THE FAI HAS confirmed that Aiden McGeady, Sean St Ledger and Joey O’Brien have withdrawn from the Irish squad for Ireland’s forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers.
Injuries to the trio mean they will miss pivotal clashes against Sweden on 6 September and Austria, four days later.
An FAI statement read, “McGeady pulled out of training with Spartak Moscow this week with an ongoing knee injury, while St Ledger is still working his way back to full fitness after injuring his knee in early August… O’Brien is also suffering from a knee injury and is undergoing treatment at his club.”
The association added that there are no plans at present to add any replacements.
Considering we need to get a least 4 points from these two games, losing players like St. Ledger and McGeady is a huge huge blow. Joey O’Brien was never going to make the 23 man squad. The loss of McGeady especially lessens our chances of winning either game.
Never rated St Ledger would prefer to see Dunne & O’ Shea in the centre, wilson left back and coleman right back. and McGeady seems to play one brilliant game and 5 crap ones and Joey O’Brien was never really in with a shot so for me its no major loss. Good opportunity for players I think are more deserving of a place in the team
These are the most important fixtures of the whole campaign, and without our best possible players we are at a loss. People who argue we’re better off without McGeady or St. Ledger are just presenting idiotic arguments. We won’t win either game if we don’t have the best players on the pitch.
Can Richard Dunne play and give a fully fit performance for two extremely important games in 5 days?
Can we win either game without Aiden McGeady being available.
I would suggest the answer is no to both those questions.
How are they idiotic arguments? Proof is on the pitch. They are consistently poor. to suggest a championship player and a former SPL player now playing in Russia are our best players is idiotic considering there are PL regulars not getting a look in like Clark and Brady. my point they are not our best possible players. If dunne isn’t capable for two games then I’d have Clark in his place
John are you actually serious Aiden McGeady is a very average footballer who is currently in the middle of a horrible run of form at international level. What evidence can you take from recent memory to derive the opinion that Ireland are actually a stronger side when he plays, he has had very little positive effect in any games of late with his hall mark being selfish play resulting in being dispossessed far to easily and a failure to deliver any end product of note. I fail to see how his forced withdrawal from the squad could have a negative impact on Ireland’s ability to get a result.
Completely agree John. With respect to St Ledger, Ciaran Clark should be in the starting squad instead. He’s a regular in an expected mid-table premier league team. McGeady shows glimpses of quality and then trails off again. Players should be picked on form. Brady is playing much better than McGeady. Clark is playing more than St Ledger.
Is it just me or does everyone forget that assits get you goals. Goals get you to tournaments. Who got the most assists for us enroute to the Euros? Aiden McGeady.
Look, say what you like about him. Frustrating as hell, infuriating even. But we need him. And dont give me this rubbish that because he doesnt play in the Premier League he should be down the pecking order. What in the hell has McClean done in an Ireland Jersey yet other than run into players and waste corner kicks?
I would start Coleman right midfield, our most consistent crosser of the ball, I would also consider starting Wilson in the holding midfield role as he’s been playing that role with Stoke this season, Long & Walters up front & the midfield of
Coleman. McCarthy, Wilson, Brady
Not bad midfield/forward line but I think a couple of our best defenders are being taken out from the back line and we seriously can’t afford to leak soft goals. And in fairness the way Coleman is playing with Everton at right back he’s as good as a midfielder the way he gets forward and is still capable of getting back defending too
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Hopefully thats Bradys starting position locked in, playing unbelievably for Hull so far this year, 2 goals in last two games
But without McGeady, who is going to give the ball away and hit the first man with most crosses and set pieces? Oh yeah…we still have McClean! Phew!
McGeady a terrible loss. We can cover the others
Considering we need to get a least 4 points from these two games, losing players like St. Ledger and McGeady is a huge huge blow. Joey O’Brien was never going to make the 23 man squad. The loss of McGeady especially lessens our chances of winning either game.
Never rated St Ledger would prefer to see Dunne & O’ Shea in the centre, wilson left back and coleman right back. and McGeady seems to play one brilliant game and 5 crap ones and Joey O’Brien was never really in with a shot so for me its no major loss. Good opportunity for players I think are more deserving of a place in the team
These are the most important fixtures of the whole campaign, and without our best possible players we are at a loss. People who argue we’re better off without McGeady or St. Ledger are just presenting idiotic arguments. We won’t win either game if we don’t have the best players on the pitch.
Can Richard Dunne play and give a fully fit performance for two extremely important games in 5 days?
Can we win either game without Aiden McGeady being available.
I would suggest the answer is no to both those questions.
How are they idiotic arguments? Proof is on the pitch. They are consistently poor. to suggest a championship player and a former SPL player now playing in Russia are our best players is idiotic considering there are PL regulars not getting a look in like Clark and Brady. my point they are not our best possible players. If dunne isn’t capable for two games then I’d have Clark in his place
John are you actually serious Aiden McGeady is a very average footballer who is currently in the middle of a horrible run of form at international level. What evidence can you take from recent memory to derive the opinion that Ireland are actually a stronger side when he plays, he has had very little positive effect in any games of late with his hall mark being selfish play resulting in being dispossessed far to easily and a failure to deliver any end product of note. I fail to see how his forced withdrawal from the squad could have a negative impact on Ireland’s ability to get a result.
Completely agree John. With respect to St Ledger, Ciaran Clark should be in the starting squad instead. He’s a regular in an expected mid-table premier league team. McGeady shows glimpses of quality and then trails off again. Players should be picked on form. Brady is playing much better than McGeady. Clark is playing more than St Ledger.
Is it just me or does everyone forget that assits get you goals. Goals get you to tournaments. Who got the most assists for us enroute to the Euros? Aiden McGeady.
Look, say what you like about him. Frustrating as hell, infuriating even. But we need him. And dont give me this rubbish that because he doesnt play in the Premier League he should be down the pecking order. What in the hell has McClean done in an Ireland Jersey yet other than run into players and waste corner kicks?
I would start Coleman right midfield, our most consistent crosser of the ball, I would also consider starting Wilson in the holding midfield role as he’s been playing that role with Stoke this season, Long & Walters up front & the midfield of
Coleman. McCarthy, Wilson, Brady
Not bad midfield/forward line but I think a couple of our best defenders are being taken out from the back line and we seriously can’t afford to leak soft goals. And in fairness the way Coleman is playing with Everton at right back he’s as good as a midfielder the way he gets forward and is still capable of getting back defending too
But Pilkington is alright?
The best news I’ve heard all day
I think Ireland might beat Sweden at home but will probably loose to Austria away