You never know what Trap will do in terms of selection, he has dropped hints regarding Cox & Walters and though they did make an impact when coming on I hope he's not swayed too much by that as 3-1 down Croatia were always going to sit back & let us have more of the ball.
I would like to see a few changes:
Given
O'Shea
Dunne
St Ledger
Ward
Duff
Andrews
Gibson
McGeady
Walters
Keane
Doyle is unlucky to miss out as he worked hard last game but we need something from this game and Walters can offer abit more from deep and play in that hole between Keane and the midfield to try & unsettle the likes of Xabi Alonso & Busquets.
I'd go for Gibson alongside Andrews. Need more pace in the middle with passing & movement of Xavi & co. Game against Croatia showed that for much of it Whelan was a passenger & was bypassed quite easily by the fluidity of the play.
I'd stick with McGeady & Duff, though would prefer Duff on the left & McGeady right so they get to the byline more rather than checking back & floating balls in that we can't attack.
Get Keane & Walters to run themselves in to the ground & bring on Long & Doyle & get McClean on for McGeady/Duff & give him last 20 minutes to run at them.
After all that..........I can see us playing the same 11 in the same formation
Team For Tonight
posted on 14/6/12
I heard a rumour (and I hope to dear god, it’s not true!) that Doyle will be dropped, Keane to play up front on his own with Green brought into midfield. I don’t care how many clubs he’s managed or trophies he’s won, if he goes with this formation, he should be sacked!
posted on 14/6/12
Spain won't change at all in my opinion. Playing without the recognised number nine, may actually be beneficial for them because we know that Trap will set us up to play very deep, therefore them playing a recognised striker will be pointless because we will be so deep that there is no space for them to get in behind anyway.
We need to stay disciplined. I'd actually start Doyle, simply because he has the ability to run into the channels and draw a foul (something he did well against Vedran Corluka). The only way I see us scoring is through a set-piece, to be honest. So Doyle will be imperative as both an aerial threat in the box and someone who can frustrate the Spanish defenders by holding up the ball.
We need to be very disciplined tonight and hopefully weather the storm, by making sure we don't concede in the first twenty minutes of either half. That will give us a platform to grow into the game, and as the game goes on then hopefully the confidence builds in the lads and they can perhaps take something from the game.
Henrik's Prediction: Spain 2-0 Ireland.
posted on 14/6/12
Just hope the occasion doesnt get to the side like it did against Croatia! If they play as badly as that match Spain will win by 4 or 5 goals! COYBIG!
posted on 14/6/12
I thought all the rumours are now that Cox will play instead of Doyle?
Either way. We can only support whatever team is picked and then complain or celebrate whatever happens after.
If Green is picked, then I will support him and hope he has a good game. But I dont think he has a hope of playing.
posted on 14/6/12
I’ll always support the players and will support Green if he does play but if Trap thinks a midfield of Andrews, Whelan and Green will ‘contain’ Spain then he’s even more deluded than I thought!
posted on 14/6/12
Whelan and Green in midfield together that is scary! Wonder will Mc Shane get a run out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted on 14/6/12
McClean has to play - i think he is good at tracking back. Lets face it Ward needs all the help he can get!
posted on 14/6/12
There is no point in not putting Whelan in midfield as no matter how awful he plays he will always start and that's guaranteed sadly. They must be good mates or something.