If You Could Transport One Ex-International To The Modern Team Who Would It Be?

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

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Keane was one of the few Ireland players that could almost singlehandedly win a game by himself.

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9 goals in 66 games. Wouldn't win too many games by himself :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

9 goals in 66 games. Wouldn't win too many games by himself :rolleyes:

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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:.

And Dominic Foley got 2 from 5!

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

And Dominic Foley got 2 from 5!

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Did he win those two games on his own? If so it should be him then.

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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:.

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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 Keane

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Originally Posted by Morbo

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 Keane

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cyprus 0 Ireland 4. who else performed in that game other than Keane?

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.

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Originally Posted by Morbo

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 Keane

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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.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

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.

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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 accurate

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!!

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

You're the one who brought goalscoring into it!!

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Amen to that.

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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 accurate

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I said almost singlehandedly which is a fair assessment imo.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

How can it be anyone other than Roy Keane? We have O'Shea and Dunne now, both quality centre halves, so that rules out McGrath.

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Almost spat my drink over the keyboard when I saw that, I assume you must be joking?!

Anyway, the obvious choice is Ashley Grimes.....

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Originally Posted by macdermesser

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

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.

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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.