I'll give you Lawrenson, though I'd wager most would remember him as a defender.
John O'Shea might be the closest we've had to a centre-half who could play midfield, though I think you could make the argument that playing right across the back four, as a DM and a CM he was more akin to a utility player, and better at centre-half anyway.
Still slim pickings from nearly 50 years of football.
Mark Lawrenson played a decent amount for us in midfield ~ ~ He was a top quality player.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
Lawrenson was a cracking good footballerQuote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
There were a few that I thought could play in midfield and some who did -
I thought the following could have made a decent midfield player -
Phil Bab
Kenny Cunningham
Eoin Hand
Jimmy Holmes
Joey O'Brien (a better midfielder than LB in my opinion)
Frank O'Farrell
David O'Leary
Pat Saward
Sean St. Ledger
And defenders who did play in midfield (a little or a lot)
Mick Martin
Con Martin (Martin played in every position while at Aston Villa - including goalkeeper)
Mick McGrath
Mick Meagan
Johnny Carey
The difference from times past is that Ireland used to produce a lot of very good midfielders - not so much in recent times. Imaging having a midfield of Giles, Haverty, Conway, McGrath (1966), or Giles, Brady, Daly, Heighway (1974) or Brady, Whelan, Houghton, McGrath, Sheedy (1987) or Whelan, Townsend, Keane, McAteer, Sheridan (1995) today and the damage you could do with it.
Rice was a centre half through the ranks at West ham , that's where he played in their 23s. It was with ireland he played midfieldQuote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
Thanks for the trips down memory lane with some of these names, or not, in Rice's case who, as far as I know, hasn't played any consequential senior football as a centre-half, but they only prove the point that started this diversion: we haven't, since Paul McGrath, had a centre-half who was at least equally competent to play in centre midfield, and did so regularly for Ireland. And, rose-tinted glasses off, there's nobody in the current squad who looks remotely like having that capability.
And David Alaba was a midfielder that Bayern converted into a defender. The same as Phillip Lahm.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
In his breakthrough season at West Ham, he started 13 league games at centre back and 4 in midfield.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
Second season, he was moved to midfield…
That's fair id say. I'm hard pushed to see any xentre half we have been good enough to play consistently in the championship as a midfielder and considering we have 4 or 5 of our actual.midfielders w presently who can play at that level then what's the point of converting a centre half if they aren't going to be premier league level?Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
I think O'Brien played at centre half against Germany at home under Staunton, and then in midfield in the next game against Cyprus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant
Ireland need to find some nugget of gold from a left field option. Are there any prospects in the LoI who can help knit things together at international level?
No.
..
Probably not.
I still reckon the best options at LOI level are Farrugia, Byrne, Duffy, Mandroiu and Forrester and of those, Farrugia and Mandriou are the only one who are an age where there’s growth left.
Farrugia’s performances in Europe were impressive enough that I’d have him on the list of guys who could potentially be our fourth winger.
For me it’s Ogbene, Johnston and McAteer in the squad and in general choosing from Harness, Robinson, O’Dowda, Ebosele, Connolly (if he’s not retiring), Farrugia, Shodipo, Hamilton, Duffy, Omochere, Kerrigan and Moylan. Obviously there’s a lot of considerations involved in terms of level they’re playing at, form, fitness etc. But those are the guys who I think in general, have something about them as wingers.
I do think we’d be better for calling up about 3 players every window with the idea of just seeing how they look and how they do in training and if they look the part. Maybe a winger, a centre midfielder and a full back. Cause realistically they’re all positions where there’s a lack of quality depth.
In midfield, you call up Luca Connell one window, Jack Taylor the next and Connor Ronan the one after.
At full back, you call up Jon Gallagher for one window, Josh Key the next and Danny McNamara the one after.
Out wide, you call up Harness once, Farrugia the next one etc.
That Greece team had players playing in Denmark, Czech Republic, the German second division, Greece, Belgium - and recently enough Cyprus, Saudi and Mexico. I don’t think we can turn our noses up at players playing in the MLS or whatever without giving them a look first
Jamie McGrath and Aberdeen also won their 15th game in 14 competitive matches stretching back all the way to losing to Celtic in the Scottish cup on penos last April. The last time they actually lost a game in 90 minutes was March. I have no idea what's going on there beyond a ridiculously lucky string of winnable games, and I've said before that I don't necessarily think he's a long term solution to anything, but pretty difficult form to ignore, found it very strange he wasn't called up last time out. Gavin Molloy who was a major part of Shels unexpected title tilt has played every minute of every game since signing, so might be someone to unexpectedly become an option in the future if whatever the heck is going on there continues.
Farrugia and Mandroiu are definitely both worth looking at, and it will be very interesting to see how Rovers handle Europe. They were a bit closer to the dominant team you expect them to be this weekend, maybe finally finding form at the right time. Farrugia especially has huge issues staying injury free, otherwise I think he would easily be a Championship player, maybe more. Duffy and Byrne have similar injury issues and aren't the players they were at their peaks as a result. Forrester is a class footballer and someone who could have played at a much higher level with a bit more luck and an easier personal life but his time has passed.
Winning 15 out of 14 is some feat!Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
I just thanked that without doing the maths ~ ~ I think we need this manager and fast ! ! !Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
15 out of 14 = Outstanding !
The lads broken time and reality Heimer, call him up
I certainly hope that the board have given him, their full support and vote of confidence ~ Tis well deserved !Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
Marc Wilson played defense and midfield for Portsmouth ( only defense for us)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant
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