Left-Backs [Archive]

rebelmusic

10/09/2009, 5:28 PM

Considering this seems to be our weakest area, i've been looking for a list of current/potential left backs and coulndt find any, so here's my 2 cents. Add to the list if you can think of any please :)

*Edit* Adding in suggestions

Kevin Kilbane
John O'Shea
Eddie Nolan
Damien Delaney
Stephan O'Halloran
Shane Lowry (should he change his mind)
Marcos Painter
Stephan Ward
Conor Powell
Ian Harte
Danny Murphy
Marc Wilson
hmmm?

NeilMcD

10/09/2009, 5:28 PM

Conor Powell

EastTerracer

10/09/2009, 5:30 PM

Probably past his best-before date but he did score for Carlisle recently.

Ian Harte

backstothewall

10/09/2009, 5:37 PM

Trap mentioned Stephen Ward yesterday. I would like to see Stephen O'Halloran and Marcos Painter get a call up for a friendly at some stage as well

centre mid

10/09/2009, 5:40 PM

No reason why a fit Steve Finnan cant play at left-full, just leaves the problem of finding a decent right-full then.

rebelmusic

10/09/2009, 5:45 PM

I suppose the given is if that finnan is fit, he'll slot into right back with o'shea going out left, which i would be happy enough with. At this stage i don't really rate o'shea going forward but i would with finnan which at least is one more attacking option then we have at the moment

stiffler

10/09/2009, 5:51 PM

Didn't even hear about Lowry defecting until i read this thread!!

Aw well, hope him all the best in his career.

Wilson at Portsmouth can also play left back, he played alot of football on the left wing for Bournemouth a few seasons ago.

tiktok

10/09/2009, 5:52 PM

Including Powell but not Danny Murphy is pointless.

EastTerracer

10/09/2009, 6:04 PM

No reason why a fit Steve Finnan cant play at left-full, just leaves the problem of finding a decent right-full then.

If I remember correctly though Finnan had said before that he doesn't feel comfortable at left-back. He played there a few times under both Kerr and Stuanton but it was never the most successful outcome. Steven Carr was tried in the same way by Kerr but neither of them are as flexible as Denis Irwin was (or John O'Shea could be).

Finnan is worth his place at right-back though.

centre mid

10/09/2009, 6:09 PM

It would certainly curtail his offencesive play (not that Trap seems to encourage that anyway) but it would shore up the left hand side and give the two centrehalves confidence that is lacking at the moment with Killer.

jackaroo

10/09/2009, 6:20 PM

Probably past his best-before date but he did score for Carlisle recently.

Ian Harte
Could even bring back Staunton:eek:.

rebelmusic

10/09/2009, 6:31 PM

Could even bring back Staunton:eek:.

Haha.

Interstingly, if finnan comes back and grabs the right back slot at portsmouth we could very well see wilson being slotted in on the left in an injury scenario. I'd be pretty happy if both our full backs we're playing together on the club scene, of course that would mean the bench for sledge, unless of course josh went into midfield xD

Stuttgart88

10/09/2009, 7:19 PM

No reason why a fit Steve Finnan cant play at left-full, just leaves the problem of finding a decent right-full then.I agree, though Stan was slated for it.

Stuttgart88

10/09/2009, 7:22 PM

unless of course josh went into midfield xDThat's where Bobby Robson saw him playing for us. I didn't rate him there, but given that our midfield's main task is to perform without the ball I reckon JOS would be effective there under Trapp.

JOS for RB, CB, LB and CM please. The rest of the team is fine.

CarrickFan

10/09/2009, 7:22 PM

Keith Foy:)

cavan_fan

10/09/2009, 8:01 PM

I assume the plan will be Finnan at RB and JOS at LB?

eekers

10/09/2009, 8:07 PM

Phil Bardsley from Sunderland.

MeathDrog

10/09/2009, 8:09 PM

Keith Foy:)
Could easily have made it if he was bothered. Shame.

Colbert Report

10/09/2009, 8:40 PM

Phil Bardsley from Sunderland.

Is he eligible? If so he'd be an excellent choice.

Murfinator

10/09/2009, 8:51 PM

I'd rather play Finnan, Kelly, Foley or JOS out of position there than any of that list.

If someone has to be picked Kilbane is the best of a bad lot.

Though I always thought Damien Delaney was half-decent and he's first choice LB at Ipswich unless I'm mistaken so surprised he never stayed in Trap's plans.

Stuttgart88

10/09/2009, 9:37 PM

Though I always thought Damien Delaney was half-decent and he's first choice LB at Ipswich unless I'm mistaken so surprised he never stayed in Trap's plans.

Me too. I saw him on telly for Ipswich gainst Coventry and he looked really good.

Quadruple1928

10/09/2009, 9:37 PM

rebelmusic

10/09/2009, 9:38 PM

Phil Bardsley from Sunderland.

Don't think he's been capped by anyone yet so aye he is. One wonders if he'll make himself available if we qualify, since england obviously don't have much interest in him

Colbert Report

10/09/2009, 9:40 PM

What is his connection to Ireland? You can't cap players unless they have one Irish parent or grandparent, or are naturalized citizens.

rebelmusic

10/09/2009, 9:46 PM

Not sure, just says on his wiki that he's eligible to play for england scotland or us

centre mid

10/09/2009, 9:51 PM

What is his connection to Ireland? You can't cap players unless they have one Irish parent or grandparent, or are naturalized citizens.

already discussed (http://foot.ie/forums/showthread.php?t=121801&highlight=bardsley)

Stuttgart88

10/09/2009, 9:52 PM

There was a thread on this guy a little while back. Search for it.

AFAIR it disintegrated into an almighty bitchfest over f all.

In my personal opinion, there are gaps to be filled but I'd prefer them to be filled by guys who are "morally" rather than "technically" Irish.

Leejo

10/09/2009, 9:55 PM

Is he eligible? If so he'd be an excellent choice.

NO!

Including Powell but not Danny Murphy is pointless.

No it's not considering Trap seems to be keeping an eye on him...

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/bohs-ace-powell-in-frame-to-fill-troublesome-leftback-berth-1882342.html

rebelmusic

10/09/2009, 9:59 PM

Added danny murphy regardless. And anyway, isnt bardsley a predominantly right back, besides josh, i really hope kilbane's replacement doesnt end up being a natural right back being played out of position

I would think this is our biggest problem position though. Assuming no suitable replacement is found and kilbane breaks his leg a week before the play offs (touch wood), do we want eddie nolan starting his first competitive game with that pressure, me no think so.

Lenny82

11/09/2009, 9:57 AM

Before the Cyprus game, I wanted Nolan to start at Left Back but after seeing him against South Africa, he is definitely not ready. Ward is the most natural replacement if Trap ever calls him up. If not, I'd have Finnan RB ans O'Shea LB.

When is Finnan due back?

rebelmusic

11/09/2009, 10:00 AM

Both finnan and reid are listed as doubtful on fantasy football. Thats normally a pretty good indication that they are close to recovery. Could see them both playing within the next 2-3 weeks

Fitzy

11/09/2009, 10:17 AM

Stuttgart88

11/09/2009, 10:52 AM

I think that's a good call.

disabledrog

11/09/2009, 10:53 AM

Who is o halloran playing with?last i saw hw done his knee pretty bad and his contract wasnt renewed with villa

gspain

11/09/2009, 11:08 AM

John O'Shea is a very good left back.

I know it means we need a right back but Stephen Kelly comes into the frame too. Stephen Carr is also worth a shout.

I'm a huge fan of Kevin Kilbane and what he has given to his country over the years but he is a weaklink in the team at the moment. Cyprus were easily able to exploit it.

Closed Account

11/09/2009, 11:21 AM

A list of Irish qualified left sided defenders according to IMScouting.

Ireland Republic Damien Delaney Ipswich Town England DEF L 28 1.91m 89kg
Ireland Republic Damien Duff Fulham FC England AM L 30 1.77m 60kg
Ireland Republic Darren O Dea Reading FC England DEF C 22 1.86m 82kg
Ireland Republic John O'Shea Man United England DEF C 28 1.9m 80kg
Ireland Republic Kevin Kilbane Hull City England MID L 32 1.85m 79kg
Ireland Republic Shane Lowry Aston Villa FC England DEF L 20 1.9m 82kg
Ireland Republic Stephen Kelly Fulham FC England DEF R 26 1.84m 82kg
Ireland Republic Stephen O'Hallo Aston Villa FC England DEF L 21 1.8m 76kg
Ireland Republic Stephen Ward Wolverhampton England DEF L 24 1.8m 77kg
Ireland Republic Tim Clancy Kilmarnock FC Scotlan DM 25 1.8m 74kg
Ireland Republic Travis Binnion DEF L 22 1.78m 76kg
Ireland Republic Marcos Painter Swansea City England DEF L 23 1.83m 72kg
Ireland Republic Alan Sheehan Leeds United England DEF L 22 1.8m 70kg
Ireland Republic Ian Harte Carlisle United England DEF L 32 1.77m 75kg
Ireland Republic Julian Kelly Reading FC England DEF L 20 N/A N/A
Ireland Republic Patrick Kohlman Union Berlin Germany DEF L 26 1.82m 75kg
Ireland Republic Richard Keogh Carlisle United England DEF C 23 1.83m 71kg

rebelmusic

11/09/2009, 11:28 AM

Is patrick kohlman any good? I suppose the 2 Bundesliga would be equivalent to league 1 in england?

Stephan Ward still seems miles beyond anyone else as main choice, pity the poor bugger got injured before the friendly with SA

Besides John o shea that is

eirebhoy

11/09/2009, 11:43 AM

monsexile

11/09/2009, 12:22 PM

What about Fabio O'Reillyo from Liverpool?

dr_peepee

11/09/2009, 1:44 PM

Who is o halloran playing with?last i saw hw done his knee pretty bad and his contract wasnt renewed with villa

I think Bellavistman might know him... or of him...

I didn't realise he was released. He's injured til November or so last I read...

elroy

11/09/2009, 2:58 PM

Keith Fahey is a left back...............well at least he is according to Eamonn Dunphy :rolleyes:

rebelmusic

11/09/2009, 3:13 PM

Keith Fahey is a left back...............well at least he is according to Eamonn Dunphy :rolleyes:

Haha saw that last night, what a clown. You could see that bill was thinking "erm no, he's a midfielder".

It was the way dunphy said it as well, pure i know more than you bill. What a langer

seanfhear

11/09/2009, 4:40 PM

Darren O'Dea. Not at his best as a left back, more of a left sided centre half but at least he knows how to defend unlike Kilbane. Will not offer much going forward but Trap doesn't seem to like his full backs doing that.If Darren gets regular football at Reading then that could be a good shout. Darren is a better centrehalf than full back but he is a defender(as you said) and Kevin as much as a lot of us love him is just not a defender.

Irish_Praha

11/09/2009, 6:34 PM

We've an awful lot of players in the premiership that have played right back for their clubs for at least a few months.

J.O'Shea
S.Carr
S.Kelly
M.Wilson
S.Finnan
P.McShane
K.Andrews
S.Reid

maybe more

Also Joey O'Brien - how's his injury coming along by the way?
If he gets fit soon and plays a few games he could be a useful addition to the squad as he can play RB and CMF.

Colbert Report

11/09/2009, 9:10 PM

Also Joey O'Brien - how's his injury coming along by the way?
If he gets fit soon and plays a few games he could be a useful addition to the squad as he can play RB and CMF.

Didn't Joey O'Brien retire from international football a couple of years ago?

De Town

11/09/2009, 9:24 PM

Didn't Joey O'Brien retire from international football a couple of years ago?

That was Andy I think.

tetsujin1979

11/09/2009, 9:25 PM

Didn't Joey O'Brien retire from international football a couple of years ago?

Andy O'Brien did
Joey O'Brien complained he was being called into the squad and not getting a chance in the side

from http://www.clubcall.com/bolton-wanderers/duo-set-return-942545.html

Meanwhile Ricardo Gardner, Ricardo Vaz Te and Joey O'Brien are all set to return to training in the next couple of weeks which means boss Gary Megson will have his whole squad back fit.

Irish_Praha

11/09/2009, 9:26 PM

Didn't Joey O'Brien retire from international football a couple of years ago?
No that was Andy O'Brien.

As far as I can remember, in an interview Joey said something to the effect that he didn't like going on interational duty only to sit on the bench and that he felt he was good enough to be starting. Accoring to him it was blown out of porportion and all he meant was that he was disappointed not to be starting. He's basically been injured most of the time since then so it's difficult to know what Trapp thinks of his comments.

IMO if he ovecomes his injury problems it would be like us finding a new player. He'd be as good as or better than Kelly at RB and would probably also be as good as Andrews or Whelan in CMF. So he could fill in there is either of them were injured or suspended. He's still only 23 aswell so he has potential to improve.

Stuttgart88

12/09/2009, 8:44 PM

I think what Joey O'Brien said was that he doesn't feel like an international footballer. Being a squad member doesn't make him an international footballer. It the got blown into something it wasn't.

Thinking of O'Brien though it just makes me wonder is there some kind of jinx about promising young Irish players?

I wonder would Denis Irwin have made it in today's environment? Or Houghton or Aldridge? Only asking cos I can see JOB only going backwards in his career unless he gets lucky.