Ireland 1-0 Slovakia Post Match Thread

**Nailer77** · 30/03/2007, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

That's all very well but if he experiments and we get crucified, the majority of people will be on his back again.

O'Shea's defence is ok. It's his distribution that is not up to scratch which I wouldn't worry too much about in a centre-half (e.g. Moran, McCarthy etc).

His defence is very much only ok so its not just down to his distribution, Moran and McCarthy were both solid no nonsense defenders, O'Shea isn't.

Stan needs to have the balls to be prepared to take some more crticism but either way we shouldn't be getting slaughtered by Bolivia or Ecuador regardless. If he does it right and starts with 7/8 regulars and a couple of new heads then there can be no cause for complaint from anyone and that means doing things like starting people in their correct positions and giving them a fair go. All he has to do is go with the regular side and change a couple of players each game. Maybe rest McShane one game, and Dunne the next or even give O'Dea/McCarthy just a half in each game but we have to start looking at alternatives or the trip is a waste in my eyes, and I don't mean Terry Dixon's who are still playing with kids I mean real alternatives.

**youngirish** · 30/03/2007, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by Nailer77

His defence is very much only ok so its not just down to his distribution, Moran and McCarthy were both solid no nonsense defenders, O'Shea isn't.

Stan needs to have the balls to be prepared to take some more crticism but either way we shouldn't be getting slaughtered by Bolivia or Ecuador regardless. If he does it right and starts with 7/8 regulars and a couple of new heads then there can be no cause for complaint from anyone and that means doing things like starting people in their correct positions and giving them a fair go. All he has to do is go with the regular side and change a couple of players each game. Maybe rest McShane one game, and Dunne the next or even give O'Dea/McCarthy just a half in each game but we have to start looking at alternatives or the trip is a waste in my eyes, and I don't mean Terry Dixon's who are still playing with kids I mean real alternatives.

Amen to that. He should use the trip to try out the likes of Hunt, Long, Stokes, McGeady, Kelly, O'Dea, J O'Brien (if he's fit), S Quinn, Keogh, Caleb Folan and Garvan to see what they are capable of. If there is going to be three games he can give the more experienced players such as Long, Hunt, McGeady and Stokes at least 1 full game each to see what they can do while he can bring on a couple of the others after half time to have a look at them.

**DeNiro** · 30/03/2007, 2:15 PM

[QUOTE=OwlsFan;656857]That's all very well but if he experiments and we get crucified, the majority of people will be on his back again.

I don't think they will. It's a summer trip. Nothing to lose. It won't be on TV I suspect so it won't get so much media attention. We need to see a sustained run from McGeady for sure. A start or two for Hunt to see what he can do in more than 15 minutes. Also, I'm sure Folan will get a game. We need to give Colgan, Doyle and Henderson and Kenny

games. Maybe Given could stay at home.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/03/2007, 2:52 PM

I think we played US games in summer 2000. Nothing stood out but a few new guys getting capped including Richard Dunne who played a few games. Then, in September, our squad was badly struggling with injuries so Dunne was forced in at the deep end in Amsterdam. He played a blinder. I've no doubt that the US games helped him. It's small things like these that help.