At the end of the day we were far from creative against Slovakia. Andy reid is a much more creative player than Ireland and IMO should definly be considered ahead of him in the centre. I would play Ireland on the left. Id start McGeady even though i think it would be a bit risky...it was interesting to notive that Spartak last night were lauchin every attack down McGeadys wing, they had it picked as a weak spotOriginally Posted by tetsujin1979
I'm not saying Ireland should start ahead of Andy Reidin the centre, I'm just saying Ireland is more effective in the middle than on the wings. There are wingers in the squad that can do a better job there than Ireland, and I don't think they should be dropped in favor of him.
If Johnny Giles had his way we woulld have a midfield of Ireland and Reid.
In Trap we trust
there was some word giles kept using the whole time the last day after denmark whatever he was saying.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
That could work. Play 4-3-3; Carlsey in front of the back four, Doyle up top with Keane and McGeady/Hunt supporting, with the possibility of making it 4-5-1 if we want to hang onto a lead. Still I very much doubt Stan will change from a 4-4-2.
Well he has played 4 5 1 for our last 3 home qualifers against half decent teams.
In Trap we trust
moral courage ?
Has he ever played a 4-4-2 in a traditional sense really...
am sure after a week in Brazzerslavia you will.....
Nah not my thing.
In Trap we trust
While its disappointing to see any player get injured, espciailly given how short we are for numbers at the back, I think Carr's absence mightn't do us any harm in the long run as Finnan will get to play at Right Back.
Think we'll need Given fully fit and on top form to get 4 or 6 points - if we do well over this double header I'd say we'll be looking back at a save Shay made that he had no right to make.
Starting Kilbane in midfield is unjustifiable - there are at least 6 better midfield options but I can't be too confident Stan won't try it.
I'd like to see a team along these lines.
Given
Finnan - RB
Dunne - CB
McShane - CB
O'Shea - LB
Hunt - RB
Carsley - CM
Ireland - CM
Reid - LM
Doyle
Keane
Tight call to leave McGeady out but he's done less than the other 3 (Carsley's a cert) competitively so I think he should start on the bench. Only problem is Hunt on the wrong side but its difficult to fit everyone in their right positions.
Not a bad team but I'd have A.Reid in the centre over Ireland if you were going that way and also McGeady over Hunt on the other wing
There's no way I'd consider Hunt as a right sided option. It'd be depriving us of his best asset, his crossing. Reid is a far more accomplished footballer and has been effective on the right in the past, in a mirror-image of how Pires was effective for Arsenal from his "wrong" side.
Either way, I'd have Reid in the middle anyway.
I'm inclined to go for a right side of Finnan and McGeady at the moment.
It's funny, Ireland has been the most important player for us in this campaign (3 goals, 2 winners, 4 points) but I have doubts still about playing him.
Tough decisions & good luck to Stan making them. I really do think that configuring the most effective XI from current resources takes a real understanding of how a football team functions, which waeknesses are potentially most fatal, which strengths should be played to.
Maybe Ireland should start in the middle with Reid to replace either him or a wide player as the game goes on and opens up a bit.
I think its madness to play Andy Reid in the centre of a four man midfield AWAY from home. At home, yes, to unlock a stubborn defence.
If Reid does play, Stan will start the game with a 4-5-1 (or 4-3-2-1) and see how things pan out from there.
What about playing Carsley and Potter together with a creative midfielder in a 4-5-1?
The only thing is we really are lacking a striker who can lead the line by himself.
I think Ireland might work better in that sort of formation, it's not too dissimilar to where he plays for City on occasion. Still it's a nice headache to have, what creative midfielder to pick. Could be a case of horses for courses
Agree, McGeady has the ability to unlock the best defences around & therefore to win a game. A different class to Hunt.
Yeah? well he also has the ability to go missing for 90 mins, which Hunt doesn't do.
"A silent mouth is sweet to hear"
People are going down this ultra cautious road again, 4-5-1. Someone mentioned playing Potter and Carsley on the same team which i would be totally against. We should play our best system, a simple 442 against Slovakia. By playing one up forward we are only playing into their hands. This is a game we must win IMO. We might as well lose 5-0 as 1-0. I just feel that this is a game that we have to go for the jugular and i think sending out an attacking minded team will send a message to Slovakia and the Czechs. A major reason we havent beaten a decent team away from home since 1989 is because of this stupid cautius approach away from home. IMO we have to treat this like a home game and take some chances. Personally id want a central midfield of Carsley and Reid. Carsley can put in the donkey work and the muscle in the midfield. I fell Reid would be a lot less lightweight than Ireland. I still have nightmares from seing Ireland in the middle against Cyprus in Nicpsia
Agreed, i was very impressed with McGeady against Denmark but i taught he was awful at home to Slovakia. Its a tricky choice and it depends on Stans thinking. You know what to expect from Hunt, not from McGeady. That can be a good thing or a bad thing
But you can have both if McGeady starts on the right, which is where he impressed last time out.
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