The Centre Midfield Crisis.

**Fergie's Son** · 16/10/2008, 9:57 PM

Maybe but when he is trying to grind out results he is either dropping Reid or playing him in a 5 man midfield set.

That suggests he doesn't win the ball very well nor does he shield it that well either. Unless you think we should drop one of our strikers I'm just not sure where he fits in.

Trapp did say that when we are dominating posession he will play Reid but with a midfield of non-ball winning wingers he just does not fit in.

Now when we are playing a team with 11 men beyond the ball like Georgia may play in February then I think we do need Reid. Not, however, when we're being overrun. In all fairness, I don't think Reid would have coped very well on Wednesday.

**gaiscíoch** · 16/10/2008, 10:41 PM

Crisis!!!! what crisis? Gibson and Whelan may not have set the world alight last night. But what they did do was make it very hard for Cyprus to play. At the game we seen Cyprus take off a centre half at half time and throw on a 6'5" center forward who didn't win one header. We reduced them to lumping the ball 60 yards everytime they got it. The organisation is unreal. Duff and "Mageddy" played blinders both tucked in well. Main point nothing came through the centre nothing at all. That's good midfield play no matter what you say? Why all the Gibson bashing he is 20 years old winning his first full cap not 28 winning his 60th cap. Give the lad a chance. More importantly if Giovanni Trappatoni says he is good enough to start then that's fine by me.

**antrimgreen** · 17/10/2008, 10:23 AM

Trap i trust 7pts 3 games 2 which were away, but we have a serious issue in the middle, age is on their side but holy f**k someone said it stinks of Reserves i thought it was worse than that. You say Cyprus didn't come through the middle, if we had of had 2 decent centre midfielders, they would have had minimal of attacks. They were all over the shop, both them crap players at this point. 2 centre mids the other night with the way our wingers and attackers were playing we have won 4-0.

**paul_oshea** · 17/10/2008, 10:25 AM

....has just got a whole lot bigger.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/10/2008, 10:36 AM

Steven Reid is out for 7 months. Now it is a crisis!

**geysir** · 17/10/2008, 10:41 AM

A crisis in the team is Dunne getting injured.

Steven Reid getting injured is a challenge to Trap. We have a a few options to work on.

**Duggie** · 17/10/2008, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

A crisis in the team is Dunne getting injured.

Steven Reid getting injured is a challenge to Trap. We have a a few options to work on.

do we. id like to know them. im discounting reid cause i dont see trap putting him in even now.

**KildareFan** · 17/10/2008, 10:45 AM

Everybody is going way over the top about this central midfield thing.

Clearly, Gibson and Whelan were given very specific jobs, they were told to sit in front of the defence, offer proctection and not to let Cyrpus play through the middle of us. Which they didn't, not even once. I was at the game and thought that they did their jobs well and really can't believe the stick they are getting since. Sure, they didn't get on the ball, spray passes around, beat men or get past the forwards but that is not what they were there to do.

Obviously, the team were told to get the ball out wide to duff and mcgeady as quickly and as often as possible which worked really well. These are our dangerous players so they are the ones that we want on the ball, they are the ones who will create chances and goals for us.

That's why Andy Reid doesn't fit in at the moment, he is not discplined or mobile enough to play in that role. Gibson and Whelan aren't world beaters but it's not like we are spoilt for choice, the Trap has to make the best of what he has and that formation was designed to protect the defence and to get our most dangerous players on the ball.

It's ridiculous, would people prefer Andy Reid to play, spray 3 or 4 60 yard passes during the game and have them walk through the middle of us? The team is much more important than Reid or any other single player, the trap is developing a formation to get the best from us and i really can't believe that people are questioning him already, especially as we have taken 7 points from 9

**Drumcondra 69er** · 17/10/2008, 10:47 AM

It's a bigger crisis now with Steven reid out for the season....

**geysir** · 17/10/2008, 11:01 AM

S Reid hasn't been a fixture in the team, ever.
Everyone it appears has turned two blind eyes to the man's injury record.
How can we be dependent in midfield on a player of great talent but who is a proven medical wreck and one who has hardly played for us?
It is much better for the team in the long run to plan without him and bring on another midfield partnership.
In this game, I'd say Traps plan B was upset when Carsley pulled out.

**Duggie** · 17/10/2008, 11:03 AM

has carsley retired again or is he injured or what ?????

**NeilMcD** · 17/10/2008, 11:10 AM

Carsley is not retired he was just injured for this qualifier. He will be called into the squad when he is likely to play. It seems that is the deal he has with Trap. That is why he was going to be called up for this squad.

**Duggie** · 17/10/2008, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Carsley is not retired he was just injured for this qualifier. He will be called into the squad when he is likely to play. It seems that is the deal he has with Trap. That is why he was going to be called up for this squad.

well id imagine he will start from now on so

**Carrigaline** · 17/10/2008, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

and we lose one of Europe's premier right backs.

Let's be honest here. He will never play in the Champions League again or compete for league titles.

Finnan has been a great servant, but his time is coming to an end.

**Carrigaline** · 17/10/2008, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by KildareFan

That's why Andy Reid doesn't fit in at the moment, he is not discplined or mobile enough to play in that role. . . . It's ridiculous, would people prefer Andy Reid to play, spray 3 or 4 60 yard passes during the game and have them walk through the middle of us?

Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.

**Duggie** · 17/10/2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Carrigaline

Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.

some peoples views on reidy amaze me - ur right.

**SwanVsDalton** · 17/10/2008, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Carrigaline

Anytime Reid played during the Staunton era, he was 100% commited, both offensively and defensively. As for not being mobile enough? Don't make me laugh! He's practically a box-to-box player.

I have no truck with those who think Reid is unfit and doesn't cover ground but he is certainly not box-to-box, nowhere near.

I think the 'TRAP HATES REID!' panic is a bit premature. Let's see what the friendly against Poland throws up.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/10/2008, 11:52 AM

I saw some bits on RTE before the match. It looked they highlighted some very good Reid tackles against Arsenal.

Also saw Giles & Dunphy getting out of their Limo outside the Hogan Stand at 5.30pm. The RTE make up department does a good job. They look like they're on death's door in the flesh.