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I don't feel I should have to qualify my opinion, but I'll do so anyway. What we badly need now are legitimate options. The great thing, and I've probably not said this before, is that with the current management system we're not going to be picking up spoofers. I'm not saying it's happened in the past, but a player I'd have been happy not to declare has been Anthony Pilkington. The boy just never looks bothered. ANd personally I don't think he gives us anything, not even depth.
Depth, and quality has always been our issue. Quality you can work around with a decent system. Depth you cannot. Everyone, and I mean that, should look at the recent game against Germany to show that Paul McShane, proud and rightly so born and bred Irishman, is just not good enough, under any circumstances for the national team squad. MON decided to play a midfielder with 180 mins experience at right back rather than Paul McShane. There is enough common sense within the ranks of the FAI's tech development bureau to target the areas we're weak in at senior level, and then filtering this down the grades - no different to the front row in rugby - so that players can develop specifically for a position, and God forbid, can make career choices as they go along.
You could say at the moment we've a core of about 40 that you can say we could reasonably call upon. I have taken huge liberties (lenihan/Sheridan) I will include players I personally don't rate. It's weak reading. I've put in bold the players who if possible I feel we should be improving on (and I included Robbie in this, purely because we need to find someone to take up his mantle soon, not because I don't rate him.)
Forde Westwood Randolph Elliot Henderson Given (6)
Coleman Ward OShea Wilson Pearce Keogh Clark Delaney St Ledger Duffy Lenihan McShane Kelly (13)
McGeady Brady McClean Pilkington McCarthy Whelan Gibson Hendrick Meyler Hoolahan Quinn Walters Reid Green (14)
Keane Long Stokes Doyle Sheridan Murphy (6)
Now, I reckon there are others around the Championship, League 1 and possibly the LOI who all could rightfully say that they could hold their own in the above list of players. Derrick Williams is a player who could develop into a fine defender, and he's at a club that could well be riding high in the Championship next season in Bristol City. There's plenty of the under 19 team that went far three years ago that if they get a bit of luck can eck out a decent career for themselves.
If Bamford, Kane, Christie and McGoldrick all declared for us, and Grealish remained with us, it would be seismic. It would make a huge improvement to the squad. It would mean the core getting stronger and wider, and maybe even open some other options with formations etc.
In a way, you kind of have to admire Northern Ireland in the past decade. They've smaller resources and numbers than us, the players coming through that are decent that we can plunder, we've done so, yet when they have to turn to a solid (if unspectacular) player from the bowels of League 1 or 2 then they do it. and if it doesn't work out, they pick a youngster from the 19's who might only be getting reserve football and they test him out.
I'm sure it was mentioned last week on this site, about picking kids that the underage coaches know is good, but for one reason or another the club career has stalled or whatever. I kind of wish we would either utilise some of our friendlies for those purposes, or pick a year of B Internationals and use them for that purpose.
Finally to get this post somewhere back on track, I pray to God Grealish stays with Ireland, because I think he could have a fantastic career with us, but I'm not so sure England will get the best from his talents. I reckon he'll be in Europe by his mid-20's. I would see a lot of Steve McManaman in him
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
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