Republic of Ireland V Slovakia - Friday, 2nd September 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[Kingdom]

Kingdom"dropped the ball". Discuss?

Seriously?

[shakermaker1982]

I think Long as an impact sub would do more damage than Doyle....

Doyle mustn't be match fit.

[Kingdom]

I think Long as an impact sub would do more damage than Doyle....

Doyle mustn't be match fit.

That has to be it. Unless he's going to surprise us by keeping the ball on the deck.

[AlaskaFox]

Ireland 2-0 Slovakia
Andrews 13
St. Ledger 56

[punkrocket]

I'm disappointed that Doyle's been dropped but no one can deny Long's form right now, Trap sees a lot more of everyone playing together during the week as well and as he's always put great faith in confidence and momentum shouldn't be too much of a surprise. That said Doyle hasn't had a bad start to his season either. Off the bench a la Quinn if needed. I'm feeling confident about these matches we're on a great run, no major injury crisis and we are well overdue a good win in the new LR. 2.0. here and 1.1 in Russia.
Then off to do a bit of online research again, shouldn't take me so long this time.

[Stuttgart88]

Looks like we're going to play the ball on the floor more, rather than lumping long balls to Doyle.

Long had an excellent game in Zilina so that might have favoured him.

I'm comfortable with that decision, especially as he has started the season so well.

After losing his place to Cox for Macedonia and coming off early against Italy, this is a big boost for Long.

We've got into a great habit of scoring early under Trap. I think this is a statement of intent.

[Charlie Darwin]

Do we play the ball on the floor more when Long is playing? I don't think so.

The way Long is playing at the moment, he has a goal a game in him. Against Stoke it took a wonder save from the goalkeeper to stop him. Doyle's botched a couple of simple chances already this season and doesn't look as sharp but is still a great option from the bench. There might be some player management going on in the sense that Doyle could be required to put in a monster 90 minutes against Russia.

[Closed Account]

There might be some player management going on in the sense that Doyle could be required to put in a monster 90 minutes against Russia.

Nail on head.

[SwanVsDalton]

Surprising, not sure I agree it with but simply off the fact that Long is in serious goalscorer form and will possibly offer more threat in front of goal, I've no problem with it. Fairly daring move and people don't say that about Trap much.

[Closed Account 2]

Is Doyle suspended if he gets another yellow ?

[pineapple stu]

Dunno if it's been mentioned yet, but the two other games in the group tomorrow are 5pm kick offs. Be nice to go into our game knowing Macedonia or Andorra have done us a favour.

[paul_oshea]

BonnieShels?

[Stuttgart88]

Stu, are they on Setanta?

[zero]

Dunno if it's been mentioned yet, but the two other games in the group tomorrow are 5pm kick offs. Be nice to go into our game knowing Macedonia or Andorra have done us a favour.

hmm, i'd rather armenia win against andorra. i don't see them as a real threat in the group but if they win it keeps them in the mix - and gives them something to play for in slovakia on tuesday.

it would be great if the macedons got something but the toshak factor tells me it's about 100/1. best we can hope for is some indiscipline from russia that seems they short a few players for our game.

[Stuttgart88]

According to the Indo, St. Ledger is going to hug tight to Stephen Ward on the left, in a strange double-tag left back combination, while O'Shea and Dunne are the 2 CBs. I think it's a big risk not playing a right back myself.

"Wolves defender Stephen Ward starts alongside Sean St Ledger, with the old hands John O'Shea and Richard Dunne in the centre in front of Shay Given's goal."

[pineapple stu]

Stu, are they on Setanta?

No ideas. I just looked up livescore.

Don't see Andorra causing an upset anyway, but it's a good point on keeping Armenia's interest going.

[paul_oshea]

According to the Indo, St. Ledger is going to hug tight to Stephen Ward on the left, ina strange double-tag left back combination, while O'Shea and Dunne are the 2 CBs. I think it's a big risk not playing a right back myself.

"Wolves defender Stephen Ward starts alongside Sean St Ledger, with the old hands John O'Shea and Richard Dunne in the centre in front of Shay Given's goal."

hmm that sounds very strange are you sure? TO me if true, that sounds like Trap doesn't fully trust Ward.

[Stuttgart88]

No, but it's what the Indo wrote. My point was that it was total garbage, the type of sentence that only somebody who doesn't know anything about football could put together.

[osarusan]

No, but it's what the Indo wrote. My point was that it was total garbage, the type of sentence that only somebody who doesn't know anything about football could put together.

Far more likely to be a misused prepositional phrase: replace 'starts alongside' with 'starts along with' and the sentence is fine. That's far more likely in my opinion tha the Indo journo (whoever it was) really thought what you're suggesting.

[SwanVsDalton]

No, but it's what the Indo wrote. My point was that it was total garbage, the type of sentence that only somebody who doesn't know anything about football could put together.

The Indo's really feeling your wrath today. You appear to have an unhealthily masochistic need to read it.