Very disappointed that Foley isn't picked over Kelly - though Foley's error for Elmander's (superb) goal seems to have been overlooked by everyone here and criticism of Kelly above is unfair. He's a decent enough player, but probably no more than that.
I've no doubt Coleman and Wilson will see a fair bit of action and in Coleman's case I wouldn't be surprised if they're accomodating Moyes by giving Coleman only 45 minutes.
I hope Fahey grabs his chance.
Couldn't agree with you more, those 4 defo would have started. Trap's hand has been forced with these injuries but after the stick he has received recently, he has no choice but to go with as many experienced players as possible. Very inexperienced international defence which is why he's gone with Kelly, Fahey in at CM which is why he's stuck with Whelan, was no need to start Lawrence and Doyle starting is puely down to experience and the 100% he puts in in every shift. He also missed the Slovakia game so I'm sure he was keen to play in Green again!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Instant impression is one of disappointment, but if I let my imagination run away with itself the past few days with all the withdrawals and got carried away, it's still an interesting team selection, albeit one done with a hand tied around the back.
He obviously doesn't see Wilson as a centre half. We were warned by Drummerboy that O'Dea would start.
Fahey in the middle really could be interesting. I'm very disappointed he's picked Duff over McGeady, the only reason I can think of is that he feels Duff will offer Cunningham more protection given his inexperience.
I have to say I'm disappointed he's picked Lawrence on the right. I like LL, but we know what he can offer, and I would have preferred to see either Coleman or McGeady start there.
I'm trying to temper my disgust that Foley isn't starting with the fact that kelly is there longer and is equally deserving of a pick, but the kid has been very good so far this season, and has been around the fringes long enough. I suppose he ain't really a kid anymore either.
I hope he'll make the following changes as the game wears on.
Foley -> Kelly
Coleman -> Lawrence
Wilson -> Whelan
Treacy -> Duff
Walters -> Doyle
I think Fahey's starting position might have come at the expense of Coleman's. Including those two, plus Duff in a four man midfield would give it a very weak defensive outlook. Lawrence adds a bit more stability, he's not going to go forward as often, or as fast as Coleman, but he's not going to leave Kelly as exposed as I think Coleman would.
I think it's the combination of greater experience and ability. Kelly's not terrible. Having said that, ability has never always been a prerequisite for getting into Trap's sides.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
It's fairly simple. Experience. This may be a friendly, but it's still a fairly important game, in terms of having experience and consistency within the team. Interestingly, Trap actually started Foley in CM in one of the behind closed doors friendlies - shifting McShane to right back to accommodate the Duffy O'Dea partnership. I wonder will McShane still be in contention for the RB slot after this game, with three prospective right backs in the squad?Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Disagree. Lawrence is a solid, hardworking winger who has been fit and playing well. Coleman has had limited experience on the wing, McGeady is suspect when it comes to tracking back and Hunt is just returning from injury and naturally has yet to find good form.Quote:
Lawrence is a poor call as well, ahead of Coleman, McGeady and Hunt.
Experience. Depending on how awful Whelan may be, Wilson should get a decent run out.Quote:
Also, Whelan has been awful in recent games and isn't up to it. Would have loved to have seen Wilson start.
Egil "Drillo" Olsen at Lansdowne Rd.
Drillo wants to win this game, while he considers the performance more important than the result nevertheless he thinks they will win 1-0.
http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/w...654/472987.jpg
I appreciate that Tets. The problem (a good problem) is that we actually have the players available (for one night only) to play a quick-passing, fast-tempo game.
Foley- Coleman/Foley-McGeady & Cunningham-Duff/Cunningham-McGeady with a middle pair of Glenn & Fats and Doyle and Long is an extremely skillful team. Pace is something we've not been genuinely blessed with for a while. It can be utilised.
Also it's a slight team, but I'm not sure LL is more aggressive than Coleman, Kelly probably is a bit more so than Foley though.
The mad genius.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
It's hardly an apocalyptic selection. O'Dea did well for us in May and we were stuck for options. At least he's actually a CB. If he plays well he may well keep ahead of McShane in the reserve CB pecking order.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
I agree with your suggested substitutions.
O'Dea hasn't played in a while for Ipswich. he is a barebones selection.
As was pointed out by Drummerboy, he's playing to get him gametime after coming back from injuryQuote:
Originally Posted by geysir
"Warned" was the incorrect word to use. "Informed" perhaps would be better. I've no issue with Darren O'Dea starting tomorrow, as he is the next centre half in line. Dunne, O'Shea, St Ledger are all ahead of him. Indeed it's a positive insofar as he might edge McShane out of the squad totally if he goes well.
In my eyes he's probably 4th depending on where Clark fits into the equation for Trap.
All in all though this could be the start of a curve where the squad changes for the better. Ideally if the likes of Long, Walters, O'Dea, Foley, Treacy, Coleman led to the phasing out of Hunt, Hunt, McShane, Kilbane, Green, we'd be better off for it in the short, medium and long term.
What's Stephen Hunt done wrong?!
Surely O'Shea is there out of neccesity more than anything else. On the Foley note, Wolves bad defensive record is far more to do with their CB pairing. In fact, I would say Foley is their only strong defender at the moment. I know people like Ward a lot, but when i've seen him his defensive abilities remind me a bit of McShane, he always seems to have a mistake or two in him. He's just better going forward.
He'll defo sub on Walters and Coleman. I just pray to Christ he subs Whelan for Wilson at some stage, and not Fahey for Wilson.
I'm pretty excited about this game now tho, the one thing that has shown with Trap is it only takes one game for him to decide on a player. Lawrence being the perfect example.
On another note, I'm glad to see Given as captain.
Indeed. Actually I think having Stephen Hunt and Seamus Coleman in the squad is a really exciting prospect - for instance, they could have some impact off the bench late on in games. Send the pair of them on to terrorise full-backs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
In relation to Stephen Hunt (and this shouldn't derail the thread) but most people have admired his passion and enthusiasm above everything, and that he's seen as an impact player more than anything else.
Duffer is coming to the end of his days, but with McGeady (in my opinion) offering more on the left, and Keith Treacy too (I really think this fella has potential for us) then maybe we should be going beyond Hunt? I like the guy and he sure is a cult hero in many respects, but I think in the medium term we will have better options. It's not even a criticism of the guy.
For the amount of time he's spent on the pitch for us, I can't think of a player who's created more goals than Hunt. In terms of set-piece delivery, only Lawrence comes close.
I don't agree on that I have to be honest. For me, Josh' best position is at centre back, and Dunne & O'Shea are our best CB combination. They haven't been selected together since St Ledgers rise, because he is an adequate replacement while Josh fills a bigger gap at RB. A job he's done well.Quote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
This would be my favoured squad at the moment:
Given/Westwood/An Other
Foley/Kelly
Dunne/St Ledger
O'Shea/Another -> Clark/O'Dea
Kilbane/Cunningham
McGeady/Coleman
Whelan/Andrews/McCarthy/Fahey
Duff/Lawrence
Keane/Long
Doyle/Stokes
I would like to see the B Internationals utilised a little more, as I think they would answer a few questions about guys like Wilson, Clark, Pat McCarthy, O'Dea, Ward, Meyler, Sheridan Stokes etc.
As I said, I've no problem with Stephen Hunt. I just think that he is limited to a certain extent. I wear my admiration for McGeady on my sleeve and feel he's completely underappreciated by Irish fans, when compared with the adoration that Hunt gets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie D
With Fahey becoming more prominent also, and hopefully he has a decent game tomorrow night, he would be ahead of everyone for set piece duty, consistently excellent and always has been too.
Edit. I certainly don't classify Hunty as a liabilty either.
I wanted to see Foley, Coleman and Wilson from the start.
We need a proper full back in the team.
We need a player who can pass, tackle and control a ball in midfield.
The Norway game was the perfect chance to give these guys a go. If your good enough your old enough. I cannot see any of them being fazed if thrown in at the deep end because they are mixing it with the big boys week in week out.
Drillo reckons Keane has been our most influential player in our recent games.
Norway are missing their two first choice strikers and will certainly play a 451.
Incidentally, about half their squad play in the Norwegian league.
I'd actually forgotten about him. I'm not fussed whether he figures though. It might not be fair to him or Wolves given that he's only just back. It'd be different for a competitive game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Big change from about 10-12 years ago when most of there top players were based in the epl, solskjaer, tore andre flo, henning berg, bjornebye, thomas myhre, leonhardsen and ostensstad..Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Only complaint would be the absence of Foley. He's been around the squad for years now, with only one start to his name - surely that, along with his good form, should have been acknowledged. Still, nothing to get hysterical about. Coleman will surely get a run. It will be interesting to see Cunningham and O'Dea at the back. Intrigued to see Fahey in the middle. Looks a decent, well-balanced side.
Is Foley not hurt?
Trap knows best. Sigh.
I will not see a second of this but i will go on here as soon as i can to get a feel for what happened. And let me take a wild guess, it will be a bad loss with no positives.
Then, a day later, positives will emerge. (This will be argued.)
No one will understand anything AND
McCarthy, Coleman, Meyler, Clifford, Clark..
Will play for us. At some point.
0-0 anyone?
I completely agree with this. Some fans are so fickle though that one or two poxy goals and they'd be saying he's finally come good. I could hardly believe the critisism he got, locally, after the Russia game. I thought he was our best player by some distance. I do believe that he is pretty ineffective on the right though, and doesn't do much from the bench. He needs to grow into a match and generally improves as it goes on. If it was a choice of springing either himself or Hunt from the bench, I'd probably go with Hunt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
naah, there's goals in this game, from both sides.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
2-2?
Best of a bad bunch, one might say. McGeady did well going forward and it was great to see him initiating counter attacks, but he often neglected his defensive duties and continuously left Kilbane exposed. It's also very hard to forgive his consistently awful delivery.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
We're Barcelona now. It'll be at least 6-2, in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I think this lineup shows again what gattuso says in lexlips signature.trap first and foremost went with what he says as a stronger unit less likely to concede goals hence Lawrence and Kelly down the right.Lawrences work ethic matched with Kelly s solid but spectacular defending capabilities over attacking
prowess. Had he gone for Coleman and foley this would have shown a change to his mindset which obviously hasn't occurred and never will. Having said that starting with the former 2 has his benefits as we start well it gives confidence and then he can being on the other two after half time with a more attack minded approach if its a stalemate or we are chasing a goal,these are the key situations where foley and Coleman would excel.
Im happy fahey has got his chance in the middle after almost 18 months, and throwing when in to start with fir experience makes sense though id like to see when be replaced by Wilson as opposed to fahey unless fahey tires which he seems to dk which is understandable as he doesn't get full games for brum.
Don't think Walters not starting is a biggy. He gets feck all time with stoke anyway lately.
So long as trap makes the required changes we all wish for.sometime through the game i am happy enough with this startin lineup even if it were forced upon him. I do agree that i think the only reason he made the change is because of injuries but at the end of the day i think its better to blend them into a game with experienced guys i think the team as well fir with pressure and to learn the trap system from other.
"Life is an adventure in forgiveness."Quote:
Originally Posted by Predator
Excuse spelling sent from android and can't figure out keypad
I think you're selling Lawrence a little short there. He is very good defensively but he's also been one of our best attacking outlets. He does create goals and is the highest-scoring Irish player in England right now (at least in the top divisions).
I don't think it a bad line-up tbh.
Kelly is playing regularly at club level so it always was going to be a marginal call between him and Foley to start at RB. The centre half partnership picked itself as there was no other options, as did Cunningham's selection at LB. With Cunningham now playing at club level, I'm happy enough to see him get more game time.
Happy to see Fahey get the opportunity to show what he can do in the centre. It's been a while since we''ve had a ball playing midfielder in the centre. I think he and Duff will combine well.
Lawrence's inclusion is a strange one but I think it suggests that Trapattoni doesn't have full confidence in Kelly's abilities at RB.
Up front, again happy with the selection. It would have been wrong to drop Long given his performance in Slovakia. Long and Doyle know each other well so I'm interested to see how they'll work as a partnership.
Hopefully Foley, Wilson and Coleman will all get a run and we win the game.
"Fans travelling to tonight’s international friendly at the Aviva Stadium should not expect a goal glut, as Norway with their last 11 games ending either 1-0 or 2-1."Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
http://greenscene.me/2010/11/olsen-i...ike-barcelona/
I think all this "playing like Barcelona" talk is an exercise in mind-games. 'Drillo' is a sly dog.
Are you saying that McGeady's international career is more like an adventure in forgiveness? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
or English in general ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea