NI fans proposals for All-Ireland team

[Andyh]

Glad to see the Orange-tinted spectacles are alive & well!Or they red-white-&-blue....?!

To be honest i don't have the slightest interest in rangers or celtic, or scottish football in general, it's pants. I've nothing against the ginger one, but because people like you automatically assume i despise him, i might as well play along...I actually work with one of his best mates from Lurgan, who is obsessed with all things Celtic, so much so as to make a lot of four digit security codes a certain year in the 1960's.

[Duncan Gardner]

Some quality cojones on this thread,and not all of it from Marty either (April Fool's Day is the first of the month, ye muppet :( ).

The most sensible comment, as often, from my broad-necked shaven-headed amigo Lopez- yes, I still like ice cream. But not Ulster fries alas- think fragments of pork in a sea of cholesterol. There are a couple of places in BT13 I could recommend, but always a danger they'd throw ye out for looking like an operative...

BTW Davros, if ye're planning to have a go at Roy K and the 'sambo' brigade, make sure the mikes are switched off first :)

Leaving aside the sectarian fallout, of course NI miss Lennon- ye can't easily replace a Champs League veteran with one from Bristol City. But alas Neil rarely shone in the side and both Magilton and Michael Hughes (during his contract problems) were bigger losses.

They're both Catholics, by the way.

Have a good trip to Wielkopolska boys. Nick Copernicus, Fred Chopin, Marie Curie. Your boys to hand out one hell of a beating :D

[ElSieteSecretos]

Would this dream team have won the World Cup?


The 'impossible' happened this week when Roy Keane was selected again for the Republic of Ireland soccer team. But what about the really impossible - a 32 county squad? Philip Quinn picks his all-time, all-era great line-up and another that he believes could have beaten everyone in 1982

The return of Roy Maurice Keane to the Republic of Ireland fold caught a nation on the hop. But if Keane's U-turn was a long shot, the odds against the Cork rebel playing in an all-Ireland soccer team before he retires must be astronomic. Or, maybe not, if Fianna Fail senator Paschal Mooney has his way.

It's 54 years since the last All-Ireland team played a full international fixture but the idea of the Republic and Northern Ireland merging was brought up at a meeting of a British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in Cork this week.

Aware of the success of the all-Ireland rugby team, Mooney felt it was timely to lob into debate the equivalent of a sporting grenade. His suggestion may not lead to unity, but it has, inevitably, pinched the nerve of a sports-mad public on a touchy subject.

Mooney is not alone. RTE commentator and journalist, John Giles, one of the finest midfield players produced by this island, has long espoused the benefits of an All-Ireland team.

"I was always in favour and if you ask the vast majority of players, they would have been in favour as well. I think the public would support it," says Giles.

The former Northern Ireland forward, Derek Dougan, who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s for the North, supports Giles's views.

"We have an all-Ireland rugby side, an All-Ireland cricket side and an all-Ireland boxing team. All the other sports embrace 32 counties, why doesn't soccer?" he asks.

Since the bitter split in 1950, the FAI and IFA have steered opposing paths, with each Association enjoying prosperous periods at different times. By 1986, Northern Ireland had played in three World Cup finals and were the envy of the South; but then the Jack Charlton bandwagon rolled into town as qualification for Euro '88 and two World Cup finals in 1990 and 1994 gave the Republic bragging rights.

With the Republic holding top 15 world ranking, it's clear which side of the divide holds the high ground. Right now, hardly any player from the North, with the exception of Preston's David Healy, would push for a place in an all-Ireland XI. But there were times in the past when the North would have provided the majority of the country's top players, such as the 1958 and 1982 World Cup finals.

It may be an exercise in semantics but the notion of picking the best all-Ireland XI ever is one to stir the blood in any soccer fan. Certain great names spring to mind: Carey and Cantwell; Best and Blanchflower; Doherty and Dougan; Hurley and Houghton; McIlroy and McGrath.

While it's reasonable to assume that the bulk of an all-Ireland XI would be drawn from the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland squads that played in five World Cup finals between 1982 and 2002, there are players from the mists of time who have genuine claims for selection.

Three in, particular, stand out: Peter Doherty and Danny Blanchflower from the North and Dubliner, Johnny 'Jackie' Carey.

Belfast native Doherty was a gifted inside-forward who won a League medal with Manchester City (1937) and FA Cup with Derby County (1946).

While his best years were lost to the second World War, such was his influence at Maine Road that he's regarded as being the best player ever to play for Man City - better than Bert Trautmann, Colin Bell and Francis Lee.

One of his greatest fans was Blanchflower who said: "As a small boy, I cherished the name of Manchester City. My dreams each night were full of the sky blue shirts. I waved the flag for no other reason than that Peter Doherty played for them."

Joe Mercer, who both played in and managed teams to win the English League and FA Cup, said Doherty, who also led the North to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup, was the best Northern Ireland player of all time.

Then there was Blanchflower. A cultured wing-half whose career blossomed as a player when he joined Spurs, Blanchflower led them to the League/Cup double in 1961, FA Cup in 1962 and Cup Winners' Cup in 1963.

A star for Northern Ireland in the 1958 World Cup, Blanchflower later managed Northern Ireland and Chelsea. He also became an accomplished journalist and broadcaster.

Carey, known as 'Gentleman Johnny' played in every position for Manchester United bar goalkeeper and captained them to win the FA Cup in 1948.

Like Doherty, the second World War cut a huge chunk out of his career but he still became the first Irishman to make 25 international appearances. The pipe-smoking Irish speaker later managed Ireland and was a role model for youngsters - Giles regarded him as the greatest influence on his career.

Here is my suggestion for an All-Ireland XI based on a 4-4-2 formation - it must be remembered that only 40 years ago, teams played 2-3-5 with full-backs, wing-backs and inside-forwards.

Goalkeeper: Pat Jennings - A 20-year top-level career, two World Cups, four FA Cup finals, won UEFA Cup. Big hands, ice-cool temperament.

Right-back: Johnny (Jackie) Carey - Not the quickest from A to B but didn't start at A. Calming presence, hugely respected. Captained Man Utd to FA Cup in 1948, later managed Ireland.

Centre-half: Danny Blanchflower - Double-winning captain at Spurs. Intelligent, composed, good passer, great leader.

Centre-half: Paul McGrath - Two World Cups, one Euro final. Powerful, quick, massive presence.

Left-back: Steve Staunton - Three World Cups and over 100 caps. Cutting competitive edge, great delivery.

Right midfielder: George Best - Won League/European Cup at Man Utd. European Footballer of the Year. Mesmeric winger, beautifully balanced, eye for goal, brave.

Central midfield: Peter Doherty - League winner with Man City, FA Cup with Derby. Creator and executioner of goals, gifted, artistic, tactically astute.

Central midfield: John Giles - FA Cup winner with Man U and Leeds, League, League Cup and Fairs Cup with Leeds. Captained and managed Ireland. Superb passer, scored over 100 League goals, hard in the tackle.

Left midfielder: Liam Brady - FA Cup winner with Arsenal, won two League titles with Juventus. Sweetest left foot. Class act, shabbily treated by Jack Charlton.

Forward: Frank Stapleton - Outstanding target man, brilliant in the air and very good on deck too. Won FA Cup with Arsenal and Man Utd. Captained Ireland to Euro '88.

Forward: Robbie Keane - Impish, inventive, plays best off a Stapleton-type player. Thrives on a big stage, will set Irish scoring records to stand the test of time.

Subs: Charlie Hurley - Versatile, strong as an ox; Roy Keane - midfield enforcer; Damien Duff - world-class left winger; Norman Whiteside - exceptional talent, if injury prone; Gerry Armstrong - fearless forward, direct; Shay Given - reliable, superb temperament.

If that team could never have played together, why not consider one that could, selected from the golden age of soccer on this island, between 1982 and 1994 when teams wearing green and white played in four consecutive World Cup finals.

Unquestionably, the pick of that crop could have challenged for the sport's ultimate prize. Arguably, their best chance would have been in 1982, when Billy Bingham's North defeated hosts Spain to reach the second phase, and Eoin Hand's excellent Republic of Ireland squad remained at home, cursing their luck at missing out on the finals on goal difference.

At the time, Liam Brady had just won his second League title with Juventus, while Mark Lawrenson and Ronnie Whelan had won the English Championships with Liverpool. Dave O'Leary and Kevin Moran were established cornerstones of the Arsenal and Manchester United defence respectively, while Stapleton was leading the line at Old Trafford. Chris Hughton, now the Irish coach, had experienced successive FA Cup wins with Spurs. All of them were quality players at top clubs, at the peak of their careers.

To illustrate how good the Republic were at the time, in the 1982 World Cup qualifiers, the Irish had beaten France 3-2 in Dublin, nine months before Michele Platini's sparkling side lost cruelly to West Germany in the World Cup semi-finals. Given Bingham's bullish management skills, the following Irish XI would have given Italy, Germany, Brazil and Co a run for their pesetas in Spain that summer: Pat Jennings; Mark Lawrenson, Dave O'Leary, Kevin Moran; Mal Donaghy; Martin O'Neill, Norman Whiteside, Liam Brady, Sammy McIlroy; Frank Stapleton, Gerry Armstrong.

With Whelan, Hughton, Mick Martin, Gerry Daly, Michael Robinson, Jimmy Nicholl, Billy Hamilton, Sammy Nelson and David McCreery as back-up, the class of 1982 could have ruled the world. If only, if only .

[lopez]

DG ventured into deep, republican Kilburn last night to attend a meeting of the Republic of Ireland SSC. At his side was his long term companero, Davros. Amongst the many dignitaries he was seen in deep conversation was one TommyF, aka 'Rock on Tommy' and 'No Pasaran' famous on the foot.ie thread 'Irish team hotel in Bydgoszcz' for his habit of missing more Ireland internationals through injuries than Keith O'Neill. :D

[lopez]

The most sensible comment, as often, from my broad-necked shaven-headed amigo Lopez- yes, I still like ice cream. But not Ulster fries alas- think fragments of pork in a sea of cholesterol. There are a couple of places in BT13 I could recommend, but always a danger they'd throw ye out for looking like an operative...I concur big man! I also disagree with PP in his homage to Northern Ireland cuisine. I've had a couple of bad meals in Belfast on my first visit there: I'd even go as far as saying that the food in Albania in 93 was better. My one and only attempt that day at an O6C fry was without success. But worse was to come. A chinese chip shop on the Falls, looking suspiciously like Kato's knocking shop that he turned his master's apartment into after the good Inspector Cleuseau was allegedly killed, was where I tasted the most appallilng vegetable spring roll and chips. The oil - I conclude - had not been changed since the start of 'the troubles' it seemed.

As for the 'O6C Fry' title, I think it was Dan Starkey who I first saw use it in Colin Bateman's 'The Horse With My Name.'

[brine2]

Robbie Keane in an all-Ireland all-time select XI??

somebody is taking the ****