Plusses over 2008 and looking ahead to 2009

**bwagner** · 05/01/2009, 11:08 AM

Right fellas discuss the pros of the last year for the boys in green at both club and International levels.

At club for me there have some good news :

Marc Wilson breaking through at Pomey in the last month has been great as we need as many premiership players as possible.

Gibson seems to be sneaking his way in at Man utd. (scoring his first goal yesterday)

Left back slot: Eddie Nolan has got a good chance now at Preston.
Sheehan playing well at Leeds.
Harte (dont laugh) back playing in the championship.

Centre back: St.Ledger playing very well all year (not just the Liverpool game)
Mc Shane revived at Hull.
O'Dea of to get match time at Burnley.
Coleman may be of to Brum.

Keane seems to be getting back to scoring ways thank god.
Doyle , the Hunts and Long all in good form at Reading.

Andrews and Tracey doing ok at Blackburn .

Whelan back in the team at Stoke.

Westwood playing well at Coventry.

Young MacCarthy is doing well up in Scotland.

Sheridan got a good run at Celtic.

The likes of O Toole ,S Quinn, Mc Cann and Garvin growing as players.

**Dr. Ogba** · 05/01/2009, 11:35 AM

interesting...just to bring you up on one thing though. I'm pretty sure Nolan is a right full / centre half by trade so don't think he's our answer to the current left back predicament unfortunately. Stephen Ward at Wolves could be though...

**Den Perry** · 05/01/2009, 11:36 AM

I agree with most of your points, but re Mcshane, are you having a laugh? Hull City's defence is brutal, and I would expect it to be nothing else with Mcshane involved. While he has great heart and bravery, he is just not up to top level football. I rfemember the hysteria his performance against Czech republic was greeted with and couldn't , for the life of me understand it...he lost Koller for the Czech goal...if thats good defending then....

His positional sense is very poor also. Just because he is regularly playing in the Prem for a team like Hull does not mean he is revived...(ps I'm off the fags so am probably a bit cranky)

**bwagner** · 05/01/2009, 11:42 AM

lol ok Den.

I forgot Foley and Ward at Wolves.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/01/2009, 12:03 PM

Plenty of potential positives alright but we've been here before with dozens of young players about to breakthrough and for one reason or another have failed to deliver.

**sligofan4ever** · 05/01/2009, 12:16 PM

Hopefully Keith Fahey does well at Birmingham, was probably the best player in the LOI until he left.

**irishultra** · 05/01/2009, 3:34 PM

ciaran do you put on a sinister smile when you type?

**The Fly** · 05/01/2009, 4:10 PM

Ciaran - Please explain how Gibson is a running joke at United.

He has only started to be introduced to United's first team this year. Whenever he has played it has been on the right wing, including against Southampton yesterday. This has to be taken into consideration when his performance has been rated. He took his goal well, with a good first touch and with calmness/poise. Don't rush to judgement on young players!

P.S - United fans are calling Gibson the evil Michael Carrick

**bwagner** · 05/01/2009, 4:45 PM

So for 2009 I would like to see Lawrence get back in Stoke then Ireland
Folan, Foley , Andrews ,N Hunt , Delaney and Mac Carthy get some game time in the Green shirt.

Any news on Friendly or B international games??? England have all there games fixed up already.

**eirebhoy** · 05/01/2009, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

I agree with most of your points, but re Mcshane, are you having a laugh? Hull City's defence is brutal, and I would expect it to be nothing else with Mcshane involved. While he has great heart and bravery, he is just not up to top level football. I rfemember the hysteria his performance against Czech republic was greeted with and couldn't , for the life of me understand it...he lost Koller for the Czech goal...if thats good defending then....

You seem to mention the Czech game every time McShane is mentioned.

He was absolutely outstanding that day. One of the best Ireland debuts I've seen. Anyway, he's a centre half. I don't care if he's playing right back until he's 30 he'll always be a centre half and I don't rate him at right back. Everything about his game is made for a centre half and he lacks a lot of the requirements of a modern day full back.

**irishfan86** · 05/01/2009, 6:21 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

You seem to mention the Czech game every time McShane is mentioned.

He was absolutely outstanding that day. One of the best Ireland debuts I've seen. Anyway, he's a centre half. I don't care if he's playing right back until he's 30 he'll always be a centre half and I don't rate him at right back. Everything about his game is made for a centre half and he lacks a lot of the requirements of a modern day full back.

I've been with you every step of the way in this evaluation, but I've got to say in the FA Cup game against Newcastle at the weekend he was atrocious.

Okay, people may say that he was part of a back four that kept a clean sheet, but if I'm being honest it was in spite of him, not because of him.

At this moment in time I'd have him as 4th centre-half or so, and nowhere near full-back if we're talking about the national team.

**eirebhoy** · 05/01/2009, 7:20 PM

Did he not play right back against Newcastle?

**osarusan** · 05/01/2009, 7:52 PM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Gibson is a running joke at Man Utd, even when he scored yesterday he still rated lower than everyone else among the fans due to his inability to pass the ball.

How do you know?

Originally Posted by Ciaran

I've never actually seen him play for United so that's their words not mine.

What makes it even better is that you said this in the St. Ledger thread :

Originally Posted by Ciaran

I dont make rash judgements on players until I see them playing against the best.

**stiffler** · 05/01/2009, 7:55 PM

Are there any B games planned for this year??

These can be beneficial in the long term.

**richieos** · 05/01/2009, 8:10 PM

absolutely love osarusan's post.

**boovidge** · 05/01/2009, 10:09 PM

There's always one on every internet forum.

**carloz** · 06/01/2009, 10:00 AM

Gibson is a running joke at Man Utd, even when he scored yesterday he still rated lower than everyone else among the fans due to his inability to pass the ball.

FFS, should not rephrase this as 'Ciaran thinks Gibson is a riunning joke at man Utd'.
He is very highly thought of by both Ferguson and the coaching staff at Utd. He has been very impressive for the reserves and during his year in Belgium. Yes he didnt set the world alight at Wolves but he played a large number of games were played on the right wing. He got into a number of good positions against Southampton though his crossing was poor, again however, he is not a right winger. Man Utd fans hold him in quite high regard, with the exception of a few mongs who expect every young United player to be the new Keane. I fail to see what you expect from a youngster breaking into the United team, he is not going to grab every game he is in by the neck and control it.

**Den Perry** · 06/01/2009, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

You seem to mention the Czech game every time McShane is mentioned.

He was absolutely outstanding that day. One of the best Ireland debuts I've seen. Anyway, he's a centre half. I don't care if he's playing right back until he's 30 he'll always be a centre half and I don't rate him at right back. Everything about his game is made for a centre half and he lacks a lot of the requirements of a modern day full back.

The reason I mention the Czech game is because its his performance in this game that led to all the hype and rave reviews....I will concede he played well BUT, he lost Koller for the goal. As a result, "outstanding" is a rather strong adjective to describe his performance. (I'm not trying to be argumentative....am still off the fags)

**livehead1** · 06/01/2009, 10:30 AM

Who wants to put their neck on the line and say they believe Gibson will become a regular at Man Utd?

**bwagner** · 06/01/2009, 11:07 AM

I will ! he will start again against Derby. Giggs hints at retirement today, Scholes is not far behind him, Anderson and Nani are two duds. Carrick is either injured or not making any real effect in games. Ronaldo gone sooner or later. Fletcher...enough said.