Kazakhstan V Republic of Ireland - Friday, 7th September 2012 - World Cup 2014 Q

[pineapple stu]

So that's three people have posted their preferred teams I think, and everyone has left Keane out.

Seriously, what do people be thinking?!

[bishbash]

The same could be said for trap playing Cox as a winger instead of an in form winger at a premier league club. This is the Irish team, nothin makes sense.

[Charlie Darwin]

I would like to see a team, when fit and available, of

Kelly. Dunne. O'shea. Wilson

Whelan. Gibson

Mcgeady. McCarthy. McLean

Long

Still difficult to break down but with the ability to keep the ball slightly more. I know people will say Traps system got us to the euros but it also got us completely pummelled. I think we can be far more competitive against the 'top' teams than with with 4-4-2
While I admire your boldness and unwavering confidence in our defence, I would still try to take the field with a goalkeeper. Just in case.

[bishbash]

Typical Trap supporter, Always negative...

[tricky_colour]

Does anyone know why Kazakstan joined UEFA after (re)starting out in Asia?

Maybe Iran Iraq and Pakistan and Afghanistan were not as appealing as England France German Italy Spain etc...
But surely more chance of qualifying from Asia?
Oh and let's not forget Syria and Yemen, lovely away trips!!!

[brine3]

I realised that I wouldn't start 6 of the 11 that Trap has picked.

I don't think I've ever disagreed more with an Irish manager's team selection in my life.

Trap between 2008 and 2011 was brilliant, but I'm beginning to think he's lost it.

[BonnieShels]

Kazakhstan moved for cashmoney reasons. With the amount of money in the country they ate looking towards doing an Anzhi and having their clubs in the premier world club competitions. Also as TC says the pay days for games will be nicer too.

Also there's a Russian influence involved.

[tetsujin1979]

Just a thought, is McClean on the bench because there's no other wingers in the squad, unless you count Coleman?
Start him and there's an injury to McClean or McGeady, and there's nobody on the bench. As it is, we still have an option from the bench.

[Charlie Darwin]

Just a thought, is McClean on the bench because there's no other wingers in the squad, unless you count Coleman?
Start him and there's an injury to McClean or McGeady, and there's nobody on the bench. As it is, we still have an option from the bench.
Key-O!

[geysir]

Coleman is yesterday's savior, McClean is the current trend.

[Sullivinho]

I would like to see a team, when fit and available, of

Westwood ;)

Kelly. Dunne. O'shea. Wilson

Whelan. Gibson

Mcgeady. McCarthy. McLean

Long

Still difficult to break down but with the ability to keep the ball slightly more. I know people will say Traps system got us to the euros but it also got us completely pummelled. I think we can be far more competitive against the 'top' teams than with with 4-4-2

I must admit, a five man midfield has never been more appealing to me than it is now. I'd take the pain of watching a lone forward trying to make hay and elicit support over the familiar agony of an overrun midfield. Shouldn't be that much of an issue tomorrow (can't see Kazakhstan 'doing an Armenia' in this group) but the thought of 4-4-2 against the likes of Germany and Sweden would be a sore process if I wasn't still numb from the Euros.

[tricky_colour]

I still have not seen anywhere which is steaming the match although I can see lots of the other fixtures tomorrow
are intended to be streamed. It might be difficult finding a stream for this one, it's not going to be the most popular of fixtures
for streamers.

[boovidge]

I still have not seen anywhere which is steaming the match although I can see lots of the other fixtures tomorrow
are intended to be streamed. It might be difficult finding a stream for this one, it's not going to be the most popular of fixtures
for streamers.

As it's only being shown on a fairly minor broadcaster (RTE) as well as presumably Kazakh television, it's no surprise that streamers won't be able to access it. Not sure why no UK broadcaster has attempted to buy the match :confused:

[boovidge]

£2.99 to watch the game on an official livestream.tv stream. Probably worth it for the good quality and reliability.

[tricky_colour]

As it's only being shown on a fairly minor broadcaster (RTE) as well as presumably Kazakh television, it's no surprise that streamers won't be able to access it. Not sure why no UK broadcaster has attempted to buy the match :confused:

There was a time when channel 5 started broadcast Irish internationals, sadly it did not last very long.
Given the amount of garbage some of these channels broadcast you would think someone woudl show it, there
are after all plenty of Irish in the UK, there are more people eligible to play for Ireland in the UK than Ireland
apparently!! (6 million v 5 million).
Seems channel 5 are showing Neighbours and Home and Away at the time!!!

Anyhow, a lot of sites do not list anything until very late so I may still get a free stream.

[Charlie Darwin]

Brian Kerr's assessment of Kazakhstan ahead of the game: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0907/1224323696791.html

Interestingly, he manages to get his assistant Johnny McDonnell's name wrong.

[tricky_colour]

£2.99 to watch the game on an official livestream.tv stream. Probably worth it for the good quality and reliability.

Yes I will definitely give that a go if I can't find anything decent for free.
Can't really grumble at £2.99 especially if it is decent quality!!
It won't break the bank!!

[rebelmusic]

Here for streams. Not always in english but the sopcast ones are generally good quality and reliable

http://livetv.ru/en/eventinfo/133491_kazakhstan_ireland/

[Colbert Report]

There's a video stream available on bet365 if you have a funded account with them. Not sure about availability other than here in Canada, but I'd assume worldwide.

[AlaskaFox]

2.99 on Goal.com, with a deal of 6.99 for the Kazakh, Oman, and Faroes games for those in the UK & Australia:
http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3933/world-cup-2014/2012/09/06/3358206/watch-ireland-live-on-goalcom

[SwanVsDalton]

My glass is three quarters empty at this point so plumping for a standard 1-0 victory, disjointed performance with a Robbie goal and a bit of a kicking for the manager to follow.

[BonnieShels]

Your glass is quarter full.
Just remember Cyprus and San Marino during Stan's era.

Feel better?

2-0 tonight.
But any win will do for my accumulator.

[SwanVsDalton]

Your glass is quarter full.
Just remember Cyprus and San Marino during Stan's era.

Feel better?


Not really. Those are horrible memories for a Friday morning.

[tetsujin1979]

My glass is three quarters empty at this point so plumping for a standard 1-0 victory, disjointed performance with a Robbie goal and a bit of a kicking for the manager to follow.
The kicking is going to follow no matter what happens. If we win, well then it's only Kazakhstan, we're expected to beat the likes of them. If we lose or draw, then they'll call for his head.

[ifk101]

If we lose or draw, then they'll call for his head.

And quite rightly. We're not going to qualify for Brazil if we drop points against Kazakhstan. We need a maximum haul of points against Kazakhstan and the Faroes.

[SwanVsDalton]

The kicking is going to follow no matter what happens. If we win, well then it's only Kazakhstan, we're expected to beat the likes of them. If we lose or draw, then they'll call for his head.

Of course. My kicking was predicted off the basis of a poor-ish performance, rather than the general kicking that's going to happen.

[osarusan]

The kicking is going to follow no matter what happens. If we win, well then it's only Kazakhstan, we're expected to beat the likes of them. If we lose or draw, then they'll call for his head.

Is there any kind of criticism that you will not dismiss as part of an 'agenda'?

[tetsujin1979]

Is there any kind of criticism that you will not dismiss as part of an 'agenda'?constructive criticism. calling for a manager's resignation is pointless knee jerk reactionism (that's a word right?) .Calling for his resignation, citing a number of valid replacements, backed up with research showing the improvements each one would make seems to be beyond the majority of journalists, not only in football but across sport.

[AlaskaFox]

4-0 to Ireland.

[Acornvilla]

There's a video stream available on bet365 if you have a funded account with them. Not sure about availability other than here in Canada, but I'd assume worldwide.
Yeh you can get it anywhere I think, only takes a fiver to have free streams from then on :D

[tetsujin1979]

has it occurred to anyone else that complaining about the lack of new/younger players in the squad, and then complaining that Duff and Given are no longer available are contradictory arguments?

[Supreme feet]

- - - - - - - Westwood - - - - - - - - -
O'Shea - St. Ledger - O'Dea - Ward - -
- - - - - McCarthy - Whelan - - - - - - -
- - - Cox - - - Keane - - - McGeady - - -
- - - - - - - - Walters - - - - - - - - - -

If we're going for this kind of shape tonight, with a bit of interchanging between Walters, Cox and Keane, it could be interesting. Keane said that he might be asked to play a bit deeper. However, if we're stuck with the flat 4-4-2 with Keane playing off the last defender's shoulder and Cox marooned out wide, under instruction to put in crosses, then it could be a long night, but this is encouraging from Keane;


Keane, who continues as captain for the new campaign, reckons Jon Walters’s role will be similar enough to the one usually played over the last few years by Kevin Doyle and that his own will not change much even if, he suggests: “I’ll probably play a little bit deeper than I normally would in order to help the midfield a bit.”

Behind him, though, he acknowledges that things will be a bit different without Damien Duff and one of the side’s more experienced central midfielders. “Simon’s a striker who can play on the right but he’s not a natural winger so he’ll probably tuck in a bit more.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0907/1224323696816.html

[geysir]

However, if we're stuck with the flat 4-4-2 with Keane playing off the last defender's shoulder and Cox marooned out wide, under instruction to put in crosses, then it could be a long night, but this is encouraging from Keane;
How can it be a flat 442?
From the time the team was announced and some roles explained, it's clear that it's anything but a flat 442.

[Murfinator]

So that's three people have posted their preferred teams I think, and everyone has left Keane out.

Seriously, what do people be thinking?!

Change for the sake of change.

[youngirish]

has it occurred to anyone else that complaining about the lack of new/younger players in the squad, and then complaining that Duff and Given are no longer available are contradictory arguments?

Why? Are the two mutually exclusive? Surely there are far better candidates that could be dropped from the squad to accomodate some new young players other than Duff and Given - two of our best players for the last 10 - 15 years. Andy Keogh, Stephen Ward, Paul McShane and Darren O'Dea are all far more deserving candidates to make way for any new emerging talent.

[Olé Olé]

has it occurred to anyone else that complaining about the lack of new/younger players in the squad, and then complaining that Duff and Given are no longer available are contradictory arguments?

Not when they've been directly replaced in the starting line-up by Cox (25) and Westwood (27).

The arguments aren't mutually exclusive, particularly when one of the players involved is a goalkeeper. I don't hear anybody criticizing Trap for not having a young goalkeeper in the squad. I'm sure people would be more than content to see a goalkeeping trio of Given, Westwood and Forde/Randolph, picking Randolph due to age factors perhaps.

In relation to Cox, he has shown enough to deserve a place in the squad. Drop Keogh if there's a viable new/young player doing enough to justify selection. Keogh has been performing in the Championship, but as a striker. Not as a winger, which is where Trap will play him should he feel the need. Were Duff involved, Cox would move to the bench and Keogh would be gone. I don't think anyone would argue with this.

[Stuttgart88]

- - - - - - - Westwood - - - - - - - - -
O'Shea - St. Ledger - O'Dea - Ward - -
- - - - - McCarthy - Whelan - - - - - - -
- - - Cox - - - Keane - - - McGeady - - -
- - - - - - - - Walters - - - - - - - - - -

If we're going for this kind of shape tonight, with a bit of interchanging between Walters, Cox and Keane, it could be interesting. Keane said that he might be asked to play a bit deeper. However, if we're stuck with the flat 4-4-2 with Keane playing off the last defender's shoulder and Cox marooned out wide, under instruction to put in crosses, then it could be a long night, but this is encouraging from Keane; It all depends on how they play. If all the little mini-triangles work and players show for the ball and we can actually move it around at a high tempo then this XI could do just fine. Robbie dropping deeper might be the catalyst for more cohesive play. Our full-backs have to interact with our CMs and our CMs have to keep the ball rolling. However my fear is that we've heard the "Robbie dropping deeper" line before and it has never really worked out like that. I don't think he has ever really looked like a "Totti like" trequartista, he's never really looked composed enough.

Far too often recently our full-backs or CBs have launched the ball long to Doyle or Walters, losing possession cheaply and we end up chasing shadows. We no longer have the invaluable "out ball" to Duff who always did something useful with it, even if it was only to bring it under control and buy a few seconds of possession, or draw a foul. I'm hoping that McCarthy becomes this composed recipient of the out-ball now.

This is a non-partisan appraisal of how I see it. I find it hard to see how anyone, pro-, anti- or undecided about Trap could disagree with this to any huge extent.

Personally I think personnel tweaks and tactical tweaks can help overcome what I think are our weaknesses but we've argued this dozens of times before and let's see how we fare tonight before going into it again.

[Stuttgart88]

Why? Are the two mutually exclusive? Surely there are far better candidates that could be dropped from the squad to accomodate some new young players other than Duff and Given - two of our best players for the last 10 - 15 years. Andy Keogh, Stephen Ward, Paul McShane and Darren O'Dea are all far more deserving candidates to make way for any new emerging talent.Like those who underwhelmed in Hungary last night?

[jbyrne]

Why? Are the two mutually exclusive? Surely there are far better candidates that could be dropped from the squad to accomodate some new young players other than Duff and Given - two of our best players for the last 10 - 15 years. Andy Keogh, Stephen Ward, Paul McShane and Darren O'Dea are all far more deserving candidates to make way for any new emerging talent.

what better option is O'Dea keeping out of the squad?

[tetsujin1979]

Is there any kind of criticism that you will not dismiss as part of an 'agenda'?
just read this on When Saturday Comes: http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1152-september-2012/8979-trapattoni-needs-to-win-back-the-ireland-fans
It's the type of writing we need more of.

[Spencer707]

think this game could go either way , tough place to play for any team with atmosphere and conditions i think itll be a 0-0 draw

[EastTerracer]

Yeh you can get it anywhere I think, only takes a fiver to have free streams from then on :D

Unfortunately the streams don't always work in other countries. I've been caught on this in the US a few times when bet365 only seem to have Mexican league streams available when there are other games available in the UK or Ireland.

[pineapple stu]

Great article. Properly-directed criticism. Only part I'd query is why Shane Long would particularly be any better than Robbie Keane; that's just taken as read in the article.

[Metrostars]

For those of us in the US, the game is on GolTV

[theworm2345]

- - - - - - - Westwood - - - - - - - - -
O'Shea - St. Ledger - O'Dea - Ward - -
- - - - - McCarthy - Whelan - - - - - - -
- - - Cox - - - Keane - - - McGeady - - -
- - - - - - - - Walters - - - - - - - - - -

Good God I fear what Germany would do to us with a line up like that.

Anyway, managed to finesse my way out of work for the morning so am quite hesitantly looking forward to the match.

[Charlie Darwin]

My prediction: 3-0 Ireland, Robbie Keane scores a hat-trick and half the nation calls for him to be dropped for Shane Long.

[Charlie Darwin]

just read this on When Saturday Comes: http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1152-september-2012/8979-trapattoni-needs-to-win-back-the-ireland-fans
It's the type of writing we need more of.
Is it? I don't think Gibson would have started today regardless - McCarthy has leapfrogged him - Cox is not playing on the left or McGeady on the right, and McGeady stopped flattering to deceive two years ago. It seems to be just a jumble of vaguely accurate and inaccurate opinions with little evidence to back them up.

[bwagner]

lads im stuck in work in germany any links pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[ped_ped]

Cox to do far better than anticipated with McCarthy running midfield.

*braces self for being proven horrifically wrong*

[Serb]

Great article. Properly-directed criticism. Only part I'd query is why Shane Long would particularly be any better than Robbie Keane; that's just taken as read in the article.

Yeah, that would be my only gripe with that article too.


The bloodbath of Euro 2012 gave devastating confirmation that this side's negativity is useless if the opposition happen to be good – Spain, Croatia, Italy and Russia have all pulled them apart in the past year [...] [Robbie Keane's] days of posing a goal threat to strong teams are long gone

I think the parts above are contradictory considering Robbie scored against Russia in that game. Also, to play the "big teams" card deliberately ignores his contribution to Ireland in the past year — he has scored quite a few important goals for us recently — his two goals versus Macedonia away, his goal versus Macedonia at home and his general performance versus Estonia in the play-off were all more recent than the Russia game, and were all critical to our Euro 2012 qualification.

He doesn't have any goals in 2012 admittedly, but virtually no-one does for Ireland at the minute (St. Ledger, Long and Cox have 1 each in 2012). His form for Ireland has been excellent up until 2012 (8 in 10 games in 2011, 4 in 8 in 2010) and he's scoring goals in the MLS at the moment, whatever that means. I'd still rather have him in the team than Long for the minute.