Of course he would be...but so has every left back in the back 10 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Of course he would be...but so has every left back in the back 10 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Key part of a tight and successful premiership defense?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
We'll lose to Deutschland regardless (even if the likes of Given, Duff, Dunne were playing and at the top of their games.), so we just concentrate on sneaking a win in the Faroes and pray for a miracle in 2013.
Perhaps we should hope for some issue to force an early retirement...
:(
Sorry, Trap.
Because he has done reasonably well for us while the centre-back you mention playing in the Premier league was poor in the two games he played for us, albeit playing out of position and obviously didn't impress Trapp or those of us who remember the performances. I hope that answers your query.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant
I agree that we would be doing incredibly well to get even a point from them. I'm really worried about this game. I could picture a backs to the wall job in Germany and on a good day us nicking a draw, but in Dublin, I think they could cut through us like butter and beat us by two or three.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
I predict us continually knocking high balls up to Keane and Doyler and the Germans comfortably dealing with them and the likes of Ozil running the show, with the Germans having 60-65% possession. I think we need to play a 5 man midfield to try and crowd the midfield and I would have Andrews back in there for the bite and hunger he brings to the table. He is also liable to have a crack at goal. McCarthy simply has to stay in the team. In an ideal world, I would have had Hoolahan as the attacking part of a three man central midfield, but Whelan will be there. I would start Long up front on his own, but would leave it open to somebody like Walters coming on for a two man attack, as I think he has the potential to be a game changer at times with his strength. I alo think he could complement Long.
Wilson is not the second coming of a world class Irwin type full back. However, he is a very decent young premiership player who could be a vital player for us in the next 10 years. Ward has alot to give in terms of endeavour and love of the green shirt, but he lacks quality and he has limited positional sense.
Clarke offers a huge ammount of hope for the future and it is incredible and inexcusable that he isn't even in the squad. However, I would not start him in such a big game, as I do have trust in the Saint. O'Shea has to be moved into the centre, but Trap is more likely to go with McShane or O'Dea (in fairness he's never let us down)
What I would have liked:
Westwood
Coleman O'Shea St Ledger Wilson
McGeady Andrews McCarthy McClean
Hoolahan
Long
Why are people still persisting with the wish for Hoolahan in the team? Of the 6 games Norwich have played in the league so far, he has appeared in 3, starting 1, with avg of 46 mins per game. If he's not good enough to be an automatic starter for a poor team like Norwich, what difference will he make to the Ireland team? Source.
I think, in fariness to Trap, two personnel changes (debutants at this level competitively) and a positional switch in the back four for such an important game could be called reckless. While I tend to agree about five in midfield your third man being Hoolahan completely wrecks this. That team lined out as 4-4-1-1 would be torn apart. You admit Wilson is not the second coming, well Hoolahan certainly isn't - I don't get the clammer for him, one of two clips playing for Norwich but he has not nailed down his place at Norwich. Anyway if Trap ever did go this way then that position is a problem area, I don't think we have a natural to play there. It's a difficult one.
I would like (though it's also fantasy land)
Westwood
O'Shea Sledge O'Dea Wilson
Whelan McCarthy
McLean Keane McGeady
Long
Norwich have a different manager this year so maybe he doesn't fit in with the new manager's plans. Doesn't make him "not good enough". Most would like to more creativity in our midfield hence why there are persistent calls for Hoolahan's inclusion as he is capable of passing the ball forward rather than the sideways, backwards, punt up-field play we currently excel in.Quote:
Originally Posted by EAFC_rdfl
Surprised to see he's 30. Would have thought about 27.Quote:
Originally Posted by EAFC_rdfl
http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=137&l...6835a1ea263fce
That's the German squad.
They're likely to pick Neuer, who acts like a sweeper at the best of times so the long aimless balls will get recycled far quicker, with less kick-outs. They are likely to play Lahm, Mertesacker, Hummels and Badstuber across the back. Mertesacker will win everything in the air, and Hummels will play the football. His selection on the flanks will be crucial. Badstuber isn't great going backwards, and I'd put McGeady on that side, but he's going to need a workhorse on the left otherwise Lahm will kill us.
Their midfield truly is jizz-worthy: Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Khedera, Gotze, Muller, Schurrle, Reus. It's fricking ridiculous, and interchangeable too.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Gotze and Reus on the flanks as they surely know we'll be susceptible to a bit of pace and trickery at the back? That would mean a pairing of Schweinsteiger (I think he's out injured though?) and probably Khedira with Ozil just in front and the two flyers out wide, and Klose up top.
I genuinely worry for us next weekend. I think we could be given a serious hiding. And I thought that before Euro 2012. It's not like Spain where you know they'll keep the ball in safe areas and tease you out; Germany will attack, attack and attack some more, safe in the knowledge we'll give the ball back to them time and again.
i think he is suspended for the game, or injuredQuote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Pretty sure Lahm is suspended alright. Thanks be to jaysus.
Just because Mertesacker is tall, that doesn't mean he'll win everything in the air. I don't think it's one of his strengths - he's much more comfortable with the ball at his feet. Walters/Long/Doyle will give him plenty of trouble given the opportunity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
I lived in Norwich for a few years and from talking with old friends, the fans there adore him. They cannot fathom how he isn't in their team at all. They would consider him there best player. For me, he has shown that he is a good premiership player and that makes me want him in the Irish team, or at least in the squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by EAFC_rdfl
[QUOTE=PatJR;1631787]I think, in fariness to Trap, two personnel changes (debutants at this level competitively) and a positional switch in the back four for such an important game could be called reckless. While I tend to agree about five in midfield your third man being Hoolahan completely wrecks this. That team lined out as 4-4-1-1 would be torn apart. You admit Wilson is not the second coming, well Hoolahan certainly isn't - I don't get the clammer for him, one of two clips playing for Norwich but he has not nailed down his place at Norwich. Anyway if Trap ever did go this way then that position is a problem area, I don't think we have a natural to play there. It's a difficult one.
I understand your concerns and I agree that how I have the team lined up could be seen as wreckless in that the defence has little experience of playing together. My thoughts would be that O'Shea hasn't got the legs for full back anymore. He said so himself. However, his experience would be essential in the centre of defence for such a big game. I would feel that Coleman should play at full back for this game as he is playing very well for Everton, although I would concede that it is a massive step up for him and that the defensive aspects of his game still need to be finetuned. In Wilson's case, I would view him as being far superior to Ward. It is a step up for him, but I don't view his selection as being risky, as he is a decent player playing for a solid enough team in the Premiership. In the long-run, he can only improve as a player by coming up against teams like Germany and I would feel that unless a Denis Irwin comes along, he could be our full back for a very long time.
My thoughts on Hoolahan in a 5 man midfield would be that he brings a strong workrate to the table. He is also dynamic and good on the ball. We need to ensure that we aren't giving the ball away cheaply and he would not be easy for the Germans to deal with and I think he would link up very well with Long. However, I would concede that this has not been tested before and in such a big game against a world class team, it might not be the time to try it out.
What are everyones predictions?
Ill say Ireland 0-4 Deutschland
Ireland 2-1 Faroes
Germany's form since Euro2012 hasn't been great and Bayern lost yesterday as well. Strangely, I think we have a better chance under Trapp of getting a result in the Vaterland than we do at Lansdowne Road but after all the negativity perhaps we might be able to scrape a 1-1 but it's the least optimistic (and I am seldom optimistic) I have been for a while going in to a home game. Trapp has had a long time to think about this one. I hope he comes up with something different but there is as much chance of that as Kirk from Coronation Street hosting University Challenge but as they say in Germany "vee vill see".
p.s. No matter what manager, team formation, players etc we had, I still wouldn't be any more optimistic.
Will be interesting to watch Reus tonight, I fear he's Germany's real form player and a guy itching to prove himself for his national team.
They lost an away game after 7 straight wins....Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
I am clutching at straws ;) Wednesday lost 6 in a row after 19 unbeaten.Quote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator