Kevin Kilbane

**Stuttgart88** · 04/09/2011, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

That's going on his gravestone.

I think his gravestone will be:

Kevin whatever-his-name-is Kilbane
Born 1970-something
Retired from international football 2057

**Closed Account** · 23/09/2011, 12:37 AM

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...304578519.html

Never anything but honest. I'd hoped we'd of had a better left back by now, and a small bit of competition might up his game, but I'd have no qualms with him playing the next two games. the finals are a stretch though.

**theworm2345** · 23/09/2011, 1:20 AM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...304578519.html

Never anything but honest. I'd hoped we'd of had a better left back by now, and a small bit of competition might up his game, but I'd have no qualms with him playing the next two games. the finals are a stretch though.

Well maybe not never...

Originally Posted by Kevin Kilbane

“These questions have been asked of me so often. Will I be selected? Won’t I be selected? Of course I was pleased for Stephen (Ward) who came in and did very well in the game that he played in.

**pineapple stu** · 23/09/2011, 8:34 AM

Stephen Ward did very well against Russia?!

**theworm2345** · 29/10/2011, 8:57 PM

The legend made his 600th club appearance today. It would truly be a travesty if we were to qualify and he wasn't in the squad for the Finals.

**Yard of Pace** · 29/10/2011, 10:47 PM

It's a shame, but that's football. I'd have him in against Estonia, if he's fit and still has some kind of pace, but you'd have to imagine after the long Championship season his legs wouldn't be right for a major tournament.

**Murfinator** · 30/10/2011, 10:38 AM

He's still our best left back for my money, Ward has been absolutely dreadful in replacing him and Kelly is quite noticeably out of position on that side. For whatever reason Trap seems unwilling to play O'Shea or Clark there so if it is indeed a decision between Kilbane, Ward and Kelly at LB I'd take Kilbane without hesitation. He may not have the pace but he's both natural on the left and has a reasonably sharp positional sense while being good in the air at set pieces.

**geysir** · 30/10/2011, 1:00 PM

He was our best left back, I don't know if he is still our best LB.

I watched Ward yesterday and imo he played well against Man City, both defensively (in spite of having Hunt ahead of him) and attacking roles.

**Colbert Report** · 30/10/2011, 5:49 PM

I can't understand why Kilbane wasn't named in the Estonia squad. He's been such a servant to the team and Trap always stresses loyalty and commitment - something which I doubt anyone would every accuse Killer of being short on. If he's fit and playing (which he is), then why is he not in the squad? Why make a change this late in the campaign? I agree that we need a new left back but Stephen Ward has hardly impressed in that role, I think most of us would prefer Kilbane's experience for the last two big matches of his career.

**SkStu** · 30/10/2011, 6:07 PM

i dont think Ward has done much wrong and certainly not enough to warrant being dropped for Estonia. He has some weaknesses - which Irish player doesnt - but Estonia are hardly the team to ruthlessly expose those weaknesses? And i am a huge Kilbane fan (well documented here) but we seem to have very short memories. Last campaign he was poison in at least half of our games and cost us a lot of points due to his bad positioning - his experience didnt do much for us in those games. Lets not rewrite history now.

**Murfinator** · 30/10/2011, 7:31 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

i dont think Ward has done much wrong

You think wrong, I can't remember ever seeing an international player with as bad a positional sense as him. Do you realise how many goals we would have conceded if it wasn't for McGeady covering his behind? Or how much he's stifling our attacking play essentially forcing McGeady to double up as an extra fullback? He's an ok player for Wolves and I'm sure he has more to offer but call a spade a spade, his international career so far has been McShane-esque.

As I recall Kilbanes last match was away to Macedonia in June where he was very, very good. You're only as good as your last game so I wouldn't have these reservations about him that Trap does especially when Ward has made such a bags of replacing him.

**SkStu** · 30/10/2011, 8:03 PM

7 Appearances, he has scored for us and also I dont think we conceded any goals in the games he has played. Yes, Ward has clearly made a huge bags of it.

**Jaysus** · 30/10/2011, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I can't understand why Kilbane wasn't named in the Estonia squad. He's been such a servant to the team and Trap always stresses loyalty and commitment - something which I doubt anyone would every accuse Killer of being short on. If he's fit and playing (which he is), then why is he not in the squad? Why make a change this late in the campaign? I agree that we need a new left back but Stephen Ward has hardly impressed in that role, I think most of us would prefer Kilbane's experience for the last two big matches of his career.

I wouldn't anyway. I'm pleased Trap finally dropped him from the squad, no room for sentiment in football.

**Colbert Report** · 31/10/2011, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by Jaysus

I wouldn't anyway. I'm pleased Trap finally dropped him from the squad, no room for sentiment in football.

Fair point, but with O'Shea injured and likely out for both play-off matches, wouldn't you want Kilbane on the bench at least?

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/10/2011, 2:44 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Fair point, but with O'Shea injured and likely out for both play-off matches, wouldn't you want Kilbane on the bench at least?

O'Shea wasn't injured when the squad was announced.

I am a huge Kilbane fan and think he's been unfairly scapegoated by Irish fans for poor performances in the last campaign, but I think at this stage Ward is adding an attacking element that Kilbane can't. I would still have him in the squad as a stellar back-up player but if Trap thinks otherwise I can't argue too much.

**geysir** · 31/10/2011, 9:27 AM

O'Shea is out? that leaves 6 left standing at the back, KK should be in line for a recall.

**Murfinator** · 31/10/2011, 9:50 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

7 Appearances, he has scored for us and also I dont think we conceded any goals in the games he has played. Yes, Ward has clearly made a huge bags of it.

Ridiculous, by your logic he's done nothing wrong because a combination of McGeady/Dunne/Given/Sledge/O'Dea happened to cover for his mistakes? The openings he gave Slovakia and Russia could have resulted in 4,5,6 goals on his head. Just because we recovered and they didn't take their chances doesn't make him any less poor. He's our worst player by some margin in the current expected starting 11.

**Murfinator** · 31/10/2011, 9:52 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

O'Shea is out? that leaves 6 left standing at the back, KK should be in line for a recall.

Potentially 5, O'Dea is suffering from concussion. Unless you consider Coleman a back 4 player, then 6.

**geysir** · 31/10/2011, 1:13 PM

You'd think a player would recover from concussion but you never know. Chris Sutton had a few serious concussions in his career which kept him out of the game for weeks on end.