QuoteSo did I, with Sledge - but both were on the bench Tuesday. Keeps us guessing anyway.
I'm lost, I thought O'Dea was out.
So did I, with Sledge - but both were on the bench Tuesday. Keeps us guessing anyway.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Is St. Ledger out? If so, I think Trap has to start JOSH at centre half in Macedonia. The question is who to play longside him. I wouldn't have Kelly for three reasons - 1. He's primarily a right back, 2. He was poor at CB against Uruguay and 3. He hasn't played much at all with Fulham.
I'd trust O'Dea or, dare I say it, McShane before Kelly. I think O'Dea deserves another start if St. Ledger is injured as he did well against them at home. I'd like to see him start against Scotland.
Another thing, does anyone else here think O'Shea will start tomorrow? All the possible starting line-ups have Rafael at RB - I'd have thought Fergie would trust O'Shea's experience and calm presence ahead of the sometimes reckless Rafael.
St Ledger is out, yeah. I like Kelly but he's a full back - I don't think he's up to international standard in the centre. It's between O'Dea and Delaney for the place beside O'Shea and I think, unless O'Dea is fit and plays on Sunday, it will be Delaney.
I think Fabio is most likely to start at right back in the Champions League game with O'Shea on the bench.
The Indo article Gastric posted indicated O'Dea will almost certainly get a chance to prove his fitness on Sunday. Seems if he comes through unharmed he'll probably play.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
I suppose if O'Dea proves his fitness, he would be more certain to start ahead of Delaney in the qualifier, as O'Dea has already done good against Macedonia.
Bit more on Trap from the Indo.
Seems a bit more relaxed about players being missing, not quite so animated and able to joke about O'Shea and Long being good on the aul 'SMS'.
Cox's attitude is a real boost. He's the kind of diaspora player some on here have kittens about being in the squad in the first place, and freely admits to not having had much of an Irish influence. But he cancelled holidays and answered the call that other Ireland born players didn't.
Also didn't know newcomers to the squad had to sing Otis Redding - is it always that song or they just have to sing something?
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
"I'd cancel holidays every year to play."Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
Yep, seems like a right good sort. Declared early too, I can remember him touting himself for a call-up a couple of years ago. I believe some of his family's Irish branch were at the game vs the North too.
Let the naysayers have all the kittens they want, they'll have to raise them.
Different song each time I think. Singer's choice probably.
I'm not sure actually. O'Dea was partnering Dunne, who is suspended. My natural inclination would be for Delaney to partner O'Shea. I'm looking at this from a "sum of the parts" angle.
I like Delaney. I think he has always played well for us and he seems a naturally confident & assertive guy.
Trap would call that, 'personality'.
From Dan O'Donnell's twitter:
Glenn Whelan set to miss Sundays game. Gone to Stoke for more treatment - still on course for Macedonia.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
This is what I love about a few games together (the tournament feeling) - how will Trap juggle his squad? He has real choices to make all over the pitch:
- left full should almost certainly be Stephen Ward now
- Centre back is almost certain to be Delaney and Kelly again.
- Right back is a concern - if he picks McShane on Sunday, he's likely to start there against Macedonia.
- Centre midfield will be dictated to an extent by right back - if he intends playing Foley in the qualifier, then surely he starts there on Sunday, so that would leave Andrews and Fahey in the centre against Scotland.
- The flanks are less than certain too.
Oh the excitement!
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Foley may keep his place. Andrews and Fahey alternatively?
What I felt about Delaney against the NIron, was that his tackling was wholehearted, committed but at times rash. He was wrapping himself around the centre forward, or lunging in from behind to get the leg in front of the opponent. It was grand against honest and naive players from up above, but against a more cunning typical European forward, it could lead to trouble. That said, he is without doubt a very confident fella, and was eager to play the ball around. I suppose it depends on how confident trap is that we'll be on the front foot in Skopje.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
By this you mean Foley will stay in the centre and be partnered by andrews and fahey alternatively? Remember Foley got clobbered around the hour mark against the North and had a pack on when he was substituted.
Is Gibson a possibility if he gets back from the CL on the SUnday morning - he's very unlikely to feature. after all, if Whelan is a doubt, Gibson surely starts ahead of Fahey by Trap?
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Carl O'Malley's article doesn't help clarify St. Ledger's situation
...Giovanni Trapattoni had a number of footballing concerns that were never going to go away.
Chief among them was the dilemma he faces in picking a match-fit defence for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia in Skopje on June 4th.
That task got a bit trickier yesterday when it was confirmed Seán St Ledger will miss the game with a knee injury, joining Aston Villa defenders Richard Dunne (suspended) and Ciarán Clark (hamstring) on the sidelines.
It leaves Trapattoni without his two first-choice centre backs and four players to fill the gaps, but with Darren O’Dea due to return from injury against Scotland on Sunday and John O’Shea possibly making his return to competitive action against Barcelona tomorrow night in the Champions League final, things are far from ideal. Stephen Kelly is carrying a minor knock but management are confident it will not be a problem.
Despite the withdrawal and a testing week for the manager with regards to the whereabouts of one or two others, he was looking on the bright side yesterday. “We have (Darren) O’Dea, John O’Shea, Kelly and (Damien) Delaney – we have enough at the back. O’Dea is good, that is the good news. He is available and that is important, especially for Macedonia. I hope that John O’Shea finishes the game (against Barcelona) without injury.”
The veteran, of course, may not even play.
O’Dea was fairly solid at centre-back against Macedonia in March.
St Ledger sustained his injury in a training ground clash with Clark, so a look at his fitness in the final Carling Nations Cup game will be crucial.
(Or is he talking about O'Dea?)
Very diplomatic way of saying 'cheating diving foreigners'.
From that I'd read that if O'Dea is fit on June 4th, he starts, regardless of Delaney and Kelly following up with a good performance against Scotland.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
A humble, diplomatic, good-looking, non-cousin bred Kerryman. One of a kind.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
the doc is out injured for the games against Scotland and Macedonia. The injury is has is from a clash with Clark back in March.
O'Dea is okay and should take some part in the game against Scotland.
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