Opening Day EPL Irish Starters...

**olegunnar** · 16/08/2009, 4:39 PM

He always does that after he's taken off, and not played too well...

Classic from junior league, i'm only coming off cos im hurt!!

**elroy** · 16/08/2009, 4:42 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

there wasn't an Irish player to be found on the Sunderland team or bench, despite there still being a large number at the club.

Yet another experienced manager not sharing the views of a sizeable contingent here re Andy Reid so i take it

**Colbert Report** · 16/08/2009, 4:46 PM

Andy Reid should be on the bench for Ireland. When we're down a goal late in a match he's capable of going on and creating something in the offensive third of the pitch.

**olegunnar** · 16/08/2009, 4:58 PM

Shay Given (Newcastle United) - Started
John O'Shea (Manchester United) - Started
Richard Dunne (Manchester City) - Started
Sean St. Ledger (Preston North End) - Started
Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic) - Not in Squad
Damien Duff (Newcastle United) - Transferring to Fulham
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City) - Used Substitute
Darron Gibson (Manchester United) - Unused Substitute
Aiden McGeady (Celtic) - Started
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur) - Started
Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers) - Injured

Substitutes:
Caleb Folan (Hull City) - Started
Stephen Hunt (Hull City) - Started
Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers) - Started
Eddie Nolan (Preston North End) - Unused Substitute
Keiren Westwood (Coventry City) - Started

Liam Lawrence (Stoke City) - Started
Liam Miller (unattached) -
Andy Keogh (Wolves) - Started
Stephen Kelly (Fulham) - Unused Substitute
Kevin Foley (Wolves) - Started
Shane Long (Reading) - Started

Also in Premiership this weekend.....

Carr, Carsley, Fahey all Start for Birmingham, O'Shea is Used Substitute
Ward starts for Wolves
Andy O'Brien Unused Substitute for Bolton W
Stephen Ireland Started for Man City
Chris McCann started for Burnley
Rory Delap Started for Stoke
Marc Wilson Started for Portsmouth

18 Starting Irish Players in EPL this weekend
2 Used Substitutes
3 not used from bench

23 Players in match squads in EPL

Excludes Scottish Premier & Championship players

Hopefully we can keep this up all season!!!!

Question ??

Of the starting premiership players this weekend, who has best claims for squad inclusion??

Ward?
Carr?
McCann?

**Colbert Report** · 16/08/2009, 5:05 PM

Stephen Carr. With McShane injured and Finnan not available, I'd rather have Carr in at RB in order to keep the O'Shea/Dunne CB partnership intact. This at the expense of Sean St. Ledger who I don't rate as highly as most seem to on here.

**olegunnar** · 16/08/2009, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by olegunnar

18 Starting Irish Players in EPL this weekend
2 Used Substitutes
3 not used from bench

23 Players in match squads in EPL

Based in Scotland... (starters in BOLD)

Celtic - Darren O'Dea, Aiden McGeady & Willo Flood
Kilmarnock - Tim Clancy & Connor Sammon
Hibs - Graham Stack, David van Zanten & Patrick Cregg
M'Well - Jim O'Brien
St. Johnstone - Andy Jackson & Graham Gartland
Dundee Utd -Sean Dillon & Jon Daly
Hamilton - David Elebert

6 Starters in SPL

**tetsujin1979** · 16/08/2009, 7:29 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Robbie Keane subbed off at 66 minutes against Liverpool. He seemed to be limping off.

When they showed the replay of his shot that Reina saved, he seemed to be shaking his head at the bench, that he wasn't feeling right

**Crosby87** · 16/08/2009, 7:57 PM

I saw the same looks like a lingering problem he has had for a while.
He was much better than Torres today anyway, and thats a fact.

**dr_peepee** · 16/08/2009, 8:13 PM

I thought he played well today and was denied by excellent Goalkeeping (appart from that fluff in the the first half the went way over). He was good against Aus too. He didn't come as deep in that game for whatever reason. Maybe it was down to Doyles fitness, I dunno. I'm happy with his form though. Fingers crossed he's not injured.

**shakermaker1982** · 16/08/2009, 8:29 PM

Tony Gale was having a big moan about the chances Keane missed on SSN. I haven't seen the highlights yet so cannot comment on whether they were sitters but Keane seems to attract a lot more criticism since he left Liverpool by pundits and fans alike. All strikers miss. Michael Owen messed up one on one with the keeper today and that will hardly feature in tomorrows match report.

**SkStu** · 16/08/2009, 8:45 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Stephen Carr. With McShane injured and Finnan not available, I'd rather have Carr in at RB in order to keep the O'Shea/Dunne CB partnership intact. This at the expense of Sean St. Ledger who I don't rate as highly as most seem to on here.

just out of interest, youre in Canada, same as me so im guessing you have seen about as much of SSL as me, that is, some highlights (of his cup goals) and his appearances for Ireland. How can you rate him at all, high or low? He has been very impressive in what i have seen.

**Dodge** · 16/08/2009, 9:18 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Tony Gale was having a big moan about the chances Keane missed on SSN. I haven't seen the highlights yet so cannot comment on whether they were sitters but Keane seems to attract a lot more criticism since he left Liverpool by pundits and fans alike. All strikers miss. Michael Owen messed up one on one with the keeper today and that will hardly feature in tomorrows match report.

I bet Owen's miss is mentioned. He also missed when the game was over.

Keane missed two easy chances when the game was 0-0, there is a difference. He missed a couple of others too

**Colbert Report** · 17/08/2009, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

just out of interest, youre in Canada, same as me so im guessing you have seen about as much of SSL as me, that is, some highlights (of his cup goals) and his appearances for Ireland. How can you rate him at all, high or low? He has been very impressive in what i have seen.

I'm going off the three Ireland matches I've seen him play: Nigeria in London, Bulgaria in Sofia and Australia in Limerick. I just haven't been as impressed with him as you all seem to be. I'm not slagging him or saying he's not any good, I'm just not as high on him as the consensus opinion on here seems to be. Hopefully I'm wrong and he turns out to be a great player. He's got to get a move to the Premiership though, I don't think going up to Scotland would do him any good.

**kennedmc** · 17/08/2009, 9:44 AM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Tony Gale was having a big moan about the chances Keane missed on SSN. I haven't seen the highlights yet so cannot comment on whether they were sitters but Keane seems to attract a lot more criticism since he left Liverpool by pundits and fans alike. All strikers miss. Michael Owen messed up one on one with the keeper today and that will hardly feature in tomorrows match report.

Keane should have had a brace today, a header from 4 yards out and 1 on 1 with the keeper. Both were saved but very poor finishing from Keane

**dr_peepee** · 17/08/2009, 9:59 AM

Originally Posted by kennedmc

Keane should have had a brace today, a header from 4 yards out and 1 on 1 with the keeper. Both were saved but very poor finishing from Keane

I dunno. I think that's harsh. The header, maybe considered a bad miss. But when he actually headed the ball the net was empty so he done the simplest head it down and get it on target. More often than not they go in. Reina done well to get back from the near post. Had he tried to place it, it would've looked worse.

The second was a very good save from Reina. Keane was under pressure from the two defenders. Reina stayed big and pulled a one handed save from a shot that was heading for the top left hand corner.

The third miss was a shocker mind you... I'm happy with his form. The goals will come.

**shakermaker1982** · 17/08/2009, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I bet Owen's miss is mentioned. He also missed when the game was over.

Keane missed two easy chances when the game was 0-0, there is a difference. He missed a couple of others too

I haven't seen Keane's chances so cannot comment on how bad they were but Owen's was simple enough for a top class striker and surprise surprise it is hardly mentioned in the guardian sport section. Don't get me wrong Keane could be more clinical but at least he is in the position to get these chances.

**Closed Account** · 17/08/2009, 11:51 AM

Not a bad opening day for Wilson
http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index....rticle_id=2726

**youngirish** · 17/08/2009, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

Not a bad opening day for Wilson
http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index....rticle_id=2726

The Portsmouth messageboards are generally commenting on his performance in a fairly positive tone irrespective of Sky only giving him a 5 on their website. The vast majority of comments seem to imply that bar one mistake he looked very assured and solid. Playing in central defence also. Could be an option in South Africa.

**Umberside** · 17/08/2009, 12:11 PM

Jay O'Shea played as well yesterday against man U.

**tricky_colour** · 17/08/2009, 9:44 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

The Portsmouth messageboards are generally commenting on his performance in a fairly positive tone irrespective of Sky only giving him a 5 on their website. The vast majority of comments seem to imply that bar one mistake he looked very assured and solid. Playing in central defence also. Could be an option in South Africa.

I remember watching him in this match a while back, I though he looked impressive then.
http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index....articleid=1936

Tony Adams forecast a bright future for Marc Wilson after his outstanding display against Heerenveen.

Hope he is right.