Poland V Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 19th November 2013 - Friendly - Poznań

**geysir** · 18/11/2013, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Would O'Brien have got a run if he'd been fit? Ward is pitiful. Surely we can do better than that?

You can howl at the moon, it looked full last night. Unless somebody new is promoted and makes the grade, it's a choice between Ward, Wilson and Kelly. There is little chance we can depend upon O'Brien, it's a waste of squad space calling him up, he needs that time to rest and recover.
I didn't notice how Kelly did against Germany, that's maybe a good sign.
Wilson's liability factor at LB is not any less than Ward's.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 19/11/2013, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

.
Wilson's liability factor at LB is not any less than Ward's.

Inclined to agree with Geysir. Wilson is likely technically superior but he has an irritating tendency towards over-elaborating when the simpler course of action would serve himself and his team better.

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/11/2013, 3:04 PM

Wilson is in no sense of the word technically superior to Ward. It's not even a contest. Ward's not a great player but the best of a limited lot at left full for us.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 19/11/2013, 3:14 PM

I agree with you Ward is a better option at left full Charlie -and perhaps my "technically superior" should read "superior technically" :-) ...as in Wilson, in my view, has superior technique -that is close control, passing, keep-ee -up-ees even. But he then offsets all that by fannying around with the thing when he needs to use it earlier to avoid painting himself into a corner.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 19/11/2013, 3:18 PM

By the by, according to ITV Roy the boy is commentating on Englands encounter with Germany tonight.

**texidub** · 19/11/2013, 4:18 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

By the by, according to ITV Roy the boy is commentating on Englands encounter with Germany tonight.

Really? Surely a mistake on their part?

FFS, that doesn't exactly fit with his image as someone focused on the job at hand to the exclusion of all else. Is he not being paid enough?

**Fixer82** · 19/11/2013, 4:24 PM

Must be a mistake

**Fixer82** · 19/11/2013, 4:25 PM

Maybe he was originally scheduled to do it before he got the Ireland job

**paul_oshea** · 19/11/2013, 5:05 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

I agree with you Ward is a better option at left full Charlie -and perhaps my "technically superior" should read "superior technically" :-) ...as in Wilson, in my view, has superior technique -that is close control, passing, keep-ee -up-ees even. But he then offsets all that by fannying around with the thing when he needs to use it earlier to avoid painting himself into a corner.

He has in no way, cost us to the same extent as Ward. Neither have been great, but Wilson gets it hands down. Ward is awful and his positioning and missing the runs and his mis timings are awful. I can't believe its still being debated in any shape or form.

In the earlier games he seemed to offer more going forward but not recently. Maybe under mon he will again. Ward currently offers a little more going forward but its marginal. It is by no means marginal in defensive frailities.

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/11/2013, 5:08 PM

Apart from the Kazakh game, I can't think of any goals you could say were caused by Ward.

**Stuttgart88** · 19/11/2013, 5:10 PM

He caused a goal against Estonia and Norn Iron's C team, both at home. By scoring.

But you're right, he's not an effective attacking full back.

**paul_oshea** · 19/11/2013, 5:16 PM

Of course ye wouldnt remember Spain, or against Croatia?

**geysir** · 19/11/2013, 5:19 PM

Wilson has a tissue of defensive frailties exposed ever since he lined up for the game against the Faroes.
He's like Santa Claus, bearing gifts to the opposition in most every game. The Faroes could only capatilise one of the two he offered them, how Sweden missed another of his, God only knows. But I suppose because Sweden missed the barn door from 2 paces with the resulting header, the mistake doesn't count.

**paul_oshea** · 19/11/2013, 5:22 PM

Wasn't it CD and you who said Coleman is a lucky player for not conceding perhaps this is a case also. Not that i believe any of that silly stuff as backup to a flawed argument like its been used in the past.

Wilson, is a far better option than Ward. And neither are great.

**Closed Account** · 19/11/2013, 5:24 PM

	Forde
Kelly	St Ledger	Wilson	Ward
Walters	McCarthy	Green	McGeady
	Long	Stokes

**Fixer82** · 19/11/2013, 5:25 PM

Walters is captain according to Q102 on Twitter

**CraftyToePoke** · 19/11/2013, 5:26 PM

The old striker on the wing lads .... or is it.

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/11/2013, 5:27 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Wasn't it CD and you who said Coleman is a lucky player for not conceding perhaps this is a case also. Not that i believe any of that silly stuff as backup to a flawed argument like its been used in the past.

Wilson, is a far better option than Ward. And neither are great.

Well I said he was lucky not to concede penalties considering he was constantly pulling his opponent's shirt in the box. Fouling somebody and making it look like you did nothing is probably as much skill as luck though. I think Ward, for most of his Ireland career, was a disciplined defender who did his job and nothing more.

**geysir** · 19/11/2013, 5:34 PM

I'm getting lost here. Wison is supposedly far better option than Ward. Both are supposedly poor but Wilson is a bit luckier, therefore we can tolerate his defensive frailties which have only led directly to one goal conceded in 4 or 5 qualifiers games?