Republic of Ireland V Scotland - Saturday, 13th June 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

**paul_oshea** · 08/06/2015, 3:20 PM

Ya I have a feeling he is thinking along the same lines, if its not working out bring on some fresh players to try and open them up, but I'd think he would not start McClean and spring him from the bench for the impetus he offers, and bring on hoolahan or keane too. I'd say one of Keane or hoolahan would start for that reason. I do still see along the same lines of what he is thinking, just not necessarily the exact same formation

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 08/06/2015, 3:23 PM

O'Shea winning fitness battle ahead of crunch Scotland clash.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/socc...-oshea-5846077

Hey look at that! Brynmor Pattison also includes something called QUOTES and doesn't refer vaguely to dubious sources. How about that? Proper journalism is alive and well after all!

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 08/06/2015, 3:29 PM

I think it will be a significantly more straightforward test for Scotland if you subtract the pace, penetration and directness of Long & McClean and add Keane & Walters. It's food for thought if Whelan - and in the interest of balance - Hoolahan all feature too. I have looked at Ireland teams recently and wondered where the pace is going to come from. It's a very slow team in places. Add to this, Scotland will be fully clued up on McGeady, in particular, and he has never been the most unpredictable of wide players.

I am certain that Walters will start somewhere. The noises I am hearing indicate Keane is favorite to feature from the start.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/06/2015, 4:19 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

He'll play Given, he shouldn't but I'd be surprised he Given wasn't our keeper now until the end of the campaign barring injury or him inexplicably throwing the ball into the net.

Think he'll play:
-----------------Given----------------
Coleman---O'Shea--Wilson---Brady

McGeady--Whelan--McCarthy-McClean

---------Walters-----Long----------

Only question is over Keane or Hoolahan - but I think he'll leave the pair in reserve and hope two up top, one physical the other mobile, with two wingers will cause Scotland more problems from the start.

Im not sure. That was the approach he took in Glasgow with the difference in personnel being explained by injury or suspension. Whelan and McCarthy were injured. Given has come into the team despite looking a shadow of his former self. Brady has overtaken Ward at left back, at least when O'Neill wants an attacking full back. Brady's set pieces pretty much cement his place in the team.

So, on the argument that it's essentially a like-for-like to what he picked in Glasgow, surely the fact of Scotland's ability to play between our lines via both Naismith and Mulgrew dictates against doing similar this time? McGeady said recently that we played to their strengths up there, or he said something like that anyway.

Im pretty sure he will pick Hoolahan and although I think there's a fair bit of truth to TOWK's contention that Walters is a fixture in O'Neill's plans, I'm not convinced he'll start this time. Bear in mind I think he was only picked in Germany to protect Meyler at full back, weakening the argument that O'Neill picks him all the time. I think O'Neill admitted he was too conservative in Georgia too.

I think it'll be Long upfront, the usual midfield 4, plus Hoolahan in between. If he does go 442 I wouldn't be surprised if Murphy gets the nod over Walters. Good in the air and much sharper based on yesterday's evidence.

Glasgow showed that O'Neill can be flexible (no Keane) but at the same time capable of being outthought by Strachan.

**DannyInvincible** · 08/06/2015, 4:58 PM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

The noises I am hearing indicate Keane is favorite to feature from the start.

Where are the noises coming from? Someone on the inside?

**paul_oshea** · 08/06/2015, 7:40 PM

I hope oneill gets the subs in on the 60min mark or so if things aren't working out and not waiting till late like usual.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/06/2015, 9:47 PM

I hope we're 2 nil up after 60 minutes and any subsequent substitutions don't automatically concede initiative.

**Crosby87** · 08/06/2015, 10:30 PM

Robertson: Me confident, loose waiting for silly Irish team.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...-ireland-clash

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/06/2015, 10:32 PM

I hope we pulverise them and make their children cry. And make some substitutions.

**geysir** · 08/06/2015, 11:25 PM

I want poetic justice as well as pulverisation and a generation scarred for .. eternity.
McGeady and McCarthy to score a brace.

**SwanVsDalton** · 09/06/2015, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Im not sure. That was the approach he took in Glasgow with the difference in personnel being explained by injury or suspension. Whelan and McCarthy were injured. Given has come into the team despite looking a shadow of his former self. Brady has overtaken Ward at left back, at least when O'Neill wants an attacking full back. Brady's set pieces pretty much cement his place in the team.

So, on the argument that it's essentially a like-for-like to what he picked in Glasgow, surely the fact of Scotland's ability to play between our lines via both Naismith and Mulgrew dictates against doing similar this time? McGeady said recently that we played to their strengths up there, or he said something like that anyway.

Decent point, but I think the personnel above don't necessarily have to play as flat as we played in Glasgow, when we naturally a bit more (a bit too conservative).

Whelan sitting deeper should allow McCarthy a bit of extra freedom, and I'd imagine Long could drop a bit deeper when Scotland have the ball. But I do think O'Neill might favour wingers to play test the Scottish defence early up against two strikers.

I'd love to see him start Hoolahan, and go 4-4-1-1 or thereabouts, but not convinced he will.

**DeLorean** · 09/06/2015, 10:23 AM

I'm with Stutts on that one, not so much that it won't be the team, but that it shouldn't be the team. I don't think Whelan's presence would offer McCarthy much licence to do anything when it's just the two of them in there, outnumbered as usual. Not only is it very similar to the mistakes made in Glasgow, although I accept the more established personnel should help, but it's also a carbon copy of what we had under Trap, for a couple of years after what should have been it's sell by date. If MON picks that team we might as well have given Trap another campaign!

I actually thought Hendrick did very well the other day, in an unspectacular way. He kept Milner (who was invariably the guy picking him up) very busy and generally used the ball confidently and efficiently when in possession, bar one poor pass that was intercepted when slotted into his less favourable role in the second half. Does the fact that he was one of the few to get ninety minutes under his belt (having been out of action longer than most) mean anything I wonder? I think it might although maybe he might have been the one replaced by Hoolahan if O'Shea didn't get injured. I think by playing Hendrick it gives us more substance in midfield as he's a solid unit in there and naturally covers the ground to help both McCarthy and Whelan, but also Coleman, who might need it on Saturday.

O'Neill looks to be getting fairly close to the team I would prefer (he's clearly starting to understand the game a bit better

). It was very much a 4-2-3-1 in the first half the other day and it looked a good shape, we were very solid even if England did look half paced.

I think McGeady done enough in the first half to put himself in the frame and if MON does choose Hendrick over McClean, which I think is likely, it allows McGeady to play on the left of the three, where I think he's more effective. Ideally, I'd love to see him go with this and think he might, although leaving Walters out would be my biggest question mark. That could well be more hope than expectation, and I don't mean anything against Walters by saying that, just a personal preference.

----------------- Westwood ------------------

Coleman ---- O'Shea -------- Wilson ---- Brady

------------ McCarthy ------- Whelan ---------

--- Hendrick ----- Hoolahan ------ McGeady ---

------------------- Long ----------------------

Just a couple of little things with regards the England game. I thought Brady was brilliant defensively, winning headers and arguably the only player on the pitch getting really stuck in. Even if his set pieces were rubbish, he'd still be my first choice left back. On that note, why is McGeady taking the corners, especially the ones on the right? I know Brady has a lot of ground to cover after taking them from that side but it's a total waste of a good position to have anybody other than him whipping them in.

Our players need to try to make themselves available to receive the pass a bit more, there were numerous occasions on Sunday when Coleman, in particular, and also McCarthy and McGoldrick were left isolated in possession and almost had to dribble through a few players, inevitably losing or almost losing possession. I think we might have got away with it a couple of times when the referee gave us (undeserved) free kicks. Hoolahan would help this no end and simply has to start.

We need to find a way to get Coleman into the game in an attacking sense more, he's simply not the same threat that he is for Everton.

McCarthy played one Scholes or Pirlo-esque pass out the wing to McGeady in the first half, he's certainly not lacking technical ability but must find the confidence to do it more. I think it's coming though.

The jeering of GSTQ was disappointing but the applause made up for it, and the English supporters appreciated it and did the same at the end of Amhr�n na bhFiann. It was a subtle, but nice, response to the morons.

Speaking of the morons, I think I actually went red with embarrassment when they started booing Sterling. Cring x 100

**Ol� Ol�** · 09/06/2015, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Decent point, but I think the personnel above don't necessarily have to play as flat as we played in Glasgow, when we naturally a bit more (a bit too conservative).

Whelan sitting deeper should allow McCarthy a bit of extra freedom, and I'd imagine Long could drop a bit deeper when Scotland have the ball. But I do think O'Neill might favour wingers to play test the Scottish defence early up against two strikers.

I'd love to see him start Hoolahan, and go 4-4-1-1 or thereabouts, but not convinced he will.

It's very hard to put Hoolahan into the side, isn't it? Well, from O'Neill's perspective anyway. I think Whelan and McCarthy are the most defensively sound and secure pairing we have. So, play 3 in midfield and include Hoolahan? But O'Neill likes two wingers so that means we only have one striker, which is not ideal when we struggle for goals and are playing at home to a side like Scotland that don't pose the attacking threat of a stronger nation. It also means pushing Hoolahan forward to a number 10 role. I prefer Hoolahan in a very slightly deeper role, a number 8 role if you will, because it ensures we retain the ball in front of the sitting players and gives space for Hoolahan's often under-estimated movement (he ghosts).

If I were picking my side, I'd go with the following:
Given
Coleman O'Shea Wilson Brady
McCarthy Hoolahan Whelan
Long Walters/Murphy McGeady

A 4-3-3 with Long on the right, as he played quite a bit for Southampton with Walters up through the middle but could rotate with Long and McGeady on the left with a licence to drift in.

**paul_oshea** · 09/06/2015, 1:55 PM

I like that but I'd change it to 4-2-1-3. I really like that actually, Long, coleman and Mcgeady/McClean can play fast counter attacking football, if hoolahan sits directly in front of mccarthy and whelan he can spray the ball out to the wings for long, mcgeady or Coleman. We have 2 others running from midfield then into the box. I think speed is what would upset the scots, they would defend easy against high balls and against little wes in a 10 role, but they would definitely struggle with the pace of Long, McClean/McGeady and Coleman coming at them, what we have been lacking and not utilising our speedy players effectively enough is someone in midfield to spray the ball out to the wings quickly, either side, open up the midfield turn into space and spray the pass for our fast wingers, wing backs to run onto.

**geysir** · 09/06/2015, 1:56 PM

I would prefer if Brady could be unshackled from the LB role and play up with the midfield,
have a Brady Hoolahan McGeady trio.
I didn't notice Brady too much (offensively) in the game against England, apart from the free kicks.
Maybe he got up and down the line and I didn't take notice, he isn't exactly a bustling, bulldog, Terry Phelan type, is he?
We are sacrificing a skilful (a rare commodity) offensive player to fill in as a bouncer on the side door.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/06/2015, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ol� Ol�

It's very hard to put Hoolahan into the side, isn't it? Well, from O'Neill's perspective anyway. I think Whelan and McCarthy are the most defensively sound and secure pairing we have. So, play 3 in midfield and include Hoolahan?

If I were picking my side, I'd go with the following:
Given
Coleman O'Shea Wilson Brady
McCarthy Hoolahan Whelan
Long Walters/Murphy McGeady

Isn't that essentially what he picked against Polsnd, except Keane in the middle, Walters to his right? I don't think he's that averse to playing Hoolahan. I can see Long starting in the lone forward role. He and Hoolahan played great against Italy and I'd happily settle now for the same quality chances we created that day, even if Quinn and Long couldn't capitalise.

**paul_oshea** · 09/06/2015, 9:20 PM

The guy over on the score seems to be thinking along the same lines.

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-scotland...51454-Jun2015/

**paul_oshea** · 10/06/2015, 9:06 AM

I am slightly perturbed by O'Neill's reverb around the onus on the home team is to attack, even after Scotland and the fruitless endeavour up there, that he is insisting that we will be the attacking team much like Scotland were in celtic park. Has he not watched any of the Scotland away games, they are all about attacking, and getting at teams. Scotland won't sit back and be happy to soak up they will look to play ball and win, as they always do. We should exploit that with pace.

I mentioned after the draw that Scotlands trajectory was on an upward curve and Strachan was a good manager, a good motivator, and that they had good results against bigger teams, especially away from home, I felt that they had a better "team" than us, and with Strachan they had the edge - I was guffawed by CD and others for this. I still feel they have that edge, I'm just hoping for the first time in about 8 years we go out and attack them from the start, a bit like the wales and slovakia home games under Stan.

**DeLorean** · 10/06/2015, 9:37 AM

Did he actually say that Scotland are likely to sit back and defend?

**paul_oshea** · 10/06/2015, 9:41 AM

No, but he said the onus is on the home team to attack, like he said when we were going over there, and that's what Scotland did to us. I think he reads European qualification like a 2 leg Club European game, I think that's a bit naive(for a start no away goals to get you through, head to head I know), along with his interpretation of friendlies and results, and FIFAs ranking system.