Opening Day EPL Irish Starters...

**Paddy Garcia** · 17/08/2009, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Could be an option in South Africa.

I hope he plays for us instead though. Chickens and all that..................

**dr_peepee** · 18/08/2009, 8:31 AM

Originally Posted by elroy

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

Just read this morning that he missed out on Saturday due to a thigh strain.

**youngirish** · 18/08/2009, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by elroy

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

In fairness elroy I doubt too many posters on here believe Andy Reid is a top class Premiership footballer. However it's difficult to argue that he's not a far better player than the likes of Whelan and Andrews in the centre or Hunt and McGeady in the wide positions (if Trapp insists on preserving his destructive central midfield). You'd only have to see a couple of his Ireland performances to recognise he brings more to the team than any of the above. He can pass the ball more than 18 yards without consistently giving away possession for a start so already he's a cut above any of those players in my book.

**Hunty's Flatcap** · 18/08/2009, 1:34 PM

Just thought I'd say how well the Wolves boys did the other day. The early signs look really positive. Foley was his ever-dependable self and Ward was excellent especially in possession on saturday. He loves to support the left winger and was playing some excellent balls into the channels for Ebanks-Blake to come wide and drag his marker out of position. Neither looked out of their comfort zone at all and both seem capable of making the step-up which bodes well for the future bearing in mind the full back issues in the National Team.
Keogh's link-up play was excellent on saturday and with Ebanks-Blake picking up a hamstring injury, before long we could see a forward line of Keogh and Doyle which might help convince Trapp that Keogh is a viable option up-front instead of on the right wing.

**eirebhoy** · 18/08/2009, 1:46 PM

Reid was excellent for Sunderland in pre-season. Ignorance to think he wouldn't be in the Sunderland squad.

**tetsujin1979** · 18/08/2009, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by Hunty's Flatcap

Keogh's link-up play was excellent on saturday and with Ebanks-Blake picking up a hamstring injury, before long we could see a forward line of Keogh and Doyle which might help convince Trapp that Keogh is a viable option up-front instead of on the right wing.

Both goals he's scored under Trapattoni (against Serbia, and Nottingham Forest) came when he played through the middle, after being moved away from an ineffective spell on the right wing. If that doesn't convince him, nothing will.

**DeLorean** · 18/08/2009, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

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

Whelan didn't start either, neither did Gibson. I'd make another point or two put youngirish has done it for me.

**olegunnar** · 20/08/2009, 3:14 PM

Whelan & Delap started V Liverpool, Lawrence came on

O'Shea and McCann started in Burnley/Manu match (Gibson unused sub)

Keogh & Ward started for Wolves

Keane/Hunt/Folan started in Spurs/Hull (kilbane unused sub)

Andy Reid came on for S'Land

Fahey/Carr started for Birmingham (Carsley/O'Shea unused subs)

Irish players continue to start well....

**Umberside** · 20/08/2009, 5:33 PM

Originally Posted by olegunnar

(Carsley/O'Shea unused subs)

Jayo came on late in the game, about ten minutes to go I think

**Razors left peg** · 20/08/2009, 5:51 PM

Originally Posted by Umberside

Jayo came on late in the game, about ten minutes to go I think

not in last nights game

**Umberside** · 20/08/2009, 6:35 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

not in last nights game

my mistake

**elroy** · 22/08/2009, 5:17 PM

Whelan started again for Stoke, seems to have done enough in the pool game to be first choice again. Lets hope he stays there.

**Eirambler** · 22/08/2009, 8:24 PM

By my count 19 Irish played in the 6 games today:

Stoke - Whelan, Delap and Lawrence
Birmingham - Carr and Fahey
Man Utd - Gibson and O'Shea (both came on as subs)
Wigan - McCarthy (sub)
Hull - Kilbane, Hunt and Folan
Wolves - Doyle, Keogh and Ward
Portsmouth - Wilson
Man City - Given , Dunne and England
Blackburn - Andrews

4 more games to come so should beat last weeks 20. The impressive start continues.

**Fergie's Son** · 22/08/2009, 8:41 PM

Gibson did well today. The contest was basically over but he was energetic and involved.

**elroy** · 22/08/2009, 9:44 PM

Good to see Kilbane getting game time and keeping a clean sheet as well.

**Crosby87** · 22/08/2009, 11:19 PM

[QUOTE=Fergie's Son;1217108 The contest was basically over but he was energetic and involved.[/QUOTE]

Well, thank God for that. I mean a young player trying to play with some energy? Amazing.

**Closed Account** · 14/08/2010, 11:19 AM

I think it could be the lowest ever this season due to injuries/selections
Not Starting:
Man City: Shay Given, Stephen Ireland,Greg Cunningham
Tottenham Hotsput: Robbie Keane

And in Scotland
Celtic: Darren O'Dea, Darly Murphy
Inverness: Richie Foran
It should be noted that Hayes and Rooney do start for Inverness