Andy Reid Central Midfield.

[NeilMcD]

Does anyone agree with me that Andy Reid has the talent to play this role along with Roy Keane in central Midfield. I noticed on Wed that they were speaking a lot during the game and seemed to have a very good rapport. Reid was one of our better performers and his range of passing was very good. Kilbane gives the ball away too much for my liking and I think that his form at the moment is very poor. I am not sure Reid has the pace to go past people on the wings and I think a midfield of Duff, Reid, Keane and Finnan would be well balanced and have players who are all playing at top clubs and all know how to pass the ball. I dont think it would suddenly turn us into a great team but it could be a way for both Carr, Finnan and Reid playing on the same team. I think if we are going to play a posession game that we need passers all over the pitch and to me Kilbane is too poor a passer to be playing centrally for us.

[Tired&Emotional]

Yes I agree, thought they both had a good understanding and were doing alot of talking during the game - good partnership developing but not sure if he's strong enough for central midfield at the moment but ahead of Kilbane on current form!

[thejollyrodger]

If A.Reid can work on his fitness and physical attributes then I think he could be one for the centre. If Josh played like he did against the Italians (clearing out all around him) it might be a good central partnership.

[NeilMcD]

I thought that Reid, was very agressive against the French and put it about and won tackles as much if not more than Kilbane. I would not worry about that side to his game. I would love to see that midfield against the Swiss. Also I think his pass for Robbie againts Israel came from a central position.

[Stuttgart88]

Reid in midfield is a very serious option. Who would you play him with in Kean'e absence though? I rate Kavanagh but his season has barely started.

If he played there my preference is for Carr over Finnan RHM as I think he's more aggressive going forward than Finnan. But Finnan is a quality player too.

France really showed that we need somebody who can actually use the ball in CM. Reid is already a better player than Kinsella was but Kinsella & Keane was a beautifully balanced midfield pairing. Our current CM with KK providing the legs to Keane's experience is simply a means of getting the ball wide. We need to be creative through the middle too. At times against France the gap between midfield & the front two was just too big. For the last 2 years have you noticed how deep Robbie has had to come to get the ball? We also need to get more goals from midfield.

The only negative about Reid in the middle is that it consigns Duff to one wing only, making him easier to double/triple mark. On balance it's not a deal-breaker though.

On paper several combos of Kavanagh / Miller (in theory) / Quinn / S. Reid / A. Reid / Holland / O'Shea look attractive. But in reality...?

Again in theory I'd like to see a Reid / Miller / Quinn type player playing behind the front two. God, how we needed Miller to develop. But how can you do this without a weaker central midfield or without taking away our width? The only variable I can think of that satisfies me is a 3 man defence. I just want to see a way where all our creative options are maximised.

[NeilMcD]

Well for me the midfield should read


Duff Keane Reid, (Finnan/Carr Swapping)


Another reason for this is that I actually think that Kilbane woudl be a good in that his pace and agressino and legs woudl be good in the last 15 mins of a game if he was fresh and other players were tired. It could actually help Kilbane too. If Keane was missing I would just go like for like and replace him with Kavanagh who not as good as Keane would do a good job.


I think the midfield against Cyprus shoud be

Duff Kavangh Stephen Reid, Finnan/Carr.

[colster]

I've been thinking this for a while but think he mightn't be defensive enough to play in a 4 man midfield but it's worth a look. In a 451 with a free role behind the front man I think he could be excellent.

[Stuttgart88]

I actually think that Kilbane would be a good in that his pace and agression and legs woudl be good in the last 15 mins of a game if he was fresh and other players were tired.
Yep. It's been really noticable (a) how we have tired in a lot of games and (b) how our substitutions have always been an inferior player for a better player, i.e. we've been clutching at straws a bit when making changes. Kilbane is an ideal replacement for tired legs.

[tetsujin1979]

I've been thinking this for a while but think he mightn't be defensive enough to play in a 4 man midfield but it's worth a look. In a 451 with a free role behind the front man I think he could be excellent.
I don't think we've a striker at the moment who can play up front by himself, and if we play 4-3-1-2 with Reid in the hole I don't think there's a place there for Duff - he's not a central midfielder - and leaving him out is patently ludicrous

[Stuttgart88]

I've been thinking this for a while but think he mightn't be defensive enough to play in a 4 man midfield but it's worth a look. In a 451 with a free role behind the front man I think he could be excellent.
He pretty much played this role when he replaced Morrisson in Paris & did well. That was really a 4-4-1-1 the way it panned out. He was still with Forest at the time remember so his game is probably a lot better now.

[OwlsFan]

Before Kilbane is confined to history, he's very important to us in the air which I haven't seen mentioned very often. Compared to the Irish team of Jack's day, we're a team of dwarves and most kick outs by Given are aimed at Kilbane. He's also a danger in the air from corners and helps out defending at corners.

Finnan wide right in a game we need to win, possibly by 2 goals, doesn't inspire me with creative confidence, although I do recall it was his pass to McAteer that created the goal against Holland.

The dropping of Kilbane therefore leaves major gaps so it's not straight forward.

[colster]

I don't think we've a striker at the moment who can play up front by himself, and if we play 4-3-1-2 with Reid in the hole I don't think there's a place there for Duff - he's not a central midfielder - and leaving him out is patently ludicrous

I think Morrisson can play up front on his own. He's doing it at the moment for the amount of work that Robbie Keane does.

[colster]

He pretty much played this role when he replaced Morrisson in Paris & did well. That was really a 4-4-1-1 the way it panned out. He was still with Forest at the time remember so his game is probably a lot better now.

Forgot about that. He played behind Keane as well. That game proved that Keane can play as a lone striker when he's on his game. Ireland passed the ball better with Reid in midfield.

I think this side (barring injury + form) could do the business against the Swiss.

Given

Carr Dunne Cunningham O'Shea

S.Finnan Keane A.Reid Kilbane Duff

Keane

[NeilMcD]

Before Kilbane is confined to history, he's very important to us in the air which I haven't seen mentioned very often. Compared to the Irish team of Jack's day, we're a team of dwarves and most kick outs by Given are aimed at Kilbane. He's also a danger in the air from corners and helps out defending at corners.

Finnan wide right in a game we need to win, possibly by 2 goals, doesn't inspire me with creative confidence, although I do recall it was his pass to McAteer that created the goal against Holland.

The dropping of Kilbane therefore leaves major gaps so it's not straight forward.


I am not confining him to history but his passing is not good enough and the style of football that Ireland play under Kerr we need a midfield of good passers of the ball. Numerous times against France he gave the ball away when it looked like Ireland were on a nice break. I agree his height is an assest but I dont think its enough of an asset to keep him in the team as his passing is so bad. IN relation to Finnan, I think both him and car could rotatej as both can defend and get forward. I think Kerr will be approaching the game to win it full stop , Not to win it by 2 goals unless we have to, to stay in the World Cup. I think Kilbane could be a high impact sub.

[Stuttgart88]

I don't agree that Reid isn't strong enough, fit enough or good enough defensively to fill a normal central midfield role. I reckon the solution is probably as simple as having Kavanagh or Reid instead of Kilbane. They both have a touch & range of passing that KK just doesn't have. KK penetrates by force (if at all), the others have the ability to penetrate by ability. It's nowhere near the time to "consign KK to history", but we do need to acknowledge our biggest failing against the French: attacking central midfield.

To think that 2 yrs ago Liam Miller played so well against Anderlecht & Lyon and is now playing against Accrington Stanley in the Greater Manchester Cup for a living.

[keenanboy]

Yes for the following reasons:
- Good passer, by that I mean he can pass the ball normally!
- Creative
- Positive and Attacking-minded

[Stuttgart88]

Also I think his pass for Robbie againts Israel came from a central position.It did. I think he's also played centrally for Spurs on occasion and he & Robbie appear to be on each other's wavelength. I remember when Spurs lost 1-0 at Highbury last season Reid moved into the middle late in the game & set up Robbie for a relatively simple header which he missed. Perhaps Reid centrally is the answer to getting more out of Robbie.

[NeilMcD]

The more I think about it the more I think its a runner, the Game against France convinced me though as it showed Kilbanes lack of passing ability and how it gets punished at this level and also how much Reid has improved in the last year in his tackling etc. At this stage I would have no problem with Kerr going with him and Keane in the centre and Duff and Finnan /Carr on the wings.

[OwlsFan]

What about Reid in the middle and Duff out right and Kilbane out left in which case we keep Kilbane for his aerial ability and where he's better suited than midfield ?

Finnan wide right leaves me cold in a game we need to win.

[thejollyrodger]

what about S.Reid on the right and either Finnan or Taz at right back ? I think it would give us a lot going forward

Given

Carr Dunne Cunningham O'Shea

S.Reid Keane A.Reid Kilbane Duff

Keane

[NeilMcD]

Not a bad idea as he may get in on the end of Duffs crossess on the back post.

We could try it out in Cyprus except have

Kilbane, Kavanagh S Reid, Duff as our midfield.

[OwlsFan]

what about S.Reid on the right and either Finnan or Taz at right back ? I think it would give us a lot going forward

Given

Carr Dunne Cunningham O'Shea

S.Reid Keane A.Reid Kilbane Duff

Keane

Bambi on the right ? I don't think so. Think he's playing centre midfield for Blackburn at the moment. He seems to have lost the ability (confidence) to go past people. How is he in the air ?

One man up front does NOT work. We tried that first time out in Switzerland - ball kept coming back. You must have someone up front who can compete for the ball and hold it up.

[colster]

Bambi on the right ? I don't think so. Think he's playing centre midfield for Blackburn at the moment. He seems to have lost the ability (confidence) to go past people. How is he in the air ?

One man up front does NOT work. We tried that first time out in Switzerland - ball kept coming back. You must have someone up front who can compete for the ball and hold it up.

If we play long ball 1 man up front won't work. What we need to do is pass the ball and play it down the wings. Use the pace of Keane + Duff and the passing and vision of Reid to pick them out. If we do that then it'll work. Duff, Reid and Finnan/S.Reid should get forward more.
We need to have more invention and movement.

[colster]

what about S.Reid on the right and either Finnan or Taz at right back ? I think it would give us a lot going forward

Given

Carr Dunne Cunningham O'Shea

S.Reid Keane A.Reid Kilbane Duff

Keane

Pity MacGeady hasn't hit form this season. Imagine him on the right?

[eirebhoy]

I mentioned this a few times already but I am 100% sure its only a matter of time before Reid is transformed into a central midfielder. I was really impressed with his tracking back and tackling for Spurs this season. Put it this way, if Alan Quinn can be transformed into a central midfielder than Reid certainly can. Quinn had a stormer in the centre against Holland. He also impressed there in the previous match against Jamaica. He's hardler "built" to be a central midfielder.

Reid made his debut for Ireland in the centre against Canada. I can't remember the game now but the game started of with Kavanagh, Stephen Reid, Duff and Andy Reid in midfield. Kav went off early and Holland replaced him. Doherty and Keane up front. Anyway, Reid got man of the match and crossed for a rare Keane headed goal.

I'd try him out there after the current qualifiers but wouldn't risk him in these crucial games.

[thejollyrodger]

I agree that he would be better in the center. He isnt as mobile as the likes of Duff and is always looking to pick out a pass. Physically Im not sure if he is up to the job yet though. Maybe at the end of the EPL he might be a bit stronger.

[Condex]

Far too weak, will get walked over..

I am not looking forward to an Ireland team post Keane & Cunningham...

Wilderness here we come :(

[Stuttgart88]

if Alan Quinn can be transformed into a central midfielder than Reid certainly can. Quinn had a stormer in the centre against Holland. He also impressed there in the previous match against Jamaica. He's hardler "built" to be a central midfielder.

I'd try him out there after the current qualifiers but wouldn't risk him in these crucial games.

I actually like Alan Quinn a lot. He played alongside Kinsella against Jamaica and was always looking to "add value" to the play, i.e. he was always looking for us to be in a better position after he played the ball then when he received it. Kinsella was content to just play it back & play it sideways all afternoon. Holland likewise in the previous game. I think he's been starting for Sheff Utd in their last few games & my hope is that they & Reading go all the way for automatic promotion. Alan Quinn has something to offer I think.

As for not risking him against Switzerland I wouldn't rule it out. I'd certainly at least bear him in mind if a tactical change needs to be made with 25 mins left, like against France (with the benefit of hindsight of course).

And Condex & jollyrodger, it's only my opinion against yours, but I also think Reid is more than capable of looking after himself. He's probably stronger than Duff & Robbie even and neither of them suffers.

[tricky_colour]

One advabtage of Reid in central midfield is that he has a pretty good shot,
I believe, better than Kilbane anyway I would imagine. I bet he would
knock a few in from distance.

[Stuttgart88]

At times against France the gap between midfield & the front two was just too big. For the last 2 years have you noticed how deep Robbie has had to come to get the ball? We also need to get more goals from midfield.

In theory I'd like to see a Reid / Miller / Quinn type player playing behind the front two. God, how we needed Miller to develop. But how can you do this without a weaker central midfield or without taking away our width? The only variable I can think of that satisfies me is a 3 man defence. I just want to see a way where all our creative options are maximised.

I'm going to expand on this point (& I'm going to post in instalments, my PC has crashed 3 times already trying to post this!)

3-4-1-2, described as follows:


---------------Goalkeeper-----------------
----Wide Back---Central Back---Wide Back---
Wide Midfield---Centre Mid---Centre Mid---Wide Midfield
----------------Advanced Midfield-----------
----------Forward---------Forward---------

[Stuttgart88]

3-4-1-2 could be the ideal solution to have a player like Andy Reid play an advanced midfield role; a creative link between a solid midfield & our front two could well be a solution to the problems we encountered against the French.

Before Roy Keane returned to the fold I felt we needed to keep a conventional midfield 4 to avoid being overrun like we were in Basle in '03 and we needed to have an advanced midfielder to maximise our creative threat & to maximise our ball retention. The only thing that could give therefore was the back 4 as really I don't think one upfront suits us at all.

What I like about this shape is that it adds a creative dimension without conceding a numeric advantage in midfield. This could be a particular advantage when Roy Keane retires.

In Dublin, many opponents only play one upfront anyway so we wouldn't be conceding any meaningful numeric advantage at the back, and it'd be the job of the midfield 4 to cover back anyway, and the advanced midfielder to drop back to regular midfield if necessary. Arrigo Sacchi says formations count for nothing as long as your players are prepared to do what's asked of them. He also said that the reason 3 at the back never took off in Italy was because Italians don't have a work ethic. They never track back or hound the opposition so 4 at the back was always necessary. Work ethic isn't something we're lacking though.

[Stuttgart88]

We have the personnel for this shape:

Central-back: Cunningham, Dunne
Wide-backs: Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, Carr, Finnan.
Wide right-midfielder: Carr, Finnan, A. Reid, S. Reid, Duff, Miller, Doyle or Ronnie O'Brien even
Wide left-midfielder: Duff, A. Reid, Kilbane, Kennedy
Central midfielders: Keane, Kavanagh, Miller, O'Shea, S. Reid, A. Reid, Quinn, Miller
Advanced Midfielder: A. Reid, Duff, Miller, maybe Quinn
Forwards: Keane, Morrisson, Elliott, Connolly, Doyle

There are multiple combinations within this shape that look attractive on paper. Personally, I'd prefer to keep Duff in an orthodox wide role though I do think he could be the advanced midfielder / free role if Andy Reid fills (no pun intended) a conventional wide or central midfield role.

McGeady is a potential inclusion is some of the positions above.

[thejollyrodger]

irealnd playing with 3 defenders ? we dont have the quality players for that in all honesty.

Its an attacking minded team, unless one of the midfielders sit in front of the back four, i guess that would be roy. The likes of real madrid only have 6 attacking players. there is 7 there.

A.Reid has still to prove that he is physically and athetlically up to it. He hasnt before IMO and often looks completly shattered after the end of 90 minutes in a competitve game. Its early days to him in fairness.

[NeilMcD]

i would play it


Given


O Brien, Cunningham, Dunne

Finnan Keane O Shea Duff

Reid


Keane Morrisson

[Stuttgart88]

irealnd playing with 3 defenders ? we dont have the quality players for that in all honesty.

Its an attacking minded team, unless one of the midfielders sit in front of the back four, i guess that would be roy. The likes of real madrid only have 6 attacking players. there is 7 there.

A.Reid has still to prove that he is physically and athetlically up to it. He hasnt before IMO and often looks completly shattered after the end of 90 minutes in a competitve game. Its early days to him in fairness.
I reckon there may even be less required of Andy Reid physically in this role, certainly as I envisage it anyway. In interntaional football you'd expect him to be protected by continental referees as long as his control is good enough.

I also envisage this shape as being quite robust defensively. Almost all of the wide midfield options I've cited are more than capable of doubling up or dropping back to a full-back style role if required & I actually have faith in the ability of our defenders to do what's required, especially against a defensively set up team visiting Dublin. There's not necessarily 7 offensive players - I'd envisage one of the central midfield players, Roy in all likelihood, sitting in front of the back 4 as you say.

I think it's a winner on paper but then I'm just a bloke sitting in front of a PC, not a man who has worked with professional footballers all his life. Still, I haven't heard the "but we're Irish, we can only play 4-4-2" response yet which is refreshing.

[hoops1]

Anyone who thinks Any Reid is an international class central midfielder
is a fool!
Also 4-4-2 is the only formation we can play have people not been
watching Engalnd or Man Utd trying to play different formations
comical.
And both teams have far better players than we do

[NeilMcD]

ok I put my hand up I am a fool Thanks for that. Surely you should be able to have a debate about the merits of a player without resorting to an insult of teh people who hold that opinion.

[hoops1]

Apologies if offence taken!(didnt think you would get upset)
Maybe I should have said fooling themselves!
Just becasue Reid makes one or two decent takles
and passes from a central position doesnt make him
a midfielder.
Thats a knee jerk reaction that would cause more problems than it
solved and would have to be rectified further down the line.
It would also lead to calls for Kerr to be sacked depending on the
level of disaster that came from such a move

[Stuttgart88]

I've been having problems with my PC all afternoon and some of my posts haven't gone through.

About 10 minutes ago I typed, in response to jollyrodger, that at least I haven't got the usual "but we're Irish, we can only play 4-4-2" response. Then I saw hoops1's post! :

Watching England adapting what were effectively DEFENSIVE formations against teams as weak as Wales & Norn Iron was indeed comical. MUFC struggled with a new formation for a reason - lone forward doesn't suit RVN. It has nothing to do with where these teams are from. I remember Liverpoool recovering from 3 down in the CL final with 3 at the back, and one of those was Traore! Celtic adapted 3 at the back to good effect, and seamlessly, in 2000.

Chelsea benefitted from their new formation for a reason - it suited their players. Good defenders & good width. The players I've listed are all naturally suited to the roles I've identified, in my opinion.

What I'm suggesting is a way of addressing our offensive weaknesses without compromising our defense. I'm not suggesting we use it competitively soon, unless we're chasing a goal, but I do think it's a viable option.

[NeilMcD]

Well said Stuttgart, again a well informed post with not personal insults etc. thats what boards like this shoudl be about. I agree systems work when you have the players that suit them. But any system wont work if you dont have the players that are suited to it.

4 3 3 is all the rage now, but it work for Chelsea as they have the holding player they have the breaking player from midfield, They have a big front man who can win headers etc and is fast. They have good wingers who track back but also can supply good crosses. I think the mistake Ferguson is making is that he is playing a system that does not suit his players with the exception of maybe Roy Keane.

Also it is not a knee jerk reaction on my part. I pointed out in my posts that is something that I had thought about for a good long timea and the France game confirmed it for me. I did have some of the fears that are expressed but over the last while since he has gone to spurs I think Reid has calmed those fears for me. Eirebhoy pointed out that he made his debut there and got man of the match, although it was against Canada. In international football the most important think is that your players can hold posession. Pirlo is a central midfielder but he has Gattuso to do the heavey duty stuff. But what pirlo does is keep the ball and keep it simple and then sometimes play a killer pass. I am not saying that Reid is at that level but he is as physical as Pirlo is and can tackle just as well. In this counry we have to get away from the fact that we need big strong players in midfield. We were missing a creative player in the centre and I think Reid is the answer.

[hoops1]

Stuttgart where did I say we have to play 4-4-2 because we are Irish?
You have to play your strongest players in there strongest positions!
All our players are used to playing it week in week out and are familiar
with it! They all have probably played it since schoolboy football.
Liverpool played 3 at the back in the champions league final because they
were 3-0 and it didnt matter what they played it was all out attack either
way,Celtic could play 0 at the back and still beat most teams in Scotland
While with the defenders we have playing your 3 at the back is laughable!

[Stuttgart88]

Well, it's the same old reaction: "we've been brought up in Britain & Ireland playing 4 at the back so we just can't do it. It's inconceivable." In my mind it is conceivable and far from laughable.

Celtic's 3 at the back was good enough to beat some good teams in the 2000/2001 CL - when winninmg the home games was a must - not just the near perfect record they enjoyed in Scotland.

If we're looking to BEAT good teams by taking the game to them then an aggressive set up could be the answer.

Anyway, I've also said that simply repacing Kilbane with Reid or Kavanagh could have given us more of a threat against France - for reasons stated many times above - but I think there's no reason NOT to play aggressively against mid-ranking teams determined to leave Lansdowne Road with a point, or to adapt an aggressive shape when chasing a game like last week.

Off for the w/e now anyway.

[hoops1]

Again nothing got to do with Being Irish!
Best formation for players we have!
3 at the back with the Defenders we have is a joke!
Big spaces down either side of the 3 to play balls and exploit
our lack of pace at the back, playing right into oppositions hands!
No off to play chamionship manager or whatever you do at the weekend
because its not by watching real football matches that you come up with
the idea that these crazy formations can work with the players we have

[Stuttgart88]

Again nothing got to do with Being Irish!
Best formation for players we have!
3 at the back with the Defenders we have is a joke!
Big spaces down either side of the 3 to play balls and exploit
our lack of pace at the back, playing right into oppositions hands!
No off to play chamionship manager or whatever you do at the weekend
because its not by watching real football matches that you come up with
the idea that these crazy formations can work with the players we have
If all you're intent on doing is insulting people then **** off to another forum. I've addressed pretty much all your points in my initial posts. Check if you want. Others here are interested in intelligent debate. I'm more than happy to admit it when I'm wrong but I've heard nothing from you that makes me think you're worth paying attention to. I put out an idea that I wanted intelligent responses to.

I have no interest in Championship Manager & I've been to more Shamrock Rovers games in my life than you've probably ever been to, as well as playing & coaching junior football for over 12 years.

And don't ever ****ing go questioning how I spend my weekends. It certainly isn't spent in the company of insulting cnuts like you.

[hoops1]

If you cant come up with a better argument for playing
4-4-2 than we only play it because were Irish!
Then I am going to treat you with the contempt you deserve!
At least I put valid football reasons i.e the quality of our defenders
lack of pace at the back for not playing the 3.
Now if your a coach of junior football team as you say! do you play 3
at the back?No didnt think so! because after it worked once if it did at all
it didnt work for long because the other team Knew how to play against it after 10 minutes!

[Stuttgart88]

Hoops1, the reason why I think it's worth looking at something other than 4-4-2 is because I DON'T think we're using our best players in our best positions. I'd contend that the shape that has served us so well down the years has its flaws with our current XI: we don't have a left-back we're happy with & the midfield two (Keane & Kilbane) is poorly balanced - Roy Keane & a guy who runs around a lot in an honest / hard-working manner, but ultimately not good enough against someone like France. Earlier in the thread I suggested that Andy Reid or Kavanagh for Kilbane could be the simplest answer. You obviously think that anyone, like me, who thinks Andy Reid is good enough is a fool. Well I'm sorry you feel that way.

If you see the first remark that aroused your ire you'll see there's a colon after the comment. This was meant to be followed by the character that makes this a smiley. But anyway, your first remark was about MUFC & England changing formations. I took this to mean that we Irish would be similarly ineffective because all our players play there & have been brought up in that style. So, if you want to split hairs, I acknowledge you never said it's because we're Irish in the direct literal meaning. But I thought the message was the same.

As for getting caught for pace etc. I think that once France had taken Henry & Zidane off we could have been more aggressive. I also think that in a game like Albania at home 2 years ago 3 at the back could have been appropriate. They were not even the remotest bit interested in playing in our half & I expect there'll be teams who come to Dublin in future with the same mindset.

We did actually play 3 at the back - at times - in junior football & never got exposed as you suggested. And I did actually coach in case you're still doubting my honesty. I no longer play or coach at the weekends, & don't regularly go to live football. But I don't need to to justify myself or my views.

[dr_peepee]

I've never been a fan of playing around too much tactically at International level. I don't think the players have the exposure to each other for the systems to really click in the way that they should.

Andy Reid could defo do a job in the centre and would've been an ideal parner for the Roy Keane of a couple of years ago. But as a midfield pairing now it wouldn't be my first choice. The player who partners Roy internationaly nowadays really has to clock up the counts on a pedometer, if you know what I mean. I think they're free with Special K, so we could do an experiment on the potential partners.