Squad to face Norn Iron, Scotland and Macedonia

**the doc** · 09/05/2011, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

A Ciaran Clark tackle did him in.
Another entry into The Doc's black book.

Yep, hes down in bold in the Black Book!

Bad injury from a ruthless tackle during the very first training session prior to the last game.

Medial Knee Ligament damage, still not back to full training according to sources at PNE.

The Saint hasnt played since, and has been stuck on 199 appearances for PNE because of it, not to mention missing out on a few more caps.

**elroy** · 09/05/2011, 4:36 PM

Not happy with the timing of these Carling Cup games, surely wouldve made more sense to play them after the qualifiers.........not liking the risk of injury etc.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/05/2011, 5:05 PM

On the flipside it'll give the likes of Wilson, Walters, McCarthy a run out and a chance to play themselves into the Macedonia team.

With Dunne, SSL and O'Dea likely to all be out, we'll need to experiment a bit.

**mark12345** · 09/05/2011, 6:45 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

On the flipside it'll give the likes of Wilson, Walters, McCarthy a run out and a chance to play themselves into the Macedonia team.

With Dunne, SSL and O'Dea likely to all be out, we'll need to experiment a bit.

Sledge and O'Dea are out as you say, but for the life of me I can't see the sense in playing Dunne. He's out of the Macedonia game so there's nothing for him to prove against NI and Scotland - he should have been packed off and sent to Donabate Beach for his summer holidays.

On the flip side Trap needs to come up with an all important center-back partnership for the Macedonia game. Clark and O'Shea? With Wilson at left back and Foley on right side. A bit too many untried and untested parts for my liking.
It may sound strange but I would go for Keith Andrews in an emergency center-back role. I think he'll end up there next season for whatever club he's with. Keith has a bit of bit in the tackle and is half decent in the air - could be an option at center-back down the road?

**Stuttgart88** · 09/05/2011, 6:49 PM

I always felt Rory Delap had it in him to be an emergency CB.

Unless Wilson or Clark impress in the Carling Cup we may well be looking at McShane's return. I wonder if Delaney may even figure. JOS simply has to be fit.

**Paddy Garcia** · 09/05/2011, 8:21 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I always felt Rory Delap had it in him to be an emergency CB.

Unless Wilson or Clark impress in the Carling Cup we may well be looking at McShane's return. I wonder if Delaney may even figure. JOS simply has to be fit.

Desperate I know but perhaps your right - worth trying John Delaney if all we are left with is McShane.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 09/05/2011, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by TrapAPony

So as to give us a look at their up and coming players.

For a second I read 'their' as 'our'....
Maybe it was wishful thinking??

**ArdeeBhoy** · 09/05/2011, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I always felt Rory Delap had it in him to be an emergency CB.

Unless Wilson or Clark impress in the Carling Cup we may well be looking at McShane's return. I wonder if Delaney may even figure. JOS simply has to be fit.

Even if they don't, they're both still better than that donkey. And RD would be a better option on the left, even at his distinguished vintage....

**SwanVsDalton** · 10/05/2011, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by mark12345

Sledge and O'Dea are out as you say, but for the life of me I can't see the sense in playing Dunne. He's out of the Macedonia game so there's nothing for him to prove against NI and Scotland - he should have been packed off and sent to Donabate Beach for his summer holidays.

I'd play Dunne in at least one game, to hand hold possibly Clark. Maybe then use two new guys against Scotland as a straight audition to play against Macedonia. But I can certainly see the benefits of playing Honey Monster - the idea of Clark, Kelly, McShane or Wilson getting torn apart by NI or Scotland days before one of them has to play a crucial qualifier gives me the heebies. We saw what happened against Uruguay but that was irrelevant - one of these guys needs confidence and Dunne can play a part in providing it.

Originally Posted by mark12345

It may sound strange but I would go for Keith Andrews in an emergency center-back role. I think he'll end up there next season for whatever club he's with. Keith has a bit of bit in the tackle and is half decent in the air - could be an option at center-back down the road?

Andrews already thinks he can play a bit more ball than he likely actually can - a suicidal trait for a CB.

**tricky_colour** · 10/05/2011, 1:12 AM

Originally Posted by TrapAPony

So as to give us a look at their up and coming players.

Are they not turning up then?

**Crosby87** · 10/05/2011, 1:16 AM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

Are they not turning up then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY

**SwanVsDalton** · 13/05/2011, 3:00 PM

Ciaran Clark is ruled out for Villa at the weekend, though there's hope he'll be back for the final game of the season. Either way doesn't look like he'll be coming into these games particularly fit.

**geysir** · 18/05/2011, 7:18 AM

Doyle is now definitely out of the squad for all these games, aggravated his injury on Sunday.

**elroy** · 23/05/2011, 7:51 PM

Lads are we seriously fcuked for the Macedonia game? Long list of injuries now. No Sledge, Clark, Westwood, Doyle, Dunne out suspended.......

Defo need JOSH to come through the CL final ok and S Long to come out of Reading playoff ok too.

**Kingdom** · 26/05/2011, 11:10 AM

I'm a bit all over the place at the moment, does anyone have definite news on the squad, i.e who is out?
Elroy above references Ledger, but wasn't he on the bench vs the North?

I know JOSH, Gibson, Long, Kilbane and McGeady all have club committments, Dunne is suspended while Stokes has pulled himself off, and Doyle, Duff, Green, Westwood and Walters are injured. Is there any other certainties out?

That leaves:

Given, Forde, Randolph
Foley, Kelly, Delaney, Ward, O'Shea, Ledger, Kilbane
McGeady, Lawrence, Hunt, Treacy, Fahey, Gibson, Whelan, Andrews
Keane, Long, Cox, Keogh

Is that correct?

**SwanVsDalton** · 26/05/2011, 11:15 AM

O'Dea's in the squad too - he was named on the bench on Tuesday. But that seems about right. What chances they'll be any call-up's next week? And is there anyone to call-up? Best, if he's fit perhaps?

Edit - Coleman's in the squad too.

**shakermaker1982** · 26/05/2011, 11:15 AM

That looks right to me Kingdom. Rumours going about that Best might join up but I'm not sure how concrete they are.

**DannyInvincible** · 26/05/2011, 11:17 AM

St. Ledger was on the bench, aye, so I'd imagine he'll be OK despite initial concerns he wouldn't make it.

**Kingdom** · 26/05/2011, 11:47 AM

Thanks guys, knew someone was missing from the right flank. So,

Given, Forde, Randolph
Foley, Kelly, O'Dea, Delaney, Ward, O'Shea, Ledger, Kilbane
McGeady, Coleman, Lawrence, Hunt, Treacy, Fahey, Gibson, Whelan, Andrews
Keane, Long, Cox, Keogh, Best

with the emboldened names the ones with injury concerns. It's not the worst - I would be a lot more worried if Ledger isn't fit to play, and while it's old ground, I wouldn't be perturbed by any of the central midfield combinations he could pick now that someone is back fit, and someone isn't....
It remains to be seen just how big a loss Doyle is. That is my worry. As good and all as he is, and he was impressive against Uruguay, with a fantastic 2nd half of the season also, Shane Long was disappointing starting against Slovakia, and Doyle is a hard guy to replace.
I'm in a fantastically happy place (even more so than usual POShea!) and I'm quite upbeat that we'll have enough within the remaining squad to get a win. What I've found encouraging in the past two performances is that the players have been very willing to get the ball down and knock it around before looking for the opening. Is it a coincidence that the age of the squad seems to be getting younger too?

All going according to plan, and considering that we were easily the better of the Maces in the first leg, I think this will see a comfortable win by two goals...

---------------------------Given------------------------
Foley--------------Josh-------------Ledger------------Kilbane/Ward

-Coleman---------Whelan-----------Andrews----------McGeady

------------------Keane-------------Long--------------------

Bench: Forde, Kelly, O'Dea, Fahey, Hunt, Cox, Gibson

I'd be happy with Fahey starting over Andrews or with Hunt over Coleman, Hunt's delivery is excellent, but with Doyle out, that might not be as much of a priority.

**geysir** · 26/05/2011, 11:58 AM

Whilst it may not be strange for a Kerryman to be confident, I find that I'm also in a confident mood about the task ahead in Macedonia.
As I have never ever experienced confidence about getting a victory, before a crucial away game, I don't know whether the jinx will set in because of it.
It's unknown territory.