Anybody up for a bit of summer fun? Ireland Draft idea

[Metrostars]

Round 2 completed.

Players taken after two rounds:

Fixer82: Shay Given, John Sheridan
Murfinator: Roy Keane, Richard Dunne
tetsujin1979: Liam Brady, Denis Irwin
Metrostars: Paul McGrath, Ray Houghton
SwanVsDalton: Robbie Keane, David O'Leary
BonnieShels: Johnny Giles, Andy Townsend
Sullivinho: Damien Duff, Kevin Moran
EAFC_rdfl: Frank Stapleton, Ronnie Whelan

Round 3 starts with Fixer82, then murfinator, tets etc.

[Fixer82]

Ok sorry for delay guys. I think I'm up next? I pick Niall Quinn

[Murfinator]

Packie Bonner!

[tetsujin1979]

ok, I'm taking John Aldridge

[Metrostars]

I select.....



Tony Cascarino

88 Caps
19 Goals

[SwanVsDalton]

Hmm this is a tricky one. But I'm plumping for potential and pure natural ability - come on down, Aidan McGeady.

[Metrostars]

Bonnieshels is next to pick.

[BonnieShels]

Alan Kelly Jr

[Sullivinho]

I need a forward.

I pick Robbie K... damn.
Niall Q... nope.
John Ald... feck.
Tony Cas... aaargh.

OK, here's Kevin Doyle in typical posture.

[Metrostars]

EAFC_rdfl is up next for the end of round 3 and the start of round 4.

[EAFC_rdfl]

as much as these two have annoyed the hell out of me over the last few years, I pick
mark lawrenson and don givens



So, now its another long bore of a wait for me grrrrr, it could be monday before my next pick

[Metrostars]

Players taken after three rounds:

Fixer82: Shay Given, John Sheridan, Niall Quinn
Murfinator: Roy Keane, Richard Dunne, Packie Bonner
tetsujin1979: Liam Brady, Denis Irwin, John Aldridge
Metrostars: Paul McGrath, Ray Houghton, Tony Cascarino
SwanVsDalton: Robbie Keane, David O'Leary, Aidan McGeady
BonnieShels: Johnny Giles, Andy Townsend, Alan Kelly Jr
Sullivinho: Damien Duff, Kevin Moran, Kevin Doyle
EAFC_rdfl: Frank Stapleton, Ronnie Whelan, Mark Lawrenson, Don Givens

EAFC_rdfl has a fine striking partnership with Stapleton & Givens.

Sulvinho is up for the next selection in round 4.

[Sullivinho]

I can't be accused of having a soft defense anyway..



Mick joins Moran in the centre.

[BonnieShels]

It has to be the gaffer...

[SwanVsDalton]

Time to get in there with a goalie. Alan Kelly Snr for me.

[Metrostars]

I select



Jackie Carey

Here's a bio for ye young lads who don't know about this Irish Legend:

Johnny 'Jackie' Carey

Johnny Carey, born on 23 February 1919 in Dublin, had a long and sparkling football career. He was one of the most respected Irish footballers to ever play in England. Carey played for Home Farm at under age levels and signed for St James Gate in 1936. While he was playing for the Dublin club he was spotted by former Manchester United goalkeeper and long-time talent Scout, Billy Behan. Behan recommended Carey to United and just two months after joining St James Gate he was sold to United for a then record Irish transfer fee of £250.

Carey made his Manchester United debut on 25 September 1937 against Southampton. United were in the old Second Division at the time. In front of just 23,000 fans United lost by a 1-2 scoreline. Following his debut Carey retained his position in the Manchester United team for the rest of the season as the Reds reclaimed First Division status. The talented Johnny Carey had no difficulty in maintaining his position in the team in the higher division.

At the outbreak of the second World War Carey adopted a highly principled position. He could have chosen to return to neutral Ireland for the duration of the war but instead he decided that "...a country that gives me my living is worth fighting for." He joined the British army and was posted to both Italy and North Africa. Full time league football was suspended for six years during the war years. Nevertheless Carey managed to play over 100 matches for Manchester United in wartime regional leagues.

Upon the resumption of the Football League after the Second World War Johnny Carey returned to a greatly changed Manchester United. Old Trafford had been badly damaged by German bombing and the club had a new manager from Scotland, Matt Busby. A further difference was that Johnny Carey was made captain of Manchester United by Busby. It was an inspired decision by the manager as Carey proved to be an outstanding captain and performed the role until he left the club in 1953. Carey was a highly versatile player that played in almost every outfield position for United. He also played in goal once for the Reds as a stop-gap measure.

In 1948 Johnny Carey led Manchester United out as captain for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. It was United's first appearance in the FA Cup final for almost forty years. Blackpool, including Stanley Matthews, provided the opposition on the day and in their two previous meetings that season Blackpool held the edge with a win and a draw in the League meetings. Despite falling behind twice United prevailed winning 4-2 with two goals in the last ten minutes. It was Johnny Carey's first major honour. He won a notable individual honour in 1949 when he won the Professional Football Writers Player of the Year in 1949.

Carey and United ended five seasons of frustration when the finally won the First Division League title in the 1951/52 season. United's League record in the seasons directly prior to this was second, second, second, fourth, and second. By finally clinching the title Johnny Carey became the first non-Englishman to captain an English team to both League and Cup victories.

Johnny Carey scored 17 goals for Manchester United during his career. Playing as a defender he was not afforded many opportunities to get on the score sheet. Sixteen of his goals came in the League, nine of which he scored in his first two seasons when he was playing in a more advanced position. He scored his first goal for United on 28 December 1937 at the City Ground in a 2-3 win over Nottingham Forest. It was just his third appearance for the club. His one and only goal in the FA Cup came on 22 January 1938 in a 2-2 draw with Barnsley. Johnny Carey's last goal for Manchester United came at Old Trafford in a 2-1 victory over Blackpool on 26 December 1952.

Johnny Carey played his last game for Manchester United on 25 April 1953 at Ayresome Park. It was a difficult day for Carey as he captained United to 5-0 trouncing by Middlesboro. Although interrupted by the War, Johnny Carey spent 16 years at Old Trafford. He made a total of 344 appearances for United but he would almost certainly be in the top ten of all time appearances for Manchester United but for the six seasons lost to the War. He captained the Reds for seven seasons under one of the most astute managers, Matt Busby, ever and led the club to it's first major trophies, FA Cup and League title, in 40 years. Following Carey's death in August 1995 Ivan Ponting opened up as follows in the The Independent Obituary:
"Johnny Carey was a thoroughbred footballer who exuded class and calmness as Manchester United's first post-war captain and one of the most accomplished full-backs the British game has produced. A soft-brogued Dubliner who earned the epithet "Gentleman John" for his scrupulous fairness and unruffled demeanour no matter how dire the circumstances, Carey won every domestic prize available to him."
Johnny Carey - Ireland Career

Johnny Carey was one of a number of Irish dual internationals that represented both of the Irish teams in an era when it was possible to play for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Carey led the Republic of Ireland to one of it's most famous victories ever when the Irish triumphed 0-2 at Goodison Park in 1949. Carey captained Ireland as the Republic became the first non-UK team to beat England at home. Johnny Carey made his debut for the Republic of Ireland on 7 November 1937 against Norway at Dalymount Park in a World Cup qualifier. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. Carey made his debut for Northern Ireland after the war on 28 September 1946 in a 2-7 crushing defeat to England at Windsor Park. He went on to play for NI on seven occasions with the following record W1 - D2 - L4. Johnny Carey scored his first international goal for Ireland on 13 November 1938 at Dalymount Park in a 3-2 win over Poland. His other international goals came in friendly matches also - against Poland in 1932 and against Norway in 1950. His last match for the Republic was on 25 March 1953 in a 4-0 friendly victory over Austria. Uniquely Johnny Carey captained both Irish international teams. Between 1955 and 1967 Carey also served as team manager of the Republic of Ireland. However Carey had very little power as the team itself was chosen by a selection committee.

[tetsujin1979]

I'm going to add Steve Heighway on the left wing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Heighway
Tasty looking medal haul:
Division 1 (Level 1): 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979,1980
FA Cup: 1974
European Cup: 1977, 1978, 1981
UEFA Cup: 1973, 1976
Football League Cup: 1981;
League Cup: 1978
Charity Shield: 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979;
European Super Cup: 1977;

[Murfinator]

The utility man, John O'Shea. That gives me some positional freedom for picking the rest of my team!

[BonnieShels]

Damo you Murfinator.

[Fixer82]

Ok I was gonna pick O'Shea for his club medal haul but, as I'm not still fully sure how this works I'm gonna go with International goals to games ratio and simultaneously pi$s as many people off as I can.

I pick the Cóbh Colossus himself, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Stephen Ireland