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Once upon a time a Journalist ( I know not which one ) was going to race Mick McCarthy ( when he was playing obviously ) to see who was fastest and perhaps a wager.
I think Big Jack got wind of it and put a stop to it.
This is a story that was wafting about once upon a time. Perhaps some more learned colleagues on such matters could enlighten us more as to the veracity of the story ?
The42 has a few lines on it here. Hand was manager and actually set the race up:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the...b2019/%3famp=1
Clark's no slouch. Not sure where the opposite view originates from.
Did Mick Pull something in the race ? Cheers for the info !Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
It's definitely something I've read rather than observed, but maybe I'm confusing him with someone else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
We'll have an 11 of Centre backs yet.
Back in the day we would play an odd one in midfield. Admittedly they were high quality. Paul McGrath played in midfield for us as did Mark Lawrenson. Two class players. There must be other examples that I can’t think of offhand ! !Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Dont forget the great Cyrus Christie, not a center half but a defender!Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
I must have a good heart. I only remember the success's. I think it does go to show how football has moved on that it is unlikely that even two greats like Lawrenson and McGrath could do a job in midfield today ~ impossible to prove though !Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
There are still players who move between those lines. Fernandinho at Man City, Fabinho at Liverpool, Mascherano who played defence for Barcelona after a midfield role at Liverpool, even Declan Rice has dabbled in both roles. Hell, Keane moved to central defence towards the end at Man Utd. Usually it's a defensive midfielder who moves back rather than a defender stepping forward, but it happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
Clark's first season at Aston Villa was in midfield as well, wasn't it? Maybe he could have kicked on there.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
McGrath could still do that in today’s game. If you asked Virgil Van Dijk to play centre midfield, I think he’d be great... he’s a better centre half but he’s such a good footballer that he could easily convert...
As for centre backs who played other positions, Gary Doherty was a centre half who played centre forward, or maybe a centre forward who played centre back...
Joey O’Brien who’s a centre half now, play in centre midfield under Stan and really struggled. John O’Shea also played a few games there and plenty at left back before settling in the centre under Trap.
Am I right in saying Stan ended his career for Ireland playing centre half during the World Cup? That’s my memory. He definitely played some early games for ireland on the wing, with Irwin behind him...
To be fair, I don't think Joey would be a centre half in a back four for Rovers. He plays a similar role to Basham at Sheffield United, right side of a back three and overlaps the wing back.
And Stan did play CH in the 2002 World Cup. Was selected there ahead of Cunningham, Dunne and O'Shea, who didn't make the squad.
Dunne definitely made the squad but guess he never played. I have a ticket to Ireland against Spain signed by Quinner, Stan and Dunne.
The person who asked for me wanted the two retirees but Richie was sitting on the same row on the plane back home as Quinn and Stan, so he felt awkward saying “not you, Richie”. Thankfully Richie turned out to be a better defender than everyone realised at the time...
EDIT: Just re-read that: “and O’Shea, who didn’t make the squad”. Thought that was referring to everyone, not just O’Shea
Think he only played a couple of games in CM under Stan (when Jonathan Douglas was injured perhaps?) and did well in one and struggled in the following game but that was against Germany in Croke Park. A night where Andy Reid lit the place up with his range of passing and Robbie missed a golden opportunity at the end to win it with a header.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
Yeah, sorry, I probably should have put that in brackets to be clear. Glad you didn't miss out on a Richie autograph!Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
Dunne and Andy O'Brien were the two CBs who saw no action in WC 2002
World class performance today. Played with panache!!
Played for himself and for that awful left back jamal lewis, great leadership so far