Squad for Germany and the Faroes named today. Can't complain too much, but really it's a weak enough squad. I fear that the Germans could run riot with Richard Dunne almost certainly out. Irish Squad: Keiren Westwood, David Forde, Darren Randolph, Marc Wilson, John O’Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Darren O’Dea, Stephen Ward, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Keith Andrews, Keith Fahey, Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady, Andy Keogh, James McClean, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Simon Cox, Jon Walters Brady and Dunne on standby.
I totally agree! Without Richard Dunne we look threadbare. He is world class!! Why Trappotoni does not select Andy Reid beggars belief. World class also! He is lighting up the championship in England(2nd division). We will also miss Damien Duff (best back pass in Europe). We are left with that idiot McGeady, can beat 6 players in a flash but can't track back!!!! God help us!!!
Doyle out, St. Ledger doubtful with a hamstring injury. Brady and Meyler have both been called up. Don't think I've ever had such a sense of dread about an international qualifying match before. One never knows... but it could get very, very ugly.
Needless to say, they have better quality than us all over the pitch. Germany squad for games against Ireland and Sweden: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegan (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ron-Rober Zieler (Hannover 96) Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Levekusen), Bastein Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Miroslave Klose (Lazio)
It's a shame your squad is plagued by injuries, but I'm convinced that it'll be a much closer game between Eire and Germany than some of you seem to think. Don't know if you've seen us play lately, but our last few performances weren't all that convincing.
Bar McClean & Doyle, I think the other injuries may be God Sends. Hopefully Trap gives Clark, Coleman and McCarthy starts. Kelly Clark O' Shea Coleman McCarthy Andrews Brady McGeady Keane Long That's not a bad starting line-up. But knowing Trap, he'll omit Long. And will have O'Dea (who plays for Toronto in the MLS and who ironically haven't won a game since he joined them) and McShane in place of Coleman and Kelly.
Knowing Trap, it will be something like this: Westwood Kelly-O'Shea-O'Dea-Ward Fahey-Andrews-McCarthy-McGeady Keane Cox
Conor Clifford called up. He was a hot prospect at Chelsea over the past two years, but his star has quickly faded. Portsmouth only kept him for about 4 games this season before sending him back to Chelsea, were he sits on the reserve teams bench. http://www.teamtalk.com/republic-of-ireland/8153276/Republic-call-up-for-Clifford
Think you've got it wrong there Father. Think with Trap it'll be: Westwood Andrews-Andrews-Andrews-Andrews Andrews-Andrews-Andrews-McGeady Keane Andrews
I think we'll see a fairly defensive 4-5-1: ---------------Westwood---------------- Kelly, O'Shea, O'Dea, Ward (or Wilson) Walters, Fahey, Andrews, McCarthy, McGeady, ------------------Keane------------------ Keane can't play the lone-striker's role in this sort of formation, so a lot will depend on Walters (or Cox) getting forward to support Keane - much as Walters does for Stoke when they start 4-5-1. Long will come on for Robbie on 60 minutes. My "best case" scenario is something like this: Germany will score within the first 15 minutes. Hopefully not the first 5. After they take the lead, they batter us for 70 minutes, with Podolski missing a host of chances, and Westwood pulling off some great saves. Ireland won't have a chance worth speaking of for 80 minutes, but then, with the three points in sight, Germany's midfield will sit back and stop pressing our technically limited players. This will allow McCarthy, Fahey and Andrews to actually move the ball about. . Darren O'Dea scores an unlikely equailizer on 89 minutes from a corner, and then Kieran Westwood makes two great saves in stoppage time to preserve the point.
Will you guys most likely come at us punch for punch or play very defensive and wait for counter? I couldn't really gauge the Irish style at the euros much. I am not too familiar with your setup. If your going punch for punch, then I think loew will set up the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. If your doing the turtle shell technique I think he might try the 4-1-4-1 formation
I think we will sit back, and hope to contain Germany for 70-75 minutes, before bringing on Shane Long and trying to take the game to a tired German defense. Starting XI: Westwood, Coleman, O'Shea, O'Dea, Ward, Cox, Fahey, Andrews, McCarthy, McGeady, Walters. Many disagree, but I can see the wisdom of using Long as an impact sub around 60 minutes. Walters will kick and harry the German defenders, and hopefully Shane can exploit any fatigue. Who is optimistic?
Between the 33rd and the 38th minute, Germany had 98 per cent of the possession. Not sure much else needs be said.
Glad I didn't waste a minute looking for this game online. I thought 3-0 would've been good. This is a result we could have expected from many years ago.
There's a lot wrong with Irish football, and the problems go well beyond the management team. What concerns me is that when Trapattoni does finally go (probably not until the end of this campaign), and things only improve marginally, then where will we be?