I saw one player on Harcourt st at about half 2. Must have been a late training session yesterday. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by bwagner
He's been to a few games this season. He must have been to watch Man City 2 or 3 times anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
what player was that?
This is going to be a test for Trapatoni as he is missing his lynchpin player(stephen reid)for the first time in the qualifers and we are not blessed with top quality players in that position.
Its not that I want to build up Cyprus but we have to acknowledge that for a country that does not have a big population they have a very good team(for their level)at the moment.They have given hard games to stronger footballing nations than Ireland over the last few years(mostly at home admittedly)
Irish fans have to be patient and give the team encouragement and also realize that this present Cyprus team are no pushover.Being a small country ourselves we shoul realise that sometimes a group of players come along and give a country a team above expectations.I think Cyprus have this at the moment.We have to show any team the respect they deserve.
I would be happy with a victory.An early goal for us and a clean sheet would be just what the doctor ordered.
Interesting to read that very few if any of the Cypriot team in the Champions League play for Cyprus, they are all mostly foreign based players.
which are they cypriot team or the cypriot champions league team? if the cypriot team have foreign based players that are capable of getting them to a CL group stage surely some within the EL should be able do the same
Doyle interviewed on Sky Sports: http://www.skysports.com/video/clips...306906,00.html
What are you talking about Paul. The Cypriot team in the Champions League is made up of loads of foreign based players. Do you know how much debt they have gone into to achieve this. Would you recommend that one of the Eircom League teams goes and spends loads of money on foreign players just to get into the Champions League.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I know the Romanian team have a rich benefactor not sure about the Cypriot team do or not.
O'Shea will play right full and McShane CB, the same line up as Trap's first game in charge. Miller in Midfield for Reid and Duff for Hunt.
I would have Foley at right full and leave O'Shea at CB and play A.Reid in midfield, weare at home ffs.
Boring game, 2:0 or 2:1 if the wingers are on their game.
Trap's attitude is don' get beat.
As long as he keeps getting the results, I suppose that is OK, but this attitude sunk us under Kerr.
Yes but only Bohs!;)Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Ahhh don't go there, will see how the court case goes this week. Sure look at Shels and Drogheda and Bohs could be following them.
So what? He's played at centre half for the last 3 games in a row, and looked solid. He's not going to change that to try out a new formation in a competitive game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ordinary Fan
That was Kerr's gameplan, but under Kerr we rarely looked like winning. Under Trap we're far more organised, composed and methodical in the build up, and more likely to create chances.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ordinary Fan
Too early to say whether this is going to be better than kerr as under Kerr we started well but it turned pear shaped. I am confident and hopeful and supportive of Trap but I was the same for Kerr too.
What time is KO for this game?
7.45pm i thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by Torn-Ado
My exact thinking too.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Word I've heard is that Darron Gibson starts in central midfield.
He did have a very good game last Thursday.
I stress only a rumour.
Would be a huge surprise if he was selected to start.
I had a feeling that someone more physical than Miller would start. I thought it would be Joey O'Brien and even mentioned Andrews but I think Gibson would be a huge gamble but it does fit into Trappatoni's view that he wants a physical central midfield that has its emphasis on destruction rather than construction.
According to this Gibson or Andrews might play some part in the game
But the Italian has admitted Darron Gibson and Keith Andrews, who were drafted into the full squad after turning in good displays in the B side's 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last week, have also given him food for thought.
He said: "In midfield, I have ideas. But after tomorrow, I will have to speak again with the players.
"They have all been good, every midfielder. I am finding it very difficult to choose because they are all good.
"They are in very good condition at the moment."
Asked if Manchester United's Gibson or Andrews of Blackburn could be involved, Trapattoni added: "Maybe. One, maybe.
i think its to big a game to put gibson in, maybe in the future. for tomorow id still go with miller when he isnt going to play andy reid.
I'd have an inexperienced Gibson over Miller every day of the week. Miller lacks bite and drifts out of games way too much for my liking. Unlucky Reidy.
miller isnt that bad, true id have reid in over him any day but it would be a gamble playing gibson IMO. Miller has the talent, its just u want to shake him and get it out of him.
is gibson even getting regular football these days? if so, who with?
I'm very nervous over the midfield as they consistently ran over us in the midfield in the last 3 games we played against them (remember the 1-0 win under Kerr in Cyprus?). I really wish we had Carlsley. We need destruction in the middle with our wide men to be creative.
Came on for ManUre in a league cup game a few weeks back, that's been his lot as far as I know.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
when is the team being announced for the game?
The Cyprus manager is turning to God for help.
Midfielder Constantinos Charalambides is suspended
Michael Chrysostomos is out with a hip injury.
Fitness doubts over midfielder Marios Nikolaou, who has a foot problem, and strikers Michael Constantinou, with knee and ankle problems, and Yiasoumis Yiasoumi, who has a calf strain, but all three could yet make it.
You're right!
Team:
Republic of Ireland team to play Cyprus
Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Kevin Kilbane, John O’Shea, Paul McShane, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle
From fai.ie
Brave move but obviously Millers lack of physicality has meant him losing out
Quote:
Originally Posted by zenokelly
Gawd a central MF pairing with how many first team appearances for their clubs in the last month? Or should I ask how many minutes of first team football between them?
Hope it works out.
BTW that lineup is a bit misleading. Where do O'shea and McShane play?
Ya I'll reserve judgement til tomorrow night, but it is a massive risk.
I'd have no probems playing Gibson alongside S.Reid (or A. Reid for that matter Trap:cool:) but to play him alongside another grossly inexperienced player could turn out to be costly.
Please God they have a weak midfield.
Hmmm. Hope Trap knows what he's doing. In fairness every time I've seen Gibson (which is a handful at most) he looks good, he must be lethal in training. In Trap I trust - ask me after the game.
Be worth it just for the reaction on OWC.co.uk if he scores though!
(Just a joke, no need to start a debate about it)
Wow, didnt see this coming....i wish the lad all the best tomorrow, im sure he will impress!
well after the way Miller and Whelan were over run by Columbia Im glad to see that Trap doesnt want to try it again. Gibson must have done very well in training over the last week to make an impression and he is a lot more physical than Miller. Its a massive gamble but Miller has had his chance over the years and never taken it so maybe Gibson will grab his chance and be in the team for years to come.... heres hoping anyway
Big big gamble. Not one to shy away from making big calls is our Trap. Anyone see him play for wolves?
He can definetly pass the ball, but with an average player(not being mean to GW but its the truth) I'm not optimistic that this will work.
Edit:
He wasn't that good for Wolves, but his style of play doesn't suit lower league football. Look at a player like Michael Carrick, went on loan to first division teams as a youngster and didn't do anything of note.
The slower tempo of Int. football might play to his advantage but he really needs to show that Steven Reid 'personality'
Its a risky central midfield pairing, but it'll be intresting, i vote YAY!
I'm certainly a lot more excited about tomorrow's match than I would be if Miller was starting instead.
Very brave decision, but it must be sickening for Reid. Gibson is a real enigma, if he was going to make it at United you imagine that he would have figured more in recent weeks when they have been without Carrick and Hargreaves. He didn't really make a big impact at Wolves either. McCann, Garvan and O'Toole have all been more consistent performers in the Championship. Hope it works out but it is a big big risk.
I think overall I'm happier with Gibson getting a chance over Miller, but as people have said here, it's a huge gamble.
On a side note, I find it interesting that most people are commending Trap's courage here for making a bold selection instead of calling him out for making a bizarre decision- we would have slaughtered Staunton for doing something similar.
In Trap's defense he was right about Whelan, O'Shea at centre-half, etc, but I still find the attitude about this questionable decision interesting.
Let's hope the gamble pays off tomorrow.