How about Meyler and Hourihane in midfield.
8 goals between them so far this season which more goals than the Irish midfield have scored between them since records began I would imagine.
Throw in Murphy and you can get the 5 gaols we need to top the group?
I like Hourihane. Don't think O'Neill will start him, but if someone was to get injured, I would have no hesitation in putting him in. He is every bit as good as Meyler and HendrickQuote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Murphy is scoring goals at club level as well . He lacks pace but maybe O'Dowda and McClean can get down the wings/ inside and Murphy can supply a physical battering ram and a finish .Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Had a dream last night that it was 1-1 late in the game in Cardiff.
On comes Hogan and Maguire in a last throw of the dice with 15 minutes left.
Maguire beats the full back and puts it on a plate from which Hogan nets a very late winner.
Anyone else heading over ticketless? Offered three tickets this morning for £450!! Mad, hoping possible to get for much less over there but may be wishful
if they are irish end tickets then take them. you will regret it tomorrow if you dont.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
if they wales end tickets then best left alone given there is a fair chance you will be denied entry
Wales end tickets. Presumably if you went in without colours it would be fine but what's point forking out that money if you can't enjoy/support the teamQuote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
from https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/917073928941654017
Quote:
Squad Update | Martin O'Neill has confirmed that James McCarthy, Jonny Hayes and David McGoldrick have returned to their clubs
Nerves and excitement properly beginning to build now. There's always a chance of Duffy getting a goal from a set-piece - he's a serious aerial threat - but I'm hoping we approach this like we approached the game against Italy in Lille last summer rather than how we approached the game against Poland in Warsaw at the end of the last qualification campaign where we similarly needed a win, yet didn't go for it until the last ten minutes.
Let's hope the long flight back from Georgia affects Wales' preparations.
Who would you put on them instead? I can't think of anybody that has anywhere near the same quality when he gets it right. It's easy to just float a ball into an area, much more difficult to whip in a ball that will likely cause consternation, as Brady always aims to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
They have been poor for us recently but we know what he's capable of from dead balls. Off the top of my head he has scored a couple of beauties for Burnley in recent months, one against the PL champions in waiting and one to save a match deep into injury time. His teasing free kick led to Walters' second goal against B&H in the last campaign and well as the corner that led to Long's goal against the Netherlands pre-Euros.
I agree with whoever said he should either be left back or left midfield though, he's not effective in the central role. Ward and McClean's form has put O'Neill in an awkward position here, but Brady is more important that either of them so something should give I think. Personally I'd probably keep McClean as an impact sub.
Shane Long out according to Nathan Murphy: https://twitter.com/nathanmurf/statu...21144612655104
Quote:
Heart says Ireland .
Head says Wales .
Better play the game to find out ! Come on Ireland !
Would have been nice to have a fully fit Shane Long on the Bench . He is good coming off the bench and his pace offers something that we don’t have that much of .Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
His form for us hasn’t been good and in hindsight how fit was he against Moldova .
Longs out guys
I think it'll be a score draw. We'll die with our boots on and live to lament some of the more frustrating aspects of the campaign.
Long is a loss. I wouldn't have started him but there's nobody better from the bench. Just as well Maguire & Hogan are involved now.
All set-up for Maguire to be the hero!
not sure Long would have been starting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
Randy
Christie Duffy Clark Ward
Meyler Arter
Brady Hendrick McClean
Murphy
Would rather have ODowda or Holohann than Arter but cest le vie
What about Hero Hogan .
I just hope we start with Hoolahan and give it a go from the start.
None of this 'keep it tight for an hour' stuff and only press in the last 30 minutes.
Pretty sure its going to be the latter .Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan