Squad announced for Czechs and Cyprus

Glad to see to the Lee Carsley rehabilitation bandwagon rolling at full speed. Almost canonization material by now.
I have always rated Carsley, thought he was very hard done by not getting any playing time at WC 02.
With the talk about holding midfielders. I never thought he blended in with Keane in midfield, whenever they played together he ended up like Roy's kid brother, always following in his shadow around midfield ready to receive the 2m pass.
In a fantasy world, if Carsley made it onto the first eleven, then it would be a temptation to go with Ireland or Miller at CM with McGeady and Duff wide. Shove O'Shea out to LB.

I dont think Carsley is the big solution that a few people are suggesting. However, he is the type of player that we are arguably missing in midfield. One thing for sure is he will battle hard in midfield for us. If we could put someone along side him who can pass the ball well then it would be a decent midfield.
The problem at the moment is that neither OS or KK are comfortable on the ball and pretty much as soon as they receive the ball they look to release.

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Originally Posted by geysir

if Carsley made it onto the first eleven, then it would be a temptation to go with Ireland or Miller at CM with McGeady and Duff wide. Shove O'Shea out to LB.

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Largely agree.

I said ealier I'd be inclined to go with any two of Kav, Miller & Douglas. Now for Kav, insert Carsley. Ireland is a risk as he's barely played. I'd have Miller ahead of him.

I think Douglas has unsung merits.

Which Miller would show up? The swashbuckling hero of games against Lyon/Anderlecht/Leeds/Sweden, or the utterly anonymous figure that was bypassed in Villareal, 90% of his United career & the game after the Leeds win? I do like him though, talented player.

carsely and miller would be great , wonder if we will ever see that pairing though

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I think Douglas has unsung merits.

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Have to say I liked what I saw of him agaisnt Holland but never seen him play much in last couple a years. would deffo give him a go agaisnt the weaker teams in the groupl.

not withstanding stans statement about 2010 , i'm sure he is gunning for the 6 points , anything less than this will leave us seriously behind the leaders..

a little off topic but to the last comment: it sounds as if he's expecting to be here through 2010 - understanding every manager would expect the same thing and have confidence in himself - but i get the sense that he's been given the green light to stay even if we fail to qualify for this tournament. i wonder what kerr supporters would think of that. imagine, if you will, a deplorable qualifying campaign with us finishing equal to or worse than when we started, seeding-wise. if staunton didn't go, well it would be rather harsh on bk, no?

on a side note: are the groups about equal in difficulty? difficult to rate wales yet of course (it'll be a derby against them) but they might occupy the israel spot this time around. france = germany, czech = swiss, perhaps the inverse/opposite? only making these comparisons in light of the above paragraph and IF stan stays if we fail to make it.

There was a fairly sizable contingent of fans as well as media 'experts' calling for him to be sacked before we had played a competitive match under him (!!) ... if this campaign goes badly, and by that I mean we end up with a worse seeding than the one we had for this group, there is no way he will keep his job - regardless of what it says in his contract!!

I think its pretty obvious he will be given this campaign and the next one. I cannot see any situation other than Delaney being ousted in a coup that would lead to him being fired before well into the next campaign.

If we finished bottom of the group he'd go for sure. Second bottom, again, he'd go for sure. To be honest, he could only be really confident of keeping his job beyond this campaign by finishing in the top three - even fourth place would be no guarentee: too many fickle 'supporters' calling for him to be sacked after one competitive match ... they aren't going to stop complaining because of Delaney or a clause in Stan's contract!!!

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Originally Posted by ken foree

a little off topic but to the last comment: it sounds as if he's expecting to be here through 2010 - understanding every manager would expect the same thing and have confidence in himself - but i get the sense that he's been given the green light to stay even if we fail to qualify for this tournament. i wonder what kerr supporters would think of that. imagine, if you will, a deplorable qualifying campaign with us finishing equal to or worse than when we started, seeding-wise. if staunton didn't go, well it would be rather harsh on bk, no?

on a side note: are the groups about equal in difficulty? difficult to rate wales yet of course (it'll be a derby against them) but they might occupy the israel spot this time around. france = germany, czech = swiss, perhaps the inverse/opposite? only making these comparisons in light of the above paragraph and IF stan stays if we fail to make it.

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bk got a fair crack of the whip, he finished 3rd inthe Euro group our worst finish for 20 years, he was allowed to continue and beat his own record by finishing 4th. It wouldn't shock me if we finished 5th with Stan but I hope not. Stan has played 1 and lost 1. Long way to go.

Connolly (I wont give up hope till he retires from Domestic Football) and Murphy are back in training as of yesterday, but I think only Murphy has a chance of playing--which is good as Elliott wont even start jogging until next week. Delap is ready for the game tomorrow, while, as you know, Kavanagh is out for 4-6 weeks. Andy Reid is very doubtful for tomorrow, but tomorrow is his expected return date, Steven Reid's return date is the 14th of October (too late) and Paddy Kenny is very doubtful for tomorrow. Joey O'Brien expected back October 7th (could be a late call up), while Shay is still out until his expected return date (October 28th...which I'm not sure about)

Updates from
www.safc.co.uk
www.physioroom.com

Paddy Kenny looks like the type of chubby kid who always got picked last and ended up in goals.
With the two goalkeepers out, then it's Henderson. I'm starting to twitch.

Andy Reid has started Charlton's game against Arsenal. From looking at the teamsheet it seems he's part of a 4-3-3 in midfield with Faye and Hughes. Hopefully his days as a left winger are over.

Stephen Ireland started for City.

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Originally Posted by thew0rm2345

Connolly (I wont give up hope till he retires from Domestic Football) and Murphy are back in training as of yesterday, but I think only Murphy has a chance of playing--which is good as Elliott wont even start jogging until next week.

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Murphy started, Connolly on the bench---Roy claimed Connolly's injury as his fault last time, I doubt he'd like to do that again, so I dont think hell get on

Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United) Started
Wayne Henderson (Brighton & HA) Started - Conceded 2
Nicky Colgan (Barnsley) Not in Squad

Andy O’Brien (Portsmouth) Sunday
Richard Dunne (Manchester City) Started - Conceded 1
John O’Shea (Manchester United) Sunday
Steve Finnan (Liverpool) Started - Conceded 2
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United) Sunday
Sean St Ledger (Preston North End) Started - Conceded 1
Paul McShane (West Bromwich Albion) Started - Sent off 32' Professional Foul

Jonathan Douglas (Leeds United) Started
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers) Injured
Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletics) Sunday
Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Sunday
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) Started - Off 57'
Liam Miller (Sunderland) Substitute - On 74'
Graham Kavanagh (Sunderland) Injured
Andy Reid (Charlton Athletic) Started - Off 78'
Stephen Elliott (Sunderland) Injured
Damien Duff (Newcastle United) Sunday

Alan Lee (Ipswich Town) Started
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur) Sunday
Kevin Doyle (Reading) Sunday
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) Started - Yellow Off 45'
Alan O’Brien (Newcastle United) Sunday

Sky ratings for midfield.

A. Reid - In need of games 5 - 5.2
Ireland - Disappointing 5 - 5.7

Meanwhile...
Carsley - Fine first half 7 - 6.7

Richard Dunne got 9 out of 10 from the Manchester Evening News

Great squah eh? When you removed injured left with:

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Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United) Started
Wayne Henderson (Brighton & HA) Started - Conceded 2
Nicky Colgan (Barnsley) Not in Squad

Andy O’Brien (Portsmouth) Sunday
Richard Dunne (Manchester City) Started - Conceded 1
John O’Shea (Manchester United) Sunday
Steve Finnan (Liverpool) Started - Conceded 2
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United) Sunday
Sean St Ledger (Preston North End) Started - Conceded 1
Paul McShane (West Bromwich Albion) Started - Sent off 32' Professional Foul

Jonathan Douglas (Leeds United) Started
Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletics) Sunday
Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Sunday
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) Started - Off 57'
Liam Miller (Sunderland) Substitute - On 74'
Andy Reid (Charlton Athletic) Started - Off 78'
Damien Duff (Newcastle United) Sunday
Alan O’Brien (Newcastle United) Sunday

Alan Lee (Ipswich Town) Started
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur) Sunday
Kevin Doyle (Reading) Sunday
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) Started - Yellow Off 45'

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Likely Team:

Kenny
Carr O'Brien Dunne Finnan
Reid/McGeady O'Shea Kilbane Duff
Keane Doyle

Bench: St Ledger, Miller, Ireland, O'Brien, Reid/McGeady, Morrisson, Lee.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=1191
Alan Quinn has been called up.
It is becoming more and more apparent that Staunton doenst give a **** about Euro 08, but just cares about the 2010 World Cup