Starting 11 v San Marino

[DmanDmythDledge]

I suppose McGeady would be good enough even though he is injured

Stephen Quinn then!

[FarBeag]

Is it my imagination or is Damian Duff getting worse with every game? I know that he has problems with various injuries but he is nowhere near that player that terrorized defenses week in week out. For some reason I am not feeling anyway optimistic for him to return to his best in the near future anyway.

On a positive note Steven Hunt (particularly) Steven Ireland and Derek Geary continues to progress and maintain consistency. All three had excellent games yesterday as did Shane Long despite not getting on the score sheet. Steven Quinn was reasonable but was the cause of Blackburn’s second goal as he let a player pass him with relative ease to cross the ball. Steven Carr was horrendous and Steven Finnan made an awful back pass to let in Johnson who nearly scored.

I see that Darryl Murphy started before Anthony Stokes who came on in the 60th Minute but is still firing blanks.Dont knows where Connolly or Elliot were?

Hopefully Keane hits the net to-day as we would at least have one player with his scoring boots on at the moment. Well it’s only San Marino after all.


My Starting 11 with the present squad would be.

Henderson

Finnan McShane Dunne Harte

Hunt Ireland Carsley Duff

Keane Stokes/Long

[tetsujin1979]

I see that Darryl Murphy started before Anthony Stokes who came on in the 60th Minute but is still firing blanks.Dont knows where Connolly or Elliot were?

Stokes is just coming back from an injury and isn't 100% yet.
Connolly picked up a knock last week and will be out for a week or so. Dunno about Elliott though.

[FarBeag]

I see Mr. Versatile himself J O' Shea played the last ten minutes in goal for Man U after Van De Sar getting injured.Pulled off a nice save on a 1v1 from Keane.

[Fubar]

john o shea in goal?

[liaml]

Please God Stan no.

-liam

[carloz]

Well i hope to god we dont pick the team that Cathal Dervan picked in the Star yesterday. This seems very much back to the old days and is a slight insult to Stokes and Long.

Henderson
Carr Dunne McShane Harte

Finnan O'Shea Carsley Kilbane

Keane Duff



there are so many things wrong with that team. Carr was dreadful against a poor Fulhma team last weekend. Finnan again out of position. O'Shea playing. Kilbane for me should not be in the squad. the wigan fans have turned on him and he was dropped at weekend. And Duff up forward

[NeilMcD]

Jesus that just confirms to me that Cathal Dervan knows nothing about football.

[shakermaker1982]

I concur. Keep Kilbane and O'Shea on the bench.

Henderson

Finnan Dunne McShane Harte

Hunt Carlsey Ireland Duff

Keane Long

[Paddy Garcia]

I agree that team Dervan picked is looking back to the old days. Also very conservative given the opposition.

[eirebhoy]

Carr and Douglas pulled out through injury, Foley called up.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=1668

I didn't know Elliott was out aswell.

[Wolfie]

Well i hope to god we dont pick the team that Cathal Dervan picked in the Star yesterday. This seems very much back to the old days and is a slight insult to Stokes and Long.

Henderson
Carr Dunne McShane Harte

Finnan O'Shea Carsley Kilbane

Keane Duff



there are so many things wrong with that team. Carr was dreadful against a poor Fulhma team last weekend. Finnan again out of position. O'Shea playing. Kilbane for me should not be in the squad. the wigan fans have turned on him and he was dropped at weekend. And Duff up forward

Hope to Christ he doesn't pick that line up. At least the option to play Carr has been removed.

[Kingdom]

At least that will solve a few mystery's at the back. Finnan definitely to start. Left full should be Harte now. The wings are the area where I've no idea who he'll pick! Is there any point in picking two wingers who will try and hit the line and pull crosses back for Robbie, Long or Stokes? Probably not, so maybe he'll be looking for two dribblers (for the want of a better term!)Can Stephen Quinn play right mid? Has he played there with Sheff Utd this season? Duff will certainly start, so that would mean there is one position between Hunt, Kilbane, Stephens Elliot & Quinn. Assuming of course that Ireland and Carsley are in the middle. Up front then it would be a simple choice between Stokes and Long to partner Keane.
If there are no more injuries I would say this will be the team:
Henderson
Finnan
Dunne
McShane
Harte
Stephen Quinn
Carsley
Ireland
Duff
Keane
Long.

[Over the post]

Carr and Douglas pulled out through injury, Foley called up.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=1668

I didn't know Elliott was out aswell.

Bit hard on that Geary lad, featuring week-in week-out in the premiership and even when a full back drops out, Stan prefers to call up someone playing for a team at the wrong end of the championship. I haven't seen either lad play but logic would seem to dictate calling up Geary.

[NeilMcD]

Maybe Staunton has seen him and does not reckon he is any good. Not defending it but just saying that could be the case. Just cause Warnock rates him does not mean that Staunton has to.

[pete]

Maybe Staunton has seen him and does not reckon he is any good. Not defending it but just saying that could be the case. Just cause Warnock rates him does not mean that Staunton has to.

Our opinions probably as Stauntons although I agree with him this time. Bitching to the media isn't the best way to get into a squad. Geary could not even get into the B squad although that seems harsh.

Revised Republic of Ireland squad (v. San Marino, February 7th, 2007):

Goalkeepers: Wayne Henderson (Brighton), Nick Colgan (Barnsley), Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic).

Defenders: Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Ian Harte (Levante), Paul McShane (West Bromwich Albion), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), John O’Shea (Manchester United), Kevin Foley (Luton Town).

Midfielders: Lee Carsley (Everton), Damien Duff (Newcastle United), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), Stephen Ireland (Manchester City), Darron Gibson (Manchester United – on loan at Royal Antwerp), Alan Quinn, Stephen Quinn (both Sheffield United), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Alan O’Brien (Newcastle United).

Forwards: Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Shane Long (Reading).

................Henderson
Finnan - Dunne - McShane - Harte
...Duff - Carsley - Ireland - Hunt
........... Keane Long

Bench: Colgan, O'Shea. Foley/A Quinn, Kilbane, S Quinn, Stokes, Keogh

I can still see Staunton picking O'Shea though as sure he plays 5 minutes a week for big team. Been defender of Kilbane in the past but can't find place for him for this team & his form is poor.

[greatbleddyman]

[QUOTE=pete;617307]

................Henderson
Finnan - Dunne - McShane - Harte
...Duff - Carsley - Ireland - Hunt
........... Keane Long

QUOTE]


I'd go with this too

[eirebhoy]

As would Daniel McDonnell of the Indo:
http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stor...=12&si=1771139

[cavan_fan]

I worry it will be

Henderson
Finnan Dunne McShane O'Shea
S Quinn Carsley Kilbane Hunt
Duff Kenae

[Larks]

I think Ireland deserves a start, even though I believe he's not good enough against a top quality side. Carsley also deserves a start. I think stokes should get a game but only as a sub.I'd like to see alan O'Brien too.

Saying this, I think this is a possible starting line up.

GK-Henderson
LB-Harte
RB-Finnan
CB-Dunne
CB-Mcshane
LM-Duff
RM-mCGEADY /hunt
CM-Carsley
CM-Kilbane /ireland
CF-Keane
CF-Long