We have, along with Spar Ireland, asked Ireland fans on Twitter to name their starting XI’s for Monday’s crucial game against Georgia.
Ireland currently sit third in the Group D. The team sitting second from bottom in Group D won’t be pushovers on Monday though, and showed what they were capable of with an impressive 1-0 win over lacklustre Scotland on Friday in Tbilisi.
That result, combined with Ireland’s 4-0 win over minnows Gibraltar, has given Martin O’Neill’s the hold over third spot in the group, and potentially a place in the play-offs… if they can beat Georgia.
We asked Twitter users to select their starting XI for Monday’s crunch game, and we’ve chosen our own line-up.
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Westwood
O'Shea, Clark, Wilson
Coleman Brady
Hoolahan McCarthy McClean
Long Keane— David Walsh (@DavoWalsh87) August 24, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland
Irish XI🇮🇪
GivenColeman O,Shea Clark Brady
O,Kane McCarthy
Hoolahan
Walter Keane(c) McClean— Kieran (@TheIrishKieran) August 24, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland pic.twitter.com/9YCjAID82V
— Sean Meehan (@SeanMeehan77) August 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/Kevin_C11/status/635813300681474048
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland
Randolph
Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Wilson
McCarthy
Walters, Hoolahan, Brady
Keane, Long— Rob Smith (@robsmithireland) August 25, 2015
https://twitter.com/DavidCahill99/status/635856611186208768
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland 3-4-1-2 Westwood O'Shea Keogh Wilson Coleman Mccarthy Brady McLean Holohan Walters Long
— Kieran O'Brien (@KOBrien1977) August 25, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph, Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson, Brady, Whelan, McCarthy, Arter, Hoolahan, McClean, Long. 4-2-3-1 formation.
— Matty Condon (@MattyCondon) August 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/cafferkey_sean/status/637280523266691072
And here’s the XI we think Ireland should start against Georgia.
In goal we’ve opted for Shay Given, despite the new Stoke City goalkeeper once again finding himself as a back-up, and yet to start a game this season. Given has, however, looked like his old dependable self when playing for Ireland.
The back-four is settled, with Marc Wilson and John O’Shea having cemented their central defensive partnership, Seamus Coleman is arguably Ireland’s most in-form player, while Robbie Brady offers a significant threat from set-pieces.
In midfield, Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy played well against Scotland, and, while neither will unlock a defence, both work hard and offer Ireland a solid base from which to attack. Wes Hoolahan provides a much needed creative spark.
Up front, Robbie Keane is in excellent form in MLS, and is still Ireland’s best chance of a scoring a goal. Jonathan Walters will most likely start wide-right on Monday, and it’d be hard to argue against the Stoke striker’s inclusion due to his good performance on Friday, but we’ve opted for West Brom winger James McClean. We feel the Derryman he provides a more direct option, but will most likely be sprung from the bench by O’Neill.
On the other flank, Aiden McGeady rarely starts for Everton, but scored two wonderful goals against Georgia in the reverse fixture last year. The winger can open any defence with his pace and trickery, if all too infrequently, and should dovetail well with Brady when cutting inside, allowing the Norwich player to overlap.
If McGeady doesn’t start, it’d be interesting to see how Shane Long would do in a role he’s being used in quite frequently for Southampton.
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