Wasn't an argument just a selection of how I think the pecking order should go.Quote:
Originally Posted by kingdom hoop
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Wasn't an argument just a selection of how I think the pecking order should go.Quote:
Originally Posted by kingdom hoop
I like Connolly. I think he's under rated. Not the most versatile of forwrds but will prosper in the right line up. Same way Kevin Phillips did with Niall Quinn. Apparently Connolly kept Phillips on the bench during their Watford days too. I think he has a great footballing brain but doesn't have the abillity or stature to back it up. I've been sticking up for him for years. Stick I got off the lads after Japan though
Last season was his first in the premiership. He never won promotion to the Premiership with any team to be dispanded. West Ham sold him to Leicester the year before they were promoted. West Ham Signed him from Wimbledon. Wimbledon signed him from Feyenoord. He excelled on loan at Excelsior (Or whatever). Held in good stead still in Feyenoord by all accounts too. Scoored a couple for them against Ajax. Too late to make a real impact though. And I wouldn't even consider him if Robbie Keane was available. Those too cannot play together. I think he values his Irish career too. Watch him belt out Amhrann na bhfiann before a game.
International football is about picking the best players at present. While Long has great potential he is still unproven.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
i stand corrected on the promotion bit - really thought he had been involved with teams that went up but apparantely not.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
Re: Feyenoord. i met a few lads from rotterdam and they couldn't stand him. he was on stg£20k per week (which is absolutely MASSIVE in dutch terms & made him top earner at the club) when he was signed and made no impact whatsoever (according to them), they never mentioned anything about him scoring against Ajax but maybe he did. anyway his impact was so little that after a couple of months they sent them to Excelsior who play in 2nd or 3rd division and are a feeder club for Feyenoord. don't know how he feared there but it is supposidily a cat standard. anyway he was back in england in no time.
can't think why we're still talking about this man. stokes, keane, doyle, lee & long offer more than he does albeit in the case of long it is potential. morrison and connolly are not what we need hanging around the place espically as we're building for 2010 (supposidely). at best they are 4th and 5th choice and will only get a run if we are crippled with inuries and even then stan would probably opt for duffer up front so we'd be better off introducing the above players to the fold.
Honestly how can you seriously consider putting Doyle ahead of Keane, what does Robbie Keane have to do to get respect?Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Stop whinging? maybe, and start scoring goals again this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
one of the things that annoyed me about that world cup ( and i was there) was how a lot of the irish fans went to the hotel to see the players straight after the game, i mean i was in a taxi with 5 guys who went straight to the players hotel, i didint i was GUTTED, i only wanted to go home and be depressedQuote:
Originally Posted by galwayhoop
what with the need to see the players, they lost, we lost? is it celebrity, or do ye guys care about the fcukin game?
showed up the real fans that time to me
how can Connolly not be at least equal to Elliott and Murphy when he is equal to them in goals at Sunderland (and on hotter form). Also, Morrison and Stokes would only questionably be above him (depending on how Stokes does over the next month and whether or not Morrison can get his form back from earlier this season)Quote:
1. Doyle
2. Keane
3. Elliot
4. Stokes
5. Morrison
6. Murphy
7. Lee
8. Connolly
Thats a crock of **** I've seen footage of him either crying or something near it and giving McCarthy (the famous picture is of Quinn) a hug after that match. Watch "The Saipan Saga" you'll see. No account of it here either. Or here for* that matter. You were likely drunk, are you sure it was him? However, it is my fault it started, but the Connolly discussion is for another topic, another timeQuote:
Originally Posted by galwayhoop
*A different match though he clearly doesn't not give a ****
Agree I think the Irish team would be better off without Robie Keane, doesn't set a good example for other players. Can't remember the last time he a really good game for Ireland, can score against rubbish teams better defenders have no problem with him!!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Legend
Quote:
Originally Posted by Condex
I seem to remember him scoring against Germany, the World Cup Finalists that year but perhaps they all have rubbish defenders. He has also scored against Yugoslavia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Holland, Russia, Denmark, Spain, Crotatia and Sweden: all total lightweights. DOn't let facts get in the way of sweeping statements about our all time record scorer. Who else has performed up front for US that you would like to replace him with?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bennocelt
p1ss off - i was absolutely devastated - didn't talk to anyone for at least 2 hours after match. the hotel wasn't a mass celebration more of a post mortem. went into itawon (sp?) soon after but was there for an hour or so.
fair plat to ya for going home afterwards thats your decision, personally i wanted to do nything to distract myself to take my mind off the whole thing and to me that involved going to the pub and getting ****ed.
if you think you are more of a supporter than me because i didn't go back to my hotel and stare at the wall then you are deluded.
having spent a small fortune at going to japan/korea and facing the ordeal of organising flights ..etc the next day having a blow out doesn't mean you're not a 'real fan'.
did you walk up croke patrick barefoot when you got home. get off your pedistol big man
Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
personally i don't think we are better off without robbie and have respect for what he has done. However, he hasn't played for ages and starting with him on the bench against san marino would not be a bad thing - there are other players who are on form at the moment and therefore deserve to start ahead of him due to him being not at all sharp. also i feel all players, incl. duff and keane, need to feel like there is genuine competition for their places or else they slip into a comfort zone - the preverbial kick up the hole.
BTW just going through the above list it is striking how long all of them goals were (except sweden and that was a friendly) - don't know if that is a blot on robbie or our national team as a whole - the latter i fear
I always thought Feyenoord fans liked Connolly. I had to google it and found a post from a Dutch guy on this very site:Quote:
Originally Posted by galwayhoop
http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=78396&postcount=7
He was a bit of a fans favourite even though he wasn't scoring, just because he always gave 100%.Quote:
Hey, more dutchies on the forum. joeSoap is almost right. With David Connolly Excelsior almost became champions of the first division. But Feyenoord (who owned Connolly) took him back to Feyenoord in the winterbreak. In Holland winterbreak is in the middle of the season. Excelsior fans blamed Feyenoord for they thought that Feyenoord would not let Excelsior promote to the highest division. But if it wasn't for Feyenoord they would never have get that far. Connolly was loved by the Feyenoord fans but never really made it. A year later Excelsior promoted and was relegated a year later.
See you in Kralingen Heracles Almelo....
Also:
" Connolly's career has been in limbo for over two years following a bust-up with then Feyenoord boss Leo Beenhakker, who told him he would never play for the club again.
Feyenoord fans have recently started chanting his name during matches and manager Bert van Marwijk responded by including the Irish international in his squad for yesterday's 3-1 league win over Ajax, now managed by Beenhakker."
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...&issue_id=3519
Connolly has just scored with an assist from Stokes. Sixth in eight for him now.
I read it was Whitehead's cross but SAFC.com says Stokes, but I dont care :)Quote:
Originally Posted by FarBeag
EDIT: On the same site it said that it was Whitehead, the commentators said it was Stokes
He made his first senior appearance for the Republic of Ireland against the Czech Republic in Olomouc in March 1998...Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Any other half decent striker would have done the same in 9 years...
But no other striker has done it for IrelandQuote:
Originally Posted by Condex
Stokes nets winner on Sunderland debut
A thousand monkeys at a thousand computers wouldn't make this mistake.
And what insight do you have into Terry Dixon's commitment?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
Or are you out fishing again ? :rolleyes:
I agree, he has also had to drop back & try to compensate for a crap midfield.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
This excuse is beyond ridicioulous. Robbie does NOT have to drop back but he always gets the urge too, often when we are not under pressure. I cant understand for the life of me why he will not stay up forward. I personally would like to see Stokes and Doyle up forward. But Kenae playing left wing is a slight possibility. I remember him doing it for Spurs at home to Chelsea this year and he tore Boulahrouz asunder
Perhaps a Connolly/Stokes partnership will bear fruit for Sunderland.
At the very least all of this Irish strikers should at least put paid to the abomination that is Damien Duff up front.
Yugoslavia and Turkey were in the last century. Holland was nearly seven years ago, Germany and Spain nearly five years ago. The other matches you mention were friendly matches.Quote:
I seem to remember him scoring against Germany, the World Cup Finalists that year but perhaps they all have rubbish defenders. He has also scored against Yugoslavia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Holland, Russia, Denmark, Spain, Crotatia and Sweden: all total lightweights. DOn't let facts get in the way of sweeping statements about our all time record scorer. Who else has performed up front for US that you would like to replace him with?
Our all time record scorer hasn't been up to much in a green shirt for nearly five years now, besides the odd hat trick against San Marino.
In fairness most of the Irish team hasn't shown up in the last couple of years. Not just Keane but pretty much most of the team.
Those 2 goals against Israel were Keane's fault?
Henry's touch of magic was Keane's fault?
Cyprus was Keane's fault?
As far as i know he scored two goals against ajax in a match that won them the game so became a bit of a cult hero.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Keane certainly was a joy to watch in the chelsea match, and i'm sure you noticed his hard running all over the pitch. he is an effervescent character who likes to be involved in games so when he plays for ireland in a team whose passing ability pales in comparison to that of spurs it isnt surprising that he drops deep instead of waiting all day for a bit of decent service.Quote:
Originally Posted by carloz
his mercurial talent should be embraced rather than denounced as being a hindrance to the effectiveness of the team, its hard to know if he used to be tactically instructed to stay up top or was just told to go out and play. if left to his own devices management should be aware keane is likely to roam, this isnt the players fault unless we know management specifically say not to.
he will actively look for knock downs from long balls but in more general play does tend to drop deep, a style not really conducive to wide play(plus he's a sh!te headerer!). in the san marino thread i propose a triumvirate of keane, doyle and stokes, a system that could work into the future. the teams in our group do not play exansively so i dont think we'd be too narrow, kerr toyed with the system with duff as the man playing deeper but i think keane would be far more suited to the role. in the sweden match(stans first) we played three attacking players in elliot, doyle and keane(as well as duff) who alternated around the place, granted the opposition were poor but i thought the system worked very well..i know it may border on sacrilege but on balance i wouldnt mind if duff doesnt start the next few games and in the process unlock robbie's, IMO, great talent. the relevance is that we can accomodate our captain, form striker and the subject of this thread all in one glorious fell swoop....:)
Quote:
Originally Posted by galwayhoop
thats fair enuff
but i cant undertsand the dying need to go straight to the hotel to see the players straight after the game, for what? a joke, get an autograph, have the craic with the lads
there was a mass exodus of fans going to the hotel, im sorry but i found that bizarre
I went back to my room and got depressed. My mate, an equally committed fan for decades, went out and had a great night, met the team and put the suffering to one side. Doesn't mean he's from the "ole ole brigade" or was hurting any less than me. People just handle the disappointment in different ways.Quote:
Originally Posted by bennocelt
Connolly is the Dave Kelly of this era!! :)
Sounds like a speil of shiiite that would come out of Brian Kerrs mouth...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fergie's Son
Keane hasnt done anything for years for Ireland,,,I respect his achievemnt but How many of his goals did he get in competitive matches. He scored a hatrick against San Marino(big deal), and still had a very unconvincing game...he has become to complacent in the Irish setup, having your place guaranteed for 7 years isnt healthy for any player
Quote:
Originally Posted by citizenerased
All well and good saying he hasn't done anything in years, but who was there to replace him? Are you really trying to convince us that a front 2 from Connolly, The Doc, Morrison, Lee would have been better than Robbie + any one of those??
no not saying that...im just saying now that he has some competition, e.g. Stokes etc, he should be dropped. It might give him the kick up the arsse he deserves...For me Doyle is now first choice Irish striker.
Why what has Doyle done for Ireland that Keane has not.
EH, 5 Caps?! But much to expect from someone who's played 2 competitive matches... Best Irish Player against Germany and Scored against San Marino. He's doing well so far if you want to put it that way...
You remind me of the English fans who were clamouring for Jon Stead's introduction when he went on a scoring spree right when he first came on the scene. Silly then and silly now.Quote:
Originally Posted by citizenerased
The fact is, Keane is still one of our best strikers and only a knee-jerk reactionary half-wit would drop him for an untested 18 year old playing in the championship.
I was about to say England have better strikers than we do, but I'm not sure that's true.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fergie's Son
I still think now is the time to give Stokes his debut not in a year's time when he is scoring 10 a season for Sunderland in the Premiership.
Hardly the same, its not like we have a clamour of decent strikers is it? Competition is healthy for any team sport...lack of it breeds complacency and thats exactly what keane has become for Ireland..Stokes is the most prolific striker that has come through the ranks for years, to include him in the squad at least might even freshen it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fergie's Son
Why shouldnt he be dropped, he hasnt been in form for Ireland since 2002...nobody is indispensible, especially not Robbie Keane, he is hardly world class.
Imo it would send a message to the rest of the squad, who are contemplating easy-street.
I still think all this hype surrounding Stokes is way over the top. He hasn't scored a goal in a decent league yet IMO and until he's been given at least a full season to do so I wouldn't be too excited.
All I'd say is that even if he turns out to be sh*t I'd expect at least one out of Clarke, Long, Rooney or Keogh to make the grade considering the initial promise they've showed.
Presumably then you wouldnt have had Henrik Larsson in our team then all those years when he was at Celtic then .Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Yet you regard Elliott as our 3rd choice striker? I'm a fan of Elliott too but Stokes has shown a lot more than him already and is the player in form. Also, prolific SPL goalscorers are almost all proven players so chances are Stokes will prove himself too. I'm very excited about Stokes. A fantastic finisher with a great positional sense and it doesn't seem like confidence will affect him much which is important.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish