So on one level, I'm correct? Small; far away.
So on one level, I'm correct? Small; far away.
You took a blind shot on goal, it was going well wide of the mark until it took a wicked deflection for a corner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
A player born to an irish born parent is automatically eligible to play for Ireland, as they are automatically an Irish national at birth.
EG, harry Kane does not have to apply for irish citizenship as he is an irish citizen at birth. His choice is just whether he wants to activate it or not.
He is an irish national whether or not he applies for an irish passport, just the same as any irish born person who does not have a passport.
An english born player with only an irish grandparent has to apply for Irish citizenship, he is not an irish national at birth. He just has the right to apply for irish citizenship but he is not regarded as irish until his application has been successfully processed.
Squad reduced to 27: http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/marti...face-gibraltar
Baffling how Delaney isn't getting in these squads.
I suppose if it's Delaney and not Coleman, Reid or Hoolahan being ostracised then it's progress, but I would rather have Delaney than Keogh at the back in the event of an emergency against a team like Germany. It could literally make a significant difference to our goals against column. At least we know Delaney can keep a handle on players like Lukaku and Suarez on a weekly basis.
Randolph, Kelly, McShane, Duffy, Delaney Green, McCarthy, Reid, Cox and Sammon left out. Assume that means McCarthy and Reid haven't recovered from injury.
McCarthy is out? Who will play in midfield now?
It seems he is being left out for Gibraltar and will continue to be monitored with Germany in mind. I assume Gibson would be the most-experienced choice to replace him.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
O'Neill was quoted recently saying that Reid needs injections to play, hinting that he could turn up if he really wanted to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
I would hope that it's a case of leaving Mac out in order to let the body heal ahead of Germany. That would be the sensible approach. If he's not fit for Germany, it's a huge blow.
Disappointed for Delaney, as I think he is comfortably ahead of Keogh, Pearce, and I have to say Wilson too. Also, from looking at that list, it would seem Given is backup keeper. I think that will be a poor decision if it's the case. DOn't understand why there are 4 keepers in the squad. Surely, too, keeping on Duffy to get him acquainted with the setup, wouldn't have hurt.
Feck sake!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Keogh, Pearce and Clark ahead of Damo.
Even Andrea Bocelli can see Damos the better player.
Think we've brought a Pig in a Poke with this management set up.
Delaney the only issue for me. I can't understand it at all.
I think I said after Georgia that Coleman, McCarthy and McGeady should sit out the Gibraltar game as there's no need to risk injury. I'd probably add O'Shea too, even if that means picking some iffy CBs against Gibraltar.
Hopefully McCarthy will be back for Germany.
For me the first real acid test of the MON era will be whether he persists with Walters wide in Germany. If he does I'll be livid.
I hope he gives Long and Doyle time on the pitch against Gib. Keane can't put in the effort we'll need, nor has he the pace. By all means bring him on if we need a goal in the second half.
I'm glad to see Murphy there too. His club form is good and he deserves his place.
Did Clark play left back in Cologne?
Kelly was left back in Cologne, as far as I remember. Strangely enough, we went with two left-footed centre halves in Delaney and Clark.
Delaney should be in there without doubt. He'd be a nailed-on starter for many; not merely a squad member. He's had a few run-ins with Roy throughout his career - once turning up late to training at Ipswich due to being caught speeding and then blaming his "unreasonable boss" for his speeding in court - but you'd imagine the management would be professional enough to see past such things now if it would be in the best interests of the team to have Delaney there?
If McCarthy doesn't recover in time for Germany, it'll be a big blow, although we do have competent cover in Gibson.
Gibraltar:
------------Westwood-----------
Meyler-Wilson-Pearce or Keogh- Clark
-----Gibson---Whelan-----
Stokes-------Hoolahan--------McClean
---------------Long----------
Can Pilkington play on the right?
Germany:
----------Westwood
Coleman - OShea - Wilson - Clark
------McCarthy - Whelan
McGeady --Hoolahan -McClean
---------Long-------
And both did fine on the night. I remember Clark playing, just couldn't remember where. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Well Delaney evidently should be in the squad. Not sure what he's done wrong.
I find the four goalkeepers thing fairly bizarre. Actually makes me think Given is there less as back-up and more as a player-coach. To have his influence over three other goalkeepers.
He did, hit the bar too. [Edit: Well corrected CD, I assumed it was left-back]Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I'd play a totally different defence but try and establish a unit from thereon for Germany. That'll probably mean Whelan and either Gibson or Hendrick, with McGeady, McClean, Long and Hoolahan. Let them pile forward and, hopefully, score a pile of goals to aid confidence. Withdraw Long, Hoolahan and McGeady after an hour and throw on some combination of Stokes, Doyle, Brady, Pilkington, Quinn...whoever the most likely options off the bench are against Germany.
We might be playing the football equivalent of chalk and cheese, but I'd be all for telling several attacking players that they are the main men for Gelsenkirchen and fill your boots against Gibraltar. This side needs confidence any which way it can get it.
Yep, good points.
There really is no excuse for not picking attacking players for Germany. There's no way we'll outfox them and keep them away from goal like Trap used to try to do. It's asking for trouble.
Best approach is to pick some quick attacking players and hope to capitalise on their vulnerability on the break.
McCarthy is out of the squad. Apparently a small chance he will make the Germany game.
Is McCarthy essential for Germany? He has yet to show his best club form for Ireland.
Anyway, one of Hendrick, Meyler or Gibson will benefit. I named Gibson above but I was impressed by Hendrick's mobility against Italy. Whoever he plans to start in Germany should also start in Dublin.
With Hendrick yet to start since coming back from injury and Meyler harshly cast aside at Hull, we could do with Gibson getting a start this weekend but I'm sure Besic or someone else will get the nod. Stephen Quinn could be the man to benefit either but even he has lost his place in the Hull team despite a fine start to the season - as Huddlestone and Livermore can seemingly do no wrong.
I have long resigned myself to the fact that Walters will continue to start at this stage. And no doubt he will look even more sluggish than he usually does with a lack of first team football and match fitness. Brady, McClean, Pilkington, Long, Stokes, Doyle amongst others would offer more anywhere on the wing or up front.
Green just scores. O'Neill hasn't a clue :)
with coleman out will meyler play right full?
So to recap.....
Coleman and McCarthy potentially out injured. O'Brien unavailable. Reid unavailable. Meyler not playing. Hendrick just back from injury. Gibson just back from injury/not playing. Hoolahan off form. Long being played out of position/under pressure to deliver on transfer fee and take mantle at Intl. level. Ward has started one league game all season and that's at CM.
Not ideal... but McGeady is playing reasonably, Keane is banging them in in MLS for whatever that's worth, McClean has generally impressed since coming back from injury and could feasibly take Walters place. Our starting CB's regular are starting regularly (although Wilson looks prone to mishaps).
What position is Long playing? Is he wide right of midfield or his he wide right as part of a front three? I suspect the latter, and it's probably not a bad place for him. Pelle seems to be the main goalscorer at Southamptonso that takes some heat off Long, as long as he is at least playing well.
Let's see. The form book isn't good but they're fit players and all have at least played some first team football this season. Gibraltar might take the cobwebs off those needing game time.
That's the optimistic way of seeing things anyway!
According to Peter Staunton of Goal.com, Martinez has confirmed Coleman will miss both qualifiers: https://twitter.com/petermstaunton/s...56535225581572
B*llocks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Staunton
Here was Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh's take on it yesterday: https://twitter.com/Ciaran_O/status/518385306425257984
Obviously they failed their late fitness tests, but if they were considered "50-50 enough" to have them before today's Everton game at Old Trafford, can they be ruled out with such certainty for the Germany game, which is nine days away? I don't know the ins and outs of the fitness tests, of course, but you'd imagine there must still be even a slight chance both could be fit?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh
Chaps who would win in an actual fight between Mourinho and Wenger?
:confused: Crosby...
Luckily it doesn't matter who plays in these two games, but the game in November is far far more important...
Yeah. You're right. The win against Gibraltar is guaranteed. Just look at the way we blitzed Kazakhstan and Faroe Islands away with no problems.
And the players should just treat the Germany game as a friendly and sing the Fields of Athenry and have a few cans with the fans after the game.
Sure Scotland had a competitive game with Germany but that's Scotland. We're just Ireland like. Have a few cans and it'll be alright. We might get a draw against Poland if we're lucky.
They got in a shoving match ardee.
Only a few contradictions there...Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
And the relevance of this to 2016 is?
No. At the end of the day, either team can win. Except Ireland seemingly.
Northern Ireland and Scotland are more than capable of dropping points against small nations, as has been pointed out plenty of times, but they are also more than capable of taking points off bigger nations. We are just as good as these teams. There is no reason that we shouldn't be able to do it.
There are no gimmes in Intl. football anymore. Top sides like Portugal, Croatia, Italy, France, England and even Spain have dropped points to nations much smaller than us.
A narrow loss to Germany would be progress but people here are going on like a heavy loss should be a formality and it's the kind of attitude that has even seeped on to the official FAI page.
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy and it needs to stop.
This is the exact same kind of attitude and belief that has been allowed to insidiously fester - that has become so ingrained - and we have needlessly dropped points from winning positions time and time again against teams like Italy, Austria and Sweden precisely because of it.
It's like we are scared to win. Ever wonder why!
There is so much nonsense regularly spouted about not having the players anymore, blindly overlooking the fact that the type of teams we need to beat don't have that type of calibre player either. It infuriates me. I wouldn't get too wound up by AB's defeatism. We all know we're up against it but it's only a game of football and I've seen so many daft results in my life i'll never rule out Ireland getting one in Germany. We should have been spanked in Amsterdam by a Dutch team that wiped the floor with a quality Yugoslavia only ten weeks earlier and look what happened. Likewise we should have been spanked in Stuttgart in 2006.
I wouldn't read anything into the FAI mentality. They have a social media team who tweeted "gulp" when Germany won the WC. It's hardly confirmation O'Neill is cowering behind his sofa.
Again, I think (nearly) everyone's capable of finding cause for hope. Ghana, Scotland, Algeria, injury, retirements...
Hope is different to expectation but I certainly want to see a positive attitude which, in my opinion, will start with a positive selection.
Hear what you say, explained elsewere why we're likely to lose.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Don't want it to happen, especially another hammering, but Germany currently are strong, very strong. Plus they hardly ever lose qualifiers, ever to anyone, especially at home,
Agree otherwise plenty of 'shock results' and we can (always have?) been able to grind out draws v.major teams, on occasion.
Though, would be amazed if that happens this time. Our win record in the last 20 years v. these sides is pretty mediocre, in terms of many wins.
History against us in that respect!
Out with a load of German pals last night and none gave us a prayer, not arrogance, just an understated inner confidence.
Germany are 90% favourites to win by a couple of goals, but there's always the 10% chance we'll push them close or, just maybe, get a result. We'll both be 2/2 going into the match and it might suit Germany just to keep it tight and a point wouldn't be the worst result.
Is it that inevitable that Germany will win in Poland? Realistically, I think they're far more likely to slip up there than against us.
Germany will want to win v.us and will expect to, simply because they don't see us as a threat. As for slipping up in Polska, the Poles appear to have quite an inferiority issue v. Germany, so would be amazed if they took more than one point out of six.
Realistically, until qualification is assured, don't see Deutschland slipping up. Maybe they will relax in their later group games?
Yeah but one point from six would be a good return for them. I'd take it for us being honest. You're right though, Poland never seem to perform against Germany, even mediocre German sides... hope that continues.
I'd say it's 90% like it is with us.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean