Have we ever had this many good players for one position ( Ok, maybe 2 or 3 positions depending on whether we are playing 3 centre-backs or not )
It's bordering on bizarre at this stage ! ! !
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Have we ever had this many good players for one position ( Ok, maybe 2 or 3 positions depending on whether we are playing 3 centre-backs or not )
It's bordering on bizarre at this stage ! ! !
Right backs in the early 2000s would be the nearest comparison I think.
Kelly
Carr
Finnan
Kenna
Fleming
McAteer drifted between midfield and right back
Cunningham played there a bit as well, though rarely for Ireland.
I was thinking about full backs alright but the names would not come to me as easy as that, Fair dues to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Did Big Jack also have a good few full backs around the time Terry Phelan was playing ? Around those times anyway.
You could probably make an argument for the Irish centrebacks in the late 80's - mid 90's...
McGrath
McCarthy
Moran
O'Leary
Babb
Staunton (though not til later)
Leaving out some of the players that were gone before 88 and came after 95.
Eddie McGoldrick tooQuote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
1. Not early 00's...
2. Eddie McGoldrick?! :D
Yeah soz, mid 90s. Wasn't Kenna also mid-90s though? That's what threw me.
McGoldrick was probably the weakest of all of them but we'd be more than happy with a Crystal Palace regular starter in almost any position now.
Or who'd played in a European final!
I cant remember the game, and Im sure someone here will remind me, but there was one particular big game under Jack where he just decided to get all his best players on the pitch so you had center half playing full back and McGrath in midfield.
We do seem to be getting to a point where we have a lot of excellent defenders, maybe there could be a situation where Omobamidele or Collins moves into a defensive midfield role
Ah yeah, he was decent alright. I just remember Eddie legging it onto the pitch as a sub against Wales once (orange ball game) and slipping on his arse in the snow immediately. Still makes me laugh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Didn't McGoldrick go to Arsenal but it never worked out for him there, and his career slowly peter-ed out after leaving Arsenal.
Jeff Kenna actually played in the Premier League up to the 2003/04 season and in the Championship up to the 05/06 season. He just never got in the Ireland squad at that point because we had so many other options as listed above. People probably remember him more as a 90s player though because he was in the Ireland team then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
They might have a game or two played more than some teams just below them but Coventry currently find themselves in fifth. Has been some turn around for them since McNally joined. Only two of their 12 losses have come since he joined in January.
I remember way back in the day I was sitting in a pub in Dublin awaiting a televised Premier League game in which Paul McGrath was playing, early in his career. A guy came up to our group and asked about this 'wonder kid' named McGrath. He soon displayed a very disappointed look on his face when he learned PMcG was a defender, commenting "we are a nation of defenders. " That was many years ago and nothing much has changed in that respect apparently.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Is he playing at Coventry? They're now in the top 6 I think.
They were owned until recently by a murky private equity / distressed debt fund management group called Sisu Capital. The club was sold to a local businessman (although is he just a front for Sisu?) and Mike Ashley's group owns the stadium now. Sisu had wanted to buy the stadium for years. Wasps rugby blindsided them a few years ago but their recent collpase saw the stadium ending up in Ashley's hands.
Mark Robins has done an amazing job.
He's probably one of their best players. Defensively Coventry have been much better since he joined the club.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
After Gyökeres and Hamer fans would probably have him in their list of players. Fans love him and want the club to try make his transfer permanent in the summer.
Could be this one. Had McGrath and Whelan playing as full backs with Moran and McCarthy as CB's. Lawrenson in midfield. Still didn't manage to get O'Leary in the equation but otherwise it looks like an attempt to get all the best players on the pitch irrespective of where they normally played.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
https://www.11v11.com/matches/scotla...y-1987-240234/
Blackburns draw means Coventry only need a draw against Boro or Sunderland and West Brom to drop points to make the play offs.
A lose and Sunderland could catch them on goal difference with a win as there's only two goals in the difference but they've got a plus five difference over West Brom.
Coventry finish fifth after their 1-1 draw with Boro. They'll play Boro again in the play offs. Has been a good half season for McNally with Coventry becoming much more secure at the back after his arrival with only two of their losses coming after he joins.
What a season for Luke McNally. Got his big move in the summer which didn't go as he would have liked. Gets a loan move to Coventry and now he's 90mins away from possible promotion. Would be great if it finished with a possible Ireland call up.