Darren O’Dea

[drummerboy]

I've been following the career of Darren O’Dea, since he made his debut in the CIS Cup against St Mirren. With every game he has played he has become more and more impressive. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in the way he reads the game. Surely its time for a full international call dup. One thing for sure, when we get a real manager, Darren is going to be a fixture in the Irish team for many years to come. Surely a future captain. Think he would make a decent partnership now with Dunne.

[drinkfeckarse]

Very composed defender for such a young age. To play well under 2 high pressure situations against Milan says a lot and there's no doubt that he has a big future if he continues his progress.

My only worry would be that Celtic have 6 good centre halves when all fit and there's not much to seperate most of them. I was disappointed when Strachan went and got Pressley because I felt that was the perfect oportunity to go with O'Dea after his early promise. Still he's played a lot more games this season than he would have imagined so it bodes well.

[Collyontour]

I thought he played really well last night. Hope it goes well for him

[Dr. Ogba]

Agreed....Very impressed with him last night, looked a real cool customer on the ball and made some timely interceptions aswell. I think in a few years time himself and McShane could make a great CB partnership...

[shakermaker1982]

looks like O'Brien gets pushed further down the pecking order....!!!!

[as_i_say]

think the jury is very much still out on mcshane-good performance against the czechs but you could argue that he was 50% responsible for the goal we conceded against them and those marvellous san marinoites.

needs to be tested in the premiership-you could argue that O'dea has played more games at a higher level already. dont see why he should not be in the welsh squad

[drummerboy]

What really impresses me about O'Dea is that he is an organiser and talker. Something Ireland have been missing since Kenny Cunningham retired. The same could be said of McShane, however he is at present playing his football at right full.

[youngirish]

I read somewhere that O'Dea can also play at left back. If true play him there instead of JOS with McShane and Dunne in the center.

[tetsujin1979]

He played at left full for a spell in the reserves, but prefers centre half. I really don't think he has the pace for a full back. Mind you, neither does Harte.

[NeilMcD]

Get him the sqaud anyway and yeah could be an option and left full.

[tetsujin1979]

Posted on the celtic mailing list:


Darren O'Dea has been the find of the Champions League. He looked like a
seasoned pro last night - absolutely superb in terms of his decision
making and execution.

His gradual introduction to the first team has worked a treat so far -
hopefully it can continue, and Strachan can pick and choose the games
that he plays. I'd say he's got a fair chance of starting on Sunday with
Pressley.

The last young defender I can remember to look so assured at this level
was Vincent Kompany. I think he was valued at something like €8m.

[gspain]

Strachan called him MOTM last night. He does look the real deal.

[eirebhoy]

Can't be just a coincidence that after conceding 9 goals in 3 away games they keep a clean sheet when O'Dea plays. It was great to hear Davie Provan say O'Dea was shouting at Lennon to tell him to take up a player and also giving a mouth full to Naylor. He played a few friendlies against Newcaslte, Roma and others 3 years ago so it's suprising he just turned 20.

[as_i_say]

i wonder has stan even bothered to look at him or send someone to look at him. this lad cannot be ignored from now on.

[eirebhoy]

Someone said that Stan asked Strachan about him and Strachan said he wasn't ready. That wouldn't suprise me at all but he can't keep that excuse up for long.

[citizenerased]

He was well impressive last night, particularly how unfazed, and confident he was for such a big game. I dont think stan will call him up though..

Why the hell doesnt Stan goe and wathc games..what is he playing at??

[tetsujin1979]

Why the hell doesnt Stan goe and wathc games..what is he playing at??

It's been pointed out before on this forum that Stan does attend games.

[kingdom hoop]

It's been pointed out before on this forum that Stan does attend games.

maybe the cameramen dont pick him out, he's probably not in the VIP area:o

i enjoyed o'deas performance last night. dont think he would have left kaka go past him as lamely as mcmanus did for the goal. unfortunately he'll probably lose his place to two more established players in mcmanus and pressley, but i dont see a reason not to call him up on the back of two very composed games against milan.

[elroy]

He was well impressive last night, particularly how unfazed, and confident he was for such a big game. I dont think stan will call him up though..

Why the hell doesnt Stan goe and wathc games..what is he playing at??

He cant choose to ignore him much longer, we dont exactly have loads of options in defence. Did anyone see all the celtic game last night, how was mcgeady? From what i saw of it, milan outplayed celtic and had them on the backfoot for most of it.

[eirebhoy]

He cant choose to ignore him much longer, we dont exactly have loads of options in defence. Did anyone see all the celtic game last night, how was mcgeady? From what i saw of it, milan outplayed celtic and had them on the backfoot for most of it.
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=41499&page=27

Confident is the best description I can make of McGeady last night after the many times he bottled it previously.

[citizenerased]

i was impressed with mcgeady he skiined bonera a few times, and played with alot of urgency and desire, something we never see do duffer do.

[greendeiseboy]

[QUOTE=kingdom hoop;638934]maybe the cameramen dont pick him out, he's probably not in the VIP area

probably dosen't get into them cos he's too embarassed to say he's a manager:rolleyes: when he's not recognised

[Loadedscream]

something we never see do duffer do.

Anymore!!

[carloz]

He did look impressive last night. Good build for a central defender. Personally i fell he is much better than McManus and will soon knock him out of the starting 11. I felt McManus was a to blame for Kaka's goal. He should have closed him down instead of forcing him onto his left

[NeilMcD]

Could not blame Mc Manus for the goal He just was not fast or nimble enough for Kaka. If he closed him down he would have just nicked it way from him and left him on his arse. What he did was what they tell you to do as a defender but Kaka is top class.

[kingdom hoop]

Could not blame Mc Manus for the goal He just was not fast or nimble enough for Kaka. If he closed him down he would have just nicked it way from him and left him on his arse. What he did was what they tell you to do as a defender but Kaka is top class.

no doubting kaka's class,but...
in the first half o'dea, leaving inzaghi free, made the committed decision to chase down jankulovski and got a great block in.
in defending its also good to at least force your opponent into doing something , force them into making a pass, trick whatever. more can go awry that way. mcmanus left kaka run at him for twenty yards putting no pressure, not even away from goal.

[geysir]

i enjoyed o'deas performance last night. dont think he would have left kaka go past him as lamely as mcmanus did for the goal.
It was a brilliant goal. O'Dea wasn't near it. However it's a mark of O'Dea's quality, that if he was, you would think he would have shackled a flying Kaka.

[tetsujin1979]

watch the goal here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEhev8Ym3Gk
O'Dea was never going to get close to Kaka and it's clearly McManus who has to close him down. I agree with NeilMcD, what McManus did is what any defender would have done, try to force him out wide, away from the goal. Kaka is a different class though, so it made no difference.

[geysir]

The only player who could have done better in the lead up was Lennon.
If McManus had another 1/2" on his boot or if he had got closer earlier, $64kQ's.
I feel a good bit more secure for our back line after seeing O'Dea's performance.

[Torn-Ado]

O Dea is a really good prospect. I'm heading over to the old firm on Sunday and would love to see him playing and nailing down his place in the defence. He is better than McManus and just as good as Caldwell

McGeady on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. He is positive and a good attacking option but he is too light and is easily outmuscled and dispossessed. I think it was about time he beefed up a little. He'll need that extra strength.

[tetsujin1979]

O Dea is a really good prospect. I'm heading over to the old firm on Sunday and would love to see him playing and nailing down his place in the defence. He is better than McManus and just as good as Caldwell

McGeady on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. He is positive and a good attacking option but he is too light and is easily outmuscled and dispossessed. I think it was about time he beefed up a little. He'll need that extra strength.
I think he's actually looked a lot stronger this season than last season. He won't really start to build muscle until he stops growing anyway. Besides, he took on renowned hard man Alex Rae 2 seasons ago and wiped the floor with him!

[Torn-Ado]

I think he's actually looked a lot stronger this season than last season. He won't really start to build muscle until he stops growing anyway. Besides, he took on renowned hard man Alex Rae 2 seasons ago and wiped the floor with him!

He has got stronger but he is still easily outmuscled at the higher level. Especially in the champions league where he didn't shine at all.

[jmurphyc]

I haven't seen O'Dea play yet but his performances sound promising for the future. However, I don't know what everyone else thinks, but i personally don't think he'll start against wales or slovakia. In fact, I doubt he'll even come on. I'd say he'll probably get his chance in the tournnament in America this summer instead. Staunton wouldn't have the balls to play him for the first time in an important competitive game unless there was an injury crisis.

[geysir]

I think he's actually looked a lot stronger this season than last season. He won't really start to build muscle until he stops growing anyway. Besides, he took on renowned hard man Alex Rae 2 seasons ago and wiped the floor with him!
McGeady's 21 next month, I think he stopped growing at the age of 13.

[paul_oshea]

lads that defending was terrible, he kept backing back, and not even in a straight line, he kept running back to the right....he should have stuck closer and pushed him out before he got near the 18 yard line.....he had acres of space. terrible defending.

[carloz]

My point exactly. O'Dea would have got across if Kaka had rounded him but back tracking for 20 yards seemed the wrong choice for me

[Kingdom]

Someone said that Stan asked Strachan about him and Strachan said he wasn't ready. That wouldn't suprise me at all but he can't keep that excuse up for long.

And on the other I asked was Terry Dixon ready? Who was the other underage player brought to Portugal?

[tetsujin1979]

And on the other I asked was Terry Dixon ready? Who was the other underage player brought to Portugal?

No other underage player, Liam Lawrence was the only other uncapped player brought in.

from http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0508/ireland.html:

IRELAND SQUAD (v Chile and training camp in Portugal):

Shay Given Newcastle United
Paddy Kenny Sheffield United
Wayne Henderson Brighton & Hove Albion
Gary Breen Sunderland
Andy O'Brien Portsmouth
Richard Dunne Manchester City
Joey O'Brien Bolton Wanderers
Ian Harte Levante
Steve Finnan Liverpool
Liam Lawrence Sunderland
Stephen Kelly Tottenham Hotspur
John O'Shea Manchester United
Steven Reid Blackburn Rovers
Andy Reid Tottenham Hotspur
Graham Kavanagh Wigan Athletic
Jonathan Douglas Leeds United
Alan Lee Cardiff City
Alan Quinn Sheffield United
Michael Doyle Coventry City
Liam Miller Leeds United
Kevin Kilbane Everton
Damien Duff Chelsea
Stephen Elliott Sunderland
Kevin Doyle Reading
Aiden McGeady Celtic
Terry Dixon Tottenham Hotspur
Jason Byrne Shelbourne
Robbie Keane Tottenham Hotspur
Clinton Morrison Crystal Palace

[BobbySands]

By all means I'd bring in O'Dea. This campaign is to all intents and purposes over so lets take some chances. I'd also include everyone else who's playing in the serious stages of the champs league and that would include O'Shea. He is not a bad player. We do, however have a bad manager.

Staunton Out

[OwlsFan]

By all means I'd bring in O'Dea. This campaign is to all intents and purposes over so lets take some chances. I'd also include everyone else who's playing in the serious stages of the champs league and that would include O'Shea. He is not a bad player. We do, however have a bad manager.

Staunton Out

So Kerr must have been a bad manager as well because O'Shea was poor under him :rolleyes:

Didn't see the Old Firm game. How did O'Dea get on?

[as_i_say]

O'shea out.

[Paddy Garcia]

O'shea out.

Is this a helpful injury update or a critique on O'Shea's ability?

[zenokelly]

Didn't see the Old Firm game. How did O'Dea get on?

The complete fuuuukin fool Strachan prefered McManus to O Dea which is unbelievable (not only because he should have blooded him in an old-firm match seeing they've already walked to the title) but because he looked by far the most experienced and assured of the 2 centre halves t in the San Siro. Never fancied Strachan and never will. The 2 titles he's won (presuming this year's is done and dusted) have been uncontested. Rangers F.C. has been a farce for the last 2 years and if George Burley wasn's sacked as Hearts manager in 05/06 I would have fancied them to go on and win the title.

That 5 goal defeat to Artmedia Bratislava will always stick in the minds of true Celtic fans.

[carloz]

Was very disapointed that O'Dea was dropped yesterday. Yes he is young but he was excellent in the San Siro. He must be questioning what he has to do to stay in the starting 11

[eirebhoy]

Was very disapointed that O'Dea was dropped yesterday. Yes he is young but he was excellent in the San Siro. He must be questioning what he has to do to stay in the starting 11
Strachan will blood him in slowly and you can't argue with him. He seems to get the best out of every player he coaches.

[tetsujin1979]

After the AC Milan game, Vennegoor of Hesselink and Nakamura were clearly off the pace as the game wore on. O'Dea played all the game too, and was probably rested.

[Plastic Paddy]

That 5 goal defeat to Artmedia Bratislava will always stick in the minds of true Celtic fans.

:rolleyes:

True Celtic fans will always give the manager and the team their full support.

:ball: PP

[OwlsFan]

After the AC Milan game, Vennegoor of Hesselink and Nakamura were clearly off the pace as the game wore on. O'Dea played all the game too, and was probably rested.

Rested for an old firm game :confused: If it was Kilmarnock or Dundee Utd I could understand. But rested against Rangers!!

[macdermesser]

I'd start him the Wales game. If Stan was really building for the 2010 World Cup .. which of course is somewhat a smokescreen for his own shortcomings and not the squad .. then why not. Saw enough in the Milan game to say he is worth a place.

Given
Mc Shane Finnan as the fullbacks
O Dea and Dunne

Pretty strong imo

[tetsujin1979]

Rested for an old firm game :confused: If it was Kilmarnock or Dundee Utd I could understand. But rested against Rangers!!
more defenders available at the moment that strikers. Pressley was fit after missing the Milan game, so he came in.