Andy Reid's position

[paul_oshea]

I know it was only san marino, but in the second half he seemed to be in the right place everytime when looking for the ball and was always in assitance to the backs and forwards, thought he really controlled irelands distribution in the second half, again its only san marino, but this really does look to be his best position. i was also surprised how quick he was cutting inside etc...

[eirebhoy]

He played a lot deaper than I expected him to and my Emre comparison was backed up on last nights performance. Emre was recently linked with an 8 figure bid from Bayern Munich so hopefully Reid can hit those levels.

btw - Can I ask if anyone read a recent interview with Andy Reid? I haven't a clue what paper it was but a friend told me about it. He said he's fed up with people commenting on his weight and I'd really love to see the interview so we can finally put that issue to bed.

[paul_oshea]

i thought he played deeper at times, when neeeded, i thought his general reading of the game was very good, he got into the right positions at the right time, and some defence splitting passes were played in by him, he has a natural ability to sense where to pass the ball without actually looking up, fair enough though he did overdo it sometimes, but maybe that was the game to try it in....either way that should do his confidence no harm!!

[eirebhoy]

Yeah, it's his intelligience that really impresses me. I really like those types of players which is why I always rave about Nakamura. Both players are excellent passers with a great football brain. Naka has a lot more flair while Reid is stronger and better in scrappy types of games when we're on the back foot. He actually played in a similar role to that of Alonso last night.

[dr_peepee]

All valid points, and he should start for those very reasons. Still don't think though that as a cetral pairing Carsly and Reid in a 442 would cut it against a better side.

[Dr. Ogba]

He played a lot deaper than I expected him to and my Emre comparison was backed up on last nights performance. Emre was recently linked with an 8 figure bid from Bayern Munich so hopefully Reid can hit those levels.

btw - Can I ask if anyone read a recent interview with Andy Reid? I haven't a clue what paper it was but a friend told me about it. He said he's fed up with people commenting on his weight and I'd really love to see the interview so we can finally put that issue to bed.

yeah it was in the Indo on Sunday:

REID REBORN

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ANDY REID arrived for training in south London last Thursday with the vigour that has been renewed since he moved to Charlton Athletic in the summer searching for an outlet. Reid has rediscovered the joy of playing football after 18 months at Tottenham Hotspur which didn't work out as expected.

Last Tuesday Reid scored in the shoot-out against his old Nottingham Forest and Irish underage teammate Barry Roche, as Charlton beat Chesterfield on penalties to move into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. On Thursday, he arrived at training looking forward to the intense sessions that are the speciality of Iain Dowie. Instead he was sent into bat.

Charlton played cricket for an hour and a half instead of training and Reid discovered there were some limitations to his skills. "The lads said I was the worst player. Apparently I made something called a 'golden duck'. We didn't play much cricket when I was growing up."

Football governed Reid's early life in Crumlin. The mastery of a football that has always been natural to him came from living in a family where the game dominated lives.

Some have suggested that Reid has been functioning on that skill alone, that he was developing a physique more suited to a casual game of cricket than Premiership football. Even when he couldn't make the team at Tottenham, the managerial staff at White Hart Lane defended him against such claims, insisting he was in the top two or three trainers at the club.

"People who say that don't understand the game," Reid insists. "We do a lot of the Prozone stuff and if anybody wants to check the stats, you'll see that I do as much if not more running than anyone on the pitch."

But the talk persists. "It comes from the build that I have. Things like that don't bother me. I know what I do on the pitch and I know I do the right things. The managers I played under know I do and as long as my manager here and my international manager know what I can do, that's all that matters to me."

Reid spent the summer determined to end all criticism. He worked hard before the season began and Tottenham - having lost out on Damien Duff - were ready to start with him on the left. Then came an injury and soon there was a bid from Charlton.

Reid recovered from the injury - although he still feels he is catching up with those who had a full pre-season - but when Charlton made their move, he decided he needed to make one too.

Reid sent a message to Robbie Keane after his friend had beaten Chelsea on Sunday, but he says he is unconcerned by anything happening at Tottenham.

Charlton remain one of the least glamorous clubs in the Premiership, but they have allowed Reid a chance to sparkle. The joy that was in his game when he thrived at Nottingham Forest has returned.

Reid has been handed responsibility at Charlton and his recent run in the side has coincided with Charlton's best spell of the season, even if they remain bottom of the table following a poor start which saw them lose seven of their first eight matches.

Reid has appeared unaffected; playing his stylish game, encouraged by a manager who wants more than water-carriers in his team. The stats may show that Reid is a willing runner, but Dowie has placed him, as Steve Staunton did against the Czechs, in the centre of his team, allowing him to pick his passes. Reid can run, but he can also do a lot more.

"Certain managers go for different approaches and I've been lucky in all the managers I've played under, in that they've all wanted to play football, maybe with the exception of Gary Megson at Forest," Reid says, before considering his words and laughing. "**** that was a dig wasn't it? Most of the managers I've played under have wanted to play football and that's the way I was brought up.

"Paul Hart drilled it into us when we were young lads at Forest and I've been really, really lucky. I look around and I see players and I think they could have benefited from the education I had. That's the type of player I am, I'm not going to be able to change, it's what I do. I get on the ball and I look to play football and it's worked quite well so far."

Against San Marino on Wednesday, Reid's ability to keep the ball, to make things happen, may be required against a side that will willingly give the ball away and simply defend.

Staunton has been criticised for his comments regarding San Marino, but Reid believes three points is all that matters as Ireland search for their first win in the group.

"We've had a bit of a sticky patch and it's time to get back to winning. That was one thing I always found when I went away with Ireland teams. It wasn't always necessarily winning, but we didn't lose and I think we need to get that back. I think bits of it came back in the Czech Republic game."

Reid believes Ireland can still qualify and condemns the personal nature of the attacks on Steve Staunton. He also defends his captain from criticism.

"I don't understand the criticism of Robbie. I think he should be captain, he's one of our best players, he's a leader on and off the pitch. He's not a Tony Adams or a Roy Keane, but he leads by example and you just look at his goal record and the workrate he puts in on the pitch, it's second to none. Again, I think it's something which for some reason is personal more than anything to do with football. I've always felt that Robbie takes a lot of unfair criticism."

'Most of the managers I've played under have wanted to play football and that's the way I was brought up'

Staunton may have shown this week with his comments regarding Andy O'Brien and Bobby Robson that he remains a clumsy performer in front of the media. It would not matter if there was not always a danger of his team mirroring that ineptitude on the field. Ireland under Staunton have developed a habit of playing well only in response to a media firestorm. The pressure is off after the result against the Czechs, yet there is no chance of a career-ending slip-up on Wednesday night.

Reid believes the response of the players against the Czechs in an atmosphere he describes as the best he has experienced at Lansdowne signals the emergence of a new Irish team with the traditional traits. Ireland, he believes, are rediscovering their fight.

Everything else is changing in Irish football and Reid remembers Lansdowne Road wistfully.

"I always think it's a special place, not just the stadium, but the area is not too far from where I live and I just think it's a lovely area of the city, a very historical area of the city. I always love the drive over from the hotel to the stadium. So it will be sad and a bit strange, but it's a new dawn and it's exciting to be playing at Croker. Although I'm not too sure about playing on the northside."

[eirebhoy]

All valid points, and he should start for those very reasons. Still don't think though that as a cetral pairing Carsly and Reid in a 442 would cut it against a better side.

If Man U can be so successful with Paul Scholes in midfield then I don't see why not.

[tetsujin1979]

If Man U can be so successful with Paul Scholes in midfield then I don't see why not.

Paul Scholes had Roy Keane beside him.

[DeNiro]

What about if he was paired with Steven Reid? That may make a difference but there may be an issue with both trying to get forward.

[Dr. Ogba]

Defo think that Reid is the type of player that we've been crying out for of late. He was the only guy out there last night that looked anywhere near like playing the killer pass but I'd agree that maybe he doesn't do enough of the donkey work to warrant playing in a 4 man midfield.
I'd sooner see us play a 5 man midfield with McGeady Carsley Douglas/S.Reid (when fit) A. Reid and Duff - have the couple of grafters in there with the other 3 lads given license to attack.

Unfortunately that would mean that Doyle would be sacrificed but I think thats our best bet at the moment....

[endabob1]

A friend of mine is a CAFC season ticket holder and reckons Reid is one of their best players this season, admitedly considering their position it's not saying much but I think he is deffenitely benefiting from a run in the side which he didn't often get at Spurs for various reasons.

[drinkfeckarse]

You can't class Reid in Scholes' league. He has the talent no doubt but he's a bit to go yet before he reaches Scholes standard and consistency.

[paul_oshea]

i agree with peepee there, thats what i would be afraid of against a team where we are under pressure defensively in midfield more. reid cant tackle for sh1te ( if he could, i think we would be ok ), did ye seem him yesterday on 3 dif occasions he just sorta ran into the side of players.....

[dr_peepee]

I see what your saying EB, but have to disagree. Scholes is a better player, surounded by better players.

Even Looking at the modern scholes, I don't think him and Carrick compliment each other either for what that worth. In the bigger games you'll find Fletcher or Shea has been worked into the middle beside them. Sure it's why Hargreaves is being lined up.

[onenilgameover]

I thought reid dictated most of what happened last night and he was moving far too slowly. he didnt have a bad game he just looked like he could be moving onto the ball instead of standing still while recieving it. wont be able to do that against any other team in the group..

[eirebhoy]

Paul Scholes had Roy Keane beside him.

And now he has Michael Carrick.

You can't class Reid in Scholes' league. He has the talent no doubt but he's a bit to go yet before he reaches Scholes standard and consistency.

It's nothing to do with how good Reid is. Carsley-Reid is no more attacking than Carrick-Scholes.

btw - A few people have said Reid can't tackle. His tackling stats were excellent at Spurs and not many Spurs players put in more tackles than him. He's certainly no worse than Scholes in that department.

[drinkfeckarse]

It's nothing to do with how good Reid is. Carsley-Reid is no more attacking than Carrick-Scholes.

I beg to differ eirebhoy. Andy Reid, as much as I'm a fan is no Paul Scholes (although he can be in the future if he keeps fit and progresses). Carsley-Reid may not be anymore attacking than Carrick-Scholes but the latter is a better standard and that is always relevent.

[eirebhoy]

I beg to differ eirebhoy. Andy Reid, as much as I'm a fan is no Paul Scholes (although he can be in the future if he keeps fit and progresses). Carsley-Reid may not be anymore attacking than Carrick-Scholes but the latter is a better standard and that is always relevent.

Fair enough but why do you think Carsley-Reid wouldn't work against a decent standard of opposition?

[Billsthoughts]

I thought at times Reid looked one of the classiest players out there.
couldnt beleive some people sayin he had a bad game. dont understand the scholes point. scholes is one of the best midfielders (if not the best) in the premiership. his tackling stats dont really stand up when anyone who has seen him play for ireland will see he makes tackles but rarely wins the ball.

[eirebhoy]

dont understand the scholes point. scholes is one of the best midfielders (if not the best) in the premiership.

I'm suprised peopel don't understand the Scholes point. Scholes is famous for being a very poor tackler.