Shane Ferguson

[ArdeeBhoy]

That the same Kilbane who has been nothing but tidy for Ireland at LB in the last few internationals?

Hmm, the same player (in that position) who's been responsible for around half the goals conceded by Ireland in the last 2 years.
Like said previously, Ferguson or even Ian Harte could do better.

[SwanVsDalton]

Hmm, the same player (in that position) who's been responsible for around half the goals conceded by Ireland in the last 2 years.
Like said previously, Ferguson or even Ian Harte could do better.

Around half? Fine - go ahead and breakdown how Kilbane's been solely responsible for 10 goals in the last two years. I even did some of the work for you and narrowed it down to just goals conceded in games he's played in.

On the topic at hand, I'm sure Harte or Ferguson will be options but my view is throwing around words like liability is just lazy.

[Charlie Darwin]

Kilbane has been responsible for every goal Ireland have ever conceded. Wait, no, that sounds dangerously like wild hyperbole.

[SwanVsDalton]

Kilbane has been responsible for every goal Ireland have ever conceded. Wait, no, that sounds dangerously like wild hyperbole.

Wild hyperbole - a lot more dangerous than the domesticated hyperbole.

[tetsujin1979]

Kilbane has been responsible for every goal Ireland have ever conceded. Wait, no, that sounds dangerously like wild hyperbole.

Kevin Kilbane is solely responsible for every goal conceded by every team throughout history in all sports, real or imaginary, in perpetuity throughout the universe in all known, and unknown, dimensions

now, that's hyperbole

[Supreme feet]

I'm bored. I'll do it. Competitive goals conceded in the last two years...

Bulgaria (a) - 1-1. Kilbane definitely at fault. Let a long ball go over his head.
Cyprus (a) - 2-1. Ball came in from O'Shea's side. Kilbane probably could have got tighter to the goalscorer, but it wasn't his man. Harsh to blame Kilbane.
Italy (h) - 2-2. Goals came from a corner, and a slip from St. Ledger. Was Kilbane supposed to be marking Camoranesi for the corner?
France (h) - 0-1. Huge deflection from a speculative shot when Ireland were otherwise defending solidly. Kilbane blameless.
France (a) - 1-1. McShane lost his man. Kilbane blameless.
Andorra (h) - 3-1. Freak volley. Possibly O'Shea's fault. Kilbane blameless.
Russia (h) - 2-3. Whelan mostly at fault for the first. Second came from our left, McGeady was more at fault - didn't track the full back who got the cross in. The goalscorer for the third - the holding midfielder - should have been closed down by the midfield. Harsh to single out Kilbane for that horror show.
Slovakia (a) 1-1. Header, corner. Kilbane blameless.
Macedonia (h) 2-1. A clearly unfit Dunne got turned easily. Kilbane blameless.

The only goal Kilbane was obviously at fault for was Bulgaria away. O'Shea's been directly responsible for more, as has Whelan. Our general defending from set-pieces and our closing down in midfield has been responsible for more goals conceded than any one individual.

[geysir]

I'd go along with that, no team on their own merits, deserved to score a goal against us

[Supreme feet]

Good point geysir! However, it is worrying that we've conceded in all but three competitive games under Trap. For a game plan that's based on solidity and grinding out wins, we're making too many mistakes and conceding soft goals. I do agree that we need a more convincing left-back than a converted midfielder who is winding down his career, but replacing Kilbane wouldn't simply eliminate this problem. Defensive mistakes are coming from all of the back four.

[elroy]

I'm bored. I'll do it. Competitive goals conceded in the last two years...

Bulgaria (a) - 1-1. Kilbane definitely at fault. Let a long ball go over his head.
Cyprus (a) - 2-1. Ball came in from O'Shea's side. Kilbane probably could have got tighter to the goalscorer, but it wasn't his man. Harsh to blame Kilbane.
Italy (h) - 2-2. Goals came from a corner, and a slip from St. Ledger. Was Kilbane supposed to be marking Camoranesi for the corner?
France (h) - 0-1. Huge deflection from a speculative shot when Ireland were otherwise defending solidly. Kilbane blameless.
France (a) - 1-1. McShane lost his man. Kilbane blameless.
Andorra (h) - 3-1. Freak volley. Possibly O'Shea's fault. Kilbane blameless.
Russia (h) - 2-3. Whelan mostly at fault for the first. Second came from our left, McGeady was more at fault - didn't track the full back who got the cross in. The goalscorer for the third - the holding midfielder - should have been closed down by the midfield. Harsh to single out Kilbane for that horror show.
Slovakia (a) 1-1. Header, corner. Kilbane blameless.
Macedonia (h) 2-1. A clearly unfit Dunne got turned easily. Kilbane blameless.

The only goal Kilbane was obviously at fault for was Bulgaria away. O'Shea's been directly responsible for more, as has Whelan. Our general defending from set-pieces and our closing down in midfield has been responsible for more goals conceded than any one individual.

Good analysis, the one other goal that I would apportion blame to KK, that is probably just outside the two year timeframe, is the one conceded in the home game with Bulgaria.

[French Toasht]

Nothing annoys me more than the ignorant "Kilbane ya donkey" chant from some idiot sitting in front of you at an Ireland game.

I challenge anyone to name a player that has been more committed to the Irish cause over the last 15 years. Whilst he may not have been the most gifted player to play for Ireland over that period, his workrate, dedication and unwillingness to give up surpass any player in that era. I know its just a mere aside, but it highlights the point; next time we play watch how many players sing the national anthem and watch English born KK belts out the lyrics with gusto. No one takes more pride in wearing the green jersey than him. Also by all accounts apparently he is an influential leader in the dressing room.

KK will always be up there with Denis Irwin and Steve Staunton for me as the most consumate professionals who wore the green jersey.

Also is I have heard this rumour do the rounds and was wondering could anyone verify it? KK was called up to England U-15 trials and went along wearing an Ireland jersey. He was promptly sent home. What a man!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yes, that story's true. And appreciate his efforts when he's played.

However, regardless of any 'analysis' on here, it doesn't mean that's he's not mediocre at best in that position. Hence the SF suggestion.
KK's a liability in every game he plays there for Ireland.

[TrapAPony]

With Shane Ferguson, Greg Cunningham and Marc Tierney coming through at left back, Kilbane's time should be up.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, that story's true. And appreciate his efforts when he's played.

Did KK say that himself?

[SwanVsDalton]

However, regardless of any 'analysis' on here, it doesn't mean that's he's not mediocre at best in that position. Hence the SF suggestion. KK's a liability in every game he plays there for Ireland.

By 'analysis', I hope you're referring to the posts where your ridiculous hyperbole was 'totally sunk'...

Not sure what you mean by SF either but, regardless, being mediocre (arguable) does not make him a liability. I think Kilbane's failings have been overstated. As SF pointed out, he's been as culpable as anyone else but has found himself on the end of a huge amount of criticism. Criticism on him should focus on his inability to support the left-winger and occasional (that's once in a while, not half the time he's on the pitch) lapses in concentration. And there haven't been many of those recently...

Kilbane's done fairly well at left-back on many occasions, but it's been overshadowed by a couple of poor mistakes that people like to bang on about as if they happen in every game.

With Shane Ferguson, Greg Cunningham and Marc Tierney coming through at left back, Kilbane's time should be up.

Arn't you getting ahead of yourself? Ferguson's an NI player and Cunningham's crocked. Don't know much about Tierney, is he the Norwich player and does he qualify? Again though, these guys arn't exactly coming into contention next month. And that post could've been written last month with Ciaran Clark in mind but Kilbane ended up in credit over him.

All this isn't to say I'm not against someone emerging, there are options. I'm still keen to see what O'Halloran will do, hope he goes on the US tour.

[theworm2345]

Also is I have heard this rumour do the rounds and was wondering could anyone verify it? KK was called up to England U-15 trials and went along wearing an Ireland jersey. He was promptly sent home. What a man!

I believed Kilbane confirmed that himself in an issue of YBIG. Sam Allardyce pressured him to go.

[TrapAPony]

Arn't you getting ahead of yourself?

I'm still keen to see what O'Halloran will do, hope he goes on the US tour.

Yes I am, which is why I highlighted both Ferguson & Tierney. Is the US Tour definitely going ahead?

[French Toasht]

I believed Kilbane confirmed that himself in an issue of YBIG. Sam Allardyce pressured him to go.

Your right. The quote is on page 6. http://www.ybig.ie/uploads/file/YBIG_iSSUE_19_web.pdf

Also another rumour I've heard is that when we played Brazil in the 0-0 draw back in 2004, that at the final whistle apparently Ronaldo ran half the pitch to swap jerseys with Kev Kilbane. Anyone able to verify that?

Theres only Zinedine Kilbane!

[ArdeeBhoy]

OK, good to see people are sticking their head in the sand on this one. Been going to football long enough, to spot a 'square peg in a round hole'.

Apart from anything else, he's playing out of position compared to where he's been playing for Huddersfield, where he did very well in the game I saw recently. I don't care if he has a 1000 caps, he's no left-back.
Apart from anything else, he's one-footed and has no pace. Fundamental failings at this level, in that position.
And that's where he gets shown up in every international he plays.

Hence my suggestion re.Shane Ferguson. He might be young, but at least he's playing in the PL. Which KK won't be gracing again....

[SwanVsDalton]

OK, good to see people are sticking their head in the sand on this one. Been going to football long enough, to spot a [I]'square peg in a round hole'

Goalposting moving like a champ - think we'd all agree on the 'square peg' even though you're somehow convinced otherwise...

Apart from anything else, he's playing out of position compared to where he's been playing for Huddersfield, where he did very well in the game I saw recently. I don't care if he has a 1000 caps, he's no left-back.
Apart from anything else, he's one-footed and has no pace. Fundamental failings at this level, in that position.

Mostly fair enough, some arguable...talking of which...

And that's where he gets shown up in every international he plays.

When was he shown up against Slovakia? Or France home and away? Or Macedonia? If you're talking about a few errors, which player in the team has committed no errors? Wildly OTT comment - again. Anyone can sling out a few of those. For instance, I could say ArdeeBhoy is the biggest supporting of Irish partition since Edward Carson but it doesn't mean much if I don't back it up with anything except vaguely muttering something about an erroneous vote two years ago...

Hence my suggestion re.Shane Ferguson. He might be young, but at least he's playing in the PL. Which KK won't be gracing again....

Has Ferguson even started a Prem game yet? And what part of his game makes you think he could immediately step in for a guy who has over 100 caps and can still compete, even in a more limited capacity, at that level?

[SwanVsDalton]

Yes I am, which is why I highlighted both Ferguson & Tierney. Is the US Tour definitely going ahead?

Fair nuff. Thought they were still planning on it, I hope it happens think it would be a far more useful exercise than in the Staunton era. Could be Ferguson's first call-up too if he declares in time...