Predict the Squad/ Starting Lineup for Macedonia

[mark12345]

Back to the matter at hand anyone? The team for Saturday?
I think it's going to be an identity crisis for Ireland. With McCarthy in the team (and I'm assuming that even Trap isn't foolish enough not to pick him after all that's
gone on) we will have for the first time since Roy Keane, a midfielder who will actually show for the ball and do something with it. That means we should not give it away as much as we did against Russia. But it will be in trying to find passes to Keane and Doyle that the game will be won (or not won). I can see us giving it a go for an hour or so and then throwing our hands up in the air if it doesn't work, and then bringing on Walters for the long ball game.

[Junior]

I am worried by the impact people are thinking McCarthy will have.

I saw quite a bit of him when he was at Hamilton but since then MOTD highlights has been pretty much it. Im not sure how much of him fans on here have actually seen, we dont seem to have any Wigan supporting regular posters, so apart from the odd live game on TV, MOTD highlights and reading match reports, we need to be careful with the pressure we will enivatably pile on him. I can just sense the roar of anticipation from the crowd as he warms up on the sideline.

I have no doubt he has ability in abundance and is one of (if not) the the finest prospects we have. However, I kind of expect him to come in to the side and have a very 'under the radar' kind of impact. I dont expect box to box running or arriving late in to the box to get on the end of crosses or endless threaded through balls to Doyle/Long/Keane. On the contrary, I expect he'll do the simple things well and probably no more, under strict instruction from Trap. Could probably take him 10-20 appearances to find his feet properly.

Ill be happy enough if he gets 30 minutes on Saturday, even better if the game is safe by then.

[Stuttgart88]

I'll take an ugly, lucky win and no participation whatsoever by McCarthy. A comfortable win with McCarthy playing a key role would be ideal.

Anyway, Monday night with no fresh injuries reported. Is this a record?

[Kingdom]

Anyway, Monday night with no fresh injuries reported. Is this a record?

Goddamit. I could expect to see that from a Paul O'Shea, but you? Your long enough in the game to know not to force a jinx on us like that.
Shame.

[Sullivinho]

Anyway, Monday night with no fresh injuries reported. Is this a record?

Mistimed tackle during training you say?

[SwanVsDalton]

Thanks Stutts. Team for Saturday is now:

Forde
Kelly-McShane-O'Dea-Kilbane
Lawrence-Green-Wilson-Treacy
Keogh-Gary Doherty (shock recall)

[Stuttgart88]

Reprimand accepted.

[Junior]

I'll take an ugly, lucky win and no participation whatsoever by McCarthy. A comfortable win with McCarthy playing a key role would be ideal.

Anyway, Monday night with no fresh injuries reported. Is this a record?

I really really want him to feature on Saturday if only for a cameo role. I dont have any doubts whatsoever about McCarthys commitment to us but I really couldnt face another 3 months of crap on here, in the various media or indeed from Martinez banging on about will he / wont he etc....

[geysir]

The crap doesn't worry me so much, it's the jinxes that have me concerned.

I am not superstitious - really!

[shakermaker1982]

What scores are people predicting for the game then?

I'm going 2-1. A tense nervy affair with Macedonia looking technically superior but two goals from set pieces wins the day for us.

[tetsujin1979]

from Ken Early's twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/kenearlys/sta...67478512394240

no pull-outs from ireland squad, coleman, dunne, duff and best not training today; mccarthy, keane and fahey are though.

(incidentally, I'm a little surprised nobody has written a twitter plugin for vBulletin, like there is for youtube, etc)

[geysir]

That pushes Fahey up in the reckoning.
Next come the speculation on who is going to start based on the roles played in the training.

[Closed Account]

from Ken Early's twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/kenearlys/sta...67478512394240


(incidentally, I'm a little surprised nobody has written a twitter plugin for vBulletin, like there is for youtube, etc)

Good sign that there are no pull outs, shows that everyone is up for this game. I fully expect Dunne and Duff to make the starting lineup. Good to see Robbie training.

[paul_oshea]

from Ken Early's twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/kenearlys/sta...67478512394240


(incidentally, I'm a little surprised nobody has written a twitter plugin for vBulletin, like there is for youtube, etc)

They are writing it. Soon there will probably be a nice little button directing to a twitter feed like the fly uses for anchors or the code tags.

[Wolfie]

Wolfie, are you a Wolves fan by any chance?

Not a Wolves fan, Geysir but, that said, I'd be considered to be a well wisher of theirs in the sense that I wish them no harm.

No, Wolfie supports his legs.

I support my legs?????????? How exactly - hand stands???

The circus beckons.

Ones legs support you, not the other way around, surely????

[EastTerracer]

From Ken Early and Daniel McDonnell on Twitter....

KE: "robbie keane will start for ireland against macedonia despite barely playing in months. his experience will be important, says trap"

DMcD: "Trap suggesting that Kevin Foley will start on Saturday. "

KE: "trap sure dunne will be fit for game. likely to use foley at RB rather than coleman because he's more familiar with the position. "

KE: "not yet saying whether clark or kilbane will be preferred at LB. mccarthy will not start, that would be too tough mentally. "

KE: "but mccarthy will play at some point, even if it's only for three minutes."

[Sullivinho]

Foley's waited patiently for that promotion. Very encouraging news regarding Dunne, hopefully he's somewhere near fully fit.

[rebelmusic]

In response to a question about who starts in midfield

@Stulikesdrums green won't be, guessing gibson and whelan will start

Hope that's true. I don't expect McCarthy to start, Gibson and Whelan are the best choice.

[rebelmusic]

Hmm a lot more niggling injuries than previously thought, from footie365

" Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is assessing his injured players ahead of Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia.
Central defender Richard Dunne was due to join up with the rest of the squad, which assembled in Malahide on Monday night, after staying behind at Aston Villa to continue treatment on his damaged shoulder, while midfielder Darron Gibson, who has a toe problem, is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.
Striker Leon Best did meet up despite missing Newcastle's Barclays Premier League defeat at Stoke on Saturday with an ankle injury, but he was sent for a swim this morning as his team-mates trained at Gannon Park.
Damien Duff (Achilles) and Seamus Coleman (ankle) also sat out, while Jonathan Walters will join up with the squad on Thursday with his wife about to give birth any day now."

[paul_oshea]

Not a Wolves fan, Geysir but, that said, I'd be considered to be a well wisher of theirs in the sense that I wish them no harm.



I support my legs?????????? How exactly - hand stands???

The circus beckons.

Ones legs support you, not the other way around, surely????

He asked were you a wolves supporter.

I said no you support your legs...

...because your legs support you