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Maybe I am being a bit harsh on him but basically I think he is ****e. He has let Stan down in Cyprus and he isn't a kid for the future all I'm saying is that there is no point of bringing him in when he is not good enough. Stan does not have any options at the mo that are glaring at him so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.Quote:
Originally Posted by carloz
Anyway, it's not as if it's a do or die fixture that such drastic action needs to be taken.
i think the players have to take some of the blame for this campaign........i admit stan has made mistakes
look at spurs they have a great manager in Martin Jol .....but the players are not performing
im gonna stick by stan and cheer the irish on against the mighty germans
Where to start with this post? Nothing like a punter marketing his (questionable) opinions as FACTs.Quote:
Originally Posted by zenokelly
FACT number 2 is extremely subjective. Andy O'Brien was very good throughout most of the '06 WC campaign and was unlucky to be sent off in Israel.
FACT number 3 is a poorly supported opinion. The team appeared to have no structure and proper instructions for the Cyprus game. The midfield left the defense to hang. There were at least four players equally or more culpable than Andy O'Brien.
FACT number 4 states that the next batch of defenders aren't good enough. If thats the case, do you believe its better to not have another central defender if we lose one to injury. Zenokelly would rather see Kilbane slot in ahead of A. O'Brien. That clearly makes a lot of sense. If the next generation wasn't good enough, we better stick with the previous. It is unacceptable to have two central defenders available for a game.
And fact number 5 states that Stan shouldn't pick the likes of Bennett or O'Dea because he would get stick for it. That is a ridiculous argument - he is going to get far more stick if we leak several goals at home if we lose one of our central defenders.
I am not advocating picking O'Dea or Bennett or O'Brien or Gary Breen or Paddy McCarthy or Graham Coughlan or Alex Bruce or any other centre-back. But there needs to be ONE more in the squad ahead of a useless midfielder like Alan O'Brien.
Stan is culpable for almost all of our woes in this campaign. We had the players to get second out of this group, as Wales demonstrated when they put Slovakia to the sword.
Edit: And those swipes at Alan Lee and Morrison are unnecessary. I like Keane, Doyle and Long but the likes of Keogh, Murphy and Elliot have proven nothing. Morrison has scored away from home and has over a century of league goals. And he's scored away from home in competitive fixtures - did I mention that already? Its worth saying twice because we needed that experience in this campaign.
I also think that the slating of Morrisson was uncalled for. He managed what our golden boy could not: Score away from home and against half decent opposition. He also caused havoc against France away from home. I personally think thats what we are missing up front. A big strong striker because Doyle and Keane will not prosper with that midfield and defence.
Disappointing to see Joey O'Brien in the squad. He's just back from a long injury and with Carr, Finnan and Kelly in the squad, what's the point in bringing him over? He should be focused on establishing he's club career again and a week training with and being looked after by professionals in Bolton would surely be more benefical to him than letting that grinning eejit give him instructions.
Nicky Colgan, Alan O'Brien and Jon Douglas are in the squad again. There's absolutely no justification for Alan O'Brien's inclusion in the squad and what ever people may think of Andy O'Brien surely he's more deserving of a squad place than Alan O'Brien. Maybe certain players need to change their agent before Stan picks the strongest squad available ...
I thought we'd see some wild cards and a few more prospects seeing as we are building for the WC in South Africa.
Yep .. I honestly thought Roy Brady was going to be in the team after Stan had read in the Sun that Man United were after himQuote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Àlthough I don't agree that O'Brien has been regularly ****e for ireland, i do think he's an average defender who doesn't have a good reading of the game. Also, what would be the point of bringing him into the squad now when it's a certainty he won't be part of the next qualifying campaign??Quote:
Originally Posted by zenokelly
But there's no doubt he should have a third central defensive option, it's absolutely shocking he has that amount of strikers and 1 natural centre half. At least bring in O'Dea for cover ffs
Seems Stan is dancing to the 'loyalty/stupidity' linedance routine as alluded to by the 'septic one' on Wearside! He's even comparing himself to teflon Bertie today in the Indo. Alan O'Brien? Not even a regular for Hibs, OK Hunt is out but will this guy even feature? Why not include Miller? Surely he deserves a chance given his performances for Sunderland? Douglas? Surely he could include Gary McSheffrey who is playing a blinder for B'ham at the moment (assuming he is qualified to play for us of course, if someone knows the answer please because I've seen differing reports on this) Douglas is NOT an International level player, if he was he wouldn't be playing for Leeds in Div.3. Elliot? again at this level he's just not good enough. As for Andy O'Brien, he's been scapegoated for Cyprus and he was bad that night, lets not beat around the bush here, but so were most of the team and as for tactics, game plan etc? F*****g headless chickens would have been more organised than what Stan put out, same in San Marino. O'Brien deserves another chance and it's not like we're blessed with central defenders anyway. Clinton Morrison is another who seems to have been scapegoated by Stan & Co. he has had his moments but then he has also scored when it counted and he would be more of threat up front than Doyle has been of late, OK he scored a cracker against the Slovaks but he has been invisible this season for both Reading and Ireland for the most part. Sadly the real problem we have right now is the quality of players available to us and it's not helped by an 'L' plate manager with a 'slow' learning ability and a stubborn 'know it all' attitude. I think the Germans will stuff us anyway as much as I am praying for a miracle, what am I saying, I'm an atheist for Christs sake! We owe Cyprus though, 5-0 at least!
1. I'd love to see O'shea on the bench for once, he creates nothing much going forward and he makes to many mistakes. Can you imagine a back line of John O'sheas??! Get the ball, hoof it!
2. How often does finnan play right back for his country??
He's outstanding there for his club, defends well and also bombs forward and gets a few crosses in. Then we coul maybe play john o shea (LB for man u) or even my preference, Kevin Kilbane. He's good in the air, and fairly solid, but in my opinion not creative enough for centre mid. I reckon he'd easily adapt to this position.
Then we could have, with a full squad, Dunne and Mcshane in the centre with the option of bringing on O'shea anywhere in the backs.
3. Ireland are missing creativity and vision and even basic pass and move skills. Steven Ireland and Aidan Mcgeady don't shine at all for their country at the moment whereas they are so lively and energetic with their clubs.
In centre mid I'd have Darren potter and ????.
On the wings Stephen Hunt and Andy reid
So Stan doesn't read the media? No wonder he's so bloody out of touch. He may even learn something from some objective criticism. He's not eaxctly doing his case any good by comparing himself to EO'S and Bertie. It's not as of neither warrants severe criticism at the very least.
On the squad: I think Joey O'Brien's inclusion is correct. He's likely to be a mainstay of the squad from this point onwards. Alan O'Brien is a lucky boy given he hasn't even made Hibs' team. I'm not fussed about Miller. I don't like his attitude.
How can Elliott be "proven not good enough at international level"? He's only had a handful of games and has done OK in them all.
I think we're in a tough position as in my opinion several of the U21 squad should be included in the senior squad but they have a key game against England the night before.
I think Alan Lee and Michael Doyle have been unlucky, maybe also Tabb and Hoolahan.
I don't have the answer, but stan has done nothing smart to make us better or to sort the problem. I'D say if he'd change to a 5-3-2 without even working on shae in training
So that would leave us against Germany with a central defence of Dunne and .....Quote:
Originally Posted by Larks
Right back last night, central mid last week, 1 minute appearance at the weekendQuote:
Originally Posted by Larks
More freedom at their clubs and better players mopping up behind them allowing them to be far more creative.Quote:
Originally Posted by Larks
Potter's been dropped for Wolves lately after some fairly lacklustre performances according to Mick McCarthy. He hasn't started a game since August and more often than not stays on the bench.Quote:
Originally Posted by Larks
Andy Reid isn't a winger.
now was the perfect chance to give a couple of young centre backs a chance to mingle with the squad in readiness for next years qualifiers. Instead we are relying one real central defender in Dunne and mr makeshift O'Shea (didn't he play CB against Coventry last week?).
If anyone has the Times today have a read. Emmet Malone is the best soccer journalist on this island as far as I'm concerned. anyway his piece and observations (through the question he asked Staunton) are very good. Almost calculating without having an air of cynicism. Particularily the comments attributed to Staunton re: the 2 O'Briens.
He's a sham at this stage unfortunately. And as for his analogy with Bertie and Steady, well its an apt one as far as I'm concerned. They all should stand down. Centre half would be a worry. Particularly if JOS or Dunne gets injured this weekend. It would be hard to call up O'Brien then, and not start him in such a situation.
Emmet Malone has been interesting in relation to Staunton. A lot of his opinion has been voiced by way of innuendo. Rather than saying he must go he'll use comments like "assuming Staunton is still in charge in 6 months' time". I loved the way his comment on Joey O'Brien was phrased today "He's played CB before...at underage level".
However, after the Czech game he seemed to take a more sympathetic stance which confused me a bit.
I actually prefer to read Liam Mackey. The questions he asks and the quotes he picks up on are far more in line with my own thinking. I also like the new guy at the Indo. I get the impression he's genuinely a fan of the team and it hurts when it doesn't go well. Malone is a bit too much out of the Peter Byrne school in relation to the national team anyway. I think his comment pieces on the domestic game are good though.
I hate the way Malone refers to us as "the Republic" and "the South". Very BBC.
Anyway, I don't think it'll be hard to call up Andy O'Brien. He's officially on standby.
Whats up with the squad.
Its over 24 hours since it was named and Stephen Carr hasnt pulled out yet !
Maybe thats why Joey O'Brien was called up.
On current form you've got to think Mark Yeates deserves a squad place ahead of Alan O'Brien. Apparently he was superb again tonight, albeit only against QPR.
Both these shirts will be auctioned in aid of Headway as part of the Ireland German Fan Meet in McDowells on 13 October
The first is a 2007 home replica shirt signed by the squad.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/...84fbb5a922.jpg
The second is Stephen Quinn's match worn No 8 shirt from the u21 game V Portugal in Cork
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/...1e9ff20a81.jpg
There are reserves on both.
No way, the wrong type of agent altogether.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88