Norway v Republic of Ireland - pre-match

**Wolfie** · 13/08/2008, 7:53 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

Anyone remember anything other than absolute drudgery football whenever we played Norway?
Worse than playing Poland.
Worse than that Greece friendly.
Anyone else suffer from bad memory syndrome resulting in a total absence of optimism about anything resembling quality football happening in this upcoming game?

Any gamblers out there? we have had 4 or 5 nil nil games with Norway.

You could well be correct, Geysir.

Off the top of the head............

Ireland V Norway - USA '94....................Nil All
Norway V Ireland - Friendly 1988.............Nil All
Ireland v Norway - World Cup Qualifier 1985................Nil All

**shakermaker1982** · 13/08/2008, 7:56 AM

Given

Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Delaney

McGeady-S Reid-A Reid-Duff

Keane-Doyle

That is how I reckon the Trap will line up next week assuming there are no injuries this weekend. O'Shea at centre back still concerns me. For us to have a chance of qualifying? McGeady needs to replicate his Celtic form - no excuses. Keane needs to start grabbing important goals for us, the onus is on him as captain to drag this team to the WC in South Africa. Hopefully Lawrence and Whelan do well at Stoke this season and they can be good squad players for us.

**Torn-Ado** · 13/08/2008, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

You could well be correct, Geysir.

Off the top of the head............

Ireland V Norway - USA '94....................Nil All
Norway V Ireland - Friendly 1988.............Nil All
Ireland v Norway - World Cup Qualifier 1985................Nil All

Ireland V Norway - Friendly 2004? 1-0

I'm kind of expecting a similar game to the Denmark match on the same date last year. We'll hump them 3 or 4 nil. It's a meaningless friendly afterall.

**drinkfeckarse** · 13/08/2008, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Given

Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Delaney

McGeady-S Reid-A Reid-Duff

Keane-Doyle

That is how I reckon the Trap will line up next week assuming there are no injuries this weekend.

That hasn't a bad look to it at all.

**minty** · 13/08/2008, 11:13 AM

Is the game on TV? Being honest i cant wait cos itll be 1 last chance for players before qualifying...

**jbyrne** · 13/08/2008, 11:38 AM

looking forward to seeing how duff is. have heard he has been superb in the last few weeks scoring 7 goals in preseason including a hat trick and a goal against valencia (?) at the weekend

**the doc** · 13/08/2008, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by disabledrog

alex bruce this has to be a misprint he is muck and lost his place in the ipswich team,g,gartland, sean st leadger ne other c half should be in der before this joke of a player

Agreed, Bruce can't even get into the Ipswich team, but it should be no surprise he's in the squad as he's one of DG men, just like McShane.

It seems that St Ledger is out of favour with the likes of DG who is advising Trap.

Take a look at this link to see St Ledger in action, maybe it should be sent to Traps office!

[COLOR=#005600]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nF2XtaJ4N0[/COLOR]

**tetsujin1979** · 13/08/2008, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by minty

Is the game on TV? Being honest i cant wait cos itll be 1 last chance for players before qualifying...

It's on Setanta Sports 1, bizarrely the England game is on Setanta Ireland

**NeilMcD** · 13/08/2008, 1:04 PM

Not really as I presume some British station has the England game.

**minty** · 13/08/2008, 1:26 PM

what pundits will they have on do ye reckon? it'll be a bit weird without dunphy and giles but maybe it'll be good if setanta get good pundits

**NeilMcD** · 13/08/2008, 1:30 PM

Is this for all of Irelands away games. As long as TV3 do not have them, as TV3 have shown some of the worst Ireland games in memory they are like Jimmy Magee bad luck.

**shakermaker1982** · 13/08/2008, 1:31 PM

Setanta have every England away fixture and if I recall correctly theny may also have England's home friendlies (or it could be itv). They've spent big to muscle in. Hopefully they make some effort for the game in Norway.

**shakermaker1982** · 13/08/2008, 1:33 PM

looks like setanta have all our away fixtures......

**Stuttgart88** · 13/08/2008, 1:39 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Given

Finnan-Dunne-O'Shea-Delaney

McGeady-S Reid-A Reid-Duff

Keane-Doyle

That'd be my choice too. I think Delaney is the nearest we have to a proper left back & has done well enough in his opportunities so far. He may get found out at that level but I've seen lower division players play well for successful international teams.

Whatever reservations people have about O'Shea I'd pick him at CB ahead of McShane all day long. I think a lot of the O'Shea bashing has been OTT myself and I have confidence in him. Europe isn't awash with outstanding CBs if Euro 2008 is anything to go by.

I still feel that we may have to go 4-2-3-1 to at some stage, with Carsley and Steven Reid being the two, with 4 busy creative players playing further up. The Columbians ate us alive in CM, as have most other teams we've played against since Keane retired.

**tetsujin1979** · 13/08/2008, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Not really as I presume some British station has the England game.

not on Sky, and not on BBC AFAIK

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Whatever reservations people have about O'Shea I'd pick him at CB ahead of McShane all day long. I think a lot of the O'Shea bashing has been OTT myself and I have confidence in him.

O'Shea at centre half depends on his partnership with Dunne. In particular Dunne ordering him where to stand, who to mark, track back, etc. Since Dunne is the captain at Man City, and chief organiser of their defence, he's well able for this. It all depends on how well O'Shea follows orders.

**NeilMcD** · 13/08/2008, 1:43 PM

Good point Stutts, and I was just wondering where you had gone. I do think though that Boheimans midfield might have ate a midfield of Miller and Whelan alive and I do think that the two Reids are a pretty good midfield but I can see a 3 mand midfield of the 2 Reids and Carsley being used also or maybe Wheland can step into the Carsley role if he is not fit.

In a four four two against top teams you can get found out for your lack of ball retention.

**NeilMcD** · 13/08/2008, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

not on Sky, and not on BBC AFAIK

O'Shea at centre half depends on his partnership with Dunne. In particular Dunne ordering him where to stand, who to mark, track back, etc. Since Dunne is the captain at Man City, and chief organiser of their defence, he's well able for this. It all depends on how well O'Shea follows orders.

I have been impressed any time I saw O Shea and Dunne together. I think its our best line up and the one we will go with.

**jbyrne** · 13/08/2008, 2:11 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

It's on Setanta Sports 1, bizarrely the England game is on Setanta Ireland

which one comes as standard on the ntl digital package?

**Stuttgart88** · 13/08/2008, 2:13 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I was just wondering where you had gone

Still around. I've a new job which in the current environment is one I'd like to keep so have spent less time on footy forums. It's the off-season anyway. The habit will come back soon I'm sure.