Ireland v Portugal match thread

With Coleman and Stevens back, it's going to be interesting to see what way we line up at the back. I can't see either of them getting more than 45 minutes given their fitness.

                                            Bazunu

J89 wrote: counterlock wrote: With Coleman and Stevens back, it's going to be interesting to see what way we line up at the back. I can't see either of them getting more than 45 minutes given their fitness. Only fitness issue Coleman has is he can't start back to back games. Will probably start against Portugal and won't play against Luxembourg or vice versa. Don't know what fitness issues Stevens has as he's played 90mins week in week out which included mid week games since coming back from injury.

Buzzing to get down to a full house at Lansdowne again 

Hotlips_Hoolahan wrote: counterlock wrote: J89 wrote: counterlock wrote: With Coleman and Stevens back, it's going to be interesting to see what way we line up at the back. I can't see either of them getting more than 45 minutes given their fitness. Only fitness issue Coleman has is he can't start back to back games. Will probably start against Portugal and won't play against Luxembourg or vice versa. Don't know what fitness issues Stevens has as he's played 90mins week in week out which included mid week games since coming back from injury. I didn't realise he's back starting, great to see it  Stevens and Egan in patchy form at club level by all accounts.

Sheffield United are very poor this season. Too soft and easy to dominate in midfield which puts extra pressure on the defence and they miss Jack O'Connell in defence.

Could see them cutting Hourihane's loan short if possible as he's the complete opposite to what they need in midfield to try turn this around.

J89 wrote: counterlock wrote: With Coleman and Stevens back, it's going to be interesting to see what way we line up at the back. I can't see either of them getting more than 45 minutes given their fitness. Only fitness issue Coleman has is he can't start back to back games. Will probably start against Portugal and won't play against Luxembourg or vice versa. Don't know what fitness issues Stevens has as he's played 90mins week in week out which included mid week games since coming back from injury.

horsebox wrote: J89 wrote: counterlock wrote: With Coleman and Stevens back, it's going to be interesting to see what way we line up at the back. I can't see either of them getting more than 45 minutes given their fitness. Only fitness issue Coleman has is he can't start back to back games. Will probably start against Portugal and won't play against Luxembourg or vice versa. Don't know what fitness issues Stevens has as he's played 90mins week in week out which included mid week games since coming back from injury. Why can't he start back to back games? The issue with players being unable to start back to back games is because they were not playing for their clubs. This is what Kenny alluded too after the defeat to Luxembourg. Unless Coleman picks up a knock against Portugal, he will play both games.

Kenny has said he might not be able to start back to back games in four days because of the hamstring issues he's had lately. Four hamstring injuries in the last year I think is what was said. Last one coming when he started back to back games in a few days for us.

drogcam wrote:                                             Bazunu                      Omobamidele   Duffy     Egan Coleman                                                            Doherty                   Cullen                   Hendrick                           McGrath             Robinson                    Idah Roughly how I think we'll line up. Although Kenny has thrown up some surprising selections in games so who knows. Robinson might have a fairly free role compared to Idah

Left foot wrote:                         Bazunu            Duffy Egan Omobamidele  Coleman                                Doherty                 Hendrick Cullen                         Mcgrath                Knight                      Robinson Doherty should get the nod over Stevens and mcclean in my opinion. Knight in for Idah for extra legs in the midfield but played further up the field than the other midfielders  Robinson High up the pitch to run in behind. Gosh - this management stuff is a doddle.