I reckon Wilson will be alongside O'Dea in the centre of the defence with Clark left full.
Westwood
Foley - Wilson - O'Dea - Clark
Lawrence - Green - Fahy - Treacy
McCarthy
Long
I reckon Wilson will be alongside O'Dea in the centre of the defence with Clark left full.
Westwood
Foley - Wilson - O'Dea - Clark
Lawrence - Green - Fahy - Treacy
McCarthy
Long
Friday night, Estonia beat Uruguay 2 -0 on a frosty pitch in front of a well wrapped noisy crowd in party mood.
The Uruguay goalie looks very dodgy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS56Gdot11c
thumbs up for Estonia :)
From Daniel McDonnell's Twitter:- Ireland have new defender impressing in training match. Goes by the name of Tardelli. Anthony Stokes here on the bench.
Take it that means Stokes has been called up. And we're so short on numbers Marco's had to come out of retirement for training.
I think that shows good team spirit actually.
Damien Delaney has been called up too.
It does look Baltic there alright...Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Absolutely. I'd say a few of the younger guys would be pretty psyched to get stuck into him - it's easy to forget Tardelli is an all-time great.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
And more Twitter, Tommy Martin this time:
Going by training this morning team for Uru: Westwood, Foley, Kelly, O'Dea, Clark, Lawrence, Fahey, Green, Keogh, McCarthy, Long #ROI
If it happens - I wouldn't have Kelly at centre back, Wilson can count himself unlucky. But no one can say the deck hasn't been throughly shuffled.
Would prefer Wilson instead of Green and Treacy instead of Keogh. Has Marc Wilson done something? He's a Premiership regular now so why does Trapattoni always ignore him?Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
Keogh?!
Stephen Kelly annuonced as captain. Presume the team will be announced soon enough
There's premiership regulars not even in the squad (Ward...)Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
Ireland XI vs Uruguay: Westwood, Foley, O'Dea, Kelly, Clark; Green, Fahey; Lawrence, McCarthy, Keogh; Long
Same as the earlier training side. Basically everyone from the original squad, except the goalies, Wilson and Treacy, have got a start over the last two games, which isn't a bad thing. Be curious to see how they line-up. Think it'll be Keogh with/behind Long...
Formation update:
McDonnellDan
Trap said 4-3-1-1 was the formation. Think he meant 4-2-3-1...McCarthy behind Long..Keogh wide
Haven't gone through the thread, but suffice to say he needs to give proper game to the fringe players. I'm delighted to see that he released the old heads - fair ducks to him for that.
There are a number of issues that Trap has to resolve between now and June; Centre half, left full, centre mid and the formation.
Centre half: Dunne needs to be replaced as he is suspended; St Ledger was injured and if he was to be injured for the return then it's effectively two new centre halves we're looking at.
Options include moving JOSH to centre half, or blooding two new players over the next three friendlies. The issue is a bit more complicated as a lot of people had seen Clark as a credible alternative to Killer in the short term and would have been in with a great shout of starting if Ledger and Josh were available the other night.
I would favour Josh moving into centre half myself, as I think we've found a good solid player in Kevin Foley. Also in this situation there is a balance with a left footer and a right footer (if paired with O'Dea) and between the combative defender and the more elegant player (O'Dea the former and Josh the latter). In this respect Clark would be able to play the next few friendlies at left full, with a stand in at centre half in place of JOSH/Ledger. For Tues I'd play Marc Wilson, another option even if he is a defensive midfielder by choice.
So for Tuesday, I'd have a back 4 of:
--Foley--- Wilson--O'Dea---Clark--
for the intention of preparing the 3 newbies for Macedonia, where I'd look for:
--Foley---JOSH--ODea---Clark--(even if he probably will still pick Killer)
Centre midfield is something that needs to be sorted out now, once and for all. For the first time, I'll cede to the notion of dropping Glenn Whelan. He has the ability, I don't care what anyone says, he can pick a pass, but for some reason the past few games, I don't know if it's lethargy or just a deficiency, the game seems to pass him by with ease (but I'd still have him ahead of Green). Personally I'd throw Fahey in, and give him a run of games to give him a chance to grow into the role (the same courtesy that was afforded to Whelan and Andrews initially). Glenn while being the more defensive player in midfield, wouldn't be overly aggressive, and plenty of teams show that you can have an effective midfielder who doesn't necessarily need to throw a boot in to be effective (i.e. tracking runs, blocking off space etc.) so in that regard I wouldn't worry about Keith fahey starting in the centre.
I'd give Gibson another go, he wasn't brilliant against Macedonia but he wasn't gash either, and he demonstrated a proper desire on Sat, and wasn't afraid to give Duff, Keane, and Long a tongue lashing for not tracking back at various times in the second half.
Obviously McCarthy has to be an option, even if it was only a cameo he had, he showed a few positive signs (quick movement and releasing the ball in tight spaces), but the best was where the big lump they had in front of the back 4 tried to shoulder him off the ball and was bounced to the deck. Still he seems to be groomed for the off-the-striker role and it would be no harm in checking that avenue out.
A point on the wingers. There can be no doubt that Duff and McGeady are the first choices. No doubt at all. But I would have them on the opposite wings. There is absolutely no rapport between McGeady and Kilbane - none whatsoever. They don't link up properly, they're not on the same wavelengths, and I've seen the odd waving of hands (or dissent) to each other - not many maybe 3/4 times over the past while. It means that we as a team aren't getting the best offensively from McGeady. I'm not saying it would be any better if he was on the right (where he is playing for the club, very successfully) - but I'd bet that he wouldn't be any worse.
So for Tuesday, I'd be going for:
-----------Fahey-------Gibson----------
--McGeady---------------------Treacy--
---------------McCarthy----------------
Up front is probably the easiest solution of all. Am I right in thinking Long and Keogh are the only fit strikers? If so it's a no-brainer that Long starts, but I can't imagine him getting the full 90, and Keogh really is more of a replacement for Keane/McCarthy, so I dunno what might happen there?
Anyway, after all that, I'd pick this team for a bit of continuity as well as experimentation....
--------------Westwood-------------
Foley------Wilson----O'Dea------Clark
----------Fahey------Gibson---------
McGeady-----------------------Treacy
---------------McCarthy--------------
-----------------Long-----------------
I would give Westwood the full game too.
4-2-3-1 is the formation we need to start using....good news its being tried out. Keane can be the player we bring on if we need a goal or a bit of whatever robbie keanes meant to bring to the team as a 30 year old, but
mcgeady mccarthy duff
doyle
should be the front 4
I don't think it'll be anything other than 4-4-2.
Green and Fahey in the middle Lawrence and McCarthy on the wings.
Slight chance he'll play Kehoe on the wing with McCarthy behing Long but doubt it. Trap likes his rigid 4-4-2 and he'll want all of these players comfortable slotting into it.
Wilson gone home because of illness
That's not what he's saying but we'll see.Quote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
More Twitter updates from McDonnell:
Trap on selection issues “The referee say to us, we can only play with 11 players. Not 25 or 30.”
Trap just referred to his wingers as swingers. Manuela clarified the error to him. “Ah, double meaning,” he laughed.
RTE are saying its McGeady not Keogh.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/...nd_kellys.html
SSN saying Westwood, Foley, Clark, O'Dea, Kelly, Green, Lawrence, Fahey, Long, McCarthy, Keogh.
I'll reserve opinion until I see how they line out but it could be interesting. Please not 4-4-2.
Kelly could be left back, but we'd then have 2 left footed CBs, one of whom surely would be better deployed at LB - Clark probably, with Kelly CB makes more sense.
No matter how the others line out, there's no natraul left footer. Fats is most likely to play LHM because he has played there before (likes it) and LL, Long or Keogh would be awful there.
Long has shown he can play wide right, but Keogh has disappointed there. LL, McCarthy, Long, Keogh are all possible options in Trap's mind.
My guess is the following:
---------WW-----
Foley-Kelly-O'Dea-Clark
---Lawrence-Green---
Keogh--McCarthy--Fahey
-------Long------
Even with the XI named, I reckon we could all guess the positions and not get it right.
Trap would select Kelly at CH over Clark? I would not have seen that one.
Did Kelly ever fill in at CH for us?
edit - I see from Stutts' post that nothing is for sure yet in that dept.
I'd say kelly will play at left back, and Clarke at CB with O'Dea
If it is so, I'm relieved.Quote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator
keogh looks poor but is there much point having him in the squad if he doesn't get a run out? i wouldn't be surprised to see mcgeady start and keogh to come on at HT. if anything happens to long we have nobody else (bar keogh) to play up front, do we?
---------------Westwood----------------
Foley------O'Dea--------Kelly------Clark
-------------Green---Fahey------------
--Lawrence--------------------- Keogh
-----------------McCarthy--------------
------------------ Long----------------
Just seen the released team.... nice to see changes, very nice actually, but has he made the right changes? A bit disappointed to be honest, but I fully appreciate that he wants to give as many players a chance as possible. I'll try to justify the disappointment.
He's switching from a relatively rigid 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1, yet he's effectively dropping two wingers from a system that thrives with attacking wingers? That doesn't make sense to me - surely if he plays this type of formation in Skopje, he's going to be accomodating McGeady and Duff in the wide roles; therefore shouldn't he play like for like tomorrow??? keogh cannot play wide - he has proven that for us. He can play behind the front man or as a deeper striker, and I do like him. I feel he should have played Keith Treacy - he impressed with his cameo against the Argies (pretty sure it was against them) and I'd have liked to have seen him. Also would have meant Keogh could have replaced McCarthy easily around the hour mark if needing to .
Same for Liam Lawrence- he will be effective as a RM in a 4-4-2, and would be better again (probably) to the right of a central 3, but I don't think he'll be that effective as the RW of an advanced 3 as in the formation above.
Fahey deservedly gets a role in the centre. I'd have preferred a different partner, but understand that there could be a need for a bit of grunt beside him (and because Whelan is carrying a knock).
Surprised Kelly got picked at centre back, but happy in a way as it means Clark is getting a run at left back.
Agreed that Wilson can count himself a tad unlucky, but I'm sure he'll get a half an hour at least, particularily if Green continues to prove he's not int standard.
He's already said Lawrence is on the wing (he was asked directly about it)
Stokes has come over apparently.
Has Gary Twigg met the residence criteria yet? :)
I think Kelly has played at least 45 mins at CB before.
It's a bit like the Lions midweek team.
Oh god that Centre defence is very very inexperienced. Is Forlan starting tomorrow night? I would have thought it will be like this:
Foley O'Dea Clark Kelly.
Am sure Kelly played left back quite a bit for Bham (and did reasonably well too).
In a sense im glad to see the new faces, just keeps the squad keen and good to have the younger lads show what they can do.
Positive are another game for WW, McCarthy, Clark, O'Dea. Lawrence deserves a chance to stake a claim for first XI. Im not so sure about Keogh though, presumably Walters isnt about?
That team looks fine except Keogh makes no sense in that position, and it's not fair to him either. It's got to be McGeady with Treacy getting a look later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
This would appear to be our bench options:
Darren Randolph
David Forde
Marc Wilson
Darron Gibson
Glenn Whelan
Aiden McGeady/Andy Keogh
Keith Treacy
Anthony Stokes
The only reason I can see for the possible Kelly at CH Clark at LB is that Trap's considering Clark in that position for Macedonia away
Kelly replaced O'Dea in the centre against Norway for the last 30/35 minutes. I don't recall any other time he has played there for us.
Damien Delaney was also called into the squad for the bench.
Wilson has gone home injured/ill
FAI have Keogh down as starting. Jaysus.
http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...medium=twitter
That and/or he is happy enough with our options for CB, which makes me think that if Clark wants to break into the team, it will only be at LB, even if he is a CB and starting for Villa.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Anyone a bit sceptical about that? Was he playing in the warm up game?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I would prefer to see a left-footer at LB for balance, and Clark over O'Dea because we should give him some runs there before Macedonia game. Kelly being captain suggests that he'll line out at CB, just for no other reason that CB is a captain-type position. Flimsly logic but it kind of makes sense.
..at LB :)Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I personally think that our priority should be to try and blood Clark at LB because that's where we are thinnest at the moment.
Good call to call up Delaney as cover.