Fair point on E Nolan
It would be great if Doyle were past fit
S Quinn plays in Playoff final on Monday 25th -
Game against Nigeria is on the 29th. He was simply not picked.
Fair point on E Nolan
It would be great if Doyle were past fit
S Quinn plays in Playoff final on Monday 25th -
Game against Nigeria is on the 29th. He was simply not picked.
I wouldn't really wanna get bogged down with the merrits of certain players over others. It's the simple effort of experimenting coupled with stability i'm impressed with.... It's been absent from most if not all of his squads thus far.
Happy with the squad. Pity Fahey is not there but his time will come if he keeps up the good form.
Yeah, it shows that other players are being looked at and there's a mix of stability and experimentation. There has been room for players to play their way in which is good.
S. Quinn isn't that much of a surprise to me: Duff, McGeady and Stephen Hunt can all play left side of midfield and there are enough CM's all deservedly ahead of him.
Miller is lucky to be still involved.
me too hence the question.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Just been on fulhamfc.com and there appears to be plenty of tickets left. Only a few areas of the Johnny Haynes stand with limited availability.
Think I might give the Riverside Stand a go this time. Jesus, that will mean Ive watched matches from all four stands at Craven cottage then - I need to get out more..........
I accept that it is a good mix of stability and experimentation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
However I do not accept that there is enough in the squad deservedly ahead of him. S.Hunt? A.Keogh? D Gibson? L.Miller?
I hope Lawrence plays the full 90 against Nigeria. He has definetly something to bring to the table.
On the whole, a positive squad selection. What is the Finnan update anyone know?
of those, Stephen Quinn is only really competing against Gibson and Miller for a slot in central midfield. I don't see him playing on the wing. With the likes of McCann, Garvan, McCarthy, and possibly Fahey coming through, as well as Whelan, Andrews and Stephen Reid already mainstays in the squad, it's going to be harder and harder for him to make an impressionsQuote:
Originally Posted by BigmanCas
according to this - http://soccerrepublic.eircom.net/New...ing-may18.aspxQuote:
Originally Posted by BigmanCas
Quote:
Steve Finnan (Espanyol)
Injured (Espaynol 1 Athletic Bilbao 0)
Sill out with a knee injury; his side kept their great run going with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao thanks to a 69th-minute Luis Garcia penalty.
I see S. Quinn as a tenacious central midfielder or a left sided wide midfielder.
S. Hunt played really well in that position in Italy and deseves to be considered away to Bulgaria. McGeady, Duff and Hunt can all play on the left and I'd have all of them ahead of Quinn right now.
Keogh is there as a forward in all reality. I think even Trap knows that he's no option as a wide midfielder and in any event he's right sided versus Quinn's left side.
Gibson is already reasonably experienced and is there as cover for Whelan. He's a very different type of player to Quinn.
Miller is a waste of space as an orthodox midfielder and shouldn't be in the squad. But that's about the only selection I'm not happy with. Better than usual.
I agree. Still though, no harm in giving him a chance in the friendly IMO. As things stand, it seems like Trap is taking this friendly very seriously - which is fair enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Maybe Wes can get another chance in the Thomond friendlies.
Not a fan of the friendly, hope no one gets injured. Duff shouldnt even play at all IMO.
Would we have 6 uncapped players, most of whom a lot if us were hoping to get called up, in a copmpetitive squad though?Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
Could be useful giving Folan and Keane a start together with the doubt over Doyle's fitness as well.
Agreed. Got to give that pairing 45mins at least.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er
I'm a big fan of this friendly. We need to take a look at form players on the fringes, give Folan a run out with Keane and generally look at the options. Injury is a risk, but one you've got to take I reckon.
What I'm hoping to see Friday week.
Westwood
Foley-St Ledger-Dunne-Kilbane
Lawrence-Whelan-Gibson-Duff
Keane-Folan
I'm really looking forward to the match. Duff needs a run out so he's familiar with playing left wing after rotting away at left back for his club. Foley, Lawrence and St Ledger have a chance to shine and let the boss know they can do a job if required.
right side possibly a bit inexperienced there....
Would not be surprised at all if trap kept the new lads on the bench and didnt play them at all.
To be fair , they're not going to be experienced if they don't play in games like this ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
better to have a run out for the first time together against Nigeria than Bulgaria!
I don't think I'd be too disappointed if he gave 3 or 4 of the new caps a taste of international football and we lost, then again I'm not going, if I were I'd be all out for the win!!!
Edit....Has anyone seen any reaction pieces in the press from the new call ups? I'm willing to bet Leon Best is the most surprised man of all time
Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
In total agreement with the above selection.
Gives Foley and St Ledger an opportunity to break their duck behind a (relatively) settled midfield.
Also allows Lawrence to show what he can do. Lawrence may not have as much trickery as McGeady but he could well be more of a goal threat that this team needs.
Finally, gives Folan the chance to hopefully re-produce how he played against Italy. A big performance from him could make him the favourite to replace Doyle (if needs be).
thats not what i meant though, i meant balance, its unlikely lawrence and foley will play together to be honest in those positions within the next year in an important game. better to balance it with one or the other etc and then change at half time. Heres hoping im wrong though ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by gustavo
I'd love to see that team get a run out - need to blood as many for the future as we can - no need for conservatism, as previously displayed.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Great news that Lawrence has been added to the squad in arguably our weakest position. Also, looking forward to see McCann & McCarthy added to that midfield eventually.
Would be equally happy to McGeady playing in his more natural left sided position.
is this live on TV on any channel ?
It's on Setanta Sports 1 in Ireland
Stutts are you going to the game?!
If so, a nice swift walk with tets from brogans is in order!
20 minute jog you mean!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I'm going though not sure how sociable I can be. A mate lives nearby and she's having drinks for the gang of us going at her flat. One of the group is celebrating a birthday and another is mourning the loss of his father last weekend so I guess it'll be an odd affair.
I'd like us to play a full team, minus perhaps O'Shea who will be starting in the Champions League final two days beforehand.
Given
Foley-McShane-Dunne-Kilbane
McGeady-Andrews-Gibson-Whelan-Hunt/Duff
Keane
Maybe for 45 mins but i dont see the value of playing the likes of Keane, Given, Dunne, Kilbane and Duff other than to keep them match sharp for the year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
I def would like to see Folan start up front as he is likely to be an option to replace Doyle for the Bulgaria game.
Lawrence & St. Ledger each needs at least 45 mins in my opinion, and in the framework of an XI featuring most of the regulars. SSL should be beside Dunne for example...
I disagree with all the guys on here who think that now is the time to experiment. Need I remind you that Ireland's biggest match in almost six years is only twelve days away. We should be using this warm-up match against Nigeria to prepare the squad for the Bulgaria match on the 6th of June. What do we stand to gain by throwing in fringe players like Sean St. Ledger and Darren O'Dea when they have no chance of starting the Bulgaria match? Enter a friendly tournament early next season and use that for that purpose.
Normally I'd agree, but this Irish team is undergoing a transition, and fresh blood needs to be introduced, as the squad has looked threadbare up to now. Throughout the campaign we've had difficulties at right-back, and in our back-up for the wide midfield and striker positions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
I certainly don't want to see McShane playing at right-back again, so if Foley does well against Nigeria, he should start against Bulgaria. Likewise, I don't want to see Keogh in a wide position again, so it would be a good idea to blood Lawrence while we have the chance. Obviously, Folan will have to start, with St. Ledger perhaps getting a half or more. Trap knows what the O'Shea-Dunne partnership can do, and by bringing another accomplished CB in, it would at least give us options if someone picks up a knock before Sofia. Ideally, I'd like to see us play 10 more friendlies before Bulgaria, just to fill out the squad and settle players in, but we don't have that luxury of course. So - do we stick with the limited squad that scraped through until now; or do we take calculated risks on blooding two or three uncapped players who have had excellent seasons for their clubs?
Trap will put out a strong team against Nigeria anyway, but there's no harm in giving the likes of Lawrence, St. Ledger and Foley a chance, keeping in the spirit of the gradual transition that Trap has presided over.
O'Shea won't be playing Friday because of the Barca game so it's either St Ledger or McShane. O'Shea will slot right back in for the Bulgaria game so the Trap has nothing to lose by using St Ledger now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Id agree with all of thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Supreme feet
I think you mean "passed" fit e.g. Paul Gascgoine is "past" fit !Quote:
Originally Posted by BigmanCas
Folan is unlikely to be fit for Nigeria game which is a shame considering that he is a realistic option for the Bulgaria game and it would be good to give him a run out in advance.
Given is to be rested with Westwood playing which makes sense imo.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/law...se-412418.html
http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/cal...ia-412412.html
that ***** folan seems to pick and choose his games
Interesting conclusion.
So whats the concluded starting XI?
Code:Westwood
Foley Dunne St Ledger Nolan
Lawrence Whelan Andrews Duff
Keane Best
Is Noel Hunt injured or was he dropped from the squad? Was just thinking its a big drop from sub in Italy to out of the squad.