Our best players right now. Stephhen Reid, Finnan and Given?

**NeilMcD** · 24/01/2006, 3:47 PM

Well Doyle is in their and you could harldy say that Stephen Reid has been part of the set up over the last few years in relation to competitive games. Judging by form etc thats the team I would play and then bring in O Brien, Ireland and Mc Geady off the bench or start a couple of them at a time.

**shakermaker1982** · 24/01/2006, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by livehead1

you obviously dont see enough of the premiership this season. By his own standards and the standards of premiership defenders Dunne has had a very poor season, has been beaten my many attackers and has also been hesitant. However Richard Dunne may not be, as you correctly say, the quickest defender in the world, but he is very quick and as quick as most strikers, hes exceptional over a few yards in most situations, i think people automatically think hes big so hes slow.

Dunne has played well in all the games I've seen him play this season (only on Sky but the City fans are happy with him as is Pearcey). Distin and Richard have looked solid overall as a pair. Dunne is never gonna be a world class defender and I don't expect him to be at that level every week but any guy who can keep Rooney out of the game like he did when they beat Man Utd cannot be underestimated.

Dunne is slowish on the turn though, when your playing top class internationals like Henry this can make all the difference.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/01/2006, 4:05 PM

Just my tuppence's worth and I quite like Dunne: I think he's been really poor for City this year. Well below the standard he showed last season. However his performance against United was top class. paul_oshea repeatedly says on this board that Dunne never seems to play a mistake free game & I tend to agree. But he regularly has the measure of Rooney which can't be a bad thing. I think Dunne's a good big game / backs against the wall defender. I think he often loses concentration in lesser games.

There'll be a big responsibility on him & O'Brien in the next year. O'Shea is probably next in line & then Breen or McCarthy. McCarthy's development will be critical for us I think.

**eirebhoy** · 24/01/2006, 5:28 PM

Originally Posted by Littlest Hobo

Heading over for the game aginast Sweden. I hope Stan starts the following team, which is a mixture of youth and experience.

Given

J O'Brien Dunne A O'Brien O'Shea

Finnan S Reid Ireland Duff

Keane Doyle

I'd swap Finnan and O'Brien around. Also, S.Reid and Ireland in the middle might be caught out. At club level Reid has Mokoena/Tugay/Savage as more defensive players, Ireland has Barton covering. Neither player has played as the defensive player in the centre of midfield for their clubs yet afaik.

For the Sweden match I'd go with:
...............Given..................
Kelly...Dunne...O'Brien...Finnan
O'Brien...Kav...S.Reid....Duffer
...........Keane...Doyle...........

**Colbert Report** · 25/01/2006, 1:11 AM

why does nobody have Harte starting at left back?? why not? finnan on the right side, o'brien and cunningham in the middle, and harte on the left.

then you have kavanaugh and s reid in the middle, a reid and duff on the wings, and keane and doyle up front.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/01/2006, 7:28 AM

Originally Posted by vega007

cunningham in the middle

Force of habit?

**macdermesser** · 25/01/2006, 8:13 AM

Originally Posted by vega007

why does nobody have Harte starting at left back?? why not? finnan on the right side, o'brien and cunningham in the middle, and harte on the left.

then you have kavanaugh and s reid in the middle, a reid and duff on the wings, and keane and doyle up front.

because harte can't defend, falls asleep in games doesn't track back etc etc.

**Metrostars** · 25/01/2006, 3:28 PM

Wow, this thread shows how much Andy Reid's stock has fallen in the last 6-9 months. No mention of him at all. It's a shame whats happened to him this season at Spurs.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/01/2006, 3:33 PM

I don't think he'd be that far off if he was getting a game. The original theme of the thread was asking who are our best players on the basis of playing consistently well for their clubs so that's why he didn't figure in any of the earlier comments.

**AustinoAsprilla** · 25/01/2006, 4:51 PM

I hate to admit it but I think Alan Mahon has done really well this season for Wigan. Never a fan but on form at mo... I think our midfield is our weakest link at the mo and would be inclined to include O'Shea in there. But maybe having Keane (or Duff) in behind two strikers, say Doyle and Elliot, for Sweden game would be good to see.

**eirebhoy** · 25/01/2006, 5:09 PM

Originally Posted by AustinoAsprilla

I hate to admit it but I think Alan Mahon has done really well this season for Wigan. Never a fan but on form at mo... I think our midfield is our weakest link at the mo and would be inclined to include O'Shea in there. But maybe having Keane (or Duff) in behind two strikers, say Doyle and Elliot, for Sweden game would be good to see.

Mahon has only played about 5 league games though.

**AustinoAsprilla** · 26/01/2006, 9:05 AM

Well he's played in about 15 I'm sure, including cup games, and he might make a decent attacking option from midfield which is something we are really lacking.