Starting eleven likely to be
Given
McShane, O'Shea O'Dea Kilbane
Lawerence Whelan Gibson McGeady
Keane Long
I believe that is going to be Trap's starting eleven
Starting eleven likely to be
Given
McShane, O'Shea O'Dea Kilbane
Lawerence Whelan Gibson McGeady
Keane Long
I believe that is going to be Trap's starting eleven
I don't think you can say Sledge is likely considering he hasn't played any football in months. I think O'Dea will play if fit and Delaney otherwise. I hope O'Shea's absence from Manchester United's team yesterday was tactical and not enforced by injury.
Don't think Lawrence will start and may not make the bench. McGeady is a certainty with Hunt on the opposite side. Andrews will definitely start, hopefully with Whelan. I think Kilbane is more likely to start but I think Ward has ticked all the boxes in the last two games and Trap trusts him.
I have changed it to O'Dea because your probably right about St Ledger not being fit enough. I would play Hunt ahead of Lawerence and Foley and Ward ahead of McShane and Kilbane but I don't believe Trapatonni will. And I can't see Andrews starting ahead of Gibson.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Sadly, you're probably right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Given
McShane - O'Shea - O'Dea - Kilbane/Ward
McGeady - Andrews - Whelan - Hunt
Long - Keane
That would be my prediction. I don't know which way Trap would lean re Kilbane and Ward. For a long time Ward wasn't even making the squad but he's done well enough these past two games. Andrews has probably done enough in the same time to remind Trap why he liked him to begin with. I imagine it would have been Gibson starting otherwise. I'm never confident in McShane but we are where we are. I wouldn't be too enthusiastic should the injury permutations lead to Kelly starting the middle either. Hopefully Long comes through the playoff unscathed (and victorious) tomorrow.
I reckon
------------ Given ------------
Foley Kelly O'Shea Ward
McGeady Andrews Whelan Hunt
--------- Keane Long ---------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Stephen Kelly will start I reckon
I don't think it'll be Kelly and O'Shea. Even though O'Shea is comfortable on his left foot, I think he'll go with a genuine southpaw beside him, meaning either O'Dea or Delaney.Quote:
Originally Posted by backtowalsall
I'd like to see Kelly at CB but I reckon he'll pick O'Dea with JOSH
McShane & Kilbane at FB even though I'd pick Foley at RB
I think the midfield will be McGeady Whelan Andrews & Hunt
Keane & Long upfront
I reckon Kelly based on him starting both CNC games, and playing all 180 minutes at centre back. Foley because he is the man in possession from the last Macedonia game but the full backs are guesses really. Trap could easily go with Killer and Johan McShane
Given
Foley O'Shea O'Dea Ward
Coleman Andrews Whelan McGeady
Keane Long
What I'd pick:
---------------------Given-----------------------
Foley---------JOSH---------Delaney--------Ward
McGeady-------Whelan-----Fahey--------Treacy
---------Keane---------------Cox------------
Forde, O'Dea, Kilbane, Gibson, Hunt, Long, Andrews
What I expect:
---------------------Given-----------------------
McShane---------JOSH---------O'Dea--------Kilbane
McGeady-------Whelan---Andrews--------Hunt
---------Keane---------------Long------------
Forde, Kelly, Foley, Gibson, Lawrence, Cox, Keogh
http://www.build.mk/docs/users/1/Pro...ori%203001.jpg
Something else which should be noted is that their national stadium has under gone a major revamp and is now a fairly sharpish looking ground.The re-opening is against us so we should expect a boisterous evening.
That is very nice. Could do without the running track though.
Impressive looking stadium, better than looking like one side of it is missing, like the Aviva.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Is it on the site of the old one?
Gary Spain mentioned it in another thread.
The problem last time wasn't the ground, but the place overall....
Expecting a draw at best. They're not great, but far better, than say Armenia.
Does anyone know the exact situation regarding St Ledger? Is he completely ruled out? Why was he a sub today?
I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the Armenian and Macedonian sides but the results of the group don't seem to support your assertion there?Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Expansion. Same place, bigger capacity.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Whoever among us can get through saturday night with nerves unshredded should be venerated for their cucumber like qualities.
Some good news: Goran Stavrevski is retired and can't hurt us anymore.
From what I'm told he's recovered from the knee Injury, if he gets through training next week then theres a good chance he will play in Macedonia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Match fitness would be a concern, so who knows, maybe better to play safe and play one of the other players who featured in the recent Cetlic Cup games.
They're at home and are far more experienced than Armenia, going up against them with what I would say is far from our strongest team.Quote:
Originally Posted by boovidge
And Trap's less than expansive tactics.
We could suffer the post tournament hangover deflationary blues in Macedonia.
The team I'd like to see
Given
Foley - Kelly - O'Shea - Ward
McGeady - Gibson - Fahey - Hunt
Long - Keane
Subs Forde - O'Dea - McShane - Andrews - Lawrence - Cox
Don't see the point of taking a risk with St Ledger who hasn't played in months
For me, the Scotland game raised more questions rather than get closer to the answers.
CH Who will partner Josh? O'Dea? subbed. Kelly - motm?? Delaney not used, not even as a replacement, St Ledger prob not fit.
RB Will Ward dislodge KK? Not really a huge issue right now
CM Who will partner Whelan? nobody really stands out.
LM Probably Hunt by default
RB, McShane made the best claim for a starting place and looks to have the management on his side.
Not sure what to make of Fahey in CM really, thought he was quite poor there last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by drummerboy
We saw from the home game V Macedonia was effect a lack of match fitness can have....ie Richie D for their goal, so as much as I would love to see Sledge play, I think its best he doesnt. Vital that JOSH is fit however.
id go for
------------------------Given------------------------------
Foley----------O'Shea-----------St Ledger(o'Dea)------Ward
McGeady---------Andrews------------Whelan----------------Hunt
-----------------Keane-----------------Long-----------------------
Ward at LB, good left foot, kilbane makes to many mistakes now for me.
If St Ledger is fit id play him, O'Dea scares me every time i see him. looks clumsy.
Andrews and Whelan to shore up midfield with hunt and mcgeady running the wings.
easy upfront with long and keano to start. id be happy enough with this barring any more injuries.
I've a knot in my stomach about this game already and it's only Monday.
For what it's worth I don't think there's any chance Ward would be pitched in to his first competitive international away to Macedonia with Kilbane fit and in the squad.
The old fool has surprised us before....Quote:
Originally Posted by Yard of Pace
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_St_Ledger
And its only going to get worse YoP. With so many injuries and a suspension this is going to be a very long week. 3 points will be the only cure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yard of Pace
Even if you have a wall of confidence now, it will crumble by Friday.
Keane mentioned in an interview on Sat that Duff is bursting a gut to try and get fit for the game on Sat. There seems to be very little talk about it, but I presumed that he was defo out.
As regards nerves, oh god stop but sometimes with Ireland under Trap I am more assured with us away from home than at home. Being realistic we need to win there dont we?!?! Actually Russia won there so then yes we do.
He did indeed....I haven't seen any follow up on this anywhere. Having Duffer available would ease my nerves somewhat.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
no he didnt mean for this particular game, he meant in general hes busting a gut to get fit again and would love to be here. it was more a pointing to the face hed do anything he could to be here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yard of Pace
Breaking news: Duff ruled out with ruptured gut. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
That'd be one heck of a pleasant surprise but the last we heard he was having achilles tendon surgery and wasn't expected to be fit until late June.
Going by Trapatonni's comments after the game O'Dea is definetely playing. Interestingly he said O'Shea, Whelan and McGeady would be "stepping in". No mention of Gibson or Kilbane which suggests Andrews will start alongside Whelan and possibly Ward to start at left back.
ward is a premier league footballer, no reason he cant be put in IMO. could be good for set pieces aswell. i thought robbie has looked really sharp in the last 2 games so i think if he gets a chance he will tuck it away sat night.
He looked cumbersome at times last night, mistiming one recovery tackle badly. Maybe he's not 100% fit but you'd worry about some crafty operator like Pandev going at him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
I know he's always enjoyed putting them away and the opposition wasn't up to much but there seemed to be a renewed goalscoring vigor about him last week. Looked very hungry. I fancy him to get his 50th saturday night too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duggie
I was doing fine til Ye opened yer mouths!Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Fire and brimstone have nothing on Noely's pre match nerves.
No chance would I start Gibson for this one, or any one if I'm being honest. We will need some hard graft to come out of this place with a win. Andrews throws his weight around more than most for us and we know that Trap will start Whelan. I would also start McGeady on the left, he is generally ineffective on the right so, for balance, I would probably play Lawrence there. Stephen Hunt is more of an impact sub anyway. I think O'Dea has the makings of an excellent centre back but he is seriously error prone at the moment. He is still relatively young and hasn't much played, for club or country.