McShane must go!

[Paddy Garcia]

Overall I thought he had a decent game by his standards in that position (we know he's not a great attacker). He was 2 or 3 times more involved in the first half than Kilbane and I can't remember him misplacing a pass (pass, not cross). He's a weak link at full back though because of his pace, positioning in that position and the fact he's a poor attacker.

I just wish people would judge him seperately at full back and centre half. At one point Dunne missed a header completely. It went by McShane and the Italian had a decent chance but he also missed it. 3 players missed it. 2 Irish. But someone watching it with me puts all the blame on McShane.

I agree with the above posts that some of the abuse for a player doing his best is very poor form indeed. Unfortunately we are getting into a bit of a polarised position & this kind of post does not help.

Despite the fact that Kilbane is not a full back, in general the Italians left him alone - they had done their homework, understood that McShane is a poor footballer & exploited a very weak link to fantastic effect. I wish people could judge him on his performance. Apart from that it does a terrible disservice to Kilbane, surely you can see that he was only more involved cos a) the Italians targeted him as the weak link and b) they did not bother with him when he attacked as they knew he would waste it.

There is a reason that McShane does not play first team football & that is that he is not very good.

He has been at fault for a number of goals we have conceded and persistently presents golden chances to the opposition. In all my years watching the Irish team I can't think of a footballer who has struggled more (game after game after game) in the green shirt.

I dont really care what the motivation of the post originator is - he happens to be right.

[eirebhoy]

Despite the fact that Kilbane is not a full back, in general the Italians left him alone - they had done their homework, understood that McShane is a poor footballer & exploited a very weak link to fantastic effect. I wish people could judge him on his performance. Apart from that it does a terrible disservice to Kilbane, surely you can see that he was only more involved cos a) the Italians targeted him as the weak link and b) they did not bother with him when he attacked as they knew he would waste it.
I agree completely. He's not a right back.

[John83]

i am just wondering how did some scout ever think McShane would ever make it as a man utd player???
I saw him in the Milk Cup when he was 18 or 19. He really stood out as a great prospect.

[Paddy Garcia]

I agree completely. He's not a right back.


He's a centre back not a right back thats the problem,he has no speed

He has just as long a list of howlers at CB.

[irishfan86]

He's definitely a centre-half, and not a fullback.

Now, whether he's a good centre-half is really hard to say until he gets a run in that position.

Sure we can quote his two clean sheets with Hull in that position, but what about the 7 goals conceded against Everton when he played there while at Sunderland?

I'm not against him being a backup centre-half, but that should be his only role for us at this point.

[Maroon 7]

He's definitely a centre-half, and not a fullback.

Now, whether he's a good centre-half is really hard to say until he gets a run in that position.


He's not a good centre-half either although he can make a better fist of that position than FB.

[MikeBassett]

McShane is awful, if we qualify for the World Cup with him in the side it'll be a miracle. I'd even go as far to say that he'd struggle to get into some junior sides in Ireland. How he's getting thousands every week for playing soccer is beyond me anyway

[John83]

McShane is awful, if we qualify for the World Cup with him in the side it'll be a miracle. I'd even go as far to say that he'd struggle to get into some junior sides in Ireland. How he's getting thousands every week for playing soccer is beyond me anyway
Nonsense.

When he plays in the Fizzy-Pop Championship in England, he's a match winner in the sense that Dunne is for us - something all those calling for Foley and St Ledger and co. should keep in mind. He's been highly rated at every junior level, and I kind of doubt he's gone backwards since then. He's 23. If he gets regular football at any decent level, I'll bet he'll be considered quite a useful player for us inside of five years. Where the hell was Cunningham at 23? Dunne? Breen? Third in the Championship with Millwall, a fat joke of a Championship player, and an uncapped player at Peterborough United (what, third flight in England at the time?).

People have no patience and no perspective.

[NeilMcD]

I think the gist of your post is right. I think people seriously do not realise that the level you are playing at. I will always remember playing against a guy in a League match who played for a League of Ireland team about a year before. He looked useless for them but when he played us he looked like Maradona.

I dont think McShane should be in the team, esp at right back but he played very well in the Championship and played decent for Hull this season but he is not cut out for international football at this stage in my view.

[Razors left peg]

Nonsense.

When he plays in the Fizzy-Pop Championship in England, he's a match winner in the sense that Dunne is for us - something all those calling for Foley and St Ledger and co. should keep in mind. He's been highly rated at every junior level, and I kind of doubt he's gone backwards since then. He's 23. If he gets regular football at any decent level, I'll bet he'll be considered quite a useful player for us inside of five years. Where the hell was Cunningham at 23? Dunne? Breen? Third in the Championship with Millwall, a fat joke of a Championship player, and an uncapped player at Peterborough United (what, third flight in England at the time?).

People have no patience and no perspective.

Excellent post

[BigmanCas]

I dont recall this type of witch hunt occuring after the Bulgaria match at croker in relation to the performance of Stephan Kelly. The facts are that Mc Shane is not a natural right back and it showed. Additionally, one can blame Andy Keogh more for the goal on closer inspection as Mc Shane was covering the man inside when Keogh fatally fell asleep (ball watching) on the wing and finally Mc Shane performed admirably at centre back as O Shea did at right back when the swich was made.

He is not a great player admittedly but he gives it his all and should be applauded for it I feel. (He is a better reserve at centre back than Alex Bruce) The only other option was to play Foley at right back, something that needs to happen in the up and coming friendlies.

Mc Shane is 23 as the last post identifies, a young man - he should not go, he'll improve with age and confidence. I'd show the door to a few others in Trapps squad before Mc Shane and I'd begin with Stephan Kelly!

[the-blue-harp]

from watching that clip i have to say im of the opinion that keogh is responsible for letting grosso get free like that. mcshane is busy with his man and keogh is manning the touchline area, in all honesty grosso's run is pure class i think he sees that keogh is ball watching and makes a darting run behind his back. ya cant expect mcshane to pick up both players, he obviously thought that keogh had grosso covered so he kept his eye on brighi.

mcshane shouldnt be making the team though full stop. headless and chicken come to mind.

[John83]

from watching that clip i have to say im of the opinion that keogh is responsible for letting grosso get free like that. mcshane is busy with his man and keogh is manning the touchline area, in all honesty grosso's run is pure class i think he sees that keogh is ball watching and makes a darting run behind his back.
My take on it is this: Keogh definitely shoulders most of the blame; McShane did well to get between Grosso and goal, but a better full back might have stopped the pass.

[Stuttgart88]

Nonsense.

When he plays in the Fizzy-Pop Championship in England, he's a match winner in the sense that Dunne is for us - something all those calling for Foley and St Ledger and co. should keep in mind. He's been highly rated at every junior level, and I kind of doubt he's gone backwards since then. He's 23. If he gets regular football at any decent level, I'll bet he'll be considered quite a useful player for us inside of five years. Where the hell was Cunningham at 23? Dunne? Breen? Third in the Championship with Millwall, a fat joke of a Championship player, and an uncapped player at Peterborough United (what, third flight in England at the time?).

People have no patience and no perspective.I largely agree though watching Foley last night showed me just how instinctive a full back he is whereas McShane is a sqaure peg in a round hole in that position. I'd prefer if McShane was a back up CB than a first choice RB. I actually like the guy, he's clearly a committed and honest young player. I think it's only fair to say that he's been a weak link though, as was Kelly in that position against Georgia.

At 23 he's got plenty of time on his side as you say and I hope you're right about him becoming a key player.

Watching Wolves last night they could have done with a CB prepared to put his head in where it hurts. They were dreadful in central defence.

[Wolfie]

.........He's been highly rated at every junior level, and I kind of doubt he's gone backwards since then. He's 23. If he gets regular football at any decent level, I'll bet he'll be considered quite a useful player for us inside of five years. Where the hell was Cunningham at 23? Dunne? Breen? Third in the Championship with Millwall, a fat joke of a Championship player, and an uncapped player at Peterborough United (what, third flight in England at the time?).

People have no patience and no perspective.

Fair enough - McShane should not be discarded or written off at 23. Time is on his side in order to gain further experience and improve.

I think comparing McShane with Dunne's situation years ago is not exactly a like for like situation. Dunne's natural ability was rarely questioned - it was more a case of bad attitude with Dunne.

Once Dunne applied himself - he improved dramatically.

McShane's attitude is spot on - its a lack of ability that is at the root of McShane's short comings.

Right now - the Ireland team can't wait around for McShane to improve. He has been targetted as the weak link by successive opponents and is not comfortable in possession. He is a stand in Centre Half at best.

We need full backs that are comfortable on the ball - does anyone seriously think McShane is the answer to whats required here?

[Emmet7]

McShane can be very inconsistant...he can play brillantly or he can be woeful, you never know what you are going to get with him and I imagine for a manager it's very frustrating.

One week he might play really well, get in lots of tackles etc and you keep him in the team for the next game and then he gives away a couple of goals.

Ironically he is very good in the air despite not being that tall. Remember when he played the 6ft7 Kohlar off the park in the aerial battle against the chechs but on the ground Kohlar was better than him.

[lopez]

Fair enough - McShane should not be discarded or written off at 23. Time is on his side in order to gain further experience and improve.

I think comparing McShane with Dunne's situation years ago is not exactly a like for like situation. Dunne's natural ability was rarely questioned - it was more a case of bad attitude with Dunne.

Once Dunne applied himself - he improved dramatically.

McShane's attitude is spot on - its a lack of ability that is at the root of McShane's short comings.The thing is back a few years ago, I bet Dunne was being called to be binned by some on here.

McShane is not up to world standard, but international football for a country of 4.5M with three competing sports that are currently the best in Europe (no one else seriously plays hurling or Gaelic, but you get the jist) is just about picking from a small group of players. McShane had a mare on Saturday but he was far better than Kelly against Georgia. If switching him with O'Shea improves things, then while Finnan's out and others are untried, that's the best that we can hope for. I'm not for excluding anyone, especially as a year from now, a new club, manager, girlfriend, wig, they could be a better player and all this will be forgotten.

[seanfhear]

Did the Hull catastrophic collapse happen soon after Paul McShane left.

Its probably only a coincidence or is it

And don't blame Killer

[Rory H]

I'd liken it to getting the all-clear from cancer and then being hit by a bus.......



















if i was a cynical ireland fan, it really is just a coincidence. Hope he gets another season in the Premier League next year

[irishfan86]

Regardless of what people say, McShane played well for Hull.

His recall isn't the reason for their collapse, but it certainly didn't help them either.

[seanfhear]

Regardless of what people say, McShane played well for Hull.

His recall isn't the reason for their collapse, but it certainly didn't help them either.
Yes you are right he did play well for Hull and fair play to Phil Brown for getting the best out of him.