Republic of Ireland V Scotland - Saturday, 13th June 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

Houghton on SSN saying a draw would be ok for Ireland. The intonation in his voice was very much a "disappointing ok" that her than a positive ok, but I can't agree. A draw would be a disappointment unless it's a draw salvaged against the odds. I guess what I'm saying is right now a draw will be a bad result but if we're two down after 80 minutes a draw that keeps us alive mathematically would be tolerable.

Houghton not confident. Thinks the Scots are relaxed and optimistic and Strachan has the momentum.

Thanks for that. Annoyed I am flying and missing this. Very nervous!

http://www.the42.ie/sing-national-an...55735-Jun2015/

"One thing that angered many Irish fans was the image of David McGoldrick chewing gum during the anthem."

Glad I'm not the only one.

Any hint of the team news yet? getting very nervous now... need to have some beer I think.

Given
Coleman
O'Shea
Wilson
Brady
Walters
McCarthy
Whelan
McGeady
?
?

Hoolahan
Murphy

Team announced via Twitter. Looks like 4312 of sorts.

Shay
Coleman O'Shea Wilson Brady
Hendrick Whelan McCarthy
Wes
Walters Murphy

That's the personnel anyway.

Looks like less reliance on width which isn't a bad thing. More bodies in midfield, onus on full backs to get forward. Would have preferred Long over Walters but the bench options (Long, Keane, McGeady, McClean...) seem to be pretty potent. Murphy is a bold choice but not undeserved.

Looks a bit like the approach he took against Italy, from what little I remember. Wes started, Meyler and Hendrick in midfield then, but I can't remember if we had normal wide options then. I think Pilkington was orthodox wide left so maybe the approach wasn't quite the same.

Absolute insanity. Murphy & Walters in the team. No McClean or Long. Murphy & Walters playing completely negates Hoolahan's presence in the team.

McGeady & Keane unfit and McClean & Long still can't get in the team.

Don't understand it at all.

Hopefully at 7:00 after any hopes of participating in Euro 2016 have faded, this is the last time Jonathan Walters is first name on the teamsheet in an Ireland team for a competitive game. He's as predictable and cumbersome as they come. It's not going to get any better when he is 33.

McClean is 26 and Long is 28.

They'll be in their thirties and we'll still be asking when they will be given a chance.

Hoolahan is 33. Walters is 31. Murphy is 32. Whelan is 31.

Where is the f***ing pace in that team?

Furious.....

FFS.

Murphy AND Walters?!

To be fair Murphy deserves a chance based on his for this season, would have liked Long beside him.

I'm genuinely starting to believe that they won't drop Walters because they are scared of him.

Scots are f***ing laughing.

Looks like a team selected with scotland's strengths in mind. I expect Whelan to pick up Naismith.

Seriously disillusioned with this.

Could be a 41212 with full backs clocking up the milage and Whelan sitting in behind Hendrick and McCarthy.
Big day for Murphy. The only justification for selecting that curious team is victory, if not, there will be carnage.

No Anya for Scotland

Long over Walters and I'd be happy. I've often felt we select width just because we always have, when compactness is what is required.

Strikeforce a joke. They're both capable of doing something at any given time against a Championship (or thereabouts) defence but the Scottish centre backs will relish a physical battle, which is what we have stupidly made it. I'm happy with the bodies in midfield and the faith placed in Hendrick.

...or a team set up for set pieces. Clearly a bludgeon is the weapon of choice, with a penknife added just in case.

Murphy & Walters don't have the pace or technique to get behind Scotland and take advantage of Hoolahan's passes, like Long has proven he can. IDK what McClean has to do. He has the workrate of Walters, he is a galvanizing presence for the rest of the team, he is a goal threat, he is better in every single way - for what we are trying to do, certainly.

It's route 1, direct, all the way. It's exactly what Scotland want.

When will we we ever learn?

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

1-1 with an equalizer from an Irish sub if I am being optimistic.

I could see this being a comprehensive loss for us and party time in Dublin for the Scots.