One thing is for certain , I would not put an Ireland shirt on Millers back EVER AGAIN .....
ok with Irelands decision still on going im trying to see what our best team is without him.
Home Games
Given
Finnan O'Shea Dunne Delaney
McGeady S.Reid A.Reid Duff
Keane Doyle
Tough Away Games
Given
Finnan O'Shea Dunne Delaney
McGeady S.Reid Miller Duff
A.Reid
Keane
Dont think you could play A.Reid and Ireland together in central midfield anyway so would have to do a re-shuffle if he comes back.
One thing is for certain , I would not put an Ireland shirt on Millers back EVER AGAIN .....
well whats the alternative ? a 5 man midfield with A.Reid supporting robbie when we go forward. who else would you put in there instead ? these as i say are going on the assumption no Ireland.
I'd have Carsley, Whelan or O'Brien in before Miller
If that were the side against Italy or Bulgaria away we'll be hammered. We need someone in midifield who can actually tackle and win the ball.
Miller is not a good player. Carsley would not need to offer that much going forward as he would have 4 attacking players beside him. Carlsey is a very underrated player. Just look at how Everton have started the season without him.
In a midfield of S.Reid, Duff, McGeady, A. Reid and Carsley, the bald headed one doesnt need to offer a lot in the way of going forward. Its very premature to dismiss Carsley simply because he has moved down a division (by his own choice), of all the irish players in the EPL he is the only one who could say he played regularly and finished in the top 5.
Liam Miller is still living off the reputation he gained during one Champions League campaign. In my humble opinion he has never ever performed against a decent oposition for Ireland. He has a very average player, with a great ability to do a pirouette with the ball when nobody is within 10 yards.
I don't think there is any such thing as the best team.
The tactics and formation from game to game should vary. Its important to analyse the opposition and devise a plan to cut out their strengths and exploit their weakenesses. Alex Ferguson is the best manager Ive ever seen doing this. In order to do this you must attend the opposition's games.
For example a team against Italy.
------------------------- Given --------------------------------
Finnan ------ Dunne ------ O'Shea ------- Kilbane
------------------- S Reid ----------- S Hunt -----------------
------- McGeady ---- A Reid ------ Duff
----------------------- Murphy -------------------------------
The deepest layer of human thinking and feeling somehow knows that God must exist - Pope Benedict XVI
Given
Kelly O'Dea Dunne Kilbane
McGeady S.Reid A.Reid Duff
Keane Doyle
RIP JOHNNY
I really hope that Giovanni does not omit Lee Carsley from his next competitive squad. Whelan is a very very average player, i saw him play against Columbia and he is very slow and short. Carsley is a far superior player in my opinion. He is the bulldog we need in midfield especially with our lack center back options.
I believe this is our best team for away games;
Given
Finnan Dunne O'shea Delaney
Duff S.Reid Carsley McGeady
A.Reid
Keane
Delaney is a natural left back where Kilbane has a tendency to get caught out of position.
Home Team;
Given
Finnan Dunne Oshea Delaney
Carsley
S. Reid A.Reid
Duff
Doyle Keane
Reverting back to four in midfield thus losing mcgeady for a more industrious player like A.Reid
Bring McGeady or Hunt on as impact subs if required
the reason carsley offers nothing going forward is because he sits in front of the back four -- if we dont play a carsley type player in front of our back 4 against italy then we are gonna get pummelled
id have carsely and S.reid in front of the back 4 - with 3 mids in front of them - and 1 up front
I think that its time we realised how bad our squad is.
The deepest layer of human thinking and feeling somehow knows that God must exist - Pope Benedict XVI
not at all mate. i dont think we should omit carsley either thats not what i meant. but if were to progress in this group ie top it we will need to go for away games as well as home. remember croatia and yugoslavia away a few years ago. still got done in the end, i think were better than that. we have a good midfield we should use it IMO.
we need a decent granny ruler cb or lb to crawl out of the woodwork somewhere.
I think it's bizarre that it's assumed Ireland would get in the starting XI - regardless of whether it's a 4 or 5 man midfield.
Miller I've been hugely negative on for some time, but I probably concede that a squad place may be merited, almost be default, just in case others are injured. That said, I'd have the likes of Owen Garvan in ahead of him simply on the basis that he's a better player.
No Keane?
Hunt, McGeady, Duff and Andy Reid in a five man midfield? Daryl Murphy up top on his own? Can't say I agree with any of that.
While this is fun to do, the side selected depends a lot on variables. Injuries, form, how we do in the early games, how the other teams set themselves up throughout the competition etc.
I also don't believe we should base our team primarily on how the other team set up. The primary factor in selecting our side should be putting the best players we have on the pitch at any given time.
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