I actually think Ward was great from an attacking perspective. Got up the pitch and made himself available in some good positions, without giving up an inch on his defensive responsibilities.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I actually think Ward was great from an attacking perspective. Got up the pitch and made himself available in some good positions, without giving up an inch on his defensive responsibilities.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
thread title changed. you're welcome
Not sure I agree with this CET nonsense though... I'm home now :(
Feel sorry for whoever he comes in for. McClean and Murphy have more than earned their places in the team for the France game.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34829760.html
Maybe Ward's injury will force Brady to revert to RB and he can come in for Ward.
Ward would be a big miss too IMO; Would love to see Brady in midfield.
To move Brady would be nightmarish. I'd sooner see Chrsitie back and leave MF alone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Actually think Christie would fit into the new post-Italy playing style. Quick, energetic and able to play at the kind of pace we need to discomfort France and stop them establishing the kind of control and dominance that Belgium achieved. The fact he's another new face, and adds to the sense of a new team / fresh start, is actually a positive for me.
It just makes it feel like a Finals.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
stop stirring, there's nothing to suggest Walters will come straight back into the sideQuote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
The optimistic and real fans would have got 4 tickets follow your team for this game.
CTP can vouch for the view of those tickets too.
What about fans who applied for follow your team but whose credit card was stolen?
My missus told me yesterday I should go back and watch the French game. I suspect she's having an affair. She wants me to go as much as I do. TV for me though.
The finest of the fine, quite possibly the finest view ever in all of humanity, or indeed time. Still have no voice, none, its someplace in the rafters of that stadium.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
You're a real fan Stutts. Just with an asterisk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Watched the Italy game back last night - they had a slow motion after the goal of MON leaping around. Watch to his left Jon Walters leap up and sprint a few yards in front and down the his right. He didn't look that badly injured to me!
Would love to see the same side and structure as the other night. If Walters were fit and able then I think he's a better option than Murphy. He probably hasn't played the same role Murphy played against Italy that much but I think he can. And he offers a goal threat. We need another of those.
After that, with Ward probably out, I'd like to see Clark or Christie at LB. Christie showed against Belarus how good he is going forward. He also showed against Belarus how capable of a defensive lapse he is going back. That was Belarus and this is France. Clark might be a safer option there. But please, please, please not Robbie Brady.
It's a real conundrum at centre-half. A good point was made on OTB last night about how neither Duffy nor Keogh has ever faced a striker like Giroud or Griezmann who are both noted for their movement. O'Shea has. That's leading me to think we might be better off sticking O'Shea in alongside one of those. Very hard to say which though.
Also, I'm fully expecting Glenn Whelan will start! Not that I want him to. I think it would be great if we could tell whether France are going to play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and tailor our selection accordingly. Mystic Mon has a job on his hands.
Sky News reporting major train problems affecting England and Ireland fans. Are we sure Tets hasn't gone back out?
nope, I'm still on my islandQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Walters and Ward are fit for tomorrow.
If Walters comes back in, one of the following has to happen.
Replaces McClean who was phenomenal the other night.
Replaces Ward while Brady reverts to left back, having been phenomenal in midfield the other night.
Replaces Murphy; Long & Murphy looked a better partnership the other night than Long & Walters ever have.
Personally I wouldn't make any changes. Keogh, Duffy, McClean and Murphy have all put in stronger shifts than O'Shea, Clark, Whelan and Walters.
We benefited from having the energy of a young midfield with Hendrick, McCarthy, Brady and McClean the other night. More of the same PLEASE. That is the midfield that should be starting the World Cup Qualifiers going forward.
If Walters or Hoolahan come in for Murphy and O'Shea replaces Duffy or Keogh I wouldn't mind.
Be worried about Whelan coming in as McCarthy looks a better player without him in the team.
Brady absolutely must play in midfield and Ward remain at LB.
O'Neill has hard decisions to make actually.
The only changes I see happening are O'Shea for Keogh and Walters for Murphy.
Wouldnt change a thing bar Walters for Murphy. And even then that's just out of curiosity. Murphy was great the other night. I can imagine a fit Walters being a bigger pain to play against though.
I agree. Fair enough Murphy held the ball up but we didn't score whilst he was on the field, despite having the majority of the ball. Granted he played his part in retaining the ball but I don't think Walters would leave us down with his touch and control. And, Walters can score. He has a 25% strike rate for Ireland. Murphy has a 0% strike rate. They have 40 and 21 caps respectively.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
I'm a bit worried Ward is out. And if he's not at 100% then how will a dodgy ankle cope against the electric movement whoever will be on his flank will employ (Kingsley Coman? Would need more than a good strapping for him)?
Do you really see Keogh making way for O'Shea rather than Duffy? I can see Duffy and O'Shea working but still...Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
I think he'll stick with Murphy and tell him to run himself into the ground for 60 mins.
While beating France in their own tournament would be the kind of result that could genuinely stand as our greatest ever, I just don't see it happening today. France have an advantage in rest days, an advantage in fans in the stadium, are bound to have the standard preference from the officials on 50/50's. Their squad is better, man for man, than ours for the most part. Unlike Italy, they have something to play for.
Obviously there's always the chance of something upsetting the applecart - an early goal, a red card, just a general ****ting the bed from the hosts - but while I don't think it'll be as bad as the Belgium result, I can imagine a similar kind of game where Ireland cede possession and try and live on scraps at the other end.
I've also been struck by the differing opinions on using the handball as a potential motivator. You can see it still hurts former players like Duff, but members of the actual squad either don't care or don't want to think about it.
For the record, if we did manage to win somehow, obviously the Henry thing would add an extra bit of satisfaction, maybe even provide some badly needed closure for those still twisting and turning at night! I just think it's a waste of energy trying to use it in the build up, focus on the positives and the here and now, the controlables as they say. I'm sure that's what the squad are doing and it's not as if they seriously need any more motivation than the prize on offer anyway.
No changes
The odds for today's game seem fair enough. The Italians sat back a bit. France will thrown more at us. We will need at least a performance of a similar level to Wednesday night. I hope for the best! :)
Great news! Don't change a winning team! Getting excited now, which is great because I've a killer hangover and the thoughts of going to play a gig later on have not been great thus far today. Come on the lads!
I'd have made a couple of changes I think. Not changing a winning team are only words with no substance really, every game is different and every opposition provide a different challenge. It's chalk and cheese compared to last Wednesday in terms of the task we're facing. I know we'll be aiming to make it a 4-3-3 but in terms of our players natural positions it's more of a 4-4-2 so I just hope we're not run ragged. I think Whelan's absence should help in that regard though because at least we have the legs, notwithstanding the possibility of burnout from Wednesday. Monumental task for Duffy and Keogh. I do like having the Hoolahan option in reserve but I'd like him on the pitch from the start also, can't have it all I guess! Walters a good option off the bench also hopefully.
I don't mean this in a defeatist way but we're in bonus territory for sure at this stage, hopefully they can give it a right cut.
I see your point. I think this is a pressure free game for us but not for them. I worry less about the selection, more about the short recovery time, heat, lack of fans. We could be dead on our feet if it goes to ET.
few subtle digs from Martin O'Neill to Tony O'Donoghue there
I am hoping that we are competitive and if we can't win it (for all the good reasons outlined in the last couple of posts) that we go out with a bang, not a whimper. No repeat of Belgium, lets see confidence, composure and class.
I didn't pick up on those at all?Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
saying that how, people were questioning the team after the win in Georgia
What a start!
OMG Peno
Wasn't convinced by that run up, but what a penalty.
Game on.
Unbelievable!
Only England have won a match from behind so far...