No idea why you think these are mutually exclusive. We have the players to do well, that doesn't mean they're going to be used properly.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Personally, I don't think calling on a keeper who's been retired for two years, who a lot of people thought was past it at the time and has barely played a game of football since is very encouraging for the future.
We have 3 keepers who have started the season as number 1 for their club in the championship - Forde, Westwood & Randolph. Given is no 2 choice at Villa and won't play another game till the FA cup in january unless Guzan gets injured.
Bringing Given back makes no sense and would not do anyrhing for the moral of the other keepers in the squad.
My faith in Forde has taken a dent in the more recent Irish friendlies. He was poor for a number of goals... the Serbia winner I think, definitely one of the Portugal goals and the concession of the penalty against Costa Rica too. I don't think anybody is exempting the defence from blame with regards the Portugal game, they were a shambles.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
I don't think Westwood was to blame for any of the German goals, or at least not badly at fault.
heard it advertised for setanta on the radio this morningQuote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Yeah, it's on Setanta Ireland from 7pm.
Setanta TV Listings
I though Forde was poor against Portugal notwithstanding the donkeys he had in front of him. He patted a couple of shots back into the danger area, shots I think he could have either caught or pushed further away. I also read he was a bit flappy against Costa Rica. His concession of the penalty was poor judgment.
I thought he was more than decent against Italy bar one misplaced ball from feet that put us in a bit of bother. It's not like Shay never did the same though, and quite frankly his taking of high balls is the best we've seen since Bonner in the late 80s.
Westwood is suffering from having been in nets at home to Germany. He looked a bit off the pace and was maybe beaten a bit easily by one or two of the goals but in his first appearances he did really well, and saved the say at home to Macedonia I think. What differentiates Westwood from the others, in my opinion, is his sharpness and agility. He also has a super kick and his handling is generally good. I have seen him get totally lost under crosses though and his body language lacked any positivity during Sunderland's poor start last season.
I think there's little between them. If we had time to experiment I'd pick Westwood. For the here and now I can see what Given would bring.
I know my footie.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Owen Cowzer @OCowzer · 58m
Setanta announce they have exclusive rights to all Ireland friendly home internationals for the next four years.
Make your mind up then! Though agreed about Given.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Make my mind up about what? I don't need to. We have the players to do well, but we also have the players to not do well if the manager chooses to.
Yep, I think there's a good team to be put together from what we have available. I'm just not sure it will be put together though.
You mean like we have done for the last 10 years or so?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
The start of my first sentence should tell you that's exactly what I mean.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
You play your best players when available. It doesnt matter about age, experience, morale or any other crap. Why do people play emphasis on sideline issues - excuse the pun. Its about getting the best results right now and doing that my putting your best available players out to achieve that result.
At the end of the campaign i dont give two hoots about how many players we brrought in, its about qualification or not. That's really building for the future.
Setanta have snapped up the rights to friendly games along with U21 & Women's games.
Setanta to show republic friendlies
Hmm, still seems a tad contradictory...Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
If we were the type of country who could rely on regular qualification it'd make some sense to take a long term view with some players. But given the situation Ireland is in it he best way to plant seeds for the future is to qualify now. It'll get passions burning again and importantly it'll bring some money into the Association.
Shay is past it I'm afraid. I found over the last couple of years he had in goal for us he was particularly slow at getting down to low shots.
Estonia at home, Armenia at home, Croatia in Euro 2012.
I would not be in favour of bringing him back.
It has all the hallmarks of doing to his reputation what becoming national team manager did to Stan's*
*bad things, very very bad things
Yeah, we really capitalised on that Euro 2012 qualification. It's all very well saying play your best players, it's another actually playing them. A 38 year semi-retired goalkeeper who was struggling enough two years ago is a curious choice for 'best player'.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
The final 27-man squad is as follows:
David Forde, Keiren Westwood, Shay Given, Rob Elliot;
Richard Keogh, Marc Wilson, Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Alex Pearce, Joey O’Brien, Stephen Ward;
James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Aiden McGeady, Anthony Pilkington, James McClean, Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Wes Hoolahan;
Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Jon Walters, Kevin Doyle and Anthony Stokes.
Stand-by list:
Darren Randolph, Ciaran Clark, Paul McShane, Shane Duffy, Damien Delaney, Simon Cox and Conor Sammon.
Andy Reid has withdrawn due to injury.
Real shame about Reid. I share TOWK's concern over the CB hierarchy.
Glad to see O'Brien and Pearce making the grade. 4 keepers looks odd.
I think the rest is pretty straightforward although I thought Gibson was unlikely to be brought over. Doyle is good enough for sure, but still lucky to make it.
Edit: why no Hendrick? Injury?
Did McClean come back for Wigan yet?
With no clark or mcshane are we looking at wilson as a definite centre half? I would like that. Then a toss up between o brien and ward for left full? Surprised OBrien has not retired given his knee tendonosis issues having the international breaks to rehab has been very good for him it seems for last few years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Delighted gibson is in I would give him a half against oman and start him in the qualifier along with mccarthy and wes in a three
I'd have liked another central defensive option in there. I'm surprised Keogh is ahead of Delaney in the pecking order.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
He has a suspected dislocated shoulder after an awkward fall against Ipswich today.Quote:
Edit: why no Hendrick? Injury?
Don't think he has returned yet.Quote:
Did McClean come back for Wigan yet?
If mcclean is in the squad he must be fit yet as you say he has not even been on the bench even when they put a weak side out in league cup. Is he out of favour?Will he have new club on Monday?Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I would have liked doherty in squad. We have no attacking right back to replace coleman and doherty has the makings of a decent one
Hopefully Gibson, Brady and O'Brien get a chance to impress against Oman. The potential first eleven, with O'Shea and Wilson centre-back, Coleman and O'Brien at full-back, McCarthy and Gibson in midfield, Hoolahan at 10 behind Long/Keane, with McGeady and Brady on the wing, could be excellent. Especially when I think about the tactics deployed against Latvia and Italy, where we pressed high up the pitch, attacking and passing the ball with purpose and accuracy.
However, any more injuries in the back four between now and Tuesday week, and I'll be watching the Georgia match from behind the sofa.
I hope O'Brien makes it but I'm kinda expecting a withdrawal in the coming days...
I think this side gives us best chance of win in georgia.O brien makes us better defensively than ward. Gibson gives us ball retention and creativity that whelan does not. Pilks will let us keep possession which walters wont. Brady prob wood be a risk instead of pilks. Long to stretch them and have robbie to spring for 20 minutes if we need a goal when things have opened a bit.
Westwood
Coleman o shea wilson o brien
mcgeady mccarthy gibson pilkington
holohan
Long
Hadn't factored O'Brien into my thinking for a starting side but he definitely deserves consideration. Couple this with the facts that O'Shea is our number one choice and Wilson has started all 3 of a decent Stoke side's games at centre-half (helped keep Man City scoreless today), then it makes sense to move Wilson in beside O'Shea and start O'Brien at left-back.
I'm disappointed Damien Delaney hasn't been given the opportunity to be part of this squad and make an appearance. Didn't Roy Keane bring him to Ipswich in 2009?
Is that a joke?Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
Squad selections should not be based on distant past performances.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
That's a Given :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Ha, I've questioned the merits of Given's return seeing as he isn't getting any younger/more agile and is bench-warming at the minute, but I guess Roy has been seeing quite a lot of him at Villa of late, so the management have that to go on at least.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Quick question. Why the hell have we 4 goalkeepers in a 27 man squad. Are things really that bad?
Roy Keane had a pretty severe falling out with Damien several years ago and I wonder whether this is why Keogh is in the squad ahead of him; because he (Keogh) certainly doesn't deserve to be in the squad on merit. Delaney's performances against Germany and Turkey have been better than Keogh's performances against Serbia, Costa Rica and Portugal and he's playing in the Premier League. We rue the lack of players playing regular football and then we leave them out for Championship journeymen?Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Alex Pearce looked decent against John O'Shea against Italy. I think he may be guilty by association because he played alongside Keogh in the Portugal game but with another defensive partner we probably wouldn't have conceded as many goals in that game.
Another reason I question Delaney (and McShane's) absence is because they are center backs by trade, unlike Keogh; and because Delaney can fill in at LB in the event of injuries. McShane also has vast experience playing CB and RB at this level of football.
I just hope Wilson and O'Shea don't get injured.
But hasn't Delaney featured 2 or 3 times under O'Neill? The falling out theory probably doesn't hold water in that context. Keane has fallen out with or had a pop at almost everyone.
I can see why McShane is omitted, simply because O'Neill has yet to get a look at home up close. Delaney and Clark both had a chance to stake a claim this summer, but injury affected chances and now both are on standby. I think Delaney was crocked anyway rather than just tired and needing a rest. Maybe O'Neill felt he could have made the trip? That's just as conspiracy theory-esque but I'm just putting it out there.
As usual someone who can't really be bothered to play for us is making ten times the headlines than the 27+ who do.
Not sure why they even need 2 considering Shay is guaranteed to play.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
This player, that player, conspiracy theories, falling outs?????Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
It will be all academic once our best CB gets back playing regularly.😜😜
You have to admit he's done consistently better for Ireland than any of the current names being banded about on here.
The names being bandied about on here? As in the players selected in the squad by Martin O'Neill and those on the standby list? It's only natural they'd be discussed.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
Is O'Brien capable of playing against Oman & Georgia given his fitness struggles?
Yeah, the ones with clubs.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Completely irrational argument which shouldn't be entertained. I feel for St. Ledger but he can't come close to consideration until he gets a very prolonged period of regular club football at a minimum of Championship level. That could take a while and he's no spring chicken.