Fantasy Ireland XI (84-04)

[Kevin77]

Maybe this has been done before and if not, probably something similar has been done, but here goes anyway. Say you were allowed to add up to four Irish international players from the past twenty years (given that they would be at their peak) to the current side, what team would you chose? I’ve decided to kick it off with my selection.

GK: Shay Given Although Packie is a legend, I think Shay is a better keeper.
RB: Stephen Carr When fit, his only realistic challenger is current challenger Steve Finnan.
LB: Dennis Irwin The only choice.
CB: Paul McGrath Head and shoulders above the rest.
CB: Kenny Cunningham Would look even better alongside McGrath.
RM: Ray Houghton Would pose as much of a goalscoring threat down the right as Duff.
LM: Damien Duff Another automatic choice.
CM: Roy Keane A no brainer (and an obvious choice too!).
CM: Liam Brady To provide the killer pass.
CF: Robbie Keane All time record scorer.
CF: Clinton Morrison Improving all the time.

Was tough decision whether to include John Aldridge, Niall Quinn or Frank Stapleton in place of Morrison, instead of Brady in midfield, but ultimately the chance to get Irwin, Mc Grath, Houghton and Brady alongside the current squad was more than enough to tempt me. There are plenty of goals all over the park, with Duff and Houghton chipping in consistently, Dennis Irwin’s free kicks and McGrath from set pieces.

Not a bad side.

[livehead1]

shay given

kevin moran
steve carr, jackie carey, paul mgrath, denis irwin,
john giles liam brady, roy keane, damien duff,
robbie keane

pure legends, no irish striker is fit to partner robbie keane and his goalscoring record,no matter his faults!

[colster]

Mine would be

Given

Carr Moran McGrath Irwin

Whelan Keane

Houghton Brady Duff

Keane

[sylvo]

Shay Given

Chris Hughton
Kevin Moran
Paul McGrath
Denis Irwin

Ronnie Whelan
Roy Keane
Ray Houghton
Damian Duff

Robbie Keane
Frank Stapleton.

[eirebhoy]

Lads, you didn't read the original post correctly.


Say you were allowed to add up to four Irish international players from the past twenty years (given that they would be at their peak) to the current side

[The Owls]

Shay Given
Steve Carr Paul Mcgrath Kevin Moran
Ray Houghton Roy Keane Liam Brady Damien Duff
Robbie Keane Niall Quinn

[livehead1]

Lads, you didn't read the original post correctly.

o rite,indeed. and theres me slipping in jackie carey from about 80years ago! lol jaysus he's probably snuffed it now!

shay given
steven carr, kenny cunningham (legend), paul mgrath, Dennis Irwin
Roy Keane (any footballer with a musical in there name gets in) Damien Duff, Liam Brady, Aiden Mcgeady (only because i think he may become even better than duffer) Roberto Keanigol, :ball: Jonathon -i chase everything that moves - Macken :ball: (every team deserved a 'comedy' aspect and this manchurian fits the bill! lol :D

then lets say if i was to bend the rules (pretending to be the fai here....) and name subs:
Packie Bonner
Jackie Carey
David O'Leary
John Aldridge
Ray Houghton

[colster]

Shay Given
Steve Carr Paul Mcgrath Kevin Moran
Ray Houghton Roy Keane Liam Brady Damien Duff
Robbie Keane Niall Quinn

Only 10 players there.

[Hibs4Ever]

GIVEN

CARR - CUNNINGHAM - McGRATH - STAUNTON

HOUGHTON - WHELAN - KEANE - DUFF

ROBBIE - QUINN

[eirebhoy]

GIVEN

CARR - CUNNINGHAM - McGRATH - STAUNTON

HOUGHTON - WHELAN - KEANE - DUFF

ROBBIE - QUINN
5 players from the past (Stan has retired). ;)

[Closed Account 2]

--------------------Given
Carr--------O'Brien--------McGrath---Irwin
R. Houghton---Andy Reid*---Ry. Keane---Duff
------------Rb. Keane---Aldo

*Ideally he'd play on the wing, but I cant decide between putting him in the center or less technically gifted but more natural CM Kilbane, Kavanagh etc

[Schumi]

Lads, you didn't read the original post correctly.
Say you were allowed to add up to four Irish international players from the past twenty years (given that they would be at their peak) to the current side
Yeah but that's less fun!

--------------Bonner--------------

Carr----McGrath-----Moran----Irwin

Houghton---Keane----Brady----Duff

-----------Keane----Stapleton-----

If I had to restrict it to four (currently) retired players, I'd put Given in for Bonner, Cunningham in for Moran and someone in for Houghton.

[fergalr]

Sticking strictly to the rules and filling in out current weak spots:

Given
Carr Cunningham McGrath Finnan
Houghton RMK Brady Duff
Keane Stapo

[Kingdom]

Given
Carr McGrath Cunningham Irwin
Whelan Keane Kilbane
Duff
Robbie Aldo

[Hibs4Ever]

Sticking strictly to the rules and filling in out current weak spots:

Given
Carr Cunningham McGrath Finnan
Houghton RMK Brady Duff
Keane Stapo


Don't understand how you see centre of our midfield as a week spot :confused:

[patsh]

Shay Given

Chris Hughton
David O'Leary
Paul McGrath
Denis Irwin

Ronnie Whelan
Roy Keane
Liam Brady
Damian Duff

John Aldridge
Frank Stapleton

[eirebhoy]

Its very easy to pick a best 11 from the last 20 years... Stick to the rules. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[colster]

Shay Given

Chris Hughton
David O'Leary
Paul McGrath
Denis Irwin

Ronnie Whelan
Roy Keane
Liam Brady
Damian Duff

John Aldridge
Frank Stapleton

Good Side patsh. Imagine how many goals Aldo would score if he was playing in the the current side. He's the type of forward we need at the moment a lethal finisher

[brine3]

Given

Irwin
McGrath
Moran
Finnan

Duff
Keane
Brady
Houghton
Whelan

Aldo

[fergalr]

Don't understand how you see centre of our midfield as a week spot :confused:
Which one of the current options do you think is up there in the pantheon of Irish greats?

In fact, you'd have go go back 30 years to when we were last so weak in central midfield (think Giles-Brady-Whelan-McGrath-RMK as our glorious lineage).

[eirebhoy]

There are loads of threads on Ireland's best ever 11. Stick to the thread, you are only allowed add 4 players to our current set of players.

[colster]

GK: Shay Given Although Packie is a legend, I think Shay is a better keeper.
RB: Stephen Carr When fit, his only realistic challenger is current challenger Steve Finnan.
LB: Dennis Irwin The only choice.
CB: Paul McGrath Head and shoulders above the rest.
CB: Kenny Cunningham Would look even better alongside McGrath.
RM: Ray Houghton Would pose as much of a goalscoring threat down the right as Duff.
LM: Damien Duff Another automatic choice.
CM: Roy Keane A no brainer (and an obvious choice too!).
CM: Liam Brady To provide the killer pass.
CF: Robbie Keane All time record scorer.
CF: Clinton Morrison Improving all the time.


Misread the thread originally. Having re-read it though that looks like pretty good side. I'd still love to see Whelan and Aldridge included.

[livehead1]

Its very easy to pick a best 11 from the last 20 years... Stick to the rules. :mad: :mad: :mad:


There are loads of threads on Ireland's best ever 11. Stick to the thread, you are only allowed add 4 players to our current set of players.


sorry dad, there should be a rule not only about sticking to the thread, but also nagging :D

[gustavo]

so its four players from the last 20 years ehh

well then i would go for

given gk

irwin lb
carr rb
cunningham cb
mcgrath cb
duff lm
houghton rm
keane cm
brady cm
morrison cf
keane cf


****as is always the case with these things i dont read what other people have put till after so as to not be influenced so i must say kevin77 you have good taste:)