Ya I have a feeling he is thinking along the same lines, if its not working out bring on some fresh players to try and open them up, but I'd think he would not start McClean and spring him from the bench for the impetus he offers, and bring on hoolahan or keane too. I'd say one of Keane or hoolahan would start for that reason. I do still see along the same lines of what he is thinking, just not necessarily the exact same formation :)
O'Shea winning fitness battle ahead of crunch Scotland clash.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/socc...-oshea-5846077
Hey look at that! Brynmor Pattison also includes something called QUOTES and doesn't refer vaguely to dubious sources. How about that? Proper journalism is alive and well after all!
I think it will be a significantly more straightforward test for Scotland if you subtract the pace, penetration and directness of Long & McClean and add Keane & Walters. It's food for thought if Whelan - and in the interest of balance - Hoolahan all feature too. I have looked at Ireland teams recently and wondered where the pace is going to come from. It's a very slow team in places. Add to this, Scotland will be fully clued up on McGeady, in particular, and he has never been the most unpredictable of wide players.
I am certain that Walters will start somewhere. The noises I am hearing indicate Keane is favorite to feature from the start.
Im not sure. That was the approach he took in Glasgow with the difference in personnel being explained by injury or suspension. Whelan and McCarthy were injured. Given has come into the team despite looking a shadow of his former self. Brady has overtaken Ward at left back, at least when O'Neill wants an attacking full back. Brady's set pieces pretty much cement his place in the team.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
So, on the argument that it's essentially a like-for-like to what he picked in Glasgow, surely the fact of Scotland's ability to play between our lines via both Naismith and Mulgrew dictates against doing similar this time? McGeady said recently that we played to their strengths up there, or he said something like that anyway.
Im pretty sure he will pick Hoolahan and although I think there's a fair bit of truth to TOWK's contention that Walters is a fixture in O'Neill's plans, I'm not convinced he'll start this time. Bear in mind I think he was only picked in Germany to protect Meyler at full back, weakening the argument that O'Neill picks him all the time. I think O'Neill admitted he was too conservative in Georgia too.
I think it'll be Long upfront, the usual midfield 4, plus Hoolahan in between. If he does go 442 I wouldn't be surprised if Murphy gets the nod over Walters. Good in the air and much sharper based on yesterday's evidence.
Glasgow showed that O'Neill can be flexible (no Keane) but at the same time capable of being outthought by Strachan.
Where are the noises coming from? Someone on the inside?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
I hope oneill gets the subs in on the 60min mark or so if things aren't working out and not waiting till late like usual.
I hope we're 2 nil up after 60 minutes and any subsequent substitutions don't automatically concede initiative.
Robertson: Me confident, loose waiting for silly Irish team.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...-ireland-clash
I hope we pulverise them and make their children cry. And make some substitutions.
I want poetic justice as well as pulverisation and a generation scarred for .. eternity.
McGeady and McCarthy to score a brace.
Decent point, but I think the personnel above don't necessarily have to play as flat as we played in Glasgow, when we naturally a bit more (a bit too conservative).Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Whelan sitting deeper should allow McCarthy a bit of extra freedom, and I'd imagine Long could drop a bit deeper when Scotland have the ball. But I do think O'Neill might favour wingers to play test the Scottish defence early up against two strikers.
I'd love to see him start Hoolahan, and go 4-4-1-1 or thereabouts, but not convinced he will.
I'm with Stutts on that one, not so much that it won't be the team, but that it shouldn't be the team. I don't think Whelan's presence would offer McCarthy much licence to do anything when it's just the two of them in there, outnumbered as usual. Not only is it very similar to the mistakes made in Glasgow, although I accept the more established personnel should help, but it's also a carbon copy of what we had under Trap, for a couple of years after what should have been it's sell by date. If MON picks that team we might as well have given Trap another campaign!
I actually thought Hendrick did very well the other day, in an unspectacular way. He kept Milner (who was invariably the guy picking him up) very busy and generally used the ball confidently and efficiently when in possession, bar one poor pass that was intercepted when slotted into his less favourable role in the second half. Does the fact that he was one of the few to get ninety minutes under his belt (having been out of action longer than most) mean anything I wonder? I think it might although maybe he might have been the one replaced by Hoolahan if O'Shea didn't get injured. I think by playing Hendrick it gives us more substance in midfield as he's a solid unit in there and naturally covers the ground to help both McCarthy and Whelan, but also Coleman, who might need it on Saturday.
O'Neill looks to be getting fairly close to the team I would prefer (he's clearly starting to understand the game a bit better :p). It was very much a 4-2-3-1 in the first half the other day and it looked a good shape, we were very solid even if England did look half paced.
I think McGeady done enough in the first half to put himself in the frame and if MON does choose Hendrick over McClean, which I think is likely, it allows McGeady to play on the left of the three, where I think he's more effective. Ideally, I'd love to see him go with this and think he might, although leaving Walters out would be my biggest question mark. That could well be more hope than expectation, and I don't mean anything against Walters by saying that, just a personal preference.
----------------- Westwood ------------------
Coleman ---- O'Shea -------- Wilson ---- Brady
------------ McCarthy ------- Whelan ---------
--- Hendrick ----- Hoolahan ------ McGeady ---
------------------- Long ----------------------
Just a couple of little things with regards the England game. I thought Brady was brilliant defensively, winning headers and arguably the only player on the pitch getting really stuck in. Even if his set pieces were rubbish, he'd still be my first choice left back. On that note, why is McGeady taking the corners, especially the ones on the right? I know Brady has a lot of ground to cover after taking them from that side but it's a total waste of a good position to have anybody other than him whipping them in.
Our players need to try to make themselves available to receive the pass a bit more, there were numerous occasions on Sunday when Coleman, in particular, and also McCarthy and McGoldrick were left isolated in possession and almost had to dribble through a few players, inevitably losing or almost losing possession. I think we might have got away with it a couple of times when the referee gave us (undeserved) free kicks. Hoolahan would help this no end and simply has to start.
We need to find a way to get Coleman into the game in an attacking sense more, he's simply not the same threat that he is for Everton.
McCarthy played one Scholes or Pirlo-esque pass out the wing to McGeady in the first half, he's certainly not lacking technical ability but must find the confidence to do it more. I think it's coming though.
The jeering of GSTQ was disappointing but the applause made up for it, and the English supporters appreciated it and did the same at the end of Amhrán na bhFiann. It was a subtle, but nice, response to the morons.
Speaking of the morons, I think I actually went red with embarrassment when they started booing Sterling. Cring x 100 :o
It's very hard to put Hoolahan into the side, isn't it? Well, from O'Neill's perspective anyway. I think Whelan and McCarthy are the most defensively sound and secure pairing we have. So, play 3 in midfield and include Hoolahan? But O'Neill likes two wingers so that means we only have one striker, which is not ideal when we struggle for goals and are playing at home to a side like Scotland that don't pose the attacking threat of a stronger nation. It also means pushing Hoolahan forward to a number 10 role. I prefer Hoolahan in a very slightly deeper role, a number 8 role if you will, because it ensures we retain the ball in front of the sitting players and gives space for Hoolahan's often under-estimated movement (he ghosts).Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
If I were picking my side, I'd go with the following:
Given
Coleman O'Shea Wilson Brady
McCarthy Hoolahan Whelan
Long Walters/Murphy McGeady
A 4-3-3 with Long on the right, as he played quite a bit for Southampton with Walters up through the middle but could rotate with Long and McGeady on the left with a licence to drift in.
I like that but I'd change it to 4-2-1-3. I really like that actually, Long, coleman and Mcgeady/McClean can play fast counter attacking football, if hoolahan sits directly in front of mccarthy and whelan he can spray the ball out to the wings for long, mcgeady or Coleman. We have 2 others running from midfield then into the box. I think speed is what would upset the scots, they would defend easy against high balls and against little wes in a 10 role, but they would definitely struggle with the pace of Long, McClean/McGeady and Coleman coming at them, what we have been lacking and not utilising our speedy players effectively enough is someone in midfield to spray the ball out to the wings quickly, either side, open up the midfield turn into space and spray the pass for our fast wingers, wing backs to run onto.
I would prefer if Brady could be unshackled from the LB role and play up with the midfield,
have a Brady Hoolahan McGeady trio.
I didn't notice Brady too much (offensively) in the game against England, apart from the free kicks.
Maybe he got up and down the line and I didn't take notice, he isn't exactly a bustling, bulldog, Terry Phelan type, is he?
We are sacrificing a skilful (a rare commodity) offensive player to fill in as a bouncer on the side door.
Isn't that essentially what he picked against Polsnd, except Keane in the middle, Walters to his right? I don't think he's that averse to playing Hoolahan. I can see Long starting in the lone forward role. He and Hoolahan played great against Italy and I'd happily settle now for the same quality chances we created that day, even if Quinn and Long couldn't capitalise.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
The guy over on the score seems to be thinking along the same lines.
http://www.the42.ie/ireland-scotland...51454-Jun2015/
I am slightly perturbed by O'Neill's reverb around the onus on the home team is to attack, even after Scotland and the fruitless endeavour up there, that he is insisting that we will be the attacking team much like Scotland were in celtic park. Has he not watched any of the Scotland away games, they are all about attacking, and getting at teams. Scotland won't sit back and be happy to soak up they will look to play ball and win, as they always do. We should exploit that with pace.
I mentioned after the draw that Scotlands trajectory was on an upward curve and Strachan was a good manager, a good motivator, and that they had good results against bigger teams, especially away from home, I felt that they had a better "team" than us, and with Strachan they had the edge - I was guffawed by CD and others for this. I still feel they have that edge, I'm just hoping for the first time in about 8 years we go out and attack them from the start, a bit like the wales and slovakia home games under Stan.
Did he actually say that Scotland are likely to sit back and defend?
No, but he said the onus is on the home team to attack, like he said when we were going over there, and that's what Scotland did to us. I think he reads European qualification like a 2 leg Club European game, I think that's a bit naive(for a start no away goals to get you through, head to head I know), along with his interpretation of friendlies and results, and FIFAs ranking system.
as the cliché goes the best form of defence is attack. when we took the game to Poland in the 2nd half they hardly threatened us at all
Strachan played Anya at RB against Qatar, although he is a left winger ordinarily. I'm wondering was he just giving him game time on the RHS in case he wants him to switch sides to attack a possible weakness, namely Brady? Anya's attacking threat definitely led to Coleman playing cautiously in Glasgow, although I think he was out of sorts anyway.
Regardless of what he said, the onus is on us to attack because we messed up in Glasgow, and dropped points to Poland. We need three points more than Scotland do, simple as that. A home draw would have been a reasonable result had we won those two games. There's no doubt we were overly conservative in Glasgow. It frustrates me even thinking about it. Scotland were hardly all-out-attack themselves though but they did make more of an attempt than us. I wouldn't be too perturbed, most of our remaining games are at home and we'll know what we need to do in Poland, so that approach will take care of itself.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
It might be better for us if Anya played on the right, as Whittaker/Hutton shouldn't pose the threat on that side that Robertson will on the other. You'd imagine a Robertson/Anya double act would serve to neutralise Coleman again. We really need to get our tactics right this time. Despite being dreadful in almost every way, setup, application, attitude, etc. there was very little in the game in Glasgow, we were reasonably comfortable despite being second best. It took a world class second half save from Marshall to deny us what would have probably been wrongly portrayed as the perfect away performance. That would have been nonsense of course, but results change mindsets.
This guy seems fairly sure of the team. He's probably right too.
Aye, he's gone with the exact same 11 I went with earlier. It's fairly obvious that there are 9 certainties. He is "reasonably confident" of 10 but I think Hoolahan isn't as certain as the other 9. I do think he'll go with Long ahead of Keane and I think that 11 possess enough ability and balance that is supplemented by two utterly tiresome workers in Walters and Long. I know Long and Walters were in our attack in the reverse fixture but Hoolahan, McCarthy and Whelan weren't behind them which is why I'm more confident.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Long, Walters and McClean (instead of McGeady) in attack from the start would be some way to welcome the Scots to the Aviva. That defence is there for the taking. McGeady will get his start though.
There's even an off chance he goes with McGeady and McClean with Walters up front and Hoolahan at 10. Really want Long in there and if the goal against Poland when we needed it most doesn't guarantee him a start then it's a bit hypocritical from O'Neill to rue in the media the fact that we don't score enough.
Getting more excited as I type this...
EDIT: That's an almost entirely PL 11. 10 for 2014/15 and 10 for 2015/2016 with Brady down and Hoolahan up in the intervening period. Brady isn't not PL quality either.
I read Brady is a Norwich target, but only speculation obviously.
I think he'll go with:Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
-----------------Given----------------
Coleman---O'Shea--Wilson---Brady
----------Whelan--McCarthy----
Walters--------Weso----------McGeady
--------------Keane-------------
McClean and Long to come on and stretch the game last half hour then.
Long's record at both club and int level is roughly 1 in 4, don't have the time today to look at our strikers going back over the years but bar Robbie they'd be of similar ilk I'd say. Long definitely gives the work rate and movement but Robbie really is the exception to the rule up front for us finishing/ goals wise & as long as he's playing some sort of competitive football he'll be wheeled out Fr. Nestor Sensini style.
Speaking of the promoted sides, Bournemouth have a hole in their side for a left-footed, Irish free-kick taker. Brady could fill that.. not the hole itself but the position.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
He's filled enough holes already this season.
Wouldn't be surprised if Robbie got the start but I think this is the exact game where he should go with Long. Take the game to the Scots immediately because, as DeLorean infers (I think), we were almost chasing the game from the start in Scotland, even if the scoreboard said otherwise. There's something soothing, from an Irish perspective, about about Hoolahan, Whelan and McCarthy retaining possession with Long seriously stretching the Scottish back four. Walters is a MON favourite but I like him too. I think if we play a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 then there is plenty flexibility there allowing Long and Walters to swap and even McGeady and Hoolahan, even if Hoolahan is somewhat tucked in there.
Scotland aren't that good. I have huge respect for Robbie Keane but we shouldn't be relying on him to nick a goal and contribute little else. I think we're capable of taking the game to Scotland and unnerving a very average defence. We should set up like that.
I wish I could go to sleep and wake up Saturday...
This game is pretty much a shoot out. Win this and we have one foot in the qualification door. Hope the players start fast and 3 points would be nice for my 33rd birthday ;)
Gutted I cannot be there, could only make the England game with how things fell so I'm hoping the Aviva can roar the boys on. Very subdued on Sunday because of the early kick off, alcohol ban and heat!
I'm really hard pushed to nail a starting 11. I cannot remember the last time it has been that close, so many marginal calls. I can see the value in playing Walters/Hoolahan etc. we played for a draw in Glasgow and lost to a moment of magic (and Irish lack of concentration from a set piece) so there isn't a lot between the two teams but
I'd say we have the better players in more positions than they have.
I think he might go for this....
Given
Coleman O'Shea Wilson Brady
Hendricks Whelan McCarthy
Walters Long McGeady
I would start Hoolahan though. Scotland do like their 4-2-3-1 and we won't want to be outnumbered in midfield. Long has to start. He's a handful and his pace can trouble them.
Hopefully by 70th min we are 2 nil up and coasting and Robbie can come on when Scotland are chasing the game.
What time does this game start chaps?
I think he'll go for
-- - - - Westwood/Given - - - -
Coleman Wilson O'Shea Brady
Walters McCarthy Whelan McGeady
- - - - - - Wessi - - - -
- - - - - - -Long - - -
5pm Irish time so I'm guessing midday in NYC. Crackbird have a big screen set up for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
Given
Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson, Brady
Walters, McCarthy, Whelan, McGeady
Hoolahan
Keane
I think this will be the team.
McGeady hasn't played much football over the last several months. Walters is pushing 32 and has been playing like a man flogged by Stoke over the last several seasons whenever he has played recently for Ireland. Keane is pushing 35, out of form and lacking fitness at LA Galaxy and has been a peripheral presence for Ireland recently. Hoolahan 33.... Whelan 31.... McCarthy inhibited by the role he plays for Ireland.
I'm not confident. Hoolahan can only do so much with the players he is playing with.
I think McClean and Long should be guaranteed starters but there is a bizarre persistence with Walters and a festering desperation that will see us go back to the well with Keane.
It will be a team impinged by a lack of pace and penetration on Saturday.
I honestly don't understand why there is a reluctance to play Long on the wing. He has excelled there for Southampton. His assists and goals record for club and country over the spring should guarantee his presence in the team somewhere but alas... as people have said, by all means at least play Walters up front and have them interchanging to give them problems.
Not confident at all. I predict a Scotland win but, really, a draw is just as disastrous. And I already hear the dreaded noise about ensuring that we "don't lose".
Anything other than a win and it's curtains. We're already behind in the mini-league of three. Settling for a draw just because it's better than a loss would be intolerable. We really have to win this. Well, Poland was a game that, all things considered, we needed to win to keep the pressure off, but this really is the final chance now.
I'd like to see Martin be daring and throw Westwood in goals. It shouldn't have to be a daring decision to make - Westwood is our best keeper - but Shay seems to be favoured for whatever reason. Shay didn't look convincing at all when he came on against England though. I would never wish Shay ill will or bad luck - he's the consummate professional - but I do hope that his handling and kicking in that game have given Martin some serious food for thought.
It's frustrating watching Coleman try to single-handedly force his own way into games for us. He's not even half as potent for us as he is racing up and down the wing receiving passes in threatening positions and knocking balls and goals in for Everton week in and week out. His abilities are absolutely wasted due to our tactical limitations.
I can't see McGeady not starting. Thought he played well against England and he's an O'Neill favourite (for good reason). I don't actually think Robbie will start. He's been out for a bit and Martin simply can't be so blind as to keep making the same mistake of sticking him in because he's a pedigree goalscorer without really thinking about how we'll get the ball to him to let him do what he does best in the first place. (If Robbie does start, so must the Wessiah.) I can see Long starting after getting us out of jail against Poland, even if he didn't do anything at all against England when he came on. Not that that was his fault either - our midfield and any semblance of up-field creativity simply disappeared during the second half - just like it isn't Robbie's fault when we can't even feed him scraps sometimes because of how we're set up. I'd love to see us go for something more imaginative than Walters the brute, but it'd be a surprise not to see him in the starting line-up.
Have we heard anything further on O'Shea's muscular problem? I'm guessing it isn't going to be an issue and he'll start.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ifying-fitness
How the Championship based players prepared for the June window. Nice infographic included, detailing days since last competitive appearance for an array of Irish (and Scottish) footballers.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...ak-336321.html
To that end, O’Neill would like Ireland to put in a first-half performance against Scotland similar to the one they delivered in the second half against Poland.
“If we could start like that in the game, if we could get ourselves going and try and get the first goal rather than chasing things, that will give ourselves a chance,” he says.
Seems it won't be an issue, which is just as well as McShane is the new doubt.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Westwood has a great kick from both hands and the ground and looks sharp. Surely O'Neill must be noticing that Given doesn't have the commanding effect he was probably brought back for? A long ball manager like O'Neill must surely notice Westwoods long kicking, and generally superior distribution of all kinds.