Republic of Ireland V Oman 3rd September 2014 & Georgia 7th September 2014

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't get why Lawlor is ever brought up. Apart from being a break glass in case of emergency addition to the Manchester City squad, and training with the national side once, he's still somebody who is yet to play a game of senior football in his life. He might turn out to be a great player but what is the case for calling him up over all the other goalkeepers?

[tetsujin1979]

he's probably better off against Germany for the U21s than being a squad player for the Oman game anyway.

[ifk101]

Coleman is still finding his feet at senior level imo. Better to give him the game time than looking too far into the future with Matt Doherty.

[tetsujin1979]

Gibson to start tomorrow night: https://twitter.com/3_News/status/50...224449/photo/1

@D_Gibson4 will START tomorrow for @FAIreland, confirms MO'N. It's been a long road back. #3BENCHGUY

[DeLorean]

FFS Poland have a 30 year old Steaua Bucharest player with 6 caps, a 28 year old Serie B journeyman with 1 cap and another unknown 27 year old based in China filling out their squad.

Are you saying this is a good thing or a bad thing (for Poland)?

[zero]

some encouraging words from gibson:

Gibson described the news that he is set to start against Oman as “a big opportunity,” and said that his long spell on the sidelines recovering from last year’s knee injury had left him with a great deal of time to reflect on his relative lack of progress at this level.
“It made me realise that I’m not getting any younger,” said the 26 year-old. “That it’s now or never. I need to push on and play more games.”

[geysir]

That's an interesting choice. I hope he's fit enough for the challenge and makes it on to the team for Georgia.

I didn't think we could afford Gibson's match day insurance premium.

[Charlie Darwin]

I can't imagine he has two games in four days in him. Hopefully McCarthy's injury clears up by the weekend.

[zero]

I can't imagine he has two games in four days in him. Hopefully McCarthy's injury clears up by the weekend.

yeah agreed. he'll play an hour tomorrow i expect and whelan / mccarthy will start in georgia. if mccarthy doesn't recover though, i guess meyler is next in line?

i expect he'll be ok, hopefully.

starting to feel a bit excited now, almost in spite of myself. a new campaign, new management. while i've expressed concerns about the build up, the old green tinted optimism is starting to kick in.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He came in for a lot of ridicule for not playing in the summer friendlies and for having the nerve to get married, citing his ongoing injury which requires regular treatment. I think Joey was simply terrified of being on the receiving end of another online rollicking, which is why he turned up.

It does indeed seem that the guy has a chronic problem, which is a real shame for both him and us.

With no replacement called up it'd appear that Wilson is being seen as dispensable at CB and is Ward's deputy left back. This elevates Keogh a fraction closer to getting on the pitch and makes the Delaney and McShane omissions look odder, as both can cover at full back too. I know Brady can nominally play left back but I doubt that's in management's thoughts, nor should it be really.

I'd call up Lenihan myself now that he has made the transition from amateur local league player to the best league in the world.

Actually, the problem was that he was selecting an International window to get married.

I really can not see us even finishing third with Ward and Keogh in our back line. The margins are so slim at this level and they are both liabilities. Any time the defence is under pressure Keogh looks nervous. Ward is too impulsive. They would make some double team. I can't envision Keogh having the same reactions as Dunne, St Ledger or O'Shea in a situation where Ward gives the ball to the opposition under any sort of pressure.

We can laugh at the doc all we want but St Ledger is dependable. We are surely going to end up missing him.

[DeLorean]

I really can not see us even finishing third with Ward and Keogh in our back line

Well barring injuries there's no reason they would both be playing. The only way Keogh would be considered is if MON moves Wilson left back instead of Ward.... so that should reduce your fears by 50% straight away.

[zero]

Well barring injuries there's no reason they would both be playing. The only way Keogh would be considered is if MON moves Wilson left back instead of Ward.... so that should reduce your fears by 50% straight away.

or if mccarthy doesnt recover from his injury and wilson plays centre midfield... with keogh and ward in the defence.

the horror.

[ArdeeBhoy]

As likely a scenario as any other in the next week.

Good to see Gibson on the comeback trail, but be amazed if he starts Sunday, but this is is finally the time to pension Whelan off with Gibson/Noble/whoever IMO. Just don't think we can rely on Darron for every game, even if he wants to play!

[tetsujin1979]

This appeals to the mathematician in me
from http://babb.telegraph.co.uk/2014/09/...-venn-diagram/

[Stuttgart88]

It's funny, but not very accurate I'd say. There should also be an over achievers circle.

[paul_oshea]

It's funny, but not very accurate I'd say. There should also be an over achievers circle.

looks like we need a CD input/lesson again here. http://math.stackexchange.com/questi...-using-circles

I think its somewhat accurate, id have poland in with Austria and Hungary both former european heavyweights but certainly no hopers at the minute. A few others I would move about also.

[Stuttgart88]

RTE not the only source suggesting Given is a long way away from being certain to play on Sunday.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...and-face-oman/

O'Neill has told people already who'll be starting on Sunday.

There's criticism of the opposition but in my mind I think we need to try and get some goals and get a win. There's no point in having a tough game that leads to another defeat. We've had some tough outings already.

Who we play tonight will all be forgotten if we win on Sunday.

[DeLorean]

I'd nearly give Wilson and O'Shea the night off. They've played every minute this season already and the consequences of them picking up knocks doesn't bear thinking about.

[Stuttgart88]

What, and have Ward and Keogh in the same back four?!

[DeLorean]

Rightly or wrongly, I have kind of accepted that Ward will be our left back in Georgia. I'd be surprised if he isn't. If Keogh and Pearce can't handle Oman, then it's a quick fire way of finding out that they are nowhere near the level required and it'll be a valuable early lesson. Anyway, we only need a draw to stay ahead of them in the rankings