Team to play Israel

Israel manager Avraham Grant has claimed it will be an unfamiliar Israel team Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland face on April 26.

Despite being joint-top of World Cup Qualification Group 4 along with Ireland and France, Grant believes that he will have to change his side's formation, and of course some personnel, to counter Ireland.

Although Grant could well have been playing mind games ahead of the game, he insisted that Israel will switch from their traditional 5-3-2 formation to a 5-4-1 formation for the game in the belief that Ireland will attempt to man mark star player Yossi Benayoun.

He also told Israeli press that Ireland’s style is: “a game based on long balls from the centre of the field.”

Grant was speaking after an international get-together for the Israel-based members of his squad on Wednesday as Israel continue their build-up to one of the biggest international games in their history as they look to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.

He will name his full squad for next week’s clash later this week. Kerr, meanwhile, will name his squad for the clash on Tuesday afternoon

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

He also told Israeli press that Ireland’s style is: “a game based on long balls from the centre of the field.”

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good good. :)

Yeah agree lets hope he is not using mind games and he belives what he said

I'd be surprised if the team is different from the one that took to the field against France. The only change that might come in is Andy Reid starting.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

good good. :)

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:D he rented a mouldy auld video cassette of "the team that Jack built" to get the low-down on us.
I wonder who he'll have marking Cas. :D

O'Brien seems ot have picked up an injury, was not in the squad for Newcastle yesterday. Not sure if he's out for long though.

Aye, Newcastle have no fit centre half's but SSN described O'Brien as a doubt.

I think he'll go for O'Shea at left back, with Finnan Right Midfield. Reid is a liability defensively away from home.

Given

Carr
O'Shea
O'Brien
Cunningham

Finnan
Duff
Keane
Kilbane

Keane
Morrison

SUBS:
Andy Reid
Richard Dunne
Stephen Elliott
Matt Holland
Paddy Kenny

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Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

:D he rented a mouldy auld video cassette of "the team that Jack built" to get the low-down on us.
I wonder who he'll have marking Cas. :D

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Ha ha, deadly :D

good ol' cas, hope he'll be watching the game, rubbing his old knees. reading his book now. very good read, i have to say.

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Originally Posted by Junior

O'Brien seems ot have picked up an injury, was not in the squad for Newcastle yesterday. Not sure if he's out for long though.

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Interview with Souness said O'Brien's back was stiff getting off the plane from Greece but he should be OK for the return leg this week. If he is fit then Bramble's injury is well timed for us.

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15/03/05

Israel to change formation to fit Irish style
By Liam Mackey
http://www.irishexaminer.com/pport/w...OWirIStPSk.asp

ISRAEL manager Avraham Grant has claimed it will be an unfamiliar Israel team that Brian Kerr’s Republic of Ireland will face on Saturday week.

Despite being joint top of World Cup qualification Group 4 along with Ireland and France, Grant believes he will have to change his side's formation, and of course some personnel, to counter Ireland.

Although Grant could well have been playing mind games ahead of the game, he insisted that Israel will switch from their traditional 5-3-2 formation to a 5-4-1 formation for the game in the belief that Ireland will attempt to man mark star player Yossi Benayoun.

He also claimed that Ireland's style is "a game based on long balls from the centre of the field".

Grant was speaking after an international get-together for the Israel-based members of his squad as Israel continue their build-up to one of the biggest international games in their history.

He will name his full squad for next week's clash later this week.

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Thats all a bit cheeky. Long balls eh ? I havent seen that in 10 years. Hopefully the fellas will be well phyched up for these scummy israelis.

5 at the back ? WTF ? I think Kerr should go for the 4-2-3-1

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Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

Thats all a bit cheeky. Long balls eh ? I havent seen that in 10 years. Hopefully the fellas will be well phyched up for these scummy israelis.

5 at the back ? WTF ? I think Kerr should go for the 4-2-3-1

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Ireland definitely still have a long ball element to their game, I don't think he's a million miles away there.

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Originally Posted by Donal81

Ireland definitely still have a long ball element to their game, I don't think he's a million miles away there.

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No more than anyone else. In fact less than most other countries. Given must have kicked the ball long 2 or 3 times max against Holland last year.

Yeah in fact we can spend minutes on end now just passing the ball across the defence, to the mid field and back to the defence since Kerrs come in. Very few long balls under Kerr now, it simply wouldn't suit our current set of players for a start.

Kerr seems to be fully aware that ball retention is critical at this level. Long balls don't suit this objective. Getting the ball out wide early is our most potent angle of attack these days.

Look at the recent Champion's League games, keeping possession was more important to the european sides, knowing full well the english opposition would make a mistake at some point and they would use this to score, which Milan did in both games, the side we have at the moment is probably the best passing side we've had since '94, it only makes sense to use that. If we had a load of 6 foot plus strikers, we'd be playing more long balls.

Here, we have never played long ball except perhaps when were up against really physical sides who are throwing their weight around. To borrow a phrase, its horses for courses.

when we were playing czech, france, holland etc, it was all on the deck most of the time. Ireland seems to play its best football in small confined areas with 3 or 4 players invovled. I'd complain more about the flicks and faints than booting it long.

O Shea is the only person off hand who I can think boots it long into space. A 70 yard pass is ok as long as it reaches another player.

This israeli side might be hard to break down. Are they trying to hit teams on the break or something ? I hope its not a fustrating afternoon.

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Originally Posted by Littlest Hobo

Going on present performances, the following lads should be picked.

Given
Carr
Cunningham
Dunne
O 'shea

Finnan
Keane
Kilbane
Duff

Keane
Morisson

Subs: Kenny, O'Brien,Reid, Elliott, Mc Geady

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I think the above will be the time except i think he'll stick with O'Brien instead of Dunne. I think he'll defo play it cautiously for the first 45-60 mins then bring Reid on.

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Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

_________________________Given


_________________Dunne________Cunningham

Carr_____________________________________________F innan



___________________Keane________Kilbane



Reid______________________________________________ Duff



____________________Keane


_______________________________Morrison

I would go with the above also. Lack of first team football rules a lot of the players out.

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have to agree with the jolly roger on this one and i reckon thats what the line up will actuallyl be too.....I can't see him picking O'brien over Dunne when one has been playing far better than the other...

1st ten mins. in paris ireland passed the ball very well, important to take some of the early sting out of the game like that. massive support certainly helped. it will be necessary to do this in israel as well obviously - strange but i'd *nearly* rather us not score too early as we did in switz.