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To be fair to him the eight contributions (5 assists, 3 goals) makes him the best performing Irish player in that respect in the Premier League this season. Impressive considering where Villa are in the table. For me he's still a starter for Ireland because, unless Brady finds form again, we need him in the team for his set piece delivery.
I wish he could get a foothold in games and contribute more. He was actually good in the home Georgia match, his set piece goal aside. I do think that he suffers a little at Villa for being left footed and Grealish being on his left. He is effectively bypassed a lot there.
He actually sitting in midfield with Luiz .. two of them protecting the back four allowing Grealish, McGinn and Trezeguet to support the striker (Sammatta or Davis) when they can - Villa are hanging in there but they played a poor brand of football!
Scored the second and assisted the third against Fulham. 25 minutes still to go so maybe he can grab another.
I feel the same way. He flashes in games but he's nothing more than a passenger for Ireland for long periods.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
That's the problem with him. He is stylish and elegant, but sometimes just utterly ineffective in real play. If all we saw was the best of him he'd be a superstar.
He offers something none of our other central midfielders offer at the moment though, a goal threat. I agree though he's one of those players that can go missing for large parts of the game, particularly when his team is not having the lion's share of possession.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Yes, which is why he's a hard guy to leave out.
Barring injury, I assume it will be McCarthy, Hendrick and Hourihane as the midfield three. Hopefully one or both of Hendrick/Hourihane bring their "one in every three or four" good games out for this one to get us past Slovakia.
The issue with Hourihane and Hendrick both being in the same midfield is that they can both look really good at times but disappear too. It would be one or the other for me I dont think you can play both at same time.
A midfield of Arter, McCarthy and Hourihane would probably be my preference going into these games
I generally have not been an Arter fan but I think he showed in his last appearance that he can impose himself on a game in a way that Hourihane/Hendrick often don't. Hourihane and Hendrick technically better but don't always get stuck in/engaged.
Yeah Id agree with that. I wouldn't be McCarthys biggest fan either but you would feel that McCarthy and Arter would be pretty solid and all Hourihane to be a bit more creativeQuote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
doherty mccarthy arter for me
hendrick and hourihane as reserves
Ok I'll bite..... Doherty is not and has never been a center midfielder but you want him to play there in a knockout game? Should we play Duffy upfront too since he is good in the air?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
Doherty played centre mid for the 21s (long time ago I know). Not sure you could stick him in there for a big game like this but he does have the capability to move there I think (same with Coleman).Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
We tried that sort of logic with Cyrus Christie under O'Neill, it didn't work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
wasn't as bad as people said and was just used as another stick to hit MON with. At least MON recognised that we needed a bit of pace in our ctre mid and tried something out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Come on now, it was ridiculous.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Doherty at least is a good footballer, Christie was awful in midfield. He pretty awful anywhere on pitch to be fair.
Just because Lahm was able to play both positions doesn't mean other fullbacks can