too, so McClean would get the nod for me. Dropped Gibson into the midfield to combine a defensive mid with a more attacking mid, and kept Keane in the hole with Walters / Doyle up front. Overall, this formation feels similar to what we play right now and we have attempted it at times with very little success, so I'm not sure it's much a change going this way.



Given / Westwood


Coleman O'Shea Dunne Clark


McGeady Gibson Andrews McClean


Keane


Doyle / Walters

[pineapple stu]

Ah, the aul "Keane has to go" stuff rears its head again. It's been what - a week? The lad dragged us through qualification kicking and screaming (along with Richie Dunne) and now he has to go?

Honest to God like.

[tricky_colour]

One problem we faced is I think is we were predictable due largely to our limitations and the system we played (again due to our limitations).
We did seem to play better when we "had a go" but when we dropped back we were pretty woeful, but I guess the players would say they were forced back. :indecisiveness:
We play narrow when defending (again maybe forced) and when we do win the ball there is no outlet.
We seem to lack confidence, again perhaps understandably so I think we try and get to many men behind the
ball leaving no way out. I think we could defend just as well with less men behind the ball (remember the ball passed through three
defenders?). More is not always better.
Were I manager :D I would have just gone one on one marking, OK we may have got hammered, but we got hammered anyway.
There is also the outside chance we might have brought home the cup.:coffee:

[osarusan]

-------------------------Westwood---------------
---------------Kelly-----Dunne----St Ledger-------Clark---------
McGeady------Andrews----Hoolahan-------McCarthy------McClean
---------------------------Long-------------------

I'd like to see something like this. It's similar to Stuttgart's team above, but I don't see the need to jettison Dunne. I think that with our midfield having more of the ball, we'd see our back 4 look a lot better. Dunne to start the campaign at least, although he may not finish it as first choice.

Also, I've kept McGeady in there. He is capable of delivering a good ball into the box (as well as a bad one). I think it's harsh to look only at these Euros - him and Duff we double marked all the time as there was obviously no danger from the centre midfielders for our opposition to worry about. If the wingers get more space, they'll deliver crosses.

Hoolahan in the middle as the player through which possession is maintained, with protecting midfielders on either side of him. Steven Ireland in the role if he comes back.

It was a toss up for Doyle or Long up front - I'd favour Long for his pace when trying to get in behind a defence. With 5 in the midfield, I'd hope we wouldn't just be lumping the ball long to Doyle.

[seanfhear]

Given / Westwood


Coleman O'Shea Dunne Clark


McGeady Gibson Andrews McClean


Keane


Doyle / Walters


Not a bad team there and worth a go. Could Walters play Keanes position with Long up front if Robbie retires or would he be willing to be in Irish squads if not guaranteed first team football.


The Wilson/Clark option is also a good one.


Is Trap (Or Moyes) willing to trust Coleman defensively especially with McGeady on that side as well. Could McClean play on the right as he has better defensive qualities than Aiden. Anyway an interesting selection. Lets hope Trap opens his mind to some new possibilities ! ! ! ! !

[Charlie Darwin]

Clark is not a good left back at any level. He does a job in midfield but anybody looking at him for more than about 5 minutes should be able to figure he is a centre half through and through. Cunningham doesn't have his physical presence but it is at least his natural position.

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, in a way it was wishful thinking on my part about Clark. He never fully impressed me at LB but the sample size was quite small to make a definitive judgment.

[geysir]

I think Clark was trying too hard to impress in that friendly game and managed to make the opposite impression. I think/hope Coleman's future is at Right Back, if that were to pass then it would allow for a deal more flexibility in our team.

[Stuttgart88]

An overlapping full back with pace...what a dream.

Langan, Carr, Kelly, Finnan, Hughton, Phelan, Irwin, Staunton, Harte (look he did have his good bits). God we were spoilt in the past.

Today: Josh (I'm convinced he's a CB) and Ward.

Would (the maligned in my opinion) Chris Morris get in today's team? Probably not ahead of Kelly I suppose. I like Kelly but Coleman would excite me.

[geysir]

The difference between having Coleman as a competent RB >>> than Coleman at RM

[Stuttgart88]

If we went 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 who would you have RHM if Coleman was RB?

Long maybe?

[ifk101]

I'd put Chris Forrester in there.

[gustavo]

---------------------- Given ----------------------

S. Kelly ------ Dunne ----St Ledger --- O'Shea

------------ Gibson ----- Andrews -----------

McGeady ---------- McCarthy --------- Duff

------------------ Long ----------------------

I'd definitely have Keane on the bench though

[geysir]

If we went 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 who would you have RHM if Coleman was RB?

Long maybe?
Well, there's a new kid called McGeddy.

Assuming Duff is departing we have 2 wide midfield options in McGeady and McClean. ATM I'd be inclined to have a team which starts with just one of them and on the other flank have a midfielder, possibly in the mould of Lawrence/Fahey.

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, Lawrence of 08/09 would be ideal. One quick and skillful & one more direct, a right footed Kilbane almost.

[Strongbow10]

Lads what are the chances of us snatching Ryan McLaughlin from the grasp of Norn Iron?

If the Euro's are anything to go by, hes a bit of a fan :D

[BonnieShels]

Lads what are the chances of us snatching Ryan McLaughlin from the grasp of Norn Iron?

If the Euro's are anything to go by, hes a bit of a fan :D

We do not snatch. We poach them clean of them jerks.

[DannyInvincible]

Lads what are the chances of us snatching Ryan McLaughlin from the grasp of Norn Iron?

If the Euro's are anything to go by, hes a bit of a fan :D

Perhaps liamoo knows something we don't?: http://foot.ie/threads/147164-Eligibility-Rules-Okay?p=1633552&viewfull=1#post1633552


Playing well in next gen for pool. not in our 19s squad this week so has not switched yet although paperwork does take time i think

He is in the norths under 19s this week

[Charlie Darwin]

Perhaps liamoo knows something we don't?: http://foot.ie/threads/147164-Eligibility-Rules-Okay?p=1633552&viewfull=1#post1633552
If he's in the NI under 19s then there is no paperwork to speak of.

[SkStu]

If he's in the NI under 19s then there is no paperwork to speak of.

Just love letters...

[liamoo11]

If he's in the NI under 19s then there is no paperwork to speak of.

True not at 19s this season anyway. check out his twitter picture lining up for the northern ireland national anthem(oxymoron?)https://twitter.com/RyanMcL2
Obviously i have no idea if he is going to switch but obviously i would like any northern lad to get his chance to play for the republic if that is what he would like

[paul_oshea]

bombard the lad on twitter and point the FAI in his direction.

email them and if we show our support* to him then who knows!!!

*I'm not on twitter but im 100% behind you!