Stephen Carr

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geysir

Was there a time Finnan was available but not selected? I more or less thought that the main reason Finnan was shunted around to LB and RM was because our squad depth was weak and as he was the best footballer, he could do a good job elsewhere and allow the more limited Carr (by that stage) and Kelly to play at RB.
Stan called Carr up for that campaign because the squad was stretched thin, even Sledge was called up based on a TV reality show or something and that whiz kid O'Brien.

---

Trap completely ignored Finnan and pretty much retired him iirc.

I remember people thinking Carr was arrogant but probably because he didn't like to do interviews.
I remember reading in one of Tom Humphries' books that he asked Carr for an interview and Carr looked him up and down and said 'No chance pal'.
So these kind of things don't help. But I'm sure he doesn't care.
I respect him for not doing interviews if he didn't want to

Carr was a good judge of character then.

I always thought Carr was a bit snarly and I was disappointed when he retired early from international football. His performances declined after his injury I think. He was total class in his prime.

Finnan suffered from his versatility I think. Super player. Much as I love Coleman, I don't think he's as good as either Carr or Finnan at their best. We've had some brilliant full backs in the last 30-40 years.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fixer82

Trap completely ignored Finnan and pretty much retired him iirc.

I remember people thinking Carr was arrogant but probably because he didn't like to do interviews.
I remember reading in one of Tom Humphries' books that he asked Carr for an interview and Carr looked him up and down and said 'No chance pal'.
So these kind of things don't help. But I'm sure he doesn't care.
I respect him for not doing interviews if he didn't want to

---

Trapattoni's first game was in May 2008, Finnan played the Norway and Montengro games in August/September but barely played for Espanyol for the rest of the season. After moving to Portsmouth in 2009, he'd missed most of the previous 12 months and despite playing regularly couldn't force his way back into the Irish side, and retired at the end of the season.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Finnan suffered from his versatility I think. Super player. Much as I love Coleman, I don't think he's as good as either Carr or Finnan at their best. We've had some brilliant full backs in the last 30-40 years.

---

If I had a choice between Carr, Finnan or Coleman at their best, I think I'd go for Carr. Blistering pace and good on the ball. Finnan, while a top player, always seemed that bit ponderous to me. Seamas, not far behind Carr with the pace but perhaps not as strong defensively but you're right: three great players.

Had Carr stayed injury free he probably would have been an Irish Super hero .

Injury can be the difference between not been overly popular and being a Super Hero .

Sport can be a hard business........