The Centre Midfield Crisis.

[Duggie]

has carsley retired again or is he injured or what ?????

[NeilMcD]

Carsley is not retired he was just injured for this qualifier. He will be called into the squad when he is likely to play. It seems that is the deal he has with Trap. That is why he was going to be called up for this squad.

[Duggie]

Carsley is not retired he was just injured for this qualifier. He will be called into the squad when he is likely to play. It seems that is the deal he has with Trap. That is why he was going to be called up for this squad.

well id imagine he will start from now on so

[Carrigaline]

and we lose one of Europe's premier right backs.
Let's be honest here. He will never play in the Champions League again or compete for league titles.

Finnan has been a great servant, but his time is coming to an end.

[Carrigaline]

That's why Andy Reid doesn't fit in at the moment, he is not discplined or mobile enough to play in that role. . . . It's ridiculous, would people prefer Andy Reid to play, spray 3 or 4 60 yard passes during the game and have them walk through the middle of us?
Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.

[Duggie]

Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.

some peoples views on reidy amaze me - ur right.

[SwanVsDalton]

Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.

I have no truck with those who think Reid is unfit and doesn't cover ground but he is certainly not box-to-box, nowhere near.

I think the 'TRAP HATES REID!' panic is a bit premature. Let's see what the friendly against Poland throws up.

[Stuttgart88]

I saw some bits on RTE before the match. It looked they highlighted some very good Reid tackles against Arsenal.

Also saw Giles & Dunphy getting out of their Limo outside the Hogan Stand at 5.30pm. The RTE make up department does a good job. They look like they're on death's door in the flesh.

[paul_oshea]

stutts i thought giles looked very raggy and saggy on Wednesday, even good ol bill. They looked old men.

[NeilMcD]

You know what, probably something to do with the fact that they are old men.

[KildareFan]

Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.


Reid is definitely not a box to box midfielder!! and he is definitely not a ball winner either which is what need in there.

I'm not disputing that Reid has qualities but real managers can't just pick the 11 best players, he has to think about the team and at the minute Trap is obviously sacrifricing Reid for the greater good of the team.

If Reid was to play, maybe Duff and McGeady wouldn't get as much freedom?

[geysir]

Johnny is a mere 68 years old, I've seen fresher looking 80 year olds.
I always knew Golf wasn't a sport.

[galwayhoop]

Everybody is going way over the top about this central midfield thing.

Clearly, Gibson and Whelan were given very specific jobs, they were told to sit in front of the defence, offer proctection and not to let Cyrpus play through the middle of us. Which they didn't, not even once. I was at the game and thought that they did their jobs well and really can't believe the stick they are getting since. Sure, they didn't get on the ball, spray passes around, beat men or get past the forwards but that is not what they were there to do.

Obviously, the team were told to get the ball out wide to duff and mcgeady as quickly and as often as possible which worked really well. These are our dangerous players so they are the ones that we want on the ball, they are the ones who will create chances and goals for us.

That's why Andy Reid doesn't fit in at the moment, he is not discplined or mobile enough to play in that role. Gibson and Whelan aren't world beaters but it's not like we are spoilt for choice, the Trap has to make the best of what he has and that formation was designed to protect the defence and to get our most dangerous players on the ball.

It's ridiculous, would people prefer Andy Reid to play, spray 3 or 4 60 yard passes during the game and have them walk through the middle of us? The team is much more important than Reid or any other single player, the trap is developing a formation to get the best from us and i really can't believe that people are questioning him already, especially as we have taken 7 points from 9

well said. i agree totally.

everyone is getting carried away about this. we have had a poor selection of midfield players since RK left (the first time). if we had a world class central midfielder then perhaps things would be different but we do not. granted Andy Reid is a decent player but really is only a middling premiership player - if even that.

Trap obviously doesn't think he can play the disciplined role he wants his two central midfield players to play. he doesn't want a player spraying the ball from the middle. he has identified our wingers and front two as our best options for scoring goals and wants two players to stay in the middle and protect our defense. simple as that really.

the two on wednesday (lets be honest neither top players) had a role to protect our defense from the pace and penetration of the cypriot's going forward. they achieved this, when they had possession they were to give the ball to our atacking players. they did their job, were disciplind but not flamboyant. if we had a strong enough midfielder to do both he would probably play but in fairness i think Trap has identified how he wants us to play and he now wants players to stick to the game plan.

[RiffRaff]

Carsley is not retired he was just injured for this qualifier. He will be called into the squad when he is likely to play. It seems that is the deal he has with Trap. That is why he was going to be called up for this squad.

Where did you hear this because I'd assume Trap wasnt happy with his reasons for missing the end of season get togther and had discarded him. I dont think he would have added much on wednesday but he could be crucial in some of the big away games, but only if we switch to 4-5-1. You can see the job he did at Everton from the way they have been conceding this season.

[Stuttgart88]

Where did you hear this It was in the press a while back.

Just like he was open in the Irish Times today - Trap's exact reasoning behind Andy Reid's ommission. You may or may not agree with it but at least he is answering the question and I believe him when he says he is above having vendettas against players.

"Look, I know how your game . . . last month it was (Stephen) Ireland, now it's Andy Reid," he said when asked about the player. "But I want to clarify this. Even in Stuttgart, I always played players that were needed in that particular moment, I always looked at the team's interest.

"Andy Reid? Ireland? I have nothing against any player. They are all like my children. I just look at the balance of the team and try to give it a solidity that can give us hope for the future. Sure, I can make mistakes but I don't have anything against anybody."

Warming to his theme, the Italian managed to damn the Dubliner with fairly lavish praise, comparing him to some pretty big international stars, Ronaldinho among them, while still making it clear he is not what is required just now.

"I just want a solid team with a good balance that plays international football," he said. "Like this table, with its legs, you have to be solid. Andy has very good qualities but not necessarily what we need. It's not that it should be a problem for Andy Reid. It's about the team."

Reid, he continued, might well come into his own if Ireland can get to the stage where they are dominating games but as long as the likes of Cyprus have the capacity to come to Dublin and make life difficult for their hosts, as they did in the second half on Wednesday, then, he made clear, he remains something of a luxury.

"When you command the play then it's possible but when you have pressure to contend with then you don't want to lose the work done by Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle.

"It's nothing against one particular player, let's make it clear. If we get to the point where our team dominates the game and we have the right balance then, of course, Andy Reid can be very useful to us. But I can't turn someone into a worker. I can't turn someone into a craftsman if that is not his job. I wanted to test the situation in Portugal but there was injury. I didn't get the chance to try him and now it's qualify, qualify, qualify . . . we can't gamble.

"I've been able to build a team that has a certain balance and I can't keep changing, I need to stick to what I've found. I have to be coherent. There is a philosopher who says if you are too coherent, you run the risk of being an imbecile but I can't keep changing. It's not easy to qualify. It's not easy to immediately find solid bases on which to build."

[NeilMcD]

Trap said it in an interview and it was reported in the papers with quotes.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Carsley wasn't injured according to the Herald today, Trap definitely said it last week though...

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/internationals/carsley-im-still-keen-to-play-for-ireland-1501778.html

IRELAND'S forgotten man Lee Carsley has reassured Irish supporters that he's still keen to play for his country and wants to play a part in the bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Carsley has not played, or even made it into an Ireland squad, since Giovanni Trapattoni took over in May -- his last cap was in the friendly against Brazil earlier this year.

The Birmingham City man was not called into the squad for last week's World Cup win over Cyprus as he had reportedly undergone surgery on a knee problem, but his club have stated that Carsley is fully fit and in line to play for Alex McLeish's high-flying team against Burnley tomorrow.

With Steven Reid out injured and Stephen Ireland still in self-imposed exile from the national team, some fans wondered if there should have been a role for veteran Carsley (34) for the qualifier against Cyprus, especially as the Irish central midfield of Darron Gibson and Glenn Whelan had so little experience at international level and very little game-time with their clubs this season.

Desire

And the player has today stated that he hopes to keep his international career alive and will make himself available for selection for next month's friendly against Poland -- if picked.

"I am still available and still keen to play for Ireland, my desire to play international football has never gone away," Carsley told the Evening Herald.

"I know there is a four-month break before the next qualifier now, but we have a friendly in Dublin next month and I will be on a plane over to Dublin if I am picked. I want to play for my country again.

"I feel I can still contribute and play a part, I would not hang around otherwise. I have said all along that I will not stand in the way of younger or better players.

"I think we have a great chance of qualifying for South Africa and I will play a part if I am needed.

"I don't know if I will still be around when the finals take place, it's a long way off, but if I can play a role in helping the lads to get there, then I am happy to do it.

"I don't know how my club situation will be, Birmingham have started the season well and we have a good chance of promotion, so we'll see how things are in a year's time. But I feel I can still contribute with Ireland."

Confusion has surrounded Carsley's non-appearance in the Irish squad for the Cyprus game.

He was not named in the original 22-man squad by Giovanni Trapattoni, and when there were doubts over the match fitness of Liam Miller and Glenn Whelan on top of Steven Reid's absence, Carsley's name was touted for a late call-up.

At a press conference in Dublin last week before the 'B' game against Nottingham Forest, the Ireland boss suggested that Carsley was injured and had undergone an operation, as the player came off early in the second half of Birmingham's win over QPR the previous week.

But Birmingham have since stated that Carsley had suffered only a knock on his knee and was back in training a few days later.

For his part, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish -- a former Scotland manager -- is glad that Carsley is not playing international football.

"From a selfish point of view, I'm delighted he's not playing for them [Ireland] because we can save him for Birmingham," McLeish said.

"He's got so much experience that he could play without it being a huge burden on his fitness levels, especially if it was in a five-man midfield. His performances have been very good for us and I hope that continues.

"But for his sake, if Lee still has a desire to play international football, I find that very refreshing and I would only encourage it."

- Aidan Fitzmaurice

[NeilMcD]

Strange one alright I doubt that Trap lied so I am sure there was some sort of mix up. Basically Birmingham are saying he is fit for tomorrow but they did not say if he was fit for last Wed.

[Stuttgart88]

I was in favour of Whelan over Carsley but I have to admit I thought CM was crying out for Carsley on Wednesday. We desperately needed a ball winner.

I'm going to have a good look at Delap on TV on Sunday afternoon too!

[paul_oshea]

It was in the press a while back.

Just like he was open in the Irish Times today - Trap's exact reasoning behind Andy Reid's ommission. You may or may not agree with it but at least he is answering the question and I believe him when he says he is above having vendettas against players.

"Look, I know how your game . . . last month it was (Stephen) Ireland, now it's Andy Reid," he said when asked about the player. "But I want to clarify this. Even in Stuttgart, I always played players that were needed in that particular moment, I always looked at the team's interest.

"Andy Reid? Ireland? I have nothing against any player. They are all like my children. I just look at the balance of the team and try to give it a solidity that can give us hope for the future. Sure, I can make mistakes but I don't have anything against anybody."

Warming to his theme, the Italian managed to damn the Dubliner with fairly lavish praise, comparing him to some pretty big international stars, Ronaldinho among them, while still making it clear he is not what is required just now.

"I just want a solid team with a good balance that plays international football," he said. "Like this table, with its legs, you have to be solid. Andy has very good qualities but not necessarily what we need. It's not that it should be a problem for Andy Reid. It's about the team."

Reid, he continued, might well come into his own if Ireland can get to the stage where they are dominating games but as long as the likes of Cyprus have the capacity to come to Dublin and make life difficult for their hosts, as they did in the second half on Wednesday, then, he made clear, he remains something of a luxury.

"When you command the play then it's possible but when you have pressure to contend with then you don't want to lose the work done by Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle.

"It's nothing against one particular player, let's make it clear. If we get to the point where our team dominates the game and we have the right balance then, of course, Andy Reid can be very useful to us. But I can't turn someone into a worker. I can't turn someone into a craftsman if that is not his job. I wanted to test the situation in Portugal but there was injury. I didn't get the chance to try him and now it's qualify, qualify, qualify . . . we can't gamble.

"I've been able to build a team that has a certain balance and I can't keep changing, I need to stick to what I've found. I have to be coherent. There is a philosopher who says if you are too coherent, you run the risk of being an imbecile but I can't keep changing. It's not easy to qualify. It's not easy to immediately find solid bases on which to build."


Interesting lads that I pointed on this earlier in a different thread I beleive. This is exactly what I thought he is trying to build up confidence in the team, build a team that has a winning mentality, and that doesn't ship silly or easy goals, and in the future if the team comes into its own in this area, reid will get more of a chance.

[galwayhoop]

Interesting lads that I pointed on this earlier in a different thread I beleive. This is exactly what I thought he is trying to build up confidence in the team, build a team that has a winning mentality, and that doesn't ship silly or easy goals, and in the future if the team comes into its own in this area, reid will get more of a chance.

exactly.

the first thing most good managers do when they join an underperforming club is tighten up the defense, stop conceding stupid goals and losing or drawing matches they should be winning. a prime example was blackburn under mark hughes, horrible to watch for a couple of years but then when they had a solid base the last season or so was quite good.

imo trap is trying to do the same. football management isn't really rocket science but more common sense decision making. make yourself hard to beat first and then look to win games well later on...

[third policeman]

I see the sense in Trap's approach and have even bought the argument about leaving out Andy Reid. It's just that we dont seem to have chosen the right options for those key centre midfield positions. We need to have a look at Garvan, McCann and O'Toole just to expand our range of choices. The best that can be said about Gibson and Whelan is that they stopped Cyprus from getting through our defence. that may well be a significant improvement on the Staunton era but it is still a fairly modest achievement. Cyprus are not exactly Italy and we were playing at home.

There's a great quote attributed to Bob Paisley that the most effective form of defence is denying the opposition the ball. Gibson, Whelan and the back four held out against Cyprus in the second half, but why did they need to hold out? What prevented us from keeping posession and putting Cyprus under pressure?

[Stuttgart88]

I keep forgetting about Joey O'Brien. If Trap wants height he's got it. O'Brien is probably the most like for like replacement for S. Reid. He could probably play Whelan's role well too.

[geysir]

I was in favour of Whelan over Carsley but I have to admit I thought CM was crying out for Carsley on Wednesday. We desperately needed a ball winner.
If you live long enough, you'll read some strange things:)

[Fergie's Son]

Here's the thing. Prio to Wednesday our last three matches against Cyprus went like this:

1-0 Away to Cyprus. We were blessed with a win when a loss, not a draw, would have been the fairer result.

2-5 Away to Cyprus. Nothing more needs to be said, we were broken.

1-1 Home to Cyprus. We barely grabbed a draw and really were not the better team.

On Wednesday we won 1-0 and should have won by more. Best performance against a solid team in literally years.

Trapp deserves the benefit of the doubt.

[Stuttgart88]

On Wednesday we won 1-0 and should have won by more. Best performance against a solid team in literally years.

Trapp deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Among my mates I'm always the upbeat one and the others always see the glass as half empty at best. After the game I said that CM was awful, McShane was awful and that Cyprus can consider themselves unlucky not to have drawn. My mates thought I was mad, that we never seriously looked like conceding and that we came much much closer than they did to scoring.

I reckon I'm just going to have to get used to seeing us becoming a counter attacking team happy to absorb pressure :)

It'll be interesting to see how Trap reacts to going behind.

[eirebhoy]

HOn Wednesday we won 1-0 and should have won by more. Best performance against a solid team in literally years.
When was the last time we let the opposition have so much possession at home though? 56% they had. I know that's Traps way but if Steven Reid was playing it certainly wouldn't have been the case. That's a big problem now that he's out for so long.

[tetsujin1979]

It'll be interesting to see how Trap reacts to going behind.
Well, after we went behind against Serbia, he brought on Keogh and Long, and we ended up drawing with a late goal from Keogh.
Dont' think you can draw anything from that, it was Trapattoni's first game, and he was still unfamiliar with the players.

[Fergie's Son]

When was the last time we let the opposition have so much possession at home though? 56% they had. I know that's Traps way but if Steven Reid was playing it certainly wouldn't have been the case. That's a big problem now that he's out for so long.

Again though, in those games that we had posession (not sure what the percentages were) we were ran off the pitch.

We won and deservedly so. First time in years we deserved to beat this team. That is progress and good progress. Steven Reid is gone and most likely will never come back. Andy Reid is a middling Premiership player who can't tackle.

Let's work with what we have and go from there. 7 points from 3 potential bananna skins is a good return.

[Stuttgart88]

7 points from 3 potential bananna skins is a good return.Hear hear.

Very few teams impress in quallifying but many consistently get results. Have Portugal won yet? Give me the points any day. This team can only get better: good management, management getting more familiar with what's available and good players on the cusp of a breakthrough.

[shakermaker1982]

just about recovered from my Dublin trip and thought I'd check on foot.ie to see what the regulars thought of the game and I'm surprised at the amount of criticism. 3 points is 3 points and we're sitting pretty right now. A lot of moaners around me in the lower Cusack stand about Whelan and Gibson but what do you expect from two international novices? Gibson was the better player of the two on the night and yes Whelan doesn't pass forward but they got their tackles in and shielded the back 4. The days of us having somebody like Roy Keane bossing the midfield are long gone. The Trap likes his system of having 6 'defensive' players and there is nothing the media, fans and pundits can say to change his mind. He's had a system that has worked wherever he has gone and he's not going to change now. I feel a bit sorry for Reidy but it looks like his international career is on hold.

The one thing that does annoy me about our brilliant manager is his reluctance to use the bench. It's as if he's worried that if he makes one modification to the personnel the whole thing will fall apart. Fresh legs could have stemmed the tide in the 2nd half - using Andy Reid might have meant we kept hold of the ball a bit more, Hunt could have ran round like a rabid dog and forced Cyprus into errors etc etc. Oh well 4 points clear of Bulgaria after 3 games is not too bad of a start. The loss of S Reid is a huge blow but hopefully the Poland game will identify a new midfield star (Andrews?) or it could be used to develop the Gibson/Whelan partnership.

[Irish_Praha]

With the injuries and lack of experience in CMF we do have a bit of a crisis at the moment but when I look at the long list of young lads playig there regularly for their clubs at SPL level or higher I would say it is only temporary.

McCarthy, Garvan, McCann, O'Tool, O'Brien, Stephen Quinn are all 22 or younger and playing regular first team football. I know at least half of them will probably end up being too poor for international football but if just one or two of them make it in combination with the players we have now that are 28 or younger then we will have the makings of a good CMF pairing for the next 5 years at least. If two of them end up being great players then we are covered for the next 10 years. It's also very possible that one or two will reach the levels of Holland and Kinsella.

Where I think we have a real crisis is at CB, if Dunne and O'Shea get injured or are suspended at the same time then we are in big trouble. We then have nobody with a decent level of internation experience to step in a cover for them. I would also struggle to name 5 young Irish CBs playing regularly at a decent level, that fill me with confidence for the near future.

At least in CMF I feel some outside older players could step in and do a half-decent job if really needed ie. Holland, Carsley, Michael Doyle, Andrews, alan Quinn.

Just a side note: if Trap wants an ultra-safe partner for Andy Reid he could play Dunne there. Pity we would have nobody to replace him at CB though.
Maybe a team like this:

Given

Finnan, O'Shea, McShane, Kilbane

McGeady, Dunne, A.Reid, Duff

Keane, Doyle

:D

[third policeman]

If we had cover at CB (What's the score with Andy O'Brien, and why isn't he getting the same stick as Stephen Ireland) then I think that O'Shea is better equiped to play in midfield under the Trap system. But its an interesting idea, if Trap sees these positions as being essentially defensive then why not play more experienced defenders in there. Finnan also has experience playing in centre midfield when he was at Fulham. Having said that I would still much prefer to see the likes of Garvan, O'Toole and McCann given an opportunity against Poland.

[geysir]

We use to be in a no man's land and not sure of which way to go about getting out of there.
Trap has identified his way to go forward with the team and it's not to everybody's (complete) satisfaction or the way they think our game should be played.

Andy Reid was excellent in the game against Germany who stood off him. Against Cyprus and in particular against Wales he did not come close to grabbing the game.
Personally I would prefer if Trap could get Andy Reid to play Traps type of game.
If Trap thinks not, then he is the man.
Trap identifies Gibson as a player with the quality who can step up, maybe maybe not.
I thought the mistake in the Cyprus game was having 2 novice CM's and no leader. It was a huge gamble by Trap and he pulled it off with space to spare.

Cyprus had a real first half chance and nothing much after that. We should have had a second. That was the biggest negative of the evening.

[stiffler]

I would love to see one of Owen Garvan, James McCarthy or Martin Andrews get a start against Poland. We need to find a long term solution to a key position. However, it is worth noting that a player isnt gonna come in and be a keystone in the team in his first game or 2.

[Colbert Report]

We use to be in a no man's land and not sure of which way to go about getting out of there.
Trap has identified his way to go forward with the team and it's not to everybody's (complete) satisfaction or the way they think our game should be played.

Andy Reid was excellent in the game against Germany who stood off him. Against Cyprus and in particular against Wales he did not come close to grabbing the game.
Personally I would prefer if Trap could get Andy Reid to play Traps type of game.
If Trap thinks not, then he is the man.
Trap identifies Gibson as a player with the quality who can step up, maybe maybe not.
I thought the mistake in the Cyprus game was having 2 novice CM's and no leader. It was a huge gamble by Trap and he pulled it off with space to spare.

Cyprus had a real first half chance and nothing much after that. We should have had a second. That was the biggest negative of the evening.


What game were you watching? They were all over us the entire second half. They deserved a goal on 85 minutes when that Cypriot lad squared the ball inside the box to an open man.

[Fergie's Son]

What game were you watching? They were all over us the entire second half. They deserved a goal on 85 minutes when that Cypriot lad squared the ball inside the box to an open man.

They really only had 2 clear cut chance the entire match. We had 5 or 6.

Gibson was on the bench for United today which is at least some progress.

[TheBoss]

What game were you watching? They were all over us the entire second half. They deserved a goal on 85 minutes when that Cypriot lad squared the ball inside the box to an open man.

They were not all over us but had most of the possession, there is a difference. They did not really create any chances, that chance you mention was a bad mistake by McShane and McGeady combined. How many saves did Shay have to make, 1 or 2, despite all that possession they had.

[Irish_Praha]

They were not all over us but had most of the possession, there is a difference. They did not really create any chances, that chance you mention was a bad mistake by McShane and McGeady combined. How many saves did Shay have to make, 1 or 2, despite all that possession they had.

Totally agree but we won't be able to afford to give the likes of Italy and Blugaria so much posession. If they are on form they will create much more than 1 or 2 chances. Maybe our defence can deal with it but that remains to be seen.

[eirebhoy]

Totally agree but we won't be able to afford to give the likes of Italy and Blugaria so much posession.
Bulgaria are no better than Montenegro in attack. Actually a lot worse now without Petrov imo. Italy is a different story though obviously.

[ifk101]

I don't think there is a centre midfield "crisis", although I acknowledge this is a position where we lack quality players.

Whelan and Gibson were clearly instructed to sit (very) deep in the game against Cyprus. I think this instruction is a reason as to why both had relatively poor performaces against Cyprus. If Gibson had played ahead of Whelan, I doubt Cyprus would have had so much possession in the second half. But maybe if we had pushed Gibson forward, Cyprus might have been able to create more chances that they did.

[SkStu]

its funny how our lack of quality in depth seems to go in cycles - for so long it was up front, then it was defensively and now it is midfield. I think shortly we will have great strength in depth at midfield (all those young lads on the verge of a breakthrough) and i think it will shift to alack of quality defenders very shortly... we have nothing really new coming through bar a couple of quality eircom league fullbacks who could make the transition (only if they move obviously)...

[SwanVsDalton]

What about Martin Rowlands? Don't know much about him myself but Trap was impressed with him during previous games. Is he any good?

[Fergie's Son]

Reid came off against the bench against Fulham and didn't do a lot. Mind you, he didn't have much time but a holding midfielder he isn't.

One hopes that Gibson starts getting some playing time or maybe that Garvan steps up.

[tommy_c12000]

What about Martin Rowlands? Don't know much about him myself but Trap was impressed with him during previous games. Is he any good?

Average at best. 30 next feb. No chance he'll be within an ass's roar of a competitive start

[paul_oshea]

Reid came off against the bench against Fulham and didn't do a lot. Mind you, he didn't have much time but a holding midfielder he isn't.

One hopes that Gibson starts getting some playing time or maybe that Garvan steps up.

eh, I was at the match, and yes he did, he was only one on either side that looked like he could do something. Murphy did ok, got on the ball but then messed up.

[galwayhoop]

its funny how our lack of quality in depth seems to go in cycles - for so long it was up front, then it was defensively and now it is midfield....

thats it really in a nutshell for small nations. it would be very rare (and lucky) to have strength in all positions at any one time.

the thing is since the RK with Kinsella/Holland midfield we haven't really had a strong one. We are looking down the line at Garvan's, McCarthys, McCann, O'Toole...etc. In reality none of these lads will be considered good enough untill they have two or 3 years of regular international football behind them. Even if Garvan or one of these lads went straight in people would still only be talking about potential..etc

[Stuttgart88]

Bulgaria are no better than Montenegro in attack. Actually a lot worse now without Petrov imo. Italy is a different story though obviously.I thought Italy were toothless in attack in the Euros.

[third policeman]

Have noticed that niether Garvan or O'Toole have been starting for their clubs regularly in recent weeks, yet both have been scoring goals and reportedly playing well when selected. I think it would be difficult for either of them to step up to international football if they are not getting regular games. Maybe McCann is the one most ready for promotion?

[irishfan86]

Have noticed that niether Garvan or O'Toole have been starting for their clubs regularly in recent weeks, yet both have been scoring goals and reportedly playing well when selected. I think it would be difficult for either of them to step up to international football if they are not getting regular games. Maybe McCann is the one most ready for promotion?

I haven't watched much of any of those three players, but based on what I've read, both in terms of performance and style of play, McCann seems most suited to play as a centre-mid in Trap's system.