Match by match the story of our campaign.....

**Lionel Ritchie** · 10/02/2006, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Fair play its better than pessimism. Very good read.

Agreed. I've a warm glow inside after reading that BUT
-as Ian Paisley said to a nun he thought he saw pouring a p1sspot into her petrol tank "I admire your faith ...but I don't share your conviction"

**Real ale Madrid** · 10/02/2006, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by colster

We have plenty of options in midfield. In the World Cup Holland and Kinsella did a good job against Ballack. I can see Carsley and Kavanagh doing a job there in the first game.

You are joking right? Now throw 2 of them with one other in a five man midfield against the Germans and you might be on to something - who would you suggest? i'd go with Duff and Reid on the wings with Carsley sitting deep and Ireland and O'shea in a more possitive role. doest even sound great either.

**colster** · 10/02/2006, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

You are joking right? Now throw 2 of them with one other in a five man midfield against the Germans and you might be on to something - who would you suggest? i'd go with Duff and Reid on the wings with Carsley sitting deep and Ireland and O'shea in a more possitive role. doest even sound great either.

I think if Carsley gets back to the form he had last season then we could play himself and Kavanagh together in a 4 man midfield.
I'd go with the following team

Given

Finnan O'Brien Dunne O'Shea

S.Reid Carsley Kavanagh Duff

R.Keane K.Doyle/Elliott

**as_i_say** · 10/02/2006, 11:43 AM

are things really that bad that lee carsley is being talked about as a starter for us in ANY qualification game?

If i believed in him im sure he wept-jesus that is.

**Emmet** · 10/02/2006, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

You are joking right? Now throw 2 of them with one other in a five man midfield against the Germans and you might be on to something - who would you suggest? i'd go with Duff and Reid on the wings with Carsley sitting deep and Ireland and O'shea in a more possitive role. doest even sound great either.

I'd have Kavanagh in midfield over O'Shea only because I think Kav is slightly less error prone than O'Shea and he keeps the ball whereas O'Shea's passing is suspect.

**colster** · 10/02/2006, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

are things really that bad that lee carsley is being talked about as a starter for us in ANY qualification game?

If i believed in him im sure he wept-jesus that is.

Well who else is there?
J. O'Shea - has rarely played there
Kilbane - passing is brutal
Miller - possibly
S.Reid - Needed on the right.
J O'Brien - hasn't played regularly for his club there. May be a bit soon.
Ireland - not a regular for his team. has potential but may be too soon for him
A. Quinn - not a regular for Sheffield United.
G. Whelan - possibly too soon for him
C Healy - returning from long term injury
Garvan - too young
M. Doyle - don't think so.

**as_i_say** · 10/02/2006, 11:58 AM

has carlsely ever done anything for us? tbh i'd rather have any of the first 6 you listed there instead of carsley. he's a nothing player. had one good season for everton when graveson played beside him.

Also i presume he has announced recently that he's come out of retirement-missed that one myself.

**colster** · 10/02/2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

has carlsely ever done anything for us? tbh i'd rather have any of the first 6 you listed there instead of carsley. he's a nothing player. had one good season for everton when graveson played beside him.

Also i presume he has announced recently that he's come out of retirement-missed that one myself.

If he gets back to that form then he's an option. I think he's better defensively than most of those mentioned.

**pineapple stu** · 10/02/2006, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

(didn't we win our last game against them in Germany before USA '94 ?)

2-0, with goals from Gary Kelly and Tony Cascarino!! 'Twas only a friendly though.

This Lee Carsley being mentioned for centre-mid is the same Lee Carsley who retired from international football a year ago? And people slag the English for wanting Ryan Giggs on the left wing?!

**colster** · 10/02/2006, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

2-0, with goals from Gary Kelly and Tony Cascarino!! 'Twas only a friendly though.

This Lee Carsley being mentioned for centre-mid is the same Lee Carsley who retired from international football a year ago? And people slag the English for wanting Ryan Giggs on the left wing?!

I thought he'd made himself available again towards the end of the last campaign.

Did a quick search and it looks like he is retired. All these breaks/retirements/available again are very confusing. Maybe Stan should get him to re-consider

**eirebhoy** · 10/02/2006, 2:32 PM

Originally Posted by colster

Well who else is there?
J. O'Shea - has rarely played there
Kilbane - passing is brutal
Miller - possibly
S.Reid - Needed on the right.
J O'Brien - hasn't played regularly for his club there. May be a bit soon.
Ireland - not a regular for his team. has potential but may be too soon for him
A. Quinn - not a regular for Sheffield United.
G. Whelan - possibly too soon for him
C Healy - returning from long term injury
Garvan - too young
M. Doyle - don't think so.

A lot of potential in most of the players listed above. Hopefully they live up to it.

**Irish_Praha** · 10/02/2006, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by colster

I thought he'd made himself available again towards the end of the last campaign.

Did a quick search and it looks like he is retired. All these breaks/retirements/available again are very confusing. Maybe Stan should get him to re-consider

I thought he took a break form international football because he needed extra time for his mentally handicapped child? Then he announced recently that he is available again. Or did I dream all that?

**pineapple stu** · 10/02/2006, 8:36 PM

He took a break alright, but then announced his retirement permanently, as far as I remember.

**eirebhoy** · 11/02/2006, 11:55 AM

He definitely came out of retirement last year, whether he retired a second time I don't know.

**pineapple stu** · 11/02/2006, 6:01 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

He definitely came out of retirement last year

99% sure he didn't - can't find anything through google either (though can find his retirement handily enough).

**livehead1** · 11/02/2006, 6:31 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

99% sure he didn't - can't find anything through google either (though can find his retirement handily enough).

Yeh he is out of international retirement at the end of the world cup qualifiers, i remember reading it, 100%.

**FarBeag** · 12/02/2006, 5:00 AM

Slightly off topic...Did anyone notice Steven Staunton at the Villa/Newcastle game to-day? He obviously was checking someone out but no one apart from Given played that's in the current squad. Strange one that.

**Forever Dreamin** · 12/02/2006, 12:41 PM

A point away in Germany would be a massive point but even if we dont get a point we should win our next 6 matches leaving us with 18 points from 7 games going into the double header against Slovakia and Czech. At that stage 2 or 3 points could be enough to see us on our way. 27 points should be enough to qualify.

**pineapple stu** · 12/02/2006, 6:34 PM

Originally Posted by FarBeag

Slightly off topic...Did anyone notice Steven Staunton at the Villa/Newcastle game to-day? He obviously was checking someone out but no one apart from Given played that's in the current squad. Strange one that.

Bobby Robson was at Boro-Chelsea...

Incidentally, can anyone post a link about Carsley's return - can't find anything on the internet at all, and didn't hear anything either?