Kevin Kilbane

[brine3]

Please explain to me what he brings to the team.

I still don't understand.

[Slash/ED]

He is not an international class player and never has been, nevermind in central mid field. His reputation is based on a game where Frances mid field was all over the place. He cannot pass the ball 5 yards without putting it out of play, he hasn't the touch technique passing movement or intelligence to play at this level. Did you see his attempt to roll the ball to Duff who was 5 yards away? But we're Ireland, and he tries and battles well, puts himself about and all that, and that's more than enough for some people.

Beside Keane who does the holding role now we need someone with a clue how to pass the ball, move and get things going. Instead we have a donkey, but oh well, he trys hard.

[patsh]

He is not an international class player and never has been, He cannot pass the ball 5 yards without putting it out of play, he hasn't the touch technique passing movement or intelligence to play at this level. Did you see his attempt to roll the ball to Duff who was 5 yards away? But we're Ireland, and he tries and battles well, puts himself about and all that, and that's more than enough for some people.
You could use you quote to describe Robbie Keane just as accurately.

[Reality Bites]

It was cringe worthy watching Kilbane get the ball in tight spaces and trying to lay it off to a green shirt, he is just not capable of this, Roy provided a masterclass in the simple midfield pass last night..although donkey pass of the night goes to Robbie Keane who came deep looking for the ball, only to recieve and pass straight to Zidane.. Nuff said.

[beautifulrock]

He is not good enough for international football, end of story. Running around non stop should not be criteria for selection.

[swinfordfc]

yes kilbane is not international class but who is now in ireland midfield (central position apart from roy keane) with roy keany out against cyprus ye have to relie on him now hes better than matt holland will steven reid come in?

[zinedineontour]

one bad game and the knives are out for the lad again .. will you get a life ... he has been excellent in the centre for us and one bad game does not make him a bad player .... too many people on here come on to criticise or tell us how roy keane is the dogs ****** ....

[LFC in Exile]

one bad game and the knives are out for the lad again .. will you get a life ... he has been excellent in the centre for us and one bad game does not make him a bad player .... too many people on here come on to criticise or tell us how roy keane is the dogs ****** ....

But it isn't just one bad game. He is not good enough in central midfield. On teh wing if he loses possession little harm is done - but ina key area like centre field a cool head and composure are needed and he does not have that.

[zinedineontour]

But it isn't just one bad game. He is not good enough in central midfield. On teh wing if he loses possession little harm is done - but ina key area like centre field a cool head and composure are needed and he does not have that.

actually that is his first bad game in centre midfield ...

[Condex]

one bad game and the knives are out for the lad again .. will you get a life ... he has been excellent in the centre for us and one bad game does not make him a bad player .... too many people on here come on to criticise or tell us how roy keane is the dogs ****** ....

One good game doesn;t make him a good player either...

[zinedineontour]

One good game doesn;t make him a good player either...

he has played more than one good game for us ... best option for us at the mo ...

[pete]

Kilbane is the best option of those available. Is someone going to suggest Holland or Kavanagh get in ahead of him. Kilbane has consistently been picked in the irish team by 2 different managers so are they wrong. He didn't have good game last night but same could be said of a few players. Kilbanes through ball for Duff almost got us a goal in the 2nd half.

[tetsujin1979]

Steven Reid is also in with a shout of the central midfield spot

[pete]

Steven Reid is also in with a shout of the central midfield spot

He shoudn't be in the squad let alone the team. Hes like a new version of Carsley, never passes forward.

[Rover 2 U]

I woundn't mind seeing Andy Reid in there with Steve Finnan out on the wings. Reid was linking up really well with Roy and could do a job for us. He's also not afraid to carry the ball forward. It might be one for Kerr to consider in the future.

[shakermaker1982]

Kilbane is useless, he's nearly as bad as Carsley. Good suggestion Rover, Reid in middle with Finnan on the wing would make me happy. We have nobody else but anything is better than Kilbane. He can't pass, shoot or tackle so what does he do?

[TerryPhelan]

I woundn't mind seeing Andy Reid in there with Steve Finnan out on the wings. Reid was linking up really well with Roy and could do a job for us. He's also not afraid to carry the ball forward. It might be one for Kerr to consider in the future.

Good man Rover 2 U, I think that's an excellent option. Would certainly have provided a bit more penetration from our midfield last night as apart from being heavily marked, Duff had to survive on awful distrbution from Kilbane and O'Shea. Reid has excellent vision and a fantastic range of passing, and any questions over his defensive workrate and tackling were answered last night. Playing him in centre mid would not only allow him more scope for using his natural left peg, but he would flourish beside Keane. The unfortunate likelihood is that this pairing will probably only get one run out together. But I think it is definitely worth a try against Switzerland, because Kilbane has outstayed his welcome in the Irish starting XI, and Holland and Kavanelli don't contribute enough attackwise. :ball:

[zinedineontour]

Kilbane is useless, he's nearly as bad as Carsley. Good suggestion Rover, Reid in middle with Finnan on the wing would make me happy. We have nobody else but anything is better than Kilbane. He can't pass, shoot or tackle so what does he do?

no he cant pass , tackle or shoot but ran the show in paris with keane and was our best player at home against israel ... he tackles well , wins a lot of headers and spreads the play well ... finnan on the wing ?? oh great lets put a defender in midfield great call there ..

[Armando]

I woundn't mind seeing Andy Reid in there with Steve Finnan out on the wings. Reid was linking up really well with Roy and could do a job for us. He's also not afraid to carry the ball forward. It might be one for Kerr to consider in the future.

Amen to that! And forget about the future, it's what's needed NOW! Hopefully we beat the Cypriots and then pit that midfield of Duff, Andy Reid, Keane and Finnan against the Swiss and in subsequent matches. Reid plays out of position on the right and still looks a class act - he'd be a revelation in a central role and needs to go in alongside Keane before the latter retires. In my opinion taking into account quality, experience and status of the clubs this quartet play for it is far and away our best midfield.

[Armando]

no he cant pass , tackle or shoot but ran the show in paris with keane and was our best player at home against israel ... he tackles well , wins a lot of headers and spreads the play well ... finnan on the wing ?? oh great lets put a defender in midfield great call there ..

Steve Finnan has plenty of experience playing right mid. It was playing this position in the lower leagues that persuaded Fulham to buy him.

[zinedineontour]

Steve Finnan has plenty of experience playing right mid. It was playing this position in the lower leagues that persuaded Fulham to buy him.

not doubting steve finnans quality but just think he doesnt add much going forward ...

[brine3]

If that was Kilbane's "first bad game in centre midfield", then I am the tooth fairy.

People say he ran the show in Paris. He ran in Paris. He didn't do much else.

Maybe we should put Mark Carroll in midfield, he can run around a lot too.

[Slash/ED]

If that was Kilbane's "first bad game in centre midfield", then I am the tooth fairy.

People say he ran the show in Paris. He ran in Paris. He didn't do much else.

Maybe we should put Mark Carroll in midfield, he can run around a lot too.

Exactly. He did not run the show, he just ran around alot.

"Spreads the play" :D He couldn't pass water ffs. All he has is heart, determination and work rate. When it comes to quality, he is badly lacking and always has been even on the left nevermind in the centre.

He is not good enough, and the claim that he's had one bad game in central mid field is as outrageous as it is funny.

[FarBeag]

Kilbane is S*ite,simple as that and was never any good.The best he has ever done is run with the ball,head down and before he knows it he is over the by line.Mark Kinsella who is retired now is still better than this donkey FFS.

[zinedineontour]

Kilbane is S*ite,simple as that and was never any good.The best he has ever done is run with the ball,head down and before he knows it he is over the by line.Mark Kinsella who is retired now is still better than this donkey FFS.

complete and utter ****** .. kilbane is a quality player who with roy keane did run the show in paris and at home against israel was our best player .. you watch paris or israel home again and you will see the influence kilbane has ... oh lets drop kilbane and put in matty holland so we can then slag him off ... too many knobs on here come on just to abuse the players.. people talk about the great atmosphere last night ? my arse ... anytime kilbane , oshea or basically anyone other than roy keane made a mistake there were moans and groans ... best supporters in the world ? my arse ... my vote goes to our friends up the road ... years of ****e and they still dont complain and support there team 100%

[FarBeag]

zinedineontour.. Were you at the game and how many games have you watched Kilbane playing in?He is a very average player and to call him anything but is a crazy assessment.I can understand why the Sunderland supporters gave him a hard time and yes he deserves all the criticism he gets and imo is well warranted. Yes he did get alot of praise for the French game and did play well based on his standards but consistancy is the name of the game and he does not have this simple gift to be a professional footballer at the highest level.

Roy Keane is a God and does not have to prove anything to anyone with regard to his football ability and 38,000 people that didnt moan or groan at him last night obviously think the same.Enough said

[Slash/ED]

I think zinedineontour is the poster formally known as only1kilbane, in which case you will simply never get any sense out of him on the subject of Kilbane :)

[JimmyP]

Regardless, unfortunately Kilbane was the weakest link last night - it's that simple.
if his performance in Paris has kept him in the starting eleven until now, last night's show should keep him out.

[diogoSanchez05]

Steven Reid should have been given a run-out last night. He's in form since returning to Blackburn team after injury. Kilbane is in bits..confidence is gone again! should have been taken off for S Reid after 50 mins not bloody 80!

[blaa61]

his worst game for ireland in a while, he's average but bar roy our whole midfield is average. kav or holland would be replacements even they are'nt much better. S Ried is unproven. And Kilbane was up against Viera Makalele and Zidane no wonder he was shown up??

[shakermaker1982]

Kilbane is the weak link and needs to go. Keane, Reid and Duff are 3 quality players but having Kilbane there doesn't work. ****e against Italy and France so needs to be dropped. His heart cannot be questioned but we need quality to beat the Swiss

[zinedineontour]

Kilbane is the weak link and needs to go. Keane, Reid and Duff are 3 quality players but having Kilbane there doesn't work. ****e against Italy and France so needs to be dropped. His heart cannot be questioned but we need quality to beat the Swiss

Grand if people dont rate him as highly as i do but who do we have to replace him .. nobody thats anyway better than the lad .. Im have criticised Kilbane in the past and thought he was played when out of form on the left wing but apart from wed night he has been excellent in centre mid .. when holland has played there recently he has disapeared and kavanagh is very similar to keane ... And I am not against Roy Keane just think there are too many knobs now at lansdowne who are pro roy keane and anti the rest of the team sometimes ... Its a team game support the whole team ...

[pete]

Grand if people dont rate him as highly as i do but who do we have to replace him .. nobody thats anyway better than the lad ..

Its like we all know Morrisson is useless but hes best of a lot of bad options for now.

Kilbane has started every competitive irish international for years now. He must have something going for him.

[Stuttgart88]

Kilbane has lots going for him, but he'll probably tell you himself he doesn't have the class or guile that can penetrate a deep midfield of Vieira & Makele's quality. I think the time of his automatic selection is coming to an end.

I just suggested the following on another thread:

Duff LHM, Carr RHM, A. Reid centre-mid.

Or KK LHM, Duff, RHM, A. Reid centre-mid.

I've been supportive of Kilbane over the years and but I'm beginning to think he could be best used coming off the bench. Throughout this campaign the high energy our game plan requires has left us tiring in the last 25 minutes. Having a fresh Kilbane to bring on could be a useful tactic.

Likewise I think starting Elliott with a view to Morrison coming on for last 25 minutes may be an option before long.

In almost all instances recently we've been bringing on inferior players & changing to an inferior game plan to change things.

[zinedineontour]

Its like we all know Morrisson is useless but hes best of a lot of bad options for now.

Kilbane has started every competitive irish international for years now. He must have something going for him.

Think if people are slating kilbane fair enough but they need to back it up with a decent replacement which we just dont have ...like morrison hopefully elliott will step up and show what hes made of in cyprus .. please brian dont play doherty in cyprus ..

[shakermaker1982]

We lack squad depth but Finnan on the right, with Reidy in the middle should give us a better balance.


Clinton has been impressing me of late, he tracks back and gives defenders a mare. Doherty needs to stay at Norwich, I knew we were finished when he came on......

[zinedineontour]

We lack squad depth but Finnan on the right, with Reidy in the middle should give us a better balance.


Clinton has been impressing me of late, he tracks back and gives defenders a mare. Doherty needs to stay at Norwich, I knew we were finished when he came on......

yeah clinton works a lot harder than robbie anyway ..... doherty , please kerr dont bring him on again .. elliott was the obvious option .

[geysir]

I admire Zinedine's support for Kilbane. KK had a pish poor game. There were serious doubts about his fitness before the game.
He was not the weakest link last night but definitely one of them.
The scapegoating of Kilbane reminds me a bit of my nagging wife, if I am anywhere in the house when something goes wrong, its my fault. Kilbane got the blame for one of the Italian goals when it was Holland who had a dose of Narcolepsy.
Kilbane had a poor game and much less effective than could be expected were Duff, Robbie and Morrison. IMO.only Given, Kenny, Dunne, Carr, O'Shea, Reid and the 12th man played to our expectations of a good game with Roy K exceeding.
Tactically last night our ability of the midfield to concede 40 yards of space and race back and take up position on our 25yd line was astonishing. That left Keane and Morrison ineffectively trying to close down the advance. The flip side of that was the French were almost shut out completely. When other teams have come here and sliced though our defense repeatedly so last nights display had an unusual plus.
I like Stuttgart's idea of Kilbane being the impact sub. with time to make an impact.
I don't think we can afford to buy the type of midfielder I would like to see there.

[zinedineontour]

I admire Zinedine's support for Kilbane. KK had a pish poor game. There were serious doubts about his fitness before the game.
He was not the weakest link last night but definitely one of them.
The scapegoating of Kilbane reminds me a bit of my nagging wife, if I am anywhere in the house when something goes wrong, its my fault. Kilbane got the blame for one of the Italian goals when it was Holland who had a dose of Narcolepsy.
Kilbane had a poor game and much less effective than could be expected were Duff, Robbie and Morrison. IMO.only Given, Kenny, Dunne, Carr, O'Shea, Reid and the 12th man played to our expectations of a good game with Roy K exceeding.
Tactically last night our ability of the midfield to concede 40 yards of space and race back and take up position on our 25yd line was astonishing. That left Keane and Morrison ineffectively trying to close down the advance. The flip side of that was the French were almost shut out completely. When other teams have come here and sliced though our defense repeatedly so last nights display had an unusual plus.
I like Stuttgart's idea of Kilbane being the impact sub. with time to make an impact.
I don't think we can afford to buy the type of midfielder I would like to see there.

cheers .. Just think fair play the lad was crap on wednesday and im sure if you talked to him he would admit that himself .. imo the lads who did well on wed were given , carr , cunningham, dunne , reid and keane ....

He is the scapegoat along with john o shea when things go wrong.. Im not saying hes a super player but i just dont think at the moment we have anyone capable of doing any better than the lad .. If someone good enough comes along a la glenn whelan in a year or so happy days but at the moment kilbane is our best option and he will be in the team for the next two games so support the lad .

[RiffRaff]

I feel a bit sorry for Kilbane because i think Kerr is the only person who can see him as a central midfielder. His qualities are hard work and pace, but he doesnt have a first touch, ball control or passing ability which is needed to play central midfield. When Everton had a crisis in that position last season, they played Yobo, a centre half, there instead of moving Kilbane inside. If his own club manager won't risk him there, why does Kerr? I don't think Andy Reid has the energy levels and fitness for that position - i'd go for the other Reid

[Slash/ED]

Kavanagh is worthy of a chance, he's done well for us and unlike Kilbane actually knows the first thing about how to pass a feckin ball.

[zinedineontour]

Kavanagh is worthy of a chance, he's done well for us and unlike Kilbane actually knows the first thing about how to pass a feckin ball.

would have no problem with kav been given a chance unlike what you think ... he will play alongside killa in cyprus so hopefully will do the biz ..

[Stuttgart88]

too many knobs on here come on just to abuse the players.. people talk about the great atmosphere last night ? my arse ... anytime kilbane , oshea or basically anyone other than roy keane made a mistake there were moans and groans ... best supporters in the world ? my arse ... my vote goes to our friends up the road ... years of ****e and they still dont complain and support there team 100%
Some guy even said recently that O'Shea was the worst footballer ever to wear the Irish shirt. Some people aren't happy unless they're moaning. It's a very unfortunate attribute of the Irish fan these days. Was it OwlsFan who said that a football fan HAS to be optimistic. What right does a miniscule country like ours have to expect quality all over the pitch? We'll always have a few makewights & I'm sure Kilabne would be more than happy to relinquish his place if Riquelme was Irish.

[zinedineontour]

Some guy even said recently that O'Shea was the worst footballer ever to wear the Irish shirt. Some people aren't happy unless they're moaning. It's a very unfortunate attribute of the Irish fan these days. Was it OwlsFan who said that a football fan HAS to be optimistic. What right does a miniscule country like ours have to expect quality all over the pitch? We'll always have a few makewights & I'm sure Kilabne would be more than happy to relinquish his place if Riquelme was Irish.

kilbane himself knows his limatations but he is as good as we have in the centre at the moment ... I think we should support the lads rather than abuse them as a lot on here seem to do .... im really hungover .........

[Tram_14]

kilbane himself knows his limatations but he is as good as we have in the centre at the moment ... I think we should support the lads rather than abuse them as a lot on here seem to do .... im really hungover .........

I didn't think Kilbane had a good game against the french, having said that zinedineontour's point above is very valid, except that he is really hungover & is probably talkin Sh!te!!! :eek: :D

Only jokin.. fully on for supporting rather than the futile & often unfair negativity of players on the site.

[brine3]

I have nothing against Kilbane, I'm not abusing him. This guy turned down England to wait for his Ireland call-up, has given 110% in all his matches and is a nice guy too. It's not his fault that he keeps getting picked for a position that he's no good at, but at least he does his best. If Robbie Keane had the same application, work rate and professionalism as Kilbane then we might be a couple of points clear at the top of this group.

I'm not moaning, I just think we have better players than Kilbane for that position. That doesn't mean that I "don't support the lads", it just means that I have an opinion.

[Green Army Girl]

Im a big fan of Kevin he always gives 110% maybe hes not quite up to the standards of Roy Keane but he is imroving all the time. Even though he didnt have a great game against the French you didnt hear names like Viera and Zidane as much as you thought you would.He has had great games one that sticks out is the one against Brazil where he controlled mid-field. He also played for Eire and not for England so they obviously saw something special about him to.

But to prove my point he won Republic of Ireland player-of-the-year award in 2000 and hes gorgeous

[Tram_14]

hes gorgeous


I know.. his looks have been distracting defenses for years :D

[Green Army Girl]

I think they call him the boogeyman when he plays for Everton cos he scares all the players children away.

There is something about him i know he is ugly but i still fancy him and dont lie there is someone out there that you feel the same about too Kat Slater maybe ;)

[Tram_14]

Furiously googling Kat Slater...............