He is playing regularly for a decent club side. I have not seen a lot of him for Tottenham. Spurs supporter opinion of him is very mixed,Link more appear to rate him as very average to some rating him very intelligent. What is of relevance to us is how he has settled comfortably into the national team in a relatively short time. The French game ( if he is selected) may be just the type of stage he will revel in.
He certaintly has ability, his perfect 30 yard 'chip' right onto the boot of Robbie Keane for the second goal against Israel is testament to that, it is that kind of ability which
could unlock the game for us, I believe its called 'vision'. I hope he has a good game, if he does he might win it for us.
----------Given-----------
Carr---Dunne---KC---Harte
------RoyK----JO'S-------
Finnan-----AReid-----Duff
--------Robbie-----------
That spurs thread seems to be all about why there is more than 1 thread for Ried and his game about Chelski. He had a good game, no doubts about that. Plus he has improved a lot since he went to spurs and the only thing letting him down is his atheltic ability. Hofefully he can improve on this (and improve consistency) because if he does he will be a top player
I like that team, it has a good balance to it. I'm not too sure if Robbie could do the business up front on his own though. He'd need some good support from Duff and Reid.Originally Posted by Volcán Masaya
'waaaaaaaaan da towwwwwwn hey!
----------Given-----------
Carr---Dunne---KC---Harte
------RoyK----JO'S-------
AReid------Robbie-----Duff
----------Clinton---------
What about that ? Finnan out for Clinton basically
That's more down to the fact that he didn't really set the world alight last season. This season he has been impressive.
Its a sign of a team that has developed when we have options at different positions like the full backs who can come in and do a job as well as the first choice.Kerr drops Dunne hint
September 7, 2005
Manchester City defender Richard Dunne is set to make his first appearance in a competitive international in exactly four years against France at Lansdowne Road tonight - but there remains considerable doubt about the make-up of the Irish team for the most eagerly awaited international in three years.
Dunne was a fixture during the qualification campaign for the 2002 World Cup finals, starting all four games against chief rivals Holland and Portugal.
His last competitive game was against the Dutch at Lansdowne in September 2001, after which his form dipped and he came within a whisker of being sacked by City three years ago.
Since then, however, he has come back from the brink to establish himself as one of the most dependable central defenders in the Premiership, and with Andy O’Brien missing Irish training over the weekend with a virus, Dunne is in pole position for the starting role alongside skipper Kenny Cunningham at the heart of the defence.
Kerr said: “A couple of decisions need to be made because of the illness and injuries earlier in the week, and centre half is one of the positions that has to be decided upon.
“Richard hadn’t played a game [this season] before the Italy game. He missed the first game of the Premiership for Manchester City and I understood, going into that game, that he may be a bit short of sharpness.
“But I’ve seen him a couple of times since. His performances in the past would also come into the equation, because he has the experience of playing in the big games and playing well.
“It’s a factor that must be taken into account, as is his form with Manchester City over the past two or three seasons.”
Other decisions to be made this evening concern the system the team will play, with Kerr hinting that he may use the 4-3-3 he deployed against Italy at some point in order to counteract the packer French midfield where Zidane, Vieira and Makelele will hold court.
Both full back spots remain in doubt, with Stephen Carr and Steve Finnan vying for a start on the right and Ian Harte and John O’Shea in contention on the left.
Alternatively, all four could conceivably play, with Finnan on the right of midfield and O’Shea partnering Roy Keane in midfield, while Steven Reid – who played the full 90 minutes against Italy last month – will also hope to play some part after a good start to the season with Blackburn Rovers.
All in all, opinions have never been so varied on the make-up of an Ireland team, and Irish supporters everywhere will wait Kerr’s announcement with more eagerness than usual.
Another sign is the fact we have the players to play something else apart from 4-4-2. 4-3-3 might be a better option IMO. Duffer and Reidy can score goals and it would throw the French off
Given
Carr
Kenny C
O'Brien
O'Shea
Finnan
Roy K
Kilbane
Duffer
Robbie
Clinton
Same team as Paris playing in a 4-4-2.
I think Finnan will start on right midfield to help keep an eye on Henry when he starts to drift out left.
Andy Reid will come on but I dont think he will start.
what times the team announced at??
wouldnt like to see this at all, WAY too experimental for a game as big as this!----------Given-----------
Carr---Dunne---KC---Harte
------RoyK----JO'S-------
Finnan-----AReid-----Duff
--------Robbie-----------
stick with good aul 4-4-2 all the way!
id stick with the tried and trusted at this stage and that means keeping o brien
I'm getting my pre-match nerves now. This could be one of the most famous nights in Irish football, or it could be a damp squib.
I would go with the team that the article suggests we will, although if Harte starts ahead of O`Shea then I won't complain. I recognise Harte has severe defensive frailties, but he could be worth it on the set pieces alone, and Josh is hardly consistent.
If Reid does not start tonight then it will be a massive mistake by Brian Kerr, however I believe with regular Premiership football, he is now too good to resist playing.
I do hope we get into the French tonight and don't pay too much respect to their reputations. I think its pretty much stick on that they will score at least once, so we need to do the same.
After tonight the qualification picture will become a whole lot clearer, and we will basically know what we have to do to set foot in Deutschland, or the play-offs.
What I'd give for 3 points tonight.
Ade
Carr plays ahead of Finnan, Reid on the right, Dunne at CB, which is fine but no Finnan??Hope Kerr will bring him on quickly if Carr makes a few mistakes.
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