Ireland v Slovakia - Pre Match thread

**Colbert Report** · 25/03/2007, 12:31 AM

Here's who I think Staunton will play, assuming Ireland is unavailable:
Given
O'Shea McShane Dunne Finnan
McGeady Carsely Douglas Kilbane
Doyle Duff

Here's the lineup I would choose:
Given
Finnan McShane Dunne Harte
McGeady Carsley O'Shea Duff
Doyle Stokes

**theworm2345** · 25/03/2007, 4:37 AM

Stan said Doyle is not match fit
So...
Basically were stuck between a guy who hasn't played first team football in a month, a guy who cant crack the squad in the CCC, and an excellent League 1 striker...We're ****ed

**danonion** · 25/03/2007, 4:57 AM

morrison where art thou!

**GavinZac** · 25/03/2007, 7:12 AM

due to his match fitness, shay given will start up front. its just one of those things.

**Murpholini** · 25/03/2007, 8:40 AM

After the welsh game i think stan will realise a 4-5-1 will not work against the slovaks as we were pumping the ball up the pitch only to see it come right back every time until we introduced Doyle. Keane ran his socks off and covered more ground than any midfielder. Attack is the best option on wednesday as the slovaks will be gunning from the start and won't sit back like the welsh did in the first half. I hope all the mexican wavers are back in the safety of their homes for the game on wednesday, i go to matches to see the football and support the team, not to entertain these ole ole spanners.

**GavinZac** · 25/03/2007, 8:42 AM

Originally Posted by Murpholini

Keane ran his socks off and covered more ground than any midfielder. A

all well and good but duff decided to play on the wings, so we had nobody in the box.

**Murpholini** · 25/03/2007, 9:26 AM

exactly. That's my point. We need two strikers to hold up the ball and take the pressure off our defence and midfield.

**green army** · 25/03/2007, 9:49 AM

given
o shea mcshane dunne finnan
hunt carsely kilbane mcgeedy
duff stokes

**GavinZac** · 25/03/2007, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Murpholini

exactly. That's my point. We need two strikers to hold up the ball and take the pressure off our defence and midfield.

or alternatively, robbie keane to stay in position, and steven ireland and/or hunt selected in centre midfield to give us the creativity keane was trying to drum up.

**Dublin12** · 25/03/2007, 10:22 AM

Kilbane needs to go,all he does is run with no end product.Hunt should be in the team,hes got the right attitude and gives a lift to the team and the supporters.Could be a good thing that Robbie isn't playing,hopefully he'll give Stokes some decent time on the pitch.We need to win this one no more moral draws please,play two up front.Doyle and Stokes for me.

**B1977** · 25/03/2007, 10:24 AM

Given
Finnan Mcshane Dunne O'shea

Stokes Carsley Kilbane Hunt

Ireland

Doyle

**KopKiller** · 25/03/2007, 10:37 AM

presuming ireland isnt fit -

Given

Finann
Dunne
McShane
Harte

Hunt
Carsley
Kilbane
Duff

Doyle
Stokes

O Shea shouldnt get into the team, i dont ever recall him having a good game for ireland, he is now 3rd choice centre half.

Hunt has to start, he has put in 2 blinding substitute performances and he has what most of the team have lost ... passion for the green jersey.

**livehead1** · 25/03/2007, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by KopKiller

presuming ireland isnt fit -

Given

Finann
Dunne
McShane
Harte

Hunt
Carsley
Kilbane
Duff

Doyle
Stokes

O Shea shouldnt get into the team, i dont ever recall him having a good game for ireland, he is now 3rd choice centre half.

Hunt has to start, he has put in 2 blinding substitute performances and he has what most of the team have lost ... passion for the green jersey.

...any man with locks like that deserves a start

**zenokelly** · 25/03/2007, 10:54 AM

To break down Slovakia we need as physical a line-up as possible especiallt in midfield.

Therefore I would start:

Given
Finnan McShane Dunne Harte
Hunt Carsley Kilbane Duff
Stokes Doyle

However, Stan the man will probably go with this

Given
O'Shea Dunne McShane Finnan
McGEady Carsley Douglas Kilbane
Duff Doyle

I can't see any hope

**backstothewall** · 25/03/2007, 11:01 AM

I suppose the only fair way to do this is to pick from the squad Staunton has called up, but if i was starting again, i wouldn't start from here.

Shay Given (Newcastle), Nicky Colgan (Barnsley), Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Paul McShane (West Brom), Richard Dunne (Man City), Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Ian Harte (Levante), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), John O'Shea (Man United), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan), Stephen Ireland (Man City), Lee Carsley (Everton), Jonathan Douglas (Leeds), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Alan Quinn (Sheffield United), Damien Duff (Newcastle), Darron Gibson (Royal Antwerp), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Shane Long (Reading), Andy Keogh (Wolves).

But with the squad available,

Given
Finnan Dunne (c) McShane O'Shea
McGeady Carsley Gibson Hunt
Doyle Stokes

If Doyle hasn't got 90 minutes in his legs and will have to come off, I really have to question why there is not another big physical forward in the squad, like Ward or Lee to replace him with. I think dropping Duff might be the kick up the arse he needs, we can't afford any passengers on wednesday.

**Irish_Praha** · 25/03/2007, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

If Doyle hasn't got 90 minutes in his legs and will have to come off, I really have to question why there is not another big physical forward in the squad, like Ward or Lee to replace him with. I think dropping Duff might be the kick up the arse he needs, we can't afford any passengers on wednesday.

Keogh is 6ft but it would be a bit risky to give him his international début for this game. Then again it might work.

I think now that Robbie is suspended Connolly should be called up, if it's not against the rules.

My team:

------------Given--------------
Finnan--Dunne--McShane--Kelly
Duff--Carsley--Quinn--Hunt
---------Stokes----Doyle------

I wish we had someone better to play as a partner for Carsley but from yesterday's game I think Quinn would be a better option than Douglas. I'd put Ireland in there for the first half if he is not injured but I think we need a player that is a bit stronger on the ball for this game. If it doesn't work he should be taken off at half time. Hunt offers much more to the team than Kilbane.

**HolylandsMan** · 25/03/2007, 12:14 PM

Given

Finnan McShane Dunne O'Shea

Duff Carsley Douglas Hunt

Stokes Doyle

I hope Stan has the sense to abandon this crazy notion of playing both our full backs on the wrong side though previous experience suggests that even this logical step will be beyond him.

Duff has to play as I thought he showed flashes of his true form yesterday and we may need soemthing special against Slovakia. Hunt's performance yesterday means he deserves a start though I have little doubt Kilbane will pick up his customary starting position. If we are to beat Slovakia, we need to play with two strikers. 1 up front at home is just far too negative.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 25/03/2007, 12:47 PM

A note of caution in relation to Hunt -I seem to recall a burst of excitement when a young Kevin Kilbane first pulled on the green -that here was a player who liked "to run at the opposition" -that excitement gave way to worried suspicion that Killer could find a Cul De Sac on a spaghetti junction.

So far I've seen Hunt win a couple of frees off tired defenders making sloppy challenges and not a huge amount more.
Not putting the guy down now either ...or at least don't mean to.

**Scram** · 25/03/2007, 1:19 PM

He won't do this, but here: (O'Shea instead of Hare if you want)

We want to win this gane 1-0

Given

Finnan McShane Dunne Harte

Duff Ireland Carsley Douglas Hunt

.................Doyle