Ireland v Slovakia - Pre Match thread

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Originally Posted by ifk101

There's been a lot of negatives the last few days so I'm going to focus on the positives about Stan's team selection.

The inclusion of McGeady is a big plus for me as it balances Duff's role in the team. We've suffered in the past from Duff being our only creative outlet and consequently opposing teams knew that if they kept Duff out of the gave we were unlikely to score. McGeady brings the same creative threat that Duff has to the team and allows the team as a whole to vary our attacking options.

I think that Stephen Ireland needs two other central midfielders around him to be effective. I know there're plenty of people who would argue otherwise but I believe the inclusion of Kilbane and Carsley alllows Ireland to focus on what he is good at - ie getting the ball down on the ground and passing it around.

The back four has played together a few times now and the players chosen are probably our best options at the moment in those positions. With the exception of McShane, the other three have had plenty of "big-time" experience and I expect that to be shown tomorrow night.

I think we can all be in agreement that at least Stan got the goalie selection right.

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Thats a pretty good summary of it provided he lines them up that way. McGeady and Duff can switch sides and cause them problems and Ireland has the security of the other two behind him. Its a good selection if they line up correctly.

As reported in the Irish times.

Shay Given will lead the Republic of Ireland out for tomorrow night's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia having been passed fit this to captain the side this afternoon.

The Newcastle goalkeeper, who missed training yesterday due to the injury picked up in the win over Wales, went through his paces with the rest of the squad at Croke Park and was first on the teamsheet when manager Steve Staunton named his side, somewhat surprisingly, this afternoon.

Stephen Ireland, another slight doubt for Staunton, also came through the session unscathed and, with Robbie Keane missing through suspension, will start in an attacking role just off striker Kevin Doyle in a match the home side simply must win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

There is no place in the starting line-up for Stephen Hunt, whose direct style impressed when introduced as a second-half substitute against the Welsh. Instead, Celtic winger Aiden McGeady will hug the left touchline in a midfield comprising Lee Carsley, Kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff.

The back four remains unchanged although Staunton would not elaborate when asked if full backs John O'Shea and Steve Finnan would switch wings. Staunton's decision to play both in unfamiliar roles was the subject of much debate before the Welsh match but the manager remains confident both are suited to the formation he has adopted.

Adressing the media today, mercifully for longer than the 32 seconds he afforded the assembled press corps yesterday, Staunton said: "I've picked players in position to go out and win the game."

"On Saturday we probably should have been more attacking, especially in the second half. Damien and Aiden will be key to winning the game," he added. "Aiden is a special talent."

Rep of Ireland(v Slovakia): Given, O'Shea, Dunne, McShane, Finnan, Duff, Carsley, Kilbane, McGeady, Ireland, Doyle

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Originally Posted by Nailer77

But is that how they'll definitely line up? Or did he just name the players?

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Thats how I think it will be. Staunton won't try and mix it up too much.

Well that last comment sounds like Duff and McGeady will be allowed to push on and hopefully Ireland will get plenty of ball in the middle and make us of it because we were really lacking there on Saturday with Douglas and Carsley.

Delighted with that team. Kilbane should be fine beside Carsley, he'll hassle the Slovakian's all night.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to the fai site, Mcgeady has come in for Douglas, so I reckon it'll line up

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            Given
Finna  Dunne  McShane O'Shea
McGeady Ireland Carsley Kilbane
        Duff    Doyle

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although it could just as easily be

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          Given
O'Shea Dunne  McShane Finnan
Duff  Carsley Kilbane McGeady
      Ireland Doyle

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Carsley and Kilbane in the centre. Thats just a disaster waiting to happen.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to the fai site, Mcgeady has come in for Douglas, so I reckon it'll line up

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            Given
Finna  Dunne  McShane O'Shea
McGeady Ireland Carsley Kilbane
        Duff    Doyle

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although it could just as easily be

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          Given
O'Shea Dunne  McShane Finnan
Duff  Carsley Kilbane McGeady
      Ireland Doyle

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There are other formations than 4 4 2 you know.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Delighted with that team. Kilbane should be fine beside Carsley, he'll hassle the Slovakian's all day.

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Yeh Kilbane gets stick on here but you can't fault the lad for effort at all and he'll make life tough for them. Its definitely a more positive set up than Saturdays. Players playing in their correct positions is a start.

Lads very dissappointed to see Hunt left out...its just typical of Stan..Id say they will play like this

.......................Given

Finnan.....Dunne......McShane.....O'Shea

................Carsley......Kilbane

McGeady...........Ireland..............Duff

........................Doyle

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Originally Posted by Nailer77

Yeh Kilbane gets stick on here but you can't fault the lad for effort at all and he'll make life tough for them. Its definitely a more positive set up than Saturdays. Players playing in their correct positions is a start.

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Certainly don't agree with Kilbane in the team.
He has been shocking for Ireland and only warms the bench with Wigan.
He is Stan's mate and Stan will do anything to accomodate him.
Why not Hunt who has shown promise and is a regular with Reading who are pushing for Europe.

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Originally Posted by Mento

Certainly don't agree with Kilbane in the team.
He has been shocking for Ireland and only warms the bench with Wigan.
He is Stan's mate and Stan will do anything to accomodate him.
Why not Hunt who has shown promise and is a regular with Reading who are pushing for promotion.

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Well going by how you'd expect them to line out its not a case of Hunt or Kilbane its a case of Hunt or McGeady. Kilbane will be in the middle with Carsley and Ireland. If thats not the case and we line up with 4 across the middle with Kilbane on the left then I'd agree with you but I'd be very surprised to see that. Then again this is Stan we're talking about.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Delighted with that team. Kilbane should be fine beside Carsley, he'll hassle the Slovakian's all night.

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Agreed. And I think we are going to win tomorrow

I'm sick of people on here hassling and insulting Kilbane. How quick people forget his crucial goal against the Czechs and his general work rate and example.

Why is he seen as some kind of easy target for the boo-boys? The loutish booing incident at the Dunne fight the orther night was a sad moment for any fan of the Irish team.

To the person who called him a name is a previous post, are you a fan of the team or not?

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

There are other formations than 4 4 2 you know.

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I know, but according to the FAI site McGeady has come in for Douglas, so I don't see a change in formation. McGeady has often stated that his favored position is behind the front 2, so now he gets a chance to play there for Ireland

Yeah he has Douglas has dropped out of the team and Mc Geady is in, what other way could they have put it. I think you are reading far too much into that statement.

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Originally Posted by charliesboots

he won't pick this team but this is who and how I think we should play from the squad that prat has picked.

--------------Given------------

Finnan--McShane-Dunne--Harte

-------------Carsley-----------
------Ireland------Kilbane-----

McGeady------------------Duff
-------------Doyle------------

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Are you Bobby? :eek: Let's hope they line up like that.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I know, but according to the FAI site McGeady has come in for Douglas, so I don't see a change in formation. McGeady has often stated that his favored position is behind the front 2, so now he gets a chance to play there for Ireland

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Well thats cos he has come in for Douglas he couldn't say otherwise, if we go with 442 with that selection then I'd be concerned. 451 is right for the players selected.

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Originally Posted by Nailer77

Yeh Kilbane gets stick on here but you can't fault the lad for effort at all and he'll make life tough for them. Its definitely a more positive set up than Saturdays. Players playing in their correct positions is a start.

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in fairness nailer the players who are playing tomorrow were named. there was no insuination as to their positions. i won't hold my breath on them lining up in their correct positions!

who could have forseen that JoSh would have been RB and Finnan LB last Sat! the team offers few surprises but i am fearing some form of lunacy unfortunately when i see them line out on the pitch tomorrow night!

i'm actually surprised that douglas is out as i would have thought, going by scorelines anyway, that the slovaks offered a more serious threat than the welsh from an attacking perspective.

Its going to end up 4-5-1 one way or the other.
He might try to say its a 4-3-3 but it wont work out that way

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To the person who called him a name is a previous post, are you a fan of the team or not?

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Just because someone has an opinion on a player does not mean hes not a fan.(and it was not me who call him anything, even though I could think of one or two)
IMO Kilbane is a terrible player, and Hunt is not the man in form for that position. I'll be at the match, cheering who ever is playing, but if Kilbane scores a hatrick it wont change my opinion.

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but if we had more with his commitment at the moment, we would be realistic challengers for second spot

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Commitment, I would have commitment, but I'm useless. I was sitting no more than 15 yards from where he was on Sat, he gave the ball away more than any other Irish player. His one trick worked once during the game, he even tryed a silly looking step over. Hes over rated and yes we do have better player than him. He scored against San Marino...big swinging....

Sorry but theres about 3 or 4 people on that team that should be dropped, hes one. Just my opinion.

that begs another question. are we capable of successifully playing any other system than 4-4-2?