What should we focus on?

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14/02/2006, 12:52 AM
livehead1

What should we focus on?

having been a member of this forum for a decent amount of time i am becoming increasingly bemused by the number of threads and discussing occuring regarding thing that are nothing to do with the football side of things with the irish national side. i dont blame people for creating threads or posing on these threads, they are things that should be discussed but does this not represent a rot throughout our national set up that these things take pride of place as opposed to the actual players. i visited a few boards in england and their obviously dedicated mainly to them getting the right man for the the job at the moment but i dont see many comments about the actual running of the fa. does this show the inherent problems in the running of our fa, or does it show people willing to use other excuses for the poor performance of our playing staff?
14/02/2006, 10:11 AM
OwlsFan

It shows there isn't much else to talk about at the moment. A friendly and then a Summer of wishing we were there :(

The Staunton appointment has been talked out. There are plenty threads about up and coming players and then there's the FAI. No sure there's much else to talk about.
14/02/2006, 10:24 AM
Dassa

yeah international football for those countries fans who didnt make it to the world cup is quite deppressing at the minute. Knowing you have some crap friendly coming up why other fans around the globe plan ahead for their summer in Germany. lucky B..tards.
14/02/2006, 12:12 PM
onenilgameover

Livehead1 I'm not sure I understand what you mean...although I have the feeling that an interesting thread in there somewhere :)
14/02/2006, 12:55 PM
livehead1

briefly i feel that the amount of time that is spent discussing the problems with the Fai detracts from the real problem and that is the playing staff...
14/02/2006, 1:50 PM
gustavo

well if all is rotten in the FAI that doesnt help football in this country at all
14/02/2006, 3:04 PM
klein4

em correct me if I am wrong....what is and isnt discussed on this forum doesnt really have any affect on the state of irish football at all? no?? am I right or am I right????
I'm right.amnt I ????
14/02/2006, 3:11 PM
livehead1

Quote:

Originally Posted by klein4

em correct me if I am wrong....what is and isnt discussed on this forum doesnt really have any affect on the state of irish football at all? no?? am I right or am I right????
I'm right.amnt I ????

your very right in what you say, however thats not what im trying to get discussed here. Whats being said is does the amount of time we spend discussing the Fai and all that is wrong, detract from the real problem , the poor state of our squad. Maybe i don't agree with that statement, but im wondering what other peoples opinions are, feel free to give yours!
14/02/2006, 3:18 PM
klein4

but sure we cant change the players we have!!!!
14/02/2006, 4:20 PM
Paddy Garcia

I agree with OwlsFan there is not much to get excited about when you are not going to the party - we can only dream. We could focus on either:

1. New Irish talent (vision)
2. A professional FAI (fantasy)
3. Our current crop (bad dream)
4. Why Eircom league players should be called up to the full squad? (hopeless romantics)
5. Ray Houghton passing to players on his own team (sweet dream)
6. England winning the world cup (nightmare)
7. Ireland winning the world cup (delusion)
15/02/2006, 9:25 AM
NeilMcD

I missed the Ray Houghton point there whats that about.
15/02/2006, 9:31 AM
oconghc2

i dont see any problem in ppl discussing the weaknesses of FAI etc. You say we should be focussing on poor squad etc. But the set up and structure in the country probably needs to change to improve conditions - youth development etc (as gustavo has said) and a lot of this will need to be implemented by the boys in merrion square! I dont have the answers but thats why they get paid big money!

So yeah - i reckon we should discuss FAI and all their weaknesses.
15/02/2006, 9:39 AM
onenilgameover

Quote:

Originally Posted by livehead1

briefly i feel that the amount of time that is spent discussing the problems with the Fai detracts from the real problem and that is the playing staff...

I totally disagree. Sort out the professional set up of the FAI and the football would get better.
15/02/2006, 9:44 AM
onenilgameover

Quote:

Originally Posted by klein4

em correct me if I am wrong....what is and isnt discussed on this forum doesnt really have any affect on the state of irish football at all? no?? am I right or am I right????
I'm right.amnt I ????

......again I disagree....we as fans have alot of power and our collective voice is stronger than ye might think...that is if we chose to use it...what is discussed here is very important to Irish football...in fact its what keeps irish football alive...I think its important to remember we are part of football in Ireland and are part of the FAI. So with regards to the thread's topic of course some of us would like to keep our house in order.
15/02/2006, 9:45 AM
Paddy Garcia

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I missed the Ray Houghton point there whats that about.

.... the need for a midfielder today who can pass the ball really well - Houghton hardly ever gave the ball away. We could really do with a midfielder who can cut defences apart with the ease which Houghton could. Rush's goals were generally created by a pass from Houghton.

O'Shea, Kavanagh, Holland, Kilbane, Carsley & co. don't really compare.
15/02/2006, 10:35 AM
NeilMcD

i agree there, sorry the reference was a just a bit too crypic for me.
15/02/2006, 12:45 PM
youngirish

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

.... the need for a midfielder today who can pass the ball really well - Houghton hardly ever gave the ball away. We could really do with a midfielder who can cut defences apart with the ease which Houghton could. Rush's goals were generally created by a pass from Houghton.

O'Shea, Kavanagh, Holland, Kilbane, Carsley & co. don't really compare.

We have J O'Brien (never gives the ball away), S Ireland (exceptional creative talent) and Owen Garvan (young midfielder hopefully more in the mold of Brady rather than McPhail). Maybe I'm too optimistic but I reckon we'll be ok for midfielders by the time the next campaign kicks off.

Attack also we should be much improved over the last qualifiers (once Elliot gets fit and Doyle and Reading make it into the Premiership).

I honestly believe we'll have our strongest team for years by the time Euro 2008 comes around (once we are there). The only weak link I see on the horizon is one central defence position and a decent left back though we are lacking for cover in defence generally.
15/02/2006, 2:55 PM
klein4

all of the above are totally unproven at international level!!!
Its interesting you mention MacPhaill as his career trajectory should be clear in your mind before you go hyping up the latest lot. would be very surprised if any of the above have a major impact on the national team.
15/02/2006, 3:18 PM
colster

Quote:

Originally Posted by klein4

all of the above are totally unproven at international level!!!
Its interesting you mention MacPhaill as his career trajectory should be clear in your mind before you go hyping up the latest lot. would be very surprised if any of the above have a major impact on the national team.

He mentioned Brady too. He made his debut for Ireland when he was 18 and had only played a few games for Arsenal. Who knows maybe Ireland, O'Brien or Garvan might have similar success. Though you are right. They are unproven, but I'm looking forward to seeing the likes of Ireland, O'Brien, MacGeady, Doyle etc given a go. We can't say whether or not they'll make an impact until they get some games.
I think the fact that we have young players playing regularly in the Premiership and Championship is encouraging.
15/02/2006, 3:34 PM
klein4

never said it wasnt encouraging. just a bit of realism wouldnt go astray.
The fact that you mentioned brady. a man who made his debut 30 years ago as an example of a success story should tell ya something about the attrition rate with these things.
I would be much more encouraged by the form of someone like stephen reid who has been around the national team and played regularly in premiership for a while than any of the players mentioned above. when they have played a few games then we will know if they are up to it. hyping them up as the finished article doesnt do anyone any favours

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