Keane back for Swiss Match

**PaulB** · 05/09/2004, 8:04 AM

According to Dion Fanning in Sunday Indo Roy Keane is meeting up with the squad today and ill be available for Swiss Game. Have my doubts..

**Emmet** · 05/09/2004, 10:59 AM

According to Sky Sports News, he's been passed fit and will travel to Switzerland

**Plastic Paddy** · 05/09/2004, 11:07 AM

I'll stick my neck out here and say that, given the two central midfielders' performances yesterday, RMK wouldn't make my starting line-up for Basle.

That'd bring the arrogant ******* down a peg or two...

[Sound of doors slamming as PP quickly exits foot.ie

]

PP

**carnstien** · 05/09/2004, 11:08 AM

Absolutely fantastic news if he is fit. Kilbane was shocking in the last game and I would assume Keane will slot in for him.

I really fancy our chances of winning this one with Keane and Kav in the middle and the two boyo's on the wings. It will be by far the best Irish midfield for years, and with Miller to come back yet!

**carnstien** · 05/09/2004, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

I'll stick my neck out here and say that, given the two central midfielders' performances yesterday, RMK wouldn't make my starting line-up for Basle.

Boss, if Kilbane had played the game of his life yesterday I'd probably still boot him out of the team but the bottom line is that he was shocking (against Cyprus!) and I honestly don't think he should ever even be considered for the central midfield position for us again.

At least he should be behind Keane, Miller, Kav, Reid and Holland.

Big heart he may have, but open your eyes, he is crap!

only1kilbane · 05/09/2004, 11:54 AM

kilbane and keane will start wed. kilbane has got better and better in centre mid . some peoples opinions of him will never change no matter how well he does. id have him in way ahead of miller who has not done **** all in his career yet. the fella is hardly a little youngster. he needs to get some muscle on him gets knocked off the ball too easily. hes a bit too much like rk to have both in middle together

**Condex** · 05/09/2004, 11:54 AM

Great news I'd expect Kilbane to make way.

Get down the bookies I can see an Irish win in Basel.

**thejollyrodger** · 05/09/2004, 12:42 PM

Seems as though Keane has passed the medical. I find it all very strange but Im not complaining.

The swiss arent great, there is a lot of problems in their side, plenty about it in the papers. Ireland will probably be a bit nervous and think a draw would be a good result. We can beat them and I expect Roy to grap the game by the scruff of the neck.

For me revenge is the order of the day. I still have the image of that idiot Yakin doing a jig in front of the irish bench

. Someone threw a bottle at him but dadly missed. Comments like "....oh we can beat ireland if we all played with our wrong foot". They obviously need to be taught a lesson and a 3 or 4 nill would be about right.

I would have Duff Kavanagh Keane and Reid in midfield

**Adrianovic** · 05/09/2004, 1:04 PM

Well that's got to be a boost if he is fit to take part in the game.

I remember watching the game away where we lost in the pub and seeing it all pass our lads without one bit of fight or an instance of a comeback. I was Roy's biggest critic and still won't be much of a fan, but I turned to my dad and said "Roy Keane would have never let this happen". And I think I was right, he'd have done something about it or said something, hopefully his experience will add to the promising midfield pot we have.

With Reid and Duff out wide, who'd be a Swiss full back?

Ade

**brine3** · 05/09/2004, 1:31 PM

I still have the image of that idiot Yakin doing a jig in front of the irish bench

That was Frei, he came over and gave the finger to the Irish bench after the second Swiss goal. That's the same Frei who is now suspended for spitting at Steven Gerrard.

I'd go with JollyRodger's midfield.

**Slash/ED** · 05/09/2004, 1:51 PM

After the respective performances of Kilbane and Kavanagh yesturday you can't really see Kavanagh being dropped so Keane should slot in beside him. I'm delighted he's back we need a player like him for this game. The rest of the team should remain unchanged barring injury.

Only1Kilbane are you related to Kev at all?

When I saw you give him an 8 out of 10 in the ratings thread I actually laughed.

**tonycuna** · 05/09/2004, 2:04 PM

On premierleague.com there's the news about the return of Keane against Swiss.

This is the link

http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.ra...news.NewsItem&

I hope he could start in the first eleven, he's a very very important player for us, especially against that f**k**g team!

by an italian supporter of Ireland

**tiktok** · 05/09/2004, 4:45 PM

On the FAI website too.
Great news IMO.

**PaulB** · 05/09/2004, 6:04 PM

Originally Posted by only1kilbane

kilbane and keane will start wed. kilbane has got better and better in centre mid . some peoples opinions of him will never change no matter how well he does. id have him in way ahead of miller who has not done **** all in his career yet. the fella is hardly a little youngster. he needs to get some muscle on him gets knocked off the ball too easily. hes a bit too much like rk to have both in middle together

Has to be Keane/Kavanagh. Kilbane was OK at best yesterday, if he starts on Wednesday I'll be very surprised.

**drinkfeckarse** · 05/09/2004, 6:19 PM

Kavanagh surprised me yesterday, looked very composed. Gave the ball away easily once or twice but sure we can't have everything,who doesn't I suppose.. It's gotta be Keane and himself with Kilbane dropping to the bench. Kilbane to start on the left should Duff not make it and keep Reid on the right.

**Slash/ED** · 05/09/2004, 6:22 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

should Duff not make it

Is there a doubt about Duff playing the game? The last thing we need is to lose him.

**Slash/ED** · 05/09/2004, 6:27 PM

Originally Posted by Slash/ED

Is there a doubt about Duff playing the game? The last thing we need is to lose him.

Nevermind, I just read that there is. We really don't need this

**4tothefloor** · 05/09/2004, 6:48 PM

Plastic Paddy, I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking if you think our central midfield was adequate against Cyprus! Kilbane was poor, and reckless at times. He shows great urgency in going forward though, and thats the one thing he has going for him ahead of all of our other central midfielders.

Kavanagh was just a mirror image of Matt Holland, except more dominant and physical. Passes the ball six - ten yards, always sideways or backwards. Nice and tidy and composed, but nothing to get excited about at all in my opinion. He gave the ball away stupidly at times and was forced into passes on a number of occasions because he wanted too much time on the ball. Granted, he made some good tackles and passes during the game, but he wouldn't be in the same team as Roy Keane for me. Keane can do Kavs role, except 10 times better and thats why it'll probably be a Keane - Kilbane partnership. A Kavanagh - Keane partnership would be very boring and uncreative, which is no good to us.

Thought Andy Reid was outstanding again. If he keeps this up he'll be even better than Duff in a few years time, his all round game is a very high standard. He has it all. Wait till he starts playing in the premiership! Spurs have missed the boat i'd say, this lad will be going to a Liverpool or Newcastle at the very least.

**lopez** · 05/09/2004, 7:55 PM

I've had a few bad words from myself for Keane, but I think it's a huge psycholigical boost for him to come back. I'm just hoping that he is fully fit: The last thing we need is a substandard performance for sixty minutes.

Didn't think Kilbane had that bad a game yesterday, although it was Cyprus. Reid on the other hand was outstanding considering it was his first competitive game. Can't wait till Wednesday. Revenge will be as sweet as a toblerone bar (pardon the Cheesey Swiss puns).

**Plastic Paddy** · 06/09/2004, 7:25 AM

Originally Posted by carnstien

Boss, if Kilbane had played the game of his life yesterday I'd probably still boot him out of the team but the bottom line is that he was shocking (against Cyprus!) and I honestly don't think he should ever even be considered for the central midfield position for us again.

At least he should be behind Keane, Miller, Kav, Reid and Holland.

Big heart he may have, but open your eyes, he is crap!

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

Plastic Paddy, I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking if you think our central midfield was adequate against Cyprus! Kilbane was poor, and reckless at times. He shows great urgency in going forward though, and thats the one thing he has going for him ahead of all of our other central midfielders.

When we have a fully-fit midfield, I'll grant you both (grudgingly, mind!

) that Kilbane should be used as a bench-warmer. He gives us an option to use against tiring full-backs for the last twenty minutes of a game. In fairness, yes, we do have better, and it's the likes of RMK, Miller and Holland who should start.

On another note, Kavanagh impressed me against Cyprus. After that awful first free-kick, his range of passing was excellent and on more than one occasion he managed to drop forty-yard balls to the feet of Duff and Reid. It's a while since we've had a midfielder who's done that regularly.

PP