Ireland's Great Expectations XI

A team of lads we had great hopes for but ultimately.....it just didnt happen for at international level. Some of these lads have a good few caps and were decent but we expected so much more from

1. Graham Stack (just shades Mark Beeny!)

2. Paul McShane
3 Alan Maybury
4 Phil Babb
5

6 Mark Kennedy
7 Liam Miller
8 Stephen McPhail
11 Richie Partridge

9. David Connolly
10. Stephen Elliot


Any suggestions for Defender perhaps???

Phil Babb in defence?

Sheridan's harsh.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Phil Babb in defence?

Sheridan's harsh.

I thought of Babb but I am not sure that would be fair on a fella with as many caps as him .......... although his comeback game was comically tragic if you recall it!

Sheridan is harsh I agree but he is not there cos he was sh*te or anything, simply because i thought he was a superb footballer, absolutely outstanding but it really didnt happen for him at international level. Although that was as much to do with Jack as anything else. That and us having one of the best CM's in Europe at the time

Alan Maybury maybe....

Originally Posted by JGKyne

Alan Maybury maybe....

Good shout, will add him now.
Would add Liam Miller and Colin Healy except we have TONNES of MF's !

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

I thought of Babb but I am not sure that would be fair on a fella with as many caps as him

Babb has just one more cap than Sheridan.

Babb also looked a superb prospect at the 94 World Cup, but never lived up to that thereafter. Seems almost the definition of what you're looking for.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Babb has just one more cap than Sheridan.

Babb also looked a superb prospect at the 94 World Cup, but never lived up to that thereafter. Seems almost the definition of what you're looking for.

Ok fair point so re caps, in that case Stu.....in he goes.......

Alan O'Brien I had high hopes that one day he'd lift his head..

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

I thought of Babb but I am not sure that would be fair on a fella with as many caps as him .......... although his comeback game was comically tragic if you recall it!

Babb's OG was the bitter cherry on the failcake that was that game. What is it with those Russians opening us up at will?

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

Alan O'Brien I had high hopes that one day he'd lift his head..



Babb's OG was the bitter cherry on the failcake that was that game. What is it with those Russians opening us up at will?

At one point he actually missed the ball, the crowd actually LAUGHED and worst of all, he did too ,out of embarrassment. I remember thinking "he doesnt deserve this"

The more i think about it, Liam Miller HAS to be in there considering where he was around the time of the Celtic/United transfer. Ok will lose Sheridan so and replace with Miller

I'd have McShane at 5 - centre-half is where we hoped he'd make it. Right back, maybe Stephen Carr? Jeff Kenna? Plenty of appearances between them but never matched their club form/potential.

Liam Miller should be captain.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I'd have McShane at 5 - centre-half is where we hoped he'd make it. Right back, maybe Stephen Carr? Jeff Kenna? Plenty of appearances between them but never matched their club form/potential.

to be honest Charlie, I put McShane at full back as I thought I would thinik of loads of centre halves but I havent really. I mean you might say Kernaghan but I dont think we ever expected much so he didnt fail to live up to his billing if you follow.
I think Stephen Carr would be extremely harsh!
Jeff Kenna, no, he pretty much was as we thought. Decent enough full back. nothing more nothing less, very like Curtis.

Paul Byrne?

Mark Kelly?

Joe Murphy even. Saved a penno at Anfield on his EPL debut.

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Mark Kelly?

remember his debut. think it was tunisia in 1990 in dalymount. was poor and cant remember seeing him again

Did he not play against Romania or Yugolslavia at Lansdowne, in a late 80s friendly? Maybe it was post-Italia 90.

Gareth Farrelly and Eddie McGoldrick - has anyone gone to a World Cup with us but have less of an impact internationally than McGoldrick?

Stack wasn't capped. I vote Paddy Kenny in, responsible for his part in his own miserable international career.

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

A team of lads we had great hopes for but ultimately.....it just didnt happen for at international level. Some of these lads have a good few caps and were decent but we expected so much more from

9. David Connolly

At the moment, has the exact same amount of goals and caps as Doyle in more than 10 fewer starts. I have to wonder if Doyle was never capped again would people say it just never happened for him for Ireland? Obviously its not a like for like comparison but no question they're both aiming to score goals.

Originally Posted by theworm2345

At the moment, has the exact same amount of goals and caps as Doyle in more than 10 fewer starts. I have to wonder if Doyle was never capped again would people say it just never happened for him for Ireland? Obviously its not a like for like comparison but no question they're both aiming to score goals.

Have to agree. I would even go as far as to say that Connolly has played less minutes than Doyle. Always felt he got a raw deal from fans. He was just unlucky he was similar to Robbie but not as good. Always looked better, as did Keane, beside Quinn or the Doc