Starting 11 v San Marino

[Reddladd]

Right we know the squad, the game is a week away, so barring injuries who would be your preferred starting 11.

Henderson
Finnan Dunne McShane Harte
Duff Carsley Ireland Hunt
Keane Stokes


Hard to guess Stan on this one but would think he will still start O'Shea and Kilbane. I would also give Long a shot at some point and McGeady should be brought on in the second half. I think Hunt deserves his start but I reckon he will lose out to Kilbane.

[Bring Back Mick]

I think Hunt deserves his start but I reckon he will lose out to Kilbane.

Is the San Marino Keeper really that good !!!

[elroy]

Dont think you're far wrong although I dont see him starting hunt. More like McGeady and Duff on the wings with probably Carsley and Kilbane in the middle. I think he actually may drop JOSH - from his interviews Stan sounds like he is a fan of harte who is back in regular first team action unlike JOSH.

Also I wouldnt be so sure about Stokes starting.

[republicofwhite]

Long could be a more likely starter than Stokes at this stage, although I just can't really envisage a Long/Keane partnership...

[NeilMcD]

If Kilbane starts in the centre with Staunton he should resign or be sacked on the spot. The one thing for certain that seperates us from teams like San Marino is the ability to pass and move the ball. So if we play someone like Kilbane it negates that. He cant do the basics of football like trapping the ball and passing it and making space.

[bellavistaman]

henderson
finnan o'shea dunne harte
duff ireland carsley hunt
keane stokes
is what i'd love to see, i think ireland should play instead of kilbane we need a good passer in the middle and let carsley break everything up.

[tetsujin1979]

what i'd pick:
.............Henderson
..McShane..Dunne..O'Shea
...............Carsley
McGeady..Ireland..Douglas..Duff
...........Keane..Stokes
Carsley to protect the back 3 and spray the ball out to the more creative players in front of him - it's what he does at Everton FFS!
Let the midfield pass the opposition off the park, Keane and Stokes to get on the score sheet within the first 20 minutes

What I'd imagine Stan will pick:
.............Henderson
Finnan..McShane..Dunne..Harte
McGeady..Carsley..O'Shea/Ireland..Duff
...........Keane..Stokes

Hunt to come on for Duff
Keogh to come on for Stokes
1 other from S.Quinn and Shane Long to get a run out

[kingdom hoop]

love that team tets, except i'd have hunt in from the start instead of douglas. i cant wait to see hunt play for us, i'd say the exuberance will be unreal. the only problem is that our defence needs time to play together so you think we'll stick with that formation v wales?

[dr_peepee]

Ireland and Carsley would do well against SM but would be over run against most of the average to good teams...

Has hunt ever played centre midfield?? Might be a more leggy agressive alternative to Douglas in the middle alright. But Hunt is no better than Kilbane though from what I've seen. He's a hard worker and a spoiler against better teams but that's about it.

[paul_oshea]

Has hunt ever played centre midfield?? Might be a more leggy agressive alternative to Douglas in the middle alright. But Hunt is no better than Kilbane though from what I've seen. He's a hard worker and a spoiler against better teams but that's about it.

I reckon hunts over-exuberance could cost us yet!!

[Bring Back Mick]

I reckon hunts over-exuberance could cost us yet!!

How True......... Don't think the European refs would be as leniant as the premiership refs if he leaves his trailing knee embedded in the opposition goalkeeper's head

[NeilMcD]

Its amazing how Mourinhios spin has managed to influence Irish footballs fans view of hunt.

[Collyontour]

I'd play Hunt at left back and have McGeady on the wing

[Bring Back Mick]

Its amazing how Mourinhios spin has managed to influence Irish footballs fans view of hunt.

And how may Jose have influenced my view ???

[NeilMcD]

I dont know. How has Mourinhios view influenced your view.

[SeanieBoy]

My best team for the SM game is:

GK:Henderson
LB:Harte
CBunne
CB:McShane
RB:Finnan

LMuffer
CM:Carsley
CM:Hunt (not sure if he plays central or not)
RM:McGeady

ST:Keane
ST:Stokes

[NeilMcD]

Surely Ireland who is playing the form of his career deserves a start ahead of Hunt who people dont know if he has even played central midfield before. Ireland is a top class passer of the ball and has been playing very well for City of late in the attacking midfield position.

[Wolfie]

Surely Ireland who is playing the form of his career deserves a start ahead of Hunt who people dont know if he has even played central midfield before. Ireland is a top class passer of the ball and has been playing very well for City of late in the attacking midfield position.

Ireland alongside Carsley would have a bit of balance about it, sure enough.

[ChrisRed]

Ireland should get the nod but i'd imagine Stan will pick O'Shea in the centre of midfield to add some hight to a quite short midfield and attack. Think McGeady should get a chance on the right wing. How likely is Stan to play Finnan on the right wing and Carr at right back tho?

[kingdom hoop]

Ireland is a top class passer of the ball and has been playing very well for City of late in the attacking midfield position.

agree, but both carsley and ireland(and a.reid too) play in 3 man midfields at their clubs with such a system seeming to suit them. hunt's attributes are adaptable to different positions - the complete player! the worry would be whether his football brain can also adapt. for reading he seems to pop up all over the pitch, is prone to rashness(random lumping of ball) but also shows a lot more finesse than kilbane at other times. the fact that posters here arent aware of his versatility should not stop him being picked in front of ireland. anyway IMO the dynamic of ireland/hunt/carsley would work well, with hunt linking up with duff on the left, ireland and stokes/keane on the right....a flexible 433 formation