Nigeria and Bulgaria Squad

**alltogethernow** · 20/05/2009, 9:46 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

In fairness Andy Reid is one of the best ball deliverers we have, from wide or central positions. Keogh may be more athletic but he doesn't have the guile to beat a man one-fotr-one out wide and is certainly no expert ball crosser. Reid has the brains to make space. I'd have Reid ahead of him any day, but at the moment I'd have McGeady or Lawrence ahead of Reid though.

I agree with you i wouldnt have either of them there,i was just using Keogh because he was mentioned.

To think about using Andy Reid as a winger is laughable when you look at other options.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/05/2009, 9:55 AM

You've got to distinguish between a winger and a wide midfielder though. Pires, Hleb or Ljungberg were never wingers but each was very successful out wide for Arsenal. Reid has played the wide role on both sides to good effect for Ireland so would be a credible option in my opinion. However, we have Duff (L&R), McGeady (L&R), Hunt (L - & used at club level at R), Kilbane(L) and Lawrence (R) all providing more orthodox width.

**Razors left peg** · 20/05/2009, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by alltogethernow

My point exactly.
You want Reid in to play on the wing ahead of Keogh?

Who do you think has the better chance of knocking a ball past a player and getting a cross in…..Reid isnt going to get by anyone with pace. He has had some good performances but he is finished. He has had a poor season and as you said Fahy and Garvan will get the chance but they should be now because they are the type of player that will go to a world cup if we qualify.

Did David Beckham ever go past a player in his career? Playing on the wing isnt all about pace.Reid has a fantastic left foot and is a brilliant passer of the ball.
Are you honestly suggesting that Keogh is a better winger than Reid? If so it makes me think you havent been watching the Irish team for very long

**tetsujin1979** · 20/05/2009, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Are you honestly suggesting that Keogh is a better winger than Reid? If so it makes me think you havent been watching the Irish team for very long

I don't think anyone is suggesting that, but it does look like Trapattoni thinks that Keogh can offer the team more on the wing than Reid

**Razors left peg** · 20/05/2009, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I don't think anyone is suggesting that, but it does look like Trapattoni thinks that Keogh can offer the team more on the wing than Reid

I think that was proved wrong in Bari. Dont get me wrong, I like Keogh as a striker, his work rate is excellent I think he is decent cover for Doyle but he isnt a winger in a million years

**alltogethernow** · 21/05/2009, 8:57 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Did David Beckham ever go past a player in his career? Playing on the wing isnt all about pace.Reid has a fantastic left foot and is a brilliant passer of the ball.
Are you honestly suggesting that Keogh is a better winger than Reid? If so it makes me think you havent been watching the Irish team for very long

If you look at my posts above you will see that I said that Keogh is not the option.

Are you happy seeing someone that can't beat a player and is left footed playing on the right wing?

To even compare Beckham and Reid gave me a good laugh!

**tetsujin1979** · 21/05/2009, 9:56 AM

Bulgarian's foreign-based players in the squad announced, there will be 3 players added from the Bulgarian league
from http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=4303
Bulgaria squad for World Cup qualifier v Ireland (6 June 2009):
Goalkeepers:
Dimitar Ivankov (Bursaspor)
Nikolay Mihaylov (Twente Enschede)

Defenders:
Elin Topuzakov (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Igor Tomasic (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Iliyan Stoyanov (Sanfreche)
Zahari Sirakov (Amkar Perm)

Midfielders:
Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa)
Stanislav Angelov (Energie Cottbus)
Dimitar Telkiyski (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Velizar Dimitrov (Metalurg Donetsk)
Blagoy Georgiev (Terek Grozny)

Strikers:
Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)
Martin Petrov (Manchester City)
Dimitar Rangelov (Energie Cottbus)
Valeri Bojinov (Manchester City)
Valeri Domovchiyski (Hertha Berlin)
Dimitar Makriev (Ashdod)

Petrov and Bojinov have both recently returned from long term injuries for Man City, but doubts remain over their ability to complete 90 minutes. Petrov in particular was ineffective against Spurs at the weekend. On the other hand, Bojinov scored a cracking goal up front by himself.
Stilian Petrov was just voted Player's Player of the Year, and Fans Player of the Year at Villa

**Stuttgart88** · 21/05/2009, 12:29 PM

If Stilian Petrov was in our team we'd be quite a strong international team I reckon. The guy was quality at Croker.

**elroy** · 21/05/2009, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

If Stilian Petrov was in our team we'd be quite a strong international team I reckon. The guy was quality at Croker.

Agreed, was their best player that night but arguably was given way too much time on the ball.
Martin Petrov is a very good player if fit and could cause us alot of problems and also despite a relatively poor season from Berbatov he cant be ignored. He can produce something out of nothing, although I would fancy Dunne and JOSH to take care of him.

**tetsujin1979** · 21/05/2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

If Stilian Petrov was in our team we'd be quite a strong international team I reckon. The guy was quality at Croker.

He was quality because he was given time to be quality. I was screaming at Keith Andrews to close him down as he walked towards our penalty area at one point, with Andrews just watching him.

**paul_oshea** · 21/05/2009, 12:47 PM

Did he not hear you?

**tetsujin1979** · 21/05/2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Did he not hear you?

Clearly not, otherwise Petrov wouldn't have played as well!

**Wolfie** · 21/05/2009, 12:53 PM

Would liked to have seen how Stephen Reid fared against Petrov.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/05/2009, 12:54 PM

Good midfielders always seem to have time on the ball

**Razors left peg** · 21/05/2009, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by alltogethernow

If you look at my posts above you will see that I said that Keogh is not the option.

Are you happy seeing someone that can't beat a player and is left footed playing on the right wing?

To even compare Beckham and Reid gave me a good laugh!

My point was that not all wingers are pacy and go past players easily.
And yes I was happy enough to see Reid on the right wing when he played very well there in a number of Internationals

**Yard of Pace** · 21/05/2009, 3:48 PM

Their defence has an absence of quality I think and they're all over 30 and I hope Duffer can exploit this. He's a master at winning free-kicks around the box so I hope the set-plays will be good on the night (for once).

**dr_peepee** · 21/05/2009, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

. He's a master at winning free-kicks around the box so I hope the set-plays will be good on the night (for once).

True. But we've no real threat from set peices in terms of either shots or delivery. Does Whelan have a decent free kick??

**Stuttgart88** · 21/05/2009, 5:35 PM

He does actually.

Has the referee been announced yet? It'd be nice to have someone who could stand up to them at home.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/05/2009, 5:38 PM

Cyprus had a right go at Bulgaria and really should have scored an equaliser in the second half. Bulgaria's second was a break in injury time.

You could say the same about Cyprus in Croker too I suppose, but on what I saw of the second half of BUL v CYP we can win this game.