Centre midfield for Stuttgart

I've said a few times that Stan really has to choose the best from an average bunch for the central midfield.. There's no real differential in class when it comes to the candidates. We can assume that Steven Reid is a defo and then from that the onus should be on setting the best partner for Steven Reid as opposes the the next best midfeilder. But there's not much between O'Shea, Carsley, Douglas, Miller, Quinn, Delap, Kilbane, Kavanagh etc. We really have to cast the net wider in these scenario's and take a look at the Gavin Mahons, McPhails, Whelans, even in B Internationals... Or even experiment with Andy Reid in a central role, something I'd like to see as I feel we lack someone In the middle who can put their foot on the ball and look up without loosing posession.

BUT the time for experimenting is past. And I'd struggle to form an opinion on who our best option is. I think in Germany he'll start with o'shea and Reid. And with that I'd like to see Andy Reid play also...

Does anyone think after watchin the Dutch waltz through our midfied with acres of space that maybe we should look at playin five in midfield to slow the Germans down. If nothin else it could force mistakes and maybe we sneak one on the break.

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Originally Posted by Dallasirish

Does anyone think after watchin the Dutch waltz through our midfied with acres of space that maybe we should look at playin five in midfield to slow the Germans down. If nothin else it could force mistakes and maybe we sneak one on the break.

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Certaintly, I think Robbie when he was playing used to help the midfield out a lot, I'm not sure if the combinations used against Holland did (missed the game). No point playing two up front when your ball posession largely consists of picking it out of the back of your own net! I quite like the idea of 4-1-4-1
Just get men behind the ball, that's what Martin O'Neil did with Villa, and hit them on the break (worked for Brian Clough!!). We don't even have to go into this game looking for a draw, keeping the score in single figures might be a bonus :p Just deny them space to play and frustrate them into making errors.

you know what i thing is the most dissapointing part the generation that was the likes of mc phail , alan quinn , healy, m.doyle, whelan , partridge , barry quinn, alan mahon, tommy butler, sean thornton etc they have never up'ed there game enuf and all r on a downward slop

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Originally Posted by dr_peepee

I've said a few times that Stan really has to choose the best from an average bunch for the central midfield.. There's no real differential in class when it comes to the candidates. We can assume that Steven Reid is a defo and then from that the onus should be on setting the best partner for Steven Reid as opposes the the next best midfeilder. But there's not much between O'Shea, Carsley, Douglas, Miller, Quinn, Delap, Kilbane, Kavanagh etc. We really have to cast the net wider in these scenario's and take a look at the Gavin Mahons, McPhails, Whelans, even in B Internationals... Or even experiment with Andy Reid in a central role, something I'd like to see as I feel we lack someone In the middle who can put their foot on the ball and look up without loosing posession.

BUT the time for experimenting is past. And I'd struggle to form an opinion on who our best option is. I think in Germany he'll start with o'shea and Reid. And with that I'd like to see Andy Reid play also...

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Why waste our time trying to get a guy like Gavin Mahon to declare for us? He's definitely no better than the previous guys mentioned and would be a squad player at best if called up. Agree on McPhail though, he's having an excellent start to the season by all accounts and might be a viable option alongside Reid at some stage in this campaign (although a bit risky for Germany)
I think he'll go for O'Shea though which I'd have no problems with for the time being....:cool:

I think gav mahon should be given a chance .
A youngish well experience battling midfielder . we need ALL THE MIDFIELDERS WE CAN GET just look at how pathetic we were on wednesday

I think he should play O Shea Reid and Robbie Keane as our central midfield with Keane in the most advanced role. He should play Duff and Mc Geady on either wing in my view. Dunne and O Brien should be the centre back and Finnan should be one of the full backs. Its a 50/50 call then between Carr and Kilbane for the last place in my view.

I think Robbie will keep the ball for us in an advanced midfield role. There is only a few yards between playing as the drop off striker and the advanced role in a 3 man midfield. I think Carsley should be in the squad as back up to O Shea as the holding player.

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I think he should play O Shea Reid and Robbie Keane as our central midfield with Keane in the most advanced role. He should play Duff and Mc Geady on either wing in my view. Dunne and O Brien should be the centre back and Finnan should be one of the full backs. Its a 50/50 call then between Carr and Kilbane for the last place in my view.

I think Robbie will keep the ball for us in an advanced midfield role. There is only a few yards between playing as the drop off striker and the advanced role in a 3 man midfield. I think Carsley should be in the squad as back up to O Shea as the holding player.

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Agree with ye on this Neil. I think Robbie would be the ideal man to link the play between midfield and Attack. He could drop deep, collect the ball from O'Shea/Reid and spread wide to McGeady/Duff...also could help out the midfield if they are being overrun. Given that he's now captain its an ideal way to play a "captains role" in the game...

Unfortunately, I don't think Keane would be a great 'linking' player, in my experienc of watching him for Ireland he often makes the wrong decision in terms of laying it off, holding on to the ball too long etc... Keep him up front where he should get at least one good chance and lets pray he takes it!!

He has been playing that role for Spurs in pre season to great effect and I thought he played that role against Sweden to great effect also. He played his best games for Ireland off Quinn in my view. So I think him just dropped behind Doyle when we have the ball and closer to midfield when we dont have the ball is the formation that I think stan will want.

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

He has been playing that role for Spurs in pre season to great effect and I thought he played that role against Sweden to great effect also. He played his best games for Ireland off Quinn in my view. So I think him just dropped behind Doyle when we have the ball and closer to midfield when we dont have the ball is the formation that I think stan will want.

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I can't comment on his pre-season for Spurs, I haven't read any reports. Agreed he can play well off a big man upfront such as Quinn (as he did at WC02) but that was a4-4-2 and is different to playing as a link player in midfield, probably semantics, but the reality is, Keane is the guy we will be looking to grab us a goal, the deeper he plays the less likely that is to happen.

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Originally Posted by bwagner

I think gav mahon should be given a chance .
A youngish well experience battling midfielder . we need ALL THE MIDFIELDERS WE CAN GET just look at how pathetic we were on wednesday

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youngish?????? He's 29 :eek:

Supposedly Keano had a fantastic game for spurs yesterday in the "withdrawn" role....Hopfully Stan's paying attention!!

Keane was fantastic for spurs last night playing deeper behind Berbatov and should be used in the saem role for ireland, behind Doyle most probably unless big Clint get's off his ar$e and gets himself into shape again. For the record Jol has always stated his preference for Keane (or Defoe) behind a big striker, in Spurs pre-season games Keane was used behind a front 2 of Defoe & Berbatov mainy because Lennon & Jenas were late back because of the world cup and Tainio was injured.

I thought Harte was out of the Germany game? If he is O'Shea will be at left back and Kilbane & Reid will play in the middle a prospect that fills me with dread!
Does anyone know if Ballacks injury means he will miss the game?

If Ballack is injured it will take a huge burden of our Midfield, Ballack at full fitness would have a field day against the current Irish Midfield..I think he looked knackered towards the end of the World Cup and I can see him having alot of injuries this season, If he does tog out in Germany I think he will be operating at about 80% fitness level..

Just had a look and Ballack is in the Chelsea squad for tonight so I expect he will be available for Germany even if he's not 100%

he is named on the german sqaud but the manager said he might not risk him until the second game against san marino , either he is really underestimating us or lying , i can't see ballack not starting myself