Republic of Ireland V Gibraltar(A) 4th Sept & Georgia(H) 7th Sept 2015 - Euro 2016 Q

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Originally Posted by backtowalsall

Duffy only has one senior cap that he got in a friendly against Costa Rica played in America. Does something he did at underage level tie him down? I didn't think that counted

Match report here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27383445

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Play competitive for one then switch and play competitive for the other means switch is used (same situation as Michael Keane).

Don't play competitive for one then switch (not considered switch by FIFA) and play competitive for another means you still have a switch to use so can switch back.

In this case, Duffy played a spate of games for NI underage and, subsequently, a spate of games for Ireland underage. Some of the games, for both sides, were competitive. Consequently, switch has been used and Duffy is tied, whether he likes it or not (but he clearly does).

His time will come. No rush with Duffy. Sure even if he looked at the NI side he'd note that Cathcart, Evans and McAuley are bound to be ahead of him. Then there's Baird and McNair. 23 is young enough for a defender. I look forward to his gradual, organic progression.

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

o'shea will be one of oneill's first names on the teamsheet no matter how he is getting on at sunderland

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Big time. He's had his rest now he can tune up his match fitness this weekend because if he doesn't start then he ought to pack his bags.

The question was actually put to Stephen Hunt about (his good pal, as per Hunt) O'Shea moving on if he doesn't get back into the team before window's end. Hunt said O'Shea is too loyal and wouldn't push for that.

Anyway, he was excellent against the Scots.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Play competitive for one then switch and play competitive for the other means switch is used (same situation as Michael Keane).

Don't play competitive for one then switch (not considered switch by FIFA) and play competitive for another means you still have a switch to use so can switch back.

In this case, Duffy played a spate of games for NI underage and, subsequently, a spate of games for Ireland underage. Some of the games, for both sides, were competitive. Consequently, switch has been used and Duffy is tied, whether he likes it or not (but he clearly does).

His time will come. No rush with Duffy. Sure even if he looked at the NI side he'd note that Cathcart, Evans and McAuley are bound to be ahead of him. Then there's Baird and McNair. 23 is young enough for a defender. I look forward to his gradual, organic progression.

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boll0x. I want him and John Egan to stage a meteoric rise. None of this gradual BS!

Squad Watch

Darren Randolph	Started	Clean Sheet
David Forde	Sub
Shay Given	Sub
Rob Elliot	Not in Squad
Keiren Westwood	Injured
Seamus Coleman	Started
Richard Keogh	Started
John O'Shea	Started
Ciaran Clark	Started
Paul McShane	Started
Marc Wilson	Sub(62)
Alex Pearce	Sub
Stephen Ward	Sub
Cyrus Christie	Not in Squad
Greg Cunningham	Injured
Anthony Pilkington	Started(90)	Assist
James McCarthy	Started
Jeff Hendrick	Started
Glenn Whelan	Started
Eunan O'Kane	Started
Alan Judge	Started
Stephen Quinn	Started
David Meyler	Started
Robbie Brady	Started
James McClean	Started(62)
Wes Hoolahan	Started(31)
Aiden McGeady	Not in Squad
Harry Arter	Injured
Kevin Doyle	Started	Goal
Adam Rooney	Started(76)	Goal
Robbie Keane	Started
David McGoldrick	Sub(45)	Goal
Anthony Stokes	Sub
Simon Cox	Sub
Shane Long	Sub
Jon Walters	Not in Squad
Daryl Murphy	Injured

Squad reduced to 28:

David Forde (Millwall) 20/12/1979 - 23 - 0
Shay Given (Stoke City) 20/04/1976 - 130 - 0
Darren Randolph (West Ham United) 12/05/1987 - 2 - 0

Seamus Coleman (Everton) 11/10/1988 - 28 - 0
Cyrus Christie (Derby County) 30/09/1992 - 1 - 0
John O’Shea (Sunderland) 30/04/1981 - 104 - 3
Marc Wilson (Stoke City) 17/08/1987 - 23 - 1
Richard Keogh (Derby County) 11/08/1986 - 7 - 1
Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa) 26/09/1989 – 11 - 1
Stephen Ward (Burnley) 20/08/1985 - 29 - 2
Robbie Brady (Norwich City) 14/01/1992 - 14 - 3
Alex Pearce (Derby County) 09/11/1988 - 6 - 2
Paul McShane (Reading) 06/01/1986 – 32 - 0

Jon Walters (Stoke City) 20/09/1983 - 33 - 6
Aiden McGeady (Everton) 04/04/1986 - 76 - 5
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City) 13/01/1984 - 64 - 2
James McCarthy (Everton) 12/11/1990 - 27 - 0
Jeff Hendrick (Derby County) 31/01/1992 - 13 - 0
Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth) 10/07/1990 – 0 - 0
Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City) 20/05/1982 - 19 - 2
Stephen Quinn (Reading) 04/04/1986 - 12 - 0
David Meyler (Hull City) 29/05/1989 - 13 - 0
James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) 22/04/1989 - 30 - 4
Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City) 06/06/1988 - 8 - 1

Shane Long (Southampton) 22/01/1987 - 54 - 12
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy) 08/07/1980 - 140 - 65
Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) 21/04/1988 - 0 - 0
Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids) 18/09/1983 - 61 - 14

STAND-BY
Alan Judge (Brentford) 11/11/1988 - 0 - 0
Simon Cox (Reading) 28/04/1987 - 30 - 4
Rob Elliot (Newcastle United) 30/04/1986 - 3 - 0
Anthony Stokes (Celtic FC) 25/07/1988 - 9 - 0

Will there be another reduction or is that the final squad now?

Wait a minute - by my reckoning all the players cut from the squad are either injured or were placed on the standby list...except for one - and I'm not sure whether leaving David McGoldrick out is a good idea, given that he's got three goals in his last four games and that he got two assists on his debut for us. Surely, if there was a chance to experiment against Georgia and particularly Gibraltar, it would have been a good idea to give him some more game time with the other players, so that if we were in a situation where we had to go all-out in attack in later games, we could call on him to provide some extra speed and link play up front.

No way should Georgia be seen as an opportunity to experiment!

Interesting to see Pilkington retained. Rooney and Doyle too. O'Kane has played himself into the squad on merit. As DeLorean said, maybe it's a good thing Murphy is injured as it'll take any idea of starting him over Long away from O'Neill's thoughts.

28 is still large though.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

No way should Georgia be seen as an opportunity to experiment!

Interesting to see Pilkington retained. Rooney and Doyle too. O'Kane has played himself into the squad on merit. As DeLorean said, maybe it's a good thing Murphy is injured as it'll take any idea of starting him over Long away from O'Neill's thoughts.

28 is still large though.

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i hope he does start long in both games but i would be surprised if he did. given mcgeady's form is there a case for playing long out wide? i'd prefer him up front but o'neill has in effect stated that he doesn't score enough.

i don't really like the idea of experimentation at this stage, even against gibraltar so i'd like to see basically the same team in both games, one or two changes max. i can't see MON suddenly hitting on some great new selection / formation, i'd rather a settled team going into the last two games.

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

and I'm not sure whether leaving David McGoldrick out is a good idea

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McGoldrick rules out through injury also
http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...-due-to-injury

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Originally Posted by joe_denilson

McGoldrick rules out through injury also
http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...-due-to-injury

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Of course he is...so much for my brilliant plan to put three up front for the last thirty against Gibraltar so that if we desperately need a late goal against Poland or Germany we could try it again in the knowledge that it won't be completely new.:mad:

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Originally Posted by joe_denilson

Squad Watch

Darren Randolph	Started	Clean Sheet
David Forde	Sub
Shay Given	Sub
Rob Elliot	Not in Squad
Keiren Westwood	Injured
Seamus Coleman	Started
Richard Keogh	Started
John O'Shea	Started
Ciaran Clark	Started
Paul McShane	Started
Marc Wilson	Sub(62)
Alex Pearce	Sub
Stephen Ward	Sub
Cyrus Christie	Not in Squad
Greg Cunningham	Injured
Anthony Pilkington	Started(90)	Assist
James McCarthy	Started
Jeff Hendrick	Started
Glenn Whelan	Started
Eunan O'Kane	Started
Alan Judge	Started
Stephen Quinn	Started
David Meyler	Started
Robbie Brady	Started
James McClean	Started(62)
Wes Hoolahan	Started(31)
Aiden McGeady	Not in Squad
Harry Arter	Injured
Kevin Doyle	Started	Goal
Adam Rooney	Started(76)	Goal
Robbie Keane	Started
David McGoldrick	Sub(45)	Goal
Anthony Stokes	Sub
Simon Cox	Sub
Shane Long	Sub
Jon Walters	Not in Squad
Daryl Murphy	Injured

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Decent number of starters there compared to what we often see going into these games.

Just a heads up for anyone else going to Electric Picnic this Friday, they will not be showing the qualifier at the festival - https://twitter.com/EPfestival/statu...04874548043776 - but they will be showing the hurling final on Sunday

I'm actually a little surprised, Three are a big sponsor of the festival this year, and will have their own area on site

Didn't Bono call the Irish football team their best supporting act at Slane in 2001, after we beat the Netherlands! I had a ticket for that if I wanted it, but chose not to go as I was afraid I'd miss the match.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Just a heads up for anyone else going to Electric Picnic this Friday, they will not be showing the qualifier at the festival - https://twitter.com/EPfestival/statu...04874548043776 - but they will be showing the hurling final on Sunday

I'm actually a little surprised, Three are a big sponsor of the festival this year, and will have their own area on site

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Where did you see that they are showing the hurling? I was planning a walk as far as the town for that.

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Originally Posted by Nugget

Where did you see that they are showing the hurling? I was planning a walk as far as the town for that.

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On twitter: https://twitter.com/briano93/status/637987186357485568
Also, they're not showing the football replay on Saturday: https://twitter.com/ColmOMara/status/638296608053047297

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

On twitter: https://twitter.com/briano93/status/637987186357485568
Also, they're not showing the football replay on Saturday: https://twitter.com/ColmOMara/status/638296608053047297

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Great stuff. Thanks!

Not implying he's the long-term solution to our striking problems because I don't think he is (nor Daryl Murphy either), but what of Rooney for a start against Gibraltar? It's going to be warm which could tire the players likely to be involved in the Georgia game and he's got a good record in the SPL which is a good few levels above the Gibraltar defenders so he's likely to score and it won't do his confidence any harm either.

Interesting side note I haven't seen picked up on, I actually googled the Gib squad there to see had they any defenders at all playing outside of the domestic league. Jamie Bosio plays with Ashford United (well down the ladder in England) and, according to his Wiki page, he was born in Dublin, Ireland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Bosio. He confirms it himself here: https://www.facebook.com/Footballout...46546705556493

Doyle and Keane to start for me, with Doyle & Long to partner each other at some stage with an eye on Georgia. I know its only Gibraltar but I wouldn't be giving Rooney a start. I'm never happy against these sides until we have a two goal lead.

Worth noting we struggled badly in the home game once Keane and Hoolahan were subbed off.

Granted, we were 7-0 up at the stage, but Long and Doyle had half an hour to impress and didn't. I think Keane and Hoolahan are still key.

No point taking liberties in this one. Keane has proven himself time and again to be lethal against the minnows.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Not implying he's the long-term solution to our striking problems because I don't think he is (nor Daryl Murphy either), but what of Rooney for a start against Gibraltar? It's going to be warm which could tire the players likely to be involved in the Georgia game and he's got a good record in the SPL which is a good few levels above the Gibraltar defenders so he's likely to score and it won't do his confidence any harm either.

Interesting side note I haven't seen picked up on, I actually googled the Gib squad there to see had they any defenders at all playing outside of the domestic league. Jamie Bosio plays with Ashford United (well down the ladder in England) and, according to his Wiki page, he was born in Dublin, Ireland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Bosio. He confirms it himself here: https://www.facebook.com/Footballout...46546705556493

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Interesting. Another addition to the select few southern-born players who have represented associations other than the FAI. The others of which I know are Shane O'Neill (USA), Éamon Zayed (Libya), Darren Meenan (NI) and Kenny Finn (USA).

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Worth noting we struggled badly in the home game once Keane and Hoolahan were subbed off.

Granted, we were 7-0 up at the stage, but Long and Doyle had half an hour to impress and didn't. I think Keane and Hoolahan are still key.

No point taking liberties in this one. Keane has proven himself time and again to be lethal against the minnows.

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it was murphy not long who replaced keane - but yes, i recall he in particular did nothing of note in the 30 odd minutes he was on the pitch. doyle as you say came on for hoolahan. i seem to recall him running around a bit as is his wont but his confidence would have been very low at that time i'd suggest.

or to be more clear, though i've not seen much of him for colorado bar the goals, i'd still consider doyle a better player than murphy.

You're right actually; Murphy, not Long.

Slightly surprised Doyle is in the squad actually; thought the move to the Rapids and his previous iffy form would have ended his international career.

What's everyone predicting?

2 wins.

Two days before international start. Hardly any posts. Come on loads and lasses. Crosby, you're excused.

Crosby has crossed over but never quite got there?

gibraltar are very weak, so i'm hoping for maybe 4-0 there.

i think the georgia game will be a struggle. i'd take a nervy 1-0.

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Originally Posted by zero

gibraltar are very weak, so i'm hoping for maybe 4-0 there.

i think the georgia game will be a struggle. i'd take a nervy 1-0.

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Nervy is usually a euphemism for brutal. A nervy Scotland also beat them 1-0 so would be more than happy to match that, no matter how nervy we are. A high tempo, get stuck in to them early on, don't get anyone sent off and all should be well. I'll go 3-1.

4-0 v Gibraltar
2-0 v Georgia

Anything other than two wins would be appalling

Scotland to beat Georgia 1-0

the squad is to be cut (again) from it's current 28 to 23. i guess that will be done today?

Mason has 2 in 5 this season for Cardiff and finally looks to have eventually nailed down a starting place with them. He surely must be due a look in the spring friendlies next year or even should have been for the prelim squad for these two games.

team prediction vs gibraltar:

given
coleman o'shea wilson brady
mcgeady hoolahan mccarthy mcclean
walters keane

i'd like to think long will start ahead of walters but i just don't see it happening. we'll see.

Vs Gibraltar

Randolph

Coleman O'Shea Clark Ward

McClean McCarthy O'Kane Brady

Long Walters


Save the likes of Given, Wilson, Keane and Whelan for Georgia.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Two days before international start. Hardly any posts. Come on loads and lasses. Crosby, you're excused.

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I'm finding it difficult to get excited for these games.
I don't think I've ever been this deflated going into the Sept games towards the end of a campaign.

I'm looking forward to Keane getting another hat trick on Friday.

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Originally Posted by IsMiseSean

I'm finding it difficult to get excited for these games.
I don't think I've ever been this deflated going into the Sept games towards the end of a campaign.

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I know what you mean I predicted against the others on here that Scotland would get the better of us and be happy with how Strachan has them winning and performing others weren't as convinced or concerned.

we are lucky in one sense how the fixtures fall so it gives false hope going into the last 2 games. but it would be just like the Staunton era if we had the last two games now. Out with not even a whimper.

I'll still be glued to the telly for both games though.

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Originally Posted by TrapAPony

4-0 v Gibraltar
2-0 v Georgia

Anything other than two wins would be appalling

Scotland to beat Georgia 1-0

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Quite frankly Sir I find it appalling that u suggest anything other than 2 wins for us would be anything other than appalling



As for Scotland. ...I can see them conceding
..but they are a good team....
So I'll go for a 2-1 to Scotland against georgia

Must pray for a Georgia win against Scotland.....and an Ireland win against them. Even then, we'd likely need at least two points from our last two matches - just can't see us finishing third.

I think our squad will be:

Butterfingers

GlueFactory Molasses CementShoes
Cant B. Arsed
McDrunky WhiskeyBreakfast I.M. Tired
Paddy O'Useless Past McPrime
Ima Terrible