Starting XI V Poland

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          Given
McShane Dunne O'Shea Kilbane
Keogh Gibson Whelan Duff
      Folan Doyle

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Keogh, Folan to start against Poland

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Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has named his starting eleven for tomorrow evening's friendly with Poland at Croke Park.
Goalkeeper Shay Given's set to start in goal, and will Captain the side in Robbie Keane's absence.
The Italian has decided not to experiment with the line-up and has only made 2 changes, both of them enforced.
For the injured Aidan McGeady, Andy Keogh of Wolves will come in and will play on either the left or right flank.
Damien Duff will start on the opposite flank, while in the centre of midfield, Glen Whelan and Manchester United's Darron Gibson will feature.
Upfront, as expected the Big Target man from Hull City Caleb Folan comes in for the injured Robbie Keane and partners the in-form Kevin Doyle.
In the back four, Paul McShane starts at right back, in the centre of defence Richard Dunne and John O' Shea will continue their blossoming partnership, while Kevin Kilbane will start at left back.
The Irish boss indicated that he will make changes during the game with the likes of Keith Andrews and Noel Hunt almost certain to get a run in the green shirt at some stage.

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Two enforced changes.

Given

McShane
Dunne
O'Shea
Kilbane

Keogh
Gibson
Whelan
Duff

Folan
Doyle

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/br...-14067876.html

Don't know why the Belfast Telegraph has this, and no-one else. Is it legit? Thoughts?

On breakingnews.ie as well...................

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has named his starting 11 for tomorrow evening's friendly with Poland at Croke Park.

Goalkeeper Shay Given's set to start in goal, and will captain the side in Robbie Keane's absence.

The Italian has decided not to experiment with the line-up and has only made two changes, both of them enforced.

For the injured Aidan McGeady, Andy Keogh of Wolves will come in and will play on either the left or right flank.

Damien Duff will start on the opposite flank, while in the centre of midfield, Glen Whelan and Manchester United's Darron Gibson will feature.

Upfront, as expected the Big Target man from Hull City Caleb Folan comes in for the injured Robbie Keane and partners the in-form Kevin Doyle.

In the back four, Paul McShane starts at right back, in the centre of defence Richard Dunne and John O' Shea will continue their blossoming partnership, while Kevin Kilbane will start at left back.

The Irish boss indicated that he will make changes during the game with the likes of Keith Andrews and Noel Hunt almost certain to get a run in the green shirt at some stage.

Keogh starting on the right (where he was for the B game) is probably the biggest surprise. I would have thought Doyle and Folan were too similar to play together.
be interesting to see how McShane and Keogh play on the right wing.

surely would have been an ideal opportunity to blood Kevin Foley at least? I can see what he's trying to do by keeping Whelan and Gibson together but I hope that Andrews gets a fair run out...

Can't see the merit in having Keogh in there either to be honest...

I don't think he sees Doyle as a target man, not in the conventional sense anyway. Doyle can hold the ball up well when he has it to feet, but I think he's just content to get his head to the ball when its in the air rather than generate anything productive with it.

About Folan he said.

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Trapattoni said: "He is not only big, he has two good legs, and he understands that he has to help our midfield.
"He can hold the ball up to allow other players to get there. He is an intelligent player.
"He is important for his presence, but he understands he has to help the team immediately."

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I think Doyle is good enough to play the Robbie Keane role also and will be able to play off the last mans shoulder.

Unsurprising line up, McShane for me is the only red-flag

Whelan and Gibson need to put in a much stronger performance than last time... they just sank back onto the central defenders at every opportunity. We need them to step up and take responsibility.

Nothing else really surprising. Keogh has played several times on the wing for us... though I'd have preferred Hunt (Stephen). McShane could use a good performance at right back for us, so I can see merit in giving him the chance.

Hopefully towards the end of the game we have both Hunts and Doyle on for a while to show how well they can work together.

Six of the starting XI are not first choice in their clubs and are rarely getting 90 mins. Having said that not all the players in the McCarthy era were getting game time either. Hopefully Trap will use the bench alot better in this game than he has in the past. We really need a strong CM performance from Whelan and Gibson as well.

I'm very disappointed with the central midfield...again.

The two lads are'nt up to international level, nevermind getting a game at prem' level.

At 21 Gibson's time at OT is running out, unless he breaks into the squad this year, its onto the Championship for him(like a long like of former United youngsters...) he's proved nothing at a high level to be included in the panal, regardless of how influential putting in a good performance against a Forest selection can be.

Whelan hasn't impressed me much either, and hasn't proved too effective against Georgia/Norway/Cyprus, with big games against the top boys coming in the summer i'd rather see us playing someone who can make their club side week in week out, Reid should be back for those games and i'd play him as the defensive midfielder.

What role does Andrews play?, considering he's getting game time at a Prem' club he must be doing something the other two lads are not, granted i have'nt seen him play yet to judge myself.

I know we are short on resources but the likes of Italy and Bulgaria will make bits of us if we go into those games with a Gibson/Whelan partnership, Cyprus dominated us there for most of the second half so i don't even want to think what will happen if we go this route next summer

Granted we got away with it against Cyprus, they were VERY unlucky in both halves not too score

Keogh starting on the right is my biggest gripe, has that ever worked? you would think we would of learned by now, surely Hunt or A.Reid would do a better job in that position. My other concern is McShane, was awful in our last game and I think Foley is more deserving of a chance there. I'd also have Andrews on for Whelan and N.Hunt on for Folan but if he plans to bring them on in the second half then fair enough

Keogh ahead of Hunt is a surprise. Would it be fair to say a "workmenlike" side out tomorrow night. Having said that I expect us to keep our unbeaten record under Trap.

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Originally Posted by gilberto_eire

I'm very disappointed with the central midfield...again.

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It couldnt have come as much of a surprise though?? Those two lads were guaranteed to start to give them game time together
Fair enough hes prob not ready yet as hes not playing regular enough football but I really like Gibson and I think he is going to be a massive player for us in years to come. I wouldnt be surprised to see him have a very good game tomorrow night since the pressure is off a bit compared to the last qualifier

Hmmmm. I'd prefer to see the Hunt brothers both starting and McShane on the bench. He has the positional sense of a school kid. Man City's second goal on Sunday is a prime example when he just disappeared and left his fellow defenders. Keith Andrews would have got the nod for me as well. I just hope Duff is on song because it could be a long drab night.....

I hope to see Andrews get some game time..hes no spring chicken, and I cant see him getting much of a look in come the qualifiers if he doesnt get a performance under his belt.

Im also slightly excited about seeing Folan...hopefully he can provide a little competition up front in future.

very disappointed not to see foley and delaney starting and also stokes

hopefully he will give one of the other keepers a run out during the game

really hope trap doesnt continue this trend of very few substitutions during the friendly game - i realise the idea in trying to get a settled side - but these games are for experimentation

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Originally Posted by gilberto_eire

At 21 Gibson's time at OT is running out, unless he breaks into the squad this year, its onto the Championship for him(like a long like of former United youngsters...)

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Guiseppe Rossi and Gerard Piqué showed that there is life after Old Trafford :) I think Gibson has a fine career ahead of him anyway, hope he shows what he can do tomorrow night.

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Originally Posted by gilberto_eire

At 21 Gibson's time at OT is running out, unless he breaks into the squad this year, its onto the Championship for him(like a long like of former United youngsters...) he's proved nothing at a high level to be included in the panal, regardless of how influential putting in a good performance against a Forest selection can be.

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from skysports - make of it what u will

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Gibson - who is currently with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their friendly with Poland - spent time on loan at Wolves last term but is happy to remain with United this campaign.

Of his first-team opportunities at United, he said: "It is frustrating when you are not playing, but a lot of young players make the mistake of leaving United too early without getting a chance.

"I am just going to bide my time and hopefully the chance comes and I can take it.

"I have had chances to go on loan here and there, and I have turned them down and the gaffer has turned them down for me as well because he wanted me to stay.

"I am just going to bide my time and hopefully the chance comes sooner rather than later."

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Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Hmmmm. I'd prefer to see the Hunt brothers both starting .

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There is a chance they could come on as subs.
Then they would be the first brothers on the same team since Tony and Pat Dunne over 40 years ago.

What does Foley need to do to get into the team (apart from the seemingly obvious and play Premiership football which appears to give you a divine right into the team). Appreciate that Trap is trying to build a steady back four, but Foley is without shadow of a doubt our future rightback and it's a disgrace if he doesn't now at least get 45 minutes. I wouldn't mind but he's been consistently man of the match this season, whereas Keogh has been sub all season after a series of below-par performances in his preferred striking role, let alone on the wing.

Considering that our Young Lads in the Championship have been the one glint of hope this season in contrast to the relative failings of our "Premier League Stars", personally think that Trap and his advisors should ditch the Premier League blinkers and think about a more meritocratic squad policy which might reward hard work and effort rather than simply ignore it.