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What do you mean a one may show? Are you saying no other players contributed? I can suggest Shay Given V Iran , McAteer home and away v Holland, Matt Holland and Robbie Keane and Harte all made significant contributions also among others. And not forgetting we were blessed with luck the home games v Portugal and Holland as we could have been overrun in the first half hour. That one man team thing, sounds like a Dunphy quote.
Lets not go there. Suffice to say that inthe golden era we qualified 3 times out of 4 and were unbeaten and unlucky on the failed attempt. Since then we've qualifier once out of 5. Sounds like a downhill trend to me.
Whats worse is that Maloney condoned it on RTE saying "Robben is getting a lot of booing , which is understandable"Quote:
Originally Posted by stickyjoe
Fair enough point, but finally when we look like we may possibily have reversed the trend, what happens, we sack the manager all for the sake of one player.....anyway no point in getting into this as it just getting off the subject of the thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by fergalr
I know Bobby Robson is supposed to be a mentor for Stan but with his poor health would it be a good idea to bring a wise head in the meantime to steady the ship and ease the pressure off the inexperienced manager?
Management is all about maximising your resources, however limited they may be. Getting the best out of an average bunch....Martin O'Neill did it with Celtic for years, with the exception of Larsson the rest were fairly average run of the mill players. But he succeeded in getting them to punch constistently above their own weight...why? Man-management, people skills and an intolerance for anybody not giving 100%.
I agree with many posters on here on Steve Carr...I think he's a negative influence on the squad and he never got up the line with McGeady. Kilbane is Kilbane, a workhorse but nothing more. If I have a full squad to chose from this would be my team for Stuttgart.
1. Given, no argument here at any level a top class keeper
2. Finnan, a no-nonsense defender, good on the ball and supportive in attack
3. O'Shea, a few disagreements expected here, but I think he's played his best stuff for United at this position.
4. Dunne, has copped on big-time to return to form as seen against Holland in 2001. Very solid, doesn't fanny around on the ball and gives 100%
5. andy O'Brien, only because I can't think of anyone else. If Harte comes in a t left full I reckon O'shea would get the nod in centre.
6. Steven Reid, game passed him by a bit last night, but needs to grab the bull by the horns, was content to let Kav be the creative one. WTF? Think he can still rise to it.
7. Duff, say no more. New lease of life at Newcastle will benefit Ireland
8. Andy Reid, ok so he could be in better shape. For all we know he could well be. Best creative player we have, intelligent user of the ball.
11. McGeedy, has been terrific for Celtic and had a good game last night. Capable of performing at international level.
10. Robbie Keane, our only proven goalscorer, seems to be coming into his prime.
9. Kevin Doyle, ex-LOI player who wears his heart on his sleeve. Take him anyday before bling bling clinton.
McGeady is fantastic defensively. While Duff tracks back and closes down opponents, McGeady is the type that tracks back and goes in for the tackle at every opportunity. His work rate over the 90 minutes is top notch.Quote:
Originally Posted by monutdfc
As for the game, how many people said Kerr's wins against the likes of Czech Republic meant nothing? That couldn't be more true for this game. Who actually expected anything other than a defeat? I had never been so sure of an Ireland defeat in years and tipped Holland on a few betting forums.
I have to watch the game again on tape as I didn't see much from the north terrace (all the action was down the south for the 90 minutes). The centre back partnership was a shambles as expected. O'Shea and O'Brien both need a Cunningham type player beside them to know what they're doing (O'Shea probably needs Cannavaro). I was looking at them last night and even I could have lobbed a ball over them to set up a goal, they had no organisation.
Kavanagh had his chance last night to get into the team and he hasn't taken it. He's almost 33 now and his international career looks to be all but over. Pity he couldn't produce his club form for Ireland.
Liam Miller is certainly in the shop window. His work rate against Celtic in a friendly and last night against Holland was something I never seen from Miller. I would have described him as a bit of a bottler but he wasn't afraid to get stuck in last night. He can still make it on the international stage imo.
Elliott and Doyle looked good up front and I'd have Morrison now as my 4th choice. I just don't like him at all as a player. Doyle won more in the air last night than Morrison could dream of. :)
I am not in the slightest bit disappointed with last night. We have a small population so we can't do without so many players. Dunne, Duff, Keane, Reid, Given, Ireland, J.O'Brien and Harte will all play big parts in the qualifiers.
It is understandable as he's known worldwide as a diver. If he didn't play in the premiership he wouldn't have been booed though. Van Persie wasn't booed so I assume the main reason he was booed was because of his cheating.Quote:
Originally Posted by gustavo
btw - I seen Glenn Roeder last night. Hopefully he'll give A.O'Brien a chance in the first team as he's 21 and needs the games at this stage.
Apparently he was over to see Dirk Kuyt and only found out whenQuote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
he arrived that that Kuyt had already agreed terms with Liverpool
I'd say he's well annoyed with the flow of information from his chief scout :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ash
Such are the options i can barely pick a team for Germany & certainly nothing to add to the bench.
:eek:
Carr, Kavanagh & Morrison should be dropped from the squad & replaced with anyone else.
I was surprised by Miller last night & could do a good job with Reid in central midfield?
Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
That is to say "I saw..." your grammar is terrible :p
Not too sure if you were being sarcastic there but I'd say he was delighted that he didn't waste his money on that donkey....one of the few Dutch players that wouldn't have looked out of place in a green shirt...Quote:
Originally Posted by keenanboy
I actually watched the game again on tape to get a more balanced view. We didn't drop any points and if we get a point in germany this will be forgotten very quickly.
In terms of individuals McGeady has to be in the side, he was the only Irish player last night who was completely comfortable on the ball. When sourrounded by 2-3 dutch players he can actualy play his way out of trouble. I wasn't sure about his pace - now I know he has pace. This guy can be a big player for us.
Douglas - not the finished article but put in more tackles than Kavanagh and Reid combined, shows lots of aggression. Kavanagh should be dropped from the squad, 1.5 tackles in the first half :eek:
If Reid can do for Ireland what he does for Blackburn then I would go with S.Reid and Douglas for the Germany game.
Doyle certainly is a more complete player than Morrison, I think he is the partner that Keane has been waiing for. But I still like Morrison, he isn't match fit so last night was not a fair reflection of what he can do for us.
Alan O'Brien does have frightening pace - at least Stan got that right.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
I agree with you totally. Kavanagh is just not up to it at this level. I think it's a waste having him in the squad when we have a number of younger players who we should be looking at to fast track.
I was never good at English in school. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba
you know what the sad fact is here is stauntons line up he will go for:
given
carr dunne obrien oshea
finnan kilbane s reid duff
morrison keane
Worst performance I have seen from Ireland, watching them 30 years, that includes Egypt in 1990, never saw the Liechtenstein game.
We are rudderless at the moment, we need a better manger than Stan to get a better performance out of what has to be said is a very poor Ireland team, reading the mails I think people are saying we will do better in Stuttgart when the missing players come back, well there is no guarantee they will be back.
I felt that we backed off the Dutch last night and showed they too much respect; also I believe we have two good strikers in Keane and Doyle which is a change for Ireland.
My team for Stuttgart is
Given
Finnan Dunne McCarthy Harte/O'Shea
McGeady S Reid Kilbane (because I can't see anyone else) Duff
Keane Doyle
Kav is finished
Stan has to bring Mccarthy McShane Whelan into the squad
Where’s Alan Quinn is he injured?
See u all in Stuttgart, maybe we can drag them through
Quote:
Originally Posted by mafitz
No, coming back from injury though played in all of Sheffield United's pre-season games notching a few goals along the way.
That's right O'Neill has only ever managed one club....................Quote:
Originally Posted by BohsBohsBohs
Ahem, there was the small matter of a uefa cup final as well, unheard of for a long while in the Scottish game, knocking out much vaunted eng-prem opposition, iirc.Quote:
Originally Posted by BohsBohsBohs