I doubt it, Roy Keane is out, Scholes is off form, Fletcher is no great shakes, and Ferguson still leaves Miller in the reserves, going with converted striker Alan Smith in central midfield. His stay at United is turning into a total joke, even football365 have taken to taking the p!ss out of him recently.Originally Posted by thejollyrodger
Miller has made the bench for United last couple of games. He'll need more injuries to those ahead of him to have a chance I think. Ferguson can't afford to gamble on team selection any more with Chelsea taking a commanding lead so early. In my mind that's one of the biggest negatives of Chelsea's success. I have no time for Ferguson personally, but I''ve always admired his willingness to accomodate fringe players & youngsters.
Whats happened to him at Wigan ? Injury ? Personality ? General ****eness ?
Injury I think, though he wouldn't be first choice anyway.
He's very rarely performed in an Ireland shirt and is a classic case of too good for the 1st Division not quite good enough for the Premierhip level striker, personally I always believed that Morrisson offers more of a physical presence which none of the others do.
I haven't seen him play this season, but he's been tried before and wasn't up to it, and I don't think he's good enough, whereas whenever Elliott has played in an Ireland shirt he's always impressed me (although, again I haven't seen Elliott play this season), and against Sweden him, doyle and keane did appear to have a good understanding and his partnership with one of those two, or both of them could blossom.
I think Stokes will prove to be a far better player than Connolly could ever hope to be so I'd sooner see him in the squad ahead of Connolly.
Can't see the point in him being called up tbh. He'll never start as he'll always be behind Keane (whether rightly or wrongly) and will never partner Keane as he's too similar a player. We're screaming out for a target-man to play alongside him at the mo. Wards a big lad isnt he? (cue the EL brigade...."suddenly he's good enough for Ireland blah blah blah"...
)
"Well I think they'll be a little disappointed with that" - Matt Holland on TV3 after 5-2 drubbing by Cyprus
Ciaran, how much is theworm2345 paying you for starting this thread?
Because he's sh*t and has had plenty of chances to impress at international level falling short each and every time with a consistency only John O'Shea can match.
What next should we call back Gary Doherty and Gary Breen back also to sort our defensive problems?
I wouldnt be against calling him up at all , I dont agree that he has been "****"" just not great but that goes for a lot of our players.
International football is about results hear and now. No point picking young players because they will be better than others eventually. Let the clubs develop the players and then pick them when they are ready. (btw I'm not saying that Stokes isn't ready.)
Unfair. Connolly usually plays well when he's not playing beside Keane.
Last edited by eirebhoy; 21/02/2007 at 12:17 PM.
It wouldnt be a popular choice, but i think he should be in the squad also. Goalscoring has a lot to do with confidence so i reckon in form strikers should be in the squad. He hasnt impressed in the past but i often felt that was because he was trying too hard, i.e. dropping too deep to pick up the ball in places where he cant cause any damage. I really dont think Stokes, Long or Keogh are ready yet. They need half a season as first team regulars at their present clubs, and we could try them in the end of season friendlies
If connolly was banging them in at premiership level then he would merit inclusion , as it stands his previous performances in the green jersey go against him and let's face it some of them were woeful.
Also his protestation to don givens that he should be first choice for ireland when he didnt get called up for the greek game shows a player whose idea of his ability certainly doesnt tally with reality.
No thanks.
Last edited by RogerMilla; 21/02/2007 at 12:45 PM.
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
Agree with that. Some of his previous incarnations as flavour of the month (as there's been a few) have ended with some of the most frustrating performances from an Irish player in the games that mattered (ie, qualifiers).
If he manages to sustain this patch of form perhaps he would deserve a recall to the Irish bench but he'd hardly diplace Doyle from the first 11. Doyle is doing the business in the Premiership. Connolly and Keane have never gelled as a partnership.
You should pick your form players undoubtedly - but I'd hold off on declaring Connolly the new Messiah.
Connolly is a proven effective Championship player. He has multiple opportunities at International & Premiership level & has failed each & every time.
He only played one season in the Premiership and was given little chance to impress. He scored twice in four starts, and scored one goals in chances he got as a substitute.He has multiple opportunities at International & Premiership level & has failed each & every time.
Connolly has been the most consistant Irish player this season and deserves to be in the next squad
"The cat is in it, but it's open - and it's a wild cat"
He was superb against Turkey beside Gary Doherty. He earnt a place beside Keane in Basel but as usual, the partnership didn't work. That was his last 2 games for Ireland I think? He has started maybe 25 games and whenever he's not partnering Keane he plays well.
Yeah like when? He was rubbish even before Keane came into the senior team. He's a terrible player. Always the same cr*p comes around when he scores a few goals in the Championship regarding a recall. Leave him be. He's found his level and it's not International standard.
He'll be one of the first Sunderland players off loaded by Keane when they get promoted.
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