Republic of Ireland V Scotland - Saturday, 13th June 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

Houghton on SSN saying a draw would be ok for Ireland. The intonation in his voice was very much a "disappointing ok" that her than a positive ok, but I can't agree. A draw would be a disappointment unless it's a draw salvaged against the odds. I guess what I'm saying is right now a draw will be a bad result but if we're two down after 80 minutes a draw that keeps us alive mathematically would be tolerable.

Houghton not confident. Thinks the Scots are relaxed and optimistic and Strachan has the momentum.

Thanks for that. Annoyed I am flying and missing this. Very nervous!

http://www.the42.ie/sing-national-an...55735-Jun2015/

"One thing that angered many Irish fans was the image of David McGoldrick chewing gum during the anthem."

Glad I'm not the only one.

Any hint of the team news yet? getting very nervous now... need to have some beer I think.

Given
Coleman
O'Shea
Wilson
Brady
Walters
McCarthy
Whelan
McGeady
?
?

Hoolahan
Murphy

Team announced via Twitter. Looks like 4312 of sorts.

Shay
Coleman O'Shea Wilson Brady
Hendrick Whelan McCarthy
Wes
Walters Murphy

That's the personnel anyway.

Looks like less reliance on width which isn't a bad thing. More bodies in midfield, onus on full backs to get forward. Would have preferred Long over Walters but the bench options (Long, Keane, McGeady, McClean...) seem to be pretty potent. Murphy is a bold choice but not undeserved.

Looks a bit like the approach he took against Italy, from what little I remember. Wes started, Meyler and Hendrick in midfield then, but I can't remember if we had normal wide options then. I think Pilkington was orthodox wide left so maybe the approach wasn't quite the same.

Absolute insanity. Murphy & Walters in the team. No McClean or Long. Murphy & Walters playing completely negates Hoolahan's presence in the team.

McGeady & Keane unfit and McClean & Long still can't get in the team.

Don't understand it at all.

Hopefully at 7:00 after any hopes of participating in Euro 2016 have faded, this is the last time Jonathan Walters is first name on the teamsheet in an Ireland team for a competitive game. He's as predictable and cumbersome as they come. It's not going to get any better when he is 33.

McClean is 26 and Long is 28.

They'll be in their thirties and we'll still be asking when they will be given a chance.

Hoolahan is 33. Walters is 31. Murphy is 32. Whelan is 31.

Where is the f***ing pace in that team?

Furious.....

FFS.

Murphy AND Walters?!

To be fair Murphy deserves a chance based on his for this season, would have liked Long beside him.

I'm genuinely starting to believe that they won't drop Walters because they are scared of him.

Scots are f***ing laughing.

Looks like a team selected with scotland's strengths in mind. I expect Whelan to pick up Naismith.

Seriously disillusioned with this.

Could be a 41212 with full backs clocking up the milage and Whelan sitting in behind Hendrick and McCarthy.
Big day for Murphy. The only justification for selecting that curious team is victory, if not, there will be carnage.

No Anya for Scotland

Long over Walters and I'd be happy. I've often felt we select width just because we always have, when compactness is what is required.

Strikeforce a joke. They're both capable of doing something at any given time against a Championship (or thereabouts) defence but the Scottish centre backs will relish a physical battle, which is what we have stupidly made it. I'm happy with the bodies in midfield and the faith placed in Hendrick.

...or a team set up for set pieces. Clearly a bludgeon is the weapon of choice, with a penknife added just in case.

Murphy & Walters don't have the pace or technique to get behind Scotland and take advantage of Hoolahan's passes, like Long has proven he can. IDK what McClean has to do. He has the workrate of Walters, he is a galvanizing presence for the rest of the team, he is a goal threat, he is better in every single way - for what we are trying to do, certainly.

It's route 1, direct, all the way. It's exactly what Scotland want.

When will we we ever learn?

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

1-1 with an equalizer from an Irish sub if I am being optimistic.

I could see this being a comprehensive loss for us and party time in Dublin for the Scots.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

No Anya for Scotland

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insanity. The Irish are laughing.

Provan on SSN saying Scotland delighted no Long. He's the one player Strachan fears. Surprised no Anya.

Provan saying this is a team of brute force.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

insanity. The Irish are laughing.

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No disrespect but Anya has never played in the Premier League, he is mid-twenties, unestablished at Intl. level and flattered to deceive before this season.

McClean is a proven PL and Intl. player, as is Long.

Highest placed Irish player in PL, consolidated a place in the Southampton team at last, got a run of good form, scoring goals, getting assists, bailed us out against Poland. On the bench.

Two f***ing tortoises up front.

No cohesion to the team at all. O'Neill doesn't have a clue what he is at.

F***ing Scotland we are playing and we are just kowtowing to them.

Embarrassing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

I'm genuinely starting to believe that they won't drop Walters because they are scared of him.

Scots are f***ing laughing.

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O'Neill has always had a boner for a big bruiser upfront. With Sutton he had one that could play, but most of his others were just bruisers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

O'Neill has always had a boner for a big bruiser upfront. With Sutton he had one that could play, but most of his others were just bruisers.

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Murphy proved against England he can do what Walters does just as well. Long is a nightmare for defenders. He is tough and he has a leap like a salmon. If we want to play long ball, he can adapt to that. I just don't understand the dependence on Walters. He isn't even that good in the air, barely anything sticks to him. It's very negative. Scotland have several midfielders let alone CB's that will relish playing against him. It is just a basic, basic, battle.

Long always looks like he can win a penalty and/or get someone sent off too. He could have done both in Glasgow.

Sure McClean & Long can give us a half hour of penetration when we are losing one or two nil but even then the temptation for Martin will be to go to the well with McGeady & Keane out of basic desperation.

Why is Hoolahan playing if Long isn't? Why do they never play with each other? They are tailor made for each other. Does anyone honestly expect Murphy, Walters and Hoolahan to get the best out of each other? Attacking moves are constantly broken down because Walters - let alone Murphy - doesn't have the pace to get in behind defenders.

Think we still might win but it nails down the perception that O'Neill's instincts are direct football first and foremost. I'm surprised Keane goes along with this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Murphy proved against England he can do what Walters does just as well. Long is a nightmare for defenders. He is tough and he has a leap like a salmon. If we want to play long ball, he can adapt to that. I just don't understand the dependence on Walters. He isn't even that good in the air, barely anything sticks to him. It's very negative. Scotland have several midfielders let alone CB's that will relish playing against him. It is just a basic, basic, battle.

Long always looks like he can win a penalty and/or get someone sent off too. He could have done both in Glasgow.

Sure McClean & Long can give us a half hour of penetration when we are losing one or two nil but even then the temptation for Martin will be to go to the well with McGeady & Keane out of basic desperation.

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if it was simply Long in for Walters, rest the same, would you be happy? I would.

Our midfield 3 is designed to allow Brady and Coleman to get forward.

I would be happy with that and McClean off the bench, yes. I would settle for that.

I just don't think it makes any sense starting Hoolahan, starting Walters & Murphy and starting with no out and out wingers.

It's not getting the best out of Hoolahan.

Championship defenders like the Scottish CB pairing are used to playing against teams pumping balls into the box.

They would hate to play against Long. Murphy/Walters just your typical lump.

Quinn refers to Murphy as a fine physical specimen. I got called a lady here for saying same about O'Callaghan!

O'Neill saying we need to win game, then waters that down a bit. McGeady not fit for 90. Picked a midfield that can do a better job against theirs than Glasgow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Surprised no Anya

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Anya is all pace but that's it. Ritchie is a far better player with a dangerous left foot.

Happy enough with that team. Lucky that McGeady and Keane aren't fit I assume. Removing the wingers finally should give Coleman and equally Brady on the other side space to run into. Walters deserving to play after probably his best season for Stoke. Long assuming on the bench as he's proven more effective from there for Ireland and Southampton. McCarthy/Whelan/Hendrick are the key today filling in when hopefully Brady and Coleman bomb forward. Finally a progressive lineup dropping orthodox wingers which nearly every other top flight nation has copped to.

Oh and Shay should retire again. Love the guy but apart from his organisational skills of players in front of him, he brings nothing. But Given/Westwood shouldn't make a difference if we do our jobs.

With all the furore and utter bemusement at the selection of Murphy & Walters, it is easy to forget about the potential liability that is Shay Given.

There is a question mark over his kicking, isn't there?

About 25% of them will meet the head of Murphy & Walters and the rest will end up in the stands or back in Scottish possession.

All the more bemusing.

Im confused. Is keane not fit bc of an Injury or the cousins dying?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

With all the furore and utter bemusement at the selection of Murphy & Walters,

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Haha, theres been 30 posts since team announced. 10 by you. I bet you're a nightmare to watch a match with, I admire your dedication though. COYBIG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crosby87

Im confused. Is keane not fit bc of an Injury or the cousins dying?

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It's my understanding that he was nursing a groin injury before the cousins tragedy. Also he's only back fit for LA Galaxy and probably hasn't the match fitness to start this one.

Biggest issue with the team is Given over Westwood. If it's going to be direct to Murphy/Walters play the keeper with exceptional kicking who have Murphy a chance to win plenty of ball against England, not the one who came on and fell over his feet and kicked it into the stand a few times!