I think he'll go 442, we'll see little of the ball and only then will he bring on Hoolahan.
I do like the look of DeLorean's team though it's too positive for O'Neill I reckon. I think one of Quinn or Pilkington will be in there for a bit of bite.
Whelan will be picked over Meyler I reckon. Fair play to Meyler last night. I think he won a lot of plaudits both for his performance and his attitude.
interview with O'Donoghue on rte.ie now: http://www.rte.ie/sport/player/#!/clip/813/Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
If it's anything like Tallaght, they spray one half of the pitch for a few minutes and then the other. It makes sense if you have sprinklers around the half way line.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I missed the game yesterday because I was working. The funniest thing Ive seen on here regarding the reaction to the match is the rating of Gibson. Some people saying he was brilliant and some that he was terrible. Would it be the case that he looked bad on tv but live you could see him do more?
He was good from far, but far from good?Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
O'Donoghue is such a bloody incompetent interviewer , its frightening.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
A few words from Roy on Georgia below
http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/roy-k...ia-on-his-mind
Interesting interviews. O'Neil was a bit tetchy with O'Donoghue who I will hope continues to ask the hard questions like he did under the Trap era.
Dunphy: has already started the criticism with words like "baffled" and then talks up the players, says he has complete confidence in O'Neill: we all know what comes next.
There was nothing hard about the questions Tony asked Trap.....O'Donoghue was an embarrasment with his interview technique towards him. His questions were stupid and were asked so Tony could be controversial....nothing more.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
O'Neill was definitely tetchy towards him and who could blame him.....T.O.D is a joke of an interviewer who shouldnt be let near a microphone
They watered both sides of the pitch, I believe.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Westwood and Stokes cut for the trip to Georgia. Westwood is ill, no reason given for Stokes' absence but he played no part on Wednesday.
I really think it's a missed opportunity that Stokes hasn't appeared more for Ireland. So many friendlies he's been sat on the bench while we are complaining about a lack of genuine goalscoring options... and giving people like Walters, Cox, Murphy and Sammon game time.
He played on the wing against Germany and Kazakhstan and he was really quite impressive.
You really don't understand football do you?Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
Rankings don't always give a true reflection on the team you are playing.
But hey you are probably just happy to have a go at me for any reason.
Am I right in saying that Stokes' court appearance over his 'scuffle' with Elvis Pressley was due to impinge on a qualifier? Maybe it's this one.
He's featured in friendlies under O'Neill. I think he's a very good option anywhere in the forward line, be it part of a 2 or 3-man one. Excellent set piece delivery too.
I believe his court case coincides with the Gibraltar game. It seems he was just the odd man out this week as O'Neill only wanted to bring 23. Westwood and McClean being injured made it an easier cut to make.
I thought he gave Trap an awful time and to be consistent I hope he also asks the current management team questions like "Are you going to resign etc". He obviously in an earlier interview had asked MO'N about the previous 4/5 games without a win (fair enough surely?) and MO'N rounded on him asking him was he happy now that we had won!Quote:
Originally Posted by back of the net
I'm not optimistic about the Georgia game. With any other team a draw against Georgia would not be the end of the world, but a win is more integral for us because of our awful record against teams like Germany and Poland. If we do drop points, I'm afraid it will leave us with a mountain to climb. It's unfortunate, but based on past competitive results, Poland and Scotland have more reason to believe that they will take points off each other, us and Germany than we do in the same scenario.
Germany I get, but Poland? Our record against inconsistent teams with a star or two isn't too bad. Take the last Trapattoni campaign out and we're alright.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30567144.html
Dion Fanning's team prediction is the exact same as the one I had. Richard Keogh a liability at center back. Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters, passengers from the Trapattoni era who continue to start despite poor performances throughout the last campaign. No room for Wes Hoolahan. Same formation and personnel as we had in the last campaign, except now we don't have the composure and authority of a Dunne or St Ledger in the back line. No bravery, same old complacency.
Not optimistic at all.
That's not the team I would predict. Keogh is a maybe but Ward has been a mainstay at full back. Walters over Brady would be too conservative for me.
Similiarly, I'm not too optimistic either. We seem to be a step behind in terms of open play with continental europe. It's mostly evident in our underage sides. Our players(and other nations in the british isles) aren't as comfortable on the ball as we should be. Ketsbiaia has said that his side play better football than ours. Of course he would say that, but I find it very hard to defend our side because we have no discernable style.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
More and more we are becoming a 'championship' side. I've no problem with that in the short term. But it's difficult to fully support. If we get a result tomorrow, and a draw would be a result, it'll be a blood and guts draw. We won't be dictating the game by any stretch.
I would of been someone classed as a 'Trap apologist'. I didn't want to be, but his main gripe was that we didn't have the players to play it out from the back and were best defending from the front. Hence players like McGeady got applauded for there defensive efforts. Not much has changed and if O'Neill/Keane aren't pragmactic enough to go the same route, we'll fail.
I'd love if we won tomorrow, football is a simple game and any combination of factors can overcome your opponent. But over a full campaign, things need to change. A long kickout should be last resort, relying on Shane Long to win headers should be back of the mind, set plays are a strength but should be backed up by periods of possession.
I'm gonna stick a tenner on Georgia to win because with my luck, it'll guarantee Ireland a result. I hope all you other unlucky *****s do the same.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
ARe you Eamon Dunphy in disguise?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30567144.html
If wes dosent get picked tonight and if walters plays wide and whelan plays and robbie plays will people b dissappointed? To me that is the team trap wood have picked. Technical players like gibson, brady and wes left out. Where is the new approach if that is the side.? I dont tink it will be. I wood think wes will b in and one of gibson or brady. tink ward will start as well
I hope both Wes and Gibson play and add creativity to the midfield. I would love a more offensive team, but O'Neill has always erred on the side of caution. A 1-0 win would be a nice start to the campaign and I suspect it will be a dull game to watch. Nothing new then!Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
For me, Wes and Gibson in the same midfield would weaken it defensively, unless Hoolahan plays behind Keane, which means dropping Long.
At home, I could see it being used alright, away, not so much.
I'm hoping for a new approach as I thought we got rid of Trap for a reason. By the way, just to make clear as you'd mentioned "tonight", kick-off is at 5PM this evening.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
I'd be disappointed if we didn't win this game 1-0 or 2-0. Georgia seem to really struggle to score. Their entire squad have 19 goals between them whilst they lost their last game 1-0 to the UAE. That was a friendly played in Switzerland in June. Their top scorer is a defensive midfielder with 48 caps and four international goals to his name. For what it's worth, the UAE are ranked one place above us in the current FIFA rankings. Georgia themselves are ranked 95th.
Greece 1-1 Georgia
Georgia 1-0 Croatia
Croatia 2-1 Georgia (Croatia come from being behind for over an hour with two late goals)
Georgia 1-2 Greece (Same as above)
Georgia 0-1 Spain (86th minute Spain winner)
France 3-1 Georgia
Georgia 0-0 France
Spain 2-0 Georgia
That's their results record against big International teams over the last two campaigns. It's going to be tighter than a girl on debs night tonight.
Yeah, wouldn't be at all surprised to see a draw tonight. (Or worse)
Would bite the hand off anyone who offers a 1-0 win. We were a bit fortunate last time to have to play the away game in Mainz, and we had that phantom penalty to thank for victory in Lansdowne Road, when Georgia led for 70 minutes. Not going to be easy at all. They mayn't score many, but they don't concede too many either.
Far from a phantom penalty, that was a stonewall penalty, the defender moved his shoulder to deflect the ball, it was a stupid penalty to concede but a penalty nevertheless and iv'e seen a few similar ones given.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
If a ball hits the upper arm then a penalty is not likely but if a defender moves his shoulder (upper arm) towards the ball then it's a penalty.
It was never a peno.
See what the defender did at 40 seconds, right in front of the ref.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
It's a penalty if a defender moves the upper arm/shoulder to control the ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HeXS1iraX8
It was a definite "PK" for me. The defender intentionally moved his shoulder towards the ball and it made contact with his upper arm. The contact was slight, but there was contact.
The penalty against Georgia was a bit lucky but it was handball under the rules of football, which I assume are the ones that matter. Arsene Wenger tried to equate it with the Henry handball after that match because he's thoroughly objective and not at all because he's French and Henry is his best mate, but the difference is that the penalty against Georgia was warranted.
Their biggest loss since October of 2009 (when they lost to Bulgaria 6-2) was 4-0 against us in June last year. Otherwise, it would appear they don't concede too many, but they do frequently lose to mid-to-lower ranked teams as well. They've lost games to Kazakhstan, Denmark, Belarus and Finland by slim margins over the past two years or so. It will be tight, but if we can bag a goal, I'm hopeful we'll be able to see it through.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Is it even conclusive that it hits his shoulder and not his chest from that video?
Come on. You're telling me you wouldn't feel hard done by if that was our player? 9 times out of 10 they aren't given.
I'd be riled by the stupidity of our player. The ref was right in front of it and had clear view. In unison, Doyle, O'Shea and another distant Irish player in view (Dunne?) all immediately and instinctively raise their hands in expectation of a call for a penalty. The ball changed direction and spin ever so slightly as it passed the Georgian player's arm. There was definitely contact and it was intentional. It was a penalty by the letter of the law.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
It's very clear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HeXS1iraX8Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
You'd feel hard done by but it's a penalty. You can see the referee's view clearly and he sees the defender move his arm and deflect the ball.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30567230.html
"Berbatov kept coming over to my side of the pitch for goal kicks. I don't know what he was doing there, but it wasn't what I was expecting and I wanted him to get back up front where he could be languid and elegant and Richard Dunne's problem. So I kicked him. I'd probably call it a sharp tackle if anyone was asking, but all I know is that Dimitar Berbatov stayed upfield after that, which was one little battle won."
"I was good at talking to refs, which might not surprise you. Glenn Whelan is good at it, too. This is Glenn Whelan's job. Glenn never stops talking. Outsiders might look at the team and wonder why Ireland can't find somebody with more of a range than Glenn Whelan, but when you play somewhere like Tbilisi, Glenn's a man you want out there because he talks and he tries to control the pace of the game."
"We always liked to have a walk around wherever we were staying the night before, although it wasn't something Trap was too keen on, so we'd have to sneak out. We were only looking for a coffee shop. People watching we called it, but if I remember anything from a place like Podgorica in Montenegro, it's how easy the women were on the eye."
Haha, I didn't even need to click the link to know it who it was talking.
Forde starts in goal.