Steve Finnan

[roboyle]

Much can depend on who else is on the wing - both played in the recent crunch qualifiers (with mixed results), I'd be relatively happy with either though on current form (which is often quoted by international managers when announcing their team), I'd go with Finnan. Don't know if it's fair to say he provides less going forward but if Reid (Andy or Stephen) was playing in front I'd probably chose Finnan.

Another selection dilema would be the availability of Stephen Kelly - he has no fear of going forward while prehaps providing more of a defensive role too... glad I'm not the manager! :cool:

[brine3]

Finnan has been good supporting attacks when at right back for Ireland. Remember the assist for Macca's goal against Holland? And how he changed the game when he came on against Cameroon? And the long ball up to Quinn for the equaliser against Germany.

Carr doesn't have a patch on him in any department. Maybe five years ago, but not now, not by a long shot.

[paul_oshea]

what a game??? reminded me of the match against spain, even though i didnt see the game yesterday evening, from what ive read (and heard on the itv after match commentaru) he was both "ecellent" and "sublime"

[Stuttgart88]

Quality performance, but no surprise.

[Stuttgart88]

Finnan, unquestionably IMO. Not just a knee-jerk reaction to last night, I've been a big fan of Finnan's for a long time.

[Stuttgart88]

Finnan full back with Carr on the wing?

I'd say Finnan at full back anyway on current form.

And now I have to be up for Liverpool in the final after being up for Duff so far! :(

Carr has started his last two games at Newcastle at RHM so worth keeping an eye on...

[Paulie]

Anybody that picks Carr over Finnan now is basing their judgement on Carrs performances in the past. In the season prior to the injury that kept him out of the WC Carr was outstanding and was a better full back then than Finnan is now, even though Finnan has been excellent this season. The thing is though we need to be concerned with how they are playing now and I don't think anyone can argue against the fact that Finnan is now playing the better of the two and as such should be the 1st choice right back for Ireland.

[tonycuna]

Surely Finnan!

[Stuttgart88]

The thing is though we need to be concerned with how they are playing now and I don't think anyone can argue against the fact that Finnan is now playing the better of the two and as such should be the 1st choice right back for Ireland.

So using that arguement, should Dunne also be picked over O'Brien? I'd say yes.

[FarBeag]

Quote Stuttgart88....So using that arguement, should Dunne also be picked over O'Brien? I'd say yes.


On current form Dunne is the more consistant player without any question.He has got to be the most improved center back in the premership,getting MOTM in most games City play.O'Brien on the other hand is not consistant at all particulary at Newcastle but has never done anything wrong in an Irish Jeresy and has a great relation with Kenny.Saying this O'Brien is prone to mistakes and who is to say that he wont make a big one for us.Its a hard call but if its not broken why fix it.

[eirebhoy]

Finnan has been good supporting attacks when at right back for Ireland. Remember the assist for Macca's goal against Holland? And how he changed the game when he came on against Cameroon? And the long ball up to Quinn for the equaliser against Germany.

Carr doesn't have a patch on him in any department. Maybe five years ago, but not now, not by a long shot.
When it comes to Irish players I don't think I have any bias towards one over another so hopefully this is a fair judgement. Carr is still a lot better going forward than Finnan. If I was judging a player on the basis of how good he is going forward Harte would be my choice for left back but I'm not. Finnan is a lot more solid defensively atm so I'd have him in there without question.

[jimbob117]

I'd have to say Finnan. Carr has only been a shadow of himself since he seemed to get injury after injury at spurs, before that he was class,and while im not saying he's rubbish now, i think finnan has been immense all season in the liverpool defense.Anyway apparently carr has done well playing as a holding midfielder in his last couple of games for newcastle? any thoughts?

[Paulie]

So using that arguement, should Dunne also be picked over O'Brien? I'd say yes.

This one is a lot closer the call. The main difference is that Carr has been poor for Ireland pretty much since he came back off his injury while O'Brien, even though he has pretty dodgy club form, at international level himself and Kenny have done very well. If Dunne continues to play as he is, and if he can carry this on to the Irish team, if O'Brien gets injured or has a loss of form with us that will probably be his place in the team gone even when he get's back playing again. Anyone remember Alan Kelly starting off the campaign for WC 2002?...he was outstanding but some people still felt that Given should be no. 1. As soon as Kelly got injured Given came in and made the jersey his and that was pretty much the end of Alan Kelly's intl. career as a starter in the team even though he had done nothing wrong. The same will probably happen with Dunne and O'Brien.

[Stuttgart88]

Anyway apparently carr has done well playing as a holding midfielder in his last couple of games for newcastle? any thoughts?
Hasn't he been playing wide right, in pretty much the role Finnan played in Paris & Tel Aviv? If Carr is indeed the better option further up the pitch then it seems to make sense.

Did anyone notice how Andy Reid moved into centre-mid against Arsenal recently and had his best part of the match there? I thought so anyway!

Central midfield has been lacking creativity so it could be an option.

[eirebhoy]

O'Brien can't be dropped. The record he and Kenny have together is absolutely superb. Dunne will be first choice sooner rather than later but atm Kenny-O'Brien are as good a partnership as you get.

[jimbob117]

Hasn't he been playing wide right, in pretty much the role Finnan played in Paris & Tel Aviv? If Carr is indeed the better option further up the pitch then it seems to make sense.

Did anyone notice how Andy Reid moved into centre-mid against Arsenal recently and had his best part of the match there? I thought so anyway!

Central midfield has been lacking creativity so it could be an option.



No, he has been playing as a holding midfielder and souness came out after one of the games and said he thought he had done a good job there.
Agree with you on your point about reid though, played well against villa, scored a cracker and looked very creative in the centre.. a partner for roy keane in the future? or we gonna stick with kavanagh/kilbane?

[blaa61]

finnian is playing in a better team at the moment, and maybe the better player anyway. so he probably deserves his chance.

[Colie]

Finnan at the mo.

Finnan & Carr, one on the wing one full back?

[green army]

finnan is having an excellent season. very rarely gets into trouble and does the simple things well. could be the new denis irwin if he keeps up this level of consistency.

[Condex]

O'Brien can't be dropped. The record he and Kenny have together is absolutely superb. Dunne will be first choice sooner rather than later but atm Kenny-O'Brien are as good a partnership as you get.

What do you mean he can't be dropped hes playing absolute crap for Newcastle, thats when he gets game at Newcastle.

If you've been reading the papers this season Dunne is down as MOM for City most games.

Not much of a decision really, its time to clear out players who are not playing regularly for their club sides.

[Colie]

What do you mean he can't be dropped hes playing absolute crap for Newcastle, thats when he gets game at Newcastle.

If you've been reading the papers this season Dunne is down as MOM for City most games.

Not much of a decision really, its time to clear out players who are not playing regularly for their club sides.

I would have said this if I was you, but I'm not, so you said it & I totally agree. 100%. I can't believe anyone even rates O'Brien over the Honeymonster or rates him fullstop for that matter. :rolleyes:

[eirebhoy]

What do you mean he can't be dropped hes playing absolute crap for Newcastle, thats when he gets game at Newcastle.

When was the last time he was actually playing well for Newcastle?

Show me a current international defensive record as good as O'Brien-Cunningham.

[dr_peepee]

Club from should be A factor for International selection.... But not THE factor.. O'Brien is the man in posession and rightly so but I think a single absence, regardless of the reason, will put Dunne in poll position.

[eirebhoy]

Club from should be A factor for International selection.... But not THE factor.. O'Brien is the man in posession and rightly so but I think a single absence, regardless of the reason, will put Dunne in poll position.
a single absence or a costly mistake and Dunne is in the team. O'Brien is hanging by a thread because of Dunne's rapid improvement.

[JoeSemi]

Finnan or Carr? There's only one answer and he'll be only the second ever Irish man to play in a Champions Lge final on may 25th God willing.

Been an unsung hero all season and gets better by the game. A rock last night and has been hailed as Liverpool's best player after Carragher by the chief football writer in the Echo over there.

[Junior]

What a contrast........

Finnan on Tuesday night was immense (mind you the whole liverpool back 4 were pretty decent!).

I was at Craven Cottage last night for Fulham v Newcastle and despite the Geordies easily winning 3-1, Carr was pretty poor. Looked dodgy whenever Boa Morte went near him, a few sliced clearances and nutmegged at least twice. He was not bad going forward but he had so much space I wouldn't have been that bad!!

Its got to be Finnan in June!!

[Donal81]

What do you mean he can't be dropped hes playing absolute crap for Newcastle, thats when he gets game at Newcastle.

If you've been reading the papers this season Dunne is down as MOM for City most games.

Not much of a decision really, its time to clear out players who are not playing regularly for their club sides.

Will we get rid of Morrisson as well, then?

[Condex]

Will we get rid of Morrisson as well, then?

Yip, when we have a good alternative!!

[Condex]

When was the last time he was actually playing well for Newcastle?


Any time I've seen him this season playing for Newcastle hes been very shaky, thats why hes been dropped.



Show me a current international defensive record as good as O'Brien-Cunningham.

They're not exactly up against a lot, I would say that a lot of premiership matches the quality of the strikers would be better...

[eirebhoy]

Any time I've seen him this season playing for Newcastle hes been very shaky, thats why hes been dropped.
What I'm saying is he has never really been on superb form for Newcastle yet produces the goods for us all the time.


They're not exactly up against a lot, I would say that a lot of premiership matches the quality of the strikers would be better...
Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, van Nistelrooy, Kluivert, Henry, Cisse, Pauleta and more. All failed to score against O'Brien-Cunningham.

[Donal81]

Yip, when we have a good alternative!!

He's complete rubbish, you're right, I don't know how he scores those goals for us.

[livehead1]

he scores all them goals for us as he isn't rubbish. he wouldnt have managed 2 last as long at birmingham with bruce if he was useful. it didnt take him 1/2 as long to get rid of horsfield, yorke, hughes etc

[jimbob117]

he scores all them goals for us as he isn't rubbish. he wouldnt have managed 2 last as long at birmingham with bruce if he was useful. it didnt take him 1/2 as long to get rid of horsfield, yorke, hughes etc

dont think donal actually thinks he's rubbish, just taking the mickey out of the person who said something stupid about dropping morrison.

[Donal81]

he scores all them goals for us as he isn't rubbish. he wouldnt have managed 2 last as long at birmingham with bruce if he was useful. it didnt take him 1/2 as long to get rid of horsfield, yorke, hughes etc

Apologies for the sarcasm Livehead! In future, I'll rely on these innane icons here to indicate when I'm being saracstic!
;) :rolleyes: :mad: :p :confused:

[Colm55]

Can't really add too much more to whats already been said but I'll go for Finnan here, not only because of this season but since he made the premiership team back in 2002, his performances have been consistent, he has a great defensive brain, rarely makes mistakes, also he can fight for and maintain a place in a first team squad as has been proven this season. On the back of that he deserves his place at right full.
Whether putting him in at left back or not is another argument but i'm a firm believer that you play your best players in their best positions and finnans position is right full.

[Condex]

Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, van Nistelrooy, Kluivert, Henry, Cisse, Pauleta and more. All failed to score against O'Brien-Cunningham.

Try and ignore the friendlies....

[jbyrne]

Finnan ahead of Carr at the moment i think... he's had a great season so far. Also, Dunne appears to be out till next season with injury and will therefore miss our two qualifiers in June it was reported today.

[eirebhoy]

Try and ignore the friendlies....
Why? No doubt if he had a nightmare against Brazil we wouldn't be ignoring it. Anyway, the Dutch match was as good as competitive.

[Closed Account 2]

Finnan - the lad has been sensational this season! Carr has been dodgy for Newcastle, but ok for us... I'd pick Finnan certainly if the opposition have an attacking threat down that flank. I'd keep Carr in the squad, with a view to chucking him on if we need a goal or if the opposition dont go down the flanks so much... maybe start with him in Torshaven.

Also Carr isnt blessed with height (5.9) Finnan's slightly taller (6.0) (these are off ESPN) but I'd say from watching the pair Finnan would offer more purchase at defending corners, he seems a bit better in the air - which is worth bearing in mind as I dont think we've looked too comfortable at set plays (either attacking or defending), we dont have that many huge players in our starting XI, and some of the other teams (Swiss and French) have big lads who could pose an aerial threat (the likes of M.Yakin, Henchoz if he played, and Cissé, Thuram, Vieira for the French).

[jimbob117]

some of the other teams (Swiss and French) have big lads who could pose an aerial threat (the likes of M.Yakin, Henchoz if he played, and Cissé, Thuram, Vieira for the French).

Dont forget about this new lad, senderos, who plays for arsenal. Decent player who will only get better, also good in the air.

[TerryPhelan]

From today's Irish Times:

Steve Finnan is doubtful for the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers with Israel at Lansdowne Road on June 4th and the Faroe Islands in Torshavn on June 8th.

The Liverpool full back, who damaged a thigh in Wednesday's Champions League final, will have a scan today. It has been speculated on Merseyside that he will require treatment for a month.

Brian Kerr has called Leicester City centre back Paddy McCarthy into the squad for Jackie McNamara's testimonial game in Glasgow on Sunday.

Stephen Kelly has withdrawn from the under-21 squad for the European Championship qualifier against Israel next week. The Spurs right back is replaced by Bolton midfielder Joey O'Brien.
---------
This is terrible news - does anyone know any more on it? Was Kelly withdrawn as a proviso for being called up to replace Finnan, or is he injured too? We could be really stuck if these two guys, as well as Carr, Dunne and Breen are gone. The last thing we want against Israel is an inexperienced back four, which - if all the above turns out to be true - would probably go:

O'Shea
Cunningham
O'Brien
Harte

OK, maybe not that inexperienced ;) but it is still very disappointing, given Finnan's great form of late...

[zinedineontour]

id say back four if finnan out will be
maybury cunningham obrien oshea ..

the only one i would have worry about there is maybury ... why is kelly who has played in most of spurs games this season not chosen in the squad ahead of the likes of maybury ? i know he is young but has gained a hell of a lot of experience in the prem unlike maybury who couldnt cut it at leeds

[Stuttgart88]

Missing Finnan would be terrible.

I'd be inclined to play O'Shea right back and start Harte now.

[zinedineontour]

so would i myself but have a feeling kerr will start maybury sadly ..

[Colm55]

Ain't the best of news for a friday morning, its a pity for him, i'm sure he would have been well up for it, having played a champions league final and then two weeks later representing his Country in world cup qualifiers, kind of stuff dreams are made of. If he is injured for the game it will be a big loss for us, he's had a superb season and we need our lads at the top of their game...

Still though i'd have o shea on right, i reckon he can do a job for us there, his distribution would be better considering he'd be using his right foot mostly, harte on left as we've no one else, harte would also be out to prove he deserves his place so maybe he'd raise his game. his distribution could prove a key factor, but i wish finnan all the best and heres to a speedy recovery !

[drummerboy]

From today's Irish Times:


Stephen Kelly has withdrawn from the under-21 squad for the European Championship qualifier against Israel next week. The Spurs right back is replaced by Bolton midfielder Joey O'Brien.
---------
This is terrible news - does anyone know any more on it? Was Kelly withdrawn as a proviso for being called up to replace Finnan, or is he injured too?

Don't think Kelly is injured. As I said before elsewhere on this forum, he's either been told by his club or just not bothered playing for U-21s again. Maybe its something to do with Don Givens. Think he is a better option than Maybury though. Kerr should call him in.

[Donal81]

He's a bit of time to recover and this could just be speculation. He's our best option at right-full by miles.

[green army]

it would be a disaster if we had harte and o shea as our full backs. maybe play kilbane as left back.

[Donal81]

Although I don't fear Israel in the slightest (over-rated, overhyped, etc), we can do without Ian Harte on the left and O'Shea on the right. Then again, O'Shea is naturally right-footed and would usually play better there than on the left. Much as I like the guy, he's no Finnan.

[zinedineontour]

Although I don't fear Israel in the slightest (over-rated, overhyped, etc), we can do without Ian Harte on the left and O'Shea on the right. Then again, O'Shea is naturally right-footed and would usually play better there than on the left. Much as I like the guy, he's no Finnan.

is that the same overated overhyped side that drew with france home and away and against us at home ?