Irish Team to face Czechs Announced

**mackannovic** · 11/09/2007, 11:51 AM

As from the FAI website today:

Shay Given (Newcastle United);
John O'Shea (Manchester United), Paul McShane (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City); Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Lee Carsley (Everton), Andy Reid (Charlton Athletic), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic);
Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).

**carloz** · 11/09/2007, 11:56 AM

Pretty much as expected. Reid is put in because Ireland obviously cant play. If he could it would have been the same team. How ****ing stubborn is Stan, any man could see that O'Shea and Kelly were dreadful playing on their opposite to usual wings. It doesnt make yu look like a clown if you admit you were wrong and actually play them in their positions. What makes Stan think he knows more than Steve Bruce and Alex Ferguson in regard to these player. The Slovaks knew having Kelly out of position would make the guy very vulnerable and almost every attack went down his wing. If the Slovaks could punish this tactical **** up then surely a more capable side such as the Czechs will surely show up the stupidity of the move

**Ozymandias** · 11/09/2007, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by mackannovic

As from the FAI website today:

Shay Given (Newcastle United);
John O'Shea (Manchester United), Paul McShane (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City); Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Lee Carsley (Everton), Andy Reid (Charlton Athletic), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic);
Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).

just means stephen Hunt will go back to his premiership club refreshed after a nice two city break and play in the premiership against other Irish lads like miller who are refreshed after there week of relaxing around the house.

**paul_oshea** · 11/09/2007, 11:58 AM

carloz kelly plays at left back, what are ye on about?

in fairness happy enough with that, so long as he brings on hunt for mcgeady or kilbane in the last 20 mins if the same thing happens like slovakia. Its the best we can hope for given the circumstances.

Imagine though if duff had been playing against slovakia, he would def have created a few more chances and possibly drawn fouls at the end of the match. Ye know standing beside him he is not as small as ye think when ye see him on the pitch.

**cheifo** · 11/09/2007, 11:59 AM

Hopefully he will have the good sense to swap them over.If we are to win we need big games from McGeady and Reid.

**monutdfc** · 11/09/2007, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

How ****ing stubborn is Stan

Many of his selections remind me of Mick McCarthy's early days when he used to play Ian Harte at centre-back every game out of sheer stubborness

**cheifo** · 11/09/2007, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

carloz kelly plays at left back, what are ye on about?

in fairness happy enough with that, so long as he brings on hunt for mcgeady or kilbane in the last 20 mins if the same thing happens like slovakia. Its the best we can hope for given the circumstances.

Imagine though if duff had been playing against slovakia, he would def have created a few more chances and possibly drawn fouls at the end of the match. Ye know standing beside him he is not as small as ye think when ye see him on the pitch.

Kelly has filled in that position as cover for both club and country but he is most def a right back POS.

**paul_oshea** · 11/09/2007, 12:01 PM

Kelly has filled in that position as cover for both club and country but he most def a right bank POS.

Well he has been covering there for brum for ages!

Plus think of it this way:

a left side of

kelly and kilbane is definitely stronger than a right side of mcgeady and kelly.

**carloz** · 11/09/2007, 12:03 PM

carloz kelly plays at left back, what are ye on about?

I know he plays there a bit for Birmigham but the guy is a right back, its as obvious as anything. He just looked clumsy on the left IMO

**Noelys Guitar** · 11/09/2007, 12:12 PM

We better score 3 as the Czechs will at stages of the game overrun this midfield and score at least 2 goals. Mind you I'll settle for 2-3.

**mackannovic** · 11/09/2007, 12:16 PM

The whole Kelly debate makes ye wonder if Derek Geary should have been an option and does Stan know that Stephen Hunt is in the squad?

**fergalr** · 11/09/2007, 12:21 PM

The big worry for me in the selection is McGeady. Talented player but currently a huge liabilty for us - gives us nothing going forward and even less defensively. And the Denmark game does not count.

**Stuttgart88** · 11/09/2007, 12:25 PM

We'll get some chances and boy are we going to have to take them. We got chances with a makeshift team in Dublin but douglas should have beaten Cech and Robbie missed a straightforward header.

McGeady and Kelly are to obvious weak links and they'll need to do well. I really hope Andy Reid is on song too and a lot will depend on Carsley supplying him with good ball and doing the bulk of the donkey work. I'm glad Ireland isn't an option.

**sligoman** · 11/09/2007, 12:28 PM

With the team like that, we'll lose by 2 goals I think.

**tetsujin1979** · 11/09/2007, 12:29 PM

Pretty much what I expected, although not the team I would have gone for. The biggest surprise is it was announced a day early

**as_i_say** · 11/09/2007, 12:29 PM

Actually our finishing lately has been superb if you consider the last 2 games. Thats the only positive i can see in that team-i mean why on earth are kelly and oshea playing on the wrong sides CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THIS??????????

Feel sorry for hunt but i think kilbane did well for us on wednesday. Hes got to make the right subs this time though.

**paul_oshea** · 11/09/2007, 12:32 PM

Thats the only positive i can see in that team-i mean why on earth are kelly and oshea playing on the wrong sides CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THIS??????????

To compensate for a terribly weak and inexperienced right side of mcgeady and kelly. NOt that oshea i spose has really any experience, or at least learns from it anyhow.

**Stuttgart88** · 11/09/2007, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

why on earth are kelly and oshea playing on the wrong sides CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THIS??????????

With McGeady RHM, a RHS of McGeady and Kelly would be suspect.

Kilbane's defensive strengths can compensate for Kelly being out of position.

I'd prefer if we had an alternative to O'Shea but we don't.

Maybe McGeady will play well, he needs to. Reid is very good at involving Keane but in Denmark Reid also did well to involve McGeady, including for the second goal.

Personally I'd have played Hunt LHM and Kilbane LB.

**pete** · 11/09/2007, 12:37 PM

Shocking decision to persist with Kelly & McGreedy.

Kilbane should have gone to left back with Hunt in front of him.

There are plenty of forwards in the squad but almost no defenders or midfielders.

**as_i_say** · 11/09/2007, 12:40 PM

Amazing how many people here see the obvious in dropping kelly and having Kev left back and hunt left mid. Only time will tell. Maybe stan knows something we dont!