Denmark vs Ireland - Match Thread

[Stuttgart88]

Garvan has obviously upset the FAI somehow and Staunton being the model employee that he is will not go near him. IMO Staunton seems to get the all the simple things wrong.

There's definitely something up regarding Garvan alright, but it's very debatable he deserves to be in the senior squad. How he's not in the U21s and didn'tmade the U19s earlier is a disgrace though.

It's like a less high-profile version of Jack vs Dave O'Leary all over again.

[zenokelly]

Douglas, Colgan, O 'Brien - JOKE.

I have a feeling that Stan could be doing the same with Douglas - as he did with Breen for the Chile friendly last year - trying to find him a new club??? just a thought - probably wrong??

But I can't see him playing any part in any competitive match for the rest of this campaign as he is not good enough for an international side trying to qualify for a major championship not mentioning he is plying his trade in the third tier of English football.

Colgan will never ever play a competitive match so I don't get how he could be in Stan's big plan for the future.

O' Brien is playing for a very poor team in a league that is probably the equivalent to league of Ireland and Hibs would be strugglin if they were in the league of Ireland.

But I'm just praying that Stan is just resting Carsley because while he has said he will be part of the games in September, as far as I've searched I can't see any direct quotes from Stan saying that he's just been rested.

And I've looked at the comments from City fans on that interview with Stevie Ireland and th fans opinions are very mixed. A lot of them seem to think that he is not City standard or Premiership standard. IMO he looked very good in first couple of games

[tetsujin1979]

Where's Leon Best when Staunton is building for the future and trying to get those players to commit to us that are not Irish by birth?

Best confirmed his allegiance to Ireland before the summer friendlies.
Who would you drop from the 6 strikers in the squad for Best? Even if he was included, do you really think he would be in the squad for the qualifiers in September?

[tetsujin1979]

I have a feeling that Stan could be doing the same with Douglas - as he did with Breen for the Chile friendly last year - trying to find him a new club??? just a thought - probably wrong??

You really think that playing against Chile got Breen a move to Wolves?
AFAIR he signed a few days before Mick took over there. What a happy coincidence that was....

But I can't see him playing any part in any competitive match for the rest of this campaign as he is not good enough for an international side trying to qualify for a major championship not mentioning he is plying his trade in the third tier of English football.

And if Carsley gets injured, we'll only have Potter as experienced backup.

O' Brien is playing for a very poor team in a league that is probably the equivalent to league of Ireland and Hibs would be strugglin if they were in the league of Ireland.

Hibs won the Scottish Legue Cup last season, and are in the UEFA Cup this season,

But I'm just praying that Stan is just resting Carsley because while he has said he will be part of the games in September, as far as I've searched I can't see any direct quotes from Stan saying that he's just been rested.

from http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=2280

On the omission of Lee Carsley from this squad:

“Lee wasn’t going to play in this match. I had a good chat with him and I didn’t see the point of him travelling and coming over there to sit around and watch the lads playing.

“Lee understands the situation. I’ve got to give other players experience in that (midfield) position because if Lee gets injured, we would be left short in that position. That’s the reason behind that but Lee will be in squad in September.”

And I've looked at the comments from City fans on that interview with Stevie Ireland and th fans opinions are very mixed. A lot of them seem to think that he is not City standard or Premiership standard. IMO he looked very good in first couple of games

you sure you did?
From http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....l?page_size=50

Keep at it, Stevie ! I thought you played really well last week !

City fans have always taken the micky out of themselves, moaned at the club but they've always stood by players who gave their all. Stevie Ireland comes into that category

if he was at the likes of united or arsnal people would be absolutely raving about him!

Ireland has class (ask anyone from the academy past or present and they'll say he has the most ability of all the graduates)

ireland is the "heir " apparent to barton, and i really feel he can make the position his own. He has plenty "up top" although his talent was a "bit thin" last season. maybe with a bit of "cultivation" he can improve and now that Steve "Wig"ley has gone, he will become more skilfull and move "ahead" of the other players who have stood in his way previously. Maybe with some training he can become our hairpiece...sorry "set piece" expert and "grow". better with time. He's hair he's there, he's every B****Y hair...steeeevie iiiireeeellland.

I could keep going.
BTW if anyone's wondering about the "hair" references, check out Stevie's new appearance: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?syndicatorguid=&rmasiteinstanceguid=&p agegid={439A001B-9F18-408E-BD8E-8466AB3C97FD}&bioid=12809&siteid=502

[youngirish]

Best confirmed his allegiance to Ireland before the summer friendlies.
Who would you drop from the 6 strikers in the squad for Best? Even if he was included, do you really think he would be in the squad for the qualifiers in September?

Yes if Best is banging in goals for a decent Coventry team over the next few weeks (very possible) he should be included at the expense of one of the other strikers that either hasn't been playing regularly (probably Long, Stokes and Elliot) or alternatively has been playing but not scoring.

Why not? He offers something different than the rest of the strikers and is a better target man than Daryl Murphy. It's harder to make a case for him though if he hasn't been given a run out beforehand hence this is a waster opportunity.

[bwagner]

Guys for the life of me I cant understand why stan is leaving the defence so bare. We need to bring in O'dea and st.ledger for cover

[NeilMcD]

Maybe the gaffer is going to come out of retirement.

[tetsujin1979]

Yes if Best is banging in goals for a decent Coventry team over the next few weeks (very possible) he should be included at the expense of one of the other strikers that either hasn't been playing regularly (probably Long, Stokes and Elliot) or alternatively has been playing but not scoring.

It's equally possible that Long, Stokes and Elliot start banging in goals for very decent Reading, Sunderland and Wolves teams, or alternatively Best will have been playing but not scoring. Are you trying to justify Best's inclusion on something that may happen in the future?

Why not? He offers something different than the rest of the strikers and is a better target man than Daryl Murphy. It's harder to make a case for him though if he hasn't been given a run out beforehand hence this is a waster opportunity.

You say he offers something different to the rest of the strikers, and immediately compare him to Daryl Murphy?

[bellavistaman]

Maybe the gaffer is going to come out of retirement.

What a left leg!

[youngirish]

It's equally possible that Long, Stokes and Elliot start banging in goals for very decent Reading, Sunderland and Wolves teams, or alternatively Best will have been playing but not scoring. Are you trying to justify Best's inclusion on something that may happen in the future?


You say he offers something different to the rest of the strikers, and immediately compare him to Daryl Murphy?

All of the above have been tried and tested numerous times before. I wouldn't agree that it is equally likely that all three of Long, Stokes and Elliot are starting regularly and banging in goals. Long and Stokes at present don't even look like they'll be regular starters over the next few weeks nevermind scorers. Best already has scored for Coventry and should be playing regularly so why not give him a chance? This is just another case of arguing for the sake of it. Anyone should be able to see the advantages of trying him in a freindly except Stan.

Best is big and strong so he can play the Murphy role but he's younger, quicker, stronger and looks more clinical than the aforementioned who is at best (let's be honest) very, very average. So in that sense he offers us something different a clinical, quick, strong targetman. Reminds me of Morrison when he first started out at Palace. Unfortunately he didn't improve over the years as much as I'd have expected.

[paul_oshea]

where did he get the hair "chop", i could be in need of the same soon

big difference alright: http://www.cobhramblers.com/files/StephenIreland1.JPG

what a difference a day...i mean a summer makes.

[shakermaker1982]

Douglas and O'Brien.........I'm bewildered.

Who will start instead of Carsley? Potter or Zinedine Kilbane?

[Stuttgart88]

Best finished last season at S'hampton strongly after a very good spell at Yeovial where he seemed to get his mojo back. But I saw him in the Derby play off and he was really poor, even if you forget about his horror own goal.

Stan's entitled to make value judgments about fringe players and on this occasion I think he made the right ones, or at least I've no complaints.

Tabb has started the season well as you say, but it's only 2 games in.

I'd forgotten about St. Leger until bwagner mentioned him above.

[Stuttgart88]

where did he get the hair "chop", i could be in need of the same soon

Let me know when you find out.

Do you remember Michailov(?) the Bulgarian 'keeper at USA '94? Now that was the syrup to end all syrups.

[shakermaker1982]

How Stan is going to line us up against Denmark.......

--------------Henderson---------------

JOS --- Dunne --- McShane --- Finnan

McGeady--- Douglas --- Kilbane --- Hunt

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

----------------Keane-----------------


Our MF looks lightweight and we'll get 'done' if he goes with that system.

[Wolfie]

Stan's entitled to make value judgments about fringe players and on this occasion I think he made the right ones, or at least I've no complaints.

That rules out Carsley.

[tetsujin1979]

How Stan is going to line us up against Denmark.......

Where did you get that?
I'd say Potter is more likely to start ahead of Douglas, and it's a judgement call between playing Ireland behind a lone striker, or going with Keane and Doyle up front

[Stuttgart88]

I'm not sure there is a MF line up we can select that isn't lightweight. Potter is tall, Kilbane is too but do we really want him in MF? S. Reid is injured, as is Joey O'Brien. O'Shea is derided as a midfield option.

[shakermaker1982]

Where did you get that?
I'd say Potter is more likely to start ahead of Douglas, and it's a judgement call between playing Ireland behind a lone striker, or going with Keane and Doyle up front

my crystal ball!!!

I'd personally have O'Shea at LB and keep Finnan at RB. In the centre of MF I'd have to think about it. Potter and A Reid looks lightweight as well. I think we'll miss Carsley.

[NeilMcD]

Who cares if its lightweight its a friendly. Carsley will be back for the other two games so give Potter another chance to impress.