Ireland vs Georgia pre-match

**richieos** · 22/01/2009, 9:39 PM

With the squad for the georgia game now announced, what do people think the lineup/result will be? how do you think the game will go? any game discussion here

**irishfan86** · 23/01/2009, 12:19 AM

We seem to have trouble finishing, but we're at home against a weaker side.

I'd expect us to score 2 or 3 goals, and probably concede one.

**Crosby87** · 23/01/2009, 12:34 AM

No one on the Ireland team really excites me right now, but then Im sure the same could be said for the Georgia side. I think Ireland take care of business in a must win in typical unspectacular fashion 1-0, with Shay making an unbelievable save in injury time that has us all seeing red for a split sec, and we all start talking about Steven Ireland and Andy Reid .02 seconds after the game.
My other prediction is I will be intoxicated as I am taking a half day and going to the bar at noon. What time is the game anyway, 7:30 Dublin time I hope?

**richieos** · 23/01/2009, 1:54 AM

damien duff and kevin doyle excite me at the moment. the prospect of them two and mcgeady and keane all showing top form also excites me a huge amount. whether it will happen, who knows

**bwagner** · 23/01/2009, 8:28 AM

I would agree with Crosby "No one on the Ireland team really excites me right now" id like to see a young unknown player like Scannell or O Toole being let loose after 60 odd minutes to inject a burst of life into the team. The other team would not hav a clue about them ..unlike Duff and the rest.

**Scram** · 23/01/2009, 8:29 AM

Ò'Shea is in flying form. As I have said before, playing him at centre back is ridculous. This is his WORST position. Finnan, McShane, DuNNE, O'Shea should be our back four. Kilbane could still do a job as a defensive midfielder but it may be time to leave him on the bench.

I am wholly disgusted that Andy Reid is left out and because of that I find it hard to be excited about what we can produce.

We do of course have great potential in Duff, Keane, McGeady and Doyle but not having Reid as provider lessens this potential to a massive extent.

**Closed Account** · 23/01/2009, 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by Scram

Finnan, McShane, Duff, O'Shea

Edit it quick!

**paul_oshea** · 23/01/2009, 8:47 AM

You were making sense until you wanted to put duff in the back.

I am hoping that this game is the turning point where we show domination and the start of a new era, where everything goes to plan and we have a comfortable 2-0 win. Basically an assured performance oozing confidence and temperment.

The other says, its going to be much like cyprus, with hairy moments and an invisible midfield much like the streets of home on christmas day, just scraping a 1 - 0 or 2 - 1.

Its funny how a 2-0 or even a 2-1 could be so different in actual terms of performance.

Either way I think we will win.

**FarBeag** · 23/01/2009, 8:49 AM

Originally Posted by Scram

Ò'Shea is in flying form. As I have said before, playing him at centre back is ridculous. This is his WORST position. Finnan, McShane, Duff, O'Shea should be our back four. Kilbane could still do a job as a defensive midfielder but it may be time to leave him on the bench.

I am wholly disgusted that Andy Reid is left out and because of that I find it hard to be excited about what we can produce.

We do of course have great potential in Duff, Keane, McGeady and Doyle but not having Reid as provider lessens this potential to a massive extent.

I assume that was a typo in regard to Duff being at the back. I would not change Dunne and O'Shea. This partnership has worked very well up till now and the fact that O'Shea is playing well at the moment makes up slightly for Dunne's inconsistency.

Duff excites me the way he plays even on his bad days he is still one of our best players.Its a pity that A Reid is not at least in the squad at he is capable of creating something out of nothing.I think we will struggle and will be happy with a 1.0.

**bwagner** · 23/01/2009, 9:03 AM

I think we will get a dodgy early goal then fade away ..

The team will be

Given
Finnan Dunne O'Shea Kilbane (very experienced back 5)
Mc Geady Whelan Andrews Duff

Doyle Keane

With Gibson, S Hunt and Long all to come on i hope and keep on the offensive

**irishfan86** · 23/01/2009, 9:08 AM

I think I'd really like to see Andrews and Whelan in the middle, but I fear that Gibson's cup run with United will only make Trap feel vindicated in his selection policy, and that he'll get the nod against Georgia.

I think we will win either way if it is Andrews or Gibson, but I'd rather see Andrews just get in there, secure his spot and have a bit more solidity in there for the matches later on against the Italians and Bulgarians.

Even so, Andrews and Whelan against those teams hardly fills me with optimism.

**elroy** · 23/01/2009, 9:14 AM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

I think I'd really like to see Andrews and Whelan in the middle, but I fear that Gibson's cup run with United will only make Trap feel vindicated in his selection policy, and that he'll get the nod against Georgia.

I think we will win either way if it is Andrews or Gibson, but I'd rather see Andrews just get in there, secure his spot and have a bit more solidity in there for the matches later on against the Italians and Bulgarians.

Even so, Andrews and Whelan against those teams hardly fills me with optimism.

First and foremost a win is a must, performance would also be nice along with a clean sheet. I hope they have the same goalkeeper as the last time as well.

I dont think Gibson is yet ready for this level and would like to see Andrews partner Whelan in the middle. We need to be sure of our central pairing going into the Bulgaria/Italy games and this is the game to try Andrews out imo. Other than that, dont expect any other changes, but i do hope finnan is fit to play in place of McShane.

I would disagree with the points made re O'Shea, i think his best position for us in centre back along side Dunne, if Dunne wasnt his partner then i would have concerns, the two have played well there so far in this campaign and if it aint broke...........

**Deckydee** · 23/01/2009, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by richieos

damien duff and kevin doyle excite me at the moment. the prospect of them two and mcgeady and keane all showing top form also excites me a huge amount. whether it will happen, who knows

Kinky

**Scram** · 23/01/2009, 9:17 AM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

Edit it quick!

I forgot Stan was no longer in charge!

**Scram** · 23/01/2009, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

You were making sense until you wanted to put duff in the back.

I am hoping that this game is the turning point where we show domination and the start of a new era, where everything goes to plan and we have a comfortable 2-0 win. Basically an assured performance oozing confidence and temperment.

The other says, its going to be much like cyprus, with hairy moments and an invisible midfield much like the streets of home on christmas day, just scraping a 1 - 0 or 2 - 1.

Its funny how a 2-0 or even a 2-1 could be so different in actual terms of performance.

Either way I think we will win.

Yes indeed ! I forgot about his last clanger of an OG. I menat to put him in goal.

We haven't yet had any game in which we looked comfortable for more than 10 minutes (and in many of those games, the 10 minutes was during the half-time break!)

**bwagner** · 23/01/2009, 9:40 AM

Originally Posted by Scram

Yes indeed ! I forgot about his last clanger of an OG. I menat to put him in goal.

We haven't yet had any game in which we looked comfortable for more than 10 minutes (and in many of those games, the 10 minutes was during the half-time break!)

Giorgi LOMAIA (GK) he played in the other 2 games( kept a clean sheet against Bulgaria)

**paul_oshea** · 23/01/2009, 10:02 AM

i wonder what the odds were on an all irish and all blackburn midfield a year ago for end of season this year?! or possibly start of next PL season and ireland qualifiers in september.

**tetsujin1979** · 23/01/2009, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

i wonder what the odds were on an all irish and all blackburn midfield a year ago for end of season this year?! or possibly start of next PL season and ireland qualifiers in september.

Judge, Andrews and Treacy all played in the FA Cup tie against Blyth Spartans. Judge came on as a sub, the other two played the full 90.

**Crosby87** · 23/01/2009, 11:44 AM

sorry but the Duffer is finished. I dont have time to check his stats now, but I would be curious how many goals he has in any game in the last 3 years. I realize he was hurt but, I bet its like 10.

**DeLorean** · 23/01/2009, 11:52 AM

Here are Georgia's away results from their last campaign. They generally went away empty handed but are far from whipping boys. We'll have to be at our sharpest to win against them I think.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Faroe Islands 0 Georgia 6
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Ukraine 3 Georgia 2
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Scotland 2 Georgia 1
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Lithuania 1 Georgia 0
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
France 1 Georgia 0
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Italy 2 Georgia 0

They have also lost 2-0 to the Italians in Udine in this campaign.