Given, Kenny
Finnan, Carr
Kilbane? Harte?
O'Brien, Dunne, McCarthy, O'Shea
Kavanagh, Ireland, S Reid, O'Brien
Duff, Reid, Winger 3, Winger 4
Keane, Morisson, Doyle, Elliot
Printable View
Given, Kenny
Finnan, Carr
Kilbane? Harte?
O'Brien, Dunne, McCarthy, O'Shea
Kavanagh, Ireland, S Reid, O'Brien
Duff, Reid, Winger 3, Winger 4
Keane, Morisson, Doyle, Elliot
S Reid needs to be given a chance at CM, excellent this season for Rovers and he has always impressed me when wearing the green sheet.
Well Carr has retired for a start.
I think the best U21s or recent ex-U21sshould be given a grounding in the senior squad. So this includes the likes of Kelly & Foley as back-up right-back. For friendlies I think it's worthwhile having enlarged squads. It gives everyone a chance to show what they're about and just generally feel involved.
I think Steve Reid is on great form and made a difference in the 15 mins he was on against Switzerland. Jay Tabb will remain in U21s I accept, but he's a decent prospect. Mark Kennedy was singled out on SKY on Friday for the quality of his performance at left-back.
do you not think kennedy had his chance and he blew it?
he shouldnt be banned from the squad but there are other people more deserving.
posted this inthe player's thread, but think it's a little relevant here too:
from independent.co.uk's review of Ipswich VS Sheffield United
With an 18-year-old goalkeeper, Shane Supple, and the 17-year-old Owen Garvan in the centre of midfield there is clear promise, but Ipswich need to find more players who have both class and experience.
No harm in bringing Supple along with the squad, especially if he's getting first team experience. If Stack manages to break into the starting XI at Reading, there's 3 keepers (Kenny, Stack, Supple) all playing well in the top half of the Championship
you could argue that he's older & wiser now and we're not exactly blessed with left-back options. personally i'd like to see him or kk tried there. if anyone can sp[ot a left-back you'd imagine it'd be staunton though!Quote:
Originally Posted by klein4
What a good post imo. I was reading an article today (possibly by Dion Fanning) about how much Robby Bobson is going to try to get Kevin Nolan on board. This would be a bad idea. The lad doesn't want to play for Ireland, it would appear to be as simple as that. And its not as if the foreigner rule would complicate things as its no longer there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Superhoops
Its not like supporting you're club, where you would like the best possible players playing for you, this is our national team, we should be getting the best players that want to play for us, not just lads who want to play international football for the sake of it, regardless of who they play for.
No, it's even simpler. His amnesty has expired. He's not even eligible under the rules!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Trundle I've no problem with. As discussed ad infinitum on this board he nailed his Irish colours to the mast as early as he possibly could have. I respect the position he's coming from.
Ay didn't make it that clear tbh. I've no problem with Trundle, just like I'd no beef with Kilbane, Breen or Carsley for that matter. These are guys who quite clearly consider themselves Irish and they are right. But its the so-called mercenaries (sp?) like messrs Morrison and Mattie Holland that I could take or leave (although both of these guys always gave 100% imo!).Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Thats why the attitude of Stephen Ireland really p!ssed me off. The amount of paper inches that lad has got over the past few months has been crazy. Before he has become an established figure at City he was having articles written about him and how he was going to consider where his allegences lie with respect to his international future! Utter bullsh!t. All because he didn't get to play in a fcuking friendly international in front of mammy and daddy. Get a bit of fcuking perspective young fella.
What has Ireland done wrong?
He went back to his club after being dicked around by Kerr when promised a game? Why call him over if your just gonna make him sit in the stands? Plus his first ever interview was with the Guardian on Saturday so it's not as if he kept on banging about it. The papers and media had a good go at him but he kept his mouth shut. He stated on Saturday he wants to play for Ireland and is committed, good luck to him because he looks a good player.
So basically when you're not gonna get a game you have every right to leave a squad? If that's the case then what is the point in having a 22/23 man squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Also then if his first ever interview was with the Guardian last Saturday then a lot of papers in the past 5/6 months have been quoting him by mistake I suppose. Not a week went by without something about his situation with the national team brought up in some paper or another. I read at least one article where he was talking about the choices he had internationally. I just felt he was punching above his weight for an inexperienced, albeit talented, youth international.
Stan looks to parentage rule, youth
January 16, 2006
New Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton admits he will look at blooding younger players, and taking advantage of the parentage rule, in a bid to add to his pool of players for the forthcoming European Championship qualification campaign.
Staunton was unveiled to the national media at a press conference at Dublin’s Mansion House on Monday morning.
And in addition to monitoring the form of younger players, the new man in charge admitted he would consider pursuing players who qualify for Ireland through Uefa’s ancestry rules, a policy pursued with vigour in the past by former Irish boss Jack Charlton.
Staunton said: “You saw at the weekend, the players that are coming through. Young [Stephen] Ireland at Manchester City and Joey O’Brien at Bolton are just two.
“We’re also definitely going to look down the “granny” rule, because I think that’s vital for us. If we can get three, four or five players, then that would be a beneficial to us.”
Its crazy to suggest some very young inexperienced players who have had a few senior games at club level as senior international options. They should be playing U21 for a couple of years although with Given in charge they will probably get worse...
Its only suggesting young players in positions like forward where the squad very thin on options.
Robbie Keane, Damien Duff etc etc did not play U21 IIRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
Not necessarily so Pete. Van Basten called up some very young and heralded lads for the Dutch squad when he took over and he did well enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
I was under the impression that Joey O'Brien had played quite a few games more in the Premiership than Stephen Ireland. The Ipswich lads would seem to be playing week in week out in the Championship so they should be given a seeing to.
Also Alan Quinn should be given a proper chance to shine. He's played well for us every chance he's been given (Holland springs to mind) and never was really called upon competitively.
Oh and was just thinking of this earlier....... what if Richard Sadlier hadn't got injured? Oh woe is me.
Yeah but they were clearly a class apart for Ireland in position we hadn't many players for.Quote:
Originally Posted by colster
Suggesting 17-18 year olds that have played a few Championship games to replace experienced senior internationals doesn't make sense. The only players i'd include in Duff/Keane likeness are Ireland & Doyle (we have few forward options & he no flash in the pan).
They turned out to be yes but Robbie Keane was only at Wolves when he got a call up so why not Ireland, O'Brien or Garvan?Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
I wouldn't go as far as saying the Ipswich lads would be ready but if a midfielder is good enough to be instrumental in the defeat of Manchester United then he ought to be good enough for an Ireland squad. More's the point, what would playing under Don Givens teach him?
Likewise Joey O'Brien who can help keep a clean sheet and get an assist against teams like Arsenal.
Personally I think Joey Barton has been a great help to Ireland. He's on great form and is full of running. The only other player in our squad who can do that type of role is Steven Reid. Maybe O'Shea who I personally think has been playing very well since Keane left and is showing signs of actually being very two-footed. I'd have some reservations about a Kav / Ireland partnership though I'm a fan of Kav.
I think Ireland's best work is done in an advanced position. I lost count of the number of times he released the front two on Saturday. As I discussed with someone on this board only last week, you could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times our central midfielders released our front two in the WHOLE of the last campaign. That's why I think he's ready for inclusion in the senior squad.
Pete - I presume it was Ireland & O'Brien you were referring to.
If I was to pick a 23 man squad on the form currently I'd have:
Shay Given
Paddy Kenny
Graham Stack
Steve Finnan
Richard Dunne
Andy O'Brien
John O'Shea
Ian Harte
Paul McShane/Paddy McCarthy
Alan Maybury
Joey O'Brien
Graham Kavanagh
Alan Quinn
Stephen Ireland
Steven Reid
Kevin Kilbane
Liam Miller
Andy Reid
Damien Duff
Robbie Keane
Stephen Elliot
Kevin Doyle
Clinton Morrison
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Don't think too many people could argue with that?
I would suggest Aiden McGeady, but I don't know many things about Kevin Doyle, to compare him to the celtic man :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Apart from this, I'm agree with u
Many many faith in Steve, c'mon
I'm not saying that the Eircom League is drippin' with talent, but there are a few there that would be good enough for international inclusion - when Doyle moved to Reading, there wouldn't be too many fans of the eL that would have even classed him as the best player in the league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fergie's Son
I think it would be a good idea for Stan to organise a 'B' international some time before the summer. It would be the fastest way of looking at a big number of potential players, a few in the eL a few in the lower english divisions (& the SPL) and a few youth players in the english reserve league.Quote:
Originally Posted by dancinpants
Would go along with that with possibly only one exception (if we are looking towards the future) that is Stephen Kelly for Alan Maybury. Maybury is solid enough and Kelly has a lot to learn but if he can get a good game or two under his belt at Spurs, then he is worth a shout.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Lets agree to disagree about Saturday's performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
I have expressed a view here before that John O'Shea is filling the role that Philip Neville played for years at Man.U., jack of all trades and master of none. MU pay his wages and can use him how they like but using him like they do does nothing for his place on Ireland's team.
O'Shea has played RB, LB, central defender, central midfield and left midfield for MU this season. If our full squad was available, IMO O'Shea would not be first choice in any of those positions and until he nails down one regular position at United or somewhere else, then he wont be a first choice choice for us in any position. If he ends up playing regularly in central midfield for MU then that is the place he should be considered for with Ireland and not just stuck in at Left Back for the sake of it. We should be looking for better than 'steady Eddies'.
One of Brian Kerr's mistakes was that he made a place for O'Shea regardless, as evidenced in the last game against Switzerland.
I want to see O'Shea doing well for us, but his performances for us have been generally disappointing.
Id agree with ya there. Danny Murphy is definately in the top three wing backs we have but because he plays eL, **** him!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by dancinpants
Didn't get to see the news conference but I did see this in the Guardian about the eL front:
"I want someone within the eircom League scouting for me, keeping an eye on things. They will be looking at individuals and I will be coming over to see games under the recommendation of a trustworthy source over here.
- this sounds a bit more than the usual tokenism? Lets start the counter and see how many games he attends :)
I agree. And I should have clarified the long post earlier with a list of players in "contention": I'd expect a "B" international squad to be taken from this list too which was my main thinking when I put that list together over Christmas on a spreadheet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bald Student
What would people think of Steve Carr or Gary Kelly returning? Wasn't Kelly a close ally of Staunton's?
Less of a problem with Kelly than Carr, but should we really be looking to bring either back when we have Finnan and Stephen Kelly looking to nail down the full back slots?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
If either did come back, I would hope they would play at right full, with Finnan given the left full slot.
I think that under Kerr we had two years where there was no serious effort to have a look at upcoming talent, he wasted friendlies IMO.
I'd actually play a relatively inexperienced side in the upcoming friendlies. Losing them doesn't matter a fcuk, seeing what we have at our disposal does.
I'd pick a big squad so that everyone gets a chance to meet up, but I'd talk to the more senior players and explain to them that I was giving some of the more inexperienced players a chance.
The TEAM I'd like to see starting from this point of view is....
Kenny
Kelly O'Brien Dunne D.Murphy
O'Brien Ireland S.Reid McGeady
Elliot Doyle
As I suggested in a thread a few months ago, I think now is the time to introduce a squad similar to the Scottish Futura squad. It is fairly easy to dismiss straight away but think of it this way: too many of our underage players disappear off the radar after the U21's. This would be a squad where those uneligible for the U21's and some of the eL players (Heary, Danny Murphy) that need/deserve a run out could be selected without the fear of making a hames of it.
Also I'd stick with Maybury ahead of Stephen Kelly for the moment, purely on the amount of playing time each gets currently, while I'll be honest I'd forgotten about McGeady. I'd have himself there or thereabouts.
Nothing to say Staunton will go for the tried and tested formation. There's no point in Ireland playing a 4-4-2 if we've got a sh1te right winger and no left full. As we all know its about balance.
Given the current players available to Staunton and those coming through in the Premiership/Championship, it looks as if full back and up front is where the only possibility of Eircom league players being chosen is.
Eoin Heary and Jason Byrne could well be the ELs best chance of players in future squads.
IMO Danny Murphy is the best left back currently eligible for Ireland.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tenderloins
I'm sure I'll get slated for that, but he should definitely be getting a shot.
Heary should have gotten the nod 18 months ago
As for not having a right winger, Doyle (and Roy O'Donovan at CCFC) would offer a very good option in that position.
I think the B Team is the way to go (ref BaldStudent) as it gives the mgt a free rein to bring in plenty of new faces and experiment. I think senior intl.s are not the place to mess around and make wholesale changes (a lá Eriksson, making 9/10 changes at half time:confused: ).
The senior team needs to be prepared like a well-oiled machine with only a minimal number of changes (injuries & introducing new players serious contenders for a position). They don't get together enough to mix it up too much for friendlies - these should be used to develop tactics and cohesion in the side so when the big games come the players do what they've done in the friendlies but now step in up a gear, or two!
I think you should be cautious about introducing the young players. By all means get them involved and in some case quickly but they need to be introduced alongside experienced players too.
A few of us have been bankging on recently about "future squads" or "B" internationals. We've so many players of a similar standard, i.e., good but a bit off the standard required by the senior squad, who we should keep involved & motivated, as well as seeing who stands out.
I know people will say i'm biased but every City fan knew Doyle was a special talent. He was definitely the best eL player in the country when you consider his potential & age. He had excelled at every level he'd played at & was already proven quality U21 player. I think the way he was unaffected bt transfer rumours showed his professionlism.Quote:
Originally Posted by dancinpants
Jason Byrne would be on list of forwards but not in top 4. He would certainly offer more than people such as Macken & Lee. Heary is quality right back but few players ahead of him. Danny Murphy was quality last season especially in Uefa Cup so be interesting to see if can continue - he'd be worth a go as few quality left back options.
I don't think eL players can really be considered until proven in European club competitions...
I've maintained this all along but got slated by several posters!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
I think we're OK for right midfielders. Andy Reid and Duff both play well there and can alternate. Steve Reid, though I prefer him as a CM. Liam Lawrence could be useful on that side if he is picked. I think in due course Roy O'Donovan could get a shot but not necessarily immediately. McGeady can play there too.
Left back has been more of a problem so, as you say, why use one?
As I said earlier, we have an awful lot of players who could conceivably play the "behind the front two" type role: Ireland, A. Reid, McGeady, Duff (in a totally free role) to name a few. If we had a very solid midfield we could enhance our attacking options in this manner. How do we get this solid midfield? Either by playing a narrower 3 man midfield (so 4-3-1-2) so Kav and S. Reid are obvious options. Bolder would be 3-4-1-2 with say, Duff, Kav, S. Reid, A. Reid (or Finnan) with Ireland ahead of them. Dunne, O'Brien and Finnan, or O'Shea, in a 3 man defence. It makes semnse to me anyway!
I thought that any time I've seen Steve Ireland play he gets the front two involved like no other Irish midfielder I've seen in ages. But he is "protected" in a sense by the currently excellent Joey Barton who has the legs to genuinely cover box-to-box efficiently. Steven Reid is the only guy who I think can do this for us. Possibly O'Shea who I think has been good in CM recently.
If you're struggling to break down a stubborn minnow at home (Israel, Albania) or need somethging extra (France, Switzerland) it's a credible option, if even only for 20 mins, which should be practiced IMHO.
Edit - Adding: I suspect the introduction of youth and possible new caps will add to the options this squad has. No longer will the likes of Miller be guaranteed a squad place and others like Quinn should get more of a shot. WRT Doyle as RHM option, I think he's fast becoming a first-choice starter upfront with Robbie. Hopefully Elliott will return to fitness soon. If we can plug the left-back difficulty we should have enough to make a well-balance effective team from what we have.
I think the flat 4 in midfield is almost unheard of now in favour of the dare i say diamond system where have back & forward central midfielders...
Who uses the diamond formation?Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
Quote:
Originally Posted by colster
Didn't Eriksson use it and change back after a "players revolt" on the issue?