Norway v Republic of Ireland - pre-match

[tetsujin1979]

He scored 13 last season and a good few of those were penalties.15 goals in the Premiership, 3 were penalties

In fact he was so bad that he was dropped by Ramos.Ramos took over Spurs on 27th October 2007, Robbie started all but 8 of the games between then and the end of the season. 3 of those 8 were a suspension after being sent against Liverpool. In every other game, he was introduced from the bench. How exactly is this being "dropped"?

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. What stats?

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.How about 2 goals against Liverpool last season? Or one against Chelsea? Or one against Man United? What do they prove?

As bad as he is Darly Murphy is Ireland's best striker :(Really? On what grounds?

[mypost]

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

Robbie Keane has a proven record with club and country. If he can score 13 goals in half-decent teams, and 30+ with Ireland, god only knows how many he'll score with a good league side that scores 100+ goals a year.

5k members x €50 = €250k in May. Banco. :)

[Razors left peg]

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 :(

this has to be a wind up

[shakermaker1982]

Keane looked like he was playing for Staunton last night!!!

[Wexford Delboy]

bit surprised that stokes didnt make the full or he u 21 squad hes been playing decent enuf stuff in pre season

[Stuttgart88]

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.Exactly. Can anyone see the headline "18 goal and multiple assist Keane flops at Anfield"?

[geysir]

Does nobody remember anything round here?
Finnpark trolls the Ireland forum.
Ignore him.

[Diarmo]

bit surprised that stokes didnt make the full or he u 21 squad hes been playing decent enuf stuff in pre season

I think they're trying out new players since the last crop went overage. I'd expect Stokes, O'Toole etc. to be back in for the next squad.

[Sligo Hornet]

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


You are totally right Razor!!:p

[Razors left peg]

You are totally right Razor!!:p

hahaha.....my resignation has been handed in

[Oink]

Yeah, but none of them are natural right wingers. S. Reid and Miller are terrible on the wing.

My point is that depending on circumstances in the game a change of approach could be needed. Duff on the right would be cutting in a lot but this might not work against a team who crowds their defence in the middle, perhaps by playing two midfielders who sit back. The other alternatives you have given wouldn't change our tactics. McGeady could do a decent job going on the outside but he is our biggest attacking threat so put him in his best position.

I don't think there's any need to see if Lawrence proves himself at the highest level- a number of the teams we will be playing in qualfying would be Championship standard.


Left wing is far and away his best position, I can't believe there could be a dispute over this.

See above for my explanation.

From watching the Brazil and Serbia games I think Traps is looking to let McGeady and Duff swap wings through the game.... the same way Duff and Robben used to for Chelsea.

[NeilMcD]

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/soccer/article/2008/aug/17/a-friendly-to-get-acquainted-with-formation/

[shakermaker1982]

If we do start with 4-5-1 then Whelan has to get the nod. Miller has had a lot of chances over the years in trying to cement a place and he disappoints every time.

[Razors left peg]

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/soccer/article/2008/aug/17/a-friendly-to-get-acquainted-with-formation/

Its fantastic that we have a manager that already has a clear plan of how he wants us to play, its such a difference to the last number of years

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Looks like Joey O'Brien had a good game in his more familiar centre midfield role yesterday, setting up a goal as well. Having finally got a good pre-season behind him, he could be the defensive midfielder we need to sit with Reid at the middle of the 4-5-1.

[DmanDmythDledge]

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/soccer/article/2008/aug/17/a-friendly-to-get-acquainted-with-formation/
That sounds very good as we will have a solid midfield without losing our attacking threat. I would have prefered to see Carsley partner S Reid though as it would allow him a bit more freedom than playing alongside Whelan/Miller as neither of them have enough steel to play as the break up attacks. Also, Razor makes a very good point about preparation and having a plan which, although pretty much a basic requirement of management, seems like a luxury after Stan.

[geysir]

I might have missed the reason somewhere but why is Carsley not in the squad?

Will be back for the big games? Will just be back up?

[NeilMcD]

Didn't Carsley say before tht he did not want to travel away for friendly games if he was not playing. Am I right in saying that he did not go to Denmark last year but he did play in Slovakia and in the Czech Rep.

[NeilMcD]

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=soccer-qqqa=sport-



http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/0818/1218868020595.html


http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/trap-squad-gets-clean-bill-of-health-as-finnan-returns-1457726.html

[stiofain]

Didn't Carsley say before tht he did not want to travel away for friendly games if he was not playing. Am I right in saying that he did not go to Denmark last year but he did play in Slovakia and in the Czech Rep.

Yep, your correct. I'm actuctally pretty sure this was part of the conditions of his return to international football. He has a young family so i understand where he's coming from, even if it isnt ideal for Ireland.

[tetsujin1979]

One of his kids has down syndrome as well, so it's understandable that he doesn't want to spend too much time away from them

[minty]

hopefully we'll see a formation and team selection similar to what we'll see in qualifying

[geysir]

I suppose we will have to wait and see what Trap will do in the qualifiers re Carsley.
The team has a naked look about it at the back without Carsley.

I'd prefer if Trap had new plans to set in motion along with the security that at least Carsley was there amongst the subs.

[Stuttgart88]

Ideal opportunity to pitch both Reids into the middle, no?

[NeilMcD]

Yeah it is, and I think they may go with Wheland or O Brien as the defensive midfielder for a while too as it seems that the 4 5 1 is likely to be used away from home. A few options.

[eirebhoy]

If he's going with the system he says then:


--------------- Given -----------------
Finnan --- Dunne --- O'Shea --- Kilbane
---------- S.Reid --- O'Brien -----------
-- Duff ------- A.Reid ------ McGeady -
--------------- Keane -----------------

J.O'Brien impressed in a similar role in Bolton's UEFA cup run. He was excellent in Portugal.

[colster]

If he's going with the system he says then:


--------------- Given -----------------
Finnan --- Dunne --- O'Shea --- Kilbane
---------- S.Reid --- O'Brien -----------
-- Duff ------- A.Reid ------ McGeady -
--------------- Keane -----------------

J.O'Brien impressed in a similar role in Bolton's UEFA cup run. He was excellent in Portugal.

Looks good to me. I wouldn't mind seeing Hunt tried at LB. He's played there a few times for Reading this season.

[Wexford Delboy]

would still like some involvement for doyle:D

[Cloggs]

If we do start with 4-5-1 then Whelan has to get the nod. Miller has had a lot of chances over the years in trying to cement a place and he disappoints every time.

when has whelan impressed though?

given
finnan-dunne-o'shea(o'brien)-delaney
mcgeady-reid-reid-duff
keane-doyle

why not try o'brien at centre half.i thought that he did very well there when he played last year.would definitely go with delaney at left full as hes done fairly well in the chances that hes been given so far and kilbanes positional sense at left full doesn't really inspire much confidence.

[musicinmouth]

Looks good to me. I wouldn't mind seeing Hunt tried at LB. He's played there a few times for Reading this season.

I think Hunt looked very out of position at left back in the first game of the season last week... He didn't seem to know what position to take a lot of the time... He looked great going forward though and his crossing seems to be getting better and better.

[eirebhoy]

Didn't Carsley say before tht he did not want to travel away for friendly games if he was not playing. Am I right in saying that he did not go to Denmark last year but he did play in Slovakia and in the Czech Rep.
It's clear from the press conference that Trap just didn't call him up though. He prefers the 5 other central midfielders.

[NeilMcD]

I would give Delaney a go at left back rather than Kilbane to be honest.

[eirebhoy]

I would give Delaney a go at left back rather than Kilbane to be honest.
Me too but Trap said Kilbane will start. Managers treat experience with a lot more importance than me though. :)

[geysir]

Managers treat experience with a lot more importance than me though. :)
That's just because you're a young lad.
People who are closer to Traps age obviously value experience :)


The team looks good and functional, that formetto looks solid.

[irishfan86]

It's clear from the press conference that Trap just didn't call him up though. He prefers the 5 other central midfielders.

Do you have a quotation to back that up? Or a link to the press conference?

[Legendary Bear]

For me if its 4-5-1 it will be:


Given

Finnan Dunne O Shea Kilbane

S Reid A Reid

Duff Keane Mc Geady

Doyle

Keane prefers it when he has a freeish role. Breaking into the box late or onto a flick on.

[eirebhoy]

Do you have a quotation to back that up? Or a link to the press conference?
http://www.fai.ie/audio/2008-08-12.mp3

15 minutes in.

Reporter: "Did Lee Carsley say he didn't want to play in friendlies or..."

Trap: "Lee Carsley, we don't forget Lee Carsley..."

Translator translates the question

Trap: "no, no, no Carsley said the last time he had a problem with his achilles tendon. Ok, let him, in that moment in Portugal, rest. But yes, Lee Carsley, we continue looking at him. As much as possible I'm trying to keep the team that I was able to see in Portugal. We don't forget Lee Carsley. We know he's important. He's senior, experienced. But at the moment, I can't change many because from the squad I am sure, 10, 9 players will be the players playing against Serbia and Colombia. We cannot change 3, 4, 5 players. It's not easy. 3 days. We must create a strong team spirit. I know we move, I know we move but when you change 4, 5, 6 players it's not easy in 3 days."

[Razors left peg]

He said that he doesnt expect that he will give Doyle the full 90 minutes so I would expect that means that he will start and at some stage give Keogh a run out

[Noelys Guitar]

http://www.fai.ie/audio/2008-08-12.mp3

15 minutes in.

Reporter: "Did Lee Carsley say he didn't want to play in friendlies or..."

Trap: "Lee Carsley, we don't forget Lee Carsley..."

Translator translates the question

Trap: "no, no, no Carsley said the last time he had a problem with his achilles tendon. Ok, let him, in that moment in Portugal, rest. But yes, Lee Carsley, we continue looking at him. As much as possible I'm trying to keep the team that I was able to see in Portugal. We don't forget Lee Carsley. We know he's important. He's senior, experienced. But at the moment, I can't change many because from the squad I am sure, 10, 9 players will be the players playing against Serbia and Colombia. We cannot change 3, 4, 5 players. It's not easy. 3 days. We must create a strong team spirit. I know we move, I know we move but when you change 4, 5, 6 players it's not easy in 3 days."

I thought Everton badly missed Carsley at the weekend. I don't think he should start against Georgia but he is still a very useful player for shoring up our defense if need be.

[tetsujin1979]

I thought Everton badly missed Carsley at the weekend.
Agreed, remember when Carsley missed the majority of the season a few years back? Everton nearly got relegated, and a lot of people blamed the fact that they had no replacement for Carsley. Someone to sit in front of defence, break up attacks and spray the ball out to the more creative players (Cahill or Arteta). He's one of those players that you're not really sure what he contributes to the team until he's not in it.

[kingdomkerry]

Pity that sad little man S Ireland is such a traitor cause he would be ideal for playing in the advanced midfield role. Still though A Reid is some man to pick out a killer pass.

[irishfan86]

http://www.fai.ie/audio/2008-08-12.mp3

15 minutes in.

Reporter: "Did Lee Carsley say he didn't want to play in friendlies or..."

Trap: "Lee Carsley, we don't forget Lee Carsley..."

Translator translates the question

Trap: "no, no, no Carsley said the last time he had a problem with his achilles tendon. Ok, let him, in that moment in Portugal, rest. But yes, Lee Carsley, we continue looking at him. As much as possible I'm trying to keep the team that I was able to see in Portugal. We don't forget Lee Carsley. We know he's important. He's senior, experienced. But at the moment, I can't change many because from the squad I am sure, 10, 9 players will be the players playing against Serbia and Colombia. We cannot change 3, 4, 5 players. It's not easy. 3 days. We must create a strong team spirit. I know we move, I know we move but when you change 4, 5, 6 players it's not easy in 3 days."

Cheers.

On some level I'm happy because I'd rather have Stephen Reid as our holding player, and I don't necessarily think they could both fit into our best team, but as a few people have mentioned here, Carsley brings those intangible qualities to a side when he plays.

With Reid's injury problems, it's always good to have Carsley as another option anyway.

[musicinmouth]

Pity that sad little man S Ireland is such a traitor cause he would be ideal for playing in the advanced midfield role. Still though A Reid is some man to pick out a killer pass.
you're "sad" for calling him a traitor when you have *no* idea why he is currently not playing for his country... you don't know what problems he has... he hasn't retired from international football, he is taking some time out - that doesn't mean he is a traitor... everytime he has played for ireland he has played with passion and skill... give a young guy a break and stop being so judgmental...

[NeilMcD]

Stop judging kingdom kerry, He is just a young guy who is posting on an internet forum. Give him a break and stop being so judgemental.

[Wolfie]

If he's going with the system he says then:


--------------- Given -----------------
Finnan --- Dunne --- O'Shea --- Kilbane
---------- S.Reid --- O'Brien -----------
-- Duff ------- A.Reid ------ McGeady -
--------------- Keane -----------------

J.O'Brien impressed in a similar role in Bolton's UEFA cup run. He was excellent in Portugal.

That line-up would certainly be worth a look against the Norwegians. That has the potential to be the blue print for our first properly functioning midfield in 4 years.

Personally, I'm still a little bit unsure about O'Brien in the middle but fingers crossed he delivers the midfield performance for Ireland that many on here believe he's capable of.

O'Shea at Centre Half, while he's produced some OK performances recently, is still an accident/ costly error waiting to happen over the course of a campaign. We're not exactly over-burdened with quality, experienced (and willingly available) alternatives.

More in hope than expectation - If Andy Reid, Duff, McGeady and Keane start playing cohesively, passing and moving and being available for the next ball - could be interesting..........................

[geysir]

The IT Emmet Malone in Oslo

'The game that brought training to an end featured a side that looked very like his first-choice line-up. Shay Given was in goal, Steve Finnan, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea and Kevin Kilbane played across the back. Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady were on the wings while Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane were up front together.

Central midfield looked to be still up in the air but it still seems likely that the two Reids will slot in there together in the event that Steven is available to start an international for the first time since the opening game of the last qualifying campaign in Stuttgart almost two years ago'.

[youngirish]

you're "sad" for calling him a traitor when you have *no* idea why he is currently not playing for his country... you don't know what problems he has... he hasn't retired from international football, he is taking some time out - that doesn't mean he is a traitor... everytime he has played for ireland he has played with passion and skill... give a young guy a break and stop being so judgmental...

Grow up man. Even the most diehard supporter of Stephen Ireland has now admitted the lad is a tit. What will it take for you to finally get onboard? Ffs don't be so naive. Whatever problems he's had have never prevented him from lining out for Man City week in, week out.

He's a grade A ar*ehole. Simple as that. Why can't some people never see it as it is and have to muddy the waters?

[boovidge]

if he's so mentally ill why does he turn out every week for Man City? I agree we shouldn't be too judgemental before we know the facts but if S.Ireland was concerned about what fans thought he would have made a bigger effort to clarify his reasons, even without being too specific. Until then all we have to go on is that he pulled out of a squad by lying twice about his gran, taking a jet at the FAIs expense and has refused to play for Ireland since. What do you expect the fans to think?

[NeilMcD]

T
He's played with conviction whenever called upon. He clearly has some issues with the setup that he doesn't have at Man City. Difficult to know what they are but frankly it's none of our business. He's done a great job for us at international level and should be respected as such and wished all the best for a recovery so he can return.



You have contradicted your point. If it is mental illness that is the problem, they I would not have a problem and I think your point about treatment of mental illness versus other more run of the mill football injuries is a fair point. However if he was mentally ill how could he play for Man City and not for Ireland. Also how could he say that he may come back and then not come back and then say he may come back in the future.


If however the issue is with the Ireland set up and issues he has with the FAI, then we do as supporters have a right to know what this is. I suspect his issue is with the FAI over how they handled his grannys dying, and they did a bit of investigation and he had to finally come out and say that was a lie.

What has probably happened is that his mental illness has caused him to believe that the FAI wronged him and now he fells he cannot play for them. Mental illness causes you to be paranoid and agressive (which it often does) and I belive as a result he thinks that people in the squad and the FAI.

[youngirish]

That's a pretty disgraceful attitude, youngIrish. Stephen Ireland doesn't owe anything to you or to the team. I mean he earned 4 points just by himself in the last campaign, had he not we may not have got our 3rd seed this campaign and heck may not have even got Trap or anything as a knock on result.

He's played with conviction whenever called upon. He clearly has some issues with the setup that he doesn't have at Man City. Difficult to know what they are but frankly it's none of our business. He's done a great job for us at international level and should be respected as such and wished all the best for a recovery so he can return.

I swear this board is full of some of the most old-fashioned douchebags I've ever met. Dave Langan who suffers from a physical illness is considered a "hero" and a "legend". While Ireland who's suffering from a mental illness is regarded as a "tit".

What mental illness has he been diagnosed as suffering from Dr Freud? Being an ar*ehole is not a recognised clinical condition.

Wake up and smell the cornflakes man. Mental illness my ring. As far as I know there have been no confirmed statements of him suffering from any such condition nor has has this crippling condition prevented him from turning up for Man City every week nor from cashing his pay cheque or from getting a hair transplant. I would struggle to believe he was suffering from such a condition anyway even if he confirmed it himself after all the lies that have gone before.

But you're right he doesn't owe me anything and I certainly don't owe him anything so I'll call it as I see it. He's an embarrasment to our small but proud nation. Cut him loose and let's move on. As I said before the season started he'll be a bit part player and nothing more for Hughes and is no great loss to our team anyway.