Andy O'Brien

**endabob1** · 04/09/2006, 7:46 AM

After Given the 2 centre backs were our next best 2 players on the park, both O'Brien & Dunne played really well and who knows how good they would be if they had a central midfield in front of them!!!!

If this thread were about O'Shea who was anonymous for 90 minutes I would give it some credence.

**tetsujin1979** · 04/09/2006, 9:18 AM

I think Andy O'Brien needs an organising player alongside him to really shine, compare his performances alongside Cunningham to playing alongside Breen. With Dunne in the captain's role at Eastlands now, he'll be doing that on a regular basis, so it'll be easier to transfer that to the international game.
Still think we need to have a look at him and Paddy McCarthy together though. I was thinking that Paddy could come in for the Cyprus game, which we should win without any problems. But, with the Czech game on the following wednesday, would it be worth messing with the lineup, seeing as how you would think it would be back to Dunne - O'Brien for that game?

**Stuttgart88** · 04/09/2006, 9:39 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Still think we need to have a look at him and Paddy McCarthy together though. I was thinking that Paddy could come in for the Cyprus game, which we should win without any problems. But, with the Czech game on the following wednesday, would it be worth messing with the lineup, seeing as how you would think it would be back to Dunne - O'Brien for that game?

I thought Dunne & O'Brien's partnership was a real positive from Saturday.

**eirebhoy** · 04/09/2006, 9:59 AM

The chances of O'Brien playing between now and the Cyprus game are really slim which is a worry.

**Kingdom** · 04/09/2006, 10:13 AM

The only thing I can think of that Andy O'Brien has done wrong for IRELAND is his sending off against Israel, whihc in hindsight we'd all love to have done!

He's done nothing wrong whilst representing his country so I don't see why he should bedropped.

**tetsujin1979** · 04/09/2006, 10:53 AM

I didn't think he did anything to deserve being dropped, but the fact of the matter is he's not going to get any first team games at Portsmouth (think I even heard they told him he can go), leaving us the Doc, McCarthy and possibly McShane as backup.
We need to see how these guys can play alongside Dunne, and obviously McCarthy and McShane have no experience at this level. The Cyprus game is an excellent opportunity to give at least one of those 2 a run out before making any decisions about the centre half pairing for the Czech game.

**dr_peepee** · 04/09/2006, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

The only thing I can think of that Andy O'Brien has done wrong for IRELAND is his sending off against Israel, whihc in hindsight we'd all love to have done!

He's done nothing wrong whilst representing his country so I don't see why he should bedropped.

He didn't actually do anything to the keeper if i remember right... But you've hit the nail on the head. He's one nothing wrong in green to warrant being dropped. Arguably our best player (After Given obviously) over the course of the last campaign.

**shakermaker1982** · 04/09/2006, 10:55 AM

McCarthy needs a call up. At the moment O'Brien cannot be dropped because he played well Saturday but we need more options at CB.

**youngirish** · 04/09/2006, 11:37 AM

Mc Shane is due a run in the West Brom team for the next few months due to an injury to Curtis Davies so if he performs well he could be another option (I'm sure O'Brien or Dunne will be injured or suspended for a few of the games so he'll get a chance).

At the moment though O'Brien is the best we have. For God's sake Stan don't try JOS there instead. He was decent on Sat anyway bar his silly free kick that led to the goal.

**GUISAUltra** · 04/09/2006, 11:58 AM

it wasn't john o shea that gave away the free kick leading to the goal it was o brien and it was a bit of a dodgy free kick to give away but harsh enough call by the ref. not one german player claimed that free kick.
whoever said kilbane had a good game obviously wasn't watching the same game as me i thought he just didn't look up to standard in stuttgart.
I think taking of duff was a mistake as even though he was relatively quiet you would still always fancy him to do something special at anytime. i think stephen reid is wasted on the wing as he lacks the ability to take players on and get a cross into the box, i think mcgeady and duff on the wings could be very good

i think carr should be dropped for future games and not o brien.
finnan should be back at right back where he's most effective. i'd have o shea left back as its a waste of time putting him in midfield as he lacks the ability to control a game. dunne and o brien in the middle. mc geady and duff on the wings and miller and s. reid or kavanagh in the middle, doyle and keano up front.
any thoughts

**endabob1** · 04/09/2006, 12:23 PM

Fairly Similar team I'd have the same back 5 and front 2 but I'd stick Stephen Ireland in the middle with Steven Reid and keep Duff and McGeady out wide.
Having said that if Miller is playing well at Sunderland and Ireland doesn't get games for City you might want to change it.

**GUISAUltra** · 04/09/2006, 12:34 PM

yeah i'd really like to see stephen ireland get a run because from what i saw of him last year he does look a good player but he definitely will need to be getting regular first team football and be playing well. we're seriously lacking a high class centre midfielder who can pull the strings and change a game for us

**Paulie** · 04/09/2006, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Yet again O'Brien looked good in an international despite never looking good at club level in my opinion.

LeixlipRed made this same point and I'd have to agree with both of you. While he looks dodgy when playing at club level he's been consistently putting in good performances at international level. Also, if he was to be dropped there is currently no viable alternative.

**OwlsFan** · 04/09/2006, 12:45 PM

The postmatch consensus in Stuttgart among the group I was with was that O'Brien wasn't far off being man of the match.

As for those who suggest the return of Harte, have you no memories of Korea/Japan ? No pace and out of position numerous times. A defensive liability which I do not believe outweighs his offensive skills.

What a national anthem ! I have been to many an away game but this one was sung by the Irish supporters with real passion and brought a tear to my eye. Did it come across that way on TV ? The support throughout the game was tremendous,

**Paulie** · 04/09/2006, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

What a national anthem ! I have been to many an away game but this one was sung by the Irish supporters with real passion and brought a tear to my eye. Did it come across that way on TV ? The support throughout the game was tremendous,

Agreed. I thought the anthem was sung very well by the fans. I reckon that it was because there was no bloody opera singer belting it out over a microphone drowning out the fans as seems to happen at a lot of sporting events nowadays.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 04/09/2006, 9:38 PM

Maybe the thread was bad timing as he had an improved performance against Germany, but I still think that there are better options out there, if they are given the chance to prove themselves. Paddy McCarthy has been very good for Leicester and Luke McShane looks like he is a future international, and could be sooner rather than later. Jason Gavin at Drogheda could even a merit an opportunity in a friendly game to see what he can do IMO.

He hadn't played well for a long time IMO(I missed the Sweden game so don't know how he got on in that) and very rarely, if ever, put in a great performance at club level, if even played at all.

The lack of first team football will eventually catch up with him, but on a positive note Pompey are willing to offload him. Someone made the point that O'B plays better with someone like Dunne partnering him and that could be true.

**eirebhoy** · 04/09/2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

He hadn't played well for a long time IMO

His partnership with Cunningham was as good a central defensive partnership as we could have asked for and I don't think he's ever played a poor competitive for us.
Brazil (h) - Clean sheet.
Romania (h) - Clean sheet.
Holland (a) - Clean sheet.
Cyprus (h) - Clean sheet.
Switzerland (a) - 1 goal conceded after Kilbane lost possession in his own half.
France (a) - Clean sheet.
Faroes (h) - Clean sheet.
Portugal (h) - Clean sheet.
Israel (a) - Last minute goal conceded from 25 yards out.
Israel (h) - Israel header scored from outside the box and a penalty given away by O'Shea.

Faroes (a) - O'Shea played.
Italy (h) - Dunne played.
France (h) - Dunne played.
Cyprus (a) - Dunne played.
Switzerland (h) - Dunne played.

That's a pretty superb partnership Cunningham and O'Brien had if you ask me.