Reid, Red and Ireland. The 3 best playmakers we've ever had?

[eirebhoy]

For me the playmaker is the guy that sets the tempo of his teams play and always makes himself available to receive a pass no matter where on the pitch his teammate has the ball. So Keane was very much a playmaker. In fact, Scholes has only really become a playmaker since Keane left. He was more of a Lampard type player years ago.

/edit - seems like BarelyLegal has the exact same definition of a playmaker as me.

[DeLorean]

For me the playmaker is the guy that sets the tempo of his teams play and always makes himself available to receive a pass no matter where on the pitch his teammate has the ball. So Keane was very much a playmaker. In fact, Scholes has only really become a playmaker since Keane left. He was more of a Lampard type player years ago.

/edit - seems like BarelyLegal has the exact same definition of a playmaker as me.

You're very wise!!

[eirebhoy]

A that dreaded rolleyes icon. Always confuses me.

[Colbert Report]

You do realize wikipedia can be edited by anyone at anytime right?

[Hibs4Ever]

You do realize wikipedia can be edited by anyone at anytime right?

I seriously doubt he does. Seems its his bible

[Hibs4Ever]

You do realise that History of edits is available and that "realise" is spelt with an "s" don't you?

Coming from a guy who spells Reid as "Red"

[Qwerty]

ruben de la red is eligibly for Ireland didn't you know?

What would this forum be without you Ciaran?

[tetsujin1979]

What would this forum be without you Ciaran?

Empty?

[irishfan86]

What would this forum be without you Ciaran?

Less quantity, more quality.

[Junior]

redundant creche?

[Oink]

The role of the playmaker in the modern game is an interesting one. There are very few in the EPL as the nature of the game there is more suited to more physical and athletic midfielders. Fabregas, Alonso, Carrick and Modric are among only a few who play regularly. Stephen Ireland too I guess.

That's more than there used to be a few years ago I suspect so it looks like maybe the playmaker is coming back into vogue again.

In our case we've often had good playmaking types. I used to really like Stephen McPhail, but O'Leary said there was no role for his type of player in the modern game.

There are various types of playmaker too. There's the Zidane-like "number 10" who is an advanced playmaker, the deeper-lying Pirlo or Xavi Alonso type, or the all singing / all dancing playmaker like Fabregas.

In the case of Fabregas even Aragones didn't see fit to include him in Spain's starting XIs during the summer so the merits of having a playmaker in a winning team at international level are often trumped by pragmatism.

In Ireland's case, I don't see why a playmaking type should be inconsistent with defensive solidity as I'm not convinced that two out and out wide players is the best use of our resources. Of the so-called playmakers we have available, I'd say all are advanced "number 10" types who could be deplyed effectively in a range of shapes (4-3-1-2, 4-2-3-1...) as I'm sure Paul O'Shea would love to discuss.

None of our current playmakers can even touch some of those we've had in the past.

WTF is "Red" anyway?

Excellent post.

As far as I can see, in the modern game out wide players are becoming a thing of the past. Very few goals these days come from players running the touchline and whipping the ball in, instead we see a lot of central midfielders or wingers with a tendancy to cut inside in the top scorer lists. The majority of top clubs rely on a central midfielder who scores goals... and when this player isn't scoring the team isn't doing too well, case in point Fabregas.

It's a pity our best asset in this department and one who is very very effective in the role is a complete ****.

[tetsujin1979]

If I was the paranoid sort I'd claim that the mods were editing those typos into my posts. >_>

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after you

[third policeman]

Excellent post.

As far as I can see, in the modern game out wide players are becoming a thing of the past. Very few goals these days come from players running the touchline and whipping the ball in, instead we see a lot of central midfielders or wingers with a tendancy to cut inside in the top scorer lists. The majority of top clubs rely on a central midfielder who scores goals... and when this player isn't scoring the team isn't doing too well, case in point Fabregas.

It's a pity our best asset in this department and one who is very very effective in the role is a complete ****.

Totally agree with yourself and Stutts. If you were designing a formation that played to the strengths of our best players it would not be 4-4-2. Doyle, Keane, McGeady, Ireland (I know, I know......) Andy Reid etc have the technique, mobility and intelligence to be a real handful at international football, but not in a system that forces us down tramlines and gives our strikers the wrong sort of service.

[Closed Account 2]

I think it's John Sheridan, a very underrated player.

Simply Red? Mick Hucknall was a mainstay of the Fulchester Rovers team in "Billy the Fish".

I heard it was Felchester Rovers that Mick played for

Put us out of our misery.....who's Red?

Robert Redford ? I think that's a bit of an indecent proposal, he's a bit too old now. Forget sneakers, he couldn't even play barefoot in the park. Calling him up would be a bridge too far, an indication of the way we were...