Republic of Ireland - v - Georgia (WCQ) Group 8 - 11/02/09 MATCH THREAD

Carroller16 · 09-02-2009 04:47PM #1

- v -

SO I thought I'd start this.

IRISH SQUAD FROM :Shay Given, Dean Kiely, Keiren Westwood, Alex Bruce, Damien Delaney, John O'Shea, Kevin Foley, Eddie Nolan, Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Kevin Kilbane, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Darron Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Liam Miller, Stephen Hunt, Andy Keogh, Caleb Folan, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Noel Hunt.

COME ON IRELAND!!!

I'd go for

GIVEN
McSHANE
O'SHEA
DUNNE
KILBANE
MCGEADY
ANDREWS
MILLER
DUFF
DOYLE
KEANE (c)

GLaDOS · 09-02-2009 04:53PM

What's Finnans fitness like?

Also, Miller? :eek:

Spud83 · 09-02-2009 04:56PM

I thought Finnan was crocked?

Anyway I think they team will be..

Given

Finnan--Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane

Andrews---Whelan

Duff

Keane

McGeady

Doyle

Can see Andrews getting the call ahead of Gibson with Andrews and Whelan at least playing a fair bit recently.

Third_Echelon · 09-02-2009 04:58PM

ScienceNerd wrote: »

What's Finnans fitness like?

Also, Miller? :eek:

Finnan is out

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0208/nolane.html

Nolan called up to replace Finnan
Sunday, 8 February 2009

Eddie Nolan has been called up to replace the injured Steve Finnan after Giovanni Trappatoni watched the Preston North End defender play for the second time in recent weeks.

The Italian was present at North End's home match with Burnley last month and he also attended their game with Reading at the Madjeski Stadium on Saturday.

Nolan has captained the Irish under-21 side on several occasions and also played a part in the challenge match with Nottingham Forest last year.

With Paul McShane struggling with a hamstring injury, Nolan could be in contention to play a part in the game.

He told www.pnefc.com of his shock at the call-up: 'I'm absolutely delighted to be called up. I must admit I am quite surprised. I only found out after the game (against Reading), and was shocked really to get the call from the FAI.'

The former Blackburn Rovers defender added: 'I would say it is the highlight of my career so far definitely. It is part of the learning curve for me and will be a good experience.'

Espanyol defender Finnan joins Caleb Folan in pulling out of the squad.

It remains to be seen whether Paul McShane will have to pull out of the squad because of his injury.

The squad is assembling in Malahide today.

Carroller16 · 09-02-2009 05:03PM

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Finnan is out

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0208/nolane.html

APOLOGIES

I thought McShane was out for Nolan...

Post and Team adjusted accordingly....

Looks like PMcS prob wont play neither in which case i would pick KELLY

eagle eye · 09-02-2009 05:05PM

I thought Finnan was crocked?

Anyway I think they team will be..

Given

Nolan--Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane

Gibson---Whelan

McGeady

Keane

Duff

Doyle

I am a Blackburn fan and all, but I don't fancy Andrews starting the game. I'd play Duffer on the left and let McGeady do his thing on the other side. I think Gibson played well enough to get another start and leave Andrews for later. The reason I don't like Andrews in here is because he has this habit of getting booked early when he starts, so I'd rather leave him for a late impact if needed.

You have to say fair play to Andrews though, having failed at Championship grade in the past and the way he has grabbed his opportunity at Blackburn at 27 years of age. Its great to see that.
Eddie Nolan is a central defender but has played well on the right for Blackburn's reserves in the past. I don't know how his form has been over the last while but he is now full time with Preston after a loan spell got him a permanent move.

_blank_ · 09-02-2009 05:08PM

Who are Whelan and Andrews?

GLaDOS · 09-02-2009 05:09PM

Des wrote: »

Who are Whelan and Andrews?

Central midfielders for Stoke and Blackburn respectively

_blank_ · 09-02-2009 05:09PM

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Central midfielders for Stoke and Blackburn respectively

Oh, Glenn Whelan I take it, has he broken into their team then?

Andrews, is he getting a game?

Carroller16 · 09-02-2009 05:10PM

World Cup Qualification Material if your Geovanni Trappatoni

Nalz · 09-02-2009 05:13PM

Des wrote: »

Oh, Glenn Whelan I take it, has he broken into their team then?

Andrews, is he getting a game?

funny man Des, funny

anladmór · 09-02-2009 05:13PM

Des wrote: »

Oh, Glenn Whelan I take it, has he broken into their team then?

Andrews, is he getting a game?

Whelan has been getting very positive reviews lately since he broke into the Stoke team a few months back, is a decent player keeps it simple, would work well if we had Steven Reid and Ireland in midfield.

Also Ireland have moved back into the top 30 in the world.

The north are at number 49.

http://www.football-rankings.info/2009/02/fifa-ranking-february-2009-final.html

Spud83 · 09-02-2009 05:13PM

Des wrote: »

Oh, Glenn Whelan I take it, has he broken into their team then?

Andrews, is he getting a game?

They are probably playing the most out of any center midfielders in the squad.

Andrews has been starting for Blackburn since November though he has been a substitute in the last two games.

Whelan has started and finished the last 9 games for Stoke.

*league stats only.

eagle eye · 09-02-2009 05:14PM

Des wrote: »

Oh, Glenn Whelan I take it, has he broken into their team then?

Andrews, is he getting a game?

Yeah Andrews is getting a good few games at Blackburn now, he wouldn't be an automatic starter but he is fighting hard to make it so.

Very one footed and sometimes a bit of a rash tackler, but he has improved over the last few weeks since Big Sam took the reigns at Rovers.

Edit to add, for those that are interested, Steven Reid is back in the gym, I don't think he will be back before the end of the season but there were no complications with the operation and things are progressing nicely.

jaykay74 · 09-02-2009 05:15PM

Des wrote: »

Andrews, is he getting a game?

It looks like he is getting a game (see link below). Whether he is any good I'm not sure. Haven't seen blackburn other than highlights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/a/andrews_182464.stm

anladmór · 09-02-2009 05:19PM

Anyway I think we'll scrape a 2-1 victory, although we really should be trying to get a nice victory for the GD. that will lead us nicely for the bulgaria game in Croker on March 28th(I think)

_blank_ · 09-02-2009 05:27PM

Trilla wrote: »

funny man Des, funny

I wasn't being funny :eek:

I don't follow the national team as closely as some, and only watch the "Big 4" in the EPL.

Xavi6 · 09-02-2009 05:30PM

Andrews is an absolutely woeful footballer and nothing more than a hatchet man who should be playing in the lower leagues. Pure rubbish.

Anyway, I'll be at the game.

eagle eye · 09-02-2009 05:31PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

Andrews is an absolutely woeful footballer and nothing more than a hatchet man who should be playing in the lower leagues. Pure rubbish.

Anyway, I'll be at the game.

You haven't seen him lately Xavi, I had the same opinion but he has certainly improved over the last while.

anladmór · 09-02-2009 05:31PM

andrews is not a hatchet man or anything like it. he's an attacking midfielder who keeps it simple. a hatchet man is like materazzi not keith.

Vokes · 09-02-2009 05:50PM

Which Ireland games has Andrews played in, if any?

noodler · 09-02-2009 05:53PM

Vokes wrote: »

Which Ireland games has Andrews played in, if any?

Eh as much as I malighned Gibson, I wouldraher him than Andrews. If he is an attacking midfielder then he is out to begin with.

Trying so hard notto break into an Andy Reid tirade....

SectionF · 09-02-2009 06:13PM

Who are these people?

joe123 · 09-02-2009 06:25PM

noodler wrote: »

Eh as much as I malighned Gibson, I wouldraher him than Andrews. If he is an attacking midfielder then he is out to begin with.

Trying so hard notto break into an Andy Reid tirade....

It really is hard not to though. Cant believe we are actually contemplating our midfield consisting of Keith Andrews, Glen Whealan or Darren Gibson.

Stephen Reid is a massive loss. Him and andy would of been my prefered paring in midfield.

Im reckoning it will be gibson/whealan partnership. If this was football manager id be focus passing down the flanks

Tom65 · 09-02-2009 06:41PM

noodler wrote: »

Eh as much as I malighned Gibson, I wouldraher him than Andrews. If he is an attacking midfielder then he is out to begin with.

Trying so hard notto break into an Andy Reid tirade....

What's an Andy Reid?

As much as it pains me to have the Whelan/Gibson midfield, I'd say it'll be there again. I just can't fathom it. They're good young players, but not good enough. They just get over run in every game.

Bah! I just hope they prove me wrong.

Rizzla King · 09-02-2009 06:46PM

eagle eye wrote: »

Given
Nolan--Dunne-O'Shea-Kilbane
Gibson---Whelan
McGeady
Keane
Duff
Doyle

Why one up front and have Keane at centre mid(attacking mid even)

We need two up front, and unless Doyle can hold up the ball I can't see 1 up there working at all.

stovelid · 09-02-2009 06:48PM

SectionF wrote: »

Who are these people?

Not Andy Reid, Stephen Ireland or Lee Carsley, basically.

djpbarry · 09-02-2009 06:49PM

Tom65 wrote: »

As much as it pains me to have the Whelan/Gibson midfield, I'd say it'll be there again. I just can't fathom it. They're good young players, but not good enough. They just get over run in every game.

I can't help thinking there's more to Gibson than what we've seen. I haven't seen him play for Utd, but I find it hard to believe that both Ferguson and Trappatoni would place any faith at all in a player as inept as that which we saw against Cyprus. He could surprise a few people against Georgia.

Super Sidious · 09-02-2009 06:51PM

Looks like S. Kelly is gonna be playing ahead of McShane, Rte said he was playing their in a practice run today.

I don't rate McShane... he's too much of a liability!

roryc · 09-02-2009 08:03PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

Andrews is an absolutely woeful footballer and nothing more than a hatchet man who should be playing in the lower leagues. Pure rubbish.

Anyway, I'll be at the game.

Bit harsh Neil? I played with Keith a good bit when I was younger, he went straight from the team my dad coached (Stella) on to Wolves. He was one of the better players in a squad that included Richie Partridge and Joe Murphy. He's a decent player that is prob not good enough for Premiership football, but I wouldn't say he's 'woeful.

He was with MK Dons with Ince which is more than likely the reason he has was bought by Blackburn when Ince was in control. He was instrumental to getting MK Dons promoted to League One, and won both PFA player of the year and League Two player of the year. OBVIOUSLY he would not turn down a move to a Premiership club... He has had some shocking games for Blackburn so far, but I would put this down to the huge change of pace between Prem and Div 2, give him a chance to settle in. Surely it is better to have as much international players as possible playing in the Premiership?

He has only had one international cap so far, and scored on his debut. Its not exactly like we have a huge amount of players to choose from is it? He's a good player to have on the pitch, can control the pace of the game when needed, and isn't afraid to give the rest of them a kick up the arse if needed, which is more than can be said of a lot of the Irish squad these days. I for one would prefer to have him in the side over Gibson, at least he's getting his game for his club. And Whelan hasn't exactly impressed for Stoke either...

Draupnir · 09-02-2009 08:23PM

roryc wrote: »

Bit harsh Neil? I played with Keith a good bit when I was younger, he went straight from the team my dad coached (Stella) on to Wolves. He was one of the better players in a squad that included Richie Partridge and Joe Murphy. He's a decent player that is prob not good enough for Premiership football, but I wouldn't say he's 'woeful.

He was with MK Dons with Ince which is more than likely the reason he has was bought by Blackburn when Ince was in control. He was instrumental to getting MK Dons promoted to League One, and won both PFA player of the year and League Two player of the year. OBVIOUSLY he would not turn down a move to a Premiership club... He has had some shocking games for Blackburn so far, but I would put this down to the huge change of pace between Prem and Div 2, give him a chance to settle in. Surely it is better to have as much international players as possible playing in the Premiership?

He has only had one international cap so far, and scored on his debut. Its not exactly like we have a huge amount of players to choose from is it? He's a good player to have on the pitch, can control the pace of the game when needed, and isn't afraid to give the rest of them a kick up the arse if needed, which is more than can be said of a lot of the Irish squad these days. I for one would prefer to have him in the side over Gibson, at least he's getting his game for his club. And Whelan hasn't exactly impressed for Stoke either...

I think you are fighting a losing battle there Rory, I'm pretty sure Andrews broke up a Man City player earlier this season and earned a spell on Xavis blacklist!!

He is certainly not a Premier League talent but looks to me to be a very decent defensive midfielder who has an eye for a goal aswell. His passing is not bad but he tends to be a little bit to busy for my liking, his vision or reading of the game would be what lets him down most.

All in all, we are in for the Glenn Whelan/Darron Gibson show on Wednesday. Whelan will be solid but give the ball away while Gibson does his hands in the air, please show an option routine to his team mates.

Republic of Ireland - v - Georgia (WCQ) Group 8 - 11/02/09 MATCH THREAD

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