Steven Reid VS Liverpool

Few comments from the telegraph's review of the game

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Irish international Steven Reid and Aaron Mokoena were terrific in midfield, constantly disrupting Liverpool's supply-lines

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With Mokena anchoring doggedly, Reid covering every blade of grass in midfield and Andy Todd and Nelsen resolute at the back, Blackburn showed why they have conceded one goal in their previous five outings.

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Only a cynical foul by Gerrard stopped Reid entering Jerzy Dudek's box. Gerrard was cautioned, but Blackburn failed to exploit the situation as Morten Gamst Pedersen placed the free kick straight into the wall. Dudek then passed straight to Reid, who failed to get his quick return on target.

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Seems he's getting back to form, could get called up for the China game if there's any injuries. Also interesting he's playing in central midfield, rather than on the wing.

<edit>
According to Sky Sports ratings. he was worth a 6, with the comment "nothing quite worked", the fans rated him a 6.9.

Bizarrely (well, to me) the ratings end at 10, but start at 4??
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Terribly boring game. Worst Premiership game I've seen in a long time. Reid was ok.

Hope he gets another chance, he's still young and has been doing well of late. I'd have him in the squad ahead of Miller at the moment. Roy Keane and Kav are both quite old, so we need to start looking for long term replacements for them in central midfield.

Definitely have him in ahead of Miller too. He's not good enough for the team (yet) but deserves a place more than Miller.

You mentioned a replacement for Keane. It really is getting worrying that all our holding midfield players are getting old. It is one of the most important roles in a team. Whelan is the only young player we have that plays the holding midfield role but while I can predict, its too early to say for sure.

Could be a intresting debate who the next holding player will be.I haven't seen Whealen yet but I have seen two who I expect to have very bright futures,one is Darren Gibson(17,Man U) who is very similar to Xabi Alonso,thou he isen't a holding player he sits in front of the backfour and sprays the ball around and he has shot like Bobby Charlton,he can also play centre back.Owen Garvan(17,Ipswich) I saw him in the FA youth cup against Stoke and he was very good in the match,against a very physical Stoke team.He is an allround midfeilder but he was more of a holding player in that game,he has only just turned 17 and has already been on the Ipswich first team bench.There is also Joey O'Brien(19,Bolton) and Patrick Cregg(19,Arsenal) who I have not seen,but are supposed be very good.

"thou he isen't a holding player he sits in front of the backfour and sprays the ball around"

I wasn't quite sure who you were talking about from the above quote but to me it certainly sounds like a holding player. Someone who sits in front of the back 4 spraying the ball around (Makelele, Lennon, etc.) are holding midfielders.

BTW, keep us up to date with these youngsters. You seem to see a fair few underage games.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Definitely have him in ahead of Miller too. He's not good enough for the team (yet) but deserves a place more than Miller.

You mentioned a replacement for Keane. It really is getting worrying that all our holding midfield players are getting old. It is one of the most important roles in a team. Whelan is the only young player we have that plays the holding midfield role but while I can predict, its too early to say for sure.

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I agree with you, and I'll more than likely get a flaming for donning my pro EL hat as per usual, but is it worth trying Stuart Byrne in a friendly, given our lack of options in that position right now? He excelled playing there against the likes of Split Depor and Lille and we've very few players who can do the holding role right now. One or two badly timed injuries in central mid field and we'll end up very unbalanced.

Eirebhoy - Darren Gibson is the player I was on about and he is not similar to Lennon and Makelele,Gibson's style is very continental ,he recieves the ball from the defence but unlike Lennon and Makelele who pass It short,he passing is mixed,you can say Its like a playmaker,Juan Veron plays that role as well.Gibson's game isen't based around tackling Its about passing.I think that's the best's I can explain it.

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Originally Posted by Slash/ED

I agree with you, and I'll more than likely get a flaming for donning my pro EL hat as per usual, but is it worth trying Stuart Byrne in a friendly, given our lack of options in that position right now? He excelled playing there against the likes of Split Depor and Lille and we've very few players who can do the holding role right now. One or two badly timed injuries in central mid field and we'll end up very unbalanced.

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Aye, Byrne is young enough too. Worth a shot in a friendly as he's probably the only player we have for that position who are at the right age and will be after the WC.

Maybe I've misunderstood the above, but isn't Steven Reid a bit too "all action" to be considered a holding player? He's more athletic & mobile than most of our midfielders and reminds me more of Gerrard than Keane. I think some people confuse a midfielder who can tackle with a holding midfielder. A modern day attacking midfielder can also make himself felt defensively.

I feel a bit sorry for Reid at Blackburn. You can see he's always looking to use the ball well but Blackburn play such a primitive game it's not of great use.

Looking forward, he could well fill a central role in an Irish team that, as most of us agreed in the Isreal thread, has its foundation in passing the ball around well.

Interestingly, Mary Hannigan wrote on Wednesday that Reid & Delap were put on standby for Israel & China. I think it's important to know not just who is in the squad but who Kerr also feels is close to the squad. God knows we've all debated the merits / demerits of players like these for long enough on this forum and I'm glad to see some clues as to Kerr's thinking.

I never suggested for one minute that Reid would be able to play the holding role in his career, I think byrnie got a bit mixed up. :) The name holding midfielder simply comes from holding the midfield together and always there to take a pass. The tackling bit just comes natural to most of them. :) Petrov played the holding role for Bulgaria at the Euro Champs (he's never played it for Celtic in his life) and isn't the best defensively.

Look at Euro 2004 and it shows the importance of a holding midfielder. Every team bar England used a holding midfielder. England have the playing resources to win any championship but they were outdone on possession in 3 out of their 4 matches. Switzerland had 10 men for the last half hour yet they still had more possession and put more passes together. France put 140 more passes together than England and had more possession. Makelele put more passes together than Lampard and Gerrard combined. Portugal had over 200 more passes and way more possession. Even Croatia managed 50% of the possession when England put in their best performance.

It really is one of the most important positions so Kerr should give younger players experience there.

Yeah agree about England and there poor passing stats ,one of the main reasons for them not being able to keep possession is that they use alot of long ball football.

Yeah, England just don't seem to get it do they? Long may it last :)

Of the younger players, who do you suggest can do the role? Miller has the range of passing but no strength in the tackle. O'Shea has the physical attributes but not the range of passing. Holland could probably do the job, as could Kavanagh but in Kav's case you'd be sacrificing what he can bring to the party further up the field. And neither of these two is young.

Stuttgart88 - Apart from the players who are 30+ we haven't got that many options,due to Millers lack of form.The young players I have mentioned above are not ready yet,so hopefully players like Holland will be around for another few years.This would hopefully give the young players enough time to get first team football so,when players like Holland retire,the youngsters would be ready to make the step up.Dont rule out John O'Shea as a holding player,you dont have to be tough tackling to play the role.
Its a shame Scott Parker isen't Irish as,he Is a player I rate very highly.

Tough tackling isn't essential but being able to tackle at all is! That's why I have doubts about Miller. But O'Shea could be the ideal replacement as he's got a lot of the attributes good holding players have. Hopefully he'll get more experience of playing in midfield for United.

Yeah I hope O,Shea makes it as a midfielder(It would be great to go to a International tournament with such a versatile player),his goal against Arsenal was a bit special. He is very good technically so I see no reason why he cant make it as a midfielder. I also rate Darren Gibson very highly and see him as a future Ireland midfielder.
I agree about Miller but,I have alway seen him as more of a Paul Scholes type of midfielder than say I Keano type.

It's a pity Lee Carsley's not irish any more!!!

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Originally Posted by dr_peepee

It's a pity Lee Carsley's not irish any more!!!

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He's the same age as Kav and Holland anyway.

I tell you what, it's a pity FIFA wouldn't let Tim Cahill become Irish. And then when they did let him become Irish he declared for Australia. (make up your mind man)

If only they had changed the rules when he was still in the mood to be Irish. :D Fine player.

What about Andy Reid?

He's never been accused of being light weight :D