Republic of Ireland Team and New Manager for Brazil 2014 World Cup

[GAA_Punter]

New Years is generally a time for reflection, a chance to look back on the year and discuss the events that have shaped our lives. GreenWatch however is already looking ahead and has been thinking about how future of Irish football is shaping up. With the possibility of a place in the European championship still alive for the here and now, GreenWatch has looked even further into the crystal maze to see how the Irish team will look by the time the next World cup comes around in 2014.

Irish football is close to big revival, there are couple of exciting talents that are about to make the breakthrough in English football, everyone knows about the impact Seamus Coleman has made at Everton, however there is also David Meyler, Ciaran Clarke, James McCarthy, Shane Duffy and Marc Wilson all beginning to make names for themselves in the Premier League while in the Championship you have the emerging talents of Leicester City's on loan defender Greg Cunningham, the Crystal Palace duo of Owen Garvan and Sean Scannell not forgetting Shane Long, up in Scotland you have the exciting quartet of Adam Rooney, Jonathan Hayes, Anthony Stokes and Conor Sammon.

Add to all this the likelihood that Jaime O'Hara and Mark Noble will declare for Ireland in the not too distant future than it's fair to say that Ireland is on the verge of an exciting new era.

So how will Ireland's team and set up look by the team we board the plane in 3 and a half year's time all set for Brazil. Well for one thing there will be a new manager, Giovanni Trapattoni and the FAI will part ways after EURO 2012. The new man will be of a different mould to the Italian, a former Irish international 18 years younger than Giovanni with a penchant for flowing football Sean O'Driscoll. Ireland will move away from the 4-4-2 system and will deploy a 4-3-3 formation.

Despite all the talent that's coming through it will be still be an old head in goals as Shay Given by then 38 will still be at the top of his game and still in the premiership. Kieran Westwood will be pushing him close and will by then be a premiership goal keeper.

A youthful back line will have plenty of pace in the flanks and strength in the middle. Coleman and Cunningham will man the flanks, both players have good pace and are good crossers of the ball. While the centre half pairing will be Ciaran Clarke and Sean St Ledger with Shane Duffy starting to make the breakthrough at club and international level.

The backline looks particularly strong with no room for Paul McShane, John O'Shea and Richard Dunne in the starting line up. Dunne, by then 35 and 33 year old O'Shea are very much the elder state's men in the squad and are integral to the set up acting as cover and helping the development of Duffy and Clarke.
The midfield looks particularly exciting with Meyler, McCarthy and Noble 

Rest of story on
http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/2011/01/01/greenwatch-prediction-republic-of-ireland-team-and-new-manager-for-brazil-2014-world-cup/

[Norf Tyrone]

Conor Clifford is as good as anything coming through at Chelsea at present and I am comparing him to McEacheran, Kakuta etc.

He excelled on loan at Plymouth and would've stayed there bar their financial issues. I'd expect he'll go on loan to a C'ship side in the next week or two.

[Capt Pat]

He scored a good goal to win the fa cup youth final for Chelsea. He will replace Glen Whelan on the Ireland team.