Ireland v Slovakia - Pre Match thread

[Tipp Townie]

Seems a bit harsh to leave Hunt out bearing in mind how he did when he came on against Wales. I guess Staunton considers him a bit of an impact player; bring him on and inject a bit of pace?

[NeilMcD]

Not too dissappointed. The ony change I would make is Hunt for Kilbane to be honest. Hope he restores Finnan to right back also. He may play Mc Geady in the whole behind Doyle , like where he played for Celtic V Miland and play Duff and Kilbane on the wings with Carsley and Ireland in the centre. Thats the way I might play it with options to play Duff and Mc Geady on the wings with Ireland in the hole.

[McGinty]

theres no way we're gonna keep a clean sheet v slovakia, we should be having an out an out striker beside doyle rather that the "man in the hole".

Doyle is lacking match fitness and Stan sticks him up front on his own, so he's forced to run himself into the ground?? i dont get it

McGeady starting is a positive, even if hunt isnt. but yet again i'm very worried about how our midfield is gonna hold up, couldnt string together 10 passed in the last game

[TheBoss]

4-5-1, is a bad choice here, I said before, Slovakia will thrash any team that defends against them, and this will be case, unless Duff or Aido are playing up front for a 4-4-2

[charliesboots]

he won't pick this team but this is who and how I think we should play from the squad that prat has picked.

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

Finnan--McShane-Dunne--Harte

-------------Carsley-----------
------Ireland------Kilbane-----

McGeady------------------Duff
-------------Doyle------------

Almost right, got o'shea/harte wrong.

[dr_peepee]

I think Duff and McGeady will flank in a 4 5 1/4 3 3 style. I doubt Steven ireland will be resticted to either wing and will given a relativley free role as playmeker and with Kilbane/Carsley sitting

There's allot of football and technique in that team and I'm curious if nothing else. My only worry is that in THAT set up I'd rather see Douglas in there beside Carsley instead of Kilbane.

[ifk101]

There's been a lot of negatives the last few days so I'm going to focus on the positives about Stan's team selection.

The inclusion of McGeady is a big plus for me as it balances Duff's role in the team. We've suffered in the past from Duff being our only creative outlet and consequently opposing teams knew that if they kept Duff out of the gave we were unlikely to score. McGeady brings the same creative threat that Duff has to the team and allows the team as a whole to vary our attacking options.

I think that Stephen Ireland needs two other central midfielders around him to be effective. I know there're plenty of people who would argue otherwise but I believe the inclusion of Kilbane and Carsley alllows Ireland to focus on what he is good at - ie getting the ball down on the ground and passing it around.

The back four has played together a few times now and the players chosen are probably our best options at the moment in those positions. With the exception of McShane, the other three have had plenty of "big-time" experience and I expect that to be shown tomorrow night.

I think we can all be in agreement that at least Stan got the goalie selection right.

[McShels]

I honestly think the only reason Kilbane is playing is because we are quite a small team apart from McShane Dunne and Doyle and Staunton probably believes Kilbanes height can help out the midfield

[Piltownpossy]

I'm assuming he'll play Finnan and O' Shea in their correct positions now that we dont have to deal with the Bellamy/Giggs threat (that never transpired).

Given that most people complained that Douglas and Carsley were too similar in midfield I think he's done the right thing by bringing in McGeady. Hunt will be a good one to bring on from the bench as I dont think we would see the same performance from him over 90 minutes as we did on Saturday for 15 minutes.

Biggest ask now is for Duff to perform and support Doyle for the full 90.

[macdermesser]

Dont think he has the guts to end Kilnabes run, what is it now 40 games??? 40 games of mis-passin, 40 games of knocking the ball too far, 40 games of SH1t.
Anyhow I just repeat what has been said before over and over again.

Given
Finnan Dunne Mc Shane Kelly
Mcgeady Carsley Ireland Duff

Long Doyle

IMO

Have to pick you up on this .. and any others in the anti-kilbane brigade.

Kilbane scored the equaliser versus the Czechs, first goal against San Marino, and like it or not was one of the better performers on Saturday .. did well to beat the full back (granted with his one and only trick) and then played a great ball across which Keane should have finished. Taking for granted that you saw all this with your own eyes. With all the long balls in the first half, he was also our main attacking channel. Always gives everything for us. Too many small slight guys in the team, (Duff, Mc Geady and Ireland in midfileld? - no thanks) and we need his height, his work rate and commitment. This is not some computer game where you pick the players with the most skill .. Kilbane has been picked now consistently by three Irish managers and has qualities that we probably do not see from our view. Would he have made the squad 20 years ago .. probably not .. but if we had more with his commitment at the moment, we would be realistic challengers for second spot.

would rather have him in the team than out to be honest .. my favourite of the lot of them at the moment .. as you can probably make out from this post ;)

[Torn-Ado]

Given

O Shea
Dunne
McShane
Finnan

Carsley
Kilbane
Ireland
McGeady

Duff
Doyle.

[NeilMcD]

I dont think that Duff will be playing up front. I hope that Staunton has learned that Duff and Mc Geady on the wings with Ireland in the hole behind Doyle is the way forward in this game.

[macdermesser]

Almost right, got o'shea/harte wrong.

thanks be to God you got Harte wrong .. how many more poor performances, and not tracking his man leading to important goals being conceded .. do we need to take from this guy?

[tetsujin1979]

According to the fai site, Mcgeady has come in for Douglas, so I reckon it'll line up

Given
Finna Dunne McShane O'Shea
McGeady Ireland Carsley Kilbane
Duff Doylealthough it could just as easily be

Given
O'Shea Dunne McShane Finnan
Duff Carsley Kilbane McGeady
Ireland Doyle

[NeilMcD]

Nah it will be 4 5 1

[Torn-Ado]

Thats official from RTE.ie by the way.

Good to see McGeady getting a shot. We can use a livewire in our midfeild and hopefully he can torment the Slovaks. Doyle obviously up front for Keane. I would prefer if Duff was on the wing instead of Kilbane and had strong taller striker in there but no dice.

[Nailer77]

Given

O Shea
Dunne
McShane
Finnan

Carsley
Kilbane
Ireland
McGeady

Duff
Doyle.

I think it'll line out with 3 in the middle of Carsley , Kilbane and Ireland and Duff and McGeady will be given license to get forward either side of Doyle. At least thats how we should line out with this line up. It looks alright on paper but again its a completely different set up to how we set out on Saturday. If its not as I imagine and we go with 442 with Ireland and McGeady on the wings and Duff playing off Doyle then I'd be worried, very worried.

[Torn-Ado]

I think it'll line out with 3 in the middle of Carsley , Kilbane and Ireland and Duff and McGeady will be given license to get forward either side of Doyle. At least thats how we should line out with this line up. It looks alright on paper but again its a completely different set up to how we set out on Saturday. If its not as I imagine and we go with 442 with Ireland and McGeady on the wings and Duff playing off Doyle then I'd be worried, very worried.

I reckon it will be a 4-4-2 with Kilbane and McGeady on the wings and Ireland and Carsley in the centre. Duff up front. Not a fan of Duff up front.

[Nailer77]

Thats official from RTE.ie by the way.

Good to see McGeady getting a shot. We can use a livewire in our midfeild and hopefully he can torment the Slovaks. Doyle obviously up front for Keane. I would prefer if Duff was on the wing instead of Kilbane and had strong taller striker in there but no dice.

But is that how they'll definitely line up? Or did he just name the players?

[NeilMcD]

As reported in the Irish times.

Shay Given will lead the Republic of Ireland out for tomorrow night's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia having been passed fit this to captain the side this afternoon.

The Newcastle goalkeeper, who missed training yesterday due to the injury picked up in the win over Wales, went through his paces with the rest of the squad at Croke Park and was first on the teamsheet when manager Steve Staunton named his side, somewhat surprisingly, this afternoon.

Stephen Ireland, another slight doubt for Staunton, also came through the session unscathed and, with Robbie Keane missing through suspension, will start in an attacking role just off striker Kevin Doyle in a match the home side simply must win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

There is no place in the starting line-up for Stephen Hunt, whose direct style impressed when introduced as a second-half substitute against the Welsh. Instead, Celtic winger Aiden McGeady will hug the left touchline in a midfield comprising Lee Carsley, Kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff.

The back four remains unchanged although Staunton would not elaborate when asked if full backs John O'Shea and Steve Finnan would switch wings. Staunton's decision to play both in unfamiliar roles was the subject of much debate before the Welsh match but the manager remains confident both are suited to the formation he has adopted.

Adressing the media today, mercifully for longer than the 32 seconds he afforded the assembled press corps yesterday, Staunton said: "I've picked players in position to go out and win the game."

"On Saturday we probably should have been more attacking, especially in the second half. Damien and Aiden will be key to winning the game," he added. "Aiden is a special talent."

Rep of Ireland(v Slovakia): Given, O'Shea, Dunne, McShane, Finnan, Duff, Carsley, Kilbane, McGeady, Ireland, Doyle

[Nailer77]

There's been a lot of negatives the last few days so I'm going to focus on the positives about Stan's team selection.

The inclusion of McGeady is a big plus for me as it balances Duff's role in the team. We've suffered in the past from Duff being our only creative outlet and consequently opposing teams knew that if they kept Duff out of the gave we were unlikely to score. McGeady brings the same creative threat that Duff has to the team and allows the team as a whole to vary our attacking options.

I think that Stephen Ireland needs two other central midfielders around him to be effective. I know there're plenty of people who would argue otherwise but I believe the inclusion of Kilbane and Carsley alllows Ireland to focus on what he is good at - ie getting the ball down on the ground and passing it around.

The back four has played together a few times now and the players chosen are probably our best options at the moment in those positions. With the exception of McShane, the other three have had plenty of "big-time" experience and I expect that to be shown tomorrow night.

I think we can all be in agreement that at least Stan got the goalie selection right.

Thats a pretty good summary of it provided he lines them up that way. McGeady and Duff can switch sides and cause them problems and Ireland has the security of the other two behind him. Its a good selection if they line up correctly.

[NeilMcD]

As reported in the Irish times.

Shay Given will lead the Republic of Ireland out for tomorrow night's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia having been passed fit this to captain the side this afternoon.

The Newcastle goalkeeper, who missed training yesterday due to the injury picked up in the win over Wales, went through his paces with the rest of the squad at Croke Park and was first on the teamsheet when manager Steve Staunton named his side, somewhat surprisingly, this afternoon.

Stephen Ireland, another slight doubt for Staunton, also came through the session unscathed and, with Robbie Keane missing through suspension, will start in an attacking role just off striker Kevin Doyle in a match the home side simply must win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

There is no place in the starting line-up for Stephen Hunt, whose direct style impressed when introduced as a second-half substitute against the Welsh. Instead, Celtic winger Aiden McGeady will hug the left touchline in a midfield comprising Lee Carsley, Kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff.

The back four remains unchanged although Staunton would not elaborate when asked if full backs John O'Shea and Steve Finnan would switch wings. Staunton's decision to play both in unfamiliar roles was the subject of much debate before the Welsh match but the manager remains confident both are suited to the formation he has adopted.

Adressing the media today, mercifully for longer than the 32 seconds he afforded the assembled press corps yesterday, Staunton said: "I've picked players in position to go out and win the game."

"On Saturday we probably should have been more attacking, especially in the second half. Damien and Aiden will be key to winning the game," he added. "Aiden is a special talent."

Rep of Ireland(v Slovakia): Given, O'Shea, Dunne, McShane, Finnan, Duff, Carsley, Kilbane, McGeady, Ireland, Doyle

[Torn-Ado]

But is that how they'll definitely line up? Or did he just name the players?

Thats how I think it will be. Staunton won't try and mix it up too much.

[Nailer77]

Well that last comment sounds like Duff and McGeady will be allowed to push on and hopefully Ireland will get plenty of ball in the middle and make us of it because we were really lacking there on Saturday with Douglas and Carsley.

[eirebhoy]

Delighted with that team. Kilbane should be fine beside Carsley, he'll hassle the Slovakian's all night.

[Torn-Ado]

According to the fai site, Mcgeady has come in for Douglas, so I reckon it'll line up

Given
Finna Dunne McShane O'Shea
McGeady Ireland Carsley Kilbane
Duff Doylealthough it could just as easily be

Given
O'Shea Dunne McShane Finnan
Duff Carsley Kilbane McGeady
Ireland Doyle

Carsley and Kilbane in the centre. Thats just a disaster waiting to happen.

[NeilMcD]

According to the fai site, Mcgeady has come in for Douglas, so I reckon it'll line up

Given
Finna Dunne McShane O'Shea
McGeady Ireland Carsley Kilbane
Duff Doylealthough it could just as easily be

Given
O'Shea Dunne McShane Finnan
Duff Carsley Kilbane McGeady
Ireland Doyle


There are other formations than 4 4 2 you know.

[Nailer77]

Delighted with that team. Kilbane should be fine beside Carsley, he'll hassle the Slovakian's all day.


Yeh Kilbane gets stick on here but you can't fault the lad for effort at all and he'll make life tough for them. Its definitely a more positive set up than Saturdays. Players playing in their correct positions is a start.

[citizenerased]

Lads very dissappointed to see Hunt left out...its just typical of Stan..Id say they will play like this

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

Finnan.....Dunne......McShane.....O'Shea

................Carsley......Kilbane

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

........................Doyle

[Mento]

Yeh Kilbane gets stick on here but you can't fault the lad for effort at all and he'll make life tough for them. Its definitely a more positive set up than Saturdays. Players playing in their correct positions is a start.


Certainly don't agree with Kilbane in the team.
He has been shocking for Ireland and only warms the bench with Wigan.
He is Stan's mate and Stan will do anything to accomodate him.
Why not Hunt who has shown promise and is a regular with Reading who are pushing for Europe.

[Nailer77]

Certainly don't agree with Kilbane in the team.
He has been shocking for Ireland and only warms the bench with Wigan.
He is Stan's mate and Stan will do anything to accomodate him.
Why not Hunt who has shown promise and is a regular with Reading who are pushing for promotion.


Well going by how you'd expect them to line out its not a case of Hunt or Kilbane its a case of Hunt or McGeady. Kilbane will be in the middle with Carsley and Ireland. If thats not the case and we line up with 4 across the middle with Kilbane on the left then I'd agree with you but I'd be very surprised to see that. Then again this is Stan we're talking about.

[DubJohn]

Delighted with that team. Kilbane should be fine beside Carsley, he'll hassle the Slovakian's all night.

Agreed. And I think we are going to win tomorrow

I'm sick of people on here hassling and insulting Kilbane. How quick people forget his crucial goal against the Czechs and his general work rate and example.

Why is he seen as some kind of easy target for the boo-boys? The loutish booing incident at the Dunne fight the orther night was a sad moment for any fan of the Irish team.

To the person who called him a name is a previous post, are you a fan of the team or not?

[tetsujin1979]

There are other formations than 4 4 2 you know.
I know, but according to the FAI site McGeady has come in for Douglas, so I don't see a change in formation. McGeady has often stated that his favored position is behind the front 2, so now he gets a chance to play there for Ireland

[NeilMcD]

Yeah he has Douglas has dropped out of the team and Mc Geady is in, what other way could they have put it. I think you are reading far too much into that statement.

[eirebhoy]

he won't pick this team but this is who and how I think we should play from the squad that prat has picked.

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

Finnan--McShane-Dunne--Harte

-------------Carsley-----------
------Ireland------Kilbane-----

McGeady------------------Duff
-------------Doyle------------
Are you Bobby? :eek: Let's hope they line up like that.

[Nailer77]

I know, but according to the FAI site McGeady has come in for Douglas, so I don't see a change in formation. McGeady has often stated that his favored position is behind the front 2, so now he gets a chance to play there for Ireland


Well thats cos he has come in for Douglas he couldn't say otherwise, if we go with 442 with that selection then I'd be concerned. 451 is right for the players selected.

[galwayhoop]

Yeh Kilbane gets stick on here but you can't fault the lad for effort at all and he'll make life tough for them. Its definitely a more positive set up than Saturdays. Players playing in their correct positions is a start.


in fairness nailer the players who are playing tomorrow were named. there was no insuination as to their positions. i won't hold my breath on them lining up in their correct positions!

who could have forseen that JoSh would have been RB and Finnan LB last Sat! the team offers few surprises but i am fearing some form of lunacy unfortunately when i see them line out on the pitch tomorrow night!

i'm actually surprised that douglas is out as i would have thought, going by scorelines anyway, that the slovaks offered a more serious threat than the welsh from an attacking perspective.

[hoops1]

Its going to end up 4-5-1 one way or the other.
He might try to say its a 4-3-3 but it wont work out that way

[ainsie]

To the person who called him a name is a previous post, are you a fan of the team or not?

Just because someone has an opinion on a player does not mean hes not a fan.(and it was not me who call him anything, even though I could think of one or two)
IMO Kilbane is a terrible player, and Hunt is not the man in form for that position. I'll be at the match, cheering who ever is playing, but if Kilbane scores a hatrick it wont change my opinion.


but if we had more with his commitment at the moment, we would be realistic challengers for second spot

Commitment, I would have commitment, but I'm useless. I was sitting no more than 15 yards from where he was on Sat, he gave the ball away more than any other Irish player. His one trick worked once during the game, he even tryed a silly looking step over. Hes over rated and yes we do have better player than him. He scored against San Marino...big swinging....

Sorry but theres about 3 or 4 people on that team that should be dropped, hes one. Just my opinion.

[galwayhoop]

that begs another question. are we capable of successifully playing any other system than 4-4-2?

[Torn-Ado]

that begs another question. are we capable of successifully playing any other system than 4-4-2?

Yes. Against many sides we reverted to a 11-0-0 system.

Never really worked. :rolleyes:

[Nailer77]

in fairness nailer the players who are playing tomorrow were named. there was no insuination as to their positions. i won't hold my breath on them lining up in their correct positions!



No and I wouldn't be either. I said that more in hope than with any conviction. Its how we should line up but whether we will or not is another matter.

[geysir]

It's more attack minded team than what faced Wales. We have made progress of sorts, the luxury of having Hunt on the bench instead of O'Brien.

[galwayhoop]

as i said successifully playing any other systam than 4-4-2. i can't really remember our players being as comfortable without it. not a negative just an observation

[DotTV]

Hunt is unlucky not to start but I think he's a great asset to have on the bench.
I think Ireland playing off Doyle with mcGeady and Duff on the wings is the way to go but he could also play Kilbane on the left, put Doyle and Duff up front with Ireland and carsely in the middle, mcGeady on the right.

With McGeady and Doyle we should have great pace going forward.

[NeilMcD]

I would say under Staunton we have not played well under a 4 4 2 yet. Our best performances defensively have been Sweden Czechs and Wales and they were all 4 5 1 or modifications of that.

[DotTV]

Over 2.5 goals at 11/10 looks like a decent bet too!

[ChrisRed]

Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton has named his side to face Slovakia in Croke Park on Wednesday.

The suspended Robbie Keane has been replaced by Reading striker Kevin Doyle, while Celtic starlet has been drafted in to the starting line-up at the expense of Leeds United midfielder Jonathan Douglas.

In Keane's absence, Shay Given will lead out the team after recovering from a knee injury sustained in a collision with Welsh striker Craig Bellamy.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (v Slovakia): Given, O'Shea, Dunne, McShane, Finnan, Carsley, Kilbane, Ireland, McGeady, Duff, Doyle.

[Torn-Ado]

Over 2.5 goals at 11/10 looks like a decent bet too!

Nah.

1-0 or 1-1 me thinks

[mickdlk]

Agree with stan with 2 exceptions, should be 442, with Kilbane relaced for Stokes and o shea and finnan to switch full backs, like everyone else agrees with, although good to see he finally starts McGeady[he is a fantastic talent, better than Duff at his age]