Ireland squad vs Holland

[drinkfeckarse]

For what reason might that be? Can anyone give me one (besides personal issues again Doherty and Connolly, Ive heard them all)? I cant think of multple reasons for each of them why they should be in the squad

Connolly
1,) Experience yes
2.) Hot form ? if he has it's only pre-season
3.) Playing against top EPL defenders each week not really considering he hardly played last year
4.) Proven goal scorer at all levels, helped qualify for the 2002 World Cup debatable, consistent scorer at lower levels definately
5.) Has played with Keane more than Elliott, Doyle, and Morrison (about equal with Morrison) didn't really work well with Keane
6.) Friends with Gary Breen, could get him back (check the EPL videos for Gary Breen). ???
7.) Better than Dixon and Alan Lee probably true
8.) With Keane not scoring for Tottenham, we need someone whos good in the box, because Keane is setting stuff up (KD, CM, and SE, can do this as well) not scoring? it's only pre-season!
9.) Has 2, 3 good years left has he had 2-3 good years??
10.) MOST IMPORTANTLY can perform under high pressure situations (Except once, we dont need to get into it, but scoring on his Feyenoord, and EPL debuts) again, debatable as not proven at top level IMO


Doherty
1.) Experience
2.) Versatility (Forward or Defender)
3.) 1st team football each week
4.) Has played with the current members so far
5.) Has proven himself for Ireland has he??
6.) Has 5, 6 + good years left do you class ordinary as good?
7.) Better than Steven Kelly (I think so)
8.) Shown he can perform at the International level, helped qualify for the 2002 World Cup he can do a job...sometimes
9.) Could learn more from Stan
10.) MOST IMPORTANTLY can perform under high pressure situations (I believe he had a header cleared off the line against Israel)

Kennedy
1.) Consistently been a solid performer in the lower leagues
2.) Experience
3.) Has played at all levels
4.) Leadership
5.) Has 2, 3 good years left
6.) Shown he can perform at the International level, helped qualify for the 2002 World Cup
7.) Better than Alan O'Brien not seen O'B but I would imagine so
8.) 1st team football each week
9.) Plays with Morrison and Macken (he could earn another call) each week, and has played with Kevin O'Connor
10.) MOST IMPORTANTLY can perform under high pressure situations (see goal in playoff semi-final against Reading, and play in final against Sheff United)

Only explanation "other reasons" must be personal, these 3 have been over looked too long

2 reasons for Dixon
1.) Potential
2.) Cap him once and lock him up forever

Alan O'Brien is slightly better
1.) Potential
2.) Trains with top players in the world, including Carr, Given and Duff. Partridge & Potter trained with top players and it hasn't really helped them
3.) Could soon be one of our main guys, breaking him in now could be good

Some fair points but I think you're being a little optimistic myself.

[Dr. Ogba]

To be honest Mr. Worm I think you're making some awfully silly points re Kennedy and Connolly:

Connolly
2.) Hot form
3.) Playing against top EPL defenders each week
4.) Proven goal scorer at all levels, helped qualify for the 2002 World Cup
5.) Has played with Keane more than Elliott, Doyle, and Morrison (about equal with Morrison)
6.) Friends with Gary Breen, could get him back (check the EPL videos for Gary Breen).

These are some of the most ridiculuous statements I've ever heard (especially number 6!). Connolly is scoring goals in pre-season against mediocre opposition...woop-dee-doo, he has never performed at the top level and unless he does so this season he shouldn't be considered. the reason Eliott/Doyle are in the squad is because they're young and have the potential to play at the top (much like Connolly many moons ago) while Connolly has had several chances and for the much part just hasn't performed.

7.) Better than Dixon and Alan Lee

Lets disregard the Dixon argument cause its been done to death. Alan Lee provides something different as a targetman, thats why he's in the squad. Connolly's too similar to Keane.

8.) With Keane not scoring for Tottenham, we need someone whos good in the box, because Keane is setting stuff up (KD, CM, and SE, can do this as well)

When did this happen? Maybe he hasn't been scoring for Tottenham because they haven't played a competitive match since last season! Jumping on the bandwagon already?

9.) Has 2, 3 good years left

Time will tell, I'd be surprised to see him playing regularly this season.

10.) MOST IMPORTANTLY can perform under high pressure situations (Except once, we dont need to get into it, but scoring on his Feyenoord, and EPL debuts)

But can he perform consistently well? History says he can't at the highest level.

Kennedy
1.) Consistently been a solid performer
2.) Experience
3.) Has played at all levels
4.) Leadership

I'd have to draw the line at leadership. When has Mark Kennedy ever shown leadership??!!

6.) Shown he can perform at the International level, helped qualify for the 2002 World Cup

I'm sorry I may be getting old and my memory's fading but how the hell did he help us qualify? Did he even play any of the qualifying games??

7.) Better than Alan O'Brien

Have you even see Alan O'Brien play?

9.) Plays with Morrison and Macken (he could earn another call) each week, and has played with Kevin O'Connor

What relevance does this have? The only relevant player here is Morrisson, so you are saying that he should be called up because he plays with Morrisson?Madness!! Macken and O'Connor will never be called up into any future squads.

10.) MOST IMPORTANTLY can perform under high pressure situations (see goal in playoff semi-final against Reading, and play in final against Sheff United)

High pressure granted, but definitely lower level. As with Connolly, has found his level in the Championship and, bar the game against Yugoslavia, has never played well consistently for us.


Agree with ye on the Doc though!

[RogerMilla]

not to mention connollys previous form as regards the phone call with don givens for the greek game , i wont be letting him off the hook for that.
i don't think connolly is in any way deserving of a call up unless we are desperate

[Fubar]

Yeah its as clear as that, the centre half position is not a place for taking risks whereas the striker position you can turn into a world beater like Rooney did at a young age with the right attitude and talent.

Fair point but if Stan is trying to blood young players shouldnt he concentrate on our weakest positions first as oppose to blooding young strikers when we are in critical need of centre halves and central midfielders??

[CraftyToePoke]

Fair point but if Stan is trying to blood young players shouldnt he concentrate on our weakest positions first as oppose to blooding young strikers when we are in critical need of centre halves and central midfielders??

fubar, i see what you are saying, if he were to be called up and exposed badly, (as Staunton feels would happen), would it have done anyone any good longterm? i dont think so, not at this stage of his development, at present a nightmare may only damage his prospects. the striking position is a different matter entirely, a mistake there means your team dont score, a mistake at the back means your opponents do score, big difference.

[eirebhoy]

I'm a bit of a fan of Connolly. He can't play with Keane but has almost always done well for us when he's partnering anyone else up front. I'd still prefer Elliott to play if Keane was unavailable so don't see a place for Connolly in the squad.

Doherty was Norwich's player of the year last season so must be doing fairly well at centre half. I wouldn't write him off just yet considering the other options we have.

[geysir]

Doherty was a fair enough centre half when with Spurs. I suspect Stan is applying a stricter criteria with the back 4 selection. On present form is Doherty a better option than McCarthy?

[galwayhoop]

I'm definately not a glass half empty merchant and wish Stan the best as our national team boss but should he not have used the friendly against Holland as an opportunity to blood or try out another option at centre half.

Looking at our defenders we have 5 full backs and only 2 central defenders.

Andy O'Brien
Richard Dunne
John O'Shea
Ian Harte
Steve Finnan
Stephen Carr
Stephen Kelly

You cud argue that John O'Shea is a centre back but i'm not having that.

I know we are short of players all over and can't think of anyone off hand, bar Paddy McCarthy, is there anyone else out there?

If theres no one in england maybe we might just have to look at the eL. after all it is better having someone as cover who actually plays in the position rather than just crossing our fingers and toes that neither dunne or o'brien gets injured.

we should be safe enough with o'brien as i don't think he will be playing enough to even think about getting injured!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Qwerty]

Have you even see Alan O'Brien play?

Has anyone ever seen O'Brien play?

[Dr. Ogba]

Has anyone ever seen O'Brien play?

Good point!! I haven't!

[CraftyToePoke]

Has anyone ever seen O'Brien play?

not even Stan, possibly. was it not on the word of our senior internationals at newcastle,which Stan mentioned at interview, he was fastracked? i may be wrong on that though.

[gustavo]

I thought it was at the behest of Pat Devlin?

[theworm2345]

not to mention connollys previous form as regards the phone call with don givens for the greek game , i wont be letting him off the hook for that.
i don't think connolly is in any way deserving of a call up unless we are desperate

Have you heard both sides?

Givens reckons Connolly rejected the chance to play against Greece because he was not selected in the original squad, but Connolly has denied this: "Don has said I've refused to play for my country and I find that terrible because I never would do that," Connolly said. "It has taken me by surprise and I'm very disappointed. I came off near the end of Saturday's game suffering from a sore heel. I've had stitches in it and some of the stitches have been coming out. After the game it was decided if I was selected I would not be going and the club said that is what they would tell the FAI if they rang. As it turned out Don rang me on Saturday night and asked me `are you fit?'. I asked him why he wanted to know and he said he wanted to call me into the squad. I asked him why I wasn't in the original squad and he said `I choose the squad'. I said I felt I should have been in the original squad. Don said, `do you want to play or not?' and, before I could explain - `no, I'm injured' - he heard the word `no' and ended the conversation. If it wasn't for the stitches in my heel I would have been there like a shot and if they (the FAI) had spoken to my club none of this would have happened."

[RogerMilla]

ah .. well maybe i might let him off then... ( suitably contrite here :-) )

[Stuttgart88]

I've been away for a bit so am late getting in on this thread.

Some odd ones in this squad.

I can understand McCarthy's ommission but the Indo article is a bit out of date on his disciplinary situation which has improved recently. Also, the imabalance of the article is highlighted by its failure to mention that he's club captain at 23. I can see a late call up for McCarthy if O'Shea is injured.

Does anyone think Rory Delap could improvise at centre-back? Tall, athletic, decent defender, can play the ball well. I wouldn't put Stephen Kelly anywhere near centre-back, especially based on what I've heard of his performance in that position in Lisburn for the U21s.

With Reid injured and Lawrence dropped I think Stan must be thinking of Carr & Finnan on the RHS. I just hope it's Carr as RHM. I presume that means no startinmg place for McGeady.

Lee & O'Brien are odd ones. I immediately thought that maybe the Devlin conspiracy theories are correct, but I'm happy to take his inclusion on facew value. Ireland doesn't always have the luxury of waiting for players to blossom at club level before being selected. Look at Duff for example

Byrne is unlucky alright but Stan can't win. If he picks him it's tokenism, if he drops him he's insulting him & the eL. Again, I'm prepared to accept that Lee's inclusion is simply because he offers a different type of option.

I used to hate the predictability of Kerr's squads so at least this is something different. Despite a few odd ones, at the business end - i.e., the 15 names that really count - there's no real surprise. Kilbane as an emergency centre-back frightens me though.

[Jon'o]

from the FAI site:

Irish Manager, Stephen Staunton confirmed, “Obviously we are disappointed after losing both Shay (Given) and Stephen (Ireland) due to injury but we have a fantastic squad of players who will relish the opportunity to take on the Netherlands on Wednesday night”

Hopefuly they'll be ok for Germany

[eirebhoy]

Ah damn. I don't mind losing Given for a friendly but this pretty much rules Ireland out of the Germany game. O'Shea or Kav it is so...

Keane missed Spurs' match today with injury.

[DeNiro]

Has anyone else been called up?

[Colbert Report]

Very tough not to start McGeady vs. the Dutch. He's played every minute of his club's first three matches up in Scotland so far and was man of the match today vs. St. Mirren. He's in great form and with such a huge hole on the right wing how can we not play him? Finnan and Carr are both good players but neither brings that attacking force down the wing and they're both natural right backs. Does McGeady always play right wing up in Scotland?

[Fergie's Son]

Looks like McGeady is doing well for Celtic. Yet another glowing match review http://football.guardian.co.uk/Obser...843517,00.html

I'd have to agree that he should start.

I've seen O'Brien play a couple of times. Even started a thread about him I believe