Bulgaria V Ireland (Pre Match Thread)

**Wolfie** · 02/06/2009, 12:46 PM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-1757790.html

"They've felt all along that if they can bring us to Bulgaria and beat us there, they can qualify," observed Given, "They've been winding me up, and I've been winding them up too, saying how easy it will be, but it's just a bit of team spirit, having a laugh.

"Since I got there, they've been talking about this game, saying, "wait til June, wait til June" so they're really fired up for it. They know how big it is for them."

**paul_oshea** · 02/06/2009, 12:57 PM

A m�n avis this is the biggest game in Traps career, to prove if we have turned a corner, and will be in the whole qualifying campaign. I honestly beleive that, if we win this game, then I cannot see us not qualifying for World cup 2010. However if we draw this I can see us struggling in a play-off or worse, losing on an away goal. I just hope we dont let in an early goal and are left chasing as I could see us conceding twice against their pace.

I'm going to go for a 1-1 draw as I don't think we have turned the corner yet in terms of away games. As always hope I'm wrong (in a positive way!) - I usually am but its generally some sort of a draw!

**Wolfie** · 02/06/2009, 1:03 PM

This was Dunne's view on St Ledger's debut:

"He was excellent, he talked all the way through the game," said Dunne, "He felt really comfortable to play alongside, like he'd been there for ages."

St Ledger could be worth the gamble alongside Dunne with O'Shea pushed out to Full-Back.

**richieos** · 02/06/2009, 1:12 PM

i think that the trap mentality of 'if you cant win, dont lose' will be very important over here. a draw would at least keep the distance between us and bulgaria, and a win would nearly put them out of contention, but if we lose, i can see us crumbling. although i can picture us finishing this campaign unbeaten because of the resilience trap has added to the team.

team prediction:
Given, Foley, Dunne, O'Shea, Kilbane, Mcgeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff, Keane, Folan.

I have a feeling trap may finally have realised McShanes flaws and will look for an alternative.

Score prediction:
Bulgaria 2-2 Ireland

**paul_oshea** · 02/06/2009, 1:20 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

This was Dunne's view on St Ledger's debut:

"He was excellent, he talked all the way through the game," said Dunne, "He felt really comfortable to play alongside, like he'd been there for ages."

St Ledger could be worth the gamble alongside Dunne with O'Shea pushed out to Full-Back.

thanks wolfie I couldn't see that line in the article you posted for some reason!

**carloz** · 02/06/2009, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

This was Dunne's view on St Ledger's debut:

"He was excellent, he talked all the way through the game," said Dunne, "He felt really comfortable to play alongside, like he'd been there for ages."

St Ledger could be worth the gamble alongside Dunne with O'Shea pushed out to Full-Back.

Certainly a gamble thats worth taking IMO. I have no doubt that the Bulgarian staff have watched our game against Italy many times and know jus how vulnerable we are at right back with McShane. Martin Petrov will be the creative force o them so i think putting O'Shea on him would be a good idea. Plus, although not being the tallest, St Ledger is very dangerous when we have a set piece. Always vital in internationals.

**Wolfie** · 02/06/2009, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by richieos

i think that the trap mentality of 'if you cant win, dont lose' will be very important over here. a draw would at least keep the distance between us and bulgaria, and a win would nearly put them out of contention, but if we lose, i can see us crumbling. although i can picture us finishing this campaign unbeaten because of the resilience trap has added to the team.

team prediction:
Given, Foley, Dunne, O'Shea, Kilbane, Mcgeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff, Keane, Folan.

I have a feeling trap may finally have realised McShanes flaws and will look for an alternative.

Score prediction:
Bulgaria 2-2 Ireland

I'd start with this team (for what its worth).

Given, Kilbane, Dunne, St Ledger, O'Shea, McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff, Keane, Folan.

Stephen Hunt would figure later in the game also.

**paul_oshea** · 02/06/2009, 1:21 PM

deleted

**richieos** · 02/06/2009, 1:37 PM

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/wa...l-1757416.html

Henderson being called into the squad
its good to hear about his dedication, going to the nigeria game as a fan and cancelling his holiday

**paul_oshea** · 02/06/2009, 1:56 PM

was henderson not in goals for the game against czech? did he not concede against koller? Or is the 4 out of 6 games that he was subbed but didnt let any in while he was on the pitch.

**Brendan 82** · 02/06/2009, 2:04 PM

I'm hoping Trap goes for this team:

Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Hunt, Folan, Keane

I think Josh is our best defender right now and his best position is right back. Because the other replacements at right back are so dodgy I think we have to break up the Dunne-O'Shea partnership, regrettably. But Petrov against McShane or Kelly scares the crap out of me. Dunne and the Saint looked comfortable together against Nigeria. It is a risk throwing a young centre half into such a crucial international fixture but I believe the threat posed by Petrov could be thwarted by O'Shea, thus easing the pressure on Dunne and the Saint. If Whelan and Andrews do their job, we could be alright defensively.

I'd go for Hunt on the left not because he is necessarily a better or more skillful player than Duff, I go for him because of the impact he has on an international match. He is a bit mad and really tears into them right from the whistle. It unsettlets the opposition, you see international defenders backtracking with a look on their face that says: "Who the F**K! is this crazy *******?!!" . He also defends well enough when needed.

If we can get service to Keane and Folan I believe we will score goals. I've always liked Robbie with a target man, someone who can hold it up and play little dinks for Robbie to run on to. Robbie is just sic and you'd nearly always fancy him to score.

Overall I expect a very tough game as Bulgaria know that it is now or never. Fingers crossed, its gonna be a wild ride, c'mon Ireland!

**Den Perry** · 02/06/2009, 2:13 PM

Originally Posted by Brendan 82

I'm hoping Trap goes for this team:

Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Hunt, Folan, Keane

I think Josh is our best defender right now and his best position is right back. Because the other replacements at right back are so dodgy I think we have to break up the Dunne-O'Shea partnership, regrettably. But Petrov against McShane or Kelly scares the crap out of me. Dunne and the Saint looked comfortable together against Nigeria. It is a risk throwing a young centre half into such a crucial international fixture but I believe the threat posed by Petrov could be thwarted by O'Shea, thus easing the pressure on Dunne and the Saint. If Whelan and Andrews do their job, we could be alright defensively.

I'd go for Hunt on the left not because he is necessarily a better or more skillful player than Duff, I go for him because of the impact he has on an international match. He is a bit mad and really tears into them right from the whistle. It unsettlets the opposition, you see international defenders backtracking with a look on their face that says: "Who the F**K! is this crazy *******?!!" . He also defends well enough when needed.

If we can get service to Keane and Folan I believe we will score goals. I've always liked Robbie with a target man, someone who can hold it up and play little dinks for Robbie to run on to. Robbie is just sic and you'd nearly always fancy him to score.

Overall I expect a very tough game as Bulgaria know that it is now or never. Fingers crossed, its gonna be a wild ride, c'mon Ireland!

Hunt is also crazy enough to get sent off stupidly in the first ten mins, so no way would I start him. He's an impact sub and that's all he'll ever be

**Duggie** · 02/06/2009, 2:18 PM

Hunt - no way were trying to win the game. he gives the ball away almost every time. we need duffer doing a bit of magic to open up the bulgies. dont think id start st ledger either. id go with the trusted dunne and o'shea for now.

**Stuttgart88** · 02/06/2009, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

was henderson not in goals for the game against czech? did he not concede against koller?

Yes and yes. What's your point though?

Anyway, for me:

Given
O'Shea-Dunne-St. Ledger-Kilbane
Lawrence-Andrews-Whelan-Duff
Keane - Folan

SSL was impressive enough to break up the good JOS/ Dunne partnership. JOS will be needed on that side and is also better at developing play at the back.

Dunne's comments about SSL speak volumes in my opinion.

Duff wins out over Hunt for me, by quite a bit. Despite people querying his contribution, he was actually instrumental in beginning the move from which we scored on Friday.

Everyone else bar Lawrence vs McGeady is a shoe-in for me. I'd be inclined to pick Lawrence over McGeady just for the solidity he'd give down that side. Tough call though as McGeady has a lot going for him.

Because of the heat I'd say we could see whichever wide guys we choose being replaced after 60 minutes anyway.

I see this game a bit like Israel away a few years ago: a win would mark a monumental step forward that could set us back if we don't take it. We can't seriously expect to compete in these groups without a win away against a decent team somewhere along the line. I'm hoping that Trap has this situation sussed out.

I'm cautiously optimistic. If we had any kind of track record of winning this winnable but tricky away game I'd be far more confident but the reality is that bar John O'Shea (and Trap himself) nobody in the team has much experience of winning abroad at either club or country level.

Anyone know who the referee is?

**magnumpi** · 02/06/2009, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Anyone know who the referee is?

let's hope he's german!! and not portuguese...

**Duggie** · 02/06/2009, 2:51 PM

personally i rate mcgeady really highly - defo starter IMO. creative, good shot on him, crossing has to improve but we need all the creativity we can get in the team. has to start for me. hopefully big folan can get a few knock downs to robbie and unsettle the bulgies defence.

**magnumpi** · 02/06/2009, 2:58 PM

re: Referee.

googled it and came up with this:

Claus Bo Larsen, Henrik S�nderby, Anders N�rrestrand, Lars Christoffersen (DEN)

**magnumpi** · 02/06/2009, 3:01 PM

Claus Bo Larsen (born October 28, 1965 in Odense). Is a football referee from Denmark. He is known for having officiated the football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He has also officiated 7 UEFA Cup matches and 17 Champions League matches in his career.
He was appointed to referee the 2008 UEFA Super Cup Final - contested by Zenit St Petersburg and Manchester United - and played in Monaco on Friday, 29 August 2008. He was assisted by Henrik Sonderby and Anders Norrestrand, with Nicolai Vollquartz acting as Fourth Official
He was not a part of the initial squad of referees to go the 2010 FIFA World Cup, even though he refereed both the 2009 Champions League quarter-final between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC and the 2009 Champions League semifinal between Manchester United and Arsenal FC, besides the before mentioned UEFA Super Cup.

sorry lads, am really bored at work / excited about the trip.

**tetsujin1979** · 02/06/2009, 3:12 PM

Some high profile games there, not a rookie by any stretch of the imagination
John O'Shea came off the bench in that Super Cup Final, and played the whole game in the semi final against Arsenal.

**Stuttgart88** · 02/06/2009, 3:49 PM

Originally Posted by Duggie

personally i rate mcgeady really highly - defo starter IMO. creative, good shot on him, crossing has to improve but we need all the creativity we can get in the team. has to start for me. hopefully big folan can get a few knock downs to robbie and unsettle the bulgies defence.

Yeah, I think he and Duff have suffered from the lack of a big man in the middle to attack their crosses, good and all as Doyle is in the air. Folan may make things easier for them.