So the NI Squad has been announced for the game vs Finland next week:
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Goalkeepers: Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest), Roy Carroll (Olympiakos), Alan Mannus (St Johnstone)
Defenders: Gareth McAuley (West Brom), Ryan McGivern (Manchester City), Aaron Hughes (Fulham), James McPake (Hibs), Lee Hodson (Watford), Craig Cathcart (Blackpool), Chris Baird (Fulham), Daniel Lafferty (Burnley), Ryan McLaughlin (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Steven Davis (Southampton), Dean Shiels (Rangers), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Corry Evans (Hull City), Pat McCourt (Celtic), Oliver Norwood (Huddersfield Town)
Forwards: Jamie Ward (Derby County), Martin Paterson (Burnley), Kyle Lafferty (FC Sion), Andrew Little (Rangers)
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Have to say im quite pleased with this squad. Our Friendly squads have been really poor over the last number of years -Carling nations, Holland away for example. Hoping that this is the end of the friendly withdrawal nonsense that worthington 'allowed' to happen far too much.
Pleased McLaughlin is in the squad - good chance to get him bedded in nice and early. Also good to see paterson back in the fold instead of warren Feeney. Have to say im am happy Healy is out - he has offered nothing for us in nearly four years and cant expect to be included when he has no club, others must be given a fair chance.
A few names not included -
Clingan - needs to find a club 1st
Taylor - is still playing in championship but MON is look forward so i can understand why he is not there
McCann - Transfer listed for his club so may not get much playing time.
McGinn - Surprised by this one but maybe MON wants him regular for Aberdeen?
Feeney - Hopefully thats his done with International football - a trier but nothing more
All in all a good squad for a friendly with the squad being made up of Championship, SPL and youth team PL Clubs to go with the PL guys we have. Will be good for MON to get to work with his better players.
Hoping for a win vs Finland esp with it being at home. My team would be:
Camp
McLaughlin
Hughes
McAuley
McGivern
Brunt
Davis
Baird
Ferguson
Paterson/McCourt (4-4-2/4-4-1-1)
Lafferty
Hopefully Evans will be fit for Russia away and will replace McAuley and Clingan to go into CM with Baird shifting to RB.
Squad for Finland match
posted on 7/8/12
Decent looking squad, for a change. I'm a bit surprised McGinn isn't in there somewhere but agree with GAWA that perhaps MON wants him playing regularly for Aberdeen. Hopefully Clingan gets a club soon as he always puts in a good shift for us. I would like to see Norwood coming on second half to see what he can do. Also I would rather see Little in place of Paterson. Not that I have anything against Paterson, but he needs a good season at club level after his injury lay off last year and Little has been finding the net recently. Would go 4-4-1-1 first half with Pat behind Lafferty then switch to 4-4-2 second half with Little and Lafferty up front, Pat in behind them and Brunt, Davis and Ferguson making up the midfield. Just my thoughts...
posted on 7/8/12
Decent looking squad. Lets hope we get a win and start our long climb back up to our rightful place in the ratings. Will be interesting to see what MiON can do with "his players/his way". This match would seem to be the first where MiON is free of the crippling NW legacy. The opponents are of the right standard. Only genuine withdrawals should be tolerated! Lets see what you can do boys!
posted on 8/8/12
I watching Dean Shiels recently. I was quite impressed, but the other thing I noticed was his potential to play midfield. A friend tells me that midfield is in fact his usual and preferred position. In the light of this, against Finland I would send out the following team 442.
Taylor/Camp
Baird -- Hughes -- McCauley -- McGivern
Brunt -- Davis -- McCourt -- Shields
Lafferty -- Patterson
Would have Ferguson, Ward, Little, Carrol, Manus standing by to replace anyone not performing.
Could be the beginning of the LONG SLOG BACK!