interesting fact about VS. portugal

**martin_rules_ie** · 15/02/2005, 12:26 PM

Wednesday night�s match against Portugal was the first time in history that Ireland fielded a team entirely made up of players playing top flight football in England in a home international

**Cowboy** · 15/02/2005, 1:09 PM

interesting, do you think this is an indication of a higher standard of squad members?

**martin_rules_ie** · 15/02/2005, 1:14 PM

possibly. all the players who started are regulars for their clubs and its great that we don't HAVE to start first div players anymore. it gives off a more professional and respectable view of the team i believe

**eirebhoy** · 15/02/2005, 1:15 PM

France 0-0 Ireland (WC Qualifiers) 09/10/04

Rep of Ireland: Given, Carr, O'Brien, Cunningham, O'Shea, Finnan, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Duff, Robbie Keane, Morrison.

/edit - Didn't see the home bit.

**martin_rules_ie** · 15/02/2005, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by martin_rules_ie

Wednesday night�s match against Portugal was the first time in history that Ireland fielded a team entirely made up of players playing top flight football in England in a home international

**martin_rules_ie** · 15/02/2005, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Didn't see the home bit.

beat me too it!!

**Peadar** · 15/02/2005, 2:08 PM

Only 3 of them were Plastic Paddy's.

Wonder what the lowest number of PP's we've had in an International starting XI is?

**pineapple stu** · 15/02/2005, 2:11 PM

Have to go back to the mid to late 70s and a game with Switzerland for the last time the starting XI for Ireland were all born in the country...

**Peadar** · 15/02/2005, 2:13 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Have to go back to the mid to late 70s

That's what I was thinking alright because I remember many players from the 80's and the number of PP's grew dramatically during that period.

BTW, before I get lambasted about having a go at PP's, I wouldn't have a squad without KK and AO'B.
CM didn't impress against Portugal but he's welcome in my squad too.

**tricky_colour** · 15/02/2005, 3:14 PM

How about a plastic Paddies V real Paddies match?

I expect there woud be crowd trouble though

**tricky_colour** · 15/02/2005, 3:18 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Only 3 of them were Plastic Paddy's.

Wonder what the lowest number of PP's we've had in an International starting XI is?

Technically the apostrophy in Paddy's is incorrect, the same goes for
PP's.
Its plural, it does not donate possession or missing letter's

**Condex** · 15/02/2005, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by martin_rules_ie

possibly. all the players who started are regulars for their clubs and its great that we don't HAVE to start first div players anymore. it gives off a more professional and respectable view of the team i believe

What all the Kavanagh & Breen supporters will be up in arms!!!

**wws** · 15/02/2005, 3:46 PM

intrestingly enough last night......Wenger was the first english club manager to name a 16-man squad that included not one British player!

........and they won 5-1!!!!!!!!!!

what does that say????

**Metrostars** · 15/02/2005, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by wws

intrestingly enough last night......Wenger was the first english club manager to name a 16-man squad that included not one British player!

........and they won 5-1!!!!!!!!!!

what does that say????

Actually Chelsea did that a few years ago. Last night was the first time Arsenal did it.

**Closed Account 2** · 15/02/2005, 3:58 PM

I think Chelsea had Jodi Morris and one other British player (Nichol or someone?) in the 16 man squad (ie on the bench) that time.

**Peadar** · 15/02/2005, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

I think Chelsea had Jodi Morris and one other British player (Nichol or someone?) in the 16 man squad (ie on the bench) that time.

Jody Morris, Jon Harley, John Terry and Mark Nicholls were all on the bench.
The game was v Southampton in 1999

**eirebhoy** · 15/02/2005, 4:06 PM

Originally Posted by Metrostars

Actually Chelsea did that a few years ago. Last night was the first time Arsenal did it.

Chelsea had 11 foreigners, don't think they had 5 foreigners on the bench.

How ironic though that UEFA are worried that clubs are only buying foreign players yet there were 5 Chelsea players on the pitch at the same time for England last year. Abramovich's money seems to be doing the opposite to what UEFA think.

**Junior** · 15/02/2005, 4:22 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

That's what I was thinking alright because I remember many players from the 80's and the number of PP's grew dramatically during that period.

BTW, before I get lambasted about having a go at PP's, I wouldn't have a squad without KK and AO'B.
CM didn't impress against Portugal but he's welcome in my squad too.

Now Im not CM's biggest fan in ayway shape or form. However, thought he played quite well last Weds and had a far better game than Keane (though that wasn't difficult)

Originally Posted by Metrostars

Actually Chelsea did that a few years ago. Last night was the first time Arsenal did it.

In reverse, Spurs played 6 Brits + 2 Irish in their starting 11 versus WBA at the weekend!!

**wws** · 15/02/2005, 4:25 PM

by Irish, dont you mean "west brits"?

**eirebhoy** · 15/02/2005, 4:29 PM

Originally Posted by wws

by Irish, dont you mean "west brits"?

I posted this in another thread earlier on but here's a quote from some bloke on Sky News on the topic of Arsenal fielding all foreign players:

"Chelsea have a hardcore of English players, Frank Lampard, John Terry, or British players, Damien Duff."