Predict the Squad/ Starting Lineup for Macedonia

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

Henry's goal wasn't a free kick. It was sublime but not a free.

Re starting line-up I think it's ludicrous having O'Dea in centre back. He looked very shaky in last friendly and is not playing regularly. Clark in there as Dunne's team-mate at Villa is the obvious choice.

Didn't realise O'Shea and St.Ledger were both injured

Oh ya it was outside the box wasn't it, did oshea given away the ball or hold back off him?

**Noelys Guitar** · 25/03/2011, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Can we trust your facts Paul?
Hasn't O'Dea has been playing regularily for Ipswich since the time of the Norway game?

He was dropped after Ipswich played Leeds and has not played a minute in Ipswich's last two games.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Can we trust your facts Paul?
Hasn't O'Dea has been playing regularily for Ipswich since the time of the Norway game?

Can we trust your assertions or questioning?

**ifk101** · 25/03/2011, 1:46 PM

So we have three competitive debutants in our back five (Westwood, Foley and O'Dea)? And Dunne and Keane are lacking in match sharpness. If you were supporting Macedonia you'd have to fancy your chances.

**Junior** · 25/03/2011, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Also from Ken Early's Twitter:

Ken Early
trap irate at suggestions he tells full-backs to stay back. he cites cabrini and brehme. expect similar from foley and kilbane

He obviously reads my posts on here

**geysir** · 25/03/2011, 1:48 PM

I'd prefer Clark, but I'd be way more concerned with Gibson at CM.
I hope both come through fine and vindicate Trap's selection.

**DeLorean** · 25/03/2011, 1:48 PM

I really don't see the big deal about playing O'Dea ahead of Clark. I haven't seen Villa all that often this season but hasn't Clark played at full back and midfield more often than he has played centre back (open to correction?). It has been a shambolic season for Villa into the bargain. There were no more options really and although I would have like to have seen Clark start, I would have preferred if it was at Kilbane's expense, and taken a little step towards the future.

I'd have a much bigger problem with Gibson starting in a position where McCarthy has excelled over a decent period of time.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 1:49 PM

The point is that Clark hasn't had many career games at CB. He's been played in midfield and LB at least as much as CB I reckon, without reverting to stats.

As I said, I'd have gone with Clark myself, but O'Dea could be looking good in training and either player is a risk. I'm not being a Trapologist, I just think it's a relatively marginal call. We have a full back and a GK making competitive debuts, so having a CB making a competitive debut too might have been a determining factor.

(DeLorean types faster than I do, obviously!)

**Sullivinho** · 25/03/2011, 1:50 PM

Originally Posted by FAI.ie

Republic of Ireland starting team v Macedonia :

Westwood (Coventry City); Foley (Wolves), Dunne (Aston Villa), O'Dea (Celtic - on loan at Ipswich Town), Kilbane (Hull City - on loan at Huddersfield Town); McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Gibson (Manchester United), Whelan (Stoke City), Duff (Fulham); Keane (West Ham United), Doyle (Wolves).

Hope the guy plays a blinder but I can't say I'm enthusiastic about that selection.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:50 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I really don't see the big deal about playing O'Dea ahead of Clark. I haven't seen Villa all that often this season but hasn't Clark played at full back and midfield more often than he has played centre back (open to correction?). It has been a shambolic season for Villa into the bargain. There were no more options really and although I would have like to have seen Clark start, I would have preferred if it was at Kilbane's expense, and taken a little step towards the future.

All we can hope at this stage is kilbane and gibson make way for mccarthy and clark at some stage. I don't see it happening but it would let us see Traps longer term intentions(if they exist).

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 1:52 PM

I don't give a fcuk how Trap's longer term intentions manifest themselves on Saturday. I want 3 points regardless of how they come.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

The point is that Clark hasn't had many career games at CB. He's been played in midfield and LB at least as much as CB I reckon, without reverting to stats.

As I said, I'd have gone with Clark myself, but O'Dea could be looking good in training and either player is a risk. I'm not being a Trapologist, I just think it's a relatively marginal call. We have a full back and a GK making competitive debuts, so having a CB making a competitive debut too might have been a determining factor.

You can't make that statement though and then use it as defence for picking O'Dea. O'dea is not match fit and hasn't been selected for his team in teh last 2 months bar a couple of games, whatever about "career" games..

**SwanVsDalton** · 25/03/2011, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I thought Collins plays beside Dunne at Villa?

Tets, dig out the last 12 weeks' appearance stats please!

There's been very little consistency in Villa's selections over the past 12 weeks due to injury and suspension. But it's been Collins/Dunne with Clark at LB when everyone's been fit generally.

Villa CB's last 12 games:
Wolves - Baker/Cuellar
Bolton - Clark/Young
Man City - Dunne/Clark
Blackburn - Dunne/Clark
Fulham - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
Man Utd - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
Blackburn - Clark/Cuellar
Wigan - Dunne/Collins
Man City - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
West Brom - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
Sheff Utd - Dunne/Cuellar (Clark LB)
Sunderland - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:54 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I don't give a fcuk how Trap's longer term intentions manifest themselves on Saturday. I want 3 points regardless of how they come.

And i dont give a fcuk about whether or not you give a fcuk about traps longer term intentions but at least it gives some reasoning to his thinking, or shows some logic, because yes those intentions could come to the fore at the end of this campaign.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:56 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

There's been very little consistency in Villa's selections over the past 12 weeks due to injury and suspension. But it's been Collins/Dunne with Clark at LB when everyone's been fit generally.

Villa CB's last 12 games:
Wolves - Baker/Cuellar
Bolton - Clark/Young
Man City - Dunne/Clark
Blackburn - Dunne/Clark
Fulham - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
Man Utd - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
Blackburn - Clark/Cuellar
Wigan - Dunne/Collins
Man City - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
West Brom - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)
Sheff Utd - Dunne/Cuellar (Clark LB)
Sunderland - Dunne/Collins (Clark LB)

So thats a quarter at CB ONLY, and how many in total has he played, the full 12? Thats double the amount O'dea as played in CB in the same period!

**Charlie Darwin** · 25/03/2011, 1:59 PM

I can only assume O'Dea has been doing more in training. And given how much Trap talks about discipline, a yellow card machine like Clark is going to have to show something extra special to get selected.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2011, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

It's a strange selection alright but still relatively marginal. O'Dea has played against good quality non-UK players much more than Clark, for example..

Thats another weak point stutts to back up Trap. He played a few champions league games 4/5 seasons ago. Scotland is in the UK.

**SwanVsDalton** · 25/03/2011, 2:01 PM

Just a few thoughts on Clark:

Without resorting to stats I'm fairly sure he's played LB more than any other position, followed by CB and then CM (which was a real hail mary selection in which he never looked particularly comfortable, despite two goals against Arsenal).

While he's acquitted himself well at full-back, I don't believe it's his natural position. He's game going forward but doesn't attack the ball with any intent. And he's comfortable on the thing, because he's a natural footballer, but not comfortable in the sense a true FB could be. His selection there almost as much to do with Warnock falling out with Houllier and being demoted to the reserves. Clark's done well but I'd be surprised if Houllier (or, more likely, his replacement) doesn't bring in a natural left-back this summer.

Moreover his performances at CB, for me, have been more assured and impressive. I don't have a problem with him lining up at LB, but I believe in future seasons he'll be playing for Villa (or whoever) and Ireland at CB.

This isn't an argument either way for this selection. Just jotting out some thoughts. It's also worth saying he's one of the few players to, so far, emerge from this season at Villa with much credit.

Oh - and as has been pointed out, it's a guarantee Clark will be good for at least two dangerous free kicks and a booking. Not sure what O'Dea's form is like in that regard, but it might have come into Trap's reckoning.

**AlaskaFox** · 25/03/2011, 2:04 PM

As a Villa fan who has seen every minute of Clark this season, I think Trap may have made the right call with O'Dea. He knows O'Dea, and he also knows O'Dea isn't going to do a rash challenge on Pandev - something Clark would undoubtedly do.

It's just a pity St. Ledger isn't fit.

**Junior** · 25/03/2011, 2:05 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I can only assume O'Dea has been doing more in training. And given how much Trap talks about discipline, a yellow card machine like Clark is going to have to show something extra special to get selected.

Yep and crocking a few players in training probably added a further leetle doubt in Traps mind.