What's this then?Originally Posted by Colbert Report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19340530
I don't consider the league cup to be a competitive match. Fwiw, Kelly didn't even complete the full 90 in that match. He hasn't played a single minute in the Premiership in Fulham's first seven matches.
Coleman, on the other hand, has played 308 minutes in the Premiership so far this season.
These are the exact two changes I'd be calling for. Although, in fairness, Walters is playing at the highest level as well.
Wilson is definitely a better left-back than Ward. He's more comfortable on the ball when being pressed (as a centre-midfielder by trade) and his positioning is better than Ward's. I was about to say he is a tad small than Ward, but, as it turns out, he's an inch taller.
I'd have Long in for Cox from the off. In the press conference Trap constantly referred to the need to have someone coming from the bench who can "surprise" the opposition and capitalize on tiredness or lapses in concentration. This totally ignores the fact that for the 60 minutes when Long is not on the pitch, Ireland will have to contain Germany to the extent that our main attacking threat can come in and hand us a result, in a more limited time frame. This is nonsensical. Germany could score a goal, then provide themselves with a quick second before Long has even loosened the drawstrings on his tracksuit pants. The game is over by then.
Cox is a decent player, don't get me wrong. But he won't worry Germany too much. He's not that mobile that he'll interchange between the right of a 3-pronged forward line and a front two in such a manner that tactically baffles some of the more astute footballers on the continent. How I'd love for him to score one of his wonder-goals tomorrow night, from nothing.
There are three things Long is capable of: playing on the wing, playing up front and scoring goals. He's better than Cox at all three (playing on the wing is the only arguable one, an argument which the Kazakhstan game should have settled).
I would even allow him the mistake of using Cox / Walters if Long proves to be an impact when he comes on. But you are spot on about Ward. Germany will tear him apart. And Wilson will be sitting there wondering what he has to do to get on ahead of a player as bas as Ward. And then when he (Wilson) doesn't show up for the next game we'll all be wondering why?
I don't think that not winning your 3rd cap against Germany is grounds for International Retirement at age 25.
Otherwise, given the circumstances I think this team is as good as it could be.
I would perhaps have argued to recall Lawrence, he seems in good form out in Greece and would have been ideal for this type of match.
I probably missed this earlier in the thread but who will be captain for Ireland tomorrow?
o'shea
Would agree with many here, I would have liked to have seen Wilson start. Considering our injuries, it is not a bad team and gives the likes of McCarthy and Coleman an opportunity to prove themselves against one of the best teams in the world. C'mon Ireland!
Boateng starting for the Germans. I thought he was really poor against Italy in the Euros (choked)and hopefully continues like that tomorrow. They still have a top drawer team even with their injury list. We have to hope they don't click as a unit. And under no circumstances can we go behind early or really at all.
I get the thinking behind Cox, I would even have been intrigued when it was first mooted for him to be an extra midfielder without the ball, moving into an attacking role when we have the ball. 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 or what have you. But there is only so many times where it doesn't work before you really start to get exasperated. We'll see tomorrow.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Much as I admire Seamus Coleman I fear for him in this game.
Despite all his promise I don't believe he has developed into a top defender. His attributes in an attacking sense won't be permitted so I see him as being on a hiding to nothing tomorrow night.
I would love nothing more than for him to prove me wrong obviously.
I wasn't convinced on the evidence of his last game for Everton at full back. I worry he might give away a peno as he has a tendecy to lunge in when it is not necessary. But he has some excellent qualities and I'm HOPING that his speed and especially distribution (possibly the reason Trapatonni chose him) will win out tomorrow. O'Shea has the most important job tomorrow in organising our defense. We cant start off flat footed like we did at the Euro's. O'Shea has to get on Ward's case from the off and stop him being pulled out of position.
I take your overall point and Long's proven himself at this level - but really? Long was pretty good as I recall, but that game was notable for featuring two sides who didn't appear to bother with any kind of defending. End-to-end kick and rush, chances and goals galore - it was probably the oddest Ireland friendly I've ever seen, more street kickabout than typical international.
Entertaining as it was, it wasn't the kind of game to enhance reputations.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
I think this is a bit simplistic. You're right, it doesn't matter when the Germans find out, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will adapt to our tactics. Trap was right to be open about the 433/451 (he won't play a 442 no matter what he says), and for a side like Ireland, who have to set up to spoil the superior opposition's plans, it doesn't matter that the formation is known in advance because Germany aren't planning to counter our formation, they're planning to play their own game regardless of how we're set up. They will play the same way in any case, but we can definitely shut them down with the right game plan, and in a lot of ways international football is suited to teams like Ireland who can nullify the opposition's strengths.
We played two up top against Kazakhstan, this is completely different.
Wow, I knew he was stocky but I didn't know his thighs were that thick. That would indeed cause a problem for any defence, if only for making the surface more slippery.
You're going to feel so silly when this is exactly what happens.
Playing in a 442, incidentally, alongside a striker.
3 ex-League of Ireland players starting with 3 more on the bench. Doyle probably would have started if fit, and McClean also failed a fitness test. That's as good an endorsement of the league as we've had in yonks, yet still there'll not even be such thing as a half-time announcement encouraging fans to get out and see their local clubs on Saturday.
Just about to head to bed and the excitement is truly building now. No idea what to expect...
Sweet Jesus, just give them strength!
It is going to be an interesting game. While were are up against it to even manage a draw, a result would give Ireland the shot in the arm, confidence wise, that it needs. If we lose, the post mortem will include criticism, I am sure, of Trap's failure to play the likes of Coleman and McCarthy more regularly in friendlies.
One positive that hopefully that will emerge from the game are that some of the fringe players play well and give Trap a selection headache for the next phase of qualifying. Coleman's inclusion, while possibly risky, could turn out to be a master stroke if he plays at his best. I envy you lot who get to watch it, for some stupid reason, no one is showing it over here ( which is very surprising), we get I think, Croatia/ Macedonia instead! Great!
Although I realize that we shouldn't take friendlies too seriously in terms of reading much into the results, Long tore a couple of wily defenders the proverbial new one that night. He was excellent, a stand-out. If you play well, you play well in my opinion.
Can you think of any other stand-out individual performances since Roy left (the second time!) that would rival Longs? (granted you didn't rate it as highly as I did). Richard Dunne away to Russia is a gimme.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
That's fair enough, don't want to take away from friendlies in general - just that game in particular was a bit of a weird one.
They'd be thin enough on the ground right enough, but Roy left a high standard. Possibles: Andrews in Paris '09. Robbie against Italy in Bari, when he dropped deep. Robbie away to Macedonia last year scoring both goals (not an amazing performance but two goals nonetheless). I'm certain Shay's had a few big games in that time, bit of a gimme as well.
I think it's fair to say Shane could be one of our most influential players - if he was picked.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
I can sort of understand the logic of leaving him until late, but it depends on the opposition defence being fatigued or complacent - by no means a certainty.
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