leon best should be given a chance in a friendly if we were willing to give folan a shot then best deserves one too
Printable View
leon best should be given a chance in a friendly if we were willing to give folan a shot then best deserves one too
yeah, but was Folan really deserving of a call up? I think he got his call up only because of his size.
In my opinion Jonathan Walters deserves a look. Another goal today.
He's top of the actim stats for his division.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Many, many times. Most of them this season in the premiership though I did see him a few times the two seasons prior. He's pretty sh*t irrespective of his wonder goal.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I've usually been underwhelmed by Murphy but the quality of his cross for Doyle's goal against Bolivia and the quality of his crosses against Spurs recently leads me to think there's maybe something there just dying to be coaxed out! By itself his recent wonder goal says nothing but on top of his performance against Spurs I think it shows he can play a bit. Consistently? Who knows?
Just curious Youngirish - did you see the 3 crosses I'm talking about against Spurs? We discussed it here a few weeks ago. I think it was Irishfan86 (or Irishpraha) who was also particularly impressed.
Murphy is a player who is consistently improving all the time, albeit in small increments. Look at his career and you will see it. He reminds me of Mark Kinsella, who did the very same, although Murphy is well ahead of where Kinsella was at this stage of his career. Can't be discounted if he continues to improve, although I would not have him in the squad ahead of Clinton Morrison.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Yeah, it was me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I'd say I'd have Murphy nowhere near the squad for a forward place, but he's definitely got to be considered for one of the spots on the wings.
Very unorthodox winger physically, but that's where he's played his best football for Sunderland. Up front he's not physical enough for a big man, and not fast enough to get behind defenses.
No superstar, but useful in certain situations, and given our team of midgets his height has to be a consideration.
There was bit about Best in the Indo http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-1756594.html
His international career has had several setbacks but he describes it as a "blessing" that he is now in the squad with Trapattoni confirming yesterday that he will travel to Sofia. At one point stories circulated that he would instead play for England but having been born in England to an Irish mother and returned to live in Inchicore for four years when he was eight, Best said the rumours were inaccurate.
"Ireland and England called me up when I was on loan at Shefield Wed I broke my fifth metatarsal on my second game into the new season and went back to Southampton and didn't travel for the Ireland squad. I think the mix-up came with people saying I was going to play for England and I was going to do this and that. But the only reason I didn't travel for Ireland was because I had broken my fifth metatarsal."
He was criticised by some but seems to be another young player who has difficulty being understood. "It's hard when people say 'how come you haven't been involved with Ireland?' because I don't think it was a matter of I wasn't good enough to play for them, I think it was that they thought I didn't want to. But I never got a phone call from anyone asking me did I want to play for Ireland. I think that was the disappointing thing. Because if anybody at a high level had asked me do I want to play for Ireland I would have been on the plane."
..Which I think is exactly what I told you all a few weeks ago!...Also, he never lived in Inchicore from 8 to 12!
...from Thursday's Indo..Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
Nottingham-born Best lived in Dublin for a period of his youth and, despite representing Ireland at U-17 and U-18 level, there was confusion over his international allegiance in 2005 when England named the front man in an U-20 selection.
Injury prevented him from making a decision -- Ireland had summoned him at the same time -- but he says there was no choice to make anyway.
"Because I didn't go with any of them, somebody in green probably had the wrong impression, but, like I said, when I was young, Ireland always showed me a lot of loyalty and I'll show it back," said Best.
"I went to Cherry Orchard school, I played for Lourdes Celtic and lived in Bluebell. It's a big part of me, most of family are in Ireland and my brother, Stephen, who lives in Bluebell will be coming over for the game."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-1753135.html
Yep, think it was more 8-10 though, definately not till 12 as I knew him then.Quote:
Originally Posted by EastTerracer
2 more goals for Best tonight. I'm starting to believe this guy is the real deal. I really like the way he is progressing.
Seeing the progress of leon best has really filled me with confidence in terms of traps ability to spot talent in a player.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
This fella could be the Kevin Doyle of the Championship this season. I had high hopes of Noel Hunt and Shane Long battling for the Championships Golden Boot but it could be Best and Morrison now. How old is Leon Best? Great to see him score again last night!
Just turned 23.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenny82
Seems to have come on in leaps and bounds this season, I wonder has the call up given his confidence a boost. Good to see anyway.
A lot of mates of mine are Cov fans and reckon that he has been unplayable in a few games this season. Always seemed to have the movement before but was maybe not the finshed article. Appears that he has bulked up a bit this season and his strength is becoming a key factor.
However, Keiran Westwood is rated as high, if not higher - apparently he was meant to be class last night.
Have to admit i allowed myself a broad smile when i saw Best's name come up on the Sky Sports news 'ticker' last night. Lets hope he keeps up this form and his progress. To be honest the South Africa game was the first time i'd gotten a decent look at Best and I liked what i saw.
I'm constantly looking out for the Coventry results at the moment, what with Best, Westwood and Clinton in great form. Funny how it goes eh; never thought i'd end up the slightest bit bothered about what Coventry City were up to!
the text commentary had Westwood as the key player for Coventry alrightQuote:
Originally Posted by Manc Irish Wolf
Be great if he could get a move to the Premiership in January and if he could do well there. We could possibly have 4 strikers playing regularly in the Premiership come South Africa if we did manage to qualify.
I've always thought Best was a better player than Folan who's just a big lump to drag on every now and then to throw himself about. He offers little otherwise.
Considering all our promising young strikers a few years ago it's amazing how many fell off the radar.
My mate was at Watford v Coventry last night. He said Chris Woods, now Everton goalkeeping coach (?), was taking notes on Westwood throughout the game.
I still think Folan offers something different in that he's more effective in the air, and better at hold-up play.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
There's no question in my mind that Best will score more goals, but against certain teams, having an aerial outlet like Folan has its uses.
I also think Folan has a bit more class than he's given credit for. He's got a pretty good first touch, and is good at directing flick ons with accuracy.
In terms of what all this means, I feel that Folan, if partnered with Robbie, would get the best out of him, whereas if Best and Keane played together, they'd probably play as independent strikers and not link up too well.
I realize a certain amount of this is speculation, but these are my thoughts. Excited to see Best doing so well though.
Call me old-fashioned if you like but I prefer strikers who tend to score goals, from what I've seen of Folan he's not going to be a prolific goal gett;)er.
We all like strikers who can score goals, but sometimes the work of what I would call "complementary" strikers make the team overall better, even if they aren't the ones who put the ball in the back of the net.Quote:
Originally Posted by Docboy
To put this another way, would you prefer a striker who scored 5, but got no assists, or a striker who got 0 goals and 10 assists?
I'd take the latter every time. Goals are one key ingredient for a striker, but you've got to look at the total package that an individual brings to the table.
Yeah I definitely agree with irishfan there. Remember the potent Quinn/Phillips partnership. I'm sure there were plenty of better goal scorers around than Quinn at that stage but how many would have complimented Phillips as well?
In the case of Best and Folan, Best may well turn out to be a better player for Ireland. However, at the moment Folan is the one out of the two that offers something different, from what I've seen of both, which hasn't been much.
For the record, I believe Best will have a better club career and score more goals than Folan for Ireland, but they're different players with different skill sets and attributes.
I agree with the sentiments expressed here about Best though, he is looking a scary player.
I don't rate Folan. Very one dimensional, and at best he's only average to good at that one dimension. He tried to be a more rounded player lately but it doesn't come off for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
I think people are underestimating Best's presence in the air and his ability to bully defenders.
I thought Folan was excellent in Bari, and started OK in Bulgaria. Poor against SA.
What did I tell you all 5 years ago....
An interesting fact also: In last nights game. Will Hoskins scored for Watford and Leon Best scored for Coventry. They both went to the same school at the same time; I can't imagine that has happened too often!
He can bully defenders by harrying them and he's too strong to push off the ball, but in the air he's not nearly as effective as Folan (from what I've seen).Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Admittedly, I haven't seen a tonne of either player, so I may be wrong on this, but this is what I've picked up from the games I have seen.
did a few of the weast ham lads not live on the same road growing up?
we have suffered badly since quinn retired. he never scored a huge amt of goals but always brought the best out of those around him due to his size . Ireland v germany wc 02 being prime exampleQuote:
Originally Posted by Docboy
despite being our second top scorer in international football?Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
21 goals over 92 internationals is not a big return. always helped others to score thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
:D Hah I've been waiting on that one!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
He got some right important ones in fairness-Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Palermo equaliser v Holland
Wembley equaliser v England
Lansdowne equaliser v Denmark
Maybe more, can't rememer. I'd say the highest quality opposition and most important goal Aldridge scored was against Mexico. Never really scored against any really big teams that I can remember despite the ones against Malta being important. Man I'm gone way off topic, that Best looks a good player:o
Not sure where I read it but I remember reading an interview with Chris Coleman talking about how the penny seems to have dropped with Best. He alluded to Best's inclusion in recent Ireland squad's as the reason behind his recent progression and suggested that it's a real motivation for him.
i wasnt having a pop at quinn. complete opposite actually. my original post was just pointing out that we have bissed having a big man since he retiredQuote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
I didn't for a second think you were. I totally took it that you were praising him actually. I probably used the words "in fairness" for no good reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
remember the goal Aldo tried to claim against portugal at home in our 1-0 win in the Euro 96 campaign i think. Was an own goal by their goalkeeper Baia (?), Aldo didnt even touch it!!Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean