Ireland's Future Midfield?

[redmn7]

This is actually my first thread so I hope this isn't out of place, but I was really curious about the talent we have coming through in our midfield.

Obviously there are talents like Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy that are getting a lot of recognition at the moment, but who else is there that can really make an impact as our midfield seems to be our true weakness at the moment.

I'm really interested to get your takes on guys like:

Connor Clifford
Connor Hourihane
Owen Garvan

and if there is anyone else that might be a future prospect.

Thanks in advance.

[stiofain]

Hopefully Stephen Ireland will be involved again, at some point.

[kingdomkerry]

Midfield for euro 2012 qualifiers

Ireland McCarthy AN Other McGredy

[Allstar]

Who's McGredy?????????? :D:D:D

[BohsPartisan]

Who's McGredy?????????? :D:D:D

His mother used to make Cheese and Onion crisps if I remember correctly.

[SilkCut]

AN Other McCarthy Garvan McGeady. Garvan looks like he will make the breakthrough this season, Everton Villa and Wigan are apparently interested. Not sure Wigan would be a good move but either Moyes or O'Neill would surely help him realise his potential in the same way they helped Arteta, Izzet, Lennon, Barry and Lescot. McCarthy still surrounded by hype but there is no smoke without a fire and McGeady just needs to prove last season was no flash in the pan. No idea who is coming through on the right but with those three we have the makings of a cracking midfield for the next 10 years.

[gally]

a young lad at Blackburn, (17), just signed his first pro deal, Aaron Doran who is a tricky right winger, lets keep our fingers crossed he makes the grade...

[Greenforever]

His mother used to make Cheese and Onion crisps if I remember correctly.


and both his grannies are still alive:D


for me McGeady and Duff alternating on the wings with Andy Reid in the middle with AN other,

[Dr. Ogba]

Midfield for euro 2012 qualifiers

Ireland McCarthy AN Other McGredy

who's Ireland?

[Greenforever]

who's Ireland?

Some fella that doest like being slagged about his hair transplant or pink alloys and pink bullbars and doesnt like playing for his country because he gets upset when says Ireland are losing or playing badly, or with 10 minutes to go Ireland need to get the finger out:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Unlike his Cork hero he just doesn't do friendlies, he doesn't do qualifiers either:rolleyes:

[Lionel Ritchie]

Ireland's Future Midfield? ...in common with the girl who'll be good enough for my boy -It hasn't been born yet. :D

[macdermesser]

-- Ideal 2008 Midfield ---

McGeady ---- A.Reid-----Ireland-------Duff-----
-----------------------------Carsley------------------------


---Ideal 2012 Midfield ---

McGeady ---- A.Reid-----Ireland-------Duff-----
-----------------------------S.Reid------------------------


3 left footers and 3 lightweights in terms of height and tackling ... would lead to another Cyprus 5 Ireland 2 type scoreline with that midfield

actually just replace ireland with S. Reid (as you might be suggesting) and already it's looking much better ...

[Hibernian]

a young lad at Blackburn, (17), just signed his first pro deal, Aaron Doran who is a tricky right winger, lets keep our fingers crossed he makes the grade...

Whats the betting he will end up nowhere.....

pretty good I say as with most of the hopefuls like Stokes etc that promised so much but failed....

[Greenforever]

-- Ideal 2008 Midfield ---

McGeady ---- A.Reid-----Ireland-------Duff-----
-----------------------------Carsley------------------------


---Ideal 2012 Midfield ---

McGeady ---- A.Reid-----Ireland-------Duff-----
-----------------------------S.Reid------------------------



Thats the craziest post ive read yet, ignoring the fact that one of the players doesnt want to play how can you have any idea of what kind of players we'll have in 4 years time?

[cavan_fan]

Thats the craziest post ive read yet, ignoring the fact that one of the players doesnt want to play how can you have any idea of what kind of players we'll have in 4 years time?

I'm about to defend Ciaran!!!!!!

The players we will have in 4 years time are very similar to ones we have today. There is a temptation to think in predicting a team 4 years away that all sorts of young people will have made it. History shows that change is much more gradual than that unless you have lots of retirements at the same time. Look how long it has taken McGeady from his first cap to being close to a regular player. So for instance Scannel will probably not be a regular for another 5-6 years.

[youngirish]

Joey O'Brien if he stays injury free could be a useful option as a defensive midfield player if he's getting regular football there for Bolton (which he was at the end of last season). However, If he's not playing in that position for his club I wouldn't risk him there as Stan did against Cyprus when he was poor.

[Noelys Guitar]

Nobody has mentioned Stephen Quinn who I believe will be playing in the upcoming qualifiers. Looks sure to be playing in the premiership next season with either Middlesboro or Sunderland. And looks like the type of player who could step up a level. Reminds me of Ray Houghton.

[Scooby Doo]

TBH its the lack of a decent back four in four years time that worries me. sorry, i know that this is a 'midfield' thread but we can probably bet that dunne will retire after after WC - which i hope doesnt happen - and then who is left? JOShea? Darren O Dea? Delaney? scary thought. FAI and stan should be lynched for not calling up gary cahill when we had the chance.

BTW saw stan in dundalk on sunday. bought a ton of booze in supermarket...well i suppose he is at leeds...:D

[disabledrog]

s.Quinn from sheff utd is a good player and is only twenty i think

[Manblue]

s.Quinn from sheff utd is a good player and is only twenty i think


Quinn is quality on the ball a little light yet but bags of potential,,
Mcgeady still very raw needs to play consistently at a higher level ie. prem but has the ability no doubt,,

Quinn is more talented then Garvin, but garvans size is giving him the advantage at the mo,,
Football wise stevie would leave them all in his shadow, jus need some steel in there to secure the midfield and protect defense but there is no doubt that we have some of the best footballing midfielders and players with vision coming through for a long time, hopefully they can progress.

[drummerboy]

IMO opinion Garvan is twice the player Quinn is. Expect to see him playing in the Premiership in the next year or two. Little unfair to compair them because Garvan is a box to box midfielder while Quinn is better suited to the left wing.

[irishultra]

Its weird not seeing Darron Gibson in anyones possible midfield considering his early promise.

[kingdomkerry]

Forgot about him actually. I have'nt been following his progress but from what i know hes played out on the right at wolves and has done alright without setting the world alight.

[redmn7]

Thanks for all the replys.

There are the two players who I was wondering if anyone has seen play, and that's Connor Clifford who is in the Chelsea accademy and Connor Hourihane is was on the team of the tournament list for the u-17's recently and also got into Roy Keane's first team at Sunderland at the end of last season.

Thanks.

[jmurphyc]

From the little I've seen of Quinn I'd be surprised if he becomes a squad regular during these qualifiers. I've probably caught the wrong games but any time I've watched him he's been relatively anonymous. He still looks quite lightweight too. TBH I doubt we'll see a drastic change in the team in four years time. If the two Reids are fit they will probably get in (Andy definitely) as will McGeady and Duff may well still be good enough.

[Drumcondra 69er]

I'm about to defend Ciaran!!!!!!

The players we will have in 4 years time are very similar to ones we have today. There is a temptation to think in predicting a team 4 years away that all sorts of young people will have made it. History shows that change is much more gradual than that unless you have lots of retirements at the same time. Look how long it has taken McGeady from his first cap to being close to a regular player. So for instance Scannel will probably not be a regular for another 5-6 years.

On the other hand look how quick Kelly, Babba and McAteer establkished themselves. Not really involved in the qualifying campaign yet played a major part in the finals. Could be either, impossible to predict the future.

[Sligo Hornet]

I think if John Joe O'Toole continues his rapid maturity (and eventually moves to a Premier team...:() he could be just the strong tough tackling midfielder we need to support our good passing midfielders.

[boovidge]

Max O'Power

[robbieos88]

Keith Fahey should be in the Ireland midfield

[carloz]

Its weird not seeing Darron Gibson in anyones possible midfield considering his early promise.

A lot of Wolves fans were turning on him by the end of the season. Doesnt look good if he cant cut it at that level yet. Fingers crossed the future will be bright for him. I think an important element that we need to create in midfield is being physical. It is noncense to say we can have a midfield with A. Reid, Ireland and McGeady. IMO that is much too lightweight and wont happen. During the national anthems before the Cyprus match last year i was amazed at the height and physical bulid differences between us and them. Dont need to remind people what happend afterwards:(

[Manc Irish Wolf]

A lot of Wolves fans were turning on him by the end of the season. Doesnt look good if he cant cut it at that level yet. Fingers crossed the future will be bright for him. I think an important element that we need to create in midfield is being physical. It is noncense to say we can have a midfield with A. Reid, Ireland and McGeady. IMO that is much too lightweight and wont happen. During the national anthems before the Cyprus match last year i was amazed at the height and physical bulid differences between us and them. Dont need to remind people what happend afterwards:(

You're right about the reaction of the fans to Gibson. Came with so much promise, however never stamped his authority like I had anticipated. Was unlucky with injuries so maybe we never saw the best of him. Looked good in his first couple of games - not afraid to have a shot and did try to pass and move - could potentially be that the players around him weren't on his wavelength (had the same problem with Keane), as they didn't always antcipate the balls he was trying to play. Hopefully it was just a lesson on the learning curve as the feature of his game that most impressed was his confidence in the face of the moaning hoardes down the Molineux, which sadly was the death of Potter.

Agree that a physical ball-winning centre-midfield could be the crux of our shape (like De Jong & Engelaar) and was really impressed with Garvan & O'Toole against England U21's. Garvan is leggy with a good passing range and O'Toole looks big, strong, good in the air & scores goals. Could be a nice basis for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Add McCarthy (Or Stephen Gleeson @ Wolves) as the attacking edge of a midfield triumverate and we should be sound enough in 5 years time.

[Greenforever]

I'm about to defend Ciaran!!!!!!

The players we will have in 4 years time are very similar to ones we have today. There is a temptation to think in predicting a team 4 years away that all sorts of young people will have made it. History shows that change is much more gradual than that unless you have lots of retirements at the same time. Look how long it has taken McGeady from his first cap to being close to a regular player. So for instance Scannel will probably not be a regular for another 5-6 years.


How long did it take Robbie Keane and Damien Duff to establish themselves???

[Razors left peg]

How long did it take Robbie Keane and Damien Duff to establish themselves???

Robbie became a regular very quickly but it did take Duff a few years to establish himself as first choice under McCarthy.... would I be right in saying that it was the game against Portugal in Lansdown that he really produced what he was capable of and went on to become a regular there after??

[Greenforever]

Robbie became a regular very quickly but it did take Duff a few years to establish himself as first choice under McCarthy.... would I be right in saying that it was the game against Portugal in Lansdown that he really produced what he was capable of and went on to become a regular there after??

I think you're right, some players establish themselves as a fixture within a very short space of time others take years. So Ireland's future midfield for 4 years time is a impossible task to perdice and if we dont unearth at least 4 new players in that time we are in trouble.

Given the average span for an international is probably less than 8 years you need 3 new squad members breaking through every year.

[ramblersnb1]

There is a very handy midfielder from Cork aswell Gearoid Morissey hes just signed for Blackburn.

[The Legend]

There is a very handy midfielder from Cork aswell Gearoid Morissey hes just signed for Blackburn.

Good luck to the the non-irish commentators pronouncing his name right!

[geysir]

Gear is easy enough - Gear oyd

possibly - Geah royd

[eirebhoy]

Same name as me. Gar-ode would be the way most people pronounce my name. It'd be great if this guy became a star so I wouldn't get as many strange looks when someone asks me my name. ;)

[musicinmouth]

I think John-Joe O'Toole looks really good... I hope he's given a chance...

And I really hope McCarthy gets a senior game soon...

My prediction for our midfield that will play in the 2014 world cup in Brazil:

James McCarthy (central midfield)
John-Joe O'Toole (central midfield)
Aiden McGeady (right wing)
Damien Duff (left wing)

[irishultra]

In my opinion Duff doesn't have the intelligence to go on that long, like a Figo for example. I would be suprised to see Duff still around by 2012.


I also think we will have three in midfield with Garvan definetly, and hopefully McCarthy, Clifford, O'Toole, Quinn, A.Reid(as the defensive creative player)

[youngirish]

I think John-Joe O'Toole looks really good... I hope he's given a chance...

And I really hope McCarthy gets a senior game soon...

My prediction for our midfield that will play in the 2014 world cup in Brazil:

James McCarthy (central midfield)
John-Joe O'Toole (central midfield)
Aiden McGeady (right wing)
Damien Duff (left wing)

By 2014 I'd have:
McGeady
Garvan
Jaime McCarthy
Scannell

[Paddy Garcia]

By 2014 I'd have:
McGeady
Garvan
Jaime McCarthy
Scannell


McGeady was being touted at the time as the best young player who had arrived on the scene for years. Notice I didn't have him in my team?


I'm delighted that you have had the dignity to admit you got it wrong - well done & you're a bigger man than I thought:D:D

[Wangball]

Has anyone else seen Patrick Cregg play recently? My bro in law is a Falkirk fan so whenever I go visit them I try get a game in if possible and he's been playing some very good stuff up there, am not saying we could build a team around him or anyhting but he's at least worth a squad place...his type of player (a willing runner, tenacious, energetic & has a great eye for a pass/shot) has always done well for Ireland in the past (Kinsella/Holland etc...) could be a useful stopgap

[irishfan86]

Has anyone else seen Patrick Cregg play recently? My bro in law is a Falkirk fan so whenever I go visit them I try get a game in if possible and he's been playing some very good stuff up there, am not saying we could build a team around him or anyhting but he's at least worth a squad place...his type of player (a willing runner, tenacious, energetic & has a great eye for a pass/shot) has always done well for Ireland in the past (Kinsella/Holland etc...) could be a useful stopgap

I definitely agree. Well able to play at a higher level if someone will give him a chance.

I'd like to see a Championship side take a chance on him, and see where he can go from there.

Always looks lively against Celtic.

[KopKiller]

Who knows what will happen. We need to discover someone from nowhere, like Keane was when he made his debut for forest when nobody had heard of him. The current crop are lacking in talent and strength.

[youngirish]

I'm delighted that you have had the dignity to admit you got it wrong - well done & you're a bigger man than I thought:D:D

Wasn't that the 2008 Euro Championship team we were talking about? This is 6 years later and we don't at present have any decent left midfielders on the horizon so McGeady seems the sensible choice by default as Duff will be too old by then and long since retired and A Reid will be getting on a bit also (32 I think).

Nice try but in the context of the previous conversation it's not really relevant to this discussion.

[tetsujin1979]

Wasn't that the 2008 Euro Championship team we were talking about? This is 6 years later and we don't at present have any decent left midfielders on the horizon so McGeady seems the sensible choice by default as Duff will be too old by then and long since retired and A Reid will be getting on a bit also (32 I think).

Nice try but in the context of the previous conversation it's not really relevant to this discussion.
Donal McDermott won the FA Youth Cup with Man City last season. He's won a few underage FAI player of the year awards

[Paddy Garcia]

Wasn't that the 2008 Euro Championship team we were talking about? This is 6 years later and we don't at present have any decent left midfielders on the horizon so McGeady seems the sensible choice by default as Duff will be too old by then and long since retired and A Reid will be getting on a bit also (32 I think).

Nice try but in the context of the previous conversation it's not really relevant to this discussion.

Wrong again, we were talking about 2014.

Thats not so important though, I'm glad you have changed your mind & seen sense.



It's impossible to predict what we'll be like in 7 years though.

[youngirish]

Wrong again, we were talking about 2014.

Thats not so important though, I'm glad you have changed your mind & seen sense.
Paddy Garcia it is you who is mistaken my friend. We were referring to an earlier thread whereby I predicted the team for the 2008 Euro Championships. A prediction I made in the summer 2006. Maybe one of the mods can dig it up.

[Scram]

McGeady S Reid A Reid Duff
...............Keane...............
...............Doyle...............