Kilbane 6 SEPTEMBER 1997-2009???

He's been a bit of a liability at left back for the last few games but he was still our best (even only) option there for the last few games.

I cursed him on Saturday after his terrible error but I almost immediately felt bad about it. The guy has been a smashing player for us and is a credit to the country and tried his heart out every time he's set foot on a pitch for Ireland. Noone can argue with that.

We still need him, and he deserves to bow out at his second World Cup with a century of caps under his belt.

I think he is a legend and we will miss him when he is gone.

Like many other times in his Ireland career, he's filling a plug in a problem position for us.

He was probably our worst player last match, but I'm not entirely sure if there was a better option for left back available for us to select.

It wasn't just the error that was the problem, as others have mentioned, he didn't close down the winger at all, allowing them to cross the ball in time and time again.

I'd like to see Nolan get more time in the Australia friendly- I've seen him play for Preston a couple of times and he looks impressive.

Bottom line, I hope we find a better option, but until we do, there's no point dropping him.

From a football perspective, I'd like to see O'Shea at LB and Kelly looks good enough for RB. I think this is the next obvious step with the back 4, seeing as Ledger has become a made man.
KK is mature enough to play his part elsewhere, where and when needed.

I'm only 28 so I can't remember too far back but he's 2nd only to McGrath for me. God remember the amount of tracking back he did in 2002 covering for Hartey; he basically played the whole wing from back to front. Not time for him to go anywhere yet in my opinion. I think he still does a job at full back. Maybe we'll phase Foley in over the couple of years after S.A.

I love Kilbane & everything he's about. But boy do I wish we had a proper left back!

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I love Kilbane & everything he's about. But boy do I wish we had a proper left back!

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my sentiments exactly

A bad mistake but who's to say Damien Delaney wouldn't have made three?

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Originally Posted by danonion

A bad mistake but who's to say Damien Delaney wouldn't have made three?

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Yeah, I haven't been too impressed by Delaney to be honest. He's somewhere between a full-back and a centre-half. Can do a job in both places but not particularly well.

Not sure he has the pace to be an international fullback.

Kilbane in my opinion has all of the physical attributes to be a good fullback, but perhaps it's too late for him to learn the mental and tactical aspects of the position.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I love Kilbane & everything he's about. But boy do I wish we had a proper left back!

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I have great respect for the man but think that he's a weak link that's waiting to be exploited in an otherwise fairly solid defence. As I suggested earlier I'd drop him for Finnan when/if he's fit and move JOS to left back. Failing that if Foley performs well next season in the Premiership I'd play him instead again with JOS switching sides.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

an otherwise fairy solid defence

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1 fairy defender to another:

Watch your behind

Ooooooh your are a one aren't you?

Everyone seems to think that St Ledger is a pre mould international class centre back that is ready now to jump in away to Cyprus, Italy and Montenegro. Is this not being a bit presumtious. He has only played 180 min, I agree he has done excellently but that was against a Nigerian second team and against bulgaria in an extremely well guarded Irish Defence. Maybe its a perfect setting for him to settle in

St Ledgetr was great but yes there is an elemet as no one is better than the man who has not made a mistake playing for Ireland even if its because they have not played enough. Saying that he was great on sat.

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Originally Posted by donalmcdonagh

Everyone seems to think that St Ledger is a pre mould international class centre back that is ready now to jump in away to Cyprus, Italy and Montenegro. Is this not being a bit presumtious. He has only played 180 min, I agree he has done excellently but that was against a Nigerian second team and against bulgaria in an extremely well guarded Irish Defence. Maybe its a perfect setting for him to settle in

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It doesn't get much more challenging than what he had to face against Bulgaria. He's passed that test with flying colours, and was also impressive against Nigeria.

While he is still inexperienced internationally, and will probably make a few mistakes along the way, the centre-half position alongside Dunne is his to lose IMO.

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Originally Posted by gspain

He hasn't missed a competitive game since 1999.

For most if not all of those 10 years we've had some fans on his back
saying he isn't good enough. He does a huge amount of work that goes
unnoticed. He had a solid game on saturday apart from the error.

Killer is one of my all time favourite players because his commitment has never ever been less than 100%. He gives of his best every time. We can't ask for more than that.

Those who wish to discard him please name a credible alternative.

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How can you possibly say that he had a solid game on Sat apart from the error? He was terrible...and has been in four matches of this campaign? Credible alternative? John O'Shea if I had to. Put Finnan(if fit) at right back...or stephen kelly at rb and move o'shea to left

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Originally Posted by bishbash

It might be a small thing to some people but to see kilbane sing the national anthem earns him respect in my book . how many english born players come over and sing the anthem? as for an alternative hopefully in the future someone like o'dea might do a job.

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Have to say that always impressed me also. also it appears he sings it in Irish, not English which is even more impressive that he went to the trouble to learn it

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Originally Posted by rambler14

You can't drop Killer he's like a little puppy......you have to love him!

Regardless I think he should still be in the team as his heart and passion for the jersey make him deserving of a spot.

Zinedine Kilbane.

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On that basis we'll bring back Mick McCarthy so...for the love of God:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by donalmcdonagh

Couldnt agree more.........



Limerick Blue this thread has to be one of the biggest insults you could possibly pay to Kevin Kilbane. Call yourself an Ireland fan. If you want to analyse it Kilbane maybe one mis judgment in the match, if we defend for 60 minutes of every game I gurantee we will concede via a silly mistake again and again. Dunne made a misjudgment on a seperate occasion but Petrov couldnt finish his dinner. Against Bulgaria at home, McGeady never tracked back and the ball hit Kilbane before he knew it.

Get a grip man, your way of the mark. The riduculus posts on here really annoy me sometimes. What would we do without Kilbane, play Duff left back and then ask for him to be sacked when he makes a mistake coz he is not a full back.
Im glad some people had the sense to not agree with you.
I'd say to you we can count ourselves lucky Kilbane has not retired.

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This is a forum...people are entitled to their opinions. Kilbane has had a shocking campaign and if you think we are going to qualify using sentimentality then you are very wrong

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Originally Posted by donalmcdonagh

Couldnt agree more.........



Limerick Blue this thread has to be one of the biggest insults you could possibly pay to Kevin Kilbane. Call yourself an Ireland fan. If you want to analyse it Kilbane maybe one mis judgment in the match, if we defend for 60 minutes of every game I gurantee we will concede via a silly mistake again and again. Dunne made a misjudgment on a seperate occasion but Petrov couldnt finish his dinner. Against Bulgaria at home, McGeady never tracked back and the ball hit Kilbane before he knew it.

Get a grip man, your way of the mark. The riduculus posts on here really annoy me sometimes. What would we do without Kilbane, play Duff left back and then ask for him to be sacked when he makes a mistake coz he is not a full back.
Im glad some people had the sense to not agree with you.
I'd say to you we can count ourselves lucky Kilbane has not retired.

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I have nothing against kilbane, he is up there with my all time favorite players for Ireland Mcgrath, Keane, Given , Kilbane, but im just saying that maybe it is time for a change, Kilbane would probally tell you this himself. I would probally but him in midfield ahead of andrews, but its never going to happen. Also realisticly because of the serveice Kilbane has given to Ireland over the years, I would be suprised if he is ever dropped until the day he retires or his legs give up.

"All of you are going to make mistakes in todays game lads, but just remember that nobody goes out there to make a mistake, encouragement is the key.but if you are the f****ing one who makes the mistake that loses us the cup final, you will be walking home"
A comment from our manager to us before, the under 14 cup final a few years back, what a legend.
But what im going to say is that if we fail to qualofy are we going to look back at the bulgaria games and say what if. I am am not blaming kilbane for the o.g, just butting it in perspective, Sure if our 2 front men where scoring a goal a game each we wouldnt have to worry about making one mistake a game.

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Originally Posted by Den Perry

How can you possibly say that he had a solid game on Sat apart from the error? He was terrible...and has been in four matches of this campaign? Credible alternative? John O'Shea if I had to. Put Finnan(if fit) at right back...or stephen kelly at rb and move o'shea to left

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They are profesional footallers we are talking about here, I would leave o'shea at the right, and tell stephan kelly that he is playing left back, if he cant use his left boot, im afraid to say he shoulnt be a profesinal footballer

Sorry for the rant

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Originally Posted by Den Perry

Have to say that always impressed me also. also it appears he sings it in Irish, not English which is even more impressive that he went to the trouble to learn it

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Kilbane doesn't have a word of Irish, however, he did go to the considerable trouble of learning the anthem phonetically when he was playing for the under 21's.