Ireland Squad

Giovanni Trapattoni has named his 26-man squad for the Euro 2012 play-off v Estonia:  

• GK - Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, David Forde

• DF - Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Darren O'Dea, Paul McShane

• MF - Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Keith Andrews, Keith Fahey, Darron Gibson, Andy Keogh, Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady, Stephen Hunt, Liam Lawrence

• FW - Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Simon Cox. Jon Walters

src: fai.ie

Trap is going to give Shane Long every chance of being fit for at least the return leg of the play-off next month. With Doyle suspended for the first leg and Keane also fighting to be fit, our options up front have become a bit more limited. 
Personally, I'd like to see Jonathan Walters involved more. He, and Long, have been in great form in the Premiership this season. Walters' made a significant impact when he came off the bench against Armenia and could prove to be our secret weapon against the Estonians. 


Trapatonni continues to see something we don't in the likes of Keogh, Gibson and McShane. Andy Keogh never seems to deliver on the international stage (although he is playing every week in the Championship with Leeds). Maybe the play-off isn't the best time to be trying new things, but I would much rather see someone like Wes Hoolahan in there in Keogh's place.  
Darron Gibson hasn't featured in one game for Man Utd this season so I don't see the logic in having him in the squad. Trap continues to amaze me by selecting him.
Paul McShane is by no means everyone's cup of tea and has only been a bit part player for Chamionship promotion seekers, Hull City. He has been drafted in in place of the injured Kevin Foley but perhaps Trapatonni could have taken a chance on Marc Wilson as cover at right/left back. Wilson is ever-present in Stoke's impressive back line. 

Trapatonni isn't one for mixing things up and perhaps the play-off isn't the best time to be doing that but those playing week-in week-out must be considered ahead some of his predictable selections.

Monday review

Yes I know it's Tuesday. 
I think it has taken me an extra day to come to terms with that hammering City gave United. I could not believe how bad United were in the second half. Of course Evans sending off didn't help but City were always in control. United have been dodgy at the back too many times this season and badly need Vidic in the starting line up, especially for these kind of games. City are looking like a classy side and it saddens me to admit they are now deserved favourites for the title.

src: football365.com

It was indeed a classic but not in the way I expected. My prediction of a 2-1 home win was way off. 




Ugly
Alan Hutton's horror tackle on Shane Long has ruled the Irishman out for 6 weeks. He's a major doubt for the Euro 2012 play-offs against Estonia next month. After seeing the tackle again yesterday, the outcome could have been a lot worse. An ugly lunge by Hutton. We can only hope Long will make a quicker recovery than first expected.

src: dailymail.co.uk

Fantasy Football review - GW9

A shocking week for Rejects FC!
The decision to take Aguero out to accommodate the transfer in of Steven Gerrard backfired. Having three United players on my team didn't help my cause neither. I'm still confident of Gerrard grabbing a fair few points over the next couple of games so I'll probably stick with him.

Premiership - Gameweek 9

This week's feature game is arguably the most eagerly anticipated of the season so far - the Manchester Derby.

src: thehardtackle.com

Both sides have been very impressive this season and this is set up to be a classic. It'll be interesting to see if City attack with the ability we all know they have. With that threat of City's multi-million pound strike-force, United will welcome the return of their Vidic/Ferdinand partnership at the back. I'm hoping for goals and I can see United edging it with a hard fought 2-1 victory (yes I am probably being slightly biased there). With United's home record and an almost full squad to chose from, for me, it's hard to see them losing (even to this ever-impressing City side).

Note: I do realise Tevez will play no part in this match and probably never play in the Prem again, but the image looks cool.


Fantasy Football Pick
Gameweek 9 
Last week's gamble on Gibbs didn't work out at all with the poor chap going off injured. 
I'm confident of a few points with this week's rather safe, yet expensive transfer selection. Liverpool are at home to Norwich with their captain Steven Gerrard back in the team. He was impressive against Man Utd last week, his first 90 minutes in the Premiership this season. Liverpool face the three promoted teams Norwich, WBA & Swansea over the next three gameweeks, and for that reason I see Gerrard as a very good investment.

src: football-corner.org

 

Monday review

Always good to have the Premiership back after the international break, isn't it?

A decent Liverpool/United 'derby' was the highlight of the weekend. My prediction of 1-1 was right 
( unfortunately, I didn't throw a few quid on the 6/1 that was on offer :(  )
I don't think its the last we'll hear/read of this game this week. Patrice Evra is claiming he was racially abused by Luis Suarez during the match. 

src: guardian.co.uk

A topic the Premiership could be doing without. We'll see over the next days whether Evra's claims have substance.


Fantasy Football review - GW8

Not a good weekend for Rejects FC (my Fantasy Football team). 

My advice to involve Kieran Gibbs didn't work out at all, ah well. The ever-reliable Johnny Walters saved my blushes and kept my score above average. Looking towards next weekend now..

Welcome back Premiership - Gameweek 8

The international break is over so we're back to our every Saturday business of the Barclay's Premier League. 

Some cracking games to look forward to this weekend. None more so than Liverpool v Man Utd. 

 As a Utd fan, I'm gutted to be missing this one tomorrow. It's set up to be a cracking game. Utd lost their last three at Anfield but my prediction is a 1-1 draw, with Rooney getting in the headlines for the right reasons.

Fantasy Football Pick
Gameweek 8
Every week I'll give my Fantasy Football transfer recommendation for that Gameweek.

This week has a few tricky games with potential for plenty of goals. 

I recommend transferring in Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal). Arsenal host Sunderland at the Emirates on Sunday. These lie 15th & 16th in the league respectively, with both teams having a dreadful start to the season.

I think Arsenal will win this comfortably and start picking up points against struggling sides like Sunderland. I predict a rare clean sheet for Arsenal, and with Gibbs' attacking ability down the left flank there's potential for setting up a goal against a dodgy Sunderland defence.
 

We're on our way to Poland/Ukraine?

That supposed luck of the Irish prevailed!
I can safely say every Irish supporter wished for Estonia.
Including John Delaney.. as we can see in this video, himself and his colleagues chuckling amongst themselves as the draw was made (feckin eejits!). Sure go on ahead and book the flights to Poland now, John.

Two massive games lie ahead of Ireland in their quest for qualifying for Euro 2012. I'm very excited and cannot wait for Nov 11th and especially Nov 15th in Dublin. 
One thing we must not do is underestimate/laugh at Estonia's challenge (unlike Delaney it seems). They did beat Serbia & Slovenia to 2nd spot in their group (although they were beaten by Faroe Islands, so a phone call to our old mate Brian Kerr wouldn't go amiss).

It'll be exciting times for the nation as the build up to these games takes shape.

There's a vacant bandwagon available after the Rugby World Cup so let's all jump aboard!

Luck of the Irish. About time.

So, Ireland have grab a play-off place. Today will determine our opponents and I for one am not feeling overly confident about qualifying after our poor showing on Tuesday night. We were lucky but I think we are well over-due a bit of luck. The heartbreak of Henry's hand on that night in Paris means we're due some sort of karma to go our way, right?

Regardless of the football on show, the Aviva was jumping on Tuesday night. Easily the best atmosphere I've experience at an Ireland game. The South Lower stand was full of chants and support (as always) but it was the fact that many other parts of the stadium joined in. It was electric.

After noon today we will know our play-off opponents. 

The fact that we will avoid the might of Portugal & Croatia does give us some hope.

I, like many, am hoping for Estonia. Montenegro & Bosnia are decent sides and Turkey is a difficult place to play. 

So let's hope that supposed luck of the Irish gives us a winnable two legged tie vs Estonia.

International Break

The Premiership pauses for the Euro 2012 qualifiers this weekend.

It's getting to the business end of qualifying and Rep. of Ireland have a great chance of getting into the playoffs at the very least. While the match away to Andorra on Friday is vital, there'll be big interest in Slovakia v Russia. A win for Slovakia gives ROI a chance to leapfrog Russia with 6 points from their last two games. A Russia win will more or less see Slovakia out of the race for second spot, with an all to play for ROI v Armenia fixture on the following Tuesday.

First things first though.. beat Andorra.

Let's not do a Macedonia!

I blame the jerseys.

Yet another football blog

I've decided to start up a blog, covering all that's good (and bad) about football. My football focus will be on the Premiership, Championship and a look at Ireland's attempt to qualify for Euro 2012. 

src: premiershipticketsonline.com