Player by Player rating of the lads this campaign.
Goalkeepers
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Shay Given - 6 - Some great saves throughout but was telling this campaign was he wasn't the usual "saviour" as he was in the past due to solid defending at the back (for the most part) throughout.
Keiran Westwood - 5 - Looks like a serious backup option at club level but went criminally underused in friendly games throughout the campaign.
Dean Kiely - 1 - Can understand his frustration at not getting game time but if you don't have patience you don't deserve to be an international. Didn't see him walking out on West Brom when he was sitting on the bench.
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Defenders
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Richard Dunne - 8 - A rock throughout and a real lynchpin in our defence, sometimes liable for clumsy tackles but when he's on his game as he was in the matches where it counted like the 6 french, italian and bulgarian games there's nobody I'd rather have in the centre back line.
John O Shea - 9 - At long last showed what he's capable of in a green shirt. Forged a solid partnership with Dunne in the first half of the campaign and was usually faultless when playing at right back, he really won my respect this campaign.
Sean St.Ledger - 7 - Came from the wilderness into the first team in the second and settled in reasonably well, a couple of mistakes but his performances against France especially underlined what an exciting prospect he is going forward. Will surely be a top class defender sooner rather than later.
Kevin Kilbane - 3 - Not a natural left back so you can forgive him to an extent but showed to be a weak spot throughout and really struggled defensively. His saving grace was the away leg to France where he was downright magnificent both in attack and defence. Realistically needs to be replaced as a starter.
Stephen Kelly - 3 - Struggled badly to get back to where he was after injury. Struggled in the early stages against (Georgia?) and never really recovered and was never really trusted since. A step backwards this campaign.
Paul McShane - 3 - McShane's campaign was as frustrating as the last. One moment he can do something brilliant, the next something ridiculous and you're down a goal. Sloppy covering led to Henry's hand of god incident which is what we'll all probably remember from him this campaign. Still young, and he's got himself a starting position at Hull so I wouldn't rule out his future chances just yet.
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Midfielders
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Glenn Whelan - 9 - I didn't trust him at all at the start but he grew into the team more and more with each passing game, by the end becoming a key player in the side. It was a tribute to his rise in stature that when he went off against France injured there were groans of disappointment from everyone, if that happened in the first game I'd probably be pleased believing he wasn't good enough for the position. Two wonder strikes always helps too.
Keith Andrews - 7 - Another emerged talent and whatever about some of the games where he went missing in he was titantic in both French encounters performing like Lassanna Diarra wished he could in the 2nd leg.
Darron Gibson - 5 - Not at a starter level yet but he's steadily growing to that level, a good passer of the ball and never really let the team down.
Steven Reid - 8 - In the 3 games he played he was argubly MoM in each of them. Magnificent passer and set the team in motion brilliantly. Usual injury problems hampered him after that.
Damien Duff - 8 - Back to his sparkling best, brilliant ball retention and linked up with Robbie Keane magnificently for important goals once again. When fit he's got to be an automatic selection like Given, Dunne and Keane.
Aiden McGeady - 4 - Don't know how long this guy is going to be able to live on potential. He had some top class performances where he'd showcase magnificent skill but there's still no end product on it, he still gives the ball away too much and he's still a liability for defensive cover.
Stephen Hunt - 6 - Impact sub supreme but he'll be disappointed he never really nailed down a starting position.
Liam Lawrence - 9 - A great find in the second half of the campaign and shone brightly in the games he started. He's intelligent, crafty, good crosser, good set piece taker and provides defensive cover. A great all rounder and sure to be a starter next campaign.
Andy Keogh - 2 - He's not a winger and despite some great pre-campaign friendlies he linked up horribly with Kelly early in the campaign to concede badly and that was the end of him.
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Forwards
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Robbie Keane - 9 - Great campaign, crucial goal after crucial goal. Some will argue he didn't offer enough outside of goals but I'd counter that's just the kind of player Robbie Keane is. He's a fox in the box kind of player, taking chances is his stronghold and how Trap and Redknapp could even consider him as an attacking midfielder, or Benitez a wide right player frankly baffles me.
Kevin Doyle - 6 - A lot of work but very little end product this campaign. Nothing was a lost cause and I greatly respect his work rate but his goal tally and link up with Keane is a little worrying. He needs to be taking his chances and I felt RTE were handing him MoM left right and centre for little cause. Hard work is great but it counts for little without something at the end of it. Maybe worked a little too hard as well, I felt by the end of the French game his stamina was gone and was making silly mistakes out of tiredness, made sense at that point why Trap kept taking him off at 60 minutes.
Caleb Folan - 7 - Linked up with Keane far better than Doyle good acting almost like a holding player in the striking role. Caleb is great at winning the ball and flicking on, very poor at direct chances on goal so there's a balance decision there for trap next campaign. We won't forget his Italian performance and I think we'd have all liked him to be there as an impact option against France.
Leon Best - 2 - Good friendly game against South Africa but came on in important games a few times and looked like a liability. Isn't up to this level yet and was frustrating he was kept being called upon when his more experienced teammate Morrison was left out.
Overall a very pleasing campaign that gives us a lot of hope for the future. I'd like to see the likes of Long, Keogh, Miller, Stokes etc removed and different options given a chance. It felt like some people were just brought to make up the numbers and were never thought of as serious competition for a first team place.
Trap promised chances for players out of the squad so for upcoming friendlies I'd like to see the likes of Andy Reid, Clinton Morrison, S.Reid and Finnan given their opportunities. I'm still feeling down about Wednesday but you have to feel looking at our squad now and our squad two years ago along with some of the players pushing for a place that there's no reason not to be optimistic for the Euros.