Republic of Ireland Squad V Armenia 3/9, Andorra 7/9

**Sullivinho** · 06/09/2010, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by rebelmusic

And i really dunno why but im convinced McGeady could do something special in this one.

The Aviva pitch is fairly wide. Might be suited to McGeady as regards stretching this kind of opposition. If they double up on him, what harm.

**geysir** · 06/09/2010, 5:16 PM

How much wider is the pitch now?

**Sullivinho** · 06/09/2010, 5:23 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

How much wider is the pitch now?

No idea, but I remember reading it's bigger.

Edit: Actually I may have been thinking of Croke Park.

**geysir** · 06/09/2010, 5:44 PM

Did they not keep the Croke park soccer pitch dimensions down to a replica of the Lansdowne rd size?

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/09/2010, 6:04 PM

The soccer pitch at Croke Park was 105m x 70m

http://www.crokepark.ie/about/pitch/about-the-pitch

According to Wikipedia (I can't find another source, though the Aviva site uselessly informs us that it's 47m high), the Lansdowne pitch will be slightly smaller at 106m x 68m

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviva_Stadium

**tricky_colour** · 06/09/2010, 7:19 PM

Originally Posted by The Fly

What's the odds on McGeady scoring his first international goal tomorrow night?

0 goals in 32 games, I'd say you would want 16-1 + for value.

You can get 13/2 on him being 1st goal scorer at Btfair, which looks lake very bad value to me.

Better value would be Lawrence at 10-1 or Dunne at 19-1.

**Paddy Garcia** · 06/09/2010, 7:25 PM

How's McCarthys knee - a great game to bring him on & to seriously look at some alternative midfield partnerships.

Andrews/Whelan/Green will not see us through the group & midfiield again looked very weak on Friday.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/09/2010, 7:31 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

How's McCarthys knee - a great game to bring him on & to seriously look at some alternative midfield partnerships.

He hasn't made himself available for the U21s.

**Paddy Garcia** · 06/09/2010, 8:08 PM

Yeah I know - was hoping he was feeling better by now!

**Crosby87** · 06/09/2010, 8:28 PM

Same startes as the other day says Trap, 2 articles at soccernet.com.

**elroy** · 06/09/2010, 8:40 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

No idea, but I remember reading it's bigger.

Edit: Actually I may have been thinking of Croke Park.

I think your right I remember reading the same thing about the pitch at the Aviva that it was the max dimensions of a football pitch. However, am sure it can be brought in if Trap wished.

**geysir** · 06/09/2010, 10:42 PM

As an anytime goalscorer at 5/1, I think St Ledger looks a good bet. He is usually up there sniffing about on the set pieces and is a target man for the final header.

**Kingdom** · 07/09/2010, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

Oh get real, Keane, Duff, JOS, Dunne at 32/33 and Given for a goalkeeper at 36 does not represent being too old. Thats the kind of silly thing the english media and public do in believing everyone should be retired once they turn 30 regardless of any sort of form or fitness they might be on. Dunne, Given and Duff had one of the finest seasons of their career last year and JOS has had one major injury in his entire career, if you think they'll be retiring out of inability, fitness or lack of desire get a reality check, they'll all be there for that campaign.

Get real? Good one. Maybe if you read what I said rather than get all uppidity you'd be better off. I never said they wouldn't be around for that campaign

What I said was at the start of the campaign they would be at that age, therefore 2 years on, when the finals start (if we made it) they'll be hitting 34,35,34,35 and 38 respectively. Is that too old for the bulk of a team? Of course it is, so I suggest it is you that gets the reality check. I'm expecting a few retirements after this campaign, and plenty will have earned it.

**DannyInvincible** · 07/09/2010, 10:47 AM

**paul_oshea** · 07/09/2010, 11:17 AM

I was away for a few days, but I honestly think that mcgeady is never ever going to get any better for us than what he currently offers. I beleive that when he loses his pace he is going to offer absoloutely nothing and I also see him making very little impact in Russia, especially with big physical players. How can a footballer not work on his upper body strength with all the time they have off and qualified personnel at their disposal.

Doyle really was top class friday evening, I think its his upper body strength that sets him aaprt from so many other strikers. He has great close control of the ball as well, i can never see him being a prolific goalscorer because he is not a fox in the box but offers a lot more especially for a team like us, and in away games where we need him to hold up the play and wait for support.

Keane unfortunately has proved that he needs 4 chances to convert 1, he didnt get that 4th one friday night.

Liam lawrence is really likeable, like his attitude, funny didnt keane say that he thought he hadn't the right attitude.

Paul green was far more assertive in the second half, but again i think he isnt physically strong enough for midfield for international football.

Oshea, was the only one who looked very comfortable in tight spaces and wherever he got the ball. The only one who seems technically adept at this level.

Dunne/st ledger/given all did their jobs pretty much.

Kilbane well he tried hard, but he kept getting pulled into the middle, i didnt blame him so much for this as dunnes lack of organisation of the back 4.

luckily fahey is more of a cm than winger, otherwise he wouldn't have been anywhere near where he was for the shot he took for the goal.

ill put my house(flat) on it, if we dont beat russia at home in october this group will go the way of so many others before i.e. we wont qualify for Euros.

**shakermaker1982** · 07/09/2010, 11:25 AM

I'm expecting us to win by 3 goals tonight. England struggled with them for 45 minutes (away game in Barca, got booed I think at HT) and the players must remain patient. If we get one early then it will be a doddle.

McGeady needs a goal tonight.

Nice fast tempo please with plenty of crosses into the box. If Lawrence can sort out his set pieces tonight then Doyle, Dunne and St Ledger should have a lot of joy.

**geysir** · 07/09/2010, 12:39 PM

I don�t know what McGeady did to upset so many people with his performance on friday night.
His setpiece was superb, his 2 crosses were expertly delivered. He created the space for himself to deliver a rasping shot after a darting run.
He won freekicks and held the ball up well most of the other times.
He regularily made himself available in space to receive the ball. Mostly the ball went down the right side. Our natural inclination to deliver the ball down the right side 9/10, is a worrying phenomena.

**shakermaker1982** · 07/09/2010, 12:52 PM

I must have watched another game Geysir. I thought McGeady was very average. I do recall his run which ended up with him dragging his shot wide but other than that he had a quiet game.

**shaneker** · 07/09/2010, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Mostly the ball went down the right side. Our natural inclination to deliver the ball down the right side 9/10, is a worrying phenomena.

Probably because we can't rely on Kilbane's pace, if he overlaps and we lose possession there would be a huge gap to exploit on the quick counter and Zinedine could be 50 yards away. O'Shea is not the quickest, but I bet he could make it back into defence a fair bit quicker. It's a limitation to our game but it's necessary. Another reason why Kilbane has to be phased out, we'd be a lot harder to defend against (and a bit less predictable) if we could send the left-back forward more often to help McGeady/Duff.