What do you lads think it will be, and what's your score prediction: Here's my team: Given Carr Cunningham -c O'Shea Harte Reid Holland Kilbane Duff Morrison Keane Score Prediction: Ireland 1-0 Georgia - Early goal from Kilbane, Georgia unable to come back. Why I picked those players: Given - Obvious choice, I think Carr - Although leaving Finnan out is tough, I think Carr has to be the man for this spot based on current form and his performance v Scotland. O'Shea and Cunningham - Cunningham is captain, and I've seen him play some fine matches for Birmingham recently, and I think O'Shea can't be left out. Harte - This is where some controversy comes into it. Many might put O'Shea on the left, but I think he's too good a centre back to be stuck out there. Best play him where he's at his best. Also, I think this match is too important to start messing aroud with Finnan on the left, and therefore Harte is the only option. I don't like it any more than you do, but that's the way it's gotta be. Reid - Again a tough choice, I choose him over Finnan or Kelly, but I think that Reid, based on his recent performances for Ireland, has to be the man. Although neither he nor Finnan played for their respective clubs this weekend. Anyone know why? Holland/Kilbane - This is where you're all going to disagree. I pick these two based on their current club form. Holland scored for Ipswich at the weekend, and is playing great stuff. Kilbane is "in the form of his life," and I don't think he can be left out. Duff has to be on the left, so we put Kilbane in the middle. Also, Carsley, Healy and Kinsella can't get matches for their clubs. McAteer is the only other option. Duff - Has to be on the left. Let's hope he keeps fit. Keane/Morrison - Obvious strike force. However, Keane could very well be injured. If so, I say put in Connolly who was brilliant for Wimbledon Saturday (despite not scoring). What do you think?
I'd go with almost the same team Given Carr (c) Cunningham O'Shea Finnan Reid Holland Healy Duff Morrison Keane Score prediction, if all remain fit 3-1, Keane, Duff and Morrison will all be too dangerous, as will Reids powerful runs, but a weak central mid field will mean Georgia will always have a chance, could be alot closer though. Why I picked those players Given - Has recovered from his early season blip and is back to his best again, Kiely is, as ever, desperately unlucky to be left out. Carr - I'd have him as skipper, not that Cunningham isn't a good one, but his inspirational style of play will help the rest of the team. Obvious choice for right back O'Shea - Getting more and more experienced and keeps proving what a top talent he is, this would be his competitive debut I think, but it's impossible to leave him out. Cunningham - O'Sheas ideal partner, always calm and very experienced player, very good pairing. Finnan - I don't see the risk in playing a very too footed player at left back when he's played left wing before, certinally no more risk then letting Ian Harte near an Irish starting 11 ever again. Plus his form this season has been so good you simply can't drop him. Reid - Form in an Ireland shirt warrents it, without a doubt. Very powerful, always a goal scoring threat, always working and always a thorn in the opponents side. Also very pacey and good at gettng to the byline and whipping in crosses, with Duff on one flank you need someone like Reid, strong and up and down the flank, on the other. Healy - I'm not sure about putting Kilbane in the centre, but Healys lack of football is a worry. You, me and every man and dog on the street know he's better then square ball Lennon but O'Neil can't see it, he'll move this summer but he can't be too match fit now. Might be worth playing Kilbane, but I'd favour Healy for his preformances in an Ireland shirt, just. Holland - Another worry, he was rubbish against Russia and Switzerland and is playing as a centre half this season, if he can get his act together you can't doubt his quality but that's a big if. What I wouldn't give for a fully fit Rory Delap. Duff - He's proved he'll be fully fit, hopefully, and is the obvious choice on the left where he'd run riot on any team. Keane - Should be fit should be in Tottenhams next team and is already training, and if fit he's an obvious choice. Have him on the outside of the box, running the flanks and causeing all kinds of trouble, with his partner in the box knocking the lose balls into the back of the net as he does. Morrison - The poacher needed to play beside Keane, his record in an Ireland shirt is unbeliveble espically when you break it down to goals per miute, an automatic choice now in my view and Keanes ideal partner, a front two that will cause anyone trouble. Connolly to come in for Keane if he doesn't end up fit. The central mid field is the main worry, we need Healy moving away from Celtic to a premiership club and a fully fit Delap badly, but if the team pulls together it should get the win, we just need our attacking players to be on form, if they are, we can score against anybody.
To be honest, I'm with Slash on the team. I can't see why Harte should even be in the squad, never mind the starting 11. Aside from the fact that he's let us down far too many times in the past (World Cup, anyone?) he's not even playing first team football for Leeds. Either O'Shea or Finnan (preferably) at left full. Carr on the right. Dunno know about making Carr captain, though. It's gonna be Holland or Cunningham.
In terms of Captain...a safe bet will be Cunningham until Kerr gets a better working knowledge of the players.... Dont agree but Harte and Kinsella will both start. Healy will get a run out second half and Finnan will come on for Reid on the right wing. Its Kilbane versus Reid for the right wing. I know who I would choose but who would Shay have to aim every goal kick and drop kick at. The Given-Kilbane thing is awfully predictable. Healy's Everton deal has been done. No doubt Mick will be looking at a cut price Ian Harte in the summer. Sunderland too can experience the weakest left wing partnership in World Cup history Ive ever seen By the way Reid had a stomach bug at the weekend but Sadlier hip is dodgy again....will he ever make a competitive debut closey
What makes you think Kinsella and Harte will start though? Even McCarthy said in his book he could try Finnan at left back but wanted to wait until Carr was fit iirc, I'm sure Kerr will try it at least, he can't possibley do worse then Harte, espically now that he's not in the Leeds side. Kinsellas lack of first team problem is exactly the same as Healys, he may favour Healy on account of him being younger and one for the future. As for Sadlir, I'm afraid even if he does return, will he ever reach his full potential? Being out for this long at this stage in his career can really hinder devolopment, even if he does get fit again. You're probably right about Cunningham as captain, but I'm sure Carr will be skipper at some point down the line.
Is Healey going to Everton for definite? When was the deal sorted? Apparently O'Neill would have sold him for a nominal fee (150,000 was the figure I heard) when the transfer window was open in January, but Everton couldn't or wouldn't raise the cash. If there's any truth in that (and I'm open to correction), it doesn't auger well for the future. Certainly doesn't help us in our search for a central midfielder who is playing regular first team footie in the Premiership...
There was a piece in the (admittedly ever-reliable) Herald last night saying that O'Shea is going to start left back. While that would entail the much-welcomed demotion of Harte, it would also almost definitely mean a resumption of the Cunningham-Breen axis in central defence. If it is to be those two again, I can see myself being in for some sleepless nights over the next couple of weeks. Even the best therapist would have trouble ridding me of those horrible images of Gary B picking Dublin 4 daisies as the Swiss ambled at their leisure towards Shay Given's goal.
I thought O'Shea was brilliant out there last night for Man Utd. He would be best wasted at left back for us. Closey
Mind you, I think I also read in the Hearld that Doherty and Connolly would start the Scotland match, I hope that O'shea isn't put at left back where he would be wasted.
News today that Finnan is probably out of the Georgia and Albania matches due to a rib complaint. Means that Carr will definitely start at right back, but it could lead to the nightmare scenario of Harte getting in left back as well as Breen starting alongside O'Shea. Ugh.
Finnan is definitely out of Georgia and probably Albania. I think a back 4 of Carr,Cunningham,O'Shea and Harte is the best we can hope for. Kenny has been playing well for Birmingham. Anything but Breen. Whose feeling optimistic???? A must win game
on a related topic, have you seen the latest betting figures for 2004. it doesn't look too good for us!! France 4/1 Spain 5/1 Holland 6/1 Germany 7/1 Portugal 7/1 England 8/1 Italy 9/1 Turkey 16/1 Czech Republic 33/1 Russia 33/1 Denmark 33/1 Norway 33/1 Sweden 50/1 Serbia & Montenegro 50/1 Bulgaria 50/1 Croatia 66/1 Romania 66/1 Switzerland 66/1 Wales 66/1 Poland 100/1 Belgium 100/1 Ukraine 100/1 Slovenia 100/1 Rep. Of Ireland 125/1 Latvia 125/1 Greece 150/1 Scotland 250/1 Northern Ireland 1000/1
thanks to paddypower.com Russia 8 – 15 Switzerland 2 – 1 Rep Of Ireland 7 - 1 Georgia 40 – 1 Albania 66 - 1 odds on winning the group only. 7-1 is a tasty bet, i might put on a few quid. is it naive of me to think we could go win the rest of our games and for russia and switzerland to take points off each other.
I think the Swiss and the Russians will definitely will do damage to each other, they're too even for their to be one side to win both matches with each other the way I see it, and there's always a chance they'll drop points elsewhere. If we stay lucky with injuries and Kerr gets us playing to our best we're the best side in the group and there's no reason why we can't win all of our games, the way I see it.
I keep having visions of the match on Saturday week consisting of Irish miss after miss after miss, and ending in a 0-0 scoreline...
I was looking at my globe and Georgia is not far from Iraq, I wonder if there is a possibility of that game being called off due to the war.
I may have a small bet at that price if it's to win the group only. I'll have to check out some of the online bookies at home to see if I can get a price for qualifying only.
I haven't heard anything like that, I did read that UEFA said they will not postpone any of Israel's upcoming matches (But I think they have to play their home games in Italy).
If Robbie's not fit, I don't like the look of the team... A strikeforce of Connolly and Doherty? Kerr might almost be better off playing Duff as a striker.
Spurs are making optimistic noises that Keane will play tonight. Let's hope so. To lose Keane, Morrison and O'Shea would be a very heavy blow. In mitigation, it seems Georgia's AC Milan centre half (can't remember his name) is no more than 50/50 for the game. The Sunday Indo had it yesterday that if he doesn't play, they won't be half the side they could be. Fingers crossed on both counts.