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anyone feel that we are turning a corner with the national side
but............. a different corner
lot of players now in the lower divisions of england in our squad which cant be good for national side
Nick Colgan (Stockport)
Joe Murphy (West Bromwich)
Gary Breen (Sunderland)
Colin Healy (Sunderland)
Graham Kavanagh (Cardiff)
Stephen McPhail (Nottingham Forest)
David Connolly (West Ham)
also a lot of those that r playing with premiership clubs are even first team players
Given
Carr - O'Brien - O'Shea - Finnan
Reid - Holland - Delap - Miller - Duff
Keane
There's a starting eleven playing regular first team football in the top division and in Europe.
Sure, there's bound to be some First Division players, but that's how it's always been. I don't think any steps backwards have been taken.
there was a time when the whole squad were all top-flight playersQuote:
Originally posted by brine2
Given
Carr - O'Brien - O'Shea - Finnan
Reid - Holland - Delap - Miller - Duff
Keane
There's a starting eleven playing regular first team football in the top division and in Europe.
too many passengers now
Where as I dont think we have the depth of before the starting eleven is still relatively strong.
I dunno, i think we have a decent squad.
Breen - Very good, under rated defender. rarely makes a mistake in the green of Ireland
Healy- No one was complaining when he was getting his game with Ireland even though Celtic were ignoring him. Now he is playing 1st team football in a team most likely getting promoted this season
Connolly-Scoring for fun at the moment.
Joe Murphy- Handy back up fpr given, ditto Colgan.
McPhail- doubt he'll figure, but some 1st team ball will help him immeasurably.
WEe'll be fine.
This is a different era to when Charlton took over.
When he took over I think that most of the squad were in the top flight and most of the team had won leagues/FA/League Cups or in Europe.
But that was a time where there weren't many foreigners in the English League.
Presently there are infinitely more foreign imports which means more competition for Irish players.
I think that it's a good sign that despite this competition we have maintained a high ratio of players in the top flight and in European football.
We are coping a lot better than the Scots, Welsh or N.Irish.
Of the players we have in the 1st division they are all playing for teams challenging at the top of the table. So next season we'll have an even higher proportion of players in the topflight if Sunderland, West Ham, Forrest, Cardiff or WBA are promoted.
Good points. The Welsh are doing pretty well though right now, don't forget. A lot of the younger players, like Andy Reid, Thomas Butler, Seán Thornton and even Colin Healy will benefit from playing regularly in Division one. If they're good enough, they'll get into the Premiership eventually. Remember Duff spent about 4 years in Div 1 with Blackburn.Quote:
Originally posted by colster
This is a different era to when Charlton took over.
When he took over I think that most of the squad were in the top flight and most of the team had won leagues/FA/League Cups or in Europe.
But that was a time where there weren't many foreigners in the English League.
Presently there are infinitely more foreign imports which means more competition for Irish players.
I think that it's a good sign that despite this competition we have maintained a high ratio of players in the top flight and in European football.
We are coping a lot better than the Scots, Welsh or N.Irish.
Of the players we have in the 1st division they are all playing for teams challenging at the top of the table. So next season we'll have an even higher proportion of players in the topflight if Sunderland, West Ham, Forrest, Cardiff or WBA are promoted.
I think we can field a very strong starting 11, even one of players playing in European competition if I'm not wrong, but our squad depth is relatively weak. thankfully, with alot of youngsters coming up, this shouldn't be a problem. To try and put my theory to the test, here's my all euro 11...
Gk - Given - UEFA cup.
Dl - Finnan - UEFA cup.
Dr - Dunne - UEFA cup.
Dc - O'Shea - Champions League.
Dc - O'Brien - UEFA cup.
Ml - Duff - Champions League
Mr - Reid - UEFA cup
Mc - Liam Miller - Champions League
Mc - Rory Delap - UEFA cup.
Fc -
Fc -
Falls down on the forwards alright, but we have Keane, Morrison and Connolly to fill those positions. Of those other 9, only 1 doesn't get their game regularly, and there's still some excellent players to be included, such as Steven Carr to take Dunnes place anyway, Matt Holland, Healy and the likes. For a starting 11, we're very strong, in my view, and that's what counts.
good points and strong sideQuote:
Originally posted by Slash/ED
I think we can field a very strong starting 11, even one of players playing in European competition if I'm not wrong, but our squad depth is relatively weak. thankfully, with alot of youngsters coming up, this shouldn't be a problem. To try and put my theory to the test,
Dr - Dunne - UEFA cup.
Dc - O'Brien - UEFA cup.
Mr - Reid - UEFA cup
Mc - Liam Miller - Champions League
Mc - Rory Delap - UEFA cup.
but which of these 5 will be starting
doubt if any will
but it is these players with euro experience that maybe we should be looking at
Delap, Reid and O'Brien are all fairly assured of their places. Strachan espically is a big fan of Delap, I remember him saying his injury was crucial in their poor end of season form last season. Miller is in and out but unfortunately, Dunne is miles off the City team.
I think by the end of the season we'll all have a much better idea as to Liam Miller's long-term potential. He's not a baby by any stretch (22 right?) and if he doesn't make it this year I'd wonder about him.
Quote:
Originally posted by Slash/ED
Delap, Reid and O'Brien are all fairly assured of their places.
none of these will start saturdayQuote:
Originally posted by Slash/ED
Delap, Reid and O'Brien are all fairly assured of their places.
wasn't glen crowe playing in Europe earlier this season :)Quote:
Originally posted by Slash/ED
Falls down on the forwards alright
Funny one.
Last Saturdays Old Firm game was all the proof that was needed of Millers potential AND actual talent. A slip of a guy like him making his debut in, arguably, the worlds most emotionally charged fixture, and guess what? He absolutely lorded it over the 21 other players on that field. Chris Sutton getting Man of the Match was a joke.Quote:
Originally posted by sadloserkid
I think by the end of the season we'll all have a much better idea as to Liam Miller's long-term potential. He's not a baby by any stretch (22 right?) and if he doesn't make it this year I'd wonder about him.
Have to disagree, Miller played well, fitted in well and did not look out of place in his OF debut, but there were plenty ahead of him in terms of MOM Sutton and Agathe for starters, I thought Sutton was a good choice as MOM.Quote:
Originally posted by Shed End John
Last Saturdays Old Firm game was all the proof that was needed of Millers potential AND actual talent. A slip of a guy like him making his debut in, arguably, the worlds most emotionally charged fixture, and guess what? He absolutely lorded it over the 21 other players on that field. Chris Sutton getting Man of the Match was a joke.
One game does not a player make. That's all I'm saying.
Defense was superb, out of position Sutton was great.
Ahh I thought you meant start for their clubs in Europe.Quote:
Originally posted by thecorner
none of these will start saturday
Yeah, well that's true, though I guess Reid has a good chance. Does the fact that we've players in Europe who are being kept out of the side not bode well for us though?