As soon as I read the article I thought he must be playing. I might be wrong but I'm sure Cox got the OK from the management to give the interview.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
As soon as I read the article I thought he must be playing. I might be wrong but I'm sure Cox got the OK from the management to give the interview.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I can see the logic in picking Cox. He played OK against Macedonia. Played really well for about 15 mins when he came on against Russia. In fact looked our best player after Dunne and Given (for that 15 min spell). He believes on the pitch he is a much better player than he actually is. That type of arrogance can sometimes pay off in nail biters like this.
Goal shouldn't have been disallowedQuote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
He's played quite a bit at left back for his clubs. I'm not too fussed. Armenia are going to come at us. He's better in situations when it's backs to the wall.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I think I read the same article. Mentioned that his missus picked up on his surprise at being included in the squad nevermind a starting XI! His selection ahead of Long looks a bit absurd on the face of it when you consider their respective positions (and performances) in the pecking order at West Brom but that would be doing an injustice to the inherent wisdom of a Trapism.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Of course this all means that he's now nailed on to score the winner tomorrow evening. He'll then make a triumphant return home where his wife will deliver a rousing monologue about the virtue of self-belief over a montage of Trap coaching Simon on the training ground to the sound of The Stunning's 'Brewing Up a Storm' before a slo-mo finish of said winning goal. Fade to black, roll credits and cue reflections on the moral of the story.
just reminding it's an early kick off at 6.45pm tommorow
Is it confirmed that Kelly will be at left full?
Just wondering on the relative merits of the various combinations of full backs and wingers, eg Kelly + Duff and O'Shea + McGeady vs O'Shea + Duff and Kelly + McGeady
Big time. He also seems to play with a kind of carefree attitude which I think could be ideal for this game. He won't be fussed it's our biggest game since Paris. When I saw him first up to collect his medal at the Aviva after the Scotland game and he only in the squad a week, I took an immediate shine to him :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Maybe we should be stress how we do on the left up v. their right-back and their oldest outfield player at 37.
That said, he's probably no mug?
Hovsepyan is actually 38. I'm pretty sure he played against Derry City at the Brandywell in 2007 along with a few of their other players who were at Pyunik at the time, but I can't say I remember him/them especially well as individuals from then. As an outfit, not even Pyunik were the walkover everyone assumed they would be. With the exception of Hovsepyan and four other outfield players, their entire outfield squad is 24 years of age or under. The bookies have us as favourites, although I have a fear that the footballing world underestimates this current crop. I've watched their games against Russia away, Slovakia away and Macedonia at home - albeit not offering my fullest attention - and what I've seen of them in attack has me slightly apprehensive as I think they'll really have a go at us from the outset. I'm just hoping their defensive weaknesses will prove their downfall as I can see them passing and running rings around our worryingly anaemic midfield.
I can see us repeating a pattern of recent games and starting strongly, possibly bagging a goal ,before losing our way mid way through the first half and allowing them back in it.
Bizarre selection of Cox ahead of Long. Hopefully the luckiest man in World Football can safely guide us to the playoffs tonight. At this stage, I require qualification as a minimum for Trap to be awarded a new contract.
Inspirational stuff out of our captain:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...n-2901551.html
Shock as injured footballer enjoys himself. What do you want him to do with his evening off?Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
The Armenian manager might.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
It appears to be the accepted wisdom that Kelly will start at LB, as it says on the team sheet.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Funny I think that if we did qualify for a tournament, that is when Trap would come into his own. International tournaments favour squads picked so that the players get along, without any 'trouble-makers' (think Holland 1996, England 2010, Saipan, Andy Reid).Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
Having the best part of a month to prepare would allow the tactics to be worked on better, making up for the weaknesses in the squad. The Italy game this summer was a good example of that, by no means the first choice XI but a really solid win.
And a major tournament would be win-win for expectations and pressure; the management and players would be up for the game in a way that they'd never be for Andorra away, while there'd be no real pressure (in the Ing-er-land we're gonna win the cup sense) to succeed from the public and supporters. Let's not forget that Ireland didn't outscore anyone in 1990 and that was our best ever tournament.
All this is academic though because the next game plus possible play-offs are as good as having to do a whole new qualification group.
Today is the day we need supporters/fans and not spectators. Hopefully, the plonker on the pa will play some stirring music instead of "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, let's give a big Aviva welcome to Armenia".
Not sure my heart will make it if it's all square as we go in to the last 10 minutes and we are just hoofing the ball down the pitch. I worry about a sending off as well if we get too stuck in. Andrews in particular comes to mind after some of his tasty tackles in Andorra.
I was just saying it was inspirational stuff out of our captain, that is all.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
What do you mean by that? Do you disapprove? (That's how it sounds) If so, why?
No I'm just saying that he took me by surprise by his accomplished performance. Wasn't expecting it. Then his rousing chorus of, "Come on ye Boys in Green," mid song put goosebumps all over my body. It was 730pm and apparently he wasn't even drinking, not really a big deal really. A bigger deal is Long being on the bench for tonight
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBRiYfJBQw...0/BTdogblk.jpg
Anyways, back to tonight...
I wouldn't want either Andrews or Whelan to do something silly or Rooneyesque (in the temperamental sense. They're more than welcome to score a screamer or two) but I hope they're more 'hands-on' than standoffish tbh. I'd be happy to see 'em making things uncomfortable for these fellas from the off. Within the rules of course.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Excellent prediction... Presumably followed by inevitable elimination in play-off.Quote:
Originally Posted by MagicMon
Really excited for this game any word on how many tickets have been sold?
Quote:
Originally Posted by christo
Ask the French about that. The shame would be going there, not playing to our potential and confounding national expectations with a series of mediocre, defensive and ugly performances.
A friend of mine has sent me the Armenian team:
Fabian - a star in the 60s but way past it now
Lesbian - good at one-on-one
Fallopian - defender who's always getting himself tied up in knots
Dystopian - a real enforcer in midfield
Utopian - always looking for the perfect pass
Agrarian - fairly agricultural defender
Authoritarian - midfield general
Draconian - don't mess with him
Cyprian - a plonker that once hung around with Bertie
Thespian - bit of a play actor.
Optician - great vision
Pedestrian - handy winger but dreadfully slow; good at crossing though
They haven't been the same since Gerryryan passed away.
Tonyryan can really fly when he gets going.
Amphibian named on the bench. A slippery customer.
Barbarian is serving a suspension.
all but 300 general tickets sold. id say premium will be half empty as usual. 45,000 id sayQuote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
Disciplinarian has no such problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sullivinho
I'd take that. Not bad given recent attendances.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Judgement day and no nerves yet. Must be sleep deprivation.
I just hope the Trap asks the team to trust themselves and try and keep the ball. Lumping it back to a team which loves the ball and who attack in waves is suicide. McGeady and Duff need to be on their A game. If we can get at their full backs, draw fouls and steal a goal or two from a set piece we should be fine.
My recollection from Yerevan is that we created 3 one-on-one's from simple hoofs up the pitch that went straight over their CBs' heads.
I'd be pleasantly surprised if there were 45,000 there tonight. That would be more than the Slovakia game - which was on a Friday night. Unfortuantely I can't make this game but I really hope the crowd gets behind the team.
We won't have the ball for long periods but that shouldn't mean that the crowd get on their backs. Lets hope for proper support and a solid win - 2-0.
The Herald were giving away 50 tickets this week. I'd say the sold amount is a lot lower than the attendance.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Would be the perfect tactic if Long was on the pitch, its all he seems to do for WBAQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Re the back 4, I mentioned it in work yesterday that if it was me, I'd stick Kelly left full, as it would leave 3/4 of the back 4 in their usual positions together, rather than moving OShea and bringing in Kelly at RB. 1 change rather than 2 (or 2 changes rather than 3 if you include Richie Coming back).
Kelly is grand at LB. He'll be no different in how he approaches the game at LB than he will be at RB. Plus, and this isn't meant as an insult, when we don't have a measured passing style, being on his weaker foot won't make much of a difference to how we work our way into the game.
It has to be said as well, that Kelly is a smashing bloke and one of the games nice guys, so it's nice to see him getting game time.
About the atmosphere, it's as damp here in D2 as it is in the audience of a take that concert. Humid too, so the pitch should be quite greasy come kickoff which will lend itself to all sorts of capers. The Lansdowne end should look well tonight, I've heard there is going to be a plain green crowd cover for our end.
agree on that point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
He is rubbish though!
oshea has played LB many many times for man utd. far happier with him there than kelly. kelly will be decent at RB where he performed well away v russia
Would fancy Kelly as a much better LB than Ward in truth.