Gibraltar (H) - Sat, 11th Oct. / Germany (A) - Tues, 14th Oct.

I think I would be inclined to field two very different teams for these games. Like the Oman friendly, I think it's too big a risk to play Wilson and O'Shea against Gibraltar. We should use the game, now that we know for sure that they must be pretty terrible, to keep some key players fresh, injury free and out of harms way in terms of picking up pointless yellow/red cards. It would also be a good opportunity to create a happy squad where everybody feels that they have a role to play and will be given opportunities. Obviously this isn't the priority, more of an added bonus.

We should go to Germany with a positive mindset. Losing 2-0 is not a good result*. Way too much defeatism in recent times from people who I wouldn't really expect. We've seen what Scotland did and it's only a few years since went to Bari and got a draw against the then world champions. No reason it couldn't happen again with the right mindset and, possibly, a lot of luck.


For Gibraltar: (Obviously won't happen!)

------------------- Westwood ----------------

O'Brien ----- Pearce ------ Keogh ------ Ward

---------- Hendrick -------- Gibson -----------

----- Hoolahan ----- McGeady ---- Reid -------

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


For Germany: (work rate being paramount!)

----------------- Westwood ------------------

Coleman ----- O'Shea ----- Wilson ---- Delaney

------------- Meyler ------ McCarthy ----------

---- Doyle ------- McGeady ------ McClean ----

-------------------- Long ---------------------


Obviously Whelan isn't just going to fall away from their plans all of a sudden and Delaney the opposite... just a personal preference.



*Yes, that was a cheap shot at you Noel King.

Actually, we should cap every fringe player/'wannabe' we can in the first game...

The second is a complete write-off, so the same is almost true!

It's only a write-off if it's treated as one. Sweden were down 4-0 and still didn't see it as a write-off! It would be a bonus if we get something obviously, but we might as well go all out.

Except we can't and we won't!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Actually, we should cap every fringe player/'wannabe' we can in the first game...

The second is a complete write-off, so the same is almost true!

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Will have to improve in a big way to take anything from the German game but who knows anything can happen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Except we can't and we won't!

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Probably, but I'd be content if the former isn't a result of the latter.

Maybe in 5 years time...

Anyway,
http://thescore.thejournal.ie/7-thin...facebook_short

There'll be sun, sun, sun? :o

I wouldn't go nuts with the personnel changes for the Gibraltar game. Tactics and approach sure, but I'd like to fit in as many players for the Germany game as possible (Keane excepted, as I expect to play against Gibralter but not against Germany).

If we can rattle a bunch of goals at home against poor opponents, it could help lift our fairly brittle morale for a go at the world champs. Every little helps.

Yeah but I don't think my team diminishes our chances of scoring a bunch of goals, in fact it probably enhances it, Coleman aside. It's the defence that I have significantly weakened but surely that won't matter too much. Germany have a tough trip to Poland beforehand so it's an opportunity to gain something in terms of freshness. Every little helps indeed :)

Germany is 3 days after Gib, yeah? I can see the merit in resting Coleman and I think Meyler showed against Oman that he can fill that gap. I've lost patience with O'Brien. I'd like to see Delaney or Pearse given a run at CB and Wilson at left back.

Other than that I'd be quite keen to pick the best front 6, except McGeady. I'd pick Long over Keane because we all know he'll add a physicality that Keane lacks The rationale being that any one of them is immediately replaceable. McCarthy and Whelan are interchangeable. Meyler, Hendrick and Gibson can walk into a midfield role if an incumbent gets crocked. Hoolahan and Reid are somewhat interchangeable. Quinn, Pilkington and McClean can allfill the left berth. If Long gets crocked pick Doyle in Germany (I might be tempted to pick both).

The only players I think we can't afford to miss in the Germany game are Coleman, O'Shea and McGeady. Everyone else has a very similar replacement.

I'd agree with that - change around the defence by all means, but I'd play an attacking unit against Gibraltar that largely play against Germany, but with different philosophies.

I don't think we need to be totally conservative against Germany. Part of me would think be brave and worst case is that it's a good preparation for Glasgow.

Changes that I'd make from Georgia to Germany, disregarding Gibraltar:

Wilson to left back.
Delaney or Pearse to CB.
Do not play McCarthy far up the pitch.
Use wide players in wide positions. That'll be two of McClean, Pilkington, McGeady or Quinn.
Play one "ball user" in advanced midfield. Essentially Hoolahan unless Reid does something notable in Dublin on 11th.
A fighter up front. Long or Doyle.
Only pick match fit players.

That might only be 3 or 4 personnel changes from Georgia.

The nature of our next two fixtures is surely unprecedented and trivially historic, if you will. Has any team in international football ever played two consecutive competitive games against teams at such polar extremes of the ability spectrum? After lowly Gibraltar, who have no official ranking because they aren't even recognised by FIFA, we take on Germany, the present world champions.

v Germany

Westwood
Coleman OShea Delaney O'Brien
Whelan
McCarthy Gibson
Hoolohan McGeady
Long

That team above is intentionally narrow, because I'd think that we've actually a group of players that can play constructive football through the middle, but when retreating it can spread out as it goes back, in effect trying to keep the germans moving the ball in front of us. The overlap is what will kill us, not because of the floated balls in to Mueller, but because of the drag-backs and general intricate technique these chaps have in the final third. Also, we know they're going to play Mueller as the pseudo-striker, who roams, so our two centre-backs are going to be either dragged all over the place, or they're going to be extremely on edge waiting. The worst thing that could happen is if we retreat further and further back when play goes dead. It's an Irish thing, but inviting Germany on will be a disaster. The back 4, in tandem with Whelan and McCarthy are going to have to play as a back 6 almost, as the two centre-backs will likely spend a good portion of time teaming up with the corresponding full back to deal with whatever triumverate is attacking, be it Basti-Goetze-Mueller (BGM), or Kroos-Schurrle-Durm (KSD), so I would think O'Neill will need to have his mind made up on his team as soon as possible in order to work on whatever pods of three or four that are going to have to put in a huge defensive effort.

Example. I would pick one player to stick with Meuller, and I'd go for Delaney. So if BGM is coming into possesion into the Germany attacking 3/4, McCarthy, Whelan, Delaney, and Hoolohan (to cover the Rudy outlet) need to be funnelled back, or positioned in order to intercept or force Germany to switch play. Likewise if KSD are the attacking unit, then it's Gibson, McGeady, Coleman and O'Shea that need to be on the toes. The tricky part is going to Reus, and it could be that Wilson gets the nod at full back, because Reus will have the licence to roam inside almost to the striking position which will leave a huge gap on the left hand side of the irish defence, if of course the full-back tracks.

Germany likely to pick if fit, the following. Offensively they are excellent. on the ball they are excellent. But if they're weak, it's at the back. The common logic will be to flood midfield, so that possession becomes harder to use constructively. That's why I'd pluck for Gibson over Stephen Quinn at this juncture, because Gibson has a dirty strong streak in him, and that will be needed, but also is good on the ball, and can pick a pass as well as take a shot.
Neuer,
RUdy, Boateng, Howedes, Durm
Basti, Kroos
Reus Goetze Schurrle
Mueller

Germany really are a beautiful team to watch play football, and that's assuming that Ozil, or Kheidera aren't fit. With the right formation, and personnel, and if they try to play a bit of football, a point is not beyond us. Unfortunately taking last Sunday into account, and the past 2/3 years, a point probably is beyond us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingdom

snip
The tricky part is going to Reus, and it could be that Wilson gets the nod at full back, because Reus will have the licence to roam inside almost to the striking position which will leave a huge gap on the left hand side of the irish defence, if of course the full-back tracks.

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Reus is not likely to play is he? copped a sore one against scotland, that should swing the pendulum all the way back to us.

I thought he was faking it but I suppose it could be a real psychosomatic ailment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A41vdbXSGLI

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

After lowly Gibraltar, who have no official ranking because they aren't even recognised by FIFA, we take on Germany, the present world champions

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Surely Gibraltar have an official UEFA ranking after their game with Poland?

The next official set of UEFA national team rankings are to be published in November of 2015, although World-Results.net does have an unofficial provisional/on-going ranking which puts Gibraltar at 52nd out of 54 as of 10/09/2014: http://www.world-results.net/uefa/ranking_2015.html

Would it be worthwhile going for 4-4-2 V Gibraltar? McCarthy sitting defesnsive midfield, Hoolahan/Reid in an advanced midfield position and Long/Doyle and Keane up front

Or am i just talking absolute boll0¢ks??

Yes, you are :)