Isn't that your uncle?
Re: the points about a destructive midfielder who gets stuck in and sits in front of the defense and wins ball back which we clearly need, do people think McShane to be hte perfect example here? I think he does't have the positional sense or pace to be a full back, and he makes too many mistakes at CB to be played there, but if he was played as a defensive midfielder to sit in front of the 2 CBs this could be perfect. IF he makes a mistake there is still a line of defence in behind him so its not as costly. I think McShanes biggest asset is his ability to get stuck in, make tackles and win ball and it could be exactly what we need. All he needs to do then is pass it off to a more creative midfielder who controls the game i.e. Andy Reid.
NO, I'm not saying to lose possession, using him simply to win back possession. As soon as he gets it he gets rid of it. I spose though what I'm really saying is that he would be good in a 5 man midfield, but its not a route we can afford to go down really, given the quality we have in certain positions and the need to use that quality.
We were shocking. No stability in defence, non existant midfield and a few headless chickens up front.
This is the worst pool of players we have had in the last 20 years.
Good reading from Tets and Stutts
The use of bullets definitely adds that bit of oomph.
It will be curious to see what Trap makes of Andrews.
I liked the response from Whelan in a post match interview, more or less expressed a steely determination to get into the first team at Stoke
No way would I let McShane anywhere near a midfield berth.
The best Irish midfield performance I've seen at any level in years was at St. Mary's where we played a 3 man midfield of Garvan, Stephen Quinn & JJ O'Toole.
Jesus it wasn't too long ago that I was shouting for Kavanagh to come in to midfield. He did come in for a bit, in place of Matt Holland who hardly kicked a ball for us in so many games. Kinsella played a bit here and there but he was past it and was moving to clubs like Walsall. Healy also played a few games while Kilbane was a mainstay in the centre.
We had Steve Finnan filling in at right midfield a lot. Duff had to play up front a bit before Morrison broke in the team. Morrison's nowhere near this squad. Gary Doherty played almost 20 times under Kerr. Gary Breen and Ian Harte a good few games. Alan Maybury. Alan Lee. Stephen Carr was well past it. Nick Colgan was our sub keeper before Kenny. David Connolly and Alan Quinn got 6 caps each. Stephen Elliott was breaking into the team, albeit a good young player.
Do not tell me this is the worst set of players in 20 years. :) We're never going to have fabulous strength in depth but with everyone fit we've a very strong first team with the exception of the left back spot. There's plenty of back up players but we can't do without Richard Dunne, just like there was no way we could survive without Cunningham under Kerr.
Also, I'd say we could put a midfield together from the current set of players that would outplay any Keane-less team from the McCarthy/Kerr/Stan era.
Ya I think it's an insult to the holding midfield role by suggesting that because McShane gets stuck in he could hack it in this position. You need a positional sense and brain for this role, neither are traits I'd associate with him.
I'd agree with this. I think we've the bones of a good side and to be fair if the two Reids were playing and Stephen Ireland was available it would have the look of a seriously strong side. Fair enough this isn't the case so there's not much point in talking bout it. Still though we've a world class gk, a world class central defender in Dunne, 2 Champions Lge winners in Finnan and O'Shea (I know I'm being generous to O'Shea here with my choice of words but he's adequate with Dunne beside him). I honestly think Kilbane has finally found his true calling at left back. In McGeady and Duff we have two genuinley skillful and exciting wingers, although I do feel McGeady does him best work on the left cutting in but this is managable). In Doyle we've got a highly intelligent football brain who gives every last bit he has and Robbie Keane has 35 intl goals which is unheard of for an Irish striker really, especially at a relatively young age of 28. Centre mid's obviously an absolutely massive issue but worst team in 20yrs, you're having a laugh!!!
the formation is unrealistic but i wish a manager came in and just went for something innovative, the players u listed there ciaran show we do have the players(if they all wanted to play and were fit) to play a flexible and on paper attacking formation.
Bomb long balls into the corners, and play a big target man in the middle. Duff and McGeady are not known for tracking back, so there would be a massive amount of space for speedy wingers to exploit out there which would drag the outside centre half away from the centre of defence, leaving 2 defenders VS 2 opposition strikers.
O'Shea and O'Brien look shaky enough in a four man defence. God knows what they're like in a 3-man. Play someone like Ibrahimovic, Berbatov, or Crouch against them and someone with pace to run off the balls they'd win in the air.
That team would be like Brazil going forward, but one tackler in midfield leaves the defence painfully exposed.
Trapattoni's teams are built with 6 defensive players (4 defenders + 2 defensive central midfielders) and 4 attacking players (2 wingers + 2 strikers), your team has 4 defensive players + 6 attackers. Keegan would be proud.
Ya the personnel is appealing but tis far too attack minded. I'd prefer....
---------------Given----------
Finnan-----O'Shea----Dunne----Kilbane
-------------Steven Reid--------
---------Andy Reid----Ireland-------
Doyle-----------------------Duff/McGeady
----------------Keane------------------
to be honest i'm sick of the formations threads that appear on here because we will never see them and its futile. Can we buy Ireland like that football club in england and the majority get to pick the players.