Republic V North

**an_ceannaire** · 12/10/2006, 8:39 AM

For the first time in my 27 years, i reckon if we played the Nordies in a two leg play off, we would get done. Anybody care to disagree?? I would swap Robbie Keane for Healy any day. Robbie is no captain. Dunne should have the honour. Adn dont get me started on Duff, over rated beyond comprehension.

**endabob1** · 12/10/2006, 8:58 AM

Keane is a much more accomplished player than Healy, it comes down to the old Class & Form argument. As for the captaincy, I thought he did well last night, I do prefer a centre half or central midfielder to be captain as they're in a better position to see the whole game.
Thought Duff was one of the best players on the park, second half especially, delivered a few good balls and when he ran at the full back he created havoc, only slight complaint would be that he didn't do it/get the chance to do it enough.
Northern Ireland are in a good vein of form but before Spain they were in crisis after losing 3-0 at home to Iceland there was the sort of disquiet that we had afetr Cyprus, now Lawrie is a hero again.....
I'd still fancy us to beat them over 2 legs.

**Paddy Garcia** · 12/10/2006, 8:59 AM

The value of the Republic squad must be ten times that of the North. With decent management we would beat them.

**an_ceannaire** · 12/10/2006, 9:11 AM

Value Schmalue! We still have any amount of passengers, O'Shea, Reid etc. Look at Keane V Healy. Ok you say Keane is a better talent, yes, but who is scoring goals at international level...??? In an ideal world we would have them both! Going back to O'Shea, oh God, i wont even start.....just awful, as ever

**endabob1** · 12/10/2006, 9:39 AM

Keane is Class - Healy is in Form. Over time Keane has and will again be the better player.
You slate O'Shea (who I thought was ok last night bu I am not a fan) Of their back 4 only Aaron Hughes would get a place in our side.
In midfield, Johnson & davis would be welcomed with open arms, Gillespie is another Kilbane, 100% every game but he's not really up to it anymore.
I'd take Healy into the squad too because he is a poacher and would be another option up front.
The 2 'keepers would be welcome too, they'd add depth to an already strong area.
So of the entire squad I would take 6 players and of them I reckon only Hughes & Davis would be in contention to start.

**an_ceannaire** · 12/10/2006, 10:11 AM

I would play Doyle and Healy up front in a combo team. Robbie is a great player for spurs but not for ireland. If u think about it, when was the last time Robbie scored from play against a big team at club or international level? Israel for Ireland, and God knows for Spurs. He is a great man to score against the decent teams like Everton and Citeh, but against Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Ure, Chelski.......never, from play. Robbie Keane is going to be one of those players, like Duffer, with a great future behind them. John O'Shea too. God i remember when he burst on the scene, the hopes we had, ala McShane. If O'Shea has Kilbanes application he would be a super player but at this stage it would appear he just doesnt care, and thats criminal.

**harps1954** · 12/10/2006, 10:41 AM

According to the BBC news this morning, it said that last night's win over Latvia pushed the North up into the top 50 in the FIFA rankings. Considering we were ranked around 42nd (I think) in the last rankings, how long will it take the North to jump ahead of us in the rankings? Considering that the North have picked up seven points from their last three games as opposed to us picking up just one in a similar period, the answer might be "not long". Three or four years ago, we were ranked in the top 15 while the North were still in the hundreds. Changed times for both countries indeed. If things keep going like this, the North will be seeded higher than we will be for the World Cup qualifiers.

Also, considering that Delaney used the excuse of fallings in the World Rankings when Kerr was dismissed, how far will we have to fall until Stauton is questioned by him.

**green army** · 12/10/2006, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by harps1954

Also, considering that Delaney used the excuse of fallings in the World Rankings when Kerr was dismissed, how far will we have to fall until Stauton is questioned by him.

forgot about that. excellent point.

**tetsujin1979** · 12/10/2006, 11:01 AM

Healy is the North's main striker, everything in their game is set up to get him into a scoring position, compare it to Henry at Arsenal, where it's all about moving the ball at pace to Henry, making the best use of his skills, and Henry for France, where, ehh, it's not. I don't think Kerr or Staunton (yet) have set up the team to create consistently chances for Robbie in the way the team did under McCarthy (anyone got the stats for Robbie's scoring record under managers - Eirebhoy??). I doubt Healy would score as many if he was playing for the Republic.

P.S. I hate using the term "The Republic", but it's necessary here to distinguish Ireland, and Ireland!

**cheifo** · 12/10/2006, 11:08 AM

I have given up trying to analyse Robbies performances altough last night I thought to be fair he ran his legs off.Fair play to the north but I still feel we would beat them over two legs.

**kingp35** · 12/10/2006, 11:09 AM

Being a Leeds United fan I can say that Healy is a great player for the north but average at club level. HE has scored only once from open play this season for Leeds and has struggled a bit. Healy just seems to have a huge passion for his country and ups his game considerably when playing for Norn Iron.

**an_ceannaire** · 12/10/2006, 11:14 AM

I ask this in a purely curios way, is Healy a catholic? With a name like Healy? And if so was there ever any way we could have had him? How many of that Norn Iron team are catholic and might we have had?

**Hibs4Ever** · 12/10/2006, 11:18 AM

Duff is a CLASS player, by FAR the best we've of, and was quality last night, ran there defence all over the place

**an_ceannaire** · 12/10/2006, 11:34 AM

Duff is no more Irelands best player than i am!! You read Roy Curtis too much, he has his tongue so far up Duffers a*se! Yes Damien is one of our more talented players, but talent and application are two seperate things. Our best player, by a MILE is Shay Given, after him, probably Richie Dunne and God Save us but Killer is always dependable. Duff and Robbie are just playing like Dream Team Carl Fletcher Prima Donnas. I would start McGeady over Duff these days and Doyle over Keane

**Lionel Ritchie** · 12/10/2006, 11:42 AM

I enthusiastically and with genuine goodwill, check to see how NI get on right after all our games. However I believe I will add a little reality when I say that they are at the highest watermark they've been at since qualifying for Mexico 86 ....and are still 15 or so places below what we consider slumped basket case disgrace for ourselves.

That's not to pour derision on the remarkable strides they've made. Lawrie has steadied the ship, has them working for each other and playing some tidy football.

But there still aren't many in their squad you'd swap for ours. They're just getting more out of them is all.

The only thing in their set up that's truly a class apart from ours is the managment.

David Healy for Robbie Keane? Don't make me laugh.
I wouldn't swap David Healy for David Connolly.

I'm a Leeds supporter and, while Blackwell didn't give Healy the best of runs in his striking role, from what I've seen of him Healy is about as good as ...well ...David Connolly actually. That is he's an above average Championship standard striker who probably won't cut it in the Premiership if and when he gets the chance.

**eirebhoy** · 12/10/2006, 12:41 PM

I'm not getting involved in this debate but I just had to say, Hamilton mentioned last night that Keane's last goal in the league was against Arsenal.

Duff has set up all our goals so far and pretty much set up all our decent chances last night. It'll take him a while before he's back to his very best but he's still our best outfield player without doubt. It's like saying drop Healy as all he does is score. Duff is producing for us at half the player he can be...

**an_ceannaire** · 12/10/2006, 12:44 PM

Ah yes Eirebhoy, but that goal was a penalty.....re read what i said my friend

**Qwerty** · 12/10/2006, 12:55 PM

Lafferty is their one player I would take, we are lacking a target man more than anything and this kid is an exciting prospect. Aaron Hughes would be next. Davis is also a good player.