Republic of Ireland Team Talk/News/Rumours

Beefy78 wrote: »

From a football perspective there's very little to gain (as ****e as we usually are we will be favourites). Capello & Trap know eachother and how they play, the England players know the Irish players and how they play and personally I'd prefer England to use one of their very limited friendly fixtures to play a different style of team than Ireland are.

But away from that I think there's too much baggage around this fixture. I've lived here for a while now and took more abuse on Friday from random drunken idiots after the Estonia game than I have in the last two years put together. And not banter from mates - abuse from dickheads. I can't be arsed with six months of that in the build up to a match.

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

LOL I hope you pointed that out to him!

BrookieD wrote: »

As and Englishman living in Ireland for the past 18 or so years i would love this match to take place.

I have Irish blood, married an Irish woman and have Irish kids. Taking my young lad to this match with him all in green and me in an England top would be great and I would only hope the stupid bigots from 95 are long gone. For him to see the cream of the EPL would be amazing.

I would hope that this would pass for a match of two good teams and neighbors without incident.

kfallon wrote: »

Eh Suarez, Silva, Van Der Vaart, Modric, Van Persie, Aguero, Hernandez, Nasri et al won't be playing :P

ironbluedun wrote: »

i dont see any difference between playing england and anyone else...no big deal the match should be treated like any other friendly.
i think in 95 there was a NI loyalist and British National Front element stirring the brown stuff. Hopefully those clowns will be kept away this time.

stovelid wrote: »

Gardai need to rein it in the next time too unless justified.

Looked like they were just bashing anybody willy-nilly that was trying to get out of the away section that night, some of whom hardly looked like nutters.

stovelid wrote: »

They'll never do something as dumb as putting visiting fans in an upper tier again so it should be grand.

K-9 wrote: »

And actually have a few riot police close by, helps if there is any bother!

GOALKEEPER

First Choice: Shay Given -- The country will be praying that he avoids any kind of injury over the next seven months.

Back-Up: Keiren Westwood, David Forde -- They are the established number two and three, and Westwood is a trusted replacement for Given.

Dark Horses: Darren Randolph, Brian Murphy -- If any mishap is suffered by those above, they will fight over the next spot.

Non-Runners: Paddy Kenny, Joe Murphy -- Kenny is still persona non grata, while Murphy has also fallen out of the good books.

RIGHT BACK

First Choice: John O'Shea -- Can offer cover in other positions, but Trapattoni wants to play him here.

BACK-UP: Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Kevin Foley -- Kelly will definitely be on the plane, but McShane and Foley could end up in competition with each other -- although the latter can also supplement the midfield.

DARK HORSE: Seamus Coleman -- Trapattoni has spoken about using the Donegal lad in the long term, but until Everton do, it's hard to see the Irish boss taking that step.

CENTRE -HALVES

FIRST CHOICE: Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger -- The favoured duo since Bulgaria in 2009 and that situation won't be changing, although St Ledger's situation at Leicester is a worry.

BACK UP: Darren O'Dea, John O'Shea, Paul McShane, Damien Delaney -- O'Dea will definitely go as the preferred cover, with O'Shea and McShane also considered in this department. Delaney is last resort.

DARK HORSES: Alex Pearce -- Trapattoni watched Scottish-born Pearce recently and is thinking about offering a call-up.

LEFT BACK

FIRST CHOICE: Stephen Ward -- The Wolves man was excellent in Estonia, demonstrating that he has learned from Moscow.

BACK UP: John O'Shea, Stephen Kelly, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Delaney, Ciaran Clark -- It's looking grim for Kilbane, who was left out of Estonia, with O'Shea and Kelly the cover options for Ward. Delaney and Clark's prospects are slim; the latter is a centre-half, but Trap views him as a left-sider.

DARK HORSES: Marc Tierney, Marc Wilson, Greg Cunningham -- Trapattoni mentioned Norwich's Tierney on Saturday, while Wilson offers cover in a variety of positions, but is suffering for his behaviour last summer. Trap rates Cunningham.

RIGHT MIDFIELD

FIRST CHOICE: Damien Duff -- His experience is vital to Trapattoni's plans and he will play once he remains intact.

BACK-UP: Stephen Hunt, Seamus Coleman, Liam Lawrence -- Hunt offers cover on both flanks. It could well be Coleman v Lawrence for a spot in the squad, and the Everton man has the upper hand

DARK HORSES: Anthony Pilkington -- Another Norwich man to get a mention from Trap on Saturday. Can play on both wings, but can also play for England as well and seems a bit unsure.

NON-RUNNER: Andy Reid -- Was in Tallinn as a fan on Friday and, given lack of club form and fact he doesn't really fit into manager's system in any position, he will be a spectator next summer.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD

FIRST CHOICE: Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews -- Injury problems to Andrews broke partnership up for a while, but this honest pair have returned to pole position.

BACK-UP: Keith Fahey, Darron Gibson, James McCarthy, Kevin Foley, Paul Green -- Fahey is now regarded as next best and can also move wide, so he is on course. Gibson may need to move in January to stay ahead of McCarthy and it's hard to see both going to Poland and Ukraine unless a recognised striker loses out.

DARK HORSES: Wes Hoolahan, David Meyler -- Hoolahan is a real long shot. He deserves a call-up, but he can't operate in this system. Will only be accommodated if Trap wants an option for a 4-5-1. Meyler fits the Trap mould, but needs a run of games.

NON-RUNNERS: Steven Reid, Stephen Ireland -- The former has said he would be available in an emergency and the latter is in self-imposed exile. However, Reid and Trapattoni's relationship is non-existent and Ireland would have to be ignored even if he did announce a change of heart.

LEFT MIDFIELD

FIRST CHOICE: Aiden McGeady -- He continues to develop and was excellent in Estonia. Poland and Ukraine will be a huge stage for his talents.

BACK-UP: Stephen Hunt, Keith Treacy -- Hunt will go, but Treacy has fallen out of favour and Duff's ability to switch removes real need for other option.

DARK HORSE: Robert Brady -- An outstanding talent who is on loan at Hull from Man United. Like Pilkington, he is versatile, but will need others to suffer misfortune.

STRIKERS

FIRST CHOICE: Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle -- Doyle's return to the starting XI tomorrow illustrates that these are still the chosen pair.

BACK-UP: Shane Long, Jonathan Walters, Simon Cox, Andy Keogh -- Unless he decides to bring just four strikers and seek added cover in other positions, the first three names should be safe, but where does that leave Keogh?

DARK HORSE: Leon Best -- Out of tomorrow's second leg through injury, but would hardly have figured anyway. Difficult to see who he can unship.

NON-RUNNER: Anthony Stokes -- No matter what he does with Celtic, the Dubliner is not well regarded by the current regime.

Davidth88 wrote: »

In a similar position , the ONLY time I ever get racist abuse is surrounding football.

I got dogs abuse ( as did my wife who is Irish ) when England played France in Euro 2004 , mainly from a prat wearing a Man U jersey !!


Got to the point I cannot watch England games in the pub at all now.