Then truly, Charlton was blessed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Stutts are you quoting yourself in the sig?
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Then truly, Charlton was blessed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Stutts are you quoting yourself in the sig?
The Irish boss has confirmed that he will give a first senior cap to West Bromwich Albion defender Paul McShane.
McShane will play alongside Steve Finnan, John O'Shea and Stephen Kelly in a makeshift back four.
From RTE - at least O'Brien isn't playing!!!
I am guessing
Henderson
Kelly O Shea Mc Shane Finnan
Duff Carsley Quinn Reid Kilbane
Keane
AFAIK the back four has been confirmed. It's Finnan, JOSH, McShane, Kilbane.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Tongue in cheek remark about the jinx.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Can't I add my own remarks as my signature?
If I'd left it unchanged it'd still read "why all the pessimism? Cheer up" or whatever.
Good luck Paul McShane. Hope you show what you're capable of.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
I dont want to give Stan a get out (and I wonder how many injuries are due to poor quality trainign and/or demorilisation) but how many injuries do we have. If we are looking at players who would get into this team I'd say
Given
Kenny
Carr
O'Brien
Harte
McGeady
Kavanagh
S Reid
Doyle
Ireland
Miller
Joey O'Brien
plus Dunne suspended
He did confirm it but its the back four that I have not the one you have down.
More misery for Staunton as quintet ruled out
Aiden McGeady is attended to by Irish medical staff after going over on his ankle during training today
Paul O'Hehir
10/10/2006: There is further misery today for beleaguered Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton with news that another five of his squad are ruled out of tomorrow's qualifier with the Czech Republic because of injury.
Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, defender Andy O'Brien, midfielders Stephen Ireland and Aiden McGeady and striker Kevin Doyle all miss the game and four of the five have already returned to their clubs.
Only O'Brien - whose ankle is too swollen to play following a knock in the defeat to Cyprus - has stayed in Dublin but Staunton says the Portsmouth man has no chance of proving his fitness.
Kenny and Ireland, both of whom failed to train yesterday, had scans on hamstring injuries, the damning results of which Staunton received this morning.
While Staunton appeared resigned to losing the pair when speaking in Malahide yesterday he was more upbeat on Doyle's chances. But the striker, despite pleasing the manager during that session, failed to shake off his ankle injury and his loss is a particular blow.
Then there's McGeady who, according to Staunton, injured his ankle in a "freak accident" during training.
"It is all just typical of what has been happening at the moment," Staunton said today.
"I'm not making excuses but I don't think there are many countries that could cope with an injury crisis like this. We'll more than likely have a full squad for San Marino next month, that's the way my luck has gone. But I ask the public to stand by us, we will get it right."
As a consequence of those injuries - twinned with the earlier losses of Shay Given, Steven Reid, Graham Kavanagh and Stephen Elliott, to name but a few - Staunton has finally decided to call upon in-form Everton midfielder Lee Carsley.
The 32-year-old joined up with the squad this morning and was put through his paces at Lansdowne Road.
Carsley - capped 29 time - has spent the last two-and-a-half years in retirement after choosing to focus on club football. But recently he has contacted Staunton expressing a wish to be considered for future internationals.
Staunton overlooked the player when naming his initial squad for this double-header but following the injury crisis he has been forced into a dramatic about turn.
"Lee is an experienced pro," says Staunton. "He's been fine and is always committed to whatever you ask of him."
Staunton also confirmed his back-four for tomorrow's game. Steve Finnan and Stephen Kelly will play in the corners while West Brom youngster Paul McShane will win his first cap when he partners John O'Shea at centre back.
The manager has faced heavy criticism following Saturday's shambolic defeat to Cyprus but is adamant that no matter what the outcome of tomorrow's match, he will remain on as manager.
"I'm going to be here no matter what happens," he stated. "I'll still be here next month. We are what we are, but I'm proud to be Irish. I know we'll get a great reception and we'll be out to show what we can do."
He says both he and his players will take criticism "on the chin" but believes the disappointment of the weekend is now behind them.
"The mood is very, very good," Staunton says. "The players know what's been going on (media criticism) but they're lucky that they can go out tomorrow and put it right. I can't. I want to see passion for the green jersey, and for them to do their utmost
If the media are correct then we know the back 4 and keeper. I can't see Kilbane being dropped after all the injuries while Duff and Keane are certain to play. Knowing that:
----------Henderson------------
Kelly--O'Shea--McShane--Finnan
Reid---Carsley---Kilbane---Duff
-------Keane---Morrison--------
I think all those will definitely play with the possible exception of Morrison. Maybe Duff will play up front or he'll go 4-5-1 but I can't see him playing Lee.
Please can he learn and see that Kilbane is not a central midfielder. He would be better putting Andy Reid or Alan Quinn in the centre and Kilbane out left and Duff out right.
Well you'd think after watching KK last few central midfield performances for us that Stan would notice he cannot play in that position.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
I'm happy as long as KK doesn't start - O'Brien, Reid, Quinn and Carsley are all more deserving of a start.
Seems to be conflicting reports as to whether its Kelly or Kilbane at fullback?
I'd also drop Kilbane but it's not going to happen so there's no point in leaving him out of your team. :)
Where has it been reported that Kilbane is playing left back I would be happy with that to be honest as it means he is not in midfield.
I've read more reports with Kelly in team.
Viking he has already named his back four so you can guess 3-5-2 all you like but you would be wrong.
The Back four is
Kelly O Shea, Mc Shane Finnan with Henderson in goals.
Oh no... jesus wept!Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
If that is true then it is the end with O'Shea and Kilbane in any defensive line we would struggle against any team.
Lads it says it on the FAI website that its Kelly not Kilbane.
Must be Kilbane so :)
never been so disheartened going into an Ireland game, Im usually the eternal optimist.
The only thing that keeps me going is that maybe after the weekend, the players will really play out of their skins (ala Scotland) and come away with a draw/maybe even a win. Whats being missing the last few games is a decent CM to protect the defence, if we can manage that tomorrow it will give us a chance (small admittedly).
I know I said it before last sat night too but we need a good start on Wed. If we can start well and maybe even nick an early goal it would give the team and crowd a great lift.
Well there is some slight brightside to all of this that McShane is getting his international debut so we should see some pride and passion fromthe lad, the same goes for Kelly who is getting a rare chance and same for Henderson.
I would play carsley and Quinn in the centre, Duff on the left, Douglas on the right and Andy Reid playing behind Keane up top. We should keep the ball on the ground and pass it instead of hoofing the ball and we could actually give thema bit of a game.
Kilbane may work better with Carsley given their familiarity from playing with Everton.
Irwin was magic the other night in The Match ..why not bring him back for one game..still fit as a fiddle never stopped for 90 mins ..Also some good lads in League of Ireland..Sean Dillon anywhere across the back four..!!
Here's my 11.. :
1 Henderson
2 Irwin
3 Finnan
4 McShane
5 O'Shea..last resort
6.Holland
7.Reid
8.Carsley
9.Alan O'Brien
10.Rob Keane
11.Duff
like the early goal on saturday??Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
i hope your right elroy but as you said yourself its hard to be optimistic
it is very hard to be positive alright but the only thing is the likes of kelly, henderson, mcshane etc will get some good experience and even though this qualifying campaign is all but over these are better games for these lads to play in than friendlies
Is Henderson definately starting?? He's not been playing regular for Brighton this season. Think there was some kind of fall out there.
Given the circumstances I don't think Staunton can be held too accountable for tomorrows result. BUT it shouldn't absolve him from the previous four games. There needs to be some sort of press conference or maybe an interview with a decent journalist where he sets everything out in stone so we as fans (and probbly even some of his players) see his intentions and maybe answer some questions, even if we don't agree the answers. As it stands he looks clueless. These broad non commital statements like "We're planning for the future" just isn't good enough.
My disrespect for Delaney is now turing to outright loathing. What a coward. At least have the courage of you convictions and stand shoulder to shoulder with the man.
Agree, the injuries render tomorrow's game meaningless in assessing the manager's merits.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
The planning for the future excuse doesn't stack up. He's picked experienced internationals in both competitive games so far.
Delaney is a snake.
I've changed my prediction in light of the recent injuries:
-----------Colgan------------
Finnan---McShane--O'Shea--Kelly
Duff---Carsley---Douglas----Kilbane
------Keane----Morrison------
Hopefully Doyle is healthy enough to start for Morrison.
I also feel that Andy Reid may get the start over Douglas, but I'd rather Douglas get the nod due to superior fitness/form.
I'd definitely start with Colgan on Wednesday.
It isn't fair on Henderson to throw him into the bear pit, when we were highly likely to be on the end of a drubbing. He turns 22 on Monday, which is very young for a goalkeeper at this level. He also hasn't played that many minutes for us.
Colgan should play as he has proved to be a sound shot stopper in the past and I cannot recall him letting us down - despite being undoubtedly less quality than Shay. He has also been involved in the set up longer than Wayne Henderson, yet, should he have a shocker we are unlikely to be forced to play him ever again.
The biggest blessing of all is Paddy Kenny getting injured. He is one of my least favourite footballers of all time and it was a black day for me when he declared for Ireland.
Ade
I remember seeing the lad Colgan play for us at Charlton's stadium against Nigeria. He had a bit of a shocker then (we lost 3-0), think it was summer 2004... I would actually play the lad Devine in goal for us tonight, but I think its too late.Quote:
Originally Posted by Adrianovic
I've a hunch he'll go with Henderson, I've only seen glimpses of him, he look ok during half time v Germany in Stuttgart when he did a practice shot stopping session.
I hope it goes well but I fear a hammering.
I don't think Colgan was to blame for the result against Nigeria. The centre halves that day were Cunningham and Doherty, who have zero pace between them, and they were up against Martins and Ogbeche, who both have pace to burn. Cunningham and Doherty never played together again as a partnership. I remember Robbie Keane coming back into midfield to claim the ball, losing it and the player running the rest of the pitch to set up the third goal.
I see the Irish Times in their probable Czech team left out Cech or any goalie for that matter. The sympathy!
Team as many predicted except that Douglas is playing instead of Quinn.
The bench is Subs: Colgan, Morrison, A O'Brien, Quinn, Lee, Foley,
St Ledger.
Ever seen a less intimidating bench???