If Trapp was to start him he would need an immediate attitude change, if he was interested in playing , that is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan 82
If Trapp was to start him he would need an immediate attitude change, if he was interested in playing , that is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan 82
Given and McGeady are injury doubts. Tardelli has said that he expects both to be fit by the weekend. I hope so.
Just heard on Newstalk that apparently John O'Shea has said that Berbatov's injury isn't exactly as reported and there is still a strong chance that he will play on Saturday.
Is this an instance of mindgames from the Bulgarians? Not sure what to make of it all.
I predicted driving up to the Georgia game that our main problem was Stephan Kelly. Surely to God - what happened in the first minute!!!! Anyone but Kelly. Would go with Foley (Trapp might stick with Kelly though? if this happens I will loose a lot of faith in him!!!!!!) with Duff helping him on the right. Mc Geady to destroy them on the left with Kilbane sitting and Ireland to win 1-0. Doyle.
Believe we will get four points.
Funny thing is that I think it will be ;
Ireland 0-0 Bulgaria
Italy 0-1 Ireland
The Bulgarians will do everything not to lose on Saturday. Lose and they are out.
Far from it.Quote:
Originally Posted by stojkovic
i agree, although i think it would be nearly impossible for the bulgarians to recover mentally from losing against us in dublin and us being 10(7) points ahead of them halfway throughQuote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
i wouldnt have mcshane on my sunday league team!!Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
i think four points is realistic and achievable.
if we get the three against bulgaria, dont count us out on getting at least in Italy. I think we can do it. Believe, I think the players do again.
Ya Doyler just said the same on the news, id be surprised if he made it but.....Quote:
Originally Posted by TerryPhelan
Ireland 1-2 Bulgaria
Italy 3-0 Ireland
I hope I am wrong but I don't have the same confidence in Trap as some people. Our luck has to run out at some point.
Wow! - Thats harsh!! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by RiffRaff
For me:
Ireland 1 - 0 Bulgaria
Italy 0 - 0 Ireland
I think it will be a huge struggle
Bojinov out (not too surprisingly) and the secondary striker Domovchiyski has been refused permission by his club to join the Bulgarian squad, according to this: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...t-1684937.html
I'm sticking with my 4 point prediction. I've got us ending up on 22 points. Optimistic/deluded?
Bulgaria's run in looks like this:
Republic of Ireland - Bulgaria
Bulgaria - Cyprus
Bulgaria - Republic of Ireland
Bulgaria - Montenegro
Italy - Bulgaria
Cyprus - Bulgaria
Bulgaria - Georgia
It all depends on how we play. I don't care whether Berbatov is playing or not playing. I guarantee everyone that the Bulgars will have able replacements. We have never beaten a mid to top rank team unless we ourselves played well. I am hoping for a good team performance against Bulgaria. Whelan and Andrews getting their passing game right. McShane not getting exposed. We have enough firepower upfront to cause anyone problems. But I feel we will have to score twice to beat the Bulgars. And I believe we are capable of doing that. So 2-1 for me.
Every player from that region say Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria are all very technically sound, and I worry about us against that kind of opposition. On the big pitch, they could well play us off it..
if Whelan and Andrews protect the back 4 and we're able to get quick ball to McGeady and Duff then we should be ok. If we allow them time on the ball then we might be chasing shadows all evening so I'm hoping the team press them as soon as their defenders have the ball (sorry Keane and Doyle) and our midfield then have to push on. If they leave huge gaps then it's a waste of effort from our front two. We cannot sit back. McGeady should be full of confidence so hopefully we're able to get the ball to him early.
McShane/Kelly or Foley at RB?
From Today's Indo:Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
One thing that the manager will have to worry about over the next few days is his starting choice at right-back with Steve Finnan unavailable. Stephen Kelly started there against Georgia, and has been absolved of blame by Trapattoni for his part in their opening goal, but he only got the nod on that day because Paul McShane was short of fitness.
The Sunderland man is fine to play this time around, while Wolves defender Kevin Foley would be another option.
However, Trapattoni seems to be leaning towards a straight choice between McShane and Kelly, although he also confirmed that a reshuffle resulting in John O'Shea being moved out to the flank was in his thoughts.
"We have the option of Paul McShane or Kelly there, in the next few days I decide," he said, "But we can also play O'Shea on the right, and put McShane at centre-half."
Celtic's Darren O'Dea is out of the frame, though. Although named in the initial 26-man selection last week, the FAI now say he was only a preliminary selection and is on standby in Glasgow in case he is needed for the Italian game.
McShane at centre back could be interesting....played well against the Czech's many moons ago but he must be a little rusty since being recalled by Sunderland. When was the last time he even played centre back for club/country?
It would be risky, no two ways about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
I'd resist the temptation to tamper with the Dunne / O'Shea partnership. Its not perfection by any stretch but if it aint broke don't fix it!!!
Think it was one of the cup games for Hull before ChristmasQuote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
100% agree I think there are other parts of the first 11 that i be more concerned about anyway as I think this partnership is solid enoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
I think ireland are more then capable of getting 22 points hopefully we will end up with 28 points and that the attitude that the Irish team should have..Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
One thing I hope to see Saturday night is a postive response fromt he fans and get behind the team..
Bit of self belief can go long way.
Anyone think Damien Delaney could be in with a shout? AFAIK he's started there for QPR recently. He impressed at left back in the first 2 games under Trap and I'd imagine he's seen as cover across the whole back 4. He has the advantage of age & experience over Foley, as well as a physical advantage, with Foley clearly being the more naturally attacking player.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
With Bulgaria potentially running low on strikers, an attacking right full mightn't be the worst thing in the world...
I was surprised Trap stopped picking Delaney for the starting 11. He looked international class in the first two games under Trap. I would have have gone with Delaney over Kilbane to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
How Bulgaria would love to have Given, Dunne, O'Shea, McGeady, Duff, Keane or Doyle right now. I'm sure they'd take any of our centre halves actually considering their first choice plays in English League 1 and is unavailable for this game.Quote:
Originally Posted by RiffRaff
Against Newcastle. And he played there in the replay against Newcastle in his last game for Hull in January. They kept clean sheets in both games.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
My first choice defence would be to play Foley at right back. If he's going to play McShane then I want it to be at centre half. He's just not a right back and I'd definitely play Kelly in that position before McShane.
You seem to overestimate both McShane and Kilbanes ability to influence the result and give little credit to the fact they are professional players who play in arguably the best league in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by the-blue-harp
True they are prone to mistakes but generally, and a point most valid in international matches, one or 2 so called "weak players" having a bad game will only impact the result if the rest of the team are not a strong unit and are playing poorly.... but the same will also hold true if we are playing well. They do play football at a high standard for a living and are experienced enough.
Bulgaria and a weak side and even weaker with their current situation of injury and coaching staff. They will only be a threat if we do not play well and the crowd get on the teams back...... I cannot see this happening... so 2-0 Ireland and happy days!
Delaney has never looked international class. Come on...!! He is a left back at QPR. Trapp looked at him. He looked slow and as a result will never really make it I feel. On the subject of Kilbane. He has nearly 100 caps and has NEVER let his country down - Fact. You'd have Delaney over Kilbane - Ha!Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
I thought Delaney looked solid when he played. Made one great covering tackle against Serbia... However, end-of-season friendlies can be deceptive. QPR fans clearly don't rate him anyway.
QPR fans on Delaney: http://www.qprdot.org/viewtopic.php?t=35142
and while I'm at it, on Miller: http://www.qprdot.org/viewtopic.php?t=35592
Not nice reading, but I'm not surprised.
And you reckon that if they lose in Dublin that they are not out of the reckoning ?Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
We are only 2 points ahead of Bulgaria atm, Bulgaria are not out of the reckoning if they beat us in Sofia.
Isn't it more than a bit ironic considering our rb options, that finally Carr has been reported as doing exceptionally well while playing 3 full games for BC, also considering he is just back after a years layoff.
We are 7 points ahead of Bulgaria, TEN if we beat them on sat. They will however have one game in hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
So are you saying that if we win on Saturday only ourselves and Italy have any chance of qualification (Georgia are virtually out, Montengero haven't won in their 2 home games, and Cyprus also drew in Georgia and lost in Dublin)? If we beat them and they beat us there's only their 2 dropped points in Georgia between us (well as we can judge atm).Quote:
Originally Posted by stojkovic
A draw here and a win for Bulgaria at home to us more than makes up for their draw in Georgia. So no way does a win for us on Saturday knock them out.
And as EB pointed out, their game in hand is Georgia at home and if they win that and beat us in Sofia they are 4 points behind.Quote:
Originally Posted by stojkovic
They have taken a home point against Italy
They have Cyprus at home while we still have to play Italy at home.
We would have to draw with Italy to stay 2 points ahead of Bulgaria.
The other 3 games we both have left to play are identical and its not out of the equation for example that we could drop 2 against Cyprus and they beat Cyprus.
Coming back from ten points behind is a huge ask. we've experienced it in the past, we were still technically in the race for the last euros, but confidence was rock bottom going in to key games....Czech republic were no great shakes and yet we went there with no belief, and never looked like getting anything from them. if bulgaria lose on saturday they're going to have a huge pyschological blow.
No arguement anymore. I can't even watch the Italian or Spanish league generally. I think they are both completely overrated. No question EPL is where its at.Quote:
Originally Posted by Oink
Is that an Irish-American's effort at sarcasm? I laughed when I read it anyway. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
I agree if we win against them it's not the end of their chances. However, if we beat them and they draw against Cyprus then they are really playing catch up. Then we would effectivly have a 7 point advantage. It wouldn't be impossible but they would have to beat us in Sofiia and hope that we drop 4 or 5 (depending on our head-to-head results) points more than them in our other 4 games. As our remaing fixture would be pretty similar it would be ur own fault if we let our advantage slip. No doubt this time next week we will all be burning our brains with the possible permutations after these important fixtures :DQuote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I thought Delaney was the standout player against Serbia and did very well against Columbia. Mobile and strong, good in the tackle and good on the ball. I'm sure deep down it was recognised that he rose to the occasion and could be found out at a higher level but he certainly wasn't found out in either of those two games, no way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciaran