Team to play Israel

[Condex]

Given

Carr
Finnan
Dunne
Cunningham

Reid - Not tearing up trees at Spurs
Kilbane
Keane
Duff

Keane
Morrison - not getting alook in at Brum(but who else do we have)

Subs
Kenny - Great displays
McGeady - Form dip[ of late
Elliott
Kelly - Playing great stuff for Spurs
O'Brien - not getting alook in at Newcastle
O'Shea - not playing regularly enough

[dynamo kerry]

reid- didn't play in the two games against forest- may have ben part of the sale agreement - other than that he's started 2 and been a sub once. no bad.

can't see how you'd drop kenny for richie. richie don't open his mouth and AFAIK the king is still captain. now I can understand if thats the team you want to see but it ain't going to happen unless kenny is injured. reckon andy will keep his place for consistency sake. depends how they train when they get together too mind you.

mcgeady = agreed. the local press here are nice enough about him but are hopeful he'll bounce back while coming from the bench for bellamy.

[Colbert Report]

John O'Shea is simply too good a player to leave on the bench. I'd put him in for Reid.

[Hibs4Ever]

John O'Shea is simply too good a player to leave on the bench. I'd put him in for Reid.

I think O'Shea is the weak link on the team. I'd play Harte ahead of him

[stickyjoe]

Reid was cup-tied for the 2 Forest games, besides that he has been playing the premiership games for spurs

[Stuttgart88]

reid- didn't play in the two games against forest- may have ben part of the sale agreement

He was cup-tied as he played for Forest earlier in the FA Cup. Unfortunately he can't play in the FA Cup again this season.

Edit - sorry, didn't see sticky joe's post!

[drinkfeckarse]

John O'Shea is simply too good a player to leave on the bench. I'd put him in for Reid.

What?? As a winger!!??

[Stuttgart88]

I think the only position open to debate at the moment is whether Finnan or Reid starts RHM. As a consequence left back could be between Finnan & O'Shea.

I don't buy into the theory that playing Finnan at RHM is necessarily defensive. He's a fine player who enhances an Irish team wherever he plays. I'd be inclined to pick Reid RHM and Finnan LB, though Reid's performance in Basle has left a nagging doubt in my mind.

[thejollyrodger]

_________________________Given


_________________Dunne________Cunningham

Carr_____________________________________________F innan



___________________Keane________Kilbane



Reid______________________________________________ Duff



____________________Keane


_______________________________Morrison

I would go with the above also. Lack of first team football rules a lot of the players out.

[Hibs4Ever]

And there is NO reason whatsoever to drop Andy O'Brien. He's played all the qualifiers so far and is having great tournament

[cullenswood]

And there is NO reason whatsoever to drop Andy O'Brien. He's played all the qualifiers so far and is having great tournament

I dont think there is any way that Kerr will drop him, but I do believe that himself and Dunne will be the centre back pairing in Germany if/when we qualify.

[eirebhoy]

I'd agree with the opening team except O'Brien-Cunningham have been rock solid for us and I'd keep them together.

Finnan at left back because he is playing first team football at full back for one of the top teams in the premiership as well as the Champions league. While O'Shea hasn't played at full back in at least 5 months and isn't getting regular football at all.

Reid on the right wing because I'm a big fan of wingers and the only other option in my mind is Finnan, who I'd prefer at full back. Reid's performance against Switzerland was no worse than Duff's against Barcelona the other night IMHO.

Subs - There's no need for Kelly to be wasting a space on the bench as O'Shea can play right back if needed, not to mention Finnan. We obviously need at least one central midfielder on the bench and I'd give it to Kav. You only chose 6 subs so Breen for the other spot.

[stickyjoe]

agree with eirebhoy. finnan at left back instead of oshea. and in this game id go with Reid as a winger instead of re-shuffling and putting finnan in midfield and oshea at full back.

its about time we went away from home and had a decent go at a team. we should be looking to win this game not get a draw.

[NeilMcD]

I think the only decision that kerr has to make is whether to play Finnan or John O Shea at left back the rest of the team picks itself.

Given
Carr
Cunningham
O Brien
Finnan/OShea

Reid
Keane
Kilbane
Duff

Keane
Morrison



Subs
Kenny
Dunne
Holland
O Shea
McGeady
Elliot
Kavanagh

I think it is between Kavanagh and Holland for a place on the bench.

[Stuttgart88]

My small doubt about Reid on RHM is based on Basle but God knows how many players were bad on the night. Steve Carr's performance in that game didn't help matters & he was lucky not to be sent off. But Carr seems to be playing much better now and Reid has started well at Spurs. Regardless of whether it's RHM or LB Finnan has to start though.

There's no reason yet to change Cunningham & O'Brien, especially as O'Brien is at least getting UEFA Cup action. But at some point a lack of first team football for O'Brien could force Kerr's hand here.

I really think the Israel game could be a watershed for this team. We're a better side than 18 months ago IMO and Israel away is no tougher than Albania away was, despite what the stats might say.

This team is still developing and they need to get used to winning tough away ties if we're to step up to the level I think we're well capable of.

A draw, however respectable a result it may be, will postpone this development. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that a win would be significant for more reasons than the 3 points we'd get.

[Eirambler]

To be honest I don't think theres any chance of finnan playing LB against Israel. We'd have to have seen him in a few friendlies playing there first. (I'm not saying its not a good idea, I'm just saying it won't happen.)


If everyone is fit the only decision is reid or finnan, I think he might go for Finnans experience for a tricky away game like this.

[Havelock Squire]

There's about as much chance of Finnan playing left-back as there was when we were in Basle last September...

[OwlsFan]

Finnan is right footed - I wouldn't play him at left back. I'd play O'Shea (warts and all).

Kerr won't drop O'Brien so it's O'B and Kenny

Kilbane has gone off the boil at Everton - saw him on the box against Blackburn (awful game and Killer was poor enough). However, Kerr would never drop him. Don't be surprised if you see Holland and Keane midfield with Kilbane on the left with Duffer floating and Robbie up front alone. Kerr usually adopts defensive tactics when away from home.

[cullenswood]

Finnan is right footed - I wouldn't play him at left back. I'd play O'Shea (warts and all).

O'Shea is right footed as well isn't he?

[thejollyrodger]

Kerr should go out to win it at the start, try to get an early goal or maybe even two then tighten everything up and slow the whole game down.

To start : -

_________________________Given


_________________O Brien________Cunningham

Carr_____________________________________________O Shea



____________________Keane_____Kilbane



Reid_____________________X________________________ Duff



____________________Keane


_______________________________Morrison


From my earlier post, maybe O Shea should be given a start at left back, O Brien to start and leave finnan, Dunne on the bench. Ried to start as well. O Shea and Carr are very good going forward leaving O Brien and Cunningham back all the time. Maybe Robbie might be more sucessfull playing in the hole X.

Morrison although lacking a few matches is a great target man for duff. I think they partner up very well. Ried and Keane likewise.

Once we get the one or maybe even two goals I would make 2 subs and change to 4-5-1.

_________________________Given


Carr___________O Brien________Cunningham________O Shea


Finnan_________Kavanagh_____Keane_____Kilbane_____ _Duff


__________________________Keane

Finnan on for Ried. Morrision off, Kavanagh on in at midfield to hold things up and throw his weight around. Kilbane and Duffer should give O Shea plenty of cover and 5 across midfield should really kill the game off.