Ireland squad announced!

[skbio_toronto]

The return of Given, Dunne, Duff and Keane will hopefully prove to be the steadying influence this team desperately needs after the debacle against the Dutch.

Just to qualify the importance of these players. Shay is a given world class keeper. Richard Dunne will orchestate the back 4 ala Man City, where he's now the captain. Duffer has a point to prove after an indifferent qualifying campaign last time out. Anyone who saw Robbie Keane's performance against Sheffield United the other night, can see the confidence he's got, at the moment.

When you add Steve Finnan to the mix, you could argue we have 5 players that could make it onto many a top international side. In theory, we should have the quality to be competitive in this qualifying group.

Staunton's main task tactically, IMO, is to the get the central midfielders right. There's a lot of apprentices out there, but not enough chiefs, as the Dutch game so drastically exposed. I'd go with Steven Reid and Kilbane given their mobility (we'll be conceding much of the possession to the Germans, I feel) I have an aversion to John O' Shea given a less than stellar record in the green of Ireland.

Can Staunton strategise and inspire this team to a result in Stuttgart? I'm not holding my breath! :eek:

[eirebhoy]

Just a run down so far:

Shay Given (Newcastle United) - Missed Thursday's game through injury but will play tomorrow.
Wayne Henderson (Brighton) - Rested midweek for Carling cup. Brighton play tomorrow.
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United) - Played well against Spurs midweek. Conceded 1 today and played match feeling unwell.
Andy O'Brien (Portsmouth) - Can't even make the bench.
Richard Dunne (Manchester City) - Clean sheet in midweek and clean sheet and motm against Arsenal today.
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United) - Played well midweek, plays tomorrow.
Steve Finnan (Liverpool) - Played 90mins in CL and again today.
Stephen Kelly (Birmingham) - Replaced after an hour in 2-0 defeat to Cardiff today, rested in Carling Cup.
Gary Doherty (Norwich) - 90 minutes midweek and again today, conceding 1 goal over the 2 games.
Kevin Kilbane (Everton) - Started last 2 games but sent off after half an hour today, Everton still won.
John O'Shea (Manchester United) - Started in midfield midweek and left back today. Played well in both.
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers) - Played at right back in midweek. Plays tomorrow.
Graham Kavanagh (Wigan) - Backup to Landzaat at Wigan now, only making sub appearances.
Liam Miller (Manchester United) - Reserves...
Jonathan Douglas (Blackburn Rovers) - Clearly not rated by Hughes. Suprised he hasn't left yet.
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) - Unused in midweek, came on after 66 minutes today.
Damien Duff (Newcastle United) - motm in midweek. Plays again tomorrow.
Aiden McGeady (Celtic) - motm last 3 games.
Stephen Elliott (Sunderland) - Played in midweek against Bury but Sunderland failed to score.
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur) - motm in midweek but Spurs were poor today.
Kevin Doyle (Reading) - Scored in midweek
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) - Bench warmer at Palace, came on as sub today.
Alan O'Brien (Newcastle United) - Didn't make the bench midweek.

[tetsujin1979]

Richard Dunne (Manchester City) - Clean sheet in midweek and clean sheet and motm against Arsenal today.
John O'Shea (Manchester United) - Started in midfield midweek and left back today. Played well in both.
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) - Unused in midweek, came on after 66 minutes today.

Just a few things, Dunne wasn't MOTM, Dickov was
O'Shea started at right full against Watford and was moved to centre half in the second half
Ireland came on midweek and was unused against Arsenal

[eirebhoy]

Just a few things, Dunne wasn't MOTM, Dickov was
O'Shea started at right full against Watford and was moved to centre half in the second half
Ireland came on midweek and was unused against Arsenal
Cheers. Just went a bit too fast through the BBC reports. :) For Dunne I seen he was way ahead in the Sky player ratings so assumed he was motm:
http://home.skysports.com/matchratings.aspx?fxid=298669

Judging by what I read he might aswell have got motm.

[tetsujin1979]

Cheers. Just went a bit too fast through the BBC reports. :) For Dunne I seen he was way ahead in the Sky player ratings so assumed he was motm:
http://home.skysports.com/matchratings.aspx?fxid=298669

Judging by what I read he might aswell have got motm.
Nope, I watched the game. It was Dickov and Barton in the post match interview, Barton presented him with the champagne.

[eirebhoy]

I know that now. :) What I'm saying is most people think Dunne deserved it from what I read so that's good enough for me. ;)

[Stuttgart88]

Dunne very often plays well against the better sides. Fair play to him. Hope he's fully fit at the w/e.

[pete]

The only irish squad players to start a game this weekend.

Shay Given (Newcastle United)
Wayne Henderson (Brighton)
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United)
John O'Shea (Manchester United)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United)
Steve Finnan (Liverpool)
Stephen Kelly (Birmingham)
Gary Doherty (Norwich)
Kevin Kilbane (Everton)
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
Damien Duff (Newcastle United)
Aiden McGeady (Celtic)
Stephen Elliott (Sunderland)
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Kevin Doyle (Reading)

To get time off the bench.
Graham Kavanagh (Wigan)
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace)

No game:
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
Andy O'Brien (Portsmouth)
Liam Miller (Manchester United)
Jonathan Douglas (Blackburn Rovers)
Alan O'Brien (Newcastle United)

Only 13 outfield players started this weeknd. Strange to have players in the international squad with no game time. Its even worse when so early in their season :confused:

[tetsujin1979]

I know that now. :) What I'm saying is most people think Dunne deserved it from what I read so that's good enough for me. ;)

The Independent agrees with you, he was given MOTM in their review:
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article1222235.ece