We all dream of a team of Gary Breens

**OwlsFan** · 26/04/2005, 2:02 PM

Fair dues to Gary. Named in the PFA Championship team of the year. No other Irish that I recognize in the 4 divisions except Kevin Maher and Lee Trundle !!

Premier League team of the season:
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Gary Neville (Man Utd)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Arjen Robben (Chelsea)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man C)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Andrew Johnson (C Palace)

PFA Championship team of season:
Kelvin Davis (Ipswich)
Graham Alexander (Preston)
Tom Huddlestone (Derby)
Gary Breen (Sunderland)
George McCartney (Sunderland)
Jimmy Bullard (Wigan)
Steve Sidwell (Reading)
Julio Arca (Sunderland)
Inigo Idiakez (Derby)
Nathan Ellington (Wigan)
Jason Roberts (Wigan)

PFA League One team of season:
Marlon Beresford (Luton)
Ryan Taylor (Tranmere)
Curtis Davies (Luton)
Chris Coyne (Luton)
Warren Cummings (Bournemouth)
Stuart Elliott (Hull)
Paul Merson (Walsall)
Ahmet Brkovic (Luton)
Kevin Nicholls (Luton)
Steve Howard (Luton)
Leroy Lita (Bristol City)

PFA League Two team of season:
Chris Weale (Yeovil)
Sam Ricketts (Swansea)
Adam Barrett (Southend)
Andy Crosby (S****horpe)
Michael Rose (Yeovil)
Lee Johnson (Yeovil)
Darren Way (Yeovil)
Kevin Maher (Southend)
Peter Beagrie (S****horpe)
Phil Jevons (Yeovil)
Lee Trundle (Swansea)

**Closed Account 2** · 26/04/2005, 2:10 PM

Maher (S****horpe) is Irish too (played U-21 for us years ago) but nearing 30 now. Reid would probably have made the Championship one too if he had stayed at Forest in Jan.

**Stuttgart88** · 26/04/2005, 2:10 PM

I've never had any problem with Gary Breen for Ireland. Thomas Repka & Glen Roeder nearly ruined him at West Ham. Right now I'd prefer him to O'Brien who makes me nervous at the moment.

What age is Breen? I think he could have a role to play yet, though I wonder does Kerr see him as being too much of a McCarthyite.

**Kingdom** · 26/04/2005, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I've never had any problem with Gary Breen for Ireland. Thomas Repka & Glen Roeder nearly ruined him at West Ham. Right now I'd prefer him to O'Brien who makes me nervous at the moment.

What age is Breen? I think he could have a role to play yet, though I wonder does Kerr see him as being too much of a McCarthyite.

No, no, no, no.

Regardless of whether he is a McCarthyite or not he should not be in the team. Why play him when we have 3 centre halves who compete often enough at the highest level.
Andy O'Brien has been superb for Ireland since he stepped in and the only player who should replace him if he loses form in the Green jersey is the Honey monster.

**OwlsFan** · 26/04/2005, 3:07 PM

Like it or not the Honey Monster is at the future of the Irish defence after Kenny retires at the end of the current campaign. It's then between O'Brien and O'Shea

for the other berth as Gary I suspect will also call it a day soon, especially if he's not getting his game for us.

Any other centre-half blood coming through ? We were awash with them in the Charlton era (McGrath, McCarthy, Moran, O'Leary, Lawrenson).

**Donal81** · 26/04/2005, 3:07 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I've never had any problem with Gary Breen for Ireland. Thomas Repka & Glen Roeder nearly ruined him at West Ham. Right now I'd prefer him to O'Brien who makes me nervous at the moment.

What age is Breen? I think he could have a role to play yet, though I wonder does Kerr see him as being too much of a McCarthyite.

Dear Lord, no. As nice a guy as he seems (and fair play to him on returning to the Premiership as centre-half on the Championship team of the season), he's just too much hassle. He played brilliantly in the World Cup but was never as good as that before or since (I can still remember coiling up in fear when we played Spain, "and it's Raul against Breen..." That's the line from your nightmares...but he actually did well). He was just prone to the worst lapses in concentration, forgetting to mark his man, not picking anyone up at corners, basic stuff like that. He definitely got better over the years but we can do without him at this stage.

Who knows, though. Sunderland could tear the Premiership a new hole next season with Gary at the heart of it. Then we'll all be back here baying for his inclusion.

He could provide cover if Kenny, Andy and Dunne were all injured, otherwise he's out of the picture.

**Condex** · 26/04/2005, 3:10 PM

Thats a nightmare not a dream!!!

**tetsujin1979** · 26/04/2005, 3:16 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Any other centre-half blood coming through ? We were awash with them in the Charlton era (McGrath, McCarthy, Moran, O'Leary, Lawrenson).

McShane at United and Paddy McCarthy at Leicester are the ones to watch in the near future

**OwlsFan** · 26/04/2005, 3:16 PM

Yes, 95% of the time Gary was excellent. That 5% cost us dear. I think he slipped for the Macedonian headed equaliser and lost his man and I recall the same happening in another match which I can put my finger on.

I think he was unduly vilified by many fans and even the song "We all dream etc" is a slag because it wouldn't be sung about a great footballer since that would go without saying (or singing).

He has never given less than his all and was passionate about wearing the green jersey. Can we ask for more ?

**Stuttgart88** · 26/04/2005, 3:54 PM

So we all agree then!

Honestly, I think he's a safe pair of hands who can be called upon if needs be. Much more so than Doherty. I think he was underrated during Mick's tenure.

KC & Dunne would be my current picks. O'Brien has been super for us in the last 12 months but I cringe every time I watch him for Newcastle.

Included in my "shopping list" for next season is:

O'Brien to secure a good move.
O'Shea likewise, and to become a centre-half of note in the PL.

Paddy McCarthy has had a dodgy start to his first team career, where he has also been played at full back by Levein. Given the pressure on MUFC at the moment I wonder how much chance McShane will get. O'Neill was happy to give John Kennedy his chance so maybe O'Dea (who I've only read about) could be on the verge of something too?

**Donal81** · 26/04/2005, 4:11 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I think he was unduly vilified by many fans and even the song "We all dream etc" is a slag because it wouldn't be sung about a great footballer since that would go without saying (or singing).

He has never given less than his all and was passionate about wearing the green jersey. Can we ask for more ?

We can't ask for too much more, no, and the song is a bit mean. He just made mistakes that were so basic, you know? I can remember a few examples: against Nigeria before going to Saipan. Whatever goal they scored, he simply forgot to pick up his man. When you do that on the astro-turf pitch, you get roared out of it by your team-mates so it certainly isn't excusable for a professional footballer.

Still, he always wanted to play for us. I have a feeling that it was McCarthy that got the best out of him and no other manager could make him play as well as he did in the World Cup. Wasn't there a rumour that Inter were after him? Blimey.

Dunne and Cunningham at the back, I reckon. I think Dunne has played his way into the team, at this stage.

**Soper** · 26/04/2005, 4:16 PM

Barca were after him I think.

**Soper** · 26/04/2005, 4:28 PM

Inter were after ian harte.

silly europeans

**Colie** · 26/04/2005, 11:51 PM

Dodgy as he is accross the water, Breeney has always been good for us.

Honey Monster is the way forward tho. I think he's playing better that oh Kenny Kenny right now.

Just for the sake of it while such a thread exists.
Some people on the North Tce don't realise there is a chorus to this so if it's you, print this out & bring it to the next match......

We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens

And number one is Gary Breen
And number two is Gary Breen
And number three is Gary Breen
And number fower is Gary Breen

We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens

And number five is Gary Breen
And number six is Gary Breen
And number seven is Gary Breen
And number eight is Gary Breen

We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens

And number nine is Gary Breen
And number ten is Gary Breen
And number eleven is Gary Breen
And number twelve is Gary Breen

We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
We all dream of a team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens
A team of Gary Breens

**Donal81** · 27/04/2005, 8:19 AM

Originally Posted by Colie

Dodgy as he is accross the water, Breeney has always been good for us.

Sorry mate but I'll have to disagree with you there. With the exception of the World Cup, I always thought that Breen's performances were often judged by how few mistakes he had made, which isn't a good sign. There are too many examples in my mind of slack, sloppy defending. Good in the air, never afraid of putting the boot in, but when it came to the basics, he seemed to forget them fairly regularly.

Still, as has already been mentioned, he always wanted to play for us. He lost his place after McCarthy went (although Kerr played him a good bit in the Euro qualifiers) and didn't go running to the press, showing a lot of character. There's that story in Paul Howard's Gaffers book, when his manager called him in to the office. He told Breen that he'd been called up to the England Bs or England U-21s. "But I want to play for Ireland," he said. Thank f*ck, said the manager, as he'd already told the England boss that Breen was off-limits. He's got Kerry blood too so he's obviously a decent sort.

He's had a great run with Ireland, considering how poor he was at times. He's got over 60 caps, got to a World Cup and captained us a few times, if I remember correctly. I don't think he'd get too indignant at being moved aside at this stage.

**roboyle** · 27/04/2005, 8:36 AM

I wouldn't be a Gary Breen fan but fair play to him for not doing a 'Lee Carsley' and deciding that travelling as part of the Irish squad is beneath him... his commitment cannot be questioned.

**Havelock Squire** · 27/04/2005, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by roboyle

I wouldn't be a Gary Breen fan but fair play to him for not doing a 'Lee Carsley' and deciding that travelling as part of the Irish squad is beneath him... his commitment cannot be questioned.

I hear your point but maybe it would be better applied to Dean Kiely. Carsley needed his time for his family life and his retirement really did help his game the last couple of seasons for Everton. Add to this the fact that he usually got the sh*t slagged out of him playing for Ireland (poor mans keane etc.) and was unfairly criticised for giving away a penalty (handball), against Turkey in the Euro 2000 playoff, for a long time.

Don't think he felt the bench warming was 'beneath him'.