Why did we beat the Slovaks?

Some are saying it was because Robbie was out and we play better without him. This is nonsense, put Robbie in where McGeady was and you have a better team, not a worse one.

The formation (and of course, selection) are what made the big difference. A much more flexible formation was played with generally, 5 around the middle. Kevin Doyle upfront from the start, which should have been the case v Wales, but hey, we won that one too. Good decision by Stan not to bring in Stokes as many were calling for.

All you experts who mocked anybody like myself who had Kilbane in the centre, you clowns should repent, repent, repent, sackcloth and ashes. You know who you are! Fair enough if you disagree, but you insulted people for suggesting that Kilbane should be in the center and you should now be ridiculed.

Whatever the team selection, formation in midfield and upfront, we only scored one goal. Compared to the Czech game, we beat Slovakia due to the improved performance of the back line. To the end they dealt with everything comfortably.

I wouldn't be Keane's biggest fan but to say we won because he wasn't there is not fair. He's no lone striker and asking him to do that job is crazy. Keane always plays best with a big man beside him like Quinn or Berbatov. Get Keane alongside Doyle and we might just see the best of Keane.

In my book you couldn't design a better player for the role that Ireland played on saturday than Keane.

The Slovaks were fairly poor and had no qaulity up front. Given had to make a few good saves but, for the most part, Dunne & McShane were in control. We, on the other hand, had Kevin Doyle up front, who was strong enough to get in front of the defender.

That's why we won!

Jaysus I love all these 'I told you so' heads, we beat SLOVAKIA 1-0 at home, not Brazil/Argentina/Germany! Its the least we should be expecting

For a start Keane would have been lost in McGeadys role out wide as he was lost in Doyle's role on Saturday. While we may not be a better side without him it shows we can more than cope and that he'll need to adapt to fit into this side. It shouldn't really be a problem because the role he needs to fill is pretty much the same one he performs for Spurs and he does it very well. But Stephen Ireland showed real intelligence and awareness in that role and he's now an alternative to Keane.
And I wanted Kilbane in the side for Wednesday but only because the options were so few and for his physical precense. He's a great servant but a limited player and with the players we have coming back he should be relegated to the bench, whether Stan takes that decision or not will be a big indicator of how much he's learned in the past few months.

It was a change in attitude more than anything else that made the difference. also i think making given captain full time would take pressure off keane and let him play as we know he can

Why would you be gloating about kilbanes performance, he was solid at best,,great worker, honest gives 100%(cliche at this stage), but has a woeful first touch, is clumsy, one trick pony( i.e knocking the ball ahead of the defender and bulling past him), atrocious distrubution also...how he has started 40 odd CONSECUTIVE GAMES FOR iRELAND...I will never know!!

The only word for Kilbane is frustrating. He works so hard and all that but in central midfield we need something else that he just cant give us.

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Originally Posted by tin tin

The only word for Kilbane is frustrating. He works so hard and all that but in central midfield we need something else that he just cant give us.

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We are not Chelsea, what we need and what we have available to make the best of, are two different issues, we can't buy players. With a complete fit squad i.e. with 2 x Reids available, Kilbane shoudln't be in a starting 11.

What about Liam Miller, i know he isn't exactly the greatest but for me he is a better option than kilbane

If only Steven Reid had stayed fit this season. I doubt we'll ever get to see what he's capable of. He's been "one to watch" for too long now. Andy Reid is fast becoming the same thing.

Re-Miller, as Owls Fan repeatedly says, we've so many midgets in the team Kilbane is needed just for his height alone. He and Doyle are the only players beyond the back 4 who can get a head to the ball. I lost count of the number of times he got a good head to the ball when failing to do so would have given Slovakia possession. Sure Kilbane is limited, especially in the centre (and I've been deeply critical of his deployment there) but until we can bring in a Garvan or whoever may step in to midfield he's the best of a bad lot. Tets was right this morning, at least when he has a natural midfielder like Carsley berside him he's not so out of his depth in that role.

Central midfield is the only area of the current team that I'm not happy with. Our defence is decent (but oh, for a quality left footed left back), our width is good, our forward options are decent and improving but central mid is well below modern international standards.

Anyone else think O'Shea was excellent on Wednesday? Credit where it's due. Unimaginative distribution is 100% down to nobody in midfield wanting the ball.

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Originally Posted by tin tin

What about Liam Miller, i know he isn't exactly the greatest but for me he is a better option than kilbane

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No he's not and he'd have been the wrong option the other night for sure. With the way we set up ,McGeady-Ireland-Duff all pusing on the support Doyle, we needed strong players in midfield with energy, legs and enthusiam. Kilbane had all of these and a physical presence, Miller would've been overcome. Also Kilbane won a sh1teload of headers in midfield but this sort of basic work often gets overlooked and yet this is the platform that allows the other creative players to do their work. Kilbane was the right choice the other night but when we've a fully fit squad he should be relegated to the bench. His versatility means he still has a place in the squad though.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Anyone else think O'Shea was excellent on Wednesday? Credit where it's due. Unimaginative distribution is 100% down to nobody in midfield wanting the ball.

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He didn't put a foot wrong. I'd prefer him at LB because we can then make the most out of Finnan bombing forward on his natural side but I have to say the back 4 played well in both games. Thankfully the Cyprus fiasco has been put to bed.

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Anyone else think O'Shea was excellent on Wednesday? Credit where it's due. Unimaginative distribution is 100% down to nobody in midfield wanting the ball.

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im with ye on this one stutts thought he was great!

you may be right about kilbane's aerial ability. but we need a player who can play in midfield and can also give us kilbane's work rate. Any ideas?

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Originally Posted by tin tin

you may be right about kilbane's aerial ability. but we need a player who can play in midfield and can also give us kilbane's work rate. Any ideas?

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Steven Reid. He's the answer long term for me, not Miller though, he's behind all the others at present. And despite Roy's big talk of him, he's not even picking him regularly for Sunderland.

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Originally Posted by Nailer77

Steven Reid. He's the answer long term for me, not Miller though, he's behind all the others at present. And despite Roy's big talk of him, he's not even picking him regularly for Sunderland.

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How can we depend on reid long term. he has terrible luck with injury and who is to say he will come back as good as before. i would love to see it happen but i have my doubts. But for now as he is injured who could we have played instead of kilbane on wednesday night. Liam miller. He will make eventually. never got a chance at united and that really set him back

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Originally Posted by tin tin

How can we depend on reid long term. he has terrible luck with injury and who is to say he will come back as good as before. i would love to see it happen but i have my doubts. But for now as he is injured who could we have played instead of kilbane on wednesday night. Liam miller. He will make eventually. never got a chance at united and that really set him back

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Well Miller has about as much chance of making it as Reid, and he's never impressed me. Joey O'Brien is another long term alternative and Owen Garvan who's a real prospect at Ipswich and of course Douglas has done ok and should get better. I don't think Miller even deserves to be in the squad at present.

What about Mcphail and Flood at Cardiff. Haven't heard about them with a while are they progressing. Mcphail had the potential to be a real player

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Originally Posted by tin tin

What about Liam Miller ...

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He's from Cork, like ...