Our wealth of wide options.

[Murfinator]

Damien Duff
Aiden McGeady
Keith Fahey
Stephen Hunt
Liam Lawrence
Seamus Coleman

All high quality players performing well and regularly for their clubs, how do we cater for them? Seems a pity 4 of those have to be benched given our lack of quality in other positions.

[AlaskaFox]

Coleman at right back. Clark/Cunningham on the left with O'Shea and Dunne in the centre. Lawrence or Fahey would be capable of playing in the centre as part of an attacking midfield too.

[paul_oshea]

ya i mentioned on this point before, why as a small nation do we always have in spurts a saturation of players(more than competent) in teh one position.

I can understand that we will always struggle in some areas, but down through the years we have had this problem lacking in one area and then several of very good ability in one area.

Around coleman, in the future i woudl like to see him in the middle. I was told by a few lads that he is extremely athletic, and when playing gaelic whenever he played in midfield/half backs he was constantly full of running and tackling. Granted i know its a different sport, but for this athleticism and his decent passing ability i would like to see how he would perform given a defensive midfielder/box to box player - I mean if he got a decent run in that position. This will probably never happen though as I dont see him getting a run at club level in this position.

[tetsujin1979]

Just a theory, but Duff has been a mainstay in the squad for well over a decade now, so no doubt he's inspired more than one lad kicking the ball on the street to try and dribble his way around his opposite number instead of just thumping it long into the street.
Perhaps the current numbers of wingers are the result of this?

[paul_oshea]

Just a theory, but Duff has been a mainstay in the squad for well over a decade now, so no doubt he's inspired more than one lad kicking the ball on the street to try and dribble his way around his opposite number instead of just thumping it long into the street.
Perhaps the current numbers of wingers are the result of this?

Funny tets as I was writing about coleman and stuff, he would have been around 12 or so when Duff was in the world cup, and thats what I was thinking too.

But if you look at the other wingers in the squad they would have been late teens at least during that world cup or since duffer has shined for us. BUt that theory did cross my mind also.

Its probably a decade from when a player shines that this theory would come to fruition i guess.

[CraftyToePoke]

Just a theory, but Duff has been a mainstay in the squad for well over a decade now, so no doubt he's inspired more than one lad kicking the ball on the street to try and dribble his way around his opposite number instead of just thumping it long into the street.
Perhaps the current numbers of wingers are the result of this?

Spot on I reckon, and why we need to quailfy for a major finals so badly, it does inspire a new generation without doubt, and with the Rugby and Gaelic codes so strong our lads need to be seen doing it against the elite as well.

[tetsujin1979]

Funny tets as I was writing about coleman and stuff, he would have been around 12 or so when Duff was in the world cup, and thats what I was thinking too.

But if you look at the other wingers in the squad they would have been late teens at least during that world cup or since duffer has shined for us. BUt that theory did cross my mind also.

Its probably a decade from when a player shines that this theory would come to fruition i guess.
I had the same opinion as POS?
If anyone needs me, I'll be rocking back and forth in the foetal position in the shower

[paul_oshea]

Spot on I reckon, and why we need to quailfy for a major finals so badly, it does inspire a new generation without doubt, and with the Rugby and Gaelic codes so strong our lads need to be seen doing it against the elite as well.

It would be spot on if the wingers were all 21/22 but they are not, they are only a couple of years behind duff.

[Sullivinho]

Damien Duff
Aiden McGeady
Keith Fahey
Stephen Hunt
Liam Lawrence
Seamus Coleman

All high quality players performing well and regularly for their clubs, how do we cater for them? Seems a pity 4 of those have to be benched given our lack of quality in other positions.

Headache for Trap I s'pose. Because with the exception of Coleman, who's fairly new to him, the manager seems to rate all of them. Coleman and Fahey are the only two I can see being moved around the board (to RB and CM respectively) but I can't see him playing Duffer, McGeady, Hunt or Lawrence anywhere other than the wings. It'l be a while before he'd trust Coleman at RB too I'd say.


Just a theory, but Duff has been a mainstay in the squad for well over a decade now, so no doubt he's inspired more than one lad kicking the ball on the street to try and dribble his way around his opposite number instead of just thumping it long into the street.
Perhaps the current numbers of wingers are the result of this?

It's a shame we've only been to one competition during Duffer's time. Ditto for Keane, Given etc. We desperately need to rectify that. I've always felt the national excitement surrounding a finals appearance has a bearing on youngster's enthusiasm for the game. Robbie and Duffer would have been around 10 and no doubt glued to the TV when O'Leary was sticking away that penalty in Genoa.

[paul_oshea]

Ya and none of them became defenders :D

[Stuttgart88]

Don't forget Treacy too, who despite playing for lowly Preston looks to have something about him.

However, of all these players, only Duff is a real cut above (maybe Coleman will bring his club form into a green shirt soon) and sadly he never seems to be fit when a competitive game comes around.

[Murfinator]

I don't think trap will play Fahey in centre or Coleman at RB unless they're playing regularly there at club level. I'd agree Duff is a cut above the rest but picking the starter from the other 5 is a really difficult decision.

Lawrence and Hunt have fantastic industry, work ethic and defensively are very strong.
Fahey has the best distribution and composure on the ball, plays more like a wide midfielder than a winger which I think suits as we dont really have a targetman for touchline hugging crossers to target.
Coleman is the form player.
McGeady is the most talented on paper.

Hard one for Trap, could make a strong case for any of them.

[Colbert Report]

I don't think trap will play Fahey in centre or Coleman at RB unless they're playing regularly there at club level. I'd agree Duff is a cut above the rest but picking the starter from the other 5 is a really difficult decision.

Lawrence and Hunt have fantastic industry, work ethic and defensively are very strong.
Fahey has the best distribution and composure on the ball, plays more like a wide midfielder than a winger which I think suits as we dont really have a targetman for touchline hugging crossers to target.
Coleman is the form player.
McGeady is the most talented on paper.

Hard one for Trap, could make a strong case for any of them.

He'll go with Lawrence, the rest are all jokers, especially Fahey.

[Stuttgart88]

Fahey's got a bit of adventure in him. He's by no means the best we've ever had, but I like his sort. I was surprised to read his qoutes last week saying that he prefers to play wide as I always saw him as more comfortable in the centre, but I think he is comfortable in tight spaces and good at picking one-twos.

[paul_oshea]

I took that as he was more used to playing out left since going to birmingham.

But we might need clarification from geysir incase we both got it wrong.