Ireland v Slovakia - Pre Match thread

**smellyfeet** · 26/03/2007, 11:25 AM

Given

Finnin
McShane
Dunne
Kelly

McGeady/Ireland
Carsley
A Quinn
Hunt

Doyle
Stokes

Time to drop the likes of Duff,Keane,kilbane and OShea and give the fringe
players the chance they deserve. Its been to long now that we have had to watch the 4 above not deliver the goods.It would be good for the others to get a start. Also it must drive them mad sitting on the bench watching whats going out on the pitch.

**geysir** · 26/03/2007, 11:46 AM

I'd say the big change will be the full backs switching positions.
If it's a stop Slovakia at all costs team, then it's 5 in midfield

Duff Carsley Douglas Kilbane
Ireland

I'd prefer Hunt to start instead of KK.

**elroy** · 26/03/2007, 11:50 AM

Hunt deserves a start for his recent performances. I think both Given and Ireland are going to be fit so wouldnt be at all surprised if he just makes the one change.

However, i have a feeling from what he said after the game that Douglas will be dropped with Carsley and kilbane in midfield, duff on the left, mcgeady on the right and Ireland playing behind doyle - a bit like the position he was in when we scored.

I could regret saying this but i think with Given behind this defence, we are pretty solid at the back.

Given
O'S McS Dunne Finnan
McG Carsley Kilbane Duff
Ireland
Doyle

If he does opt for Hunt instead of McG, Duff to start on the right, Hunt on the left.

**Scram** · 26/03/2007, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

I'd say the big change will be the full backs switching positions.
If it's a stop Slovakia at all costs team, then it's 5 in midfield

Duff Carsley Douglas Kilbane
Ireland

I'd prefer Hunt to start instead of KK.

Duff Ireland Carsley Kilbane Hunt

Would be my preference and 4-5-1 need not be negative, that's what we ended up with in Stede Paris when Morrison hobbled off and Reid came on, and we created a lot. Hunt and Duff will go at the defence (obviously!) and Kilbane running up the middle would scare any team.....even more so if he brings the ball with him

But seriously, I think that midfield is the strongest available.

**SeanieBoy** · 26/03/2007, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by JGKyne

A basic 4-4-2
Given
Finnnan, Dunne, McShane, Harte
Duff, Carsely, Ireland, Hunt
Doyle, Stokes

Stan is probably goin to pick the same team with Doyle in for Keane

I'm not looking forward to this game, I really think this could be a bad night

This has to be the best team at his disposal (are you playing Duff on the left or the right?).

You can nearly guarantee that Kilbane & O'Shea will be wheeled out again at the expense of better players, but we must nearly expect that at this stage.

**FootballsKing** · 26/03/2007, 12:23 PM

Considering Keane is out and Doyle not match fit, stokes has to start. He has the fearlessness and imagination to unlock the Slovakian defence that no other members of the squad seems to have, He will raise the tempo of the game (similer to hunt) and will get the crowd in full voice(again similer to hunt)

**Sumac** · 26/03/2007, 12:32 PM

Given
Finnan McShane Dunne O'Shea
Duff Carsley Ireland Hunt
McGeady
Doyle

But what do I know - I am not part of a world class management team!

**IsMiseSean** · 26/03/2007, 1:51 PM

Originally Posted by SeanieBoy

This has to be the best team at his disposal (are you playing Duff on the left or the right?).

You can nearly guarantee that Kilbane & O'Shea will be wheeled out again at the expense of better players, but we must nearly expect that at this stage.

Duff on the right, unless Hunt as a right foot then duff would be better on the left

**Countyman** · 26/03/2007, 2:00 PM

If Wales made hime nervous enough to start with 2 destroyers in midfield and one up front then I would expect more of the same for a very useful Slovakia side.

I expect the exact same side with Doyle in for Keane and I expect a defeat if that is the case.

I would go with charliesboots team myself.

**NeilMcD** · 26/03/2007, 2:06 PM

Its a pity that Miller is not in the squad as I think a three man midfield of Douglas Ireland and Miller woudl keep the ball a lot better than Carsley Douglas and Kilbane might.

How about

Given

Finnan Dunne Mc Shane Kelly

Carsley

Ireland Hunt
Duff

Doyle Stokes.

But he will probably play Kilbane instead of Stokes and O Shea instead of Kelly.

**Ordinary Fan** · 26/03/2007, 2:27 PM

Stans Team
Given
Finnan McShane Dunne O'Shea
Duff Carsley Kilbane Hunt
Ireland
Doyle

Finnan puts in a load of great crosses for Liverpool from the right and zero crosses for Ireland on the left!
Doyle or stokes will start up fromnt on their own and one will replace the other.

Given will have to play the game of his lfe if we are to survive.
IMO Ireland (S) is over-rated and played c*** on Saturday but the goal changes everything. If he scores the only goal on Wednesday then that is enough 4 me.

If we perform like we did against Wales we will loose heavely

**Torn-Ado** · 26/03/2007, 2:34 PM

We badly need a targetman up front.

Most of the balls being played into the strikers on staurday were skyscrapers. Two midgets up frontand landing in high balls. Classy stuff.

We also badly need a decent central midfielder. Douglas is cack, Ireland is ok but too light and Carsley is too negative. I'm not a fan of non Irish players playing for us but I would take Kevin Nolan in a heartbeat.

**gustavo** · 26/03/2007, 2:40 PM

Slovaks are very long odds at 3/1 to win this game , I would have had them as slight favourites.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/03/2007, 2:46 PM

Hard to say who's the favorites, I'd give Slovakia a slight edge
We beat Wales 1-0 at home, they beat Wales 5-1 away.
We lost to Cyprus 5-2, they beat Cyprus 6-1 at home and 3-1 away (albeit Cyprus were down to 10 men, and leading 1-0 at half time)

On the other hand, we had a good showing in a 1-0 loss against Germany away, Slovakia lost 4-1
Also, we drew 1-1 at home to the Czechs, Slovakia lost 3-0

We're missing Robbie Keane, and possibly Stephen Ireland and Shay given
They're missing Jan Durica (played every minute of their campaign so far) and Matej Krajcik (played every game so far)

**Galwayutdcelt** · 26/03/2007, 2:52 PM

looking forward to giving him a cead mile failte

**gufct** · 26/03/2007, 2:57 PM

No which is great news for everyone who gets embarrased by the booing of Rangers or ex Rangers players by the small minded hooped fraternity. Bit like the booing of giggs on Saturday.

**Sumac** · 26/03/2007, 3:01 PM

Can you please delete this thread. This is an Ireland forum, not a forum for British clubs. True Irish supporters do not boo a player merely because of where he happens to earn his living.

**NeilMcD** · 26/03/2007, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Hard to say who's the favorites, I'd give Slovakia a slight edge
We beat Wales 1-0 at home, they beat Wales 5-1 away.
We lost to Cyprus 5-2, they beat Cyprus 6-1 at home and 3-1 away (albeit Cyprus were down to 10 men, and leading 1-0 at half time)

On the other hand, we had a good showing in a 1-0 loss against Germany away, Slovakia lost 4-1
Also, we drew 1-1 at home to the Czechs, Slovakia lost 3-0

We're missing Robbie Keane, and possibly Stephen Ireland and Shay given
They're missing Jan Durica (played every minute of their campaign so far) and Matej Krajcik (played every game so far)

They are missing their best player in Mintal too. Ireland and Given will make it I think.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/03/2007, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by gufct

No which is great news for everyone who gets embarrased by the booing of Rangers or ex Rangers players by the small minded hooped fraternity. Bit like the booing of giggs on Saturday.

giggs was cheered by a bunch of people sitting near me.
dunno which is worse to be honest

**finnpark** · 26/03/2007, 3:16 PM

My team would be:

-------------------------- Given --------------------

Finnan ------- Dunne -------- ? ----------- O'Shea

McGeady ----------- Carsley -------------------Duff

----------------------- Ireland--------------------------

------------------------ Hunt (Capt) -------------------

------------------------ Doyle -------------------------

Staunton will probably play Shay Given down the right and have Richard Dunne down the left wing with Finnan up front along side Wayne Henderson.