Saturday, September 8th: Slovakia vs Republic of Ireland - 7:30 Irish Time -Tehelne Pole Stadion, Bratislava. Wednesday, September 12th Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland - 7:30 Irish Time -AXA Arena, Prague. 4 points minimum if we want to maintain any hopes of qualification. Discuss here.
Here is the squad, no real surprises besides Kevin Foley. The Back 4 looks especially weak, I wouldn't really trust Kelly or Foley in a big games like these Goalkeepers: Nick Colgan - Barnsley Colin Doyle - Birmingham City Shay Given - Newcastle United Wayne Henderson - Preston North End Defenders: Richard Dunne - Manchester City Steve Finnan - Liverpool Kevin Foley - Wolverhampton Wanderers Stephen Kelly - Birmingham City Paul McShane - Sunderland John O’Shea - Manchester United Midfielders: Lee Carsley - Everton Jonathon Douglas - Leeds United Darron Gibson - Manchester United Stephen Hunt - Reading Stephen Ireland - Manchester City Kevin Kilbane - Wigan Athletic Aiden McGeady - Celtic Alan O’Brien - Hibernian Darren Potter - Wolverhampton Wanderers Andy Reid - Charlton Athletic Forwards Kevin Doyle - Reading Robbie Keane - Tottenham Hotspur Andy Keogh - Wolverhampton Wanderers Shane Long - Reading Daryl Murphy - Sunderland
Back four is weak in terms of depth, yes, but there are three excellent players there in Finnan, McShane and Dunne. On current form Dunne is the best center back in the Premiership at the moment. As long as there are no further injuries we have no worries back there. And Kelly was really excellent vs the Czechs in Dublin.
This is very true, but who knows what will happen after the first That was probably the only time, I'd certainly have JOS over him (and Carr if he were fit also Harte)
Carsley has an understanding with Staunton that he won't be called up unless he's going to get a game. (There is no part of this post that has anything to do with David Connolly, except this part.)
No Liam Miller thats dissapointing, particularly with Jonathon Douglas in the squad. Douglas is abysmal lets hope he isn't playing. Think McGeady deserves his chance out wide now, looked more comfortable and tidy on the ball against the Danes. Given Finnan, Dunne, McShane, O'Shea McGeady, Ireland, Carsley, Hunt Doyle, Keane
one poor player would be acceptable but 3.Its just not on leaving us so lacking in defensive experience.joe gamble is every bit the player douglas is but he isn't playing in england is he...ridiculus
I'm not so sure... I think Kilbane's run of starts could be coming to an end. Anyway, Czech Republic squad: Goalkeepers: Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Jaromír Blažek (1. FC Nürnberg), Martin Vaniak (SK Slavia Praha). Defenders: Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva), David Rozehnal (Newcastle United FC), Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina), Tomáš Zápotočný (Udinese Calcio), Zdeněk Pospěch (AC Sparta Praha). Midfielders: Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg), David Jarolím (Hamburger SV), Jaroslav Plašil (CA Osasuna), Jan Polák (RSC Anderlecht), Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC), Tomáš Sivok (Udinese Calcio). Forwards: Jan Koller (AS Monaco FC), Milan Baroš (Olympique Lyonnais), Marek Kulič (AC Sparta Praha), Martin Fenin (FK Teplice), Stanislav Vlček (SK Slavia Praha).
Slovakia squad Goalkeepers: Štefan Senecký (FC Nitra), Dušan Kuciak (MŠK Žilina). Defenders: Maroš Klimpl (FC Midtjylland), Peter Petráš (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast), Ján Ďurica (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast), Marek Čech (FC Porto), Miloš Brezinský (AC Sparta Praha), Vratislav Greško (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Otto Szabó (ŠK Slovan Bratislava). Midfielders: Igor Žofčák (AC Sparta Praha), Zdeno Štrba (MŠK Žilina), Marek Sapara (Rosenborg BK), Branislav Obžera (FC Artmedia Petržalka), Marek Hamšík (SSC Napoli), Ivan Hodúr (FK Slovan Liberec), Matej Krajčík (SK Slavia Praha). Forwards: Stanislav Šesták (VfL Bochum 1848), Róbert Vittek (1. FC Nürnberg), Filip Hološko (Manisaspor), Marek Mintál (1. FC Nürnberg).
Emerged today that Paul McShane is a major injury doubt. Lee Carsley and Shane Long are also carrying knocks.
Reid hasn't kicked a ball this season. Let's talk lineups and formations... I think Staunton could very well go for a 4-5-1 with both Ireland and Andy Reid in the side. Thoughts?
My thought is "crap" against Slovakia, that game is without a doubt a must win for Ireland and with Long's performance against Denmark and Doyle's pedigree I think it would be foolish to go with a 4-5-1, especially when you're sacrificing a Premiership caliber forward for Andy Reid, a fairly pedestrian player who has proven multiple times he's not up for the highest level. Decent squad player, but shouldn't be accomodated. There should be plenty of industry in midfield if Hunt, Carsley, and Ireland all get starts (which they should). The Czech game will obviously be a slightly different scenario, and the choice for my money comes down to whether you'd prefer Reid out left and Hunt in the middle or Hunt out left and O'Shea supporting Carsley in the middle. I think that one is a little more gray and more managerial feel based on what is displayed in training. I think 4-5-1 is probably the right choice there with a forward off the bench in the second half to push for a potential winner.
Good team, looks like our best side from what, at present, is available. Then again we are not at the practice sessions and so can't see who looks in form and who has the right mental approach. A big week for Stan and Irish football, let's hope he's the man.
Stan will never be the man. however like when McCarthy was in inept charge the class of the players will shine through despite the muppet on the sideline...
So who partners Dunne if McShane is out? O'Shea I guess. We have a dearth of good centre backs right now. What is Andy O'Brien up to these days?
Sadly Doyle's form is way off and his confidence is shot to pieces so much that he wouldn't fancy his chances of winning a goldfish at a funfair. Maybe Slovakia are a team he can break his duck against (he didn't even get a goal in pre-season) to get back in the groove against.
have to agree there, Doyle has looked out of form thus far this season. Given Long's two goals against the Danes, I'd have to say he should start up front alongside Keane.
No, I don't think a proven Premiership striker will sit in favor of an occasional starter, Long's two goals notwithstanding. I'll be very surprised to see Doyle sit. Also, I still have doubts about Hunt. In his Ireland career to date he has shown himself to be way more effective as a 25 minute man than a 90.
I would certainly not be comfortable with Long up front in any qualifier at this point. Yes, Doyle did well last year, but I was worried even last year that it would be a fluke (still plenty of time to be proved wrong, hopefully he will.) I say play 1 striker or I would (and I'm sure I'm the only one and that you know this) bring in someone with consistency at League level like Morrison, Connolly, or Lee (they'd be behind Keane and Doyle in my book). Murphy (inconsistent), Long (VERY inconsistent), and Keogh (is doing only decently in the CCC) are too risky for me. Needless to say we need a tough defense and hopefully can bag a few goals...the problem is if one of the 4 reliable defenders gets hurt we may have some trouble with Kelly, who has also been up and down when I have seen him.
Doyle is hardly a proven premiership striker, he had a good start last season, but started to fade in the second half of the season (injuries aside). And has done nothing this season. If he can bag a dozen or so goals this season then he may be on his way, but untill then he has yet to live up to the hype his early goals last season suggested.
I really think we could see a 4-5-1, or else a 4-4-1-1 with Ireland playing off Keane. This is what worked for Staunton at home to the Czechs, Wales and Slovakia. Doyle to come off the bench if we need a goal in the second half. I can't see him changing it at this point. Finnan is almost certainly out, which is a big blow but I maintain that Kelly is an adequate replacement. -----------Given------------ Kelly, McShane, Dunne, O'Shea McGeady, Carsley, Reid, Hunt -------Ireland-------- ----------Keane-----------