Given and McGeady are injury doubts. Tardelli has said that he expects both to be fit by the weekend. I hope so.
If Trapp was to start him he would need an immediate attitude change, if he was interested in playing , that is.Originally Posted by Brendan 82
Given and McGeady are injury doubts. Tardelli has said that he expects both to be fit by the weekend. I hope so.
Just heard on Newstalk that apparently John O'Shea has said that Berbatov's injury isn't exactly as reported and there is still a strong chance that he will play on Saturday.
Is this an instance of mindgames from the Bulgarians? Not sure what to make of it all.
I predicted driving up to the Georgia game that our main problem was Stephan Kelly. Surely to God - what happened in the first minute!!!! Anyone but Kelly. Would go with Foley (Trapp might stick with Kelly though? if this happens I will loose a lot of faith in him!!!!!!) with Duff helping him on the right. Mc Geady to destroy them on the left with Kilbane sitting and Ireland to win 1-0. Doyle.
Believe we will get four points.
Funny thing is that I think it will be ;
Ireland 0-0 Bulgaria
Italy 0-1 Ireland
The Bulgarians will do everything not to lose on Saturday. Lose and they are out.
"Football is a game you play with your brain".
Far from it.
i agree, although i think it would be nearly impossible for the bulgarians to recover mentally from losing against us in dublin and us being 10(7) points ahead of them halfway through
i wouldnt have mcshane on my sunday league team!!
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.
Muhammad Ali
i think four points is realistic and achievable.
if we get the three against bulgaria, dont count us out on getting at least in Italy. I think we can do it. Believe, I think the players do again.
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.
Muhammad Ali
Ya Doyler just said the same on the news, id be surprised if he made it but.....
Ireland 1-2 Bulgaria
Italy 3-0 Ireland
I hope I am wrong but I don't have the same confidence in Trap as some people. Our luck has to run out at some point.
Wow! - Thats harsh!!
For me:
Ireland 1 - 0 Bulgaria
Italy 0 - 0 Ireland
I think it will be a huge struggle
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist thinks it will change; the realist adjusts the sails.
Bojinov out (not too surprisingly) and the secondary striker Domovchiyski has been refused permission by his club to join the Bulgarian squad, according to this: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...t-1684937.html
I'm sticking with my 4 point prediction. I've got us ending up on 22 points. Optimistic/deluded?
Bulgaria's run in looks like this:
Republic of Ireland - Bulgaria
Bulgaria - Cyprus
Bulgaria - Republic of Ireland
Bulgaria - Montenegro
Italy - Bulgaria
Cyprus - Bulgaria
Bulgaria - Georgia
It all depends on how we play. I don't care whether Berbatov is playing or not playing. I guarantee everyone that the Bulgars will have able replacements. We have never beaten a mid to top rank team unless we ourselves played well. I am hoping for a good team performance against Bulgaria. Whelan and Andrews getting their passing game right. McShane not getting exposed. We have enough firepower upfront to cause anyone problems. But I feel we will have to score twice to beat the Bulgars. And I believe we are capable of doing that. So 2-1 for me.
Every player from that region say Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria are all very technically sound, and I worry about us against that kind of opposition. On the big pitch, they could well play us off it..
if Whelan and Andrews protect the back 4 and we're able to get quick ball to McGeady and Duff then we should be ok. If we allow them time on the ball then we might be chasing shadows all evening so I'm hoping the team press them as soon as their defenders have the ball (sorry Keane and Doyle) and our midfield then have to push on. If they leave huge gaps then it's a waste of effort from our front two. We cannot sit back. McGeady should be full of confidence so hopefully we're able to get the ball to him early.
McShane/Kelly or Foley at RB?
From Today's Indo:
One thing that the manager will have to worry about over the next few days is his starting choice at right-back with Steve Finnan unavailable. Stephen Kelly started there against Georgia, and has been absolved of blame by Trapattoni for his part in their opening goal, but he only got the nod on that day because Paul McShane was short of fitness.
The Sunderland man is fine to play this time around, while Wolves defender Kevin Foley would be another option.
However, Trapattoni seems to be leaning towards a straight choice between McShane and Kelly, although he also confirmed that a reshuffle resulting in John O'Shea being moved out to the flank was in his thoughts.
"We have the option of Paul McShane or Kelly there, in the next few days I decide," he said, "But we can also play O'Shea on the right, and put McShane at centre-half."
Celtic's Darren O'Dea is out of the frame, though. Although named in the initial 26-man selection last week, the FAI now say he was only a preliminary selection and is on standby in Glasgow in case he is needed for the Italian game.
Quoting years at random since 1975
McShane at centre back could be interesting....played well against the Czech's many moons ago but he must be a little rusty since being recalled by Sunderland. When was the last time he even played centre back for club/country?
It would be risky, no two ways about it.
I'd resist the temptation to tamper with the Dunne / O'Shea partnership. Its not perfection by any stretch but if it aint broke don't fix it!!!
Quoting years at random since 1975
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