I miss matty holland! :)
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I miss matty holland! :)
It's about context. I don't think we'd get away with it with the two Reids flanked by Duff and McGeady as mentioned in the earlier post.. Just my opinion but if we're intent on playing the two Reids together I think we'd have to sacrifice one of our more "silkier" widemen . Andy Reids better performances for Ireland are always when surrounded by more than one "water carrier" in the middle.
Dont think it was mentioned earlier in this thread but never realised Reid was captain (or at least stand in captain) at blackburn. Captained the team yesterday in their win over Bolton - good to see!
Got voted 2nd best player on the pitch in the fantasy football. His partner Dunn got motm having set up 3 of the goals. Back to the attacking midfield of Bentley, Reid, Dunn and Pedersen.
Reid played well..
But Andy O'Brien got turned a bit to easily for the last goal...
I like Stevie Reid...he's a good player and he always gives his all...if he can stay injury free i think he'll be a big part of trapattoni's plans...him and ireland together in midfield anyone???
Ireland and Reid alone together in midfield would get completely overrun. If that is the central midfield line up we'll have a difficult job of qualifying. I very much doubt that Trapattoni will try them together on their own.
Ireland cannot be used in a 2 man central midfield. I've said this many times before. The best place for him IMO is in an advanced role behind the striker. We used him and Carsley together in central midfield away to Slovakia and Carsley had to do the impossible job of 2 players. Whenever he's played for us so far he's offered **** all defensively.
True playing Ireland in a 2 man central midfield is suicidal, you either got to play him in an advanced role like you said or you could put him on the right but that would only work if you got a good RB who can overlap and allow Ireland to cut inside but with Finnans retirement that isn't really an option anymore
I'd be very surprised if we see the ROI playing a classic 4-4-2 in the medium term. I'd also be very surprised it Steven Reid doesn't feature very frequently if he stays fit. He could play very comfortably as one of the 2 in a 4-2-3-1 or as one of the 3 in a 4-3-3 or variation thereof.
You're pretty adamant on that point dr. :) I don't think David Dunn is any better than Andy Reid defensively and Blackburn's 2 wide players are obviously very attacking. Ciaran has even gone more defensive than that with Carsley, A.Reid and Ireland in midfield. I really can't see how that could be too attacking. A.Reid is as attacking as Andrea Pirlo. If you play him in the centre he'll sit deep and dictate the play.
Our difference of opinion seems to be with A.Reid. You see him as an attacker, I see him as a central midfielder. I'd be pretty certain if he was playing in Italy he'd be playing as a deep lying playmaker.
Or as an advanced playmaker.
I'm very much on the doctor's side on this one, that midfield would get hammered. Admittedly it's not dissimilar to the midfield that did well at home to Germany but I really think Carsley's limitations as a central midfielder were shown up against Brazil. This has nothing whatsoever to do with his age, just his ability - great at getting stuck in but he hasn't got the passing (though I hear he put in a super cross for everton's second goal tonight).
Carsley IS in great form for Everton, but look at the system they play. He's the anchor that sets up the attacking axis of Arteta & Cahill. Carsley can definitely play a role in Ireland's first XI but given the lack of physicality of any of our other credible CM options I really doubt it'd be part of a 4-4-2, or certainly not a 4-4-2 with Duff & McGeady as the wide players (or Ireland). I thought everyone was agreed as to where the current team is at its worst - central midfield.
Yeh Carsley was excellent for Everton yesterday. Easily their best midfield player. He played the Gattuso role running all over the pitch with Neville holding midfield.
Anyway, for me Reid and Reid would walk into the team.
Two good full backs would help.