If a new manager came in tomorrow...

He would survey the group. Probably come to the conclusion (fairly quickly) that this is one of the worst (easiest) groups Ireland have ever been in. Look at the amount of Irish players starting in the Premiership and championship and doing well for their clubs. And think to himself I can still get this team over the line. Or better still Trap comes to this conclusion.

What would be the starting 11 against Wales.

Given (only if he moves club) to start in goal. If not then Westwood.

O'Shea Dunne St Ledger S. Hunt (yes. I would try Hunt at Left back for the Welsh game.)
Coleman Foley Wilson Duff
Doyle Long/Keane (I would only start Keane if he has moved club and is playing regulary)

Cant say I agree that this is one of the easiest groups Ireland have even been in. It lacks a stand out top class team admittedly but they're aint a lot of them about right now. Russia are a decent top seeds. Slovakia recently qualified for the WC, nothing special but decent team. Macedonia and Armenia are as tricky as you could have got from their respective seedings. Armenia in particular have built up a head of steam.

No way would i play S Hunt at left back, doesnt have the discipline to be a defender imo. But seeing as the game should be used as an experiment, it may be worth a try.

Alternatively, I would try JOSH left back with perhaps foley/coleman at right back.
In centre midfield, I would play McCarthy if fit alongside Wilson. I would also start Lawrence ahead of McGeady.

The Slovakian team we played away was the worst 2nd seed team I have ever seen in any of our groups. All the way back to Touhy in charge. Russia lost at home to Slovakia. And Trap's comments after our home game against Russia did not inspire. He suggested that no matter what Irish team he put out we would have been beaten. Never like to hear that and I don't buy it. We appraoched that game the wrong way IMO. This is a very mediocre group.

Given
Foley - Dunne - O'Shea - Ward
Coleman - Wilson - Whelan - Duff
Long - Doyle

Foley expected to be Finnan-esque at RB. Sledge penalised for poor form and inactivity. Ward finally gets his chance in Cunningham's unfortunate absence.

Coleman's progress can't be ignored. It's assumed McCarthy is unavailable, a reprieve for Whelan.

Long rewarded for good form, something Robbie desperately needs to find.

Fair bit of experimentation going on there, more than likely Coleman will be the only one and then Gibson, Long, Foley, Fahey and possibly Ward will get a run, but would be very doubtful on Ward, particularly at left back. Would have Hunt, Duff and Lawerence all ahead of McGeady on either wing, McGeady has been "a promising" player for 6 years now and has done nothing but disappointed

I agree that this is by far the easiest group we could have gotten though, Russia probably the worst 1st seed in the draw.

edit: oh and I think we should get Clark declared if he is interested in playing for us

Given.
Foley. Dunne. O'Shea. Ward.
Coleman. Fahey. Wilson. Hunt.
Doyle. Long.

Assuming of course that McCarthy and Meyler are unavailable.

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Originally Posted by christo

but would be very doubtful on Ward, particularly at left back.

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I'd have a doubt myself tbh but we've a shocking lack of options there without Cunningham.

eh christo clark has declared, he was in the last squad

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Originally Posted by cornflakes

eh christo clark has declared, he was in the last squad

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Aye but he hasn't got a cap yet so technically he could still get called up to England

No, I don't think so. By virtue of having sent a formal request to FIFA to change association I think he is tied now regardless of whether he's capped. I suspect the same holds for Maguire. Anyone concur?

That's correct (if Clark and Maguire have formally requested to change associations).

Given

Coleman Dunne Clark O'Shea

Duff Wilson Fahey McGeady

Keane Doyle

Hmm ok, I thought they had to be capped.

I'd defo have Long way ahead of Stokes though especially given Longs recent great form and if he keeps it up for much longer than 6 games he could be quite a good player. Whereas Stokes has struggled to score for Celtic since his move there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

No, I don't think so. By virtue of having sent a formal request to FIFA to change association I think he is tied now regardless of whether he's capped. I suspect the same holds for Maguire. Anyone concur?

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I am fairly sure it's caps-based. Bobby Zamora was called up to the full Trinidad & Tobago side and subsequently played for England.

I'd go along with that.
A player can request to change football associations only once.
But after a player's request has been granted, he is only recognised as being changed (by FIFA), when he has been capped competitively for his new country. As long as Clarke is not being capped by Ireland in a qualifier, he remains eligible for 2 countries.

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affe...uten2009_e.pdf

Article 18: Change of Association

"1. If a Player has more than one nationality, or if a Player acquires a new nationality, or if a Player is eligible to play for several representative teams due to nationality, he may, only once, request to change the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches to the Association of another country of which he holds nationality, subject to the following conditions:
....... "

I don't know the ins and outs of Bobby Zamora's international allegiance but my understanding is that once you've formally switched associations, you cannot switch again.

If I come in as a new manager I'm going to want to see the core senior players and get my message across to them. In the Wales game I probably start 9 of Trap's favoured 11 as they have been the key squad memebers. I experiment a little in two problem positions, centre midfield and left back and introduce three young fringe players who may be pushing for a central role in my new squad. So the Wales lineup is;

Given (Westwood h/t)
Ward (90 mins at left back)
Dunne
St Ledger
O'Shea (Foley 60)

Duff (Coleman h/t)
Whelan (Fahey 60)
Clark
Hunt

Keane (Long h/t)
Doyle (Best 60)

That's assuming Meyler and McCarthy are injured.
I'd have Clifford and possibly O'Halloran in the squad for a look, I think that tkes me up to 19 players, probably call up a squad of 23 so would need 4 more, likely to be;
O'Dea
Stokes
Gibson
Lawrence

I've probably left out some obvious ones there too. Potentially there's also contoversial call up's for Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid. Paul Green, Kevin Kilbane, Marc Wison, Barry Maguire, Jon Walters on standby list.

Get slated in media for not having some of the above in original squad.
Dunphy has a rant.
It'a a terribly dull 0-0 draw but results improve and we win Euro 2012 beating England on penalties in the final. :D

^ Did McGeady and yourself have a falling out?

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Originally Posted by The Fly

^ Did McGeady and yourself have a falling out?

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Cost too much to fly him in from Russia :)

I meant to add he was left out due to being out of season.

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Originally Posted by ifk101

[url]
I don't know the ins and outs of Bobby Zamora's international allegiance but my understanding is that once you've formally switched associations, you cannot switch again.

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You could easily understand it like that, but a formal switch is only formally completed, after the player has been capped for his new association. The Bobby Zamora example proves the point. The player can reverse his intent and revert back to his first association, if he has not been capped for his second association. That's what Zamora did.
Probably it would only take capping Clarke in a senior friendly or underage competitive game, to tie him to Ireland and not as I stated - a competitive game.

Personally I don't agree with capping players just to bind them to their choice. They should have enough desire until that time the manager caps them on merit. If they reverse their decision in the meantime, then so be it.