Team to face Cyrprus on September 4th?

**Slash/ED** · 29/05/2004, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Slash/ED, I am a Celtic supporter and I can tell you that Larsson is anything but an in the box man. He plays out wide for a lot of the match and often comes back to help the midfield. Maybe Henry would be a better example as I'm sure you've seen him play.

Larsson and Henry are 20+ goal a season men. Robbie Keane is not. That's the difference.

**Condex** · 30/05/2004, 2:10 AM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Don't comment on a player you havge obviously not seen on more than a couple of occasions. I'll be repeating what I said to so many people when i say the following.
+ He is the captain of his club which shows he has the determination, experience and aggression needed in a midfield player.
+ He also has premiership experience with 10 games for Middlesborough at the tender age of 19 but unfortunately injury didn't help his cause. He made 50 appearances for Boro in total.

Just back from that matchand willing to comment on Div1 players.
the word I will use is crap.McPhail the most useless Irish player in a 100 years, something to celebrate.

**tarzan_bray** · 31/05/2004, 11:24 AM

cannot believe you are all leaving out Kilbane, he has been so consistent for Ireland and was fantastic against Brazil, him and Keano would be some tough centre midfield pairing

Matt Holland is like a china doll, he never gets broken cos he never gets stuck in just scores the odd screamer now and again, not good enough to start IMO

depending on how young McGeady gets on in the next few friendlies what about this team for Cyprus game

Given, Carr (ok you've all convinced me), O'Brien, Captain Kenny, O'Shea,
Miller, Kilbane, Keano, Duff, Keane, McGeady/Lee

**cullenswood** · 31/05/2004, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by tarzan_bray

cannot believe you are all leaving out Kilbane, he has been so consistent for Ireland and was fantastic against Brazil, him and Keano would be some tough centre midfield pairing

Matt Holland is like a china doll, he never gets broken cos he never gets stuck in just scores the odd screamer now and again, not good enough to start IMO

depending on how young McGeady gets on in the next few friendlies what about this team for Cyprus game

Given, Carr (ok you've all convinced me), O'Brien, Captain Kenny, O'Shea,
Miller, Kilbane, Keano, Duff, Keane, McGeady/Lee

I wouldn't mind giving that team a go, even though I'm still not fully convinced about Miller and maybe would throw in Reid. Definitely leave out Morrisson who just doesn't have it for International level, or for club level considering Forrsell and Heskey will be keeping him out of the team next year.

Holland played his first decent game for Ireland on Thursday nite in over a year, he was muck apart from that (at international level)

only1kilbane · 31/05/2004, 12:27 PM

think we should cool it with mc geady he has not had the chances yet with celtic dont mind us and alan lee really aint up to it. Would prefer Clinton at the moment till anything better comes along. Kilbane and Keane in the middle would be my preffered duo anyway

**Condex** · 31/05/2004, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Don't comment on a player you havge obviously not seen on more than a couple of occasions. I'll be repeating what I said to so many people when i say the following.
+ He is the captain of his club which shows he has the determination, experience and aggression needed in a midfield player.
+ He also has premiership experience with 10 games for Middlesborough at the tender age of 19 but unfortunately injury didn't help his cause. He made 50 appearances for Boro in total.
+ He was a million pound transfer from Stoke to Cardiff which says a lot for a then second division club.
+ He was in the division 2 team of the year for 2 successive seasons and his first month in division 1 he got player of the month. Nothing special but he had to earn it.
+ He has scored 7 goals in 27 games this season.

Kavanagh : if he's that good why is he playing for a mid table Div1 side. I'm sure premiership clubs have scouts at a lot of matches.

The gulf in class between Div1 and premiership is getting bigger by the year
only Portsmouth of last years promoted teams stayed up and they had to go out and buy a whole new team. The teams that went up this year most likely will come back down again.

I would not have a Div1 player on ahead of players who are playing regularly in the premeriship. So Holland and Kilbane are ahead of Kavanagh but he can have Kinsellas place in the squad as looks past it.

**fergalr** · 31/05/2004, 12:38 PM

Consensus seems to be that the major problem is the lack of a second striker. The two options being put forward are to play 12-touch Robbie on his own or to pick someone we all know is not (or not yet) up to it. These two options presuppose that the only formations open to us are 4-5-1 and 4-4-2.

How's about a more modern (and very flexible) 4-1-2-2-1?
Given
Carr-Cunningham-O'Brien-O'Shea
RMK
Millar-A.Reid
Duff-Kilbane
Keane

**tarzan_bray** · 03/06/2004, 9:01 AM

From todays Indo report on Jamaica game

Barrett, a 22-year-old who learned his trade on the training ground at Arsenal alongside the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, has always been a player with massive potential.

He was part of Kerr's successful under-age squads and actually scored on his debut for the senior side against Finland in August 2002.

But illness and the lack of first team opportunities at Highbury saw him leave for Coventry at the end of last season and over the past 12 months he has slowly regained his confidence and begun to deliver for club and country.

Last night, playing on the right side of midfield, he showed what a technically gifted player he is and produced an excellent performance which was crowned by that goal

-------------------------------------

Midfield of Barret Miller Keano Duff?

**tiktok** · 03/06/2004, 9:19 AM

we do have a lack of right wingers, I've liked what I've seen of him so far, wouldn't mind him staying in the squad.

only1kilbane · 03/06/2004, 9:58 AM

Given

Carr - O Brien Cunningham - Oshea

Reid - Keane Kilbane - Duff

Keane Morrison

Think kilbane has shown in the games he was given a chance in the centre that he is up for the job

**Slash/ED** · 03/06/2004, 10:55 AM

There's no way Barrett should be a starter for us, or even close to one, he struggles to get into the Coventry side for gods sake! I'd have Reid on the right with Duff on the left for the wingers, Keane in the middle beside Miller. That's a very good mid field I think with some very good options on the bench too. Has to be Morrison beside Keane even if he's not playing the best on front of goal he's still the best option we have, it would be too early for Elliot to get into the side. I think O'Briens played his way ahead of Breen in the pecking order to partner Kenny now, though I wouldn't be panicing no matter which one got picked, it's nice to have options there. Given picks himself and the full backs will probably remain Carr and O'Shea.

**tarzan_bray** · 03/06/2004, 1:01 PM

Gerry McDermott: Kerr praises his Irish tiger cubs

Thursday June 3rd 2004

BRIAN KERR hailed match-winner Graham Barrett last night and said he has played himself into contention for the World Cup qualifiers.

Kerr nurtured Barrett through the youth ranks and was delighted to see his young protege deliver the goods last night.

"His whole game tonight was excellent and he came up with goal. He is a great lad who takes his game seriously and has probably been frustrated at his lack of progress," said Kerr.

� Irish Independent