Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B - General Discussion

Sledge dropped to the bench today....Trap really needs to put O'Shea and Dunne in the center. Foley/Kelly on the right and cunningham on the left.

O'Shea hasn't been playing much lately for Manchester United. Seems to have been displaced by Rafael as the first choice right-back.

I'd still have more faith in him though, altho granted, after Rafael's performance today he could be on the bench a lot longer

I think Rafael is there to stay. With Valencia injured United need his more attacking style.

O'Shea is back providing utility cover and it looks like Rafael is ahead of him in the pecking order. It's obvious but we need our first 11-15 playing regular first team if we are to have any chance. I cannot see Trap change his midfield set up so the best we can hope for is for Fahey or Andrews to play out of their skin for the rest of the games. Coleman, Cunningham and McCarthy need to be given a real chance once they are getting regular game time. Good to see Foley, Hunt and Clarke in among the goals today. Treacy could make a real impact for us if he can keep his focus. McGeady still has to step up to the plate but his recent performances are promising. One thing for sure its going to be another roller coaster run in and I reckon the best we can hope for is the play-offs.

Originally Posted by rebelmusic

The one thing that annoyed me is Given's distribution. Goal kicks almost always end up with opposition attack. If you watch the game again you'll notice most of our decent play begins with the full back. At least when the option is there, Given should roll it out to the full backs and let them build up play. O'Shea as well does have an eye for a good pass when he's not in lump it mode.

Interesting, that is one of the main criticisms of that City fans had of Given in the whole Given V Hart debate earlier in the year. That and his general command of the area were the two main criticisms.

Hart's distribution is brutal though.

I think from the command of his area point of view, it's always been hard to understand why Given never comes to catch corners or set plays in general. Considering set plays have been our biggest weakness this campaign it raises concerns.

Foley, JoSh, Dunne, Cunningham.

Please Santa.

Originally Posted by rebelmusic

I think from the command of his area point of view, it's always been hard to understand why Given never comes to catch corners or set plays in general. Considering set plays have been our biggest weakness this campaign it raises concerns.

Physically he's too small. He's even slight for a keeper.

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Foley, JoSh, Dunne, Cunningham.

Please Santa.

Haha brilliant. I dunno, hasn't he held back from these since that injury a few years back? The one compared to a car accident?

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Physically he's too small. He's even slight for a keeper.

Hasn't stopped Iker Casillas who is marginally smaller than Given.
I actually dont think much of Joe Hart. He is English, he looks the part, he wears short sleeves and therefore resembles a European keeper. and the english media were clamouring for him to be selected. He will get found out in time.

Originally Posted by carloz

Hasn't stopped Iker Casillas who is marginally smaller than Given.
I actually dont think much of Joe Hart. He is English, he looks the part, he wears short sleeves and therefore resembles a European keeper. and the english media were clamouring for him to be selected. He will get found out in time.

Definitely carloz. Maybe Iker is the exception to the rule, Look at Cannavaro, midget, but as fine a defensive header of the ball as you'd get.

I'd agree too re: Hart.

Casillas doesn't really command his area either. Neither does Reina. It's a case of having good defenders in front of you who'll take responsibility for most balls in. Given has, or had, Lescott.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Casillas doesn't really command his area either. Neither does Reina. It's a case of having good defenders in front of you who'll take responsibility for most balls in. Given has, or had, Lescott.

valid point too, especially about Reina.

Hart didn't cover himself in glory 2day. Couldn't deal with Delap's "missiles" at all

Our hopes of Armenia doing us a favour against Russia, like they did against Slovakia, might not be too likely. Armenian daily newspaper Zhamanak today is suggesting Russian officials approached their Armenian counterparts with a view to paying for a guaranteed win, and that the game has long been rigged.

Originally Posted by Jicked

Our hopes of Armenia doing us a favour against Russia, like they did against Slovakia, might not be too likely. Armenian daily newspaper Zhamanak today is suggesting Russian officials approached their Armenian counterparts with a view to paying for a guaranteed win, and that the game has long been rigged.

If true then watch FIFA sweep this under the carpet.

Call me naive but I'd trust the Armenians to give it their all for their country.

Even if they are mercenaries, surely it would be more lucrative to try and secure a move to a top club by playing well at international level then get a few thousand from the Russians?

We have to win this one. No more to be said.

26-Mar-11 Ireland v Macedonia
26-Mar-11 Andorra v Slovakia
26-Mar-11 Armenia v Russia