Squad announced for Croatia

[Stuttgart88]

I think there’s a lot of sense in the suggestion that Stack may not be included due to his legal situation.

I still fail to see what all the fuss is about over O’Shea’s performances. I think he’s been fine defensively, a bit careless with his passing maybe, so talk of who backs him up is kind of academic.

Remember that Finnan can play pretty well at left full too.

From what I’ve seen of Clarke on TV and at the Unity Cup he looks like a proper natural attacking left-back and I’m surprised he’s not involved.

[Cowboy]

I think there’s a lot of sense in the suggestion that Stack may not be included due to his legal situation.

I obviously missed something, can anyone tell me what is Stacks "legal situation" ?

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/search/...p?newsid=13439

[Slash/ED]

Great manager you would make! drop the players who have come in and do a good job for a guy who is always injured come international game time, friendlies are the only real opportunity for Quinn or Barrett. Please show me one game where Delap was outstanding for Ireland?

I think Quinn is a decent one-dimensional player and Barrett is not turning out the be the players he thought he would be - but I think Kerr has made the right choice in calling them up. I have never understood this Delapmania.

So the fact he's done well in a few friendlys negates the fact he can't make the Coventry bench. We're better than picking players like that, this is a friendly, if ti was a competitive match past performances might come into play but it's not, it's about trying new players for the competitive games and I'd feel far happier about Delap, a premiership regular, as one of our back up players in case of injury than someone who's deemed not good enough to be back up for a shambles of a first division side.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Delap should be in the squad ahead of Quinn and Barrett.

absolutley. BKs thing about players having "come in and done well" is a nonsense. Where's the impetus to play for your place if once you're in -you're in and can only be ousted by injuring yourself? That just doesn't hold water. A premiership player kept out by two (or more) from a lower division just doesn't add up.
you go for the guy with the CV ffs.

[Cowboy]

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/search/...p?newsid=13439

Thanks info

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

So the fact he's done well in a few friendlys negates the fact he can't make the Coventry bench. We're better than picking players like that, this is a friendly, if ti was a competitive match past performances might come into play but it's not, it's about trying new players for the competitive games and I'd feel far happier about Delap, a premiership regular, as one of our back up players in case of injury than someone who's deemed not good enough to be back up for a shambles of a first division side.

I agree with you Slash/ED. Kerr is taking things too far. Its like he's weakening the team just to prove a point. I think all players should give 100% for friendly matches and try their best to be involved. Im sure this is Kerr's thinking too. But how hypocritical is it that Kerr chooses to leave out Roy Keane for friendlies. If Roy Keane isnt obliged to do friendlies, then why should any other player. We have 3/4 players in very good form at the moment who have been left out for what I would call journeymen.

[Slash/ED]

I agree with you Slash/ED. Kerr is taking things too far. Its like he's weakening the team just to prove a point. I think all players should give 100% for friendly matches and try their best to be involved. Im sure this is Kerr's thinking too. But how hypocritical is it that Kerr chooses to leave out Roy Keane for friendlies. If Roy Keane isnt obliged to do friendlies, then why should any other player. We have 3/4 players in very good form at the moment who have been left out for what I would call journeymen.

Yeah, what if Alan Quinn plays a stormer in the friendly in central mid field? By Kerrs logic, must we now leave Keane out of each and every squad until Alan Quinn gets injured? I can think of one or two posters on here who would be quite happy if that was the case mind you

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

Yeah, what if Alan Quinn plays a stormer in the friendly in central mid field? By Kerrs logic, must we now leave Keane out of each and every squad until Alan Quinn gets injured? I can think of one or two posters on here who would be quite happy if that was the case mind you

Its hard to fathom Kerr's thinking. There's little logic behind it. I just hope we don't suffer as a result. Touch wood, we won't arrive at a stage in this campaign where we have an injury crisis and are forced to call upon the likes of Nick Colgan, Alan Maybury, Alan Quinn, and Graham Barrett. I dread to think of the consequences.

[Donal81]

Its hard to fathom Kerr's thinking. There's little logic behind it. I just hope we don't suffer as a result. Touch wood, we won't arrive at a stage in this campaign where we have an injury crisis and are forced to call upon the likes of Nick Colgan, Alan Maybury, Alan Quinn, and Graham Barrett. I dread to think of the consequences.

In fairness lads, while I appreciate that Delap is playing regularly in the Premier League, it's not as if Kerr has let us down yet. In our poor performances, it's players playing terribly that has done us in, not their selection. Against Switzerland away and against the Faroe Islands, the lack of ideas in attack from normally creative players was the problem, not Kerr's selection policy.

The one decision that Kerr made that really puzzled me was picking Lee Carsley against Georgia at home when he was the least fit and least talented right-sided midfielder. Carsley played rubbish and was taken off fairly sharpish, having stunted any attack we had that day.

Apart from that, when have his decisions let us down? What player has he constantly selected or ignored to the detriment of the team? Fair enough, Delap can justifiably be upset but he's been called up plenty of times before - Kerr obviously has his reasons.

I will never place a blanket of trust in any manager's decisions but until his selections become clearly misguided, I don't see what all the fuss is about.

[skbio_toronto]

I'm surprised this thread has continued onto 4 pages, to be honest.

The fact whether Delap gets a place on an Irish squad, in the larger scale of things, is largely irrelevant. Lets consider him a contender for the oft-debated right wing slot, which most of us would agree no one has really made their own. Correct me if I'm wrong, but these five players would be ahead of Delap in the pecking order.

Steve Finnan - After a solid performance in the Stade de France

Andy Reid - Well we're not about to shunt Duff off the left wing now are we

Steven Reid - His display against Scotland was very encouraging lest we forget. Shocking aginst Russia at Lansdowne. Potential is undoubted. Will Mark Hughes light the 'Spark' to reinvigorate his career

Liam Miller - Neat n' tidy, plays for United.

Graham Barret - Pardon my candour, but f&ck Coventry. This guy acquitted himself well in the Amstardam Arena. And c'mon he's flipping 5th choice / 6th choice (Depends on your opinion) ! Get over it!

I reiterate, yes, I do feel sorry for Delap. His injuries have always seemed to coincide with Ireland matches. But c'mon lads let the topic die.

SKBIO-TOR

[Slash/ED]

Graham Barret - Pardon my candour, but f&ck Coventry. This guy acquitted himself well in the Amstardam Arena. And c'mon he's flipping 5th choice / 6th choice (Depends on your opinion) ! Get over it!

He's not good enough, and when we have injury crises, and we will, I find it embarassing we'll have to rely on someone who can't make the Coventry bench because of Kerrs short-sightedness.

[Donal81]

He's not good enough, and when we have injury crises, and we will, I find it embarassing we'll have to rely on someone who can't make the Coventry bench because of Kerrs short-sightedness.

Since when has Kerr become short-sighted? I'm not defending the man blindly but I don't really see your point here. He picked some players over others. Some have been there for a while and have done ok when given their chance. Others, such as Delap, have been injured constantly. There are only so many spaces in the squad. Barrett got the nod. Delap might get it the next time. Two average/decent players, one getting his game, the other isn't. The one on the bench gets the nod. It's not that unfathomable that Kerr might have his reasons? End of story, no?

[Slash/ED]

Since when has Kerr become short-sighted? I'm not defending the man blindly but I don't really see your point here. He picked some players over others. Some have been there for a while and have done ok when given their chance. Others, such as Delap, have been injured constantly. There are only so many spaces in the squad. Barrett got the nod. Delap might get it the next time. Two average/decent players, one getting his game, the other isn't. The one on the bench gets the nod. It's not that unfathomable that Kerr might have his reasons? End of story, no?

It's not that he is short-sighted, but he's being short-sighted over this. They're not average/decent players, Barrett is not that, he is poor. He's not on the bench, he struggles to even make the bench at Coventry. We can't rely on players like that it's bloody stupid, he's not good enough for the starting 16 at a shambles of a division one side! The point is if there's an injury crisis we'll have to rely on this and it's embarassing as much as anything else that we're even considering someone who can't make the bench of an awful division one side.

[onenilgameover]

Gary Breen is the second highest goal scorer in that with 7 only kept out of the top spot by Robbie keane on 23. what does that say about our midfield?

[eirebhoy]

Slash/Ed, the reason Barrett hasn't made the bench in the last 5 matches is because he has been out with an ankle injury. He played in all of the previous 16 games and scored in his last game.

Also, read a few Soton message boards. Delap is not one of their favourites. I still think he should be in the squad as I haven't seen Holland play well in so long.

[onenilgameover]

Wilo Flood? could be the time and the place...I don't reckon its too early..he is flowin with confidence at the momment why not?

[Stuttgart88]

Anyone see McGeady's footwork in the Old Firm game last night? Pity about the final ball but the trickery was pleasing on the eye.

[inexile]

was just about to post the exact same stuttgart, think this lad could be very special cos he seems to have the pace to go with it, towards the very end when he left the 3 rangers defenders standing i was on my feet shouting what the f.....k, still dont have a clue what he did but it worked, i dont think ireland has every had anyone who could do something like that

[eirebhoy]

There's a link floating about with a flick McGeady did that left an Aberdeen player for dirt. He did the exact same thing last night against 2 Rangers players. It is harder to do than it looks especially when you haven't got much time to think.

Oh, here:
http://www.daviebhoy67.pwp.blueyonde...GeadyTrick.mpg

Inexile, that link shows the exact trick he did against the 2 or 3 Rangers players.