Czech Republic 1-0 Ireland post match discussion thread

**Stuttgart88** · 10/09/2007, 3:40 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

You never know with Stan.

You just don't do you? I'm not even going to try and guess Wednesday's team.

**Noelys Guitar** · 10/09/2007, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

rong Grandmother;
STAUNTON REVEALS IRELAND MIX-UP

Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton has found himself at the centre of an embarrassing mix-up over a family bereavement which has ruled Stephen Ireland out of Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Czech Republic in Prague.

Ireland was told by FAI officials shortly after Saturday's 2-2 draw in Slovakia that his maternal grandmother, with whom he was particularly close, had died. He was still under that impression when he flew back to Manchester the next morning.

It was not until he arrived back home in Cheshire that Ireland discovered it was in fact his paternal grandmother who had passed away.

In the meantime, the FAI issued a statement which led to the wrong grandmother being named as deceased in the first editions of some newspapers.

Staunton said the FAI officials who had broken the news to the player after the match in Bratislava had been misinformed.

He revealed: "I was up half the night [sorting it out]. It's not on his mother's side, it's on his father's side. We were given the wrong information. It's his grandmother, we send him our best wishes and that's the end of that.

"I spoke to Stephen this morning. The grandmother's in London and the family don't know whether to move her back to Cork. That's their own business so I think everybody should let it lie and respect the family."

The absence of Ireland will leave Staunton with a midfield dilemma ahead of the match against the Czechs which his side have to win to stand any realistic chance of progressing from Group D as runners-up.

Charlton's Andy Reid is the obvious choice as a straight swap for the Manchester City man in the middle although the employment of Jonathon Douglas in a more holding role is another option.

In defence, Liverpool's Steve Finnan is now a certain absentee and his absence means Stephen Kelly is set to continue in the left-back position in which he put up a creditable performance in Prague. And the 24-year-old is relishing the opportunity to start such a high-profile game.

Kelly said: "I think I performed well enough to keep my place and we'll have to see what the manager's decision is. But all the decisions he has made so far have been great.

"We know that Wednesday is a huge game for the country and we just need to perform. What happened in Slovakia on Wednesday was unfortunate and we can't have that lapse in concentration."

You could'nt make it up!

**as_i_say** · 10/09/2007, 3:57 PM

Send in

The clowns.

**carloz** · 10/09/2007, 4:27 PM

Why is Jonathon Douglas getting such flack here, it isnt his fault Stan got the stupid notion to play him aginst the Slovaks. Any time he has played for Ireland he has been 100% committed and although far from the most gifted player has done a decent job. I also remember him making a fantastic saving tackle at the back post a couple of minutes before their equalising goal. Cut the guy a bit of slack, he does little to warrant the abuse

**rambler14** · 10/09/2007, 6:00 PM

Stan made Douglas play right mid saturday night, douglas is a centre mid and in my opinion a bloody good one. Remember when he came against the czechs in landsdown road and pushed Paul McShane for Man of the match all the way.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 10/09/2007, 6:03 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

Stan made Douglas play right mid saturday night, douglas is a centre mid and in my opinion a bloody good one.

He played centre mid. Ireland moved out onto the right.

**rambler14** · 10/09/2007, 6:07 PM

Douglas came on for Ireland who when taken off was playing right mid as Darron Gibson was in the centre with Lee Carsley.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 10/09/2007, 6:10 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

Douglas came on for Ireland who when taken off was playing right mid as Darron Gibson was in the centre with Lee Carsley.

Sorry, you're right. Thought he came on for McGeady.

**carloz** · 10/09/2007, 6:21 PM

well i agree with you 100% rambler. I hate the way he is getting abuse over the weekend. It was Stan that felt the need to bring on a third defensive midfielder. Douglas does not deserve to be attacked for his managers tactical inemptness. IMO Douglas has an excellent engine and has always looked classy playing for us, unlike messrs O'Shea and mcGeady with the exception of Denmark.

**rambler14** · 10/09/2007, 6:29 PM

O'Shea would be a good player if he wasn't fcuked arond with so much. One minute hes a right back, then a centre back, then a left back, then a centre mid, then a striker and then a goalkeeper. Club and country hes been messed around with and it doesn't seem fair. Last season with United I thought he was brilliant because he either played right back or centre mid. He was an unsung hero last year for united. It seems to me that Stan never plays him in the position hes played with united the week b4, since the start of the season O'Shea has played centre mid, yet Staunton geets hold of him and once again changes his position.

**The Legend** · 10/09/2007, 10:46 PM

am i the only one that thinks that Ireland should still make himself on wednesday... sad about his grandmother but i dunno, i've seen people play a game with less notice when a parent died.

**Wolfie** · 11/09/2007, 7:29 AM

Originally Posted by macdermesser

now you are really scaping the bottom of the barrel .. he's not going to throw in an uncapped player

I wasn't suggesting Geary would be a starter.

He'd never throw in an uncapped player against the Czechs as Paul McShane would confirm.

**paul_oshea** · 12/09/2007, 1:32 PM

well what do you think?

I think it could be the best thing for us, but also the worst thing for us. We havent gone down and come back and won, yet i fear for us going ahead first. But maybe the floodgates could open as we go searching for an equaliser, but if that didnt happen and we got one, it would certainly put the czechs on the backfoot and worry them.

**noby** · 12/09/2007, 1:36 PM

Well that's that clarified.

**youngirish** · 12/09/2007, 1:37 PM

I reckon it'll be a disaster if we got 1 down. We'll cave in. The confidence, tactical awareness from the manager, concentration and fitness required to be good at peggin teams back is totally absent within our team.

**paul_oshea** · 12/09/2007, 1:37 PM

well imagine, if your head was acting like that all day today Noby!!!! I cant help it I am a thinker!!!! No work being done by me today....

**smellyfeet** · 12/09/2007, 1:38 PM

[QUOTE=paul_oshea;769236]well what do you think?

Put John O'Shea up front

**wooman** · 12/09/2007, 1:47 PM

o sheas going to score the winenr from a corner 2nite and prove us all wrong

**shakermaker1982** · 12/09/2007, 1:53 PM

if O'Shea gets the winner tonight then I'll never slag him off again. In fact I'll design my own t shirt in dedication to the man and wear it to every (ok most) game!!!

**Stuttgart88** · 12/09/2007, 1:53 PM

Stan will take off an attacker and bring on Kevin Foley.

Foley will then score one and create one and I'll wear mittens at work to stop me posting shyte on the internet.