Ireland team v Slovakia

[DannyInvincible]

James McCarthy has been called into the senior squad and will join up later this evening after the under 21 game in Sligo.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...303337812.html

Odds on him getting "injured" in the under-21 game?

[AlaskaFox]

James McCarthy has been called into the senior squad and will join up later this evening after the under 21 game in Sligo.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...303337812.html

Keith Andrew is in midfield too I see. He's the opposite to Andy Goram. There's only one Keith Andrew. One Keith Andrew...

[paul_oshea]

Beaten to the punch again, Paul.

01/09/2011 12:50 PM #256
JGKyne
Team Confirmed http://twitter.com/#!/FAIreland

These things deserve their own thread

[IsMiseSean]

These things deserve their own thread

You stole my thunder!!

[freewheel30]

After Long had scored v Chelsea, and with Doyle having not had his best start to a season, I felt Long was the frontrunner. Then Doyle scored on the Sunday and I thought that would be enough of an excuse for Trap to retain KD. So it's a surprise on the one hand, but on the other maybe not.

One tactical aspect to this is that the Slovaks know a lot about Doyle, but know little about Long, so hopefully it'll be a bit of a curveball for them.

[Stuttgart88]

Long played in Zilina though, Doyle didn't.

Doyle scored home and away under Stan I suppose.

[freewheel30]

Tight call no matter what way you look at it! Will be interesting to see what Trap might say if there's a press conference.

TV3 calling it "Doyle dropped"; this doesn't sit well with me, I think it should be a case of "Long preferred".

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, agree with that.

[irishfan86]

Doyle has been a surefire starter for a while now. Nothing inaccurate or negative about saying he's been dropped -- it's a fact.

[freewheel30]

Doyle has been a surefire starter for a while now. Nothing inaccurate or negative about saying he's been dropped -- it's a fact.

He had been a surefire starter, until Long scored v Man U and Chelsea. To call it "Doyle dropped" shows zero respect to what Long has achieved in the last few weeks.

[jbyrne]

and how can it be "dropped" when Doyle hasnt started for us since feb?

id say its very little to do with form and more to do with tactics both tomorrow and v russia next tuesday

[MagicMon]

I've never thought that Keane and Long play that well together, but this could be the game that proves me wrong. I agree that Robbie will probably be told to play deeper to help the midfield out. Have Doyle and Long played as a partnership for Ireland?

[BonnieShels]

Kilbane sent home due to injury.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Tight call no matter what way you look at it! Will be interesting to see what Trap might say if there's a press conference.

TV3 calling it "Doyle dropped"; this doesn't sit well with me, I think it should be a case of "Long preferred".

I reckon that Trap has doubts about Doyle's fitness and doesn't want to risk starting him in 2 games in 5 days. Makes more sense to start Long at home and go for the extra experience in Russia. Long gave Slovkia serious problems in the away game as well.

Love Doyle but happy enough with his thinking here.

[Noelys Guitar]

Doyle was excellent against Fulham. Did OK in the match against Aston Villa (the match Trap was at). Big, big call and a huge confidence boost for Long. Long is playing like a striker that can score against any oposition and that is priceless. Slovakia will be very wary of him.

[BonnieShels]

I'm officially exhausted. I thinkthe excitement had got to me.

Happy with the team. Gutted for Killer.A twelve year streak is not something to be sniffed at.

[Charlie Darwin]

When was the last time we've had a proper selection headache up front? It's great we finally have a handful of strikers in form.

[Junior]

Ok a slight change in sub topic. Whats the craic with McGeady? Has he played any minutes in the last 6 wks or so? Not had chance to catch up on all the threads here. Is it an inevitable substition due to tiredness? Our crowd can be quick to get on Aidens back if he is not delivering from the get go, will his touch be lacking? (PS: Just applied for a job at the indo)

[DannyInvincible]

McGeady came on as a late sub for Spartak in their last game. That's his only playing time in recent weeks, as far as I know.

In other news, it's now the day of the game...

[Irish_Praha]

Ok a slight change in sub topic. Whats the craic with McGeady? Has he played any minutes in the last 6 wks or so? Not had chance to catch up on all the threads here. Is it an inevitable substition due to tiredness? Our crowd can be quick to get on Aidens back if he is not delivering from the get go, will his touch be lacking? (PS: Just applied for a job at the indo)

I think he played something like 5 mins a the end of his club's last game.
Maybe it would have been better to start with Hunt as he has had a decent start to the season but starting with McGeady and bringing Hunt on after about an hour is also not a bad option. At least if it's not woring out for him we have options from the bench and it can always be put down to lack of fitness.