irish strikeforce

**dynamo kerry** · 19/11/2009, 6:40 PM

well, part of the issue last night was an inability to put chances away. Ok the chances were spread around different players so it's not just keano missing everything for example..

what's the way forward for the irish team in terms of strikeforce.

is it doyle and keane

other options just now:
hunt - possibly more to come from him- I've not seen him play much for a while,reading not having a great season
best - I suspect he's not international class but would be happy to be proven wrong
folan - new target man who can move the ball
morrison - known quantity - has his time passed
long - i really don't rate long
keogh - who knows.. maybe a season or two in the premiership will be the making of him
an other?

ideas?

**jebus** · 19/11/2009, 6:52 PM

Doyle and Keane should be first choice

I'd have Folan, Morrison and Keogh for the time being but I'm unsure as to whether or not Keogh has what it takes

**Morbo** · 19/11/2009, 7:09 PM

I'd like to see the Folan/Keane partnership tried out in a few friendlies, it looked promising in Bari and I think it may be more effective than the Keane/Doyle partnership despite the fact that I consider Doyle a better player.

**irishultra** · 19/11/2009, 7:16 PM

Doyle's gone backwards though. He's not the Doyle of a couple of years ago. He's a grafter now but back then he showed a real touch of class. He was much qucker as well. Check out his performance against Slovakia back in 2007.

**Fr Damo** · 19/11/2009, 7:31 PM

Felt Doyle should have gone off at 65 mins, looked fc*ked. Legs had gone and if you look back you'll see not one ball up to him stuck after that. Hands up, Trap had to use the two subs for Injuries and as Dunphy put it at the end of the game, there was no bench to call upon.

In terms of looking forward, Keane prob only has the Euros in him, don't see him as being effective beyond that. Also, the surprise element has gone from Doyle. Don't know who is coming through TBH but in two years or if one of the above gets a long term injury (touch wood neither do) I'd don't fancy or options.

**Ciaran W** · 19/11/2009, 7:33 PM

We are really going to miss keane when he retires

**gustavo** · 19/11/2009, 7:39 PM

Originally Posted by dynamo kerry

so it's not just keano missing everything

Seriously?

I don't know what the man has to do to please some people

**dynamo kerry** · 19/11/2009, 7:51 PM

Originally Posted by gustavo

Seriously?

I don't know what the man has to do to please some people

jaysus.. are u a bit quick there to jump on that.

if you read it again I'm suggesting that keano is not responsible for missing loads of chances.. TO my mind he had 2 chances against france and scored one of them. I have no problem with keane.

my point was that we had our chances very spread out amongst the team last night, which is actually quite normal for us. Because RK spends so much time holding up the ball he isn't always in the box.. he is as often a provider as a scorer.

my question is can we chance set up or players so we end up with a full on striker, be it robbie or someone else supported by robbie.

ok now?

**Fixer82** · 19/11/2009, 8:57 PM

Doyle was poor last night. Great work rate but his football was poor.bad touch, slipping everywhere. But nobody to realistically replace him on the bench whatsoever.

I think Folan is a great option and we really couldve done with him last night. don't see a whole lot coming through. Hunt is not a striker (nor does he play for Reading any more), Keogh has yet to get a proper game for Ireland as a striker so the jury is out there. Stokes could be an option to replace Keane if he gets back on track...don't think he has keane's attitude though...seems a bit spoilt and don't know if he'd have what it takes when the chips are down. Long a good grafter but maybe not international standard either...

hmmmm it all looks a bit grim post Euros

**Acornvilla** · 19/11/2009, 9:04 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

Doyle was poor last night. Great work rate but his football was poor.bad touch, slipping everywhere. But nobody to realistically replace him on the bench whatsoever.

I think Folan is a great option and we really couldve done with him last night. don't see a whole lot coming through. Hunt is not a striker (nor does he play for Reading any more), Keogh has yet to get a proper game for Ireland as a striker so the jury is out there. Stokes could be an option to replace Keane if he gets back on track...don't think he has keane's attitude though...seems a bit spoilt and don't know if he'd have what it takes when the chips are down. Long a good grafter but maybe not international standard either...

hmmmm it all looks a bit grim post Euros

hes talking about noel ya tit!

i think stokes will come good

**Fixer82** · 19/11/2009, 9:15 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

hes talking about noel ya tit!

i think stokes will come good

haha sorry yes I feel a bit dumb now....I deserved that!

don't think Hunt is up to international standard. Good grafter but Robbie the only real quality striker we have. Hopefully I'm wrong!

**Noelys Guitar** · 19/11/2009, 9:21 PM

I know Robbie was critised for going around the goalkeeper but I felt it was the right thing to do against a keeper in top form. Felt he was excellent over the two games. As was Doyle. We will rarely if ever have someone like Torres. So Keane and Doyle are still the two first choices. And still by some way until someone (possibly Best) starts knocking in goals against top class opposition.

**Fixer82** · 19/11/2009, 9:26 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

I know Robbie was critised for going around the goalkeeper but I felt it was the right thing to do against a keeper in top form.

yeah i second that...

**Duggie** · 20/11/2009, 9:28 AM

thankfully robbie has a good few years in him left but have we any upcoming strikers on the horizon? i dont know of any but im sure they may be? anyone have any info on any or know of any?

**Wangball** · 20/11/2009, 9:47 AM

Terry Dixon will hopefully over come his injuries and be the striker we'd hoped!

Stokes too

**Duggie** · 20/11/2009, 9:54 AM

anyone coming through the ranks though over the pond ?

**Fr Damo** · 20/11/2009, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Ciaran W

We are really going to miss keane when he retires

I don't think Keane would retire to "concentrate on his club football.... think he'll plough on knowing a 33/34 year old Keane is better than a 26/28 year old Folan, N Hunt, L Best, cos afterall he is also an Ireand supporter!

Jury out on Doyle for me at the moment. Stokes had the 'potential' but I am afraid I don't think he'll be chanced down south again and will do a Tommy Coyne or a Owen Coyle and not progrees much more in Jockland.

Haven't seen enough of Leon Best, Folan is just a target man.