Predict the Squad/ Starting Lineup for Macedonia

**Murfinator** · 08/03/2011, 10:54 AM

I think he'll play Clark somewhere in the backline, either

O'Shea- Clark - St Ledger - Kilbane

If he's uneasy about inexperience at centre back then

Kelly- O'Shea - St Ledger - Clark

A serious problem would be if we left clark out and went with

Kelly- O'Shea - St Ledger - Kilbane

Makes us very vulnerable out wide and I think if trap did that I can't see any way that he'd pick McGeady for his defensive frailties. Opting perhaps for Fahey instead to support Kelly.

Centre mid is another tough one, I suppose the most ultra-conservative team he could pick would be

Westwood
Kelly O'Shea St Ledger Kilbane
Fahey Green Whelan Duff
Doyle Long

Here's hoping we don't see that

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2011, 11:34 AM

Westwood likely to be fit according to Irish Times

Ciaran Clark suspended for next 2 club games so won't have a game before Macedonia - good news I guess.

**shakermaker1982** · 08/03/2011, 11:42 AM

My guess at the team following withdrawals left right & centre is as follows:

Westwood

Kelly O'Shea St Ledger Clark

McGeady Gibson Whelan Duff

Doyle Long

Happy enough with that side. If Keane makes it then he replaces Long.

**ifk101** · 08/03/2011, 12:15 PM

With so many injury doubts it's hard to know how we'll line-up.

With Dunne out of the team, I'd imagine that Kelly with come in at RB with JoSH moving into the center. With Kelly coming in at RB, I'd be hoping that Lawrence is fit to play at RM as a right flank of Kelly and McGeady doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm not a great fan of Lawrence but that he does, he does well. He's also an important player when it comes to set pieces. I don't have the statistics for it (I'm sure somebody else will provide them) but I'd imagine that over 50% of the goals scored by us under Trapattoni are either scored by Robbie Keane or from a set piece. I think Lawrence and Stephen Hunt are our best set piece takers. Without either them or Robbie Keane in the team our chances of scoring are much weaker (imo).

**EastTerracer** · 08/03/2011, 5:31 PM

Looks like better news on the injury front according to the Irish edition of the Daily Mail: no link available but this is taken from the wires...

March 08 (Daily Mail) -- Keane: warm-weather training
gIoVannI trapattonI has been handed a treble european championship tonic with the news that robbie Keane, richard Dunne and Keiren westwood are back in the frame to face Macedonia on saturday fortnight.
Keane stepped up his return to full fitness after injury by travelling with the west ham squad to portugal this week for warm- weather training. the republic of Ireland captain and record goalscorer has been spending time in an oxygen tank to speed up his recovery after ripping a calf muscle on february 5. Keane, who has missed the last two Ireland internationals, is confident of being available for selection against his former club spurs in the premier league on March 19.
he then intends to travel to Dublin to link up with the squad ahead of the vital group B fixture with Macedonia in the aviva stadium on March 26. Keane's close friend, Dunne, is also focused on the Macedonia qualifier despite being written off for a month by gerard houllier after dislocating a collar bone in aston Villa's fa cup defeat at Manchester city last wednesday.
crucially, the injury didn't require surgery and Dunne has been receiving treatment daily.
Ideally, Dunne needs to have recovered in time for Villa's next game, at home to wolves on March 19.
even if that is not the case, sportsmail understands the stalwart centre-half is prepared to be assessed by the faI's medical team in the build-up to the Macedonia match.
while Dunne's euro prospects may not be as bright as that of Keane, the Dubliner would walk through a brick wall to play for his country and is desperate to maintain his record of starting every competitive game under trapattoni.
that he is eager to travel to Dublin will please trapattoni, who was unhappy that wigan pulled James Mccarthy out of the squad for the carling nations game against wales last month with an ankle injury. the Italian wanted the midfielder to come to Dublin to be examined by the Ireland's medical staff.
there was further encouragement regarding westwood's hip injury, which is not regarded as serious even though the coventry keeper is doubtful for their game at Doncaster tonight. westwood is trapattoni's first choice to replace shay given, a long-term absentee, in goal against Macedonia. he was taken off injured at halftime in coventry's 4-1 home defeat to Bristol city on saturday.

Copyright (c) Associated Newspapers Ltd. 2011

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2011, 7:46 PM

Westwood not figuring tonight, just out of info.

**Sullivinho** · 08/03/2011, 8:16 PM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

while Dunne's euro prospects may not be as bright as that of Keane, the Dubliner would walk through a brick wall to play for his country

That line makes no exaggeration about his physical abilities either.

**geysir** · 10/03/2011, 10:45 AM

'while Dunne's euro prospects may not be as bright as that of Keane, the Dubliner would walk through a brick wall to play for his country and is desperate to maintain his record of starting every competitive game under trapattoni.
that he is eager to travel to Dublin will please trapattoni, who was unhappy that wigan pulled James Mccarthy out of the squad for the carling nations game against wales last month with an ankle injury. the Italian wanted the midfielder to come to Dublin to be examined by the Ireland's medical staff.'

Trap has said that players are expected to turn up and be assessed by the FAI, re their fitness. Regular players know this and it is established procedure. Trap has already favourably remarked upon the attitude of the senior players like Duff, Keane, Dunne and Kilbane who have turned up for squad training injured but are desperate to play.

**Sullivinho** · 11/03/2011, 3:29 PM

Robbie looking likely to make it. Not bad having two in form strikers on the bench if needed eh?

**CraftyToePoke** · 11/03/2011, 4:33 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

Robbie looking likely to make it. Not bad having two in form strikers on the bench if needed eh?

Indeed. Its not too long ago we would roll out Gary Doherty and hoist it lovingly toward him all day long.

**Paddy Garcia** · 12/03/2011, 8:42 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Indeed. Its not too long ago we would roll out Gary Doherty and hoist it lovingly toward him all day long.

And on occasion - our bacon he would save!

**CraftyToePoke** · 13/03/2011, 1:58 AM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

And on occasion - our bacon he would save!

Well this is it, didnt he clock six in a campaign once?

The best of times, the worst of times.

**Closed Account** · 13/03/2011, 4:20 AM

Lawrence played half an hour this weekend, whether you want him to start or not, constistency in training, drills, etc, is what differtientates good international teams from pubternational teams.(TERM PATENTED)