We could suffer the post tournament hangover deflationary blues in Macedonia.
They're at home and are far more experienced than Armenia, going up against them with what I would say is far from our strongest team.Originally Posted by boovidge
And Trap's less than expansive tactics.
We could suffer the post tournament hangover deflationary blues in Macedonia.
The team I'd like to see
Given
Foley - Kelly - O'Shea - Ward
McGeady - Gibson - Fahey - Hunt
Long - Keane
Subs Forde - O'Dea - McShane - Andrews - Lawrence - Cox
Don't see the point of taking a risk with St Ledger who hasn't played in months
Always look on the bright side of life
For me, the Scotland game raised more questions rather than get closer to the answers.
CH Who will partner Josh? O'Dea? subbed. Kelly - motm?? Delaney not used, not even as a replacement, St Ledger prob not fit.
RB Will Ward dislodge KK? Not really a huge issue right now
CM Who will partner Whelan? nobody really stands out.
LM Probably Hunt by default
RB, McShane made the best claim for a starting place and looks to have the management on his side.
Not sure what to make of Fahey in CM really, thought he was quite poor there last night.
We saw from the home game V Macedonia was effect a lack of match fitness can have....ie Richie D for their goal, so as much as I would love to see Sledge play, I think its best he doesnt. Vital that JOSH is fit however.
id go for
------------------------Given------------------------------
Foley----------O'Shea-----------St Ledger(o'Dea)------Ward
McGeady---------Andrews------------Whelan----------------Hunt
-----------------Keane-----------------Long-----------------------
Ward at LB, good left foot, kilbane makes to many mistakes now for me.
If St Ledger is fit id play him, O'Dea scares me every time i see him. looks clumsy.
Andrews and Whelan to shore up midfield with hunt and mcgeady running the wings.
easy upfront with long and keano to start. id be happy enough with this barring any more injuries.
Last edited by Duggie; 30/05/2011 at 9:55 AM.
I've a knot in my stomach about this game already and it's only Monday.
For what it's worth I don't think there's any chance Ward would be pitched in to his first competitive international away to Macedonia with Kilbane fit and in the squad.
The old fool has surprised us before....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_St_Ledger
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
And its only going to get worse YoP. With so many injuries and a suspension this is going to be a very long week. 3 points will be the only cure.
Even if you have a wall of confidence now, it will crumble by Friday.
Keane mentioned in an interview on Sat that Duff is bursting a gut to try and get fit for the game on Sat. There seems to be very little talk about it, but I presumed that he was defo out.
As regards nerves, oh god stop but sometimes with Ireland under Trap I am more assured with us away from home than at home. Being realistic we need to win there dont we?!?! Actually Russia won there so then yes we do.
He did indeed....I haven't seen any follow up on this anywhere. Having Duffer available would ease my nerves somewhat.
no he didnt mean for this particular game, he meant in general hes busting a gut to get fit again and would love to be here. it was more a pointing to the face hed do anything he could to be here.
Breaking news: Duff ruled out with ruptured gut.
That'd be one heck of a pleasant surprise but the last we heard he was having achilles tendon surgery and wasn't expected to be fit until late June.
Going by Trapatonni's comments after the game O'Dea is definetely playing. Interestingly he said O'Shea, Whelan and McGeady would be "stepping in". No mention of Gibson or Kilbane which suggests Andrews will start alongside Whelan and possibly Ward to start at left back.
ward is a premier league footballer, no reason he cant be put in IMO. could be good for set pieces aswell. i thought robbie has looked really sharp in the last 2 games so i think if he gets a chance he will tuck it away sat night.
He looked cumbersome at times last night, mistiming one recovery tackle badly. Maybe he's not 100% fit but you'd worry about some crafty operator like Pandev going at him.
I know he's always enjoyed putting them away and the opposition wasn't up to much but there seemed to be a renewed goalscoring vigor about him last week. Looked very hungry. I fancy him to get his 50th saturday night too.
I was doing fine til Ye opened yer mouths!
Fire and brimstone have nothing on Noely's pre match nerves.
No chance would I start Gibson for this one, or any one if I'm being honest. We will need some hard graft to come out of this place with a win. Andrews throws his weight around more than most for us and we know that Trap will start Whelan. I would also start McGeady on the left, he is generally ineffective on the right so, for balance, I would probably play Lawrence there. Stephen Hunt is more of an impact sub anyway. I think O'Dea has the makings of an excellent centre back but he is seriously error prone at the moment. He is still relatively young and hasn't much played, for club or country.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks