Republic of Ireland v. Wales - Friday, 24th March 2017 - World Cup 2018 Qualifier

[mark12345]

5-0 Ireland. Niall Quinn with a last minute header to guarantee the win.

What's Niall doing these days beside the odd bit of punditry?

[samhaydenjr]

I'm not disagreeing with you completely but there's a bit too much competition in the squad for a competitive match like Wales that we will need the defensive experience the likes of Pearce and McShane if we are struck by injuries. I think Hoban has the most potential of the lot. He showed more than the other pair at a younger age.

Lenihan was playing centre half last night per LiveScore. All three started.

They definitely should be in the conversation for the upcoming friendlies, along with a lot of other players at a similar level such as Manning, Cullen, Forrester, Cunningham, potentially Robinson and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

Alan Browne, dammit, that's who we both forgot :D

[KrisLetang]

What's Niall doing these days beside the odd bit of punditry?

He and Nigel Harps went shopping for Disco Pants yesterday according to reports.

[Closed Account]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7CJxDFWsAEbwAK.jpg

[DannyInvincible]

The faux-Cyrillic font is a nice touch.

[DannyInvincible]

I see Liverpool's youngest ever scorer Ben Woodburn is in there. That's his first call-up.

On paper, they're a very average (and you could say beatable side) although they clearly have a tremendous team-spirit and with world-class Bale in the team bolstered by the likes of Ramsey and Allen, they're a little less predictable.

I'd love a win by a goal - be it 1-0 or 2-1 - and we have the superior players and overall ability across our squad to do that, but I just think we'll play out a tight 1-1 draw. Hennessy is a weak keeper - a flapper - so I hope we take full advantage.

[tetsujin1979]

The faux-Cyrillic font is a nice touch.
The inconsistent direction the capital "E" is facing in "TogetherStronger" is killing me!


On paper, they're a very average (and you could say beatable side) although they clearly have a tremendous team-spirit and with world-class Bale in the team bolstered by the likes of Ramsey and Allen, they're a little less predictable.
I'd agree with that, their midfield is better, we have the better strikers and defence, and obviously Bale is the best player by a distance across the two squads

[DeLorean]

Yeah, although we'd be creaming ourselves if we had a young player getting game time (and scoring) up front for Liverpool.


Hennessy is a weak keeper - a flapper - so I hope we take full advantage.

It a shame we don't have the Brady/Duffy combination to test him.

[geysir]

The faux-Cyrillic font is a nice touch.

I get images of Soviet/Nazi/WW2/propaganda posters


http://images.tate.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/grid-normal-6-cols/public/images/russian_revolutionary_posters_0.jpg?itok=UQH2V0F6

[KrisLetang]

One of the riveting debates surrounding the Wales team, will it be Vokes or HRK up front?
http://apostlewelshfootie.proboards.com/thread/7694/roi-wales-match-discussion?page=12

Fighting Irish doing their work to bring good omens to you right now, starting to run away from Princeton in March Madness.
Edit: Irish now in a dogfight. Uh oh.

[geysir]

Why are Wales not using the Millennium for their home game against Ireland? Did they get a special package deal on Cardiff city stadium?
You'd have thought that post Euros, there would be a groundswell of support for the football team.
Now with these WC qualifiers between the two teams, there is just the minimum ticket allocation for away supporters, which just hurts both sets of fans.

[KrisLetang]

It's Principality Stadium to you. I think they have a Kenny Chesney concert scheduled for Oct 9. RyanAir are adding flights by the drove as thousands upon thousands of Irish fans are expected to attend.
http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/ryanair-adds-six-extra-flights-for-ireland-v-wales-world-cup-qualifier-35530030.html

[DannyInvincible]

Why are Wales not using the Millennium for their home game against Ireland? Did they get a special package deal on Cardiff city stadium?
You'd have thought that post Euros, there would be a groundswell of support for the football team.
Now with these WC qualifiers between the two teams, there is just the minimum ticket allocation for away supporters, which just hurts both sets of fans.

Pretty sure it was to do with lack of a proper football atmosphere in the bigger rugby stadium, but there had been talk last November of the Principality Stadium potentially hosting the Ireland game nevertheless: https://www.balls.ie/football/wales-vs-ireland-potential-group-decider-cardiff-351992


Since 2011, the home of Welsh football has been the Cardiff City Stadium, where it's near 35,000 capacity insures a proper football atmosphere at the matches, something the players and fans alike have grown very fond of, but speaking to The Balls.ie Football Show, head of sport at Wales Online Paul Abbandonato claimed that the possibility of staging the Ireland match at the Principality (formerly Millenium) Stadium is something that the Welsh FA are considering.

...

When asked whether or not the Euro 2016 performance put in by Wales had inspired a nation like Euro 88 and Italia 90 for us, Abbandonato played down the comparison, but suggested that a boost in interest could lead to a return to the Millenium.


"With regards to the Irish effect under Jack Chartlon, no not to that level although there were a reported 200,000 people on the streets in Cardiff to welcome the team home from the finals in France.

This is still a rugby nation, isn't it? When Wales play rugby internationals, a nation is engaged with it and that hasn't really happened with the football in my opinion.

With regards to the Millenium Stadium, I've been thinking, interestingly Wales haven't named the venue for the last game of the campaign, which is against Ireland funnily enough.

There's a feeling that if there is something riding on that, they could sell 200,000 tickets for that match, probably 100,000 of them to Irish fans!"

The prospect of a Wales vs Ireland Group D decider in the Principality Stadium is seriously exciting for Irish fans. We are absolutely sure that there would be incredible interest, and the Irish are right up there with the very best when it comes to making sure we are at big sporting events when our guys are involved, so the atmosphere would be absolutely electric.

It is by no means a certainty, as Abbandonato explained there is a common feeling in Welsh football that when they occupied the gigantic Millenium stadium, it didn't really feel like home.


"There is a school of thought that they didn't feel very well treated in the Millenium Stadium, they felt it was more like an away game for them, or it certainly benefitted the opposition more than it did Wales, and I think there's a feeling of 'look we don't want to go back to a rugby stadium'.

We've got 35,000 screaming taffs in the Cardiff City Stadium, a proper football stadium, and that creates a better atmosphere than 70,000 at the Millenium and that's the view from the players and the management."

From an Irish point of view, the bigger stadium is by far a more attractive option. Cardiff City Stadium could prove to be a tough place to play for such an important game, and more Irish fans in the stadium could only be seen as a positive.

[samhaydenjr]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7CJxDFWsAEbwAK.jpg

HA! What chance do Wales have with their puny 23-man squad? With our mighty 39-man squad we will surely crush them!

[KrisLetang]

Coleman: Irish roots dead to me when we invade Dubs.
http://www.the42.ie/chris-coleman-wales-ireland-3292237-Mar2017/

[DannyInvincible]

Looks like Ciaran Clark definitely won't be available next Friday as the Northern Echo is reporting that he's facing lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle/news_articles/15165331.Newcastle__Rafael_Benitez_facing_mounting _problems_with_Ciaran_Clark_set_to_be_sidelined_fo r_lengthy_spell/


Rafael Benitez facing mounting problems with Ciaran Clark set to be sidelined for lengthy spell.

The Magpies manager revealed yesterday that defender Ciaran Clark is the latest key player to be sidelined after picking up an injury.

Clark's absence is a major setback for Benitez, who is likely to call up Grant Hanley to replace the former Aston Villa player after weighing up at least two other options.

Wes Hoolahan went off injured today as well with a hamstring problem and is also now a doubt.

[mark12345]

Wes and Clark gone. What will the team look like on Friday night?

Randolph
Coleman, Keogh, O'Shea, Ward

Arter

McGeady, Hendrick McClean

Walters Long

[DannyInvincible]

Coleman: Irish roots dead to me when we invade Dubs.
http://www.the42.ie/chris-coleman-wales-ireland-3292237-Mar2017/

I never knew Chris Coleman's father was born in Dublin and moved to Swansea aged 20.

[mark12345]

Thinking that we could really do with Robbie Brady on Friday night and he'll miss out because of a crazy decision to kick the ball away in Austria. Such a costly mistake.

[johnnyc]

Looks like Arter may miss out too seeing as he didn't make the squad tonight.

[Cymro]

The faux-Cyrillic font is a nice touch.

But no backwards Rs! Everyone knows that in COBET POCCИЯ, letters backwards you!

[Cymro]

I see Liverpool's youngest ever scorer Ben Woodburn is in there. That's his first call-up.

On paper, they're a very average (and you could say beatable side) although they clearly have a tremendous team-spirit and with world-class Bale in the team bolstered by the likes of Ramsey and Allen, they're a little less predictable.

I'd love a win by a goal - be it 1-0 or 2-1 - and we have the superior players and overall ability across our squad to do that, but I just think we'll play out a tight 1-1 draw. Hennessy is a weak keeper - a flapper - so I hope we take full advantage.

I don't agree with that. Ireland have the better squad; we have the better 1st XI. Our squad is quite mediocre, but on paper our strongest side contains 10 established PL first teamers, four of those real stars at that level, and an excellent Championship player (Gunter) who can easily step up to PL level. It's a very strong side. The problem is when we get injuries, as we had against Georgia.

[Cymro]

Really looking forward to this lads. Bydded i'r tim orau enill! (May the best team win)*.

*Actually, sod that, I don't give a crap how we play, that should read: "may Wales win 1-0 with a goal off James Collins' hairy ginger ar$e."

[Cymro]

Speculation is that Woodburn's in the squad with a view to capping him and keeping him out of England's clutches.

Hell of a game to be blooding youth, but as an option off the bench if we are desperate for a goal, we could do worse.

I think this will be a real competitive game. Those posts predicting a low-scoring draw are off the mark in my opinion; we need to win, so we will attack. My prediction based on no injuries is 3-2 Wales. Robson-Kanu, Bale, Ramsey and Allen all have goals in them this year. We haven't been defending as well in this campaign however, so we will definitely concede goals.

[geysir]

Ace midfielder Ramsey could well be in an emotionally fragile state, poor chap.

[mark12345]

Before yesterday I would have said: "Stop Ramsey, Stop Wales"
Still believe that he is the driving force of the Welsh team and a man marker on him would go a long way to stifling them.
But now, looking at our list of injuries, we will be lucky to get a point.
I would take a point right now.

[mark12345]

This game is going to be all about tactics on the night. Got to get them right. I see already that MON is ruling out man marking, telling his defence to figure out Bale.
If that's true, we are going to have to lie deep and invite them upon us and hope to spring counter attacks.
McGeady and McClean are prime players but Pilkington and O'Dowda may now also come into the planning process.
The long ball game to Walters and or Murphy would seem to be out of the question given the presence of Collins/Williams/Chester

[mark12345]

Ireland have the better squad?
Bale is best player by a long stretch in both squads. Ramsey is the best midfielder on show and one of the best in Europe. Williams is a world class defender.
And Tom Davies and Joe Allen and Joe Ledley are all starters with their PL teams.
While McGeady is in sensational form at the minute, Ireland can really only use Coleman as a counter argument.

[mark12345]

Ireland have the better squad?
Bale is best player by a long stretch in both squads. Ramsey is the best midfielder on show and one of the best in Europe. Williams is a world class defender.
And Tom Davies and Joe Allen and Joe Ledley are all starters with their PL teams.
While McGeady is in sensational form at the minute, Ireland can really only use Coleman as a counter argument.

That's Ben Davies. Sorry

[geysir]

Ramsay was rank rotten for Arsenal v West Brom.

[mark12345]

Ireland have the better squad?
Bale is best player by a long stretch in both squads. Ramsey is the best midfielder on show and one of the best in Europe. Williams is a world class defender.
And Tom Davies and Joe Allen and Joe Ledley are all starters with their PL teams.
While McGeady is in sensational form at the minute, Ireland can really only use Coleman as a counter argument.

Five starters now confirmed missing for Ireland through injury or suspension (Arter, Clark, Duffy, McCarthy, Brady) and Hoolahan on very thin ice. If Wales don't beat us now...........

[geysir]

Is McCarthy a confirmed non starter?

[DannyInvincible]

Arter definitely out: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/harry-arter-out-of-irelands-crucial-world-cup-clash-against-wales-35545142.html


Harry Arter has been ruled out of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales on Friday due to a calf injury.

The Bournemouth midfielder missed Saturday's win over Swansea City with Cherries boss Eddie Howe afterwards casting doubt of the player's ability to recover in time to feature for Martin O'Neill's side.

“I would have thought there’s no way he’ll play," said Howe.

It's understood Arter has conceded defeat in his bid to be fit and will concentrate on his rehab during the international break to ensure he's back for Bournemouth's Premier League run-in.

His unavailability is all the more disappointing as he was likely to start in midfield having impressed on his competitive debut in Austria last November.

When can we expect an update on Wes?

[DannyInvincible]

Is McCarthy a confirmed non starter?

I don't think he has been ruled out for definite just yet. Paul O'Hehir reported (http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/norwich-urge-martin-oneill-not-10056010) the following today:


James McCarthy gave O’Neill a positive update on his hamstring injury on the start of the week, but was not in Everton’s squad for yesterday’s 4-0 rout over Hull City.

In relation to Wes, O'Hehir wrote:


Hoolahan, 34, last night emerged as the latest injury concern after shipping a thigh strain in Norwich’s 2-0 win over Barnsley.

The Canaries will submit a medical report to the FAI today but are pleading with O’Neill to use common sense.

Caretaker boss Alan Irvine said: “If they ask to see him of course he will go over but we will look to treat him here.

“I’m hoping when they see he came off as early as he did, in those circumstances they will probably say, ‘Look don’t bother coming over.’

“It’s clearly a genuine injury. He has a bit of a thigh strain. We don’t know how bad it is at the moment.

“It’s a bit sore and something we have to report to Ireland. Whether they ask to see him or not I am not quite sure.”

[DannyInvincible]

If the squad are meeting up tonight to attend the FAI international awards show in RTÉ (as reported by O'Hehir in the article I've quoted above), then I assume the squad will be whittled down to a final 23 at some point today?...

[The Fly]

Bale is best player by a long stretch in both squads. Ramsey is the best midfielder on show and one of the best in Europe. Williams is a world class defender.


Good one.

[DannyInvincible]

I don't agree with that. Ireland have the better squad; we have the better 1st XI. Our squad is quite mediocre, but on paper our strongest side contains 10 established PL first teamers, four of those real stars at that level, and an excellent Championship player (Gunter) who can easily step up to PL level. It's a very strong side. The problem is when we get injuries, as we had against Georgia.

Fair points. The closer I look at your starting eleven, it is admittedly strong. The squad lacks strength in depth though, whereas I think we have good cover throughout our squad.

Even with five potential starters looking likely to miss out for us, I'd be confident that our back-up players can fill in OK. Wes missing out would be the biggest worry in terms of finding an adequate replacement who can bring that spark of creativity to the attack. Obviously Brady is suspended too, so it looks like we'll have to rely on McGeady for the ingenuity and artistry, but he has been in tremendous form of late for Preston in fairness. His confidence will be high, so I'm expecting a big game from McGeady if he starts; there's maybe even a goal in him.

[DannyInvincible]

Ruaidhrí Croke looks at how the entire provisional squad have fared with their clubs over the weekend: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/ireland-squad-watch-how-martin-o-neill-s-men-performed-at-the-weekend-1.3016222

[tetsujin1979]

See if you can spot the mistakes in the Independent's review of previous games VS Wales: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/a-rivalry-primed-to-catch-fire-after-years-of-phony-war-35544327.html

[Diggs246]

Harry Arter is on his way to Dubai as we speak not Dublin. I have to say that is not good enough. He is obilged to make himself available to the Irish medical team for assessment and if he is injured why isn't he been treated in Bournemouth

[DannyInvincible]

Harry Arter is on his way to Dubai as we speak not Dublin. I have to say that is not good enough. He is obilged to make himself available to the Irish medical team for assessment and if he is injured why isn't he been treated in Bournemouth

How to you know he's on his way to Dubai, and for what reason? A holiday? Maybe he's heading to Dubai for rehab/treatment? John Fallon reported that he'll be using the international break to focus on rehab.

If the Irish medical team wanted him to come over to Dublin, he'd be on his way to Dublin, as those are the rules. I'd say it's highly likely the Irish medical staff received a medical report from the Bournemouth doctor(s), reviewed it and excused him of his duty.

Edit: Just seeing that Fallon's short piece on Arter (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/harry-arter-out-of-irelands-crucial-world-cup-clash-against-wales-35545142.html) has been updated with the following:


Instead of joining up with the Ireland squad, Arter will fly to Dubai with the rest of the Bournemouth squad for a training camp.

Nevertheless, we still don't know the full facts of the situation, but I would have to assume he has been excused by the Irish medical team on the basis of a medical report from Bournemouth.

[Diggs246]

The facts are he has made himself available twice in two years. Maybe he is unlucky with the timing of his injuries, but it's a worry all the same

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Harry Arter is on his way to Dubai as we speak not Dublin. I have to say that is not good enough. He is obilged to make himself available to the Irish medical team for assessment and if he is injured why isn't he been treated in Bournemouth

It is pretty concerning, especially when you see the lengths McCarthy will go in an attempt to participate on Friday - even when under pressure from his own club.

[DannyInvincible]

The facts are he has made himself available twice in two years. Maybe he is unlucky with the timing of his injuries, but it's a worry all the same

He's got 4 caps in the last two years and has been selected in squads but not featured, so what you say is simply not true. Are you saying it's a worry in the sense he's injury-prone or are you insinuating he's skulking off? You don't know the full medical facts of the situation so it would be imprudent to jump to conclusions. And hasn't he missed a lot of game-time for his club due to his injuries anyway? Didn't he play through the pain barrier in the friendly against Holland before the Euros?

[Diggs246]

Sorry he does have 4 caps my error. But I am concerned it looks and feels terrible and he has pulled out of squads and then played the following weekend for his club. I fear he will play for Bournemouth on Saturday week

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Sorry he does have 4 caps my error. But I am concerned it looks and feels terrible and he has pulled out of squads and then played the following weekend for his club. I fear he will play for Bournemouth on Saturday week

Never underestimate the power of modern medicine.

Arter may feel awful for the next five days or so but I'm sure he will be doing the Charleston by Saturday week.

[Diggs246]

Also the rules are there for a reason. He should be in Dublin not Dubai. MON and Roy are clear they couldn't give a rats ass what the various club medical teams say. So I think it's fair to say the player has pulled out and has said he isn't travelling.

[DannyInvincible]

Sorry he does have 4 caps my error. But I am concerned it looks and feels terrible and he has pulled out of squads and then played the following weekend for his club. I fear he will play for Bournemouth on Saturday week

If the Irish medical team doubted the veracity of his present injury, he'd be on a plane to Dublin for a check-up. They're fully entitled to impose such a demand upon a player. It's clear that they haven't, so it's probable they were given good reason not to. If his commitment was in doubt, O'Neill/Keane would have little time for him. You think they'd continue indulging suspected dodgers?

Which squads did he pull out of before then featuring for Bournemouth the following weekend?

As I say, we have no idea what goes on behind the scenes unless full details are reported, and full details haven't been reported, so let's not cast aspersions and fill gaps in knowledge with cynical assumptions.

[liamoo11]

It is pretty concerning, especially when you see the lengths McCarthy will go in an attempt to participate on Friday - even when under pressure from his own club.

McCarthy is a warrior for us really think he will play Friday which will be huge for us. Join him with Hendrick and Gibson behind mcgeady McLean and long. Gives you Walters and Murphy if we need to go long in last 15 mins. No wes is a kick in the teeth

[Diggs246]

Wales 24/3/17