The midfield

Judging by most people's teams in the "Team for WC qualifiers" thread the team is pretty much picked except for the midfield.

GK: Given
DL: O'Shea/Finnan
DR: Carr/Finnan
DC: O'Brien/Breen
DC: Cunningham
ML:?
MR:?
MC:?
MC:?
FC: Keane
FC: Morrison

I don't want another thread about the whole team, just the midfield.

My views are Keane is a definite in the centre and Duff is a definite on the left. We only have two right sided mindfielders in the squad for the friendlies, Reid and Rowlands, and IMO neither are going to start the qualifiers so we'll have to play someone out of position. We have the following players to choose from for the two positions:

Holland, Delap, Kilbane, Miller, A.Reid, S.Reid, Kavanagh, Kinsella, Healy, Finnan and McAteer.

I really don't think Holland is up to it for Ireland, any of the players above would be more effective then him IMO. S.Reid, Kinsella, Healy and McAteer wouldn't be in many people's thoughts either. For me, its between Miller and Reid for the right midfield role and Kavanangh to partner Keane. Kavanagh scored 7 goals in 27 league games this season and runs his heart out, just what we need to partner Keane.

Anyway, your thought?

The much maligned Kevin Kilbane has done really well in the last couple of friendlies in the centre of midfield. Why not try him out with Keane in the middle. McAteer is probably the main contender for the right with Holland, Miller and Finnan. Although Reid has done well I think it would put too much pressure on the central midfielders to play 2 out and out wingers like Duff and Reid together.

I think we will choose a midfield to suit each game. I don't think we have the personnel there that could comfortably play against any team.
For example against France I wouldn't be surprised to see us play Keane, Holland, Kavanagh and Duff but against the lesser teams I wouldn't be surprised to see us play Miller, Keane, A.Reid and Duff in a more attacking formation.
In other words the only 2 definite starters (barring injury) will be Keane and Duff and then another 2 depending on the opposition.

the last post is a great point and that is what been a maanger and having a squad is about.

Have to agree with Colster. Wouldn't be confident of Andy Reid and Miller in a midfield against the likes of France at this stage. Would add Kilbane into the group mentioned as has been our best performer in that area in recent times.

Think kilbane would be a great partner for keane as he can be a good foil for keane who could do the donkey work while kilbane can do the attacking work that keane could a few years ago. Duffer is a deffo on the left so think holland will be played on the right for maybe swiss and france away whereas reid or miller may get the nod for games against cyprus or israel !

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Originally Posted by only1kilbane

Think kilbane would be a great partner for keane as he can be a good foil for keane who could do the donkey work while kilbane can do the attacking work that keane could a few years ago. Duffer is a deffo on the left so think holland will be played on the right for maybe swiss and france away whereas reid or miller may get the nod for games against cyprus or israel !

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I Think Kilbane could be a good option beside Keane. Need to try them out in a few games first though. Kilbane is a good honest grafter and coud physically match Vieira and Makalele.
When he's confident and on form he'd be a good one to get turned and carry the ball up the pitch which would be vital if we're tryinng to hold France.
I think this is why Keane was so good. How many times have you seen him turn defence into attack with a surging run forward. Maybe Kilbane can give us that option.

As much as I love Kilbane, Kavanagh has a lot more to his game. What could Kilbane add to the team (other than pace) that Kavanagh couldn't do better? Kav is a better tackler, more precise through balls and passes, scores a lot more goals.

I don't think opta do stats for division 1 but here's a few stats for Kilbane at Everton (i'll compare him with the best in the premiership to give an idea how he rates):

Appearances: 30
Goals: 3
Assists: 1

Total Tackles made: 88
Last Man Saving Tackles: 0
Tackles won: 30% (In Comparison with the best in the premiership - Volz of Fulham made 188 tackles and an 80% success rate)
Total fouls conceded: 31

Total Passes: 922
Pass completion: 71% (Keane made 1767 passes with an 87% success rate)
Total Crosses: 101
Cross Completion: 13%

Dribbles: 209
Dribble Completion: 53%

Shots on Target: 13
Shots off target: 21
Shooting Accuracy: 38%

Fair enough you have the stats to back yourself enough but we have not seen enough of kavanagh yet ( no fault of his own recently ) to put him in against the swiss and french. We know what kilbane can do and he did a good job in the last two friendlies in the centre. Though would be happy with either choice really with holland on the right against the french away .

Agree with most of the points made about the midfield but I really dont think Holland should be on the team. I would risk Miller or Reid against the French.

Reid is unpredictable and wil add a touch of the unknown...what will holland add .......nothing me thinks

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Originally Posted by concanta

Agree with most of the points made about the midfield but I really dont think Holland should be on the team. I would risk Miller or Reid against the French.

Reid is unpredictable and wil add a touch of the unknown...what will holland add .......nothing me thinks

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Are the French still starting Lizerazu at left-back? He's still in the squad at any rate. If he's still starting for them when we play them, I'd be tempted to play Andy Reid. Lizerazu isn't getting any quicker.

I think Reid should be played regularly on the right wing. Miller isn't a natural winger and he's no more experienced, and I don't like Finnan there at all. McAteer is a decent player, and I'd be fine with him on the right. Steven Reid needs to get playing regularly again before he'll realisticly be considered.

Is Partridge still at Liverpool, or did he move to Coventry? And if he's moved, is he playing well? Or at all?
Who's this new right winger in the squad for the friendlies?

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Originally Posted by John83

Is Partridge still at Liverpool, or did he move to Coventry? And if he's moved, is he playing well? Or at all?
Who's this new right winger in the squad for the friendlies?

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Partridge has been injured most of the season but has been given a new contract. Poor lad is wasting away his career deluding himself he's ever going to be part of Houllier's plans. Why play Partridge when he can buy yet another overated French muppet.
New winger is Rowlands, QPR's player of the season. Only 25 and looked brilliant in the second division this year. Hopefully can make the step up.

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Originally Posted by only1kilbane

Though would be happy with either choice really with holland on the right against the french away .

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Who plays on the left for the French? Zidane, Pires? Anyway, Zidane and Pires will be both 32 by the time we play them so they won't be sprinting down the wings. Therefore, i don't think we'd be caught out if we played Reid on the right, (at least we'd have an extra player as Holland doesn't turn up for us most of the time). i'd be happy with either Kilbane or Kav in the middle too TBH. Its a pity we'll only get the chance to see them once (against Croatia in August AFAIK) before the qualifiers.

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Originally Posted by Bowsy

Partridge has been injured most of the season but has been given a new contract. Poor lad is wasting away his career deluding himself he's ever going to be part of Houllier's plans. Why play Partridge when he can buy yet another overated French muppet.
New winger is Rowlands, QPR's player of the season. Only 25 and looked brilliant in the second division this year. Hopefully can make the step up.

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Thanks. Houllier might not be there for much longer by the looks of things, so maybe Partridge will get a chance next year.

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Originally Posted by John83

Thanks. Houllier might not be there for much longer by the looks of things, so maybe Partridge will get a chance next year.

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I have no doubt that Partridge will get his chance next season. He would have got it this season but injury prevented that. Houllier wouldn't have sent him off to one of the best specialists in the world and gave him a new contract if he wasn't going to give him a chance.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I have no doubt that Partridge will get his chance next season. He would have got it this season but injury prevented that. Houllier wouldn't have sent him off to one of the best specialists in the world and gave him a new contract if he wasn't going to give him a chance.

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Before he got injured he was setting the reserve league alight and making the likes of Diao and Cheyrou look dreadful yet never even got near the subs bench yet Le Tallec etc walk straight into the first team. Partridge is nearly 24. He needs to be playing regularly and still don't see that happening next year at Liverpool. Really dissappointed that he agreed to sign a new contract.

Him getting a new contract is a strange one. If he stays injury free than he has to be fairly confident of at least a couple of games, what happens from there is upto what he's capable of doing I suppose.

Good post, it pretty much sums the situation up.
Although it a fairly complex situation.

We are a lob-sided team in midfield we seem to be blessed with
left wingers, Duff, A.Reid, Kilbane, (I would like to play them all!!,
but how!) but when you look for a right
winger there seems to be no obvious choice.
Both Duff and Reid are great going forward but are not as robust
defensively as Kilbane. Kilbane adds a bit of 'grit' I think.

I think I like the idea of Duff and Andy Reid on the wings, spin a coin
for which wing, they both have the ability to go past players, which
tends to get the opposition defence pretty worried.

Keane and Kilbane in the centre would provide good defensive cover
and more 'heart' to the team.
I think that gives a better attacking/defensive mix.


But I think I will leave it up to than manager thats what he is paid for!

That is the most sensible post i have read in here. Fair play, a bit of trust in the manager while giving a balanced view of our midfield.