Bulgaria V Ireland (Pre Match Thread)

[tetsujin1979]

Good to see Nigeria beating France tonight 1-0.

Similar enough lineups too

VS Ireland             VS France
Austin Ejide           Vincent Enyeama         
Sam Sodje*             Sam Sodje*             
Olubayo Adefemi        Olubayo Adefemi         
Seyi Olofinjana        Elderson Echiejile      
Sone Aluko**           Dickson Etuhu           
Yusuf Mohammed         Seyi Olofinjana         
John Utaka             Kanu**                 
Michael Eneramo        Ikechukwu Uche          
Kalu Uche              Peter Odemwingie***    
Dele Adeleye           Kalu Uche****          
Akpala***              Akpala*****            
                                             
Substitutes            Substitutes           
Vincent Enyeama        Austin Ejide            
Dickson Etuhu          Danny Shi*tu            
Kanu                   Atanda Yussuf (46)**   
Peter Odemwingie (61)* Apam Onyekachi          
Victor Obinna (61)**   Sani Kaita              
Obinna Nwaneri (78)*   Yusuf Mohammed          
                       Victor Obinna (74)*****  
                       Michael Eneramo (89)***  
                       Obinna Nwaneri (59)*   
                       Dele Adeleye (72)****

Akpala scored against France, the scorer from Friday night (Eneramo) came on as a last minute sub

[irishultra]

This is a complete misrepresentation of Duff's selection at Newcastle. If there had been a left full-back at the club Duff would have been first choice at left-midfield but when Jose Enrique got injured Duff was one of the few left-footed players at the club who could slot into the position.

When fit this season Duff started almost every game at left midfield - none of the many managers at the club this season deemed him "not good enough".

I won't even comment on the rest of your post.

No, most of what I wrote is correct, however as colbert report said, O'Shea is a european cup finalist starter so he is a proper player. But look at the rest of the team its shocking how dull it is. Neither Andrews or Whelan would ever come close to playing in European cup finals or achieving really anything and in no way are they players of any prestige. I'm not saying they won't go out and give it their all in the green jersey in the 6 international matches(max) that take place every year and with them we could well get results but at club level these two are journeymen.

Compare Irelands starting 11 and without a player like Stephen Ireland there we are a poor level European team, I'd put teams like Belgium, Scotland and the likes ahead of us individually(at least based on Traps squads)

[irishfan86]

No, most of what I wrote is correct, however as colbert report said, O'Shea is a european cup finalist starter so he is a proper player. But look at the rest of the team its shocking how dull it is. Neither Andrews or Whelan would ever come close to playing in European cup finals or achieving really anything and in no way are they players of any prestige. I'm not saying they won't go out and give it their all in the green jersey in the 6 international matches(max) that take place every year and with them we could well get results but at club level these two are journeymen.

Compare Irelands starting 11 and without a player like Stephen Ireland there we are a poor level European team, I'd put teams like Belgium, Scotland and the likes ahead of us individually(at least based on Traps squads)

I would take our lads over the Scots and the Belgians any day.

We've got one of the best keepers in the world in my view, and a top-class striker in Robbie Keane. We've got two very solid defenders in Dunne and O'Shea (three if you count Finnan).

Our midfield is fairly average, but Duff adds a bit of magic that either of those countries would kill to have in their side.

[Stuttgart88]

Compare Irelands starting 11 and without a player like Stephen Ireland there we are a poor level European team, I'd put teams like Belgium, Scotland and the likes ahead of us individually(at least based on Traps squads)

OK, so how many players is Trap leaving out that'd jump us ahead of Belgium and Scotland in your opinion?

[shakermaker1982]

I'd love to know which Scottish players are better than Given, Duff, McGeady, Keane and Dunne?

[Scram]

I'd love to know which Scottish players are better than Given, Duff, McGeady, Keane and Dunne?

McGeady.

Keane's Injury Not Serious

http://breakingnews.ie/sport/keane-i...ap-413322.html

[elroy]

Compare Irelands starting 11 and without a player like Stephen Ireland there we are a poor level European team

Please can we not start going on about SI in this thread as well please, we have had enough debate about him on other threads. Hes a good player, not available not relevant to this. The way some people go on, you'd swear, he was xavi, iniesta and messi all in one!

Anyways, on the radio this morning, they said Trap is set to hand St Ledger his first competitive start and that Trap also said that Hunt is 90% likely to start, presumably ahead of McGeady. Not sure where they got this info but very interesting.

[Duggie]

cant believe hunt is going to start

[Stuttgart88]

Depends which Stephen Hunt turns up. The careless one with no awareness that played at home to Bulgaria or the man possessed who constantly asked questions of Italy in Bari. Hopefully not the twit who got sent off in Prague.

[ifk101]

Depends which Stephen Hunt turns up. The careless one with no awareness that played at home to Bulgaria or the man possessed who constantly asked questions of Italy in Bari. Hopefully not the twit who got sent off in Prague.

All the more reason to start McGeady ahead of Hunt. I know that McGeady isn't on form at the moment but starting Hunt is too much of a risk in an important game like this. Whilst McGeady is prone to dribbling the ball too much, this is also a criticism you can say about Hunt. Hunt is likely to put his head down and try dribble the ball out of our own box - an absolute no-no. He's also someone that is likely to throw himself around in a game like this and I'd fear the Bulgarians will take advantage of that.

[Duggie]

he gives the ball away all the time, and he prob look to take all the dead ball kick which will end up a complete waste. im really annoyed that mcgeady may not start. i mean really really annoyed..i dont rate hunt at all.

[paul_oshea]

Yeah, I think Trap covered quite a few angles with that friendly, not all obvious from first glance.
There would appear to be a growing swell of approval in the media for a Dunne St Ledger CM.

Ya, but not the kiely thing

Only because he knows what is going on in terms of injuries etc, its what you would expect, im sure if we knew some were carrying knocks and were doubtful we would be able to ascertain from the outset the reasoning and/or have come to the same selection as he did. I don't ever think selection/who should play is an Art form, or requires great experience, its what you get hte players to do/show them in training thats the real key.

[paul_oshea]

if he does go with Secure Socket Layer, then those initially calling for his inclusion months back when we had a chance to breed him into the squad was a serious err on the part of Il Trap

[eirebhoy]

I think Hunt deserves it. McGeady success rate at beating players has shot down. He's very predictable to me watching from afar anyway.

That 1-2 he played on Friday before his shot on goal is something Messi does all the time and something McGeady should be constantly doing. A 1-2 is by far the easiest and most effective way of beating a player.

[youngirish]

Id consider starting with Lawrence over Hunt and McGeady even though he was fairly anonymous on Friday I still believe he has more to offer than Hunt (who cant distribute the ball to save his life) and McGeady (who cant find a teammate with his final ball to save his life). If its going poorly Id look at bringing Hunt on.

[Duggie]

Id consider starting with Lawrence over Hunt and McGeady even though he was fairly anonymous on Friday I still believe he has more to offer than Hunt (who cant distribute the ball to save his life) and McGeady (who cant find a teammate with his final ball to save his life). If its going poorly Id look at bringing Hunt on.

thats bull

[Crosby87]

I think Hunt has earned the chance, but will be on a short leash.

[shakermaker1982]

it's not often you'll see Eirebhoy doubt McGeady on here.

Hunt can do a job for us if he keeps his head. He has a good work ethic and will keep their full backs busy.

[Stuttgart88]

if he does go with Secure Socket Layer, then those initially calling for his inclusion months back when we had a chance to breed him into the squad was a serious err on the part of Il Trap

Don't necessarily agree. He was touted more as a squad player months back but his late season form really made him stand out as a potential starter.

[Stuttgart88]

Only because he knows what is going on in terms of injuries etc, its what you would expect, im sure if we knew some were carrying knocks and were doubtful we would be able to ascertain from the outset the reasoning and/or have come to the same selection as he did. I don't ever think selection/who should play is an Art form, or requires great experience, its what you get hte players to do/show them in training thats the real key.

Crikey, he can't win can he?