Predict the Squad/ Starting Lineup for Macedonia

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 4:59 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

-------Westwood------
Foley-Sledge-Clark-Kilbane
McGeady-Whelan-Gibson-Duff
-----Keane--Doyle-----

Posted on 18th when JOS had withdrawn, and when I thought Dunne was injured but SSL fit. If I'd known it was the other way around I'd have gone with Dunne & Clark.

So, I got Foley right before Malahide(!), and the midfield 4. You can see I went for Clark as back-up CB which confirms what I have said this afternoon.

**Murfinator** · 25/03/2011, 5:05 PM

My thoughts

-> Kilbane at LB is the right choice in such an inexperienced backline. A no brainer in these circumstances.
-> Gibson over Green is the right choice. Green is incredibly limited and Trap seems to have realised this.
-> McGeady over Lawrence/Coleman/Fahey is a daring choice and I applaud Trap for that. This is one that could backfire or be genius, but its an attacking move I didn't expect given how seldom he's started both Duff and McGeady in the past.
-> O'Dea over Clark I'm unsure about.

**Razors left peg** · 25/03/2011, 5:21 PM

After all the talk of mccarthy finally gonna be tied to us after this game,hopefully, I wonder if theres any danger of clark declaring for England again in disgust of seeing kilbane and o Dea picked ahead of him

**geysir** · 25/03/2011, 5:24 PM

Considering St Ledger's fitness test went down to the wire after a late training ground tackle from that liability/ loose cannon Clark, I think in all fairness that getting 10 out 11 right, with St Ledger in your team, should get close to full marks.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 5:24 PM

Ha ha, but he can't.

I think Murf calls it right myself.

**gilberto_eire** · 25/03/2011, 5:30 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

My thoughts

-> Kilbane at LB is the right choice in such an inexperienced backline. A no brainer in these circumstances.
-> Gibson over Green is the right choice. Green is incredibly limited and Trap seems to have realised this.
-> McGeady over Lawrence/Coleman/Fahey is a daring choice and I applaud Trap for that. This is one that could backfire or be genius, but its an attacking move I didn't expect given how seldom he's started both Duff and McGeady in the past.
-> O'Dea over Clark I'm unsure about.

I'd give you the Kilbane experience if this was club football and we were talking 17/18 years old being given their first game..... but these lads are playing week in and week out for their clubs in packed grounds, you just don't get inexperience to begin with in International football

It's not as if Kilbane is even a LB to begin with and to compound the issue he doesn't even play there for his club team.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 5:38 PM

Is O'Dea making his compititive debut? If yes, I thin k that's 3 of the back 5 making competitive debuts. 4 out of 5 would be even hairier. Whatever about experience, you need leaders. KK has that. Otherwise we'd really only have Dunne as a "personality". I suspect Trap thinks that Clark might be a "leetle shy". I think O'Dea is limited but quite a strong character. So is McShane though!

Clark might have started LB if we had our 2 regular CBs.

**geysir** · 25/03/2011, 5:38 PM

Giles was asked on Newstalk if Trap should not be looking to the future, re Kilbane selection?
Giles says, "the future is the next game".

**Charlie Darwin** · 25/03/2011, 5:45 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I suspect Trap thinks that Clark might be a "leetle shy".

I suspect Sean St. Ledger disagrees

**Noelys Guitar** · 25/03/2011, 6:32 PM

Here's the highlights of the Ireland v Russia game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUmjl...eature=related 53 seconds in.

Look at Kilbane for Russia's second goal. First of all he is ball watching. Secondly he is out of position and then he compunds it by not trying to close down the winger. He then goes to the edge of the box and meekly sticks out his leg. Awful defending. What he brings to the team now is beyond me.

**SkStu** · 25/03/2011, 6:34 PM

some scary sh1t in that team - Kilbane (legend) just shouldnt be in there and how O'Dea derserves a game at CB ahead of premiership regular Clark is baffling. How Clark is also behind Kilbane is a bit of a head-scratcher too.

Thanks be to **** that Green is out of the team even if it is the spoofer Gibson in ahead of hime. Hopefully Long will get a chance to play at some stage - serious prospect there.

1-1 still my prediction though will also say that if Long gets decent playing time he might sneak the winner..

**Noelys Guitar** · 25/03/2011, 6:42 PM

My optimism we will win is based on Duff and Doyle returning and Long, McCarthy, Clark and Fahey on the bench. And I bet we see Long, Clark and McCarthy on the pitch before the 70 min tomorrow.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 6:53 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Here's the highlights of the Ireland v Russia game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUmjl...eature=related 53 seconds in.

Look at Kilbane for Russia's second goal. First of all he is ball watching. Secondly he is out of position and then he compunds it by not trying to close down the winger. He then goes to the edge of the box and meekly sticks out his leg. Awful defending. What he brings to the team now is beyond me.

By that logic only Shane Long and Kevin Doyle should play for us again. We were dreadful.

I thought that goal was debated here before - Kilbane was marking his man and the runner was not picked up by McGeady, no?

Would you have 4 out of 5 making competitive debuts at the back? It'd be a bold move and I'm all for gambles, but you can see the reasoning.

They ran riot over us in the first half. Nobody picked up anybody.

**geysir** · 25/03/2011, 7:00 PM

We'll win this one pulling up.

**Murfinator** · 25/03/2011, 7:07 PM

Originally Posted by gilberto_eire

I'd give you the Kilbane experience if this was club football and we were talking 17/18 years old being given their first game..... but these lads are playing week in and week out for their clubs in packed grounds, you just don't get inexperience to begin with in International football

It's not as if Kilbane is even a LB to begin with and to compound the issue he doesn't even play there for his club team.

I don't mean in the sense that they'll be crapping their pants at the occasion and need reassuring, More a team leadership issue than holding their hands. Westwood/O'Dea/Foley aren't going to be doing any sort of organisation because they're rookies in this side and how it operates. You need someone there watching the defensive line, ordering people around at corners, deciding who takes throw ins and making calls for where to give the ball. Little things like that, you just can't expect newcomers to any team to be demanding like that its nothing to do with age.

**Noelys Guitar** · 25/03/2011, 7:10 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

By that logic only Shane Long and Kevin Doyle should play for us again. We were dreadful.

I thought that goal was debated here before - Kilbane was marking his man and the runner was not picked up by McGeady, no?

Would you have 4 out of 5 making competitive debuts at the back? It'd be a bold move and I'm all for gambles, but you can see the reasoning.

They ran riot over us in the first half. Nobody picked up anybody.

But go back through all our recent games. Kilbane has been at fault for 4 goals through this and the last campaign. He is directly going to affect how Duff (and possibly McGeady if they switch wings) plays tomorrow night. He can't get up and down the pitch anymore. So to me it is a much greater risk to play him than not to play him. And it certainly won't help O'Dea if Kilbane is off the pace of the game. Its a great pity St Ledger is out but lets see how this defense handles things tomorrow. I'll have my fingers crossed.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/03/2011, 7:19 PM

I just think we've got to make do with some risky options. I'm comfortable enough with KK without having any great enthusiasm for him at LB. I hope the team plays a bold game. That's more important than a bold selection.

**Predator** · 25/03/2011, 7:42 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

I don't mean in the sense that they'll be crapping their pants at the occasion and need reassuring, More a team leadership issue than holding their hands. Westwood/O'Dea/Foley aren't going to be doing any sort of organisation because they're rookies in this side and how it operates. You need someone there watching the defensive line, ordering people around at corners, deciding who takes throw ins and making calls for where to give the ball. Little things like that, you just can't expect newcomers to any team to be demanding like that its nothing to do with age.

I see what you're saying, but it's not as if these lads are rookies to the set-up. Or the game.

**Predator** · 25/03/2011, 7:45 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Here's the highlights of the Ireland v Russia game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUmjl...eature=related 53 seconds in.

Look at Kilbane for Russia's second goal. First of all he is ball watching. Secondly he is out of position and then he compunds it by not trying to close down the winger. He then goes to the edge of the box and meekly sticks out his leg. Awful defending. What he brings to the team now is beyond me.

We play narrow when we don't have the ball. Kilbane's sticking to the programme. I recall thinking that McGeady did nothing to help Kilbane during that game.

**Charlie Darwin** · 25/03/2011, 7:49 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

But go back through all our recent games. Kilbane has been at fault for 4 goals through this and the last campaign. He is directly going to affect how Duff (and possibly McGeady if they switch wings) plays tomorrow night. He can't get up and down the pitch anymore. So to me it is a much greater risk to play him than not to play him. And it certainly won't help O'Dea if Kilbane is off the pace of the game. Its a great pity St Ledger is out but lets see how this defense handles things tomorrow. I'll have my fingers crossed.

Which ones?