Ireland vs Germany - Pre-match thread

[Stuttgart88]

So Stan doesn't read the media? No wonder he's so bloody out of touch. He may even learn something from some objective criticism. He's not eaxctly doing his case any good by comparing himself to EO'S and Bertie. It's not as of neither warrants severe criticism at the very least.

On the squad: I think Joey O'Brien's inclusion is correct. He's likely to be a mainstay of the squad from this point onwards. Alan O'Brien is a lucky boy given he hasn't even made Hibs' team. I'm not fussed about Miller. I don't like his attitude.

How can Elliott be "proven not good enough at international level"? He's only had a handful of games and has done OK in them all.

I think we're in a tough position as in my opinion several of the U21 squad should be included in the senior squad but they have a key game against England the night before.

I think Alan Lee and Michael Doyle have been unlucky, maybe also Tabb and Hoolahan.

[Larks]

I don't have the answer, but stan has done nothing smart to make us better or to sort the problem. I'D say if he'd change to a 5-3-2 without even working on shae in training

[tetsujin1979]

1. I'd love to see O'shea on the bench for once, he creates nothing much going forward and he makes to many mistakes. Can you imagine a back line of John O'sheas??! Get the ball, hoof it!
So that would leave us against Germany with a central defence of Dunne and .....


Then we coul maybe play john o shea (LB for man u)
Right back last night, central mid last week, 1 minute appearance at the weekend


3. Ireland are missing creativity and vision and even basic pass and move skills. Steven Ireland and Aidan Mcgeady don't shine at all for their country at the moment whereas they are so lively and energetic with their clubs.
More freedom at their clubs and better players mopping up behind them allowing them to be far more creative.


In centre mid I'd have Darren potter and ????.
On the wings Stephen Hunt and Andy reid
Potter's been dropped for Wolves lately after some fairly lacklustre performances according to Mick McCarthy. He hasn't started a game since August and more often than not stays on the bench.
Andy Reid isn't a winger.

[shakermaker1982]

now was the perfect chance to give a couple of young centre backs a chance to mingle with the squad in readiness for next years qualifiers. Instead we are relying one real central defender in Dunne and mr makeshift O'Shea (didn't he play CB against Coventry last week?).

[Kingdom]

If anyone has the Times today have a read. Emmet Malone is the best soccer journalist on this island as far as I'm concerned. anyway his piece and observations (through the question he asked Staunton) are very good. Almost calculating without having an air of cynicism. Particularily the comments attributed to Staunton re: the 2 O'Briens.

He's a sham at this stage unfortunately. And as for his analogy with Bertie and Steady, well its an apt one as far as I'm concerned. They all should stand down. Centre half would be a worry. Particularly if JOS or Dunne gets injured this weekend. It would be hard to call up O'Brien then, and not start him in such a situation.

[Stuttgart88]

Emmet Malone has been interesting in relation to Staunton. A lot of his opinion has been voiced by way of innuendo. Rather than saying he must go he'll use comments like "assuming Staunton is still in charge in 6 months' time". I loved the way his comment on Joey O'Brien was phrased today "He's played CB before...at underage level".

However, after the Czech game he seemed to take a more sympathetic stance which confused me a bit.

I actually prefer to read Liam Mackey. The questions he asks and the quotes he picks up on are far more in line with my own thinking. I also like the new guy at the Indo. I get the impression he's genuinely a fan of the team and it hurts when it doesn't go well. Malone is a bit too much out of the Peter Byrne school in relation to the national team anyway. I think his comment pieces on the domestic game are good though.

I hate the way Malone refers to us as "the Republic" and "the South". Very BBC.

Anyway, I don't think it'll be hard to call up Andy O'Brien. He's officially on standby.

[stojkovic]

Whats up with the squad.

Its over 24 hours since it was named and Stephen Carr hasnt pulled out yet !

Maybe thats why Joey O'Brien was called up.

[Stuttgart88]

On current form you've got to think Mark Yeates deserves a squad place ahead of Alan O'Brien. Apparently he was superb again tonight, albeit only against QPR.

[soccerc]

Both these shirts will be auctioned in aid of Headway as part of the Ireland German Fan Meet in McDowells on 13 October


The first is a 2007 home replica shirt signed by the squad.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/1479237592_84fbb5a922.jpg

The second is Stephen Quinn's match worn No 8 shirt from the u21 game V Portugal in Cork

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/1478378373_1e9ff20a81.jpg

There are reserves on both.

[Paddy Garcia]

On current form you've got to think Mark Yeates deserves a squad place ahead of Alan O'Brien. Apparently he was superb again tonight, albeit only against QPR.

No way, the wrong type of agent altogether.

[Paddy Garcia]

Maybe I am being a bit harsh on him but basically I think he is ****e. He has let Stan down in Cyprus

Stan let him down and the other players & the supporters, by failing to select a midfield.

[backstothewall]

On another note,has anyone received their tickets yet?

Are they out yet?

I presume the FAI know the post office is on strike north of the border, and have made alternative arrangements getting several thousand tickets to their owners before next week???

Why do i smell a **** up of epic proportions resulting in a half empty Croke Park, and refunding thousands of tickets??

[Stuttgart88]

Team selection? With no Hunt, Duff, McShane etc available I'd go with:

----------Given--------
Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane
Ireland-Carsley-Potter-Reid
----Keane --Doyle---

Reid more as a Pires-like wide midfielder rather than winger. Ireland likewise.

I think there's a core of decent U21 players in the squad for the England game that are good enough for the senior squad.

It's a dilemma : it'd be great to get a good result over England and if the U21s already in the senior squad were available for Givens we'd have a stronger tream. At the same time I think there are players in the U21 squad that merit a pace in the senior squad and if the mantra about building for the future is to hold any water then they probably should be in the squad.

[hunt4the]

anyone get their tickets yet???

[Docboy]

Yep, got them in the post yesterday. I'd say that they'll arrive for you today or Monday. Hard to get excited though it would be nice to put one over ze germans!

[eirebhoy]

Team selection? With no Hunt, Duff, McShane etc available I'd go with:

----------Given--------
Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane
Ireland-Carsley-Potter-Reid
----Keane --Doyle---

Reid more as a Pires-like wide midfielder rather than winger. Ireland likewise.

I'd prefer them on the opposite wings as it suits their strengths. For example, when Reid's on the right it's natural for him to drift inside, link up with his teammates, play through balls, take shots at goal. When he's on the left he's a bit more restricted. Let's say he's on the left and he turns inside. His natural 40 yard pass would be to the right back. If he's on the right and he drifts inside his natural pass would be to the left winger. I just think he'd see a lot more of the play from the right wing and it suits his game.

Ireland probably not as much but it's worth a shot.

[Stuttgart88]

If Carsley & Potter can make a decent fist of competing in midfield I think Reid and Ireland should be allowed to exercise discretion about how to go about their game. In this XI it's a relatively narrow midfield in the absence of Duff & Hunt so there'd be a lot of emphasis on Finnan and Kilbane to add the width when we're in possession, allowing Ireland and Reid the option of playing more centrally.

[NeilMcD]

Lads why does Staunton not appear to have these thoughts. I really think for the first time that people on internet forums know more about the team than the manager does.

[Ordinary Fan]

My dog knows more about the team selesction and formation than the manager does.

[Paddy Garcia]

Team selection? With no Hunt, Duff, McShane etc available I'd go with:

----------Given--------
Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane
Ireland-Carsley-Potter-Reid
----Keane --Doyle---



Mostly agree. I think Potter is the weak link. Not playing that well for Wolves currently. Reid in the middle & McGeady on the wing.

Why has Gibson been dropped from the squad, guven the long run out last time!!

[Armando]

He is currently injured, although as far as I recall is in the U21 squad?
Maybe he's due back in a few days but not quite ready for full international duty?

[smithy]

German squad without Ballack & Klose & Lahm

Tor
12 Timo Hildebrand 05.04.1979 FC Valencia 6 -
1 Jens Lehmann 10.11.1969 Arsenal London 48 -

Abwehr
35 Gonzalo Castro 11.06.1987 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3 -
3 Arne Friedrich 29.05.1979 Hertha BSC Berlin 52 -
24 Manuel Friedrich 13.09.1979 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 8 1
27 Clemens Fritz 07.12.1980 Werder Bremen 7 1
2 Marcell Jansen 04.11.1985 FC Bayern München 18 1
17 Per Mertesacker 29.09.1984 Werder Bremen 35 1
21 Christoph Metzelder 05.11.1980 Real Madrid 35 -

Mittelfeld
18 Tim Borowski 02.05.1980 Werder Bremen 29 2
8 Torsten Frings 22.11.1976 Werder Bremen 68 10
34 Roberto Hilbert 16.10.1984 VfB Stuttgart 5 -
22 David Odonkor 21.02.1984 Betis Sevilla 12 1
38 Simon Rolfes 21.01.1982 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4 -
19 Bernd Schneider 17.11.1973 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 80 4
7 Bastian Schweinsteiger 01.08.1984 FC Bayern München 45 13
28 Piotr Trochowski 22.03.1984 Hamburger SV 7 -

Angriff
32 Mario Gomez 10.07.1985 VfB Stuttgart 3 3
37 Patrick Helmes 01.03.1984 1. FC Köln 4 -
33 Stefan Kießling 25.01.1984 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1 -
31 Kevin Kuranyi 02.03.1982 FC Schalke 04 42 19
20 Lukas Podolski 04.06.1985 FC Bayern München 40 23

[Dr. Ogba]

Team selection? With no Hunt, Duff, McShane etc available I'd go with:

----------Given--------
Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane
Ireland-Carsley-Potter-Reid
----Keane --Doyle---

.

Would agree with that selection but has Potter been playing these days with Wolves? Wouldn't be surprised if Stan, in his infinite wisdom, started Carsley and Douglas...

And surely with O'Shea being a doubt its finally time to call up Andy O'Brien???

[shakermaker1982]

I've tried typing out a team I wouldn't mind seeing face the Germans but it looks so bare I had to delete it. The only players I have any confidence in would be:

Given in goal
Finnan at right back
Dunne at CB
Reid centre midfield
Doyle and Keane up top.

The other 5 places up for grabs? Too frightening to even contemplate.

[Stuttgart88]

Would agree with that selection but has Potter been playing these days with Wolves? Wouldn't be surprised if Stan, in his infinite wisdom, started Carsley and Douglas...

And surely with O'Shea being a doubt its finally time to call up Andy O'Brien???O'Brien has been called up.

Potter wasn't even on the bench for Wolves.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd give O'Brien another chance at CB then and move O'Shea to left back. Killer will go to left midfield.

[jmurphyc]

I'd give O'Brien another chance at CB then and move O'Shea to left back. Killer will go to left midfield.

Maybe Kilbane will go to left midfield, but he SHOULD be nowhere near that position. I know we have a bit of a problem with that position as hunt and duff are out of the game, but as has been said countless times before he doesn't have the ability to play left midfield. However, with someone like him out of the first team line up it would be a big loss - due to his "grafting" nature and determination, so he should be seriously considered for left back.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Maybe Kilbane will go to left midfield, but he SHOULD be nowhere near that position. I know we have a bit of a problem with that position as hunt and duff are out of the game, but as has been said countless times before he doesn't have the ability to play left midfield. However, with someone like him out of the first team line up it would be a big loss - due to his "grafting" nature and determination, so he should be seriously considered for left back.
Ireland on the right, McGeady on the left. That's where they play for their clubs. Wouldn't be surprised if Stan put McGeady RM, Ireland CM and Reid LM though.

[Diarmo]

I have to say, Kilbane has been pretty consistent for Wigan so far this season (4-0 drubbings by United excepted). Personally, I'd like to see Carsley and Reid in the center and then McGeady and Ireland on the wings, that team has a good balance I think. Reid will help to link Carsley (who will sit really deep, due to Stan's tactics) to the two wingers, whose defensive attributes aren't really up to scratch. Then again, they're not there to defend.

[tetsujin1979]

I have to say, Kilbane has been pretty consistent for Wigan so far this season (4-0 drubbings by United excepted).
Apart from Tevez's goal, some of the reports I read described him as excellent!

[TheBoss]

Not that many of you care:

Ireland v Germany Record (West Germany Counted Aswell):



OVERALL:
Pld: 17 W: 6 D: 3 L: 8 F: 22 A: 28

COMPETITIVE:
Pld: 02 W: 0 D: 1 L: 1 F: 1 A: 2

COMPETITIVE HOME:
Pld: 00 W: 0 D: 0 L: 0 F: 0 A: 0

[smithy]

German squad without Ballack & Klose & Lahm

Tor
12 Timo Hildebrand 05.04.1979 FC Valencia 6 -
1 Jens Lehmann 10.11.1969 Arsenal London 48 -

Abwehr
35 Gonzalo Castro 11.06.1987 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3 -
3 Arne Friedrich 29.05.1979 Hertha BSC Berlin 52 -
24 Manuel Friedrich 13.09.1979 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 8 1
27 Clemens Fritz 07.12.1980 Werder Bremen 7 1
2 Marcell Jansen 04.11.1985 FC Bayern München 18 1
17 Per Mertesacker 29.09.1984 Werder Bremen 35 1
21 Christoph Metzelder 05.11.1980 Real Madrid 35 -

Mittelfeld
18 Tim Borowski 02.05.1980 Werder Bremen 29 2
8 Torsten Frings 22.11.1976 Werder Bremen 68 10
34 Roberto Hilbert 16.10.1984 VfB Stuttgart 5 -
22 David Odonkor 21.02.1984 Betis Sevilla 12 1
38 Simon Rolfes 21.01.1982 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4 -
19 Bernd Schneider 17.11.1973 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 80 4
7 Bastian Schweinsteiger 01.08.1984 FC Bayern München 45 13
28 Piotr Trochowski 22.03.1984 Hamburger SV 7 -

Angriff
32 Mario Gomez 10.07.1985 VfB Stuttgart 3 3
37 Patrick Helmes 01.03.1984 1. FC Köln 4 -
33 Stefan Kießling 25.01.1984 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1 -
31 Kevin Kuranyi 02.03.1982 FC Schalke 04 42 19
20 Lukas Podolski 04.06.1985 FC Bayern München 40 23


Schneider, Hilbert, Borowski out...

[shakermaker1982]

Can anybody predict Stan's team? I'll have a bash......

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

Kelly-Dunne-O'Shea-Finnan

McGeady-Carsley-A Reid-Kilbane

Doyle-Keane

If Andy Reid isn't fit then I imagine he'll bring in Douglas. That team does not fill me with any confidence.

[ifk101]

Can anybody predict Stan's team? I'll have a bash......

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

Kelly-Dunne-O'Shea-Finnan

McGeady-Carsley-A Reid-Kilbane

Doyle-Keane

If Andy Reid isn't fit then I imagine he'll bring in Douglas. That team does not fill me with any confidence.

I've a feeling Stan will start Joey O'Brien ahead of Kelly. Otherwise that should be the starting line-up.

[dr_peepee]

Dunno... Kelly is a bit of a 'back to the wall' defender... And not in the Greame Le Saux way either.

I think he's better against better opposition where less football from him is required.

[padzer]

Does anyone know what time the squad training session is at? Whereabouts in Malahide is it?

[Stuttgart88]

Stephen Elliott has just pulled out with a hamstring strain. Poor guy is jinxed or just isn't physically cut out for it. He should get assessed like Duff was at Chelsea. Maybe yoga or pilates or something would make him less perceptible to muscle and ligament injuries.

[jmurphyc]

That's a bit of a blow in my opinion. I was really looking forward to seeing him play again. He's done well for us whenever he's been on the pitch, and IMO when fit and playing regularly, he's our best back up to Keane and Doyle. Hopefully he'll be fit again when we're playing our friendlies next year as it would be good to see if he can keep up his good form in a green shirt and if he can link up well with our new players.

[geysir]

Elliot is a bit of a blow but Andy Reid is still a big doubt, looks like he did in ankle pretty bad, worse than a 5 day sprain.
If we had to depend on beating the Germans in order to qualify we would be shítting bricks at this stage.

[Stuttgart88]

yeah, thank God we're virtually out. It's far more relaxing.

[shakermaker1982]

if Andy Reid doesn't make it and we still had a great chance of qualifying (i.e. 4 points on our eastern european travels) can you imagine how stressed we'd all be if we were relying on a central midfield partnership of Carsley and Miller to get a result against the Germans?? :)

I wanna see Keogh get a good run out on the Wednesday, hell I'd even chance him on Saturday we are that bare.

[Noelys Guitar]

Ireland 1 Germany 1. Average to good German team in my opinon with or without their injuries( and I see "Lawro" agrees with me. He actually sees us winning 1-0!). All to no avail as we have zero chance of qualifying. If we don't get beaten then Stan will give us his "we are improving" speech. Nightmare scenario. I expect Liam Miller to have a very good game if he plays. We will play well in patches but give away a silly goal.

[Noelys Guitar]

http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=13350

[tricky_colour]

I am thinking something like this.

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

Finnan--Dunne--O'Shea--Kilbane

------------Carsley-------------

Doyle---Millar------A Reid---Hunt

-------------Keane-------------

With this team we cannot lose :rolleyes:

Inpenetratable midfield and goals galore up front.

Not to many out of position and we can swop em about a bit to confuse the ridgid systematic Krauts. :D
A hefty wadge on at 3-1 with Will Hill should finance your trip to the Alps ;)

[Supreme feet]

Oh Christ I'm disillusioned.

One of my Bulgarian friends has invited me to the Bulgaria-Romania qualifier in Sofia. He has also said that if I don't learn the chants, I could get the sh*t kicked out of me there and then.

When I'm packed off back to Macken's Funeral Home in Wexford, can someone say that 'it was Steve's fault'? Maybe I could become a martyr.

[Supreme feet]

Formation - Doyle and Keane up front. Carsley and Andy Reid in midfield with Dunne, Finnan and Kilbane defending. We will have two goalkeepers, with Shay Given wearing many Rosary Beads. For the final place, we will acquire Chuck Norris (maybe he, like his Plymouth namesake, could declare for us), to make us undisputed Champions.

In the Euro 2008 final against England, (having exterminated the Czechs, Germans, French, Dutch and Spaniards with nothing but his trusty AK-47), he will chop off Michael Owen's head with a roundhouse kick, slicing the ball beyond a hapless Robinson, and our country will be hungover for a full decade. Come on Ireland!!!!

F*ckin' Yeah!

[cavan_fan]

One of the many things that annoys me about Stan is his lack of planning. At the mo the only Centre Halves we have in the squad are Dunne and O'Shea (injured probably). The rest are full backs primarily. So all it takes is an injury to Runne or O'Shea and we'll have to play Bruce or Kelly there. Now this is not exactly impossible to happen. What's Stan's plan for this? It appears to be management by hope. He needs to say - who are my 6 best Centre Halves? Obviously Dunne, McShane, probably O'Shea and O'Brien. After that he has no idea. But wouldnt we all rather see Doherty or O'Dea (not match fit I know) or even Breen there than Kilbane.

[Armando]

I am thinking something like this.

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

Finnan--Dunne--O'Shea--Kilbane

------------Carsley-------------

Doyle---Millar------A Reid---Hunt

-------------Keane-------------

With this team we cannot lose :rolleyes:

Inpenetratable midfield and goals galore up front.

Not to many out of position and we can swop em about a bit to confuse the ridgid systematic Krauts. :D
A hefty wadge on at 3-1 with Will Hill should finance your trip to the Alps ;)

Hunts suspended...Kilbane will play left mid and Kelly will be in at full back I'd say.

[jmurphyc]

I don't know whether this has been mentioned yet, but Darren Potter has been ruled out of Saturday's game. The squad is looking extremely thin at the moment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7041759.stm

[eirebhoy]

Aye, McGeady will almost certainly start now and I'm not looking forward to that. I hate to watch him play so badly.