Bulgaria V Ireland (Pre Match Thread)

**Stuttgart88** · 02/06/2009, 3:58 PM

Whatever about criticising Kiely's exclusion, I think given the big doubts over Gibson's fitness it was important to have given Miller a run out on Friday. He actually impressed me too.

**geysir** · 02/06/2009, 4:10 PM

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.

**tetsujin1979** · 02/06/2009, 4:28 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Yeah, I think Trap covered quite a few angles with that friendly, not all obvious from first glance.

I'm not sure how comfortable I am with a manager who knows more than the fans, it somehow feels...unnatural

**boovidge** · 02/06/2009, 4:35 PM

I'm in two minds about the defence. The O'Shea/Dunne partnership has been great this campaign so I'd be reluctant to disrupt it. However, RB is our main liability and with Dunne apparently enjoying the partnership with SSL it's very tempting to switch it around. It's one of those situations where I'm glad I can just criticise Trap's decision if we lose

Foley didn't do enough to impress against Nigeria imo.

The McGeady vs Lawrence is also quite interesting. Except the second half v Georgia, McGeady has never produced his best for Ireland. Lawrence has been injured but was very impressive for Stoke (scoring a couple of belters iirc) However, I presume Trap will stick with the tried and tested.

**irishfan86** · 02/06/2009, 5:54 PM

My lineup would be:

----------------Given-----------
O'Shea--Dunne--St. Ledger---Killer
McGeady--Andrews--Whelan---Duff
--------------Keane-------------
---------------Folan-------------

And I think this is what the lineup will be as well.

If we're down a goal with 30 minutes to go, I never thought I'd say this, but I'd take off Whelan for Miller. Maybe I'll get slaughtered for this but I thought he was instrumental in everything we did going forward on Friday.

I feel really bad about dropping Hunt after his performance in Bari, but as this is an away game, and Bulgaria are probably going to have the lion's share of possession, I think it's important that Duff plays to retain as much of the ball as possible.

I would think about playing Hunt ahead of McGeady if it was a choice between the two of them on the left, but I see McGeady as much better than Hunt on the right wing.

Personally, I'm worried about the two Petrov's, especially if we have anybody other than O'Shea at right-full.

But I'm excited to see Keane and Folan hopefully play 90 minutes together for the first time.

**NeilMcD** · 02/06/2009, 6:03 PM

Looks like that is going to be the team with McGeady out and Hunt in instead. According to TOD at training its looking like the team above.

**zenokelly** · 02/06/2009, 6:05 PM

Tony O Donoghue just gave an update from London.

Keane (more so) and Given are doubts after sitting out traning.

Whelan pulled up with a knock at the end of training.

Foley has left the squad as his wife is giving birth(didn't indicate whether he'll be back)

Team news: Trap said that Hunt is 90% likely to start, and Duff is the likely other winger.
St Ledger played in the centre with dunne, with O Shea out on the right.

So the team looks like it will be, barring injuries:
Given
O Shea Sledge Dunne Killer
Duff Andrews Whelan Hunt
Keane
Folan

**irishfan86** · 02/06/2009, 6:18 PM

Imagine if we're playing our most crucial away game with Wayne Henderson in the goals and without Robbie up front.

Jesus Christ.

**sligofan4ever** · 02/06/2009, 6:22 PM

Gibson's out of this one, call-up for Keith Fahey as his replacement ? I'd expect Liam Miller to be on the bench anyways.

**elroy** · 02/06/2009, 8:01 PM

Considering how we played against them at home, I think we have got to be happy if we come away with a draw on sat. It keeps things in our own hands, yes it wouldnt be ideal in in our aims to top the group but that will all come down to the Italian game at home. If we lose to Bulgaria, our whole campaign could fall apart.

I fancy us to get a draw, I have faith in Trap and I believe he will get this spot on. I have always felt that with the way Traps set out this team that we could actually get better results and performances away from home. We got the required result in Italy although it wasnt in the manner I wouldve expected but that game and the change of tactics to adapt to the conditions has only strengthed my confidence and belief in Trap.

I think starting McShane anywhere and in particular on the right would be extremely foolish and I would hope Trap will give St ledger the chance that many on this site feel he deserves. He seems to have got Dunnes vote of confidence at least.

Shay and Robbie sat out todays training, keane with a swollen foot and Shay with his hip injury, but both are expected to be fit.

**Stuttgart88** · 02/06/2009, 8:08 PM

We can't afford to lose Given or Robbie, but Trap's comments on RTE seem to indicate Robbie should be fine.

Gibson & Foley we can live without but I'd still like Whelan to start despite Miller's good showing at the Cottage, I hope Whelan's ankle injury isn't serious.

**shakermaker1982** · 02/06/2009, 8:28 PM

If he's going to play Hunt AND Duff then I'd prefer to see Duff on the left. He's one of our real danger men and needs to be played in his proper position.

Anyway I'd start with this:

Given

O'Shea St Ledger Dunne Kilbane

Hunt Andrews Whelan Duffer

Keane Folan

Bring on McGeady and Best when the sun starts to sap the strength from both teams. I told Karl Spain outside the Cottage on Friday it would be 1-1 but I hope I'm wrong.......if we win this then we can top the group.

**richieos** · 02/06/2009, 10:25 PM

my views on the proposed starting 11:

Given: Best goalkeeper in the premier league.
O'Shea: First choice fullback for the premier league champions, never lets his team down, has become mr.reliable.
Dunne: Our unoffical second captain on the pitch, never lets his country down, highly dependable.
St Ledger: This one im unsure of, hes clearly a talented footballer, but has only had 1 cap, and this is a game of huge pressure, pressure which he probably hasnt experienced before.
Kilbane: I personally think he has done very well at left back for us and has recieved unfair criticism while in this position, has been generally reliable.
Duff: Up and down season for newcastle, ending poorly playing at left back, but never lets his country down and should be our main midfield threat.
Andrews: Definatley our most underrated player. Always puts in a great shift and works his socks off, driving the midfield. Peoples views have been clouded by his lower league past.
Whelan: Fantastic form for stoke since he broke back into the team, hoping he can re-create it for Ireland
Hunt: This is a potentially dodgy choice, he could either be brilliant or useless but probably deserves his place because of bari.
Keane: Best irish striker in history.
Folan: has looked composed and effective when playing for us, lets just hope his fitness is up to standard.

Overall i think our lineup looks solid enough, and certain players have grown into the unit that trap has created and performed better as the qualifiers have went on (andrews, o'shea) and i think this team is more than good enough to get at least a draw

**irishultra** · 02/06/2009, 10:37 PM

That is a poor team imo on paper, especially the midfield.

Hunt-Championship player

Duff-not deemed good enough to play in his favoured position for a relegated team

Andrews-Playing at right back for his average club and most likely to leave for a lower league team in the summer.

Whelan-Good, however divides the fans at Stoke City.

Dunne probably won't start for Man City next season, O'Shea is a good player but a squad player at club level, Kilbane, don't think he starts for his club, Best is a nobody and Keane and Given are obviously quality, although Keane has played kinda bad in the last 2 months and didn't have a good season overall.

Given is our only proper quality player.

**Colbert Report** · 02/06/2009, 10:52 PM