Roy Keane. If there is a position and role where we are seriously lacking then that is it.
Roy Keane. If there is a position and role where we are seriously lacking then that is it.
I don't think he meant either of them would start ahead of McGrath, just that we're not staggeringly bad there.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I think it was implied in my post that John O'Shea is staggeringly bad.
Think this thread could equally have been entitled "what kind of football do you want us to play." It would be insane to say that a player with Keane's immense leadership ability was overrated as a footballer, but I would much rather watch a team orchestrated by a Brady or a Giles than driven by a Keane.Quote:
Originally Posted by Torn-Ado
Good cases for McGrath, Keane or Irwin. I'd go with Mcgrath as he was the best ever performer in an Irish shirt for me, sure we are weak at leftback but JOSH id just as good/bad at lb as he is at cb
he was in afew squads whether he played in competion football,i dont know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba
class player.....
King Charlie Hurley of course! The best centre this country or the world has every seen! 70 years of age and I'd still rather have him in the squad than McShane!!!
houghton
For me, Keane in his prime was more influential than McGrath in his prime (not necessarily better, just more influential) so my vote would go for Keane. There are a few individuals in our current squad who would benefit from having a bollocking or two!!
May get shot for this but no-one has mentioned Kevin Moran. Awesome leader and always gave everything he had. Could also play Midfield.
Exactly. The most underated but most influential player of the Charlton era. Never had a bad game for Ireland, scored some vital goals and used to cover every blade of grass and was ALWAYS available to play unlike someone being touted by many.Quote:
Originally Posted by spongebob
............even a few days after Hillsborough to his eternal credit.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Made himself available for the home game against Spain and was involved in the lead up to the goal.
Not knocking Aldo here either. He was deeply affected by the tragedy and was in no state to play.
And we havent been struggling to find a replacement for Keane in central midfield, which is the most important position on the field?!Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
The answer is Keane ... by a country mile then followed by Eddie McGoldrick.
Stephen Ireland
The alternatives to Keane that we currently have are better overall than any alternative that we have to Irwin at the momentQuote:
Originally Posted by RivaldoBabb
I didn't say we haven't struggled to replace Keane, but so have Man United (Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, Miller etc) and they have far more resources than we ever will. Right now I think with fit pairing of Steven and Andy Reid, central midfield is about as strong as it has been since Keane retired. We haven't had a decent left full since Irwin retired, despite all attempts to shoe horn O'Shea or Kilbane in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by RivaldoBabb
what is this based on? has he even started for us there in one game? if we are depending on him for ctre mid we are in desperate trouble. his cameos at wc 2002 were great but nothing since i'm afraidQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
He's played consistently well there for a very strong Blackburn side for the past three seasons when he hasn't been injured.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
And the fact that Mark Hughes obviously rates him very highly is an excellent endorsement too
David Connolly and Ian Harte .. going on the recent acitivity here in the Ireland section. Oh wait they're current internationals .. sorry
Fair enough, but he's still who'd I'd pick at central midfield, assuming he's fit and available. Even if he isn't there's still Carsley, McPhail, Doyle, Garvan, Potter, O'Toole, Kavanagh, Miller, Joey O'Brien, Cregg, etc all available to step in. O'Shea, Delaney, O'Halloran and Kilbane (in that order) are realistically our only options at left full, and I consider it our weakest position.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Keane for me by a distance. Followed by Paul McGrath. Anyone who suggests Irwin obviously never watched him play for Ireland. He was solid but never spectacular and wouldn't drastically improve our team as a whole in the same way a Keane or McGrath would. He also played most of his games for Ireland at right back and not left back as many on here seem to be suggesting.
As for Brady while undoubtedly one of the most talented players we ever had he was not a patch on Keane at the top of his game in an Ireland jersey. Keane was one of the few Ireland players that could almost singlehandedly win a game by himself.
Keane followed closely by McGrath. I pray somebody comes along shortly with that kind of ability.
Paul Butler anyone?!
Terry Phelan
9 goals in 66 games. Wouldn't win too many games by himself :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Yeah sorry about that. On second thoughts it would have to be David Connolly. He's a far more important player for us than Keane and any of the others mentioned previously because he has a better goals to game ratio :rolleyes:.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
And Dominic Foley got 2 from 5!
Did he win those two games on his own? If so it should be him then.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Your sarcasm doesn't change the fact that he didn't singlehandedly win too many games for us, obviously he was a far better player than Connolly but we never won any games where Keane was the only one who performed, others played their part too but its typical of many to dismiss everyone else and give all the credit to KeaneQuote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
cyprus 0 Ireland 4. who else performed in that game other than Keane?Quote:
Originally Posted by Morbo
I would argue that he lost us two points in Israel in 2006 with his negative play. Kerr got blamed but it was Keane on the pitch who was pointing backwards.
Bit harsh though ..
didn't score in the dutch game, but it was him dragging us towards that famous win. didn't score in the giants stadium but he was immense (obviously people rightly remember Mc Grath's performance). Or in Seville in the 0-0 against Spain (1993ish) .. when Maradonna became a fan after watching his performance.
I think his performance in the portugal game at home in 2001 was the one that stood out though .. we should have been 3-0 down with some comedy defending at the back .. and a shot off one of the posts .. but Keane dragged us back into it as most as of you can remember.
Wrong his influence on the pitch in many of the games he played was often the difference between picking 3 points up instead of 1 or 1 point up instead of 0. Some of those games have been mentioned already I also thought he was immense against the Dutch both home and away in the 2002 campaign. There are many more through the years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Morbo
When did I say that we would have won those games without him? Would we have won the game against the Dutch without him? probably not but we probably wouldn't have won it if McAteer hadn't played either or Given, Finnan etc, he played a key part but to say he singlehandedly won it for us isn't accurateQuote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Exactly. McAteer scored in both games against Holland. Did he therefore "singlehandly" got us to Korea/Japan ? The fact that one player is better than the others doesn't mean he is THE team. It takes others to perform (eg. Given) as well.
You're the one who brought goalscoring into it!!
Amen to that.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I said almost singlehandedly which is a fair assessment imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Morbo
Almost spat my drink over the keyboard when I saw that, I assume you must be joking?!Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Anyway, the obvious choice is Ashley Grimes.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by macdermesser
Think you're confusing that with the Dutch game as regards the ball coming back off the post.
That said I was at a wedding the day of the Portugal game and didn't even get to see the first half so it may have happened that day as well. Keane was immense against Portugal as well mind you, just think the Benny Hill defending was against Holland.
cheers .. will pull out the dvd tonight.. I remember Stan and a Dunne being an untried pairing at the back against portugal and they were all over the place for the first 25 minutes. might have been the dutch game though. or both!! and keane popping up everywhere and basically playing everywhere bar goalkeeper and then scoring .. and then running towards the crowd with the lad in the wheelchair going mad. brilliant. someone didn't pick figo up at the corner though for the equaliser.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er