Overmars looks like he has been slain in that video around 1:40s
Overmars looks like he has been slain in that video around 1:40s
Four would be superb. Three would probably have us in for the play-offs (unless Slovakia to the double over Russia) - I suppose that'd have to be success, even given our record in play-offs. Pessimistic me says 1 is a distinct possibility.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Has everyone agreed the starting line up will be Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Ward, Duff, Whelan, Andrews, McGeady, Doyle, Keane? Or is McGeady not fully fit? Or does anyone think he'll stick with Kilbane over Ward?
If the above is the starting 11, with options like Hunt and Long from the bench, I'm extremely optimistic about getting the win on Friday.
My prediction is 2-0 Ireland, Keane and McGeady. Any other predictions?
I reckon that's the one. Heard earlier that Kilbane's fitness is being assessed today so it doesn't look good for his competive games streak does it, with the game tomorrow? Trap himself has declared McGeady fit and ready.Quote:
Originally Posted by lionelhutz
I'll go with 2-1. Duff and a late cameo from Long.
Me head tells me 2-0 Slovakia Me Heart tells me 1-0 Slovakia.
Ahh that joke never gets old.
ireland 3 - slovakia 1
keane, dunne, andrews
sorry, cant see us winning by 2 goals. very little between these two teams and we dont generally perform great in competitive home matches. nil all for me i'm afraid
Yet you are making out Trap has done a great job a few months ago jbyrne.
We can beat the team Slovakia had out in Zilina but I suspect they will be more of a force in Dublin.
So should we, better midfield with more options out wide, better CH pairing, full backs and Robbie should be sharper than he was that night.
"That shouldn't be any trouble for the defense --- OH NO! (long painful pause) is it a penalty? oh no, that's unbelievable!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Odds on us playing awful tomorrow and then grinding out a draw over in Moscow after (4 days of heavy criticism)?
1 point and it's game over.
2 points and the group is a mess for all teams.
3 points (beating Slovakia but losing in Moscow) and we should finish 2nd
4 points and I'm over the moon
6 points - start packing your suitcase for Poland/Ukraine
he is. slovakia are no mugs. line their same players out under the name holland, italy etc and people would be thinking we'd be doing well to draw. they had a good wc and beat russia away.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
will be very tight game, heart says 1 nil but think it'll be a draw.
Ah lads the pessimism is killing my buzz.
Thing about Ireland games is that bias makes it difficult for realism to take hold with me.
I fully expect to win every game no matter who we play because simply any other result is disappointing for me to say the least.
I always feel because of this there's no point in me being realistic because inevitably it would be somewhat of a pyrrhic victory for me to predict an Irish loss and be correct.
This is also a reason why I can't bet on Ireland games. Ever!!!
For what its worth the head says 2-1 and the heart says 3-0.
A boring 1-0 win and I'll be happy, but I reckon Slovakia will score...
Monumental week for us. We'll get 6 points.
Team Confirmed http://twitter.com/#!/FAIreland
Shay Given, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Shane Long
Long instead of Doyle. Big call. Personally, I would have picked Doyle - I think he's still a better all rounder - but I can see why Trap made the decision. Long is on a high after playing very well for West Brom since he signed and Doyle has been a bit in and out with injury/form
Ward is the right selection and we all knew the left-back position needed to be addressed but I have to say there is a tinge of sadness that Kilbane's streak of competitive starts is at an end. He's been a legend for us and will hopefully still be part of the squad come next summer in Poland & Ukraine (he deserves it).Quote:
Originally Posted by JGKyne
He's dropped the ball by dropping Doyle. Stupid decision.
Kingdom"dropped the ball". Discuss?
Seriously?Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I think Long as an impact sub would do more damage than Doyle....
Doyle mustn't be match fit.
That has to be it. Unless he's going to surprise us by keeping the ball on the deck.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Ireland 2-0 Slovakia
Andrews 13
St. Ledger 56
I'm disappointed that Doyle's been dropped but no one can deny Long's form right now, Trap sees a lot more of everyone playing together during the week as well and as he's always put great faith in confidence and momentum shouldn't be too much of a surprise. That said Doyle hasn't had a bad start to his season either. Off the bench a la Quinn if needed. I'm feeling confident about these matches we're on a great run, no major injury crisis and we are well overdue a good win in the new LR. 2.0. here and 1.1 in Russia.
Then off to do a bit of online research again, shouldn't take me so long this time.
Looks like we're going to play the ball on the floor more, rather than lumping long balls to Doyle.
Long had an excellent game in Zilina so that might have favoured him.
I'm comfortable with that decision, especially as he has started the season so well.
After losing his place to Cox for Macedonia and coming off early against Italy, this is a big boost for Long.
We've got into a great habit of scoring early under Trap. I think this is a statement of intent.
Do we play the ball on the floor more when Long is playing? I don't think so.
The way Long is playing at the moment, he has a goal a game in him. Against Stoke it took a wonder save from the goalkeeper to stop him. Doyle's botched a couple of simple chances already this season and doesn't look as sharp but is still a great option from the bench. There might be some player management going on in the sense that Doyle could be required to put in a monster 90 minutes against Russia.
Nail on head.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Surprising, not sure I agree it with but simply off the fact that Long is in serious goalscorer form and will possibly offer more threat in front of goal, I've no problem with it. Fairly daring move and people don't say that about Trap much.
Is Doyle suspended if he gets another yellow ?
Dunno if it's been mentioned yet, but the two other games in the group tomorrow are 5pm kick offs. Be nice to go into our game knowing Macedonia or Andorra have done us a favour.
BonnieShels?
Stu, are they on Setanta?
hmm, i'd rather armenia win against andorra. i don't see them as a real threat in the group but if they win it keeps them in the mix - and gives them something to play for in slovakia on tuesday.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
it would be great if the macedons got something but the toshak factor tells me it's about 100/1. best we can hope for is some indiscipline from russia that seems they short a few players for our game.
According to the Indo, St. Ledger is going to hug tight to Stephen Ward on the left, in a strange double-tag left back combination, while O'Shea and Dunne are the 2 CBs. I think it's a big risk not playing a right back myself.
"Wolves defender Stephen Ward starts alongside Sean St Ledger, with the old hands John O'Shea and Richard Dunne in the centre in front of Shay Given's goal."
No ideas. I just looked up livescore.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Don't see Andorra causing an upset anyway, but it's a good point on keeping Armenia's interest going.
hmm that sounds very strange are you sure? TO me if true, that sounds like Trap doesn't fully trust Ward.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
No, but it's what the Indo wrote. My point was that it was total garbage, the type of sentence that only somebody who doesn't know anything about football could put together.
Far more likely to be a misused prepositional phrase: replace 'starts alongside' with 'starts along with' and the sentence is fine. That's far more likely in my opinion tha the Indo journo (whoever it was) really thought what you're suggesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
The Indo's really feeling your wrath today. You appear to have an unhealthily masochistic need to read it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88