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Long and Keane to lead the line for Ireland against England

Ireland face Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions in a much-anticipated international friendly.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI HAS tasked Robbie Keane and Shane Long with firing Ireland to a famous win at Wembley tomorrow night.

Ireland face Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions in a much-anticipated international friendly in London.

Jon Walters will likely feature on the wing while James McCarthy partners Glenn Whelan in the centre of midfield.

Like in-form skipper Robbie Keane, Aiden McGeady trained with the squad for the first time today but the Spartak Moscow winger did enough to earn a jersey.

Ireland XI: Forde; Coleman, O’Shea, St Ledger, Kelly; Walters, McCarthy, Whelan, McGeady; Long, Keane.

What do you think?

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49 Comments
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    Mute Ronan O Connor(MUFC)
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    May 28th 2013, 5:07 PM

    Glenn Whelan is just not good enough.

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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    May 28th 2013, 5:22 PM

    Other than Gibson, there’s not too much else available. At least he is a Premier League regular.

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    Mute Paul Martin
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    May 28th 2013, 6:06 PM

    And Gibson isn’t available either

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    Mute george holmes
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    May 28th 2013, 4:37 PM

    Fkn Glenn Whelan, seriesly. The sooner trap is shown the door the better. At least he’s givn Coleman and McCarthy proper game time at long last, 2 outstanding talents.

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    Mute Jigsaw
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    May 28th 2013, 4:40 PM

    What other options are there for defensive midfielder?

    20
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    May 28th 2013, 4:51 PM

    Whelan also provides better set piece delivery than most of the media golden boys.

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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    May 28th 2013, 5:19 PM

    Hasn’t McCarthy played every qualifier so far? Coleman has played most too. They’re pretty much regulars at this stage.

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    Mute george holmes
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    May 28th 2013, 5:22 PM

    Isn’t that what I’m sayn, I’m just glad he’s stuck with them and not acted the bollx with them, like he did at the start of there international careers.

    4
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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    May 28th 2013, 5:31 PM

    Both young lads and both coming off their best seasons so far.

    McCarthy could have been useful in the last qualifiers. Would have unavailable for the Euros anyway. Coleman has improved tenfold this year, especially at right back. Not sure he was ready to take over from O’Shea before that.

    Saying that, we will see what Trap does when/if Dunne is for again. Might not go the way we want.

    11
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    Mute Captain Haddock
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    May 28th 2013, 5:31 PM

    Anybody that can run because Whelan can’t!!

    7
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    Mute Nick Menezes
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    May 28th 2013, 5:59 PM

    @Jigsaw-quinn can play there,meyler,gibson(if he was available),hendrick just to name a few

    3
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    Mute sparticus monkey
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    May 28th 2013, 10:32 PM

    Paul green:(

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    Mute Captain Haddock
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    May 28th 2013, 5:00 PM

    Keane to score Ireland to win 1-0…. 125/1 defo worth a tenner

    33
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    Mute Brendan
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    May 28th 2013, 5:43 PM

    It should be a good game. TV is so boring now with all the football and rugby over. Things are so bad that I’m watching the early stages of the French Open…..

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    Mute paul daly
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    May 28th 2013, 4:35 PM

    I tho k that should read McCarthy and Whelan in midfield rather than defence. Hopefull of a good performance and result. England are no great shakes

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    May 28th 2013, 4:38 PM

    thanks Paul

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    Mute Kev O Dowd
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    May 28th 2013, 4:44 PM

    Everyone, except Long will be acting as a defender anyway the way Trap has them playing.

    34
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    Mute Dave Marron
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    May 28th 2013, 4:35 PM

    A wee mistake there lads. I think you mean midfield in this sentance. “Jon Walters will likely feature on the wing while James McCarthy partners Glenn Whelan in the centre of defence.”

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    May 28th 2013, 4:38 PM

    nice one Dave. tester.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    May 28th 2013, 4:33 PM

    COYBIG!

    25
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    Mute Declan Smith
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    May 28th 2013, 4:43 PM

    Apart from the revenue made (in this case) what is the point in playing friendlies if the Manager is not going to experiment with the line-up. We know what a fit Robbie can bring to the team so why not play Walters in his natural roll with Long playing off him and put Houlihan in midfield albeit out wide or even give Pilkington a shot at the title!

    21
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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    May 28th 2013, 5:21 PM

    Pilkington pulled out.

    Keane was desperate to play because of the opponent.

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    Mute Big Pat
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    May 28th 2013, 6:02 PM

    Correction Billie. Pilkington pulled out for the third time! Lets hope he pulls out on his honeymoon or he’ll get no bloody game time for Ireland.

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    Mute jrbmc
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    May 28th 2013, 6:36 PM

    Yea we all know what a fit Robbie Keane can bring ….’ Nothing ‘ … Is the answer to that , a great servant but he’s in the past and needs to move aside , doesn’t matter what he’s doing in the states it’s 2nd division football there , it’s great to see him prolong his career but he’s not and has not been of international standard for a few years now and need to do the right thing and retire after this game , it would be a good fixture to end your international career on.

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    Mute colly dub
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    May 28th 2013, 9:15 PM

    I luv trolling I do..

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    Mute Mark Phelan
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    May 28th 2013, 4:35 PM

    COYBIG

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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    May 28th 2013, 4:32 PM

    Why does he insist on playing Walters on the wing? Apart from that it’s not decent side!

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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    May 28th 2013, 5:36 PM

    He usually plays there for Stoke tbf.

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    Mute Declan McCabe
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    May 28th 2013, 5:57 PM

    Ohhhh Johnnie Walters

    He used to be a Striker, he’s a winger now

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    May 28th 2013, 6:02 PM

    It’s for the has-been to bring back Anthony Stokes……….

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    Mute Frances O'Connor
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    May 28th 2013, 6:00 PM

    Get rid of Whelan & McGeady. Weso & McClean should be there. Time for Keane to pack it in. He’s only interested in being the record cap holder at this stage. Give Paddy Madden a chance.

    15
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    Mute Aidan Jennings
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    May 28th 2013, 6:19 PM

    Paddy Madden, Anthony Stokes, haha, give Jason Byrne another chance while we’re at it! He scores goals…

    On a serious note though, St Ledger is by far the worst player on this team (yes, even worse than Whelan) and i worry he will get shown up badly tomorrow as he did at the Euros in every game.

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    Mute Frances O'Connor
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    May 28th 2013, 6:40 PM

    Madden & Stokes are better than sammon & cox. Bring in those two other muppets, best & folan.

    3
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    Mute Captain Haddock
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    May 28th 2013, 6:06 PM

    Aiden Bleedin McGeady what a waste of space!! How is he even in the squad??

    McClean played well against Sweden & Austria, & would be well up for it against England…. McGeady is an oul’one

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    Mute Declan McCabe
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    May 28th 2013, 6:03 PM

    As good a team as we’ve got, accounting for injuries, withdrawals and self imposed exiles. COYBIG!!!

    11
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    Mute Kev O Dowd
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    May 28th 2013, 4:40 PM

    Lets hope we repeat this. COYBIG

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09jvRjdHFwE

    (note the use of language by the English commentator ha)

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    Mute Kev O Dowd
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    May 28th 2013, 4:42 PM

    They still say their first home defeat was to Hugary in 1953.

    18
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    May 28th 2013, 4:57 PM

    Its because it didn’t happen in their precious Wembley, they think they can ignore it. If they lost every home game during that half-decade Wembley was being redeveloped they’d ignore those defeats as well.

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    Mute Kev O Dowd
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    May 28th 2013, 5:06 PM

    Thats true! It was the first defeat in Wembley alright. I was once asked the question at a London pub quiz “Who was the first country to beat England on their home soil?”. You can imagine my outrage when I was dropped points for not answering Hungary ha.

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    Mute Padriag O'Traged
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    May 28th 2013, 5:26 PM

    It’s only “much anticipated” in Ireland, it’s a very one sided rivalry, it’s not like playing Scotland. Or Germany. Or France. Or Argentina. Or even Wales.

    9
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    Mute Damocles
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    May 28th 2013, 4:53 PM

    ENGERLUND!

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    Mute Frances O'Connor
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    May 28th 2013, 5:55 PM

    Get rid of Whelan & McGeady. Weso & McClean should be there. Time for Keane to pack it in as well. He’s only interested in being the record holder of cap’s at this stage.

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    Mute Ditcher
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    May 28th 2013, 6:01 PM

    Whelan and Kelly ah jazus!!!

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    Mute Martin Greene
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    May 28th 2013, 8:59 PM

    Bellie, Mccarthy might have travelled to the euros had the Muppet of a manager Included him in more of the games leading up to it. Gibson won’t play cos of the way he was treated by the same muppet manager. Coleman was initially ignored until Muppet managers hand was forced to call him up to start. Keane should retire. A zillion caps is enough. Friendlies are for blooding new and young players not keeping Keanes ego happy. Good luck to them but I can only see an honourable defeat with Robbie doing the YMCA all night.

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    Mute John Mc Dermott
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    May 29th 2013, 9:44 AM

    You do realise James McCarthy’s father was fighting cancer last summer, and that’s why he pulled out of the Euro 2012 team?

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    Mute Martin Greene
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    May 29th 2013, 1:32 PM

    Yes I do John. But I feel that if he had have been a guaranteed starter he may have made more of an effort to be at the euros. its only a 2 hour flight back home if circumstances changed. Would never expect him to leave a sick father to sit on the bench for 3 weeks.

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    Mute Rodney Monaghan
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    May 29th 2013, 6:32 AM

    Regardless of which 11 step out onto the pitch, I’ll be shouting “Come On You Boys In Green”….
    We have the players we have, and I’ll be getting behind them 100%, at around lunchtime here in Vancouver!
    They’re not the only Boys In Green on the road!

    3
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    Mute Robert Cole
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    May 28th 2013, 8:03 PM

    Whelan is Probably our only choice as a defensive midfielder but has too many bad games, McCarthy and long, very good players who should be playing for better clubs really.Come on Ireland!

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    Mute Craig Connolly
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    May 29th 2013, 2:03 PM

    Some absolute muppets on this site. We’re playing England for the first time in 18 years and all ye can do is slate the team. Shut up and get behind the team for the game or f**k off!

    2
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