Republic of Ireland V Sweden - Friday, 6th September 2013 - World Cup 2014 Qualifier

[Charlie Darwin]

I had an Ireland related football dream last night, doesn't happen often.
Do you only dream about Icelandic football now?

[geysir]

Do you only dream about Icelandic football now?
I don't have to dream about Icelandic football, the Icelandic way is a reality Charlie, it's the type of intelligent, practical, academy influenced football that you could only dream about in that little backward LOI of yours (Dundalk excepted of course).
We only had negative Glentoran to mercilessly spank this year, but we might raise a bit of saliva for Shamrock Rovers next year, if they make the grade.

[Charlie Darwin]

Oh God, you're not from Dundalk, are you? I would be reasonably confident that Rovers won't make the grade this year, barring Derry continuing their collapse and one of the top three winning the cup.

[geysir]

I'm not of Dundalk, born 32km away. When the bandwagon comes, you don't ask does it come for me, you just jump aboard.

[Crosby87]

This is not polite:
http://c.cslacker.com/3288l.jpg

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't know. This might be an unpopular opinion, but a lot of those Swedish girls look like transvestites to me. Give me a good Irish girl any day.


I'm not of Dundalk, born 32km away. When the bandwagon comes, you don't ask does it come for me, you just jump aboard.
Is the Iceland bandwagon tailing off? :p

[gastric]

I don't know. This might be an unpopular opinion, but a lot of those Swedish girls look like transvestites to me. Give me a good Irish girl any day.


Is the Iceland bandwagon tailing off? :p

Unpopular, end of story!

[Stuttgart88]

I don't know. This might be an unpopular opinion, but a lot of those Swedish girls look like transvestites to me. Give me a good Irish girl any day.I'm just back from a 2 week holiday just outside of Ystad, south coast near Malmo. We were 5 mins from a beach and I had to take a cold dip every few mins to disguise my natural instincts, if you know what I mean. Unreal stuff. Beats Courtown hands down.

[Crosby87]

You traitor. How dare you enjoy Sweden at a time like this. If this was N Korea you would be executed by machine gun like Kims ex GF yesterday, on POSHs authority.

[geysir]

Lustig's wife looks decent enough, but can she polish his boots?

[IsMiseSean]

The bird with the sunglasses looks like a celebrity I should probably know...

[ifk101]

Think I'll leave the missus and mistress at home for this one.

[tetsujin1979]

McGeady not involved in Spartak's Europa League game at all, Sweden's Kallstrom is on the bench

[zero]

McGeady not involved in Spartak's Europa League game at all, Sweden's Kallstrom is on the bench

spartak are out unless they score twice in the last 7 minutes.

[DannyInvincible]

On another note .................


http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2013/0828/470832-fan-buys-rights-to-ireland-game-in-australia/

Why wouldn't he stream the game for free online? Or, couldn't he have paid (a lot less than he would have done to buy the rights) to stream coverage through an Irish proxy server? Isn't this an astute business venture being dressed up by the Irish media as heroic patriotism?


I don't know. This might be an unpopular opinion, but a lot of those Swedish girls look like transvestites to me. Give me a good Irish girl any day.

They may look like transvestites to you, but, then, their Irish counterparts look like full-blown men! :p


spartak are out unless they score twice in the last 7 minutes.

Ended up losing 5-3 on aggregate.

[Crosby87]

An Irish person leaves every six minutes according to this. Do you all think this will end up wreaking havoc on the football team in like 20 years? I know none of that is news to any of you but it was big in the papers here.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d27e950a-10bf-11e3-b291-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2dPH2HfJa

[Supreme feet]

An Irish person leaves every six minutes according to this. Do you all think this will end up wreaking havoc on the football team in like 20 years? I know none of that is news to any of you but it was big in the papers here.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d27e950a-10bf-11e3-b291-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2dPH2HfJa

It'll be grand. I'm hoping, at some stage, to create a hybrid Korean/Irish footballer. Although I'm not sure if 'tidy, disciplined and hard-running, but awful in front of goal' will add much to our traditional skillset.

[DannyInvincible]

An Irish person leaves every six minutes according to this. Do you all think this will end up wreaking havoc on the football team in like 20 years? I know none of that is news to any of you but it was big in the papers here.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d27e950a-10bf-11e3-b291-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2dPH2HfJa

Historically, emigration has tended to enhance, rather than impede, the fortunes of the national side. The brain drain (or brawn drain, even) doesn't have the same adverse effect on the national side as it does on, say, other sectors of society due to the existence of the "granny rule". We became jocularly, or perhaps mockingly, known as the "England 'B' team" during Jack Charlton's era due to his heavy exploitation of the "granny rule". A reference to the gag famously featured in the airport scene of Mike Bassett: England Manager. When not deriding us as "Mexicans" or "tarmaccers", OWCers routinely refer to us as the seemingly-more-derogatory-and-contemptuous "Beggars" for similar reasons (allegedly).

Only six players (I think) from our 22-man World Cup '90 squad were actually born in Ireland, for example; the remainder, barring O'Leary and McGrath, were the sons and grandsons of parents or grandparents who had emigrated from Ireland a generation or two previously. Seeing Scotland and England-born Irishmen make up significant proportions of our squads has become tradition, although there has been less use of, or even reliance on, the "granny rule" in recent times. Ireland has always been a nation of emigrants; emigration is the heritage of so many Irish around the globe, so I suppose it's only natural that this socio-historical reality would also colour the make-up our national football team.

Most of our best players ship abroad anyway with our infrastructure for growing players at home being relatively poor and insufficient to meet the expectations of most. I'd imagine the effects of emigration will lead to more pressing concerns than having to worry about the fortunes of the national team in twenty years time, to be honest. That said, it's not as if the whole population is suddenly leaving Ireland's shores; plenty of young people will remain behind.

[Stuttgart88]

I dreamt last night that it was 0-0.

[Paddy Garcia]

It'll be grand. I'm hoping, at some stage, to create a hybrid Korean/Irish footballer. Although I'm not sure if 'tidy, disciplined and hard-running, but awful in front of goal' will add much to our traditional skillset.

He can run the FAI instead - assuming a vacancy emerges by then.

[jbyrne]

mcgeady, o'brien and st ledger out of squad:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/0830/471235-ireland/

[ArdeeBhoy]

Aye, from 'Football Republic' site.
Aiden McGeady, Joey O'Brien and Sean St Ledger all withdraw from the squad to play Sweden! Who should take their places? Or will Trap just pick from what's left? Is there room for Keogh?

​SSL is injured so a waste of time even picking him.

[Stuttgart88]

So much for Lazaurus being spotted in East Midlands. Shame about O'Brien. Not fussed about McGeady as I think we have cover in wide positions, including Walters.

[noddy102]

So much for Lazaurus being spotted in East Midlands. Shame about O'Brien. Not fussed about McGeady as I think we have cover in wide positions, including Walters.

You're not fussed about the loss of our most creative winger and arguably our best player?

Well that makes a lot of sense, considering we need at least 4 points from these two games. :confused:

[Stuttgart88]

Given those wthdrawals, and assuming no more, my team for this game would be:

GK: Westwood
RB: Coleman
LB: Wilson
CBs: O'Shea and Dunne
CMs: McCarthy and Hoolahan
RM: Walters
LM: McClean
CF: Keane & Long

Rationale:
Forde can't be risked without match practice. Westwood has dusted off the cobwebs from inactivity and should be in good form.
Coleman - easy
Wilson - easy, though in due course I'd like O'Brien given a look with wilson tried in midfield
CBs: Dunne for his experience to deal with Ibrahamovic; Clark next in line
CMs: Whelan looks like his legs have gone though Trap will pick him. We need players like McCarthy and Hoolahan for their ability on the ball.
RM: Walters for his brawn and experience. Brady to be kept on bench.
LM: McClean - though possibility Pilkington going straight in intrigues me. McClean got the better of his opposite number in Stockholm, especially early on.
CFs: easy choice

I think Trap will pick as above except for Whelan (but instead of who?) and I wouldn't be surprised if Pilkington goes straight in.

(In anticipation of pedantic responses, I don't literally see Keane and Long playing as a centre-forward pairing in strictest sense)

[DannyInvincible]

You're in very optimistic mood today, Stutts. Talk of Pilkington turning up and even some plane or other to Rio?! :)

[ArdeeBhoy]

Good team that, except would stick Brady in on the right.

And knowing Trap, he'll bamboozle us all by picking Cox/Sammon...

[Sullivinho]

mcgeady, o'brien and st ledger out of squad:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/0830/471235-ireland/

Heard about this one on SSN. They mentioned "three key players" pulling out of the Ireland squad before pausing for dramatic effect.

Oh s**t, I thought. Don't say that trio includes McCarthy, Keane or Coleman!

It came as varying degrees of relief but relief nonetheless when they followed up with McGeady, St. Ledger and O'Brien.

[DannyInvincible]

I'd be bamboozled if he played Brady or an actual winger there!

[Crosby87]

Heard about this one on SSN. They mentioned "three key players" pulling out of the Ireland squad before pausing for dramatic effect.


Im always scared to death when i hear Cox isnt pulling out.

[jbyrne]

brady has started the season very well from what i have heard / seen and i would start him ahead of mcclean.
westwood was wobbly against wales but has played well for Sunderland this season so far, again from what i've heard.

[Stuttgart88]

You're not fussed about the loss of our most creative winger and arguably our best player?

Well that makes a lot of sense, considering we need at least 4 points from these two games. :confused:I don't consider him to be our best player. I think we rarely see McGeady play to potential and I don't think he gels well with our forwards. I said I'm not fussed because I think that the players we have instead are good enough to be more than competitive against Sweden in what I expect will be an English-style game.

If Coleman, Keane or Long was crocked, then I'd be very fussed. In fact I would add Westwood, Wilson, McCarthy, Hoolahan, O'Shea, Dunne and Clark as players I'd be more concerned about if they withdrew. With back-to-back games in 4 days the absence of any of these would leave a hole but we have decent back-up for McGeady (and that assumes he's a starter if fit, which I wouldn't be sure of). Of course there's always the fear that Trap will pick Cox instead but I doubt it.

[Sullivinho]

CMs: Whelan looks like his legs have gone though Trap will pick him.

I realise we're not blessed with options in that area and it feels harsh to say, but he's become exasperating to witness. Both on the teamsheet and the pitch.

Like one of those dreams (to tenuously continue a theme) where you're trying to get away from some nasty and your legs are in perpetual slow motion.

[Stuttgart88]

How was Whelan against Wales?

[Grafter]

At the risk of being shot here I wouldn't start Long against Sweden. Bring him on later on by all means but dropping him and playing Walters upfront with Keane would be my move. Trap is cautious but has shown that when it's do or die he does act eg. Faroes away when Wilson was brought in and Ward jettisoned.
Honestly, I think Trap could start Hoolahan and Pilkington against Sweden, incredulous as that sounds...

The team I hope Trap will have an epiphany in picking would be:

Forde
Wilson Dunne O'Shea Coleman
McClean McCarthy Hoolahan Pilkington
Walters Keane

[Supreme feet]

How was Whelan against Wales?

Not really noticeable. Didn't drop as many clangers as he usually does, like passing the ball straight out of play, missing team-mates from five yards, or passing it back to the goalkeeper from the opposition half. Any possession he had, he was under no real pressure, so his deficiencies weren't as obvious.

[Stuttgart88]

Forde
Wilson Dunne O'Shea Coleman
McClean McCarthy Hoolahan Pilkington
Walters KeaneVery bold selection but not unfeasible and definitely exciting.

[DannyInvincible]

Heard about this one on SSN. They mentioned "three key players" pulling out of the Ireland squad before pausing for dramatic effect.

Oh s**t, I thought. Don't say that trio includes McCarthy, Keane or Coleman!

It came as varying degrees of relief but relief nonetheless when they followed up with McGeady, St. Ledger and O'Brien.

Ah, SSN... McGeady and St. Ledger, fair enough, but how they can so convincingly hyperbolise things like O'Brien's role in our squad is quite the gift.

[the doc]

So much for Lazaurus being spotted in East Midlands. Shame about O'Brien. Not fussed about McGeady as I think we have cover in wide positions, including Walters.

How many times must I tell you?

DON'T believe what's written or said in the media.

Lazaurus has risen as we speak.

[Supreme feet]

How many times must I tell you?

DON'T believe what's written or said in the media.

Lazaurus has risen as we speak.

I love this guy. :pray: The most unbiased, rational and analytical poster we've had since McGeady10.

[Charlie Darwin]

How many times must I tell you?

DON'T believe what's written or said in the media.

Lazaurus has risen as we speak.
OK, so why did the FAI send out a statement saying he had withdrawn from the squad?

[DannyInvincible]

OK, so why did the FAI send out a statement saying he had withdrawn from the squad?

It's obviously all part of our Sweden shock-and-awe plan.

[Crosby87]

There is legit talent on our starting eleven. I am excited.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k6rVuEplrKg/Te-FzJoLilI/AAAAAAAAEto/Kh6g4oTQiVk/s1600/071822.jpg

[ArdeeBhoy]

Great photo but the fans of 12 years ago have limited relevance to this week's game.

More's the pity.

[Crosby87]

Can you spot Stutts? He's in there.

[Closed Account]

Squad Watch


1. David Forde
Millwall FC
Starting



2. Keiren Westwood
Sunderland AFC
Starting



3. Darren Randolph
Birmingham City FC
Starting


4. John O’Shea
Sunderland AFC
Starting



5. Marc Wilson
Stoke City FC
Starting



6. Seamus Coleman
Everton FC
Starting


7. Stephen Kelly
Reading FC
Not in Squad


8. Darren O’Dea
FC Metalurh Donetsk
Sunday


9. Ciaran Clark
Aston Villa FC
No Game


10. Richard Dunne
QPR FC
Starting



11. Paul McShane
Hull City FC
Substitute


12. Glenn Whelan
Stoke City FC
Substitute


13. James McCarthy
Wigan Athletic FC
Starting


14. Paul Green
Leeds Utd FC
Starting


15. Anthony Pilkington
Norwich City FC
Substitute


16. James McClean
Wigan Athletic FC
Substitute


17. Robbie Brady
Hull City FC
Starting


18. Wes Hoolahan
Norwich City FC
Substitute


19. Shane Long
West Bromwich Albion FC
Starting


20. Robbie Keane
LA Galaxy
Starting


21. Conor Sammon
Derby County FC
Substitute


22. Jon Walters
Stoke City FC
Starting


23. Simon Cox
Nottingham Forest FC
Substitute



11 Starting, probably reach 13 out of 23 starting over the weekend.

[Stuttgart88]

Soccer Saturday saying Elmander just rolled an ankle for Norwich and is in pain.

[Charlie Darwin]

Good man Agent Hughton, keeping the Irishmen fit on the sideline while his sole Swede is picked off by a marksman :)

[Stuttgart88]

Can you spot Stutts? He's in there.
I was in the East Upper that day but I still have the green t-shirt given out free by FAI / eircom to those in the terrace seats. One was left behind in Bellamys after the game. Great pic though. Come on boys, a big home win, no matter how nail biting or ugly, is due

[DannyInvincible]

Sunderland concede a very shabby goal away to Crystal Palace. Ball was knocked in from a corner - not dealt with at all by the Sunderland defence - and bobbled off some shins before bouncing past Westwood who was pinned to his line by a Palace player and rather sluggish to react. The slow-mo replays certainly didn't do Westwood any favours.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWcHsLppA8M