Norway v Republic of Ireland - pre-match

[Razors left peg]

Can this be the end of the SI crap.

yes... Ive been a big defender of him on here up to now but this will be my last post about the little pr1ck.... retiring from your international team at such a young age is beyond disgraceful

[eirebhoy]

Just listening to the press conference and basically Carsley just didn't get a call up. Trap said he's not forgetting him but he didn't want to change much of the squad from Portugal.

That's really interesting and I'm actually quite happy about that. Just because I trust Trap and if he feels we can play better without Carsley then I'm all for it.

[musicinmouth]

Yeah, maybe... but I think we will need Carsley in the campaign... I thought he was amazing on Saturday.

As for Ireland, he hasn't retired from his international team... Trapattoni said he just isn't ready to come back now... I think his decision should be respected, especially as we don't know the reasons behind it and he's a young guy struggling with some things...

I think it's great that Finnan is back... of the three that had dropped out from the squads, surely he is the most important to get back. He should be guaranteed to start every game.

[RivaldoBabb]

At last!

Everyone else is starting to see sense...lets put Stephen Ireland out of our minds and concentrate on the players that have the passion and pride to play for Ireland. He's an idiot and terribly over rated anyway.

Brilliant news about Finann, he makes a dodgey back four become an average back four, and we need at least that for the next campaign.

[Kingdom]

GOALKEEPERS
Name Club Caps Goals
Shay Given Newcastle United 86 0
Dean Kiely West Bromwich Albion 10 0

DEFENDERS
Name Club Caps Goals
Alex Bruce Ipswich Town 1 0
Damien Delaney Queen’s Park Rangers 2 0
Richard Dunne Manchester City 42 5
Steve Finnan Liverpool 50 2
Kevin Foley Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 0
Kevin Kilbane Wigan Athletic 87 7
Joey O’Brien Bolton Wanderers 3 0
John O’Shea Manchester United 45 1

MIDFIELDERS
Name Club Caps Goals
Damien Duff Newcastle United 68 7
Stephen Hunt Reading 11 0
Aiden McGeady Celtic 18 0
Liam Miller Sunderland 18 1
Andy Reid Sunderland 27 4
Steven Reid Blackburn Rovers 20 2
Glenn Whelan Stoke City 2 0

FORWARDS
Name Club Caps Goals
Kevin Doyle Reading 18 5
Robbie Keane Liverpool 81 33
Andy Keogh Wolverhampton Wanderers 7 1
Shane Long Reading 8 3
Daryl Murphy Sunderland 8 0

Happy enough with the squad given all the explanations. Having said that I'm cabbaged so I could be missing someone.

I'd take from that squad it is gonna be a straightforward 4-4-2.
Given (Kenny)
Finnan (Foley)
Delaney (Kilbane)
Dunne
O'Shea (Bruce)
Duff (Hunt)
reid (O'Brien)
reid (Whelan)
McGeady (Miller)
Keane (Keogh)
Murphy (Doyle)

I've put the players in brackets as direct replacements as thats the way the squad seems to be shaping up.
The non-inclusion of Carsley is no harm, he's on the way out, and we need to blood replacements now.
Is Garvan injured or in the 21's?

[mypost]

As for Ireland, he hasn't retired from his international team... Trapattoni said he just isn't ready to come back now... I think his decision should be respected

11 months and counting............

He has retired, and I never want him in the squad again.

[theworm2345]

I still don't get how Long gets called over Noel Hunt, Clinton Morrison, Alan Lee, etc.

[disabledrog]

Dont rate shane long ahead of the more experienced strikers,he hasnt palyed enough games at top level.lawerence will be in the nxt squad i reackon once trapp sees him play for stoke in the prem,he is class and it was a mistake on sunderlands behalf to sell him and replace him with edwards

[geysir]

Anyone remember anything other than absolute drudgery football whenever we played Norway?
Worse than playing Poland.
Worse than that Greece friendly.
Anyone else suffer from bad memory syndrome resulting in a total absence of optimism about anything resembling quality football happening in this upcoming game?

Any gamblers out there? we have had 4 or 5 nil nil games with Norway.

[jbyrne]

Did anyone see much of Kilbane at LB last season? Didn't see all too much of him myself but he was caught out positionally a lot when I saw him, same when he played for us there. I wouldn't be too comfortable with him there, I'd go for Delaney myself.

was singled out by bruce as one of the main reasons wigan stayed up

[Wolfie]

Anyone remember anything other than absolute drudgery football whenever we played Norway?
Worse than playing Poland.
Worse than that Greece friendly.
Anyone else suffer from bad memory syndrome resulting in a total absence of optimism about anything resembling quality football happening in this upcoming game?

Any gamblers out there? we have had 4 or 5 nil nil games with Norway.

You could well be correct, Geysir.

Off the top of the head............

Ireland V Norway - USA '94....................Nil All
Norway V Ireland - Friendly 1988.............Nil All
Ireland v Norway - World Cup Qualifier 1985................Nil All

[shakermaker1982]

Given

Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Delaney

McGeady-S Reid-A Reid-Duff

Keane-Doyle


That is how I reckon the Trap will line up next week assuming there are no injuries this weekend. O'Shea at centre back still concerns me. For us to have a chance of qualifying? McGeady needs to replicate his Celtic form - no excuses. Keane needs to start grabbing important goals for us, the onus is on him as captain to drag this team to the WC in South Africa. Hopefully Lawrence and Whelan do well at Stoke this season and they can be good squad players for us.

[Torn-Ado]

You could well be correct, Geysir.

Off the top of the head............

Ireland V Norway - USA '94....................Nil All
Norway V Ireland - Friendly 1988.............Nil All
Ireland v Norway - World Cup Qualifier 1985................Nil All

Ireland V Norway - Friendly 2004? 1-0

I'm kind of expecting a similar game to the Denmark match on the same date last year. We'll hump them 3 or 4 nil. It's a meaningless friendly afterall.

[drinkfeckarse]

Given

Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Delaney

McGeady-S Reid-A Reid-Duff

Keane-Doyle


That is how I reckon the Trap will line up next week assuming there are no injuries this weekend.


That hasn't a bad look to it at all.

[minty]

Is the game on TV? Being honest i cant wait cos itll be 1 last chance for players before qualifying...

[jbyrne]

looking forward to seeing how duff is. have heard he has been superb in the last few weeks scoring 7 goals in preseason including a hat trick and a goal against valencia (?) at the weekend

[the doc]

alex bruce this has to be a misprint he is muck and lost his place in the ipswich team,g,gartland, sean st leadger ne other c half should be in der before this joke of a player

Agreed, Bruce can't even get into the Ipswich team, but it should be no surprise he's in the squad as he's one of DG men, just like McShane.

It seems that St Ledger is out of favour with the likes of DG who is advising Trap.


Take a look at this link to see St Ledger in action, maybe it should be sent to Traps office!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nF2XtaJ4N0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nF2XtaJ4N0)

[tetsujin1979]

Is the game on TV? Being honest i cant wait cos itll be 1 last chance for players before qualifying...
It's on Setanta Sports 1, bizarrely the England game is on Setanta Ireland

[NeilMcD]

Not really as I presume some British station has the England game.

[minty]

what pundits will they have on do ye reckon? it'll be a bit weird without dunphy and giles but maybe it'll be good if setanta get good pundits

[NeilMcD]

Is this for all of Irelands away games. As long as TV3 do not have them, as TV3 have shown some of the worst Ireland games in memory they are like Jimmy Magee bad luck.

[shakermaker1982]

Setanta have every England away fixture and if I recall correctly theny may also have England's home friendlies (or it could be itv). They've spent big to muscle in. Hopefully they make some effort for the game in Norway.

[shakermaker1982]

looks like setanta have all our away fixtures......

[Stuttgart88]

Given

Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Delaney

McGeady-S Reid-A Reid-Duff

Keane-Doyle



That'd be my choice too. I think Delaney is the nearest we have to a proper left back & has done well enough in his opportunities so far. He may get found out at that level but I've seen lower division players play well for successful international teams.

Whatever reservations people have about O'Shea I'd pick him at CB ahead of McShane all day long. I think a lot of the O'Shea bashing has been OTT myself and I have confidence in him. Europe isn't awash with outstanding CBs if Euro 2008 is anything to go by.

I still feel that we may have to go 4-2-3-1 to at some stage, with Carsley and Steven Reid being the two, with 4 busy creative players playing further up. The Columbians ate us alive in CM, as have most other teams we've played against since Keane retired.

[tetsujin1979]

Not really as I presume some British station has the England game.not on Sky, and not on BBC AFAIK


Whatever reservations people have about O'Shea I'd pick him at CB ahead of McShane all day long. I think a lot of the O'Shea bashing has been OTT myself and I have confidence in him.O'Shea at centre half depends on his partnership with Dunne. In particular Dunne ordering him where to stand, who to mark, track back, etc. Since Dunne is the captain at Man City, and chief organiser of their defence, he's well able for this. It all depends on how well O'Shea follows orders.

[NeilMcD]

Good point Stutts, and I was just wondering where you had gone. I do think though that Boheimans midfield might have ate a midfield of Miller and Whelan alive and I do think that the two Reids are a pretty good midfield but I can see a 3 mand midfield of the 2 Reids and Carsley being used also or maybe Wheland can step into the Carsley role if he is not fit.

In a four four two against top teams you can get found out for your lack of ball retention.

[NeilMcD]

not on Sky, and not on BBC AFAIK

O'Shea at centre half depends on his partnership with Dunne. In particular Dunne ordering him where to stand, who to mark, track back, etc. Since Dunne is the captain at Man City, and chief organiser of their defence, he's well able for this. It all depends on how well O'Shea follows orders.

I have been impressed any time I saw O Shea and Dunne together. I think its our best line up and the one we will go with.

[jbyrne]

It's on Setanta Sports 1, bizarrely the England game is on Setanta Ireland

which one comes as standard on the ntl digital package?

[Stuttgart88]

I was just wondering where you had goneStill around. I've a new job which in the current environment is one I'd like to keep so have spent less time on footy forums. It's the off-season anyway. The habit will come back soon I'm sure.

[tetsujin1979]

which one comes as standard on the ntl digital package?Setanta Ireland :(

[jbyrne]

Setanta Ireland :(

and what happened to the matches having to be available on free tv?

[tetsujin1979]

and what happened to the matches having to be available on free tv?
I know that home competitive games have to be made available free to air. I'm not sure about away competitive games.
Home friendlies are only on Sky Sports, and I think I read that setanta have the rights to all away games for this qualifying series.

[boovidge]

What's the reasoning behind having home games rather than away games as free to air when more people can see the game live if it's at home?

[jbyrne]

the main point is that its our team not the fai's and we spend enough money through the gate, traveling to away games etc without having to pay to watch the games we cant get to!! :mad:
the match should be on one of the free to view national broadcasters.... even tv3 :eek:

[Razors left peg]

the main point is that its our team not the fai's and we spend enough money through the gate, traveling to away games etc without having to pay to watch the games we cant get to!! :mad:
the match should be on one of the free to view national broadcasters.... even tv3 :eek:

At the end of the day the FAI do need to make money too and the money from the tv deals goes back into the game

[jbyrne]

At the end of the day the FAI do need to make money too and the money from the tv deals goes back into the game

id say they spent more on stephen irelands granny jet than they are getting in fees for this game

[Razors left peg]

id say they spent more on stephen irelands granny jet than they are getting in fees for this game

Im sure the financial info is out there for anyone that wants to look it up. Revenue has to come from somewhere and I believe that the FAI are entitled to get the best deal they possibly can for the games

[colster]

What's the reasoning behind having home games rather than away games as free to air when more people can see the game live if it's at home?

Because the Irish government have legislation forcing the FAI to sell the rights to games to a free to air broadcaster. For away games the rights to the game are not owned by the FAI so the government cannot enforce this legislation for away games

[kingdom hoop]

Damien Delaney Queen’s Park Rangers 2 0


The apostrophe's presence in the above is erroneous. :mad:

Can't the FAI do anything write? John Delaney must go. :mad::mad:

[Razors left peg]

The apostrophe's presence in the above is erroneous. :mad:

Can't the FAI do anything write? John Delaney must go. :mad::mad:

What have they done wrong this time?

[kingdom hoop]

What have they done wrong this time?

It'd be like someone calling you "Razor's left peg", when your name is actually "Razors left peg".

That's a grave grammatical error. It's lazy. It's unacceptable. You wouldn't be happy. I'm not happy. No one's happy. Except of course for the lazy lackeys in the FAI press office who can knock off early because they aren't bothered doing their job properly.

[Razors left peg]

It'd be like someone calling you "Razor's left peg", when your name is actually "Razors left peg".

That's a grave grammatical error. It's lazy. It's unacceptable. You wouldn't be happy. I'm not happy. No one's happy. Except of course for the lazy lackeys in the FAI press office who can knock off early because they aren't bothered doing their job properly.

thats harsh:D

[Razors left peg]

The apostrophe's presence in the above is erroneous.

Can't the FAI do anything write? John Delaney must go.

Wrong spelling of the word right... thats lazy,unaceptable and shows a lack of respect for the members of this forum.... Kingdom hoop must go;):D

[kingdom hoop]

Wrong spelling of the word right... thats lazy,unaceptable and shows a lack of respect for the members of this forum.... Kingdom hoop must go;):D

Hey, it was an ironic pun! The fact that my point concerned a grammatical issue I thought it was particularly appropriate. :)

Oh and I don't think I'm being harsh either. If I had my way they'd be the horses, with elephants the jockeys, in my wonderland's version of horseracing.



(e-mail will be sent to the FAI warning them of such a scenario unless things are set right)

[finnpark]

Robbie Keane is going to get found out this year. If he gets 20 premiership goals then I will give every foot.ie member €50

[stiofain]

Robbie Keane is going to get found out this year. If he gets 20 premiership goals then I will give every foot.ie member €50

Good man! I think your 100% right.

[Razors left peg]

Robbie Keane is going to get found out this year. If he gets 20 premiership goals then I will give every foot.ie member €50

What do ya mean found out.... hes proved over 10 years that he is a class player

[NeilMcD]

20 Premiership goals would be an unbelievable return for him I think so your money is safe but that does not mean he will not be a success.

[finnpark]

20 Premiership goals would be an unbelievable return for him I think so your money is safe but that does not mean he will not be a success.

He scored 13 last season and a good few of those were penalties.

In fact he was so bad that he was dropped by Ramo.

The stats show that when Robbie Keane plays for Spurs their average performance drops ie they win less games with Robbie playing than without him. (and thats saying a lot). Its the same for ireland I presume.

If you watch Robbie play you can see that hes poor. He may score against Sunderland as he has a good record against Sunderland but don't bank on it.

As bad as he is Darly Murphy is Ireland's best striker :(

[mypost]

not on Sky, and not on BBC AFAIK

They lost the contract to ITV and Setanta 1 for England and FA Cup games.