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Stephen Kellyand James McClean. ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

Ireland team named: McClean, McGeady and McCarthy in youthful midfield

Keiren Westwood takes up the goalkeeping duties while John O’Shea will lead the side against the Serbians.

THE POST-SHAY GIVEN era begins in Belgrade on Wednesday evening and, as expected, Keiren Westwood has been named to start in goal for Ireland.

John O’Shea will captain the Irish side for the friendly encounter with Serbia.

He is partnered in the centre of defence by Darren O’Dea, with Paul McShane at right-back and Stephen Kelly on the left.

Youth has been given a chance in the Irish midfield with James McCarthy and Glen Whelan in the centre and James McClean and Aiden McGeady taking up positions on the wings.

Jon Walters and Shane Long will start up front.

Republic of Ireland: Westwood, McShane, O’Shea (c), O’Dea, Kelly, Mcgeady, McCarthy, Whelan, McClean, Walters, Long.

More to follow…

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30 Comments
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    Mute Brian
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:03 PM

    Mcshame and wheelan surely theres better out there

    59
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    Mute Paul McCluskey
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:11 PM

    Would have liked to see Coleman instead of McShane. Also a change from the 4-4-2 formation would have been nice. But that would have been too much expect from Trap.

    63
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Aug 14th 2012, 11:02 PM

    Only chance we have of scoring is if it’s John O’Shea from GOAL that’s the captain!!!

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    Mute Keith
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    Aug 15th 2012, 12:18 AM

    Take out mcshane and odea and that’s the best team we have.rio no chance.

    9
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    Mute John Cummins
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:38 PM

    All quick to criticise the lads aren’t we. Sure it is the easy thing to do. These are decent pros representing their country. Support them and look forward to the future and stop the old nonsense of slagging for sake of it.

    48
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    Mute Niall MacCarthy
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:09 PM

    They are proven to be not good enough. McShane is a proven liability. Whelan was abysmal at the euros and Kelly has also been exposed at international level. It’s not slagging it’s a reality. If this is the way it’ll be we haven’t a hope in the qualifiers-the euros proved we need to change it up.

    28
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    Mute Martin Healy
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:13 PM

    Crap defence,whelan not up to it, not filled with too much confidence here

    43
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    Mute Niall MacCarthy
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:23 PM

    McShane, Kelly and whelan should not be let wear an Irish jersey. Inspires as much enthusiasm as a yeast infected spud.

    38
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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:27 PM

    Has anyone ever seen McGeady do anything decent on the pitch?

    31
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    Mute Niall MacCarthy
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:29 PM

    Yes, leave it.

    39
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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 14th 2012, 6:36 PM

    Indeed, so.

    15
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    Mute Eoin Ó Nialláin
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    Aug 15th 2012, 9:08 AM

    In the team of the year in the Russian league. Dominated the SPL as well before that. Yet to reach those heights in an Ireland jersey however.

    5
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    Mute Ronan O Connor
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:39 PM

    Some awful players going to drag down the few decent players we have to there level. Mc Shane,Kelly,whelan,O Dea,simply not good enough for international team, not there fault though, they try their best.As for the majority of the subs, just useless and embarrassing.

    18
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    Mute Neal Quinn
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:23 PM

    Get behind them!

    17
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    Mute Diarmuid Walshe
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:36 PM

    Is Keith Fahey injured?
    If he is I hope Paul Green gets included!!

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Aug 14th 2012, 11:03 PM

    Is there a car coming?

    3
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    Mute Barry O'Flaherty
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:16 PM

    And why didn’t we play these lads in the last game of the Europeans!

    16
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:31 PM

    Awful team….

    11
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    Mute Peter Doyle
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    Aug 14th 2012, 8:19 PM

    4 4 2? How many teams play 442 these days? Man Utd do but hardly have a Rooney type player to drop off the main striker.

    We need 433 with McCarthy as a ball playing holding midfielder then Gibson and whoever as the third midfielder. McGeady and McClean on the wings with Shane long up the middle.

    It just isn’t going to happen however. Whats the point in having all our youth teams playing 433 when we abandon the idea at senior level. We beat Estonia to qualify and haven’t beaten a team ranked higher than us since 2001. Things need to change.

    7
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    Mute emmomac
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    Aug 14th 2012, 8:10 PM

    Not a bad team. O’Dea needs games. I think he has potential. Whelan might be better suited to sitting a little deeper and not having to cover as much ground what with the youthful energy of the rest of the midfield. I think McShane deserves another chance too. He had a good season last season. Kelly is the weak link imo. Not to worry, we have plenty coming through.

    Try to stay positive fellow fans. The future is not as bleak as you think if you lower your expectations to realistic levels. Qualifying for tournaments is punching above our weight. Don’t expect miracles.

    We will always have Sopot.

    7
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    Mute Niall
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    Aug 15th 2012, 7:17 AM

    What are you talking about mcshane had a good season last year???? He was sent out on loan to not one but two clubs last season and has only played 11 times this year!!!! And if o dea had any potential I don’t think he would be playing for Toronto FC now do you?

    3
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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Aug 14th 2012, 7:38 PM

    We need to get Gary Waddock in as technical director

    7
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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Aug 14th 2012, 8:20 PM

    We need to ban Gaelic, and make real football compulsory at all schools!

    14
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    Mute Niall
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    Aug 15th 2012, 7:12 AM

    There’s Rodrigo the troll again. Just saying stupid stuff as per usual to get a reaction. What a complete buffoon.

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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    Aug 15th 2012, 12:41 AM

    Coleman will be replacing mcshane in the squad for rio and Whelan won’t start any more as Gibson will push him out. With Gibson in there that would be a quality midfield. Shay will be back in 6 months

    5
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    Mute Marist '59
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    Aug 14th 2012, 10:25 PM

    Yawn!

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 14th 2012, 9:20 PM

    Mcshane!!

    Joey O Brien had a great season with west ham (post injury) and has premier league experience. Maybe trap wants mcshane to cover all positions :)

    4
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    Mute Máirtín Ó hAodha 父
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    Aug 15th 2012, 5:17 AM

    McShane?!? Oh dear God! We.Have.No.Hope!

    3
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    Mute Brendan O' Shea
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    Aug 15th 2012, 12:34 AM

    How the hell can u leave Coleman Houlihan pilkington out… Trap will u ever wake up and get rid of Whelan, mcshane and o dea

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    Mute TheSalmonOfKnowledge
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    Aug 15th 2012, 2:04 AM

    both Houlihan and Pilkington are injured, check before you post.

    in Houlihans case he got injured within hours of being called into the squad to replace Gibson.

    6
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