Republic of Ireland V Croatia - Wednesday, 10th August 2011 - Friendly

**the bear** · 15/07/2011, 11:19 PM

keogh has looked completley out of his depth playing for ireland. dunno why he keeps getting picked, but he's so far down the striker peckin order it doesn't really matter if he's there or not

**SkStu** · 16/07/2011, 2:18 AM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

He's a decent striker, imo. He should never be played on the right wing. I don't mind him being in the squad, he never whinges and he's reliable.

(Disclaimer: He also used to be in my school)

you own a school?!

**SkStu** · 16/07/2011, 2:19 AM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

He's a decent striker, imo. He should never be played on the right wing. I don't mind him being in the squad, he never whinges and he's reliable.

(Disclaimer: He also used to be in my school)

you own a school?!

**tommy_c12000** · 16/07/2011, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

(Disclaimer: He also used to be in my school)

Felt there was an alterior motive alrite. I agree with you that he should not be played right wing. He looks very uncomfortable playing there but fair play to him for giving everything he had each time Trap asks him to play there. To me he is a striker and thats it. However, Trap has him in the squad as a right midfielder option. Mick McCarthy also played him as a right winger for a lot of his Wolves appearances. He appeared to be finally establishing himself as a striker again at Cardiff where he did well initially grabbing a couple of crucial goals but then faded away with the competition from Chopra, Bothroyd and Bellamy. He has the ability to be a good championship striker and I hope he gets another chance. Don't think he'll do much with Wolves this season. He needs a move to a good championship side.

I admire him for his committment to the Irish team. Hats off. But IMO he is not an option for right midfield (considering McGeady, Coleman, Hunt, Duff, Lawrence, Fahey etc) and he doesn't deserve to be picked ahead of Keane, Cox, Walters, Long and Doyle. He simply has not shown enough in both club form and in international form.

**Paddy Garcia** · 16/07/2011, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

McShane deserves better than cheap shots after his efforts in May.

The problem is that McShane saves his ****-ups (guaranteed a couple a game at elast) for when it really matters. Ultimately the performance against Italy (and the trickery in the earlier game) counts for nothing.

**SwanVsDalton** · 16/07/2011, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

The problem is that McShane saves his ****-ups (guaranteed a couple a game at elast) for when it really matters. Ultimately the performance against Italy (and the trickery in the earlier game) counts for nothing.

When a player doesn't perform in a friendly, he rightly gets a bit of stick albeit tempered with the fact it was an non-competitive game. Likewise McShane deserves some plaudits for a couple of decent showings, but no one's going over board on the praise. Nonetheless, his performances do count for something.

**Paddy Garcia** · 16/07/2011, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Nonetheless, his performances do count for something.

Typically 2 or 3 points for the opposition.

**SwanVsDalton** · 16/07/2011, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

Typically 2 or 3 points for the opposition.

**Kingdom** · 18/07/2011, 1:12 PM

What Keogh offers the squad is that he is the only similar striker to Robbie, before I love Cox came on board. Doyle, Long, Best Folan, were all considered the battering ram option

**DannyInvincible** · 02/08/2011, 8:29 AM

This game is just over a week away now. It's sprung upon us and has been kind of overshadowed by the 2014 World Cup qualification group draw, the under-19s in Romania and Irish clubs in Europe, but when can we expect a bit of movement on some drop-outs already? Don't they know there are columns to be filled?

**TrapAPony** · 02/08/2011, 2:50 PM

Final squad is as follows: Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, David Forde, Seamus Coleman, Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger, Darren O’Dea, Damien Delaney, Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Keith Andrews, Keith Fahey, Andy Keogh, Damien Duff, Stephen Hunt, James McCarthy, Keith Treacy, Marc Wilson, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Jon Walters, Shane Long, Simon Cox.

Liam Lawrence and Kevin Kilbane have been excused for club commitments while John O’Shea, Aiden McGeady, Paul Mc Shane and Kevin Foley have picked up injuries and will also be excused.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Footba...39295259422561

**IsMiseSean** · 02/08/2011, 2:58 PM

Is Ciaran Clark just dropped then?

**Closed Account** · 02/08/2011, 3:10 PM

Originally Posted by JGKyne

Is Ciaran Clark just dropped then?

When did the FAI start using Facebook for squad announcements? Anyway, they mention 26 man squad, then name 25 players.
Might of just forgot to put Ciaran Clark in.

**Sullivinho** · 02/08/2011, 4:10 PM

The official site mentions a 26 man squad too but only lists 25..

**Noelys Guitar** · 02/08/2011, 4:14 PM

I thought Clark was carrying an injury? Or maybe not.

**DannyInvincible** · 02/08/2011, 4:19 PM

Apparently he's just been ommitted: http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...301751780.html

Strange.

Giovanni Trapattoni has trimmed his squad to face Croatia in an international friendly next week by seven players as a result of injuries and club commitments, while Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark has also been omitted to allow the manager a chance to assess Stephen Ward at left fullback.

The latter has impressed in his three caps so far, since his debut against Northern Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup in May.

Since being named in a 32-man squad last month, new Sunderland signing John O’Shea has picked up a hamstring injury and will not travel back to Dublin for the August 10th game at the Aviva Stadium.

Spartak Moscow winger Aiden McGeady and defenders Paul Mc Shane and Kevin Foley are also unfit to travel, while Liam Lawrence and Kevin Kilbane both have club commitments with Portsmouth and Derby County respectively.

Kilbane moved from Huddersfield to the Rams on a six-month loan deal today and will make his debut in the opening game of the season against Birmingham City at Pride Park on Saturday, when Portsmouth begin their campaign at Middlesbrough.

**BonnieShels** · 02/08/2011, 4:23 PM

Seems Shay Given is still at Man City...

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/...d_croatia.html

Jaysus

**Sullivinho** · 02/08/2011, 4:30 PM

Clark played some part in the Chelsea game a few days ago so definitely not injured.

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Apparently he's just been ommitted:

Strange.

O'Dea and Delaney retained but no Clark. I'll see your 'strange' and raise you a 'what??'

**geysir** · 02/08/2011, 10:49 PM

I see on RTE that the last 3 names listed in the squad are Walters, Long, Cox.

I thought I'd just get that one out of the way.

**SwanVsDalton** · 02/08/2011, 11:40 PM

Looks like Ward, Delaney and O'Dea are being rewarded for some very good showings in games/training. And so it should be. There will be more chances for Clark. Expect Ward will start next week. What chances him completing a meteoric rise and displacing Killer for Slovakia?