Line up for the Games

[bmozza]

Given
Finnan Dunne McShane O'Dea
Duff Carsley Douglas Kilbane
Keane Doyle

Seen O'Dea play left full. While he is a bit slow, he reads the game well.

I haven't been impressed by Ireland lately, perhaps in the future. Its going to be a typical, physical “Premiership type game”. Will need Kilbane, Douglas and Carsley's battling ability to break down Welsh defence, perhaps with Duff in the hole behind the 2 strikers.

Seen Wales play a few times and that's the flank Bellamy goes wandering on, that's why I though it might be better to have Finnan out there, McShane at Right Full (where he's been playing well for his club) and O'Dea at Centre Back with Dunne??

[Ordinary Fan]

I was sure we were going to beat Wales before I thought about picking a team. Going on past selections Stan will go with

Given
Finnan, Dunne, McShane, O'Shea/Harte
Duff, Carsley, Ireland, Kilbane
Keane, Doyle

The problem with this team is that they won't score goals and everything will depend on Duff Creating the chances. Like or loath Kilbane, he always gives 100% and is there for his hight (we must hace the smallest team in the Europe) but he can't score goals.

My selecetion is different and a bit riskier but it contains players who can win the game

Given
Finnan, Dunne, O'Dea, Kelly
Duff, Carsley, Ireland, Hunt
Keane, Keogh

O'Dea is a far better defender than McShane and not such a loose cannon. Hunt provide a bit of drive and is a good crossed of the ball.
Keogh will provide the target man for Keane to play-off which he does best.
Doyle is not fit as he has hardly played in two months.

Stan should have gone with Lee or Murphy up front instead of Long who is far to light-weight and went missing against the might of San Marino.

Subs McGeady, Doyle, McShane, Kilbane, O'Shea.
Two from these five depending on form and needs.

I expect a win on Saturday and a draw on Wednesday.

I fear a draw on Saturday and defeat on Wednesday.

[citizenerased]

We could also go with a front three of Keane Doyle and Duff and a centre midfield of Carsley Douglas and Ireland. Our best performances so far under staunton have been Sweden and Czech Rep at home when in both games we played a mixture between a 4 5 1 and a 4-3-3.

Given


Finnan Dunne Mc Shane Kelly

Carsley
Douglas
Ireland

Keane Duff

Doyle


Keane and Doyle could be interchangable. Spurs do this with Berbatov Keane and Lennon.


Not Bad.... i would start

........................Given

.....Finnan....Dunne....McShane.....Kelly

.....McGeady... Carsley.... Ireland... Duff

...............Keane........Doyle

[tetsujin1979]

Having thought about it, there's no way Staunton is going to drop his in form goalscorer, with 2 goals in his previous 2 games - ladies and gentlemen take a bow Kevin Kilbane!
I wouldn't pick him, I'm just saying Stan will on his current international form, regardless of how good/bad Duff, Hunt and McGeady do in training.

[McGinty]

i'm surprised to see Steven Kelly in so many peoples lineups, i think he's an absolute nightmare. kept a close eye on him whenever he was playing in lansdowne and thought he was VERY poor

[Paddy Garcia]

i'm surprised to see Steven Kelly in so many peoples lineups, i think he's an absolute nightmare. kept a close eye on him whenever he was playing in lansdowne and thought he was VERY poor

I agree, I thought he had not played well for us. Hopefully he will improve but to date I thought he was, as you say, a nightmare.

[NeilMcD]

What did he do wrong against the Czechs.

[McGinty]

thats 45 mins of fairly average football out of the 3 games he's played

hes was rubbish in the Chile game, made my eyes bleed watching him. Dare i say it but Ian Harte is a much better full back

[shakermaker1982]

looks like McShane could be out of Saturday's game with an ankle ligament problem. Mr John O'Shea has got to be favourite to replace him - I'd prefer O'Dea personally.

[Colbert Report]

Given
Finnan-Dunne-McShane-Harte
McGeady-O'Shea-Carsley-Duff
Keane-Doyle


Even though we all know Kilbane will start!

[Kingdom]

Gaffers team

Shay
Finnan
Dunne
O'Shea
Harte
Duff
Carsley
Ireland
Killer
Doyle
Keane

My team

Shay
Finnan
Dunne
McShane
Kilbane
McGeady
Carsley
Douglas
Duff
Doyle
Keane

[NeilMcD]

thats 45 mins of fairly average football out of the 3 games he's played

hes was rubbish in the Chile game, made my eyes bleed watching him. Dare i say it but Ian Harte is a much better full back

I thought he played well for the 90 mins against the Czechs. Against Chile Ireland tried a 3 at the back formation and it did not suit anybody in the team and as a result Kelly was exposed in one of his first games as he had no support in front of him and they were insure of their positions. I think in a back four he has the pace and defensive knowledge to be able to play left back against Wales. He is much more of a full back than Harte or O Shea are.