Bulgaria V Ireland (Pre Match Thread)

[Stuttgart88]

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.

I was thinking about Lawrence over McGeady too (marginal call), but I'd have had McGeady over Hunt.

I wonder will Folan's presence make it easier for Hunt / McGeady & Duff to find their man in the box, or create space for them to find others. Same thing from set pieces. In fact we could now have Folan, St. Ledger, O'Shea and Folan to offer a threat from set-pieces.

Doyle is good in the air but just isn't the potential handful that Folan could be if he plays well. They offer very different options.

[Noelys Guitar]

Hunt had an excellent game against the world champs away from home in a competitive game. He should be in the driving seat for the right midfield position. The best way of keeping Petrov "at home" is by letting Hunt do what he did in Bari. Skin the oppositions full back and win free kicks in dangerous positions.

[paul_oshea]

FOlan, as a double threat i like that!

[paul_oshea]

Hunt had an excellent game against the world champs away from home in a competitive game. He should be in the driving seat for the right midfield position. The best way of keeping Petrov "at home" is by letting Hunt do what he did in Bari. Skin the oppositions full back and win free kicks in dangerous positions.

ya and then hit every free at the wall or first line of defence, or over everyone and out the far side of goal.

[NeilMcD]

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

Paul that sentence does not really make sense. For a man who sees himself as an articulate person I am surprised at you. We all make spelling errors but that sentence is all over the shop.

[Stuttgart88]

ya and then hit every free at the wall or first line of defence, or over everyone and out the far side of goal.

Remind me how we scored at home to Bulgaria?

[dr_peepee]

Hunt is at his best against better players. Maybe his inclusion means he's starting on the right to stifle the threat from Petrov???

[Drumcondra 69er]

Hunt deserves his start after his Italy game, McGeady has had too many chances and not nailed down a marker (and I'd be a fan). On that basis it has to be Hunt.

The team being touted in the media and on the training ground is the team I'd start with, St Ledger looks solid and doesn't look the type to be phased and McShane is a serious weak link so O'Shea moving out wide is a no brainer to me. Only concern I have is that O'Shea may be more prone to his old habit of switching off without someone vocal alongside him but to his credit he seems to have imporved that at right back for m u this season so fingers crossed.

Once everyone stays fit I'll be happy with that team. CAn't wait for the game, sick I'm not going, have a bloody pre wedding course all day saturday, straight out of that into the pub in plenty of time for kick off at least!

[Wolfie]

I think Hunt deserves to start following his performance against Italy. A great effort on goal in the first half that bolstered confidence and was a consistent problem for the Italians.

Who's to say we won't go a goal down early again? What Hunt can sometimes lack in composure he certainly makes up for in effort and urgency - his input could be critical if we are chasing the game.

Bulgaria will bombard us from the off, with a high tempo game feeding their attack at every opportunity.

Under these conditions, Hunt could be a useful means of alleviating pressure on our back four. Sometimes, the schoolyard football style can be effective.

[Stuttgart88]

Hunt is at his best against better players. Maybe his inclusion means he's starting on the right to stifle the threat from Petrov???

That's what I'd expect, though it's the reason I'd have been tempted to stick Lawrence in over McGeady. I just don't like seeing such a one footed player as Hunt playing on his wrong side, but he has played there for Reading I suppose.

[shakermaker1982]

That's what I'd expect, though it's the reason I'd have been tempted to stick Lawrence in over McGeady. I just don't like seeing such a one footed player as Hunt playing on his wrong side, but he has played there for Reading I suppose.

He can cut inside like Messi - but do it with more style

[Thommo]

Hunt was dire at Croke Park against the Bulgarians yes he re-deemed himself against Italy but creatively McGeady and Duff offer more out wide and tend to switch sides throughout the game.
I know Aidan needs to get his head up a bit more and his final delivery at times has you tearing your hair out saying that I'd rather him than Hunt.
The man who ran the show in Croker v Bulgaria was Stilian Petrov he can't be given the same freedom, hopefully the lazy non-interested Berbatov turns up Saturday evening.
Kevin K. was targeted big time at Croker even though Kevin would die in the Irish jersey he lacks a bit of pace and if McShane plays I seriously fear for us.
I'll take a nil nil bore draw now it keeps us in the driving seat ahead of the Bulgarians otherwise if we lose we need to get something against our bogey team Cyprus come September and we've seen what has happened out there in the past, the win in Croker at home to Cyprus was seriously nail biting.

[Duggie]

ya and then hit every free at the wall or first line of defence, or over everyone and out the far side of goal.

exactly

[magnumpi]

[quote=Wolfie;1171476]

Bulgaria will bombard us from the off, with a high tempo game feeding their attack at every opportunity.

quote]


totally agree, which means it'll be backs to the wall for the first 15mins as against montenegro. if we can frustrate them in the first half though, you never know.

will be sh**ing it in the stands for the first part of the game for sure.

[geysir]

Hunt could be just the ticket midfield need against Bulgaria.

Looks like we have a good ref for the game, one who wont be partial to accepting services from ladies of the night.

[paul_oshea]

Remind me how we scored at home to Bulgaria?

You know well what I mean stutts....

[Duggie]

lads what if whelan dosent make it.

[NeilMcD]

We play Miller.

[Duggie]

We play Miller.

exactly.....

[Scram]

We play Miller.

Miller impressed me for the first time ever against Nigeria (other than one off's like his cracker of a goal against (Sweden?)), but would still very much worry me as a starter to be relied on for 90 minutes.