Republic of Ireland V Poland - Sunday, 29th March 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[DeLorean]

Anything to be optimistic about in this?

Your pessimism makes me optimist. #Gelsenkirchen

[geysir]

But the fact that AB is dreading the fixture, means he still cares, he's the opposite of apathetic.

Real fans hope to win and if their team does lose, they manage to recover from that tragedy/trauma much faster that those fans (the self styled realists) who knew in their hearts that we were going to lose.

[Fixer82]

I hate those type of people who say we're sh1te and then when we get in to a big tournament they jump on the bandwagon and then when we get knocked out they say 'sure I knew we'd get knocked out, we're sh1te anyway'.
I HATE those people!

[Charlie Darwin]

I hate those type of people who say we're sh1te and then when we get in to a big tournament they jump on the bandwagon and then when we get knocked out they say 'sure I knew we'd get knocked out, we're sh1te anyway'.
I HATE those people!
So you hate all but about six Irish football fans?

[zero]

Anything to be optimistic about in this?
Personally dreading this fixture...

they have a poorish record away from home.

[Stuttgart88]

It's always easier to be pessimistic about Ireland's qualification chances, or our chances of winning a game against a country ten times our size. Looking at things totally rationally it's a miracle we've ever beaten anyone of note. Small country, no full time professional league, one of the few countries in the world where football isn't the dominant sport.

It's not how I look at things though. Burnley beat Man City 1-0. Same score as Barcelona beat them. Stuff happens in football.

[zero]

if we were to lose, is it fair to say we're effectively out of the running? i guess not, as beating scotland would put us in the race for 3rd.

trap would be looking at this fixture as a 'must not lose'... but we probably wouldn't have lost in glasgow under trap.

[DeLorean]

MON used the Trap template in Glasgow, more or less. The only major difference is that Keane would have started and quite possibly nicked a goal. I doubt Trap would have used Hendrick (an attacking midfielder) in a holding role either, with the likes of Quinn and Meyler available. We could just as easily have lost under Trap though, as you're always running the risk when you're limiting yourselves by playing for a draw. Trap lost in Austria in his last game, if that was MON I'm sure people would be saying that Trap would have got a draw. Hopefully we're more likely to win at home under MON, we could hardly be less likely I suppose.

[geysir]

MON used the Trap template in Glasgow, more or less. The only major difference is that Keane would have started and quite possibly nicked a goal. I doubt Trap would have used Hendrick (an attacking midfielder) in a holding role either, with the likes of Quinn and Meyler available. We could just as easily have lost under Trap though, as you're always running the risk when you're limiting yourselves by playing for a draw. Trap lost in Austria in his last game, if that was MON I'm sure people would be saying that Trap would have got a draw. Hopefully we're more likely to win at home under MON, we could hardly be less likely I suppose.
DeLorean you have taken a few steps away from reality and appear to be in a complicated conditional space.
You should be okay I guess, it will only be a lasting problem if you believe that's how it all would have transpired and it becomes a part of your reality.

[DeLorean]

And funnily enough, my intention was quite the opposite... fighting off any presumptions notions that things would have been better, conditional upon Trap being in charge, or Whelan being available, etc.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

MON used the Trap template in Glasgow, more or less. The only major difference is that Keane would have started and quite possibly nicked a goal. I doubt Trap would have used Hendrick (an attacking midfielder) in a holding role either, with the likes of Quinn and Meyler available. We could just as easily have lost under Trap though, as you're always running the risk when you're limiting yourselves by playing for a draw. Trap lost in Austria in his last game, if that was MON I'm sure people would be saying that Trap would have got a draw. Hopefully we're more likely to win at home under MON, we could hardly be less likely I suppose.

I don't think we should give up on Long/Walters or Long on his own up front already just because of one bad result. I don't think Keane would have made the slightest bit of difference really, based on his performances against Georgia or Germany.

I think we are going to go back to the well against Poland though, so hopefully we can find a way to best accommodate Keane while also trying to figure out how not to get completely overrun in midfield; again.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

That Teodorczyk lad who plays for Dynamo Kiev looks like a good player by the way.

Goes to show that you can't always place too much stock in the big name players; Kuba, Lewy, Pisz. All around, they are probably technically sharper even if they are lacking in name familiarity.

[DeLorean]

I don't think we should give up on Long/Walters or Long on his own up front already just because of one bad result. I don't think Keane would have made the slightest bit of difference really, based on his performances against Georgia or Germany.

I think we are going to go back to the well against Poland though, so hopefully we can find a way to best accommodate Keane while also trying to figure out how not to get completely overrun in midfield; again.

Yeah I'd go with Keane against Championship level centre halves every time though, and I think Long and Walters would have a better impact from the bench than Keane. Long also has the ability to cause havok from the start, if used properly, but it's one or the other against Poland because we will need five in midfield.

[Lukenho]

I would like to see Keane and Hoolahan on the pitch together. It is rare that they play together and in my opinion they should link up well together since Hoolahan can pick a pass and Keane's ability to find space. This issue of Keane cant play up front on his own because hes too small and doesn't have the pace would be irrelevant if Hoolahan is on the pitch since he encourages us to keep the ball and play on the floor while when we play Long/Walter (I'm a big fan of both players) we almost give ourselves the ok to just kick the ball up the pitch and hope for the best. In my opinion Keane up front with Hoolahan playing as the attacking midfielder is the way to go for this game.

[geysir]

It's just that Robbie is so far ahead in the realm of football intelligence that it's a task to find other players who are smart enough to complement his playing style, maybe Hoolahan could step up to that task.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Funny that he didn't complete a season at either Liverpool or Inter when given a chance to play with players on his wavelength.





:p

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Forde
Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Wilson
McGeady, McCarthy, Gibson, McClean
Hoolahan
Keane

Forde
Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Wilson
McCarthy, Whelan, Gibson
McClean Long
Keane

[TrapAPony]

Forde
Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Wilson
McGeady, McCarthy, Gibson, McClean
Hoolahan
Keane

Forde
Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Wilson
McCarthy, Whelan, Gibson
McClean Long
Keane

Prefer team 1. Steve Bruce says there's a good chance Robbie Brady is going to be fit. If so, McClean off & Brady on.

[Crosby87]

Robbie Keane wearing a sexy man-bag:
http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/robbie-keanes-lady-claudine-spends-birthday-weekend-dining-in-pretty-woman-hotel-31084368.html

[geysir]

Robbie Keane wearing a sexy man-bag:
http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/robbie-keanes-lady-claudine-spends-birthday-weekend-dining-in-pretty-woman-hotel-31084368.html
Hand luggage doesn't count, every man gets a pass when it comes to hand luggage.

[nigel-harps1954]

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

---Coleman---O'Shea---Wilson---Brady---

-------McCarthy---Gibson---Whelan-------

-------------------Walters-------------------

---------------Long-----Keane--------------


Let's face it. Ireland don't have wide players who can cross a ball. McClean and McGeady couldn't cross their legs, but are excellent players to bring off the bench if we need to have a go at defenders in the last 20-30 minutes. Coleman and Brady both work best as attacking wing-backs in my view, and it's a real toss up between Walters and Hoolahan for me in that deep lying forward role, but Walters physicality will certainly be needed against a physically strong Poland team. Again, Hoolahan can be an impact sub in the last 20.

4-4-2 doesn't work for Ireland. Plain and simple. We don't have capable players to play a wide game for 90 minutes.

Kieran Westwood has been the form keeper for Ireland this year, but he's not getting a look in at international level for whatever reason. Recently, Shay Given has had a few games and played very well in them, and I think he should get the nod ahead of Forde who's Milwall team are having a stinker, especially recently, losing 6 of their last 9 games.

[TrapAPony]

^ Reasonable team, except for I would partner Walters with Robbie & have Hoolahan in behind them for creativity. Long is best used from the bench when Robbie gets tired IMO. Likewise bring on McGeady for Hoolahan when he gets tired.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

McCarthy, Gibson, Whelan, Hoolahan, Keane, Walters?

You need some pace and penetration IMO.

Ideally, McClean and/or Long would be playing at the least.

Brady at wing back is an idea, though probably too much of a radical departure for us - even if he is fit.

[TrapAPony]

Possibly Long instead of Walters. It's going to be interesting to see what O'Neill does.

[tricky_colour]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2015/0322/688953-arter-included-in-oneills-final-squad-for-poland/

Martin O’Neill has confirmed his 29-man squad for next Sunday’s EURO 2016 qualifier against Poland at the Aviva Stadium.
Having named a provisional 35-man squad last week, O’Neill reduced the numbers by six as the squad assembled in Dublin this evening.
Harry Arter, named for the first time in the provisional squad, kept his place in the revised line-up following a fine performance at the weekend as he led Bournemouth back to the top of the English Championship with a fine 25-yard strike in their 3-0 win over title contenders Middlesbrough.
David McGoldrick, Anthony Pilkington and Jeff Hendrick all miss out through injury, while Rob Elliot, Paul Green and Simon Cox were the others dropped from the initial squad.
Ireland squad: David Forde (Millwall FC), Shay Given (Aston Villa FC), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday FC), Darren Randolph (Birmingham City FC), Richard Keogh (Derby County FC), Marc Wilson (Stoke City FC), Seamus Coleman (Everton FC), Cyrus Christie (Derby County FC), John O’Shea (Sunderland AFC), Alex Pearce (Reading FC), Paul McShane (Hull City FC), James McCarthy (Everton FC), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa FC), Stephen Ward (Burnley FC), Harry Arter (AFC Bournemouth), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City FC), Darron Gibson (Everton FC), Aiden McGeady (Everton FC), James McClean (Wigan Athletic FC), Robbie Brady (Hull City FC), Stephen Quinn (Hull City FC), David Meyler (Hull City FC), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton FC), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town FC), Jon Walters (Stoke City FC), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Anthony Stokes (Celtic FC), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City).

[nigel-harps1954]

Four goalkeepers for one game. Surely a 23 man squad would have sufficed for this?

[the doc]

Four goalkeepers for one game. Surely a 23 man squad would have sufficed for this?

Our Saviour has lost the plot!

The only way this side under MON will get to France is if, the FAI pay for a day trip to Disneyland Paris!

[Eminence Grise]

Why Paris? Isn't Donald Doc out in Orlando with some Mickey Mouse outfit?:cool:

[SwanVsDalton]

Four goalkeepers for one game. Surely a 23 man squad would have sufficed for this?

He's been regularly picking four goalkeepers for the squads proper, at least for the last few. It is really strange. My theory before was that Shay was acting as a quasi-coach but I'm not sure about that anymore. Maybe with Forde and Given being old, he's just lumping more Randolph and Elliott in so that they're ready to step up in the near future.

Still bizarre.

[DeLorean]

If having a couple of extra players in the squad is our biggest concern we're doing okay :) Maybe it's for training purposes? 23 players is a bit tight for 11 aside games if there are players carrying knocks. MON was a bit concerned about lack of practice for new systems, etc. Hendrick is a bit of a loss I think, would have been nice to have a midfielder with an eye for goal coming off the bench.

[tetsujin1979]

If having a couple of extra players in the squad is our biggest concern we're doing okay :) Maybe it's for training purposes? 23 players is a bit tight for 11 aside games if there are players carrying knocks. MON was a bit concerned about lack of practice for new systems, etc. Hendrick is a bit of a loss I think, would have been nice to have a midfielder with an eye for goal coming off the bench.
Think Arter fills that criteria nicely

[DeLorean]

I've seen very little of him to be honest. It seems unlikely he'll be used this early though isn't it, in such a crunch game? At least Hendrick has accumulated a fair bit of experience at this stage.

[DannyInvincible]

Four goalkeepers for one game. Surely a 23 man squad would have sufficed for this?

In accordance with article 40.01 of the regulations (http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/03/92/81/2039281_DOWNLOAD.pdf), we can only have 23 players in the available match-day squad, so O'Neill will still have to cut another 6 out from possibly featuring.

[DannyInvincible]

'Shay Given hungry to start against Poland': http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2015/0323/689136-ireland-shay-given-poland-euro-jack-grealish/


Speaking after training this morning, Given said: “I'd love to play. You want to play in the game because it is such a huge game.

“[To] get into the team is the first thing you want to do. Obviously, I don't pick the team, the manager makes the decision who is going to play.

"The goalkeepers in general, David, [Kieren] Westwood and [Darren] Randolph, we're all a tight team together. Whoever he picks, we'll support them as I said before.

“We're not going to go around two-footing them so you'll get a game or anything like that. You do wish them well, but at the same time your personal pride and professionalism, you want to play in the game.

“I just got to work hard in training. I've been sort of playing well at Aston Villa when given the chance as well and hopefully I might get the nod Sunday. But if not I'll support whoever [Martin O'Neill] picks.”

From today's training photos, it looks like Shay has been designated #16 as his squad number:

http://img.rasset.ie/000a5674-642.jpg

Anything to be taken from that in terms of who will be Martin's first choice on Sunday?

[DeLorean]

Personal preferences aside, Forde would be on my list of guys I'd be fairly certain will start, along with Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson and McCarthy. I'd have Whelan and Walters on my probably list and after that I really don't know. We actually have a lot of options.

[geysir]

Personal preferences aside, Forde would be on my list of guys I'd be fairly certain will start, along with Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson and McCarthy. I'd have Whelan and Walters on my probably list and after that I really don't know. We actually have a lot of options.
At first glance I thought you had written "We actually have a lot of problems" which seemed to fit.

Visually, 'probably' merged with 'options' and my brain did the rest.

[zero]

Think Arter fills that criteria nicely

hendrick out - apologies if posted already

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32022282

if whelan, mccarthy and gibson are all fit it will be interesting to see if whelan keeps his place.

[tricky_colour]

If having a couple of extra players in the squad is our biggest concern we're doing okay :) Maybe it's for training purposes? 23 players is a bit tight for 11 aside games if there are players carrying knocks. MON was a bit concerned about lack of practice for new systems, etc. Hendrick is a bit of a loss I think, would have been nice to have a midfielder with an eye for goal coming off the bench.

Midfield goal scorers has been an area in which we have really struggled in the past
and as has been mentioned Arter is one who could perhaps help in that area.

He is also rated very string on the defensive side on one stats site, although I have
not seen anything much of his defensive play myself.

The fact he can score from outside the box is a useful attribute as it is essentially a defensive area
to score from.

However the problem is he is an unknown element at international level.

[geysir]

Midfield goal scorers has been an area in which we have really struggled in the past
and as has been mentioned Arter is one who could perhaps help in that area.

He is also rated very string on the defensive side on one stats site, although I have
not seen anything much of his defensive play myself.

The fact he can score from outside the box is a useful attribute as it is essentially a defensive area
to score from.

However the problem is he is an unknown element at international level.
Therefore there are no stats available and that would be dodgy territory for you Tricky. You would then have to offer a decisive opinion based on merit, without the crutch of statistics to bail you out :)

[tricky_colour]

Therefore there are no stats available and that would be dodgy territory for you Tricky. You would then have to offer a decisive opinion based on merit, without the crutch of statistics to bail you out :)

I am not just using the crutch of stats I am also using the wheelchair of brief TV highlights :)

[Crosby87]

What are you shrewd chaps predicting as a result?
Me head says 3-0 Poland me heart says 2-0 Poland.

[tricky_colour]

Head and heart say 3-0 Ireland :)

[TrapAPony]

2-1 for us

[Crosby87]

Tricky im sitting in third in a 204 person ncaa pool, and neither of the 2 people in front of me have kentucky winning. This could be the big one.

[DeLorean]

The full Poland squad is as follows;



Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Bournemouth), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal);

Defenders: Thiago Cionek (Modena), Kamil Glik (AC Torino ), Jakub Wawrzyniak, Rafal Janicki, Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (all Lechia Gdansk), Marcin Komorowski (Terek Grozny), Paul Olkowski (FC Koeln), Lukasz Szukala (Al-Ittihad);

Midfielders: Maciej Gajos (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Michael Gyro, Tomasz Jodlowiec, Michael Feldman (all Legia Warsaw), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla), Karol Linetty (Lech Poznan), Sebastian Mila (Lechia Gdansk), Slawomir Peszko (FC Koeln) Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny), Krzysztof Maczynski (Guizhou Renhe);

Fowards: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax Amsterdam), Luke Teodorczyk (Dynamo Kyiv).


Balls.ie (http://balls.ie/football/795681-poland-squad-missing-key-players-for-ireland-game/)

[DannyInvincible]

'Five questions that hold key to Euro showdown': http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/european-championships/five-questions-that-hold-key-to-euro-showdown-31086783.html


IN the shadow of a pivotal period in the English club season and a spring where rugby affairs have dominated Irish headlines, the build-up to the most important match of Martin O'Neill's tenure has been relatively low-key.

That will change this week as the importance of Poland's visit to the Aviva Stadium is cemented into the previews. The permutations can be teased out in the detail but there's a fairly straightforward bottom line.

If Ireland fail to win this game against the group leaders, their chances of automatic qualification to the 24-team Euro 2016 will be extremely remote. And that worst-case scenario would also set up a June joust with Scotland with seismic implications for the whole project.

The positive slant is that Ireland start the year with their destiny in their own hands, and four out of the next five games at the Aviva Stadium. Regrettably, an uninspiring home record at the renovated venue checks the enthusiasm.

O'Neill has to craft Ireland's best Dublin result in 14 years to keep the show on the road, a nod to the famous Lansdowne triumph over Holland, when his assistant Roy Keane was in the centre of the action. After spending the last four months as a scout, here are the main questions the Derry man faces as the scene sets.

...

[SwanVsDalton]

McClean pulled up in training today (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/james-mcclean-limps-out-of-ireland-training-1.2151130) - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

This could rubber stamp Wilson for left-back if Ward is missing. Probably be McGeady or Brady, fitness depending.

[geysir]

McClean pulled up in training today (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/james-mcclean-limps-out-of-ireland-training-1.2151130) - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

This could rubber stamp Wilson for left-back if Ward is missing. Probably be McGeady or Brady, fitness depending.
According to MON, it's just a wee "bit of pain across the ankle", "a little bit sore" :)

If Ward is only getting some screws taken out from his ankle this week, then he can't be that match fit, regretfully (for him) he may have to miss this game altogether.
I don't like the idea of a midfielder (McGeady or Brady) filling in at full back unless it's a last option, partly inexperience but mainly because the midfield position is selected with that vulnerable inexperience at fb in mind. If it comes to it, you'd hope that Wilson is selected.

[back of the net]

McClean pulled up in training today (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/james-mcclean-limps-out-of-ireland-training-1.2151130) - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

This could rubber stamp Wilson for left-back if Ward is missing. Probably be McGeady or Brady, fitness depending.


MON has ruled out playing Brady at left back

On a seperate note....choose the playlist of tunes to be played at the game

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/pick-your-top-10-songs-for-the-stadium-playlist

[SwanVsDalton]

MON has ruled out playing Brady at left back

On a seperate note....choose the playlist of tunes to be played at the game

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/pick-your-top-10-songs-for-the-stadium-playlist

Sorry- that should read Brady or McGeady in front of him [Wilson].