Austria vs Ireland, World Cup Qualifier, kick-off 5 pm, RTE 2 & Sky Sports 1

Mr.Nice Guy

Teams:

Austria XI: Klein; Dragovic, Hinteregger, Wimmer; Baumgartlinger, Alaba; Sabitzer, Schopf, Arnautovic; Janko.

Ireland XI: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Clark, Brady; Whelan, Arter; Hendrick, Hoolahan, McClean; Walters.

I'm delighted to see Arter start, as well as having Hoolahan in the team too. I think that's probably the best line-up with the players available. Maybe you could argue Duffy should be dropped but I would worry about chopping and changing again defensively.

Fingers crossed we can get a result. I would take a draw right now. The midfield battle should be fascinating. Alaba and Baumgartlinger can cause problems.

Thoughts or predictions on the game? I'll be optimistic and say we'll get a draw.

Mr.Nice Guy

Also Horgan has made the bench. He could be a good option if we are chasing a goal.

Ireland Subs: Westwood (GK), C. Doyle (GK), O'Shea, Keogh, McGeady, McGoldrick, Horgan, K. Doyle, Meyler, McShane, O'Dowda, Pearce.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Good team although I'm always nervous about Brady as a full back.

mewso

Dunphy and the lads worried about Duffy and Clark. Duffy to score first @ 40/1 it is

Iused2likebusts

1 1. A result we regularly get in a game like this.

LordAwesome

Wow, fairly amicable interview between MON and TOD. A Trump world is truly a better place.

Mr. Guappa

Very happy with that team. Would have Keogh instead of Duffy but pleased otherwise.

Harry Palmr

RTE giving this the full one hour of build up Conor74!

I'm really liking the look of our team

tayto lover

Alaba is the player I fear most on the Austrian team. Very good player.

sabat

No Prodl for Austria is good news for Ireland-Watford shipped 6 against Liverpool following 3 consecutive clean sheets before he got injured.

tanko

I'll be amazed if that Irish back four doesn't concede at least two goals.

Agent Coulson

Quinn wearing the biggest poppy I have ever seen.


Outrage and all that kind of thing.

Mr.Nice Guy

Heh the mascots were bewildered over why the Irish players turned around.

Andersonisgod

I'd really love to see O'Neil's team selection vindicated tonight. In theory at least it's a team that should lend itself to proactive and technical football.

martingriff

Last week we beat a team we could not beat why not again tonight. That said Ill take a 0-0

Mr.Nice Guy

I think this could be our toughest game of the group.

LuckyGent88

Hopeful we can get a draw at least and let's hope the likes of Coleman and Brady don't pick up yellow cards and rule them out of the next game against Wales

Dangerous ball

Mr.Crinklewood

Think we'll lose 3-0

Mr.Nice Guy

Hoolahan too easily robbed of possession. I wonder will Dunphy stick that in his half-time analysis.

tayto lover

Hoolahan very slow. Lost the ball twice aLready.

Mr.Nice Guy

Early days but our defending at these corners looks dreadful.

PTH2009

not liking the look of this so far

Austria all over us

Andersonisgod

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Hoolahan too easily robbed of possession. I wonder will Dunphy stick that in his half-time analysis.

Some posters casting too keen an eye on one player when there's others losing the ball too or who are far too willing to kick it away or concede free kicks. Balance.

Utopia Parkway

Been under some amount of pressure since the first whistle. Hopefully we hang in there and let the Austrians blow themselves out a bit.

Gringo180

We just dont look comfortable in possesion of the ball. Lump it forward at every opportunity. Hard to believe these are professional footballers.

tayto lover

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Some posters casting too keen an eye on one player when there's others losing the ball too or who are far too willing to kick it away or concede free kicks. Balance.

????

sky88

We've been terrible in possession so far

Harry Palmr

George is rambling....

Pudsy33

very good pressing, that's unlike us

Refs a joke

nice_guy80

We look poor down the right

tayto lover

Ref giving us very little compared to soft frees for them.

Mars Bar

I know tactical views are great and all but the camera is a million miles away from the action

LordAwesome

I thought Whelan was starting? Where is he?

nice_guy80

Duffy jumps with his elbows everytime

Disaster waiting to happen

nice_guy80

You'd miss McCarthy

Whelan is a statue

Mantis Toboggan

We're slowly growing into the game

Mars Bar

nice_guy80 wrote: »

You'd miss McCarthy

Whelan is a statue

That's that issue sorted

Mr.Nice Guy

Crap. Whelan looks fecked.

nice_guy80

Horgan?

LuckyGent88

Good corner that time. Pity we couldn't get anyone on the end of it.

That's pretty much the first time I've seen whelan. Meyler on I'd say

LordAwesome

First time I've seen Whelan all night! On the floor, getting subbed.

Mr.Nice Guy

Surprised and disappointed George didn't say it was 'goodnight Vienna' for Whelan.

tayto lover

Very scrappy affair. Our passing is brutal.

Osmosis Jones

Janko may have to be booked sooner or later

Korat

Nil, nil to the boys in green.

Midfield is too packed
Both teams poor in possession

PropJoe10

This is very poor from both sides. Neither side seems capable of even passing the ball. If we can improve in possession, this game is there for the taking.

Mars Bar

So many free kicks. Will they all just cop the **** on?