Scotland V Republic of Ireland - Friday, 14th November 2014 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

The Football Association of Ireland today (Monday) confirmed that Martin O’Neill has finalised a 27 man squad to face Scotland and USA on Friday, November 14 and Tuesday, November 18.


The squad sees the inclusion of both Derby defender Cyrus Christie and Ipswich striker David McGoldrick after their documentation was finalised last week.


Marc Wilson misses out due to a torn hamstring during Stoke’s win over Tottenham Hotspurs yesterday. While James McCarthy will travel to Dublin for assessment after picking up a hamstring injury during Everton’s clash against Sunderland yesterday.
The squad will assemble this evening ahead of the week’s first training session in Malahide tomorrow morning.



Final Republic of Ireland squad

David Forde

Shay Given

Rob Elliot

Darren Randolph

Richard Keogh

Seamus Coleman

Cyrus Christie

John O’Shea

Alex Pearce

James McCarthy

Jeff Hendrick

Ciaran Clark

Stephen Ward

Darron Gibson

Aiden McGeady

Anthony Pilkington

James McClean

Robbie Brady

Stephen Quinn

David Meyler

Robbie Keane

Shane Long

Daryl Murphy

David McGoldrick

Jon Walters

Kevin Doyle

Anthony Stokes

We all dream of a team of number ones. Don't ask me what that's about.

No Paul Green? O'Neill is nothing but a populist.

He knows he'll be calling him in later when McCarthy's ruled out.

The squad looks better for Christie and McGoldrick's inclusion, though seven forwards is a lot. It's not a bad squad really. I see Westwood didn't make it. Which keeper will make the bench? Given probably.

Meanwhile Scots call up 20 year old Scottish Div 2 full back.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...over-1.1995120

Daily Record hack says that only four players in the Ireland squad would get near the Scottish team. Naturally, two of them were born there.

Between this, Strachan and McQueen, the Scots are really ramping it up for Friday. Mind games, call-to-arms, sabre rattling, whatever you want to call it - this is for real. Suits me. Let the Scots blow themselves out, get aggravated at the rubbish Irish not rolling over and then sucker punch em. Job done.

On the Winstone scale, this match is now officially 'tasty!' With fans all over Celtic Park, the atmosphere is going to be thick and flammable. CAN'T WAIT.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

The squad looks better for Christie and McGoldrick's inclusion, though seven forwards is a lot. It's not a bad squad really. I see Westwood didn't make it. Which keeper will make the bench? Given probably.

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Technically, they all make the bench now don't they?

I think four keepers in the squad still looks totally weird, especially when we're missing one of our main ones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I see Westwood didn't make it. Which keeper will make the bench? Given probably.

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What the hell? This outdoes Delaney on the bizarro scale. He didn't pick up a knock did he?

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

What the hell? This outdoes Delaney on the bizarro scale. He didn't pick up a knock did he?

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He's injured according to RTE.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

What the hell? This outdoes Delaney on the bizarro scale. He didn't pick up a knock did he?

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I think he had something up after his game at the weekend yeah.

Feck it, didn't hear a word. Last I saw was that he played 90 minutes and kept another clean sheet on Saturday. Was looking forward to him getting a run out against the States.

I think Shane Duffy can feel very hard done by here. He is playing superbly for Blackburn, while Clark isn't playing at all at Villa.

In Wilson's absence I would probably have had him in the XI, never mind the squad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Daily Record hack says that only four players in the Ireland squad would get near the Scottish team. Naturally, two of them were born there.

Between this, Strachan and McQueen, the Scots are really ramping it up for Friday. Mind games, call-to-arms, sabre rattling, whatever you want to call it - this is for real. Suits me. Let the Scots blow themselves out, get aggravated at the rubbish Irish not rolling over and then sucker punch em. Job done.

On the Winstone scale, this match is now officially 'tasty!' With fans all over Celtic Park, the atmosphere is going to be thick and flammable. CAN'T WAIT.

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I love that writer's persuasive argument. The only player he actually compares to any of theirs is Forde.

James McArthur having a scan on a calf injury according to SSN.

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Originally Posted by backtowalsall

I think Shane Duffy can feel very hard done by here. He is playing superbly for Blackburn, while Clark isn't playing at all at Villa.

In Wilson's absence I would probably have had him in the XI, never mind the squad.

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His missus had a baby last night: https://twitter.com/ShaneDuffy34/sta...13340931448833
not sure if that played into his omission from the squad, but if it did, it's understandable

Playing well at Blackburn only puts Duffy at Scotland's standard. We can do better than that!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Daily Record hack says that only four players in the Ireland squad would get near the Scottish team. Naturally, two of them were born there.

Between this, Strachan and McQueen, the Scots are really ramping it up for Friday. Mind games, call-to-arms, sabre rattling, whatever you want to call it - this is for real. Suits me. Let the Scots blow themselves out, get aggravated at the rubbish Irish not rolling over and then sucker punch em. Job done.

On the Winstone scale, this match is now officially 'tasty!' With fans all over Celtic Park, the atmosphere is going to be thick and flammable. CAN'T WAIT.

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The Daily Ranger is one of the worst newspapers I've ever had the misfortune to read. Pure thrash.

I have to admit I feel a little sorry for Alex Pearce. McGeady & McCarthy - 2 guys who have never ever been anywhere near a Scotland squad - are being vilified and threatened with being boo'ed out of existence for declaring for us (the team they played with from youth) and big Pearcey - who actually lined out for Scotland @ 21 level - barely warrants a mention in their torrents of abuse!! Its just not fair!

I'm genuinely shocked that they're still bitter over McGeady & McCarthy any way, sure didn't we give Jim O'Brien back to them?!

I feel sorry for Westwood. A good performance against the US might have put him in contention for a future competitive starting place but he won't get that chance now.

Delaney deemed surplus to requirements again, and with Wilson missing? Strange.

Pleased to see fresh faces in there in the form of Christie and McGoldrick. Welcome aboard! It's unlikely they'll get a run-out in Glasgow, but at least they're options and we should see what they can do against the US.

I forgot about Alex Pearce playing for Scotland at youth level.
On his wiki page it says he played for Ireland at schoolboy level. Is that true?

I see ErrTÉ appear to think Hendrick will be making up the defensive numbers in Wilson's absence...

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps3001b3e1.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

in light of the recent comments by Strachan about it being acceptable to boo McGeady and McCarthy, as long as it wasn't sectarian (??) and McQueen's comments this morning - http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30731771.html - does anyone else remember the ok2boo campaign?
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...hreadid=110917
http://foot.ie/threads/9376-On-OK2bo...-the-following

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I dug this out of the wayback machine: http://web.archive.org/web/200308170...ww.ok2boo.com/

I know the FAI are to assess him, but did McCarthy have an assessment at Everton today then and, if so, has there been any indication as to the seriousness of the concern?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

His missus had a baby last night: https://twitter.com/ShaneDuffy34/sta...13340931448833
not sure if that played into his omission from the squad, but if it did, it's understandable

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if my experience of having a week old baby and a hormonal wife at home is anything to go by, I'd be begging to go to Glasgow. He's got a mother in law I presume. Use her.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I dug this out of the wayback machine: http://web.archive.org/web/200308170...ww.ok2boo.com/

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Fran Rooney said that? Jaysus. So that's what spawned the Delaney School of Populism.

He'll be grand. The false info being spread is all part of Roberto Martinez's anti Ireland & pro Scotland agenda which obviously stems from his time (1 season) @ Motherwell....wait sorry, I meant to post this on YBIG not here...my bad.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I know the FAI are to assess him, but did McCarthy have an assessment at Everton today then and, if so, has there been any indication as to the seriousness of the concern?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wangball

I have to admit I feel a little sorry for Alex Pearce. McGeady & McCarthy - 2 guys who have never ever been anywhere near a Scotland squad - are being vilified and threatened with being boo'ed out of existence for declaring for us (the team they played with from youth) and big Pearcey - who actually lined out for Scotland @ 21 level - barely warrants a mention in their torrents of abuse!! Its just not fair!

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And what about McGoldrick? Is there no outrage reserved for him? I hope the Tartan Army know he also had the audacity to turn down an approach by Strachan who was dead set on convincing him to play for Scotland!

Gordon McQueen produced Hayley thats more than McGeady or McCarthy ever have.
He can say what he likes.

Is MccCarthy undergoing his fitness assessment with the FAI tonight then?: http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...s-fitness-test

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sky Sports

He will undergo an assessment when he joins up with the rest of a 27-man squad in Dublin on Monday evening.

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Hard to keep up with all the various articles but I don't think this was linked already. Decent read.

My impression is that every now and again a manager comes in for scotland and takes them out of some hole, does well, then they get on a bit of a good run, before falling flat.

After Strachan had his vacuous boot boy moment, Mark McGhee sagely restores some decorum to the occasion "I don't think there will be any other issues. Anything else will be drowned out by the support that hopefully the Scotland fans give their own team, rather than wasting energy on anything else. I know from European nights that the atmosphere that can be generated at Parkhead, like Ibrox, is just sensational.

Scotland 13/10
Draw 21/10
Ireland 21/10

Quote:

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Originally Posted by geysir

3 games into the qualifying campaign and there's a documentary on Sky Sports 1 about Scotland/Strachan/ make believe. It will probably be running on a loop on Sky Sports Scotland.

Strachan: Making Scotland Believe, Sky Sports Originals presents Strachan: Making Scotland Believe. Scotland manager Gordon Strachan discusses his dream to take the national side to the UEFA Euro 2016 Championships.
Pretty much a non stop backslapping affair about how good it's been so far with Gordon.

The appropriate time for participating in these programs is after your team has qualified, after they have proven the case. The Scots are getting high on theory.

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I agree with those sentiments completely but it was actually a decent watch I thought. Strachan's words on MON and Keane I found particularly enlightening, as well his views on the modern player.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I agree with those sentiments completely but it was actually a decent watch I thought. Strachan's words on MON and Keane I found particularly enlightening, as well his views on the modern player.

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What was the gist of what he said on O'Neill and Keane?

I suppose there wasn't an awful lot to it really but he said that he really enjoys O'Neill's company and wit. Think he kind of made it out that they've spent a considerable amount of time in each others company, which I thought kind of contradicted quotes from MON I read today. He said they sometimes speak for hours about music and movies! MON also tends to go off on mad tangents when telling stories.

He confirmed what Keane said in the book about their first meeting when he was about to sign him for Celtic. Spoke about Keane's sense of humour and how he was absolutely no trouble to manage whatsoever. He said that Keane used spend a huge amount of time with the younger players at the club talking to them about football.

Back in his day they were expected to play game after game, season after season and he just can't understand how they talk about player fatigue these days, he says footballers are meant to be fatigued! He compared them to Formula 1 cars, that all of a sudden there are many different things that can go wrong with them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I thought Strachan's comments were alright, McQueen stupid.

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Some reaction from Tims here...

https://www.facebook.com/CQNMagazine...type=1&theater

The Messiah is back lads!

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...-leg-1.1995633

Messiah? Andy Reid, surely!

Nah, he was like two messiahs ago.

That was an S.Ireland? Remember him...
But they're all still playing.