Glenn Whelan

[livehead1]

I never once said he was useless- my point was that you could hardly call him an adventurous player with the ball.

O'Shea is an average passer/user of the ball at best, and all this chart tells us is that he doesn't have the confidence or ability to be creative with the ball.

The majority of his passes are over short distances to the winger or to a centre-half.

Have you ever played football? He is a full back, who do you expect him to be passing to? He has someone of the ability of Cristiano Ronaldo in front of him...GIVE HIM THE BALL. That is all he has to do, no more, no less. He is a very good passer of the ball and does what any right minded full back would do, i.e. give the ball to one of the most creative players in the world.

What would you want him to do?!

[tricky_colour]

I never once said he was useless- my point was that you could hardly call him an adventurous player with the ball.

O'Shea is an average passer/user of the ball at best, and all this chart tells us is that he doesn't have the confidence or ability to be creative with the ball.

The majority of his passes are over short distances to the winger or to a centre-half.


What occured to me on the chart was that about half his passes were in the opposition half, where it is much harder to pass the ball, be it long or short.
OK most were on the wing but there is often little space there.

[elroy]

Whitehead looks to be signing for Stoke from Sunderland, could mean Whelans place is in jeopardy.

[Razors left peg]

Whitehead looks to be signing for Stoke from Sunderland, could mean Whelans place is in jeopardy.

Whitehead is a decent pro but he's not exactly Michael Essien, Whelan very much still in with chance of 1st team place if his form is good

[tetsujin1979]

Cracking goal from Whelan, shot across goal from just inside the corner of the penalty area, keeper never got near it
basically the same as the goal VS Italy, just about 10 yards closer to the goal

[elroy]

Most improved Irish player under the Trap era so far??

[centre mid]

JOS probably challenging for that also, take your point though, he has been very consistent since Montenegro away.

[DeLorean]

If not quite eating humble pie I would like to give Glenn Whelan some credit since I was so heavily on in case at times over the past couple of years. Although my evaluation of his performances back then has not changed I do see a lot more of a player in him now. Even his little flare up with Vieira a couple of weeks ago was symbolic of the more confident guy we are seeing these days. Of course, there were many of you who have seen this from day one but he has really only started winning me over since maybe Paris or so. He obviously has still some way to go but I do think he's more tenacious in his tackling and confident in his passing. Hopefully Gibson can make similar progress but I haven't seen any signs as yet.

[drummerboy]

I think he is improving all the time. His performances this season in the Premier League have been very consistant. Long may it continue.

[Duggie]

im a big fan of whelan's. loves playing for the green jersey you can see it in him. not only can he tackle but he can play a bit aswell. good passer of the ball and can score. establishing himself as a definate starter every game.

[rambler14]

Most improved Irish player of the last 12 months. Thought he was outstanding again last night and that Ireland without him were poor.

[elroy]

Most improved Irish player of the last 12 months. Thought he was outstanding again last night and that Ireland without him were poor.

Couldnt agree more, has really grown into the role which is commendable considering he hasnt had an experienced head beside him. The midfield fell apart last night after he went off. Great to see him progressing so well.

[DeLorean]

It was kind of funny in his interview the last day as well. He said that he didn't care how much of the ball Brazil have, as long as they don't score! He's Trap's boy alright!

[tetsujin1979]

turns out Trap knows more about judging a player than we do!

[TrapAPony]

turns out Trap knows more about judging a player than we do!

You would wonder why McShane gets so many games so.

[Acornvilla]

You would wonder why McShane gets so many games so.

i actually think mcshane is a decent centre back..? trap playing him right back does the lad no favours.. certianly not good enough to start thou. sledge, josh, dunne and wilson are better players

[elroy]

i actually think mcshane is a decent centre back..? trap playing him right back does the lad no favours.. certianly not good enough to start thou. sledge, josh, dunne and wilson are better players

I have a feeling McShane might yet come good. He needs to improve certain aspects of his game, hes not the quickest so needs to be very sharp with his positioning. He also needs to cut out the howler a game he is averaging at the moment. Off the top of my head, he has made considerable howlers against Brazil, Wales and Montenegro in recent times (some might say the France goal was a howler as well). These howlers are generally occuring from silly decisions that if he can eradicate I think he may yet prove very useful.

[Razors left peg]

I have a feeling McShane might yet come good. He needs to improve certain aspects of his game, hes not the quickest so needs to be very sharp with his positioning. He also needs to cut out the howler a game he is averaging at the moment. Off the top of my head, he has made considerable howlers against Brazil, Wales and Montenegro in recent times (some might say the France goal was a howler as well). These howlers are generally occuring from silly decisions that if he can eradicate I think he may yet prove very useful.

I havent looked but I would say the early pages of the Richard Dunne thread might be similar to thoughts on McShane now. Just hope McShane develops in the same way.

As for Glenn Whelan I thought he was excellent last night and he seems to have a growing presence out there now. When he came on the scene first at start of last campaign I thought he looked too lightweight. I dont know if its just my perception of him but he seems to look bigger and stronger out there now

[SkStu]

Whelan has totally won me over since the start of this qualifying campaign. Fair play to him. His tears after scoring against Italy brought a lump to my throat.

[yapster]

Whelan is a far better player than 2 years ago, he has learned well from his experience in the first team., kudos to Trap on that one. McShane on the other hand is getting worse as time goes on and Trap needs to examine himself about picking McShane ahead of Steve Finnan also Kilbane should not have played last night and should be retired at this stage.

[Acornvilla]

Whelan is a far better player than 2 years ago, he has learned well from his experience in the first team., kudos to Trap on that one. McShane on the other hand is getting worse as time goes on and Trap needs to examine himself about picking McShane ahead of Steve Finnan also Kilbane should not have played last night and should be retired at this stage.

positive words from yaPpster :) IM PROUD OF YOU MAN! i still think mcshane has it in him to come good. as for killer definitly shouldnt be there but can anyone blame him for wanting to play on for as long as he can?

[Charlie Darwin]

Whelan is a far better player than 2 years ago, he has learned well from his experience in the first team., kudos to Trap on that one. McShane on the other hand is getting worse as time goes on and Trap needs to examine himself about picking McShane ahead of Steve Finnan also Kilbane should not have played last night and should be retired at this stage.
Judging by the amount of playing time Finnan has had at Portsmouth, he's either not making the grade or still has serious fitness issues. I've seen him subbed off at half time a couple of times, so that could very well be the case. If so, Trap is well-advised to try and develop Kelly - after yesterday's performance, he's likely ahead of McShane in the running.

Whelan has become a massive, massive player for us and for Stoke. I honestly didn't see it when Trap started picking him - when we were being torn apart by Serbia and Colombia, I genuinely thought he wasn't going to cut it, but his last few performances have been great and he's developing a handy knack of arriving late in the box, and we know he can finish...

[tetsujin1979]

I thought he played well with Steven Reid beside him, and suffered the most when Reid was injured again. Against Brazil he showed how far he has come, and it was Andrews who suffered from the loss of his midfield partner.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think Andrews' energy levels dropped a bit too - I was confused when Whelan came off instead of him, seeing as Andrews played 90 minutes on Sunday.

[irishfan86]

I think Andrews' energy levels dropped a bit too - I was confused when Whelan came off instead of him, seeing as Andrews played 90 minutes on Sunday.

I agree. I was surprised when Whelan came off instead of Andrews.

[yapster]

positive words from yaPpster :) IM PROUD OF YOU MAN! i still think mcshane has it in him to come good. as for killer definitly shouldnt be there but can anyone blame him for wanting to play on for as long as he can?

thanx acorn but it's not positive it's a fact. I wish I could believe you about McShane but watching him last night showed that he is clueless at this level. I prefer Kelly though I have my reservations about him too. I just can't understand why Kilbane was picked.

[osarusan]

I thought he played well with Steven Reid beside him, and suffered the most when Reid was injured again. Against Brazil he showed how far he has come, and it was Andrews who suffered from the loss of his midfield partner.
spot on. Roles have been reversed almost.

[drummerboy]

I think Pulis didn't want Whelan to play a full 90 minutes. Andrews had played a game at Anfield on Sunday so it was asking a lot of him to have the fitness levels to last a full 90 minutes.

[elroy]

I think Pulis didn't want Whelan to play a full 90 minutes. Andrews had played a game at Anfield on Sunday so it was asking a lot of him to have the fitness levels to last a full 90 minutes.

Thought it was mentioned somewhere that Whelan took a knock, but am not certain. Was very disappointed with Gibson, he was ineffective as he was in Paris, I know hes young but for a lad that needs to make a breakthrough at Man Yoo he needs to start imposing him a bit more.

[Colbert Report]

I just can't understand why Kilbane was picked.

Perhaps because he's the best available option for the left full back position?

I'm not a big fan of "blooding young players" in matches like these. I think you should always play the best XI available to you, no matter what the situation. If players are good enough, then they'll break into the team themselves.

[SkStu]

but arent you then throwing them in at the deep end for qualifiers and the like when there defintely is something at stake?

Friendlies really dont matter, winning or losing, and in my opinion they are the best time to get a player accustomed to the differences of the international game (atmosphere, expectation levels, pace, formation, different team-mates, etc). But i absolutely agree that a couple of inexperienced players in a team needs to be supplemented with a lot of experienced players to coach them through the game.

[yapster]

McCarthy lost most of his freindlies by blooding new talent and it stood to the team.

[tetsujin1979]

McCarthy had to blood new talent out of necessity due to mass retirements of an aging squad

[Charlie Darwin]

To be fair to Trap, four of the starting eleven are players he brought in to international football. I'm sure McCarthy's stats after two years were very similar.

[Colbert Report]

but arent you then throwing them in at the deep end for qualifiers and the like when there defintely is something at stake?

Friendlies really dont matter, winning or losing, and in my opinion they are the best time to get a player accustomed to the differences of the international game (atmosphere, expectation levels, pace, formation, different team-mates, etc). But i absolutely agree that a couple of inexperienced players in a team needs to be supplemented with a lot of experienced players to coach them through the game.

I know what you're saying, and yes, under this system I'll concede that the odd time you'll end up with someone making their debut in a crucial away qualifier to France or Italy, but I really think that playing your best available XI every time is the most effective way of having a successful squad, long-term.

In my mind, this would have been an ideal time to blood young Stephen Ward, clearly our best available left-full, into the starting team, but with the injuries to O'Shea and Dunne I can see why Trap was loathe to do that. I do realise that Ward was not even in the squad, so maybe Trap doesn't rate him at all, but you get my point. If you want to blood young players, throw them on for the last ten minutes when the game is already won or lost.

[seanfhear]

Perhaps because he's the best available option for the left full back position?

I'm not a big fan of "blooding young players" in matches like these. I think you should always play the best XI available to you, no matter what the situation. If players are good enough, then they'll break into the team themselves.
If Trap had given some young players a start from the beginning and it went tits up (as it quiet easily could against Brazil) then "some" of our supporters would be writing off these young players forever. Ireland cannot afford to put out inexperienced players against Brazil even in a friendly.

[Serb]

Looks like Glenn Whelan took on Abdoulaye Faye for not taking the pre-match warm-up vs Chelsea seriously. Faye only managed to last 9 minutes before getting injured in that match, confronted Whelan at the full-time whistle and reacted to the argument by "belting him in the face". Read all about it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/27/stoke-city-abdoulaye-faye-glenn-whelan

[geysir]

Glenn takes things seriously and has the balls to challenge the attitude of a flakey captain? sounds good to me.

That's a pretty detailed article, A snitch in the house? not good, that should be the most worrying thing for Stoke.
Something also wrong when the captain is poncing about and the trainer/coach doesn't notice a thing out of place.

[seanfhear]

Fair dues to Glenn for speaking up. Most would keep their mouth shut and let Faye a**e about.

I believe that Glenn has the attitude that is desirable in a captain.

[Duggie]

ive always been a fan of whelan. wonder who did pulis side with on this argument. hope it dosent cause any trouble for him.

[Junior]

No matter the rights and wrongs of the argument (and fair play to Whelan for letting his views been known - in what sounds like a dignified manner) - The mole should be ashamed of himself, running to the press with this sort of detailed account - Expect another Pulis headbutt any day now................

EDIT: errrr unless of course its Glenn?

[soccerc]

EDIT: errrr unless of course its Glenn?

Nope, my understanding is Glenn had nothing to do with the media reports

[Junior]

In the know, are we? pray tell.....

[yapster]

When Whelan went off in Paris our whole mid-field collapsed. He was an enormous loss...

[Colbert Report]

There's just a little bit of Roy Maurice Keane in Glenn Whelan.

[yapster]

There's just a little bit of Roy Maurice Keane in Glenn Whelan.



without the stupidity

[Colbert Report]

without the stupidity

I was talking more about the preparation habits and mindset that he has.

[yapster]

I was talking more about the preparation habits and mindset that he has.


Keanes mindset ffs

[Razors left peg]

It was Keanes mindset that made him in to one of the worlds great players, whether u like him is a totally different thing, but he had a brilliant winning attitude.More players could do with getting a piece of that

[Docboy]

Spot on with that. That's why I had a degree of confidence going in to the second leg of the play-off in Paris. Whatever limitations Andews & Whelan, to a lesser extent, have they're both gutsy characters and that still counts for a lot in the modern game.