Irish Team to face Czechs Announced

**Row Z** · 12/09/2007, 8:34 AM

Reckon we could nick a goal tonite from a set piece, with Andy Reid's magical left foot putting it on the forehead of Mr Dunne! especially that Koller is out, (who tends to do alot of defending from set pieces a la Drogba).
Im going to be the optimist and say 2-1 Ireland, Dunne for first goal, and Hunt to come on and cause a bit of mayhem and set up Keano to grab a late winner!!!

**mackannovic** · 12/09/2007, 8:53 AM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

"Rosicky? Lightweight" !!!

The guy is pure class, he is there main player and will cause us lots of problems tonight, no doubt about it

Giggs running at defences for Wales for years yet they still never got anywhere. One player doesn't make a team.

**Hibs4Ever** · 12/09/2007, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by mackannovic

Giggs running at defences for Wales for years yet they still never got anywhere. One player doesn't make a team.

Whats that got to do with my post

He made a comment about Rosicky as an INDIVIDUAL, which I responded to. Nothing to do with the Czech team as a whole

**Morbo** · 12/09/2007, 10:03 AM

Those dismissing Rosicky as lightweight are in for an unpleasent surprise tonight, Rosicky is that type of player that Ireland never really seem to be able to deal with properly especially since Finnan is out

**Stuttgart88** · 12/09/2007, 10:18 AM

We dealt with him well enough in Landsdowne I thought. Lovely player, always plays with his head up and can score from distance too.

**Hibs4Ever** · 12/09/2007, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

We dealt with him well enough in Landsdowne I thought. Lovely player, always plays with his head up and can score from distance too.

He completely ran the show in the 1st half at lansdowne IMO

**Stuttgart88** · 12/09/2007, 10:28 AM

Did he? Can't really remember. I think I recall him being on the ball a lot but rarely in threatening positions. I thought Jon Douglas ran the show!

I do remember really enjoying the Czechs. We had a go at them, but they used wall passes and flicks and angles that just don't exist in our game. It was the same watching Celtic vs Moscow the other week. Compelling clash of styles.

**Pablo** · 12/09/2007, 10:30 AM

I think its a reflection of where we stand when Andy Reid is greeted as some sort of saviour

**cavan_fan** · 12/09/2007, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo

I think its a reflection of where we stand when Andy Reid is greeted as some sort of saviour

The best Irish players at any time are the ones not in the team, at the moment we have the following flavours of the month:

A Reid (I remember endless games where he did nothing)
S Reid (does anyone remember a good game he's played for us)
Hunt (he was sh*te against Denmark)
Garvan

Even Harte was considered a saviour when he was out of the team.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/09/2007, 10:36 AM

Too simplistic I think Pablo.

Most of us here think the team's failure to keep possession or to find team mates with anything other than sideways passes that get us nowhere or long hoofs forward is what's costing us. Surely then it makes sense to include someone who can pick a pass and who has the composure to keep the ball. It can only bring an improvement.

It took a while for him to settle in Denmark, in fact in the first 10-15 minutes I think he rearely found his target at all. But once he and Potter settled the team as a whole functioned properly.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/09/2007, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by cavan_fan

A Reid (I remember endless games where he did nothing) - and I remember a few where's he's done well for us.

S Reid (does anyone remember a good game he's played for us) - does anyone remember when he's been played in position? I've posted my views on this twice already this morning & would be interested to hear your response

Hunt (he was sh*te against Denmark) but very good when he came on against Wales & Slovakia

Garvan - a player of Garvan's type is what we need. He's not the immediate answer but it's criminal that a presumed spat has led to his ommission from any Irish team for 3 years

Saviours? No. Credible alternatives? Yes. I'm personally happy to stand by my reasoned logic as to why Andy Reid is a better selection than Stephen Ireland for example.

**Morbo** · 12/09/2007, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by cavan_fan

The best Irish players at any time are the ones not in the team, at the moment we have the following flavours of the month:

A Reid (I remember endless games where he did nothing)
S Reid (does anyone remember a good game he's played for us)
Hunt (he was sh*te against Denmark)
Garvan

Even Harte was considered a saviour when he was out of the team.

You got a point, except for Hunt, he definetily deserves his spot on the team, one poor game in a friendly means f*ck all, He has played well when it mattered, also he was just coming back from an injury so I wouldn't read too much into the Denmark game, also McGeady played very well against Denmark but was brutal for Ireland on Sat so I wouldn't be picking the Irish team based on the players performance against Denmark.

I feel people are overrating Reid but despite his limitations he is our most creative player and without him Doyle and Keane aren't going to get a lot of service

**Dodge** · 12/09/2007, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo

I think its a reflection of where we stand when Andy Reid is greeted as some sort of saviour

He's no saviour but he's a fine footballer. Easily good enough for international football, and a far better better passer than anyone else on the team

Agree with cavan_fan's general point though

**paul_oshea** · 12/09/2007, 11:03 AM

Dodge, do you support Ireland by the way? I'm not being funny either.

Agreed on the reid point. He is no saviour but a fine player and would give elvis a run for his money.....

**Dodge** · 12/09/2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Dodge, do you support Ireland by the way? I'm not being funny either.

Do I go to ROI games? No
Do I want them to well? Yep

I can understand why you asked BTW. In the past I've hated the FAI so much I've hated the national team too. They're not my first priority but I'm fairly nationalistic and I'm into football so if it wasn't for the a majority of idiots at the games (or in pubs for that matter) I'd be into the national team more

**shakermaker1982** · 12/09/2007, 11:24 AM

I'm still slightly optimistic we can grab something in Prague tonight. The Czech's are no great shakes (not being disrespectful but it's hardly France or Holland) and are struggling for form themselves - we need to go out there and take the game to them. Surely we are due a bit of luck? If we are to lose or draw please don't let it be down to a last minute goal. I cannot take any more of them (Israel away was bad but I think this one was worse). The high of thinking we were gonna win in Slovakia....the equalizer and then the depression that followed is not good for my health!!! The missus has trouble understanding my mood swings when following our beloved football side.

JOS and Douglas if he comes on have a chance to rectify their error Saturday night. JOS in particular needs to step up and fast. He is running out of second (or 40) chances.

**paul_oshea** · 12/09/2007, 11:39 AM

I think the czechs might suprise us all.

**shakermaker1982** · 12/09/2007, 11:39 AM

and do what Paul?

**wooman** · 12/09/2007, 11:48 AM

we will get the win tonight, beat cyprus in croker get beaten by germany then beat wales in cardiff and qualify

youve heard it here first

**fergalr** · 12/09/2007, 12:36 PM

You know, I have an inexplicable optimism about tonight. Its not based on the team selection, or on the ability of our players or our manager, nor on the alleged weaknesses of the opposition.

I just have a really strong inkling that we might just win tonight. Not that it means anything but the best omen I can find is that almost exactly 40 years ago we went to the same venue and got what is still our best ever away result:

November 22, 1967
Czechoslovakia 1�2 Republic of Ireland
Slavia Stadium, Prague, Czechoslovakia
Euro 1968 Qualifier
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Vetter (East Germany)
Goals:
Dempsey 57' (og)
Treacy 65'
Turlough O'Connor 86'

And lets face it, the only way we will win is if our winner is a late, late one.