Team for Bugaria game

[carnstien]

With the players who are out I would go with:

Given

Carr
Cunningham
O'Shea (playing there cause O'Brien is injured)
Finnan

A. Reid
Keane
Miller
Duff

Macken
Morrison

[Plastic Paddy]

With the players who are out I would go with:

Given

Carr
Cunningham
O'Shea (playing there cause O'Brien is injured)
Finnan

A. Reid
Keane
Miller
Duff

Macken
Morrison

I mostly agree with you (this is getting to be a habit ;) - should I be worried? :eek: ) but I'd play the poison dwarf instead of Macken, at least for the first half. I think his all-round mobility and tendency to come in from deep (like Robbie Keane) would work better in combination with Clinton. I know Macken gives us an aerial option up front, but I'd like to see how Connolly currently rates in the lead forward role.

:) PP

[carnstien]

I mostly agree with you (this is getting to be a habit ;) - should I be worried? :eek: ) but I'd play the poison dwarf instead of Macken, at least for the first half. I think his all-round mobility and tendency to come in from deep (like Robbie Keane) would work better in combination with Clinton. I know Macken gives us an aerial option up front, but I'd like to see how Connolly currently rates in the lead forward role.

:) PP
Fair enough but the only reason I really threw Macken in there was because he hasn't played for us before and I think it might be good to get a look at him.

[Bowsy]

With the players who are out I would go with:

Given

Carr
Cunningham
O'Shea (playing there cause O'Brien is injured)
Finnan

A. Reid
Keane
Miller
Duff

Macken
Morrison


Solid enough selection. Would give Miller and Kilbane a half each in centre of the park. O'shea still at left full and Breen at Centre Half. Also agree with PP and would start Connolly and Morrison up front to see how we cope in Robbie's absence.

[eirebhoy]

_____________________Given_____________________

Carr_______Cunningham_______Breen________O'Shea

Reid/Miller_______Keane_______Kavanagh_______Duff

__________Connolly______Macken/Morrison_________

Fergie plays Keane in centre back because he has no confidence in O'Shea at CB and either do I, even though its only a friendly.

[tiktok]

Given
Carr Cunningham Breen O'Shea
Miller Kilbane Keane Duff
Connolly Morrision

tbh this is our last friendly before we play the qualifiers and while it'd be nice to get a look at some others I think we should start with the team that'll bear most resemblance (play most like) that which will start in those games.

With half an hour to go I'd make the following subs to have a look...

Barrett/Miller
Kavanagh/Kilbane
Reid/Duff
Finnan/O'Shea

[NeilMcD]

I agree with the last post, I think in midfield we have quite a few good options but to be honest there is only 2 places available in the irish team in my opinion

Given

Carr Cunningham O Brien O Shea

Miller Keane Space Duff


Keane Space


Robbies place will be taken by Connolly tonight and Morrison will probably play upfront. Macken will then come on at some point to get a run and his first cap. Kilbane will take the space in midfield that is between him and Holland. Reid will come on for either Duff or Miller depending on who needs the run out more. Breen will probably start instead of O Brien but he may take a look at Finnan at left back and O Shea at centre back, but then again Breen has not played in ages, so he will need a game under his belt too.

[Condex]

The way that QPR players ran straight throught the heart of the Sunderland defense on Saturday to score two goals, doesn't augur well for Breens international future.

[eirebhoy]

The way that QPR players ran straight throught the heart of the Sunderland defense on Saturday to score two goals, doesn't augur well for Breens international future.
Well you have a choice between Breen and Doc. :) They are both certainly better at the back than O'Shea but O'Shea's still only 23.

Its a pity Dunne didn't get a call up when Kerr heard about O'Brien.

[Stuttgart88]

For Bulgaria:

Given

Carr Cunningham O’Shea Finnan

Reid Kavanagh Keane Duff

Lee Connolly/Morrison


In O’Brien’s absence I think O’Shea is worth another look at centre-half. We can’t rule him out just because he was poor in Basle. He was beside Breen that day but Cunningham tends to bring out the best in less experienced partners.

I think Finnan deserves a look at left back. Has he ever played left back for Ireland?

Reid is playing better than Miller at the moment.
I’d like to see Kavanagh start alongside Keane, though I think Miller may get the nod and Kavanagh may come on to replace Keane.

Lee must start ahead of Macken otherwise it’ll send out a bad message. I only saw scraps of Cardiff’s game on Friday and Lee seemed to do OK, a few very good knock downs and lay offs.

I’d expect all 4 forwards to get at least 25 minutes.

Any permutation of Kav, Miller, Kilbane, Reid and Duff could finish the game. Keane won’t play more than 60 minutes and I don’t think Quinn or Maybury should feature.

[carnstien]

For Bulgaria:

Given

Carr Cunningham O’Shea Finnan

Reid Kavanagh Keane Duff

Lee Connolly/Morrison

Although I admit to having seen relitively little of Kavanagh, I find it hard to accept that a 1st division player, who is coming to the end of his career should start ahead of a youngster who has just forced himself into the ManUre team.

[Pat O' Banton]

Would at some point like to see him use a five man midfield leaving a lone striker up front as we may well end up doing this for real if we are protecting a lead away from home. In this case it would be wise to leave Morrison up front on his own and look to use Kav as an extra man in midfield (capable of scoring, good passer and can run from midfield). Unfortunately this is unlikely to happen as Stuttgart88 points out Keane will play no more than 60 (i'd be suprised to see him for the second half.) Feel that it is a chance that will be missed out on and trying it in freindlies later in the campaign will be largely pointless as our two hardest away games will be over by then.

[eirebhoy]

Although I admit to having seen relitively little of Kavanagh, I find it hard to accept that a 1st division player, who is coming to the end of his career should start ahead of a youngster who has just forced himself into the ManUre team.
I have said this so many times. If Miller was 30 and Kavanagh was 23 everyone would be calling for Kavanagh to partner Keane. Robert Earnshaw hardly scored when Kavanagh was injured at the end of last season.

[Pat O' Banton]

Although I admit to having seen relitively little of Kavanagh, I find it hard to accept that a 1st division player, who is coming to the end of his career should start ahead of a youngster who has just forced himself into the ManUre team.

Kav is rated by many managers as being the best midfielder in the second flight. Was regularly impressed by him when he was with Stoke and have seen him play a couple of times for Cardiff and has carried on this form. Equally thought he played well against Brazil so he is worth a go. Don't forget by the time of the World Cup he will ony be 33 years old even the next Euros he will only be 35 so will have something to offer. Worth looking at.

Its the grey hair that makes him look old but he's had that since I remember first noticing him at Stoke.

[Stuttgart88]

Carnstein, I just think at this point in time Kavanagh might do better than Miller, though he’s clearly not for the long term. A fully fit Miller alongside Keane would probably do well, though I’d have some worries about Miller without Keane as I think he has difficulty imposing himself. I also don’t think it’s quite right to say Miller has “forced” his way into MU’s team.

Radio 5 Live described Miller on Sunday as being “neat and tidy, nothing more”. Kavanagh is at least that and is more robust. In fact I think it’s very odd that he was overlooked in favour of Kinsella for so long in the 90s. I’ve seen quite a bit of Kavanagh over the years and have always liked what I saw. In his one recent chance for Ireland he did pretty well against Brazil. Lack of pace could be a weakness.

Wide right could be Miller’s best position, though it’ll be hard to displace Reid from this spot if Duff starts on the left.

They’re not easy choices but it’s good that we have options. Judging by the range of views on the board the team far from picks itself.

[Bowsy]

I think Kav suffered from his loyalty to Stoke. Should have moved on like Kinsella and have played his early career at a higher level. Admittedly his teams have been in the 1st and 2nd divisions but he has always been at the hub of the action in any club game i've seen him play. Was a little surprised by the poorness of his delivery against Brazil however. Worth a look but behind Kilbane and Holland in the centre of the park for me.

[Pat O' Banton]

I think Kav suffered from his loyalty to Stoke. Should have moved on like Kinsella and have played his early career at a higher level. Admittedly his teams have been in the 1st and 2nd divisions but he has always been at the hub of the action in any club game i've seen him play. Was a little surprised by the poorness of his delivery against Brazil however. Worth a look but behind Kilbane and Holland in the centre of the park for me.

Can't agree with you here, for along time when he was with Stoke (post Icelandic take over) they looked like a side that had both the financial power and ambition to do better, with Kav at the heart of this. Before the 2002 World Cup he said that he wished to leave Stoke to improve his chances of getting into the Ireland team for Japan and Korea, fair enough. Where did he end up? Cardiff, a club in the same division as Stoke with about the same horizons and ambition.

Was at the Stoke v Cardiff game when he returned to the Brittania and believe me the people around me didn't believe that he had shown much loyalty (we're not talking the usual 'Judas' or 'City reject' chants but real venom - the subject of Kav is still pretty much taboo in O' Banton mansions)

[eirebhoy]

Was a little surprised by the poorness of his delivery against Brazil however.
Yeah, his set pieces were poor against Brazil but he must have impresssed Kerr in training to be first choice free kick taker in his first match under Kerr. He takes Cardiff's set pieces and they are always very accurate. I was looking at the Irish times yesterday and he was only behind Reid with the amount of crosses this season and also in the top 3/4 players with shots and shots on target (8 with 5 on target AFAIK). Plus he has an assist. :)

BTW, I'd recommend the Irish Times sports section on a monday to see how the Irish are getting on at club level.

[Bowsy]

Sorry Pat, didn't mean to bring up a sore point. Perhaps loyalty wasn't word, but he certainly has played a lot of football at lower level despite being at least as good as Kinsella IMO. I always just put it down to loyalty, lack of ambition or liking being the big fish in a small pond.

[NeilMcD]

Team (Probable): Given (Newcastle United); Carr (Newcastle United), Breen (Sunderland), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Shea (Manchester United); Miller (Manchester United), Keane (Manchester United), Quinn (Sheffield United), Reid (Nottingham Forest); Duff (Chelsea), Morrison (Birmingham City).

[Bowsy]

Duff up front, eh? Carnstien, Slash/Ed, I'm guessing you're going to have something to say on the matter. :)

Have to say it's not my ideal if I'm honest. Quinn? Good as he was against Holland he's been a bit part player at the Blades this season.

[carnstien]

Duff up front, eh? Carnstien, Slash/Ed, I'm guessing you're going to have something to say on the matter. :)

Have to say it's not my ideal if I'm honest. Quinn? Good as he was against Holland he's been a bit part player at the Blades this season.
Not the greatest team selection in my opinion. There's nothing in there surprising or nothing to suggest that Kerr is thinking on a higher plane than any of the fans.

I will shoot myself if he plays Duff up front in the qualifiers, it really is suicide, I don't care what anyone says. My estimation of any manager plumits when they do something so stupid, even if it is just a friendly.

Please don't come back to me after we win saying that Kerr was right to play Duff up there because we will win either way. I would however suggest that it would be by a much higher goal margin if the worlds best left winger was not played as a striker, he may as well not be on the pitch at all.

[eirebhoy]

Team (Probable): Given (Newcastle United); Carr (Newcastle United), Breen (Sunderland), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Shea (Manchester United); Miller (Manchester United), Keane (Manchester United), Quinn (Sheffield United), Reid (Nottingham Forest); Duff (Chelsea), Morrison (Birmingham City).
I'm not happy to see that. FAI.ie are usually accurate with their probable team which means if Keane's out for the Swizz match he's planning to play Duff up front. Quinn in the centre is a bit odd considering the options.

[Greenbod]

I will shoot myself if he plays Duff up front in the qualifiers

Come on Brian, Duff upfront v Cyprus!

[Stuttgart88]

What's the FAI doing publishing a "probable" team? That's for the press to do. The FAI's job is to publish the actual team.

I wonder was this the "first XI" in training today?

[colster]

Come on Brian, Duff upfront v Cyprus!

I'd say he's going to play a 4-3-3 with Duff and Reid supporting Morrisson.

Given

Carr Cunningham Breen O'Shea

Miller Keane Quinn

Reid Morrisson Duff

[colster]

I'd say he's going to play a 4-3-3 with Duff and Reid supporting Morrisson.

Given

Carr Cunningham Breen O'Shea

Miller Keane Quinn

Reid Morrisson Duff

I wouldnt be surprised if he played a 4-2-3-1 formation either.

Given

Carr Cunningham Breen O'Shea

Keane Quinn

Miller Reid Duff

Morrisson

[Pat O' Banton]

Sorry Pat, didn't mean to bring up a sore point. Perhaps loyalty wasn't word, but he certainly has played a lot of football at lower level despite being at least as good as Kinsella IMO. I always just put it down to loyalty, lack of ambition or liking being the big fish in a small pond.

No probs mate, more a sore point for Mrs O' Banton who used to find his grey hair 'distingushed' :eek: v. upset when he left. Think it was either a lack of ambition (v. strange considering a move to a big first division club may have gained him more reconition and at least some chance of a call up for the World Cup.) or Cardiff offered him a deal that was too temping to turn down, don't know which.
In the third flight he stood out by a country mile when he really put his mind to it and really should have moved to a higher. Don't know if Megson wasn't looking to take him to West Brom when he started there which with hindsight would have done him the world of good.

[1MickCollins]

I think playing Alan Quinn is a good idea, even with Keane back in the side we are really short on quality in the middle of the park. I hope he also tries Kilbane in the center as well.

As for Duff, I'm not a fan of Duff up front but he has actually been one of our better goal scoreres under Kerr with 4. I think Duff at least is more consistent that Connolly.

Hoping that Reid cements his place and Miller plays well.

[brine3]

Team (Probable): Given (Newcastle United); Carr (Newcastle United), Breen (Sunderland), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Shea (Manchester United); Miller (Manchester United), Keane (Manchester United), Quinn (Sheffield United), Reid (Nottingham Forest); Duff (Chelsea), Morrison (Birmingham City).

Daycent team, even if it does have Gary Breen in it. Good to see Alan Quinn getting a look in, he was impressive against the Dutch.

[BobbySands]

I'd give Kavanagh a run in midfield. Seems a bit hard. In a good way. Deserves another chance. I'm happy enough, don't take this wrong, Holland is out tomorrow cos he'd have gotten the spot. I like a tough midfield, Keano/Kavanagh with a couple of nippy fellahs on the wing, Reid, Miller. Duff in the pocket. Take your pick up front as the lone striker. Its a friendly after all. Kerr has his team picked already for the real deal. I hate to be the eternal optimist but I feel this team will be the best Irish team ever despite the glaring need for a new striker.

[Stuttgart88]

If anyone could cut & paste Emmet Malone's match preview here I'd really appreciate it. I can only get the Irish Times 1 day late over here.

[carnstien]

I like a tough midfield, Keano/Kavanagh with a couple of nippy fellahs on the wing
Personnally I think the most important attributes for a central midfielder are to be able to pass the ball well and to be very comfortable on the ball, as they see more of the ball than any other player. I'm not sure Kavanagh falls into that bracket, but three players who certainly do are Miller, Reid and O'Shea, which is why I think one of them should partner Keane.

[Peadar]

but three players who certainly do are Miller, Reid and O'Shea, which is why I think one of them should partner Keane.

You really need to get over this love-in you have with O'Shea.
I don't see any evidence that he can pass better than Kav.
A midfield player may also need to put his foot on the ball and control the pace of the game by holding it up in midfield. O'Shea get's caught in possession too often to be successful in that role.
My biggest problem with O'Shea though is that he never seems to try for Ireland. Perhaps he believed the hype about himself and felt that being a Man Yoo boy assured him of his place.
Until he shows the right attitude, I'd prefer not to see him start for Ireland.

[Stuttgart88]

Personnally I think the most important attributes for a central midfielder are to be able to pass the ball well and to be very comfortable on the ball

That's exactly what Kavanagh does well. He also receives a ball well and makes himself available at all times. His willingness to take responsibility is a very valuable attribute, especially as the bulk of our side is quite youing

His dead-balls were uncharacteristically poor against Brazil, as he's a very good striker of a dead ball too and is probably as good as we have from set-pieces in Harte's absence.

As you said yourself, you haven't seen much of him. Maybe a good 45 mins from him tonight could change your mind? I'd personally like to see him given a chance to prove himself alongside Keane. If he doesn't perform then so be it. I think these two would make a more formidable core than the wide open space afforded by Holland and Healy in Basle last year.

[brine3]

My biggest problem with O'Shea though is that he never seems to try for Ireland. Perhaps he believed the hype about himself and felt that being a Man Yoo boy assured him of his place.
Until he shows the right attitude, I'd prefer not to see him start for Ireland.

I think you have it in for O'Shea just because he is a Man Yoo boy!

I don't support Man U, or any other English club, but O'Shea is a decent player and you should lay off him a bit.

[Peadar]

I think you have it in for O'Shea just because he is a Man Yoo boy!
I'd be more likely to have it in for a player because they were Spurs or Liverpool. No problem with Man Yoo as a football team.
Get a great giggle out of listening to some of the nobs who "support" them though.
O'Shea is a lánger from Waaahaaarrfurrrt which is reason enough for me to dislike him but it's his attitude in the green shirt of Ireland that bothers me. When we get back into town after the games there's always a deep discussion about players performances and O'Shea never fails to get the thumbs down, even from Man Yoo lovers. Perhaps some people who only get to see the games on TV don't see enough of him to form a valid opinion.
If I see him play well for Ireland I'll have no problem posting here to say so.
As yet though, I haven't seen that.

[carnstien]

I'd personally like to see him given a chance to prove himself alongside Keane. If he doesn't perform then so be it. .
OK but in fairness it I was playing alongside Keane I would look class. Remember how great Kinsella and Holland looked with Keane beside them? When he was taken away they were lost. We need a player who can do the business with or without Keane and I doubt Kavanagh is one of them.

By the way I freely admit that I am biased against Kavanagh because of his age and the fact that he has played most of his career in the 2nd division. I just don't see the point in throwing him in at this stage. If he is good enough he should have been in there 10 years ago.

And I still believe that O'Shea is the best man to partner Roy, no matter what the ManUre haters think.

[PaulB]

Team Just names, as follows:-


As per FAI site..

Republic of Ireland: Given; Finnan, Cunningham, Doherty, O'Shea; Miller, Keane, Kilbane, Duff; Reid, Morrison.

[Peadar]

Team Just names, as follows:-

Which will line-out as follows:

--------------Given---------------
Finnan-Doherty-Cunningham-O'Shea
----Miller--Keane-Kilbane--Reid----
--------------Duff----------------
------------Morrisson-------------

[brine3]

My god, that's an awful team.

[macdermesser]

My god, that's an awful team.


With the exception of the Doc (who needs the games) and perhaps Finnan, it looks like the team likely to play the Swiss .. especially the midfield .. Kilbane had a stormer in the centre against Brazil .. so why not give him another chance there with Keane.

[Stuttgart88]

Would prefer if this XI lined up as follows:

Given
Finnan Cunningham Doc O’Shea
----Miller Keane Kilbane----
----Reid Morrison Duff---

I’m in the “Duff is not a striker” camp, but I’m not against him being part of this type of formation.

This can quite easily become 4-5-1 when we don’t have the ball. There’s also plenty of room for both full backs to get forward too.

It’s a good way of accommodating Miller, Reid, Kilbane & Duff in the same side.

Morrison and Doc could make way for Robbie and O’Brien in September. I’d imagine Finnan would be behind Carr in the pecking order too. Not sure what to make of Finnan's inclusion.

[Adrianovic]

Don't expect too much from Reid if he plays up front as it appears to have been named, he's not really ever done well in that role for Forest.

I don't think it's that bad a side, obviously playing Doc isn't ideal but he hasn't really done anything that bad for us in the past and we're not blessed with masses of centre back options at the moment.

I'll have to miss the game because I'm off to a gig, but hopefully I'll catch it on Sky in the early hours when I get home.

Ade

[tricky_colour]

This is the team (from fai site).

Republic of Ireland: Given; Finnan, Cunningham, Doherty, O'Shea; Miller, Keane, Kilbane, Duff; Reid, Morrison.

That is What I would have gone for (I think), especially up front.

Given.
Finnan, Cunningham, Doherty, O'Shea
Miller, Keane, Kilbane, Duff;
Morrison Reid


In the above (basic) formation.

I think we may find it a tough game though, Bulgaria are
no push over, and if we are not up for it we might even get
beat! (I fear, but Keano will be up for it!).

3-0 Ireland!!