Team for Saturday

[onephillyhughes]

If he plays 3 at the back I'll leave the stadium!

The Irish and British game is not 3-5-2, and although it would be just so Stan to go and do it, he just wouldn't. 4-4-2 is what we know, 4-4-2 is what we'll play.

As for the starting line up, I will go for qwerty's selection above except Ireland for Reid, simply because he has played regular in the Premiership this season.

[kingdom hoop]

I'd be amazed if Kilbane doesn't start, it's just a question of where Kikou(has that been done before, I like it!) will play. Something is telling me, maybe my brain, that he'll start in CM with Carsley and Andy Reid. Ireland will hardly be dropped so will be tag teaming with Keano as they both slip in and out of the hole. Bring McGeady on for Ireland, Hunt for Reid, Gibson for Kilbane if things aren't going great for whoever.

[Colbert Report]

Apart from a couple of positions, the team picks itself.

I disagree. Apart from Given in goal and Keane/Doyle up front, the team selection is very tricky. Any four of Kelly, McShane, O'Shea, Dunne, Kilbane could be our starting defenders. Any four of McGeady, Reid, Carsely, Kilbane, Hunt and Ireland could be named in midfield and we wouldn't be surprised.

Given at GK
Dunne at CB
Carsley at CM
Doyle at ST
Keane at ST

That leaves six spots on the field up for discussion. Starting left back could be Kelly or Kilbane, or even O'Shea or McShane. Partnering Dunne in the central of defence could be O'Shea, or more likely McShane. Right back is anyone's guess, could be Kelly, McShane, or O'Shea.

Right wing could be McGeady or Ireland. Partnering Carsely in the centre of the park could be Ireland, Reid, or O'Shea. Hunt, McGeady, or Kilbane could start at left wing.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree with Colbert. It's been a while since selecting the best XI has been such a difficult task. Not beacuse we've an abundance of strengths, but more because we need to make the most of what we have whilst containing our weaknesses.

McGeady, Ireland and Andy Reid are all fine players, but they'd be walked all over by a physically imposing midfield. A potential solution is then to put KK in CM. I wouldn't do it myself, but it's got to be in Stan's thoughts. The Slovaks are a big team.

We have no fit natural left back. Do we improvise with KK, or do we play a right footer there & if so which one? Do we play McShane at CB or RB? O'Shea at full back or CB? McGeady on LHM or RHM, or even at all? Reid in the middle or either flank, or even at all? Ireland in the middle, RHM or even at all? Hunt, McGeady or KK at LHM? Do we put one of our diminutive creative players in an advanced playmaker role? And so on.

Quite a lot of thinking to be done, much more so than in recent years.

[geysir]

I think I was dreaming last night that Kilbane was playing.

[passinginterest]

I think I was dreaming last night that Kilbane was playing.

What exactly was he playing with? And did you wake up in a sweat? :eek:

[geysir]

It was definitly Kilbane, because he kept giving the ball away:)
Overall it felt okay because we had something to protect.
Sorry, did not get a glance at the scoreboard.

[macdermesser]

A potential solution is then to put KK in CM. I wouldn't do it myself, but it's got to be in Stan's thoughts. The Slovaks are a big team.

agree .. I can see that myself .. either in CM in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation we used in the last game against them at Croker or in a more conventional 442 on the left.

He brings height, 100% effort and defensive qualities to the team (as well as a few important goals already in this campaign).. on reflection, I think I would prefer to see him start alongside Reid and Carsley and either Mc Geady or Ireland .. with Hunt as the impact sub (to come on a bit earlier this time perhaps if needed).

I actually think its odds on that he will start .. and I doubt it will be at left back

[Galwayman]

Given

O'Shea
Dunne
McShane
Kilbane

McGeady
Carsley
Reid
Hunt

Keane
Doyle

I think the above team is the best we can offer at the minute with Carr and Finnan out injured. I would have opted for O'Shea at centre back in place of McShane if Carr and Finnan were available as he was good there in Aarhus.
The full backs need to be good on the ball though and I don't think McShane is as comfortable in posession as O'Shea.
Stephen Kelly has looked a poor player any time I've seen him - he dives in too much and is a bit of a hoof merchant. He tends to get the ball and just lump it forward as long as possible which I absolutely hate to seee professional footballers do.

Also, I wouldn't play Stephen Ireland. He has a great strike rate so far at international level and I know this may sound strange but I actually don't think he has contributed much at all to the team in any of the games he's played - apart of course from the goals he's bagged.
But in all seriousness, he is a central midfield player but he has not been getting on the ball much at all in the games he's played so far.
McGeady and Hunt would offer much more in wide areas than he would and Carsley and Reid are surely ahead of him in the central midfield pecking order.

Anyway here's hoping we get a win in Bratislava.

[Morbo]

I'd play the same team except I'd swap JOSH and McShane, that right flank looks a bit weak defensively and I could see Slovakia exploit that and continually launch attacks down that side

[DmanDmythDledge]

Don't know how reliable this is- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6984907.stm

If that's the case I'd prefer Reid on the right and McGeady on the left.

[jmurphyc]

Reid must start in the centre. We won't be able to play as fluidly as we can if he's shifted out onto one of the wings.

[kingdom hoop]

That's the same team as Emmet Malone of the Irish Times picked too. Probably right as playing Kikou in defence would explain why no more defenders were called up given the paucity in the first place and then Finnan's loss. One would imagine Keane will throw his lot in more in the midfield department. 4-1-4-1, with the midfield four being very flexible and dynamic if a bit lightweight given the supposed sodden conditions. Should be well capable of playing some good football though once the pitch isn't too bad. Come on Ireland:ball:

[Adrianovic]

I'm as confident as is reasonable with this team. We all know their shortcomings, on and off the pitch, but somehow or another we find ourselves in a position where a couple of good results and we're going to the Euros.

I agree with those who say Reider should play in the centre. He is perhaps the most creative player we have and I think it will give Robbie Keane a bit more motivation to get into a position where the ball might end up - as in the first goal against the Danes. In the past, I feel Ireland have suffered with Robbie coming too deep, because the midfield would be unlikely to create a chance without him.

So I believe there are goals in this Irish side. We will get at least one, possibly more.

The key for me is at the back. Given between the sticks is a massive bonus, thank god. We are fortunate that KK has been given practice at left back by Wigan, so the position is not completely alien. I'd be happier with O'Shea away from the centre halves, generally, he is a good footballer, but too haphazard for the heart of defence. I know it is a long shot, however, if O'Shea holds up well today, Ireland should be ok.

Ade

[Torn-Ado]

I just hope we dont score an early goal and sit on it leading to the Slovaks putting on the pressure.

As history would tell you this is not good.

[brine3]

According to the BBC, Kilbane and O'Shea are the full-backs.

Stephen Kelly is our only fit starting Premier League full back, so trust Stan not to play him.

I will never understand this manager. Probably just as well.

[DmanDmythDledge]

According to the BBC, Kilbane and O'Shea are the full-backs.

Stephen Kelly is our only fit starting Premier League full back, so trust Stan not to play him.

I will never understand this manager. Probably just as well.
I rather have the better players playing. The fact that Kelly starts for Birmingham is irrelevant, although I would pick him ahead of Kilbane.