No eL players in latest Ireland squad

**monkey magic** · 08/08/2006, 10:05 PM

jayo should be deffo in that squad, i thing everyone agrees on that.. this has got me thinking tho - how many people on here are actually going to this game?? hows about getting some banners and a few chants together to let steve know how true irish fans feel about his leaving byrne out of the squad?

surely this would be more effective than just emailing the fai? (no offence a face)

**hoops1** · 08/08/2006, 10:22 PM

Lee deserves to be in the squad ahead of Byrne
To many here are EL biased.
Lee is stronger,more agressive,a better header of the ball and holds it up better
Staunton has it right

**4tothefloor** · 08/08/2006, 10:49 PM

Alan Lee was injured for the Chile game. So Staunton had a look at Byrne. Now Lee is fit again, so Staunton is having a look at him this time instead. It's as simple as that. Byrne is no better than Lee, so what are ye moaning about? Just because Byrne's an EL player

Lee was actually playing some decent stuff for Ipswich when he got injured last season. Hes'a tall player who also has ariel presence, so any one who is pushing Byrne ahead of him on that basis is talking rubbish. Staunton had to drop Byrne to have a look at Lee - he was hardly going to drop any of the other strikers. As for Terry Dixon, he's a hot prospect for the future and it's fantastic that he's making the squads at this early stage. Reality check lads....

**soccerc** · 08/08/2006, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by monkey magic

jayo should be deffo in that squad, i thing everyone agrees on that..

No we don't.

**Soper** · 08/08/2006, 11:05 PM

4tothefloor-hows about you leave the Alan Lee analysis to someone who has a clue.I watched in nearly every home match he played for Cardiff, and he was always muck, and he will never be anything more than muck.Jason Byrne is a better player, end of.Get a clue.

**superfrank** · 08/08/2006, 11:09 PM

Surely Jason Byrne is the most on-form Irish striker at the moment??

**gustavo** · 08/08/2006, 11:19 PM

Exactly and Dixon is one of many fine Irish talents who will possibly be good at some point in the future but not now and its a bit of a joke him being added

**Poor Student** · 08/08/2006, 11:46 PM

I think we need a reality check here. I've seen players performing out of their skin in the Slovenian league and they weren't up to par when it came to the Slovenian international team. Our league is on relatively the same level and our national team better. I think Alan Lee is in the squad by virtue of the fact that he offers something different i.e. an aerial presence. It's the same reason Gary Doherty ever got in. They may not be great players but they offer you a different option if needed. Dixon is believed to be a hot prospect who is also believed to be sought after by England. There's no harm at all having him in the squad. There's no point in Byrne being there. He's not good enough and he is too old to benefit from the experience of a token inclusion. You may want to make a case for a specific player but I think you're losing scope if you register real anger and shock at the lack of inclusion of an eL player in the squad.

**Dodge** · 09/08/2006, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by BohsBohsBohs

Byrne isn't in the squad as he isn't good enough to start in the team, and as he is 28 he never will be. Staunton is building for the future.

Do we want EL players in as token gestures? If so then continue to kick up a storm.

The recalling of Carr suggests you're right. Likewise the ommision of McShane and McCarthy at centre half.

**gustavo** · 09/08/2006, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

There's no point in Byrne being there. He's not good enough and he is too old to benefit from the experience of a token inclusion. .

Fair enough you dont think he is good enough , But what has Alan Lee ever done to suggest to you that he is good enough?

**sullanefc** · 09/08/2006, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

I think Alan Lee is in the squad by virtue of the fact that he offers something different i.e. an aerial presence. It's the same reason Gary Doherty ever got in. They may not be great players but they offer you a different option if needed.

I've never seen this Alan Lee guy play but if you're comparing him to Gary "the ginger pele" Doherty then that says it all to me. Gary Doherty was one of the worst players to wear the green shirt and if you are saying that he is better than Jason Byrne then I hope you closed the door of the asylum when you got out.

Also, Jason Byrne would also give you that ariel option. He is good in the air and he scores goals, unlike Gary bloody Doherty.

**Poor Student** · 09/08/2006, 12:25 AM

I think in an international squad you always need to select one out and out target man to give you that option. There's been none of any quality since Niall Quinn retired but you've got to retain that option none the less. Byrne is a good poacher in the Eircom League but he's not going to give you the aerial option for flick ons and take downs if you have to go route one in international football. I'm not saying Byrne is any better or worse than Lee or Doherty but they're fulfilling a very specific purpose. Before anyone hops in with a smart quip that purpose is a bean pole to whack high balls at.

**gustavo** · 09/08/2006, 12:30 AM

So basically you see Lee as the man to come on when we are losing with 5 minutes to go and lob a few Hail Mary balls up to him

**sullanefc** · 09/08/2006, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

I'm not saying Byrne is any better or worse than Lee or Doherty but they're fulfilling a very specific purpose.

But in another post you said that Byrne was not good enough, but Lee or Doherty are there for a reason????? That says to me that you think the 2 latter players are better than Byrne.

I know may seem like nit picking to you but I think Byrne could work as a target man AND he scores goals. Unlike Gary Doherty.

Actually there's a question. Did Gary Doherty ever score a goal for Ireland??

**Poor Student** · 09/08/2006, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by gustavo

So basically you see Lee as the man to come on when we are losing with 5 minutes to go and lob a few Hail Mary balls up to him

Exactly! He's 6ft 3. Sometimes you're just not penetrating a defence by playing it on the deck be it through sharp defending or your own inadequacies so you've got to go for plan B. Do you really see Jason Byrne as your man to offer something different (i.e. hoofing it) to Keane and Doyle/Morrisson if it's not working?

**Poor Student** · 09/08/2006, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

Actually there's a question. Did Gary Doherty ever score a goal for Ireland??

He's scored 4 goals in 30 caps but he's only started 5 times. I think the hail mary option relies more on the target man's flicking balls on that scoring. See Niall Quinn setting up Robbie Keane in World Cup 2002. I think Alan Lee is the best player to perform this very specific role.

**sullanefc** · 09/08/2006, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Do you really see Jason Byrne as your man to offer something different (i.e. hoofing it) to Keane and Doyle/Morrisson if it's not working?

Why not? It was successful against Chile. He set up a great chance for Robbie Keane if I recall correctly.

**Poor Student** · 09/08/2006, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

Why not? It was successful against Chile. He set up a great chance for Robbie Keane if I recall correctly.

I think he was being tried out as a normal partner in the mould of Doyle, Morrisson and Elliot rather than the desperate route one partner in the mould of Doherty/Lee. Do you want to take all those lads along and also take Jason Byrne and for Jayo to be your man to lump the high balls to if you want to go that route? You think Jason Byrne is the most ideal eligible player for Ireland to play the route one game with?

**sullanefc** · 09/08/2006, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

I think he was being tried out as a normal partner in the mould of Doyle, Morrisson and Elliot rather than the desperate route one partner in the mould of Doherty/Lee. Do you want to take all those lads along and also take Jason Byrne and for Jayo to be your man to lump the high balls to if you want to go that route? You think Jason Byrne is the most ideal eligible player for Ireland to play the route one game with?

Yes. As I said already, he won a lot of headers against Chile and set up a chance for Keane.

Anyway, my main fear is that this Lee guy, even if he plays badly in his first few appearances will be persisted with and will be given more than one chance, unlike Jason Byrne. And we all know the reason why.