Great post Stuttgart. With No Carsley and no Stephen Reid who would you start in the centrail midfield.
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Great post Stuttgart. With No Carsley and no Stephen Reid who would you start in the centrail midfield.
Not sure. Two of Kavanagh, Miller & Douglas?
Probably Kav & Douglas.
I just like the way that Douglas gets about & gets stuck in, and likes getting forward too.
As Donal and others have said before, a wildcard midfield option may well be what's best.
I'd go along with that although I am a bit suspect of Kavanagh's ability at this level. I think he could be torn apart by the Czechs. But he's one of the best we have at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Could not agree more. I think we have some very talented attacking players. I think a good start would be to play the Central Midfielders who are playing regularly in the Premiership i.e. Carsley and S.Reid.
The only problem with that combination is that they are not particularly good passers of the ball. Carsley has done well for Everton in the holding role with the bulk of the creativity being taken up by Graveson and now by Arteta.
I don't think S.Reid is as good as either of those 2.
I think we should consider playing a 5 man midfield with Doyle up front on his own and a midfield of
Keane S.Reid Carlsey A.Reid/Ireland Duff
I know playing robbie on the right may be strange but I think it could work.
Exactly how I feel. Same about Miller. Talented but tough games just pass him by sometimes.Quote:
Originally Posted by colster
Miller & Douglas looked OK in 2nd half of Holland game.
I think Kav's problem is that he just doesn't have the legs or postional sense to play the holding role. I think it was the Swiss game at home but the game seemed to pas him by. Holland was brought on and immediately got stuck in. Kav doesn't seem to do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Did you read what Staunton said about Carlsey and Holland? http://www.eleven-a-side.com/euro200...p?newsid=24614
Basically he says that Kavanagh is in the squad for his experience. How can he say that? He's hardly started a competitive game for Ireland.
Agreed except I'd have O'Shea and Douglas - I hate to say it but Kav was muck against the Dutch and just wasn't looking for enough ballQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
So who would be your wildcard option? At the moment the only one I could think of is McPhail (he could be the one to spread the play and involve the wingers more) but it seems he's nowhere near Stans thoughts...:(
Kav didn't play Swiss at home. He was dropped after a poor showing in Cyprus. Holland & O'Shea started.
Kav, like Gravesen, is often confused as a holder, but most definitely isn't one. I don't think we have a natural holder available to us, except Carsley. O'Shea isn't up to it against good opposition.
If we don't have one, we can't play one!
I was studying (or trying to) O'Shea last night for Man Utd. He doesn't really get stuck in, just runs around and makes himself available when Scholes/Carrick/Rooney go up a blind alley. Carrick was useless last night and gave the ball away numerous times. O'Shea always made his 8 yard passes no bother!!!
Some of his passing and his decision making(the one were he hoofed it out of play from well insdie his own half under very little pressure.) would make you wonder how he made it as a proffesional footballer. or at least what the hell happened such a once talented player.
sort've back on topic here, how was mcgeady last night for celtic, anyone care to share their thoughts??
I posted earlier in the thread ken that I thought he was top class for 60 mins and then tired but this was down to the amount of defensive effort he put in too. I would have no qualms about playing him against Cyprus and Czechs.
thanks neilmcd, i thought i'd read back far enough into the thread to get meself caught up. i'll go and have a read of your comments but thanks for summarizing. great news, hope he can perform against increasingly strong opposition and am hoping celtic can get out of this group.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Here's his clips from the Copenhagen match. It shows how different he is to 12 months ago when he'd just try to beat his man at every opportunity. It shows him crossing, tracking back, taking on players and pulling off 1 or 2 tricks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA_c9O3YVzM
Quality. Well done that man.
thanks for the clips again ebhoy, good stuff from mcgeady. perhaps a better striker would've finished off that lovely chance he created for miller at the end of the video. i think we can safely call his modified cruyff-turn a 'mcgeady' now?? :D MUST play in the next qualifiers
So proud of the wee man the way he's managed to put on so much muscle mass in the last couple of years and delighted to see him getting the benifits.
For about 6 months there he was slow as a week in the jail but stuck to his plan and now the extra power is coming in handy and also given him an extra burst of pace.
For 6 months he reckons it was like trying to play with a rucksack of bricks on his back... Now he's back to himself and looking good :)
Cracking stuff eirebhoy. Well done. I reckon if wee Aiden keeps it up he could become at least a regular fixture for us. If we got Stephen Ireland going in that direction as well he might solve our creativity in the middle of the park.
McGeady, Reid. S, Ireland, Duff doesn't sound too bad if all were playing regularly and firing on all cylinders.
I agree. I don't think things are as bad as people make out in our midfield but the problem is amplified by Staunton who persists with those two donkeys O'Shea and Kilbane without experimenting with any alternatives.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeNiro
Surely it's not too hopeful to suggest that at least one of J O'Brien, Ireland or Garvan (if he recovers from his virus) will be viable alternatives in central midfield by the next set of important matches after we get through Cyprus, the Czechs and San Marino (twice). To be honest I think Stevie Ireland should at least get half an hour or so against the Cypriots if we are struggling in midfield (preferrably with Reid) as he'll provide a creative outlet against a team we should be aiming to beat comfortably. Kilbane and O'Shea don't provide any creativity which is why I believe Robbie (and whoever partners him) has struggled for form and goals lately. If Ireland performs well start him against San Marino (I'm not sure if he's ready to play against the Czech midfield yet).
The area that I worry about the most for these qualifiers is the defence to be honest. It doesn't look like we're going to have any decent up and coming defenders that are going to be much use to us for this campaign. The midfield should be ok though.
The midfield is the biggest issue as the manager seems to want to play Kilbane and O Shea. I think most people who have any clue of the game recognise that they should nto be playing central midfield. If Staunton picks them, it is proof that he has no clue of the game. Simple as that.
It's not proof at this stage. It's a tad hysterical to denounce Staunton in this context.
I got the clear impression that Robson concurred 100% with this midfield selection. And was reasonably positive after the Germany game.
ATM I'd say the management's attitude is that considering the performance in Germany 'it's not that broke'.
If there was a full midfield to select from, with fully match fit, both on form Reids, then that's another story.
I blame Kerr for playing Kilbane in the centre in the first place. ;)
NO I think its a a fundamental decision in Stauntons managment. If he believes that Kilbane and O Shea can play midfield together then I do not share any footballing beliefs with him and for me I could not take him seriously as a manager. It is a fundamental issue for me that O Shea and Kilbane must never play for Ireland in central midfield together ever again.
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Originally Posted by youngirish
I fully accept that O'Shea seems to be there almost automatically. But hasn't Kilbane only played there once? As well as left-sided hybrid forward against Holland, left-back aganst Chile, centre-half against Chile....Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
I can accept the logic of Kilbane's inclusion at CM in Stuttgart, as he was there to match the physical threat of Frings. I wouldn't have done it myself but it can theoretically be justified. One off decision - I hope!
So I think it's grossly unfair to say that Staunton is permanently disposed to fielding that pairing.
But if he does against Cyprus....:eek:
I agree he has not done it all the time but we had a full choice of midfielders against Germany with the exception of Andy Reid and Joey O Brien and it is his only competitive game and he plays the two of them together away from home when surely the job away from home is to retailn the ball for as long as you can.
Neil, maybe, just maybe, he thought Miller would be gobbled up by Frings, but Kilbane wouldn't. I don't deny it was an error, and I wouldn't have done it myself, but I can see the logic in theory. Athletic 6 footer vs athletic 6 footer. Cut off Frings and you cut off Ballack.
Staunton probably recalls Kilbane's good performance in Paris. Sadly, I doubt he scrutinised the subsequent games as closely as us fans who quickly came to realise that arguably the biggest tactical failing of Kerr's reign was his persistence with KK in midfield.
I see where you are coming from but I think if he persists with Kilbane and O shea as our midfield partnership I will lose my faith in him as I really think its a fundamental issue for this team. We will only get Duff Mc Geady Doyle and Keane in the game if we have a midfield platform to work off. I think a cautious breaking up player like Carsley can give protection to the defence and lay it simple to our full backs or to Duff and Mc Geady. Then someone like Stephen Ireland, Andy Reid, Liam Miller or possibly Stephen Mc Phail could be a link man to the forwards and the wingers also. If we want to be a bit more athletic in midfield Stephen Reid is the answer in my view and not Kevin Kilbane. I also feel that over time Joey O Brien can possibly estalish himself as the ball winner or the more defensive midfielder in the team but this can be done with the luxary of having Carsley there for these 3 games and possibly the games in Spring.
I think the younger players will benefit with chasing qualification rather than giving up on it now.
It is beyond dispute imo that both Robson and Stan rate Steven Reid as one of the two first choice central midfielders and given the managerial love fest for O'Shea, I'd wager that he is their other choice. I wonder who their first choice RM is. Is their preference for another winger in McGeady or a player like A Reid/Ireland/Miller?
Looking back at the Germany game if Duff was coming off and McGeady is coming on as a sub. you'd imagine that it would have been a direct swop.
Former Celtic striker John Hartson believes that Aiden McGeady could soon attract bids of £20m. (Sunday Mail/Post)
McGeady scored against Falkirk today.
Definitely should be in team against Cyprus.
So why did Reid play RM against Germany? surely Reid is a better option that KK or JOS, I didn't understand the decision at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport/fo...name_page.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by mjpcc
Probably a bit ott by Hartson in fairness. :)
McGeady's 1st half was terrible but he came out in the 2nd half a much better player. He did that trademark turn yet again in the penalty box leaving a Falkirk player for dead. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Would you agree he should start against Cyprus?
and if you do would you agree the he and Duff should start as our wingers?
McGeady was absolutely outstanding again for Celtic today. First half Gravesen and Lennon were overran in midfield so McGeady never got a kick. Second half he went out, demanded the ball, made things happen and scored the winner....
He also had the most sublime run and skill I've ever saw on a football park. Went by four men reached the by-line and was facing away from goal, done the most remarkable turn to leave one defender dead and another falling on his face... Unfortunately not even his own teammates expected him to get in a crossing position and his cut back was intercepted :D
The bhoy is a legend. He should not only start he sould be the first name on the teamsheet.
McGeady has improved his game vastly. He's becomee very strong, runs all over the park and has improved his pace. However, his usage of the ball still needs big improvement. If he could learn to play the right ball and learn when to release the ball he would be a great player. He's still young and his progress is moving in the right direction.
Who were they playing ? Real Madrid ? Barcelona ? Oh yeh, Falkirk.Quote:
Originally Posted by McGeady10
I agree though with Poor Student. From what little I've seen of him he seems to have improved and long may it continue.
If Falkirk were dominating Celtic doesn't say much for them...Quote:
Originally Posted by McGeady10
McGeady should be starting for Ireland. And should have already been starting regulary. This is like the time Mcgrath couldn't get into the team because Hand prefered McCarthy at center half. Hand didn't have the courage or imagination to play McGrath regulary and stated that he had some "learning" to do. A top manager would be building a team around McGeady and I believe Hartson's comments are correct. McGeady isn't the finished article but either is Rooney or Ronaldo. And if what we have in Midfield at the moment are "learned" players well then give me the learner McGeady! Petrov moved from playing in Falkirk to Stamford Bridge no problem. Why not McGeady? And it makes a mockery of Stans claims to be "building" for 2010 if he is not starting the "learners"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
Agree with this. Both Stan and Robson have come out and said that Reid is the future in the centre of the park for us and then proceed to play him out of position!!! Can't do much for the lad's confidence either??:confused:
Someone else mentioned KK was only in the team in Stuttgart to nullify Frings as he's a big physical lad but surely Reid could have done the same job as well as being able to find his own players with simple passes!
I'm dreading seeing the teamsheet for Saturday now...O'Shea/Kilbane in the centre of the park = no creativity whatsoever. Hopefully he offsets this with the inclusion of McGeady and if not, I want Staunton sacked and Hartson in now!! :D
I still think it's premature to assume KK and JOS will be the central midfielders on Saturday. God help us if they are.
We've got better players than Kilbane. O'Shea didn't figure for MUFC today but I expect Stan will pick him. I'll actually be surprised if he picks KK.
Any news on any call-ups? McPhail's Cardiff won 4-0. Alan Quinn played on Saturday. Daryl Murphy started for Sunderland. Shane Long got 25 minutes today.
Agree with the above comments about Steven Reid.