Has anyone who's seen Long play actually been impressed by him?

[The Legend]

To be honest, they are all talentless. Roy Keane had no talent and was just a grafter. It is pretty easy to be honest. I'm sure I would have made it but I'm lazy and too fond of th smokes and pints. It really is just a mugs game and Long is fooling them all. Well done kid

Im sure i could have been a world famous violinist too if thats all i did all day... i dont agree Keane was just a grafter!

[drinkfeckarse]

I've seen him for both Ireland and Reading and from what I've seen he's a completly skill less player.

The best I can say about him (and anybody from my experience) is that he gives it a lot of effort and is able to disrupt defences.
But the only goals he gets are just finishing other players skills, he's not creative whatsoever and I sort of feel that anybody in his position could finish what he's required to do.

That's all Gary Lineker ever did too. That's all Kris Boyd for Rangers does. If he turns out to be anything like either of those I'll be more than happy.

[Pablo]

i've seen him play more than all of ye and trust me he's pure quality.

[drinkfeckarse]

I'm fairly sure Soko is being sarcastic....

[Risteard]

I've seen him play a few times and think he's decent.
Very lucky to be at Reading.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Looks like a good player for the future but he shouldn't be in the senior squad yet.

[tetsujin1979]

Better in the senior squad than playing for the U-21's

[Tipperary_Man]

i think Shane silenced some of his critics last night, fair unlucky not to have scored. maybe fans should start getting behind the players now and forget about the moaning and negativity!!

[Nailer77]

Did very well when he came on last night and has shown real ability at Reading aswell. He got unwarranted stick after San Marino when really it was the senior players that should have shouldered most of the blame in that game. Looks well capable but should have scored at least one goal last night.

[bigmac]

But the only goals he gets are just finishing other players skills, he's not creative whatsoever and I sort of feel that anybody in his position could finish what he's required to do.

Fillippe Inzaghi? Van Nistelrooy? Andy Cole?

[micls]

Long will be a better player than Doyle.

For a lad who only started playing 4 years ago his progress is amazing.

[Real ale Madrid]

What an unbelievable thread! Lets discuss the merits of Shane Long against David Connolly. Shane long 19 years of age - pace, power, great finisher - young player - plays in his second competitive game for ireland causes problems for the opposing defence unlucky not to score but for a goalline clearance,

then again we have David Connolly - 41 caps for Ireland - has scored 5 competitive goals for Ireland against the mighty Liectenstein (3) Iceland and Cyprus. Has had more than enough chances for Ireland and should really retire from international football so to avoid this pointless debate.

No one was talking about Connolly for the Irish team until Roy Keane decided he'd try and get Connolly and Miller into the spotlight. Probably because if Keane gets Sunderland into the premiership he will have to sell Connolly and Miller beacuse he suspects that they are just not good enough for the premiership. They are both championship players and linking thier names to the international set-up might help Keano get a few more bob for them both.

[KopKiller]

Christ he is only 19, and playing, albeit occasionally, in the premiership. Give him a few seasons before judging him. I watched him play liverpool in the carling cup this season, and he was a handfull, even though that donkey Gabriel Paletta was marking him, he was making good runs and causing problems. He is exceptionally quick, probably the quickest player in our squad actually and he has a great leap on him for headers. I dont know, I think he might develop into a decent striker but im not going to call him a donkey just yet...

[paul_oshea]

fair unlucky

isnt that paradox? certainly a contradiction, even if it is midlands/mid-south slang!

that ball on his head was too high and hard.

[fergalr]

Has anyone who's seen Long play actually been impressed by him?

After last night - Yes!

[eirebhoy]

Yeah, I was impressed with him last night. Should have scored that free header though.

[Risteard]

I think Stokes is more deserving of a chance at the moment.

I don't think Shane Long looks anything more than a decent Championship player, definitely not in Doyles class but he's only 20 so has plenty of time.
Definitely has the right attitude anyway.

[NeilMcD]

I think the difference between Long and Stokes is like the difference between Keane and Doyle. Long is better as the front man harrassing the centre half and looking for the ball over the top and good in the air just like Doyle. Keane and Stokes are players who like the ball to feet and do their work from there. Long should be Doyles back up and Stokes could be Keanes back up for the moment.

[Nailer77]

I think Stokes is more deserving of a chance at the moment.

I don't think Shane Long looks anything more than a decent Championship player, definitely not in Doyles class but he's only 20 so has plenty of time.
Definitely has the right attitude anyway.

Well attitudes a massive part of it and he looks like he's got a fair bit of talent as well so I can see him progressing nicely.

[KopKiller]

I think Stokes is more deserving of a chance at the moment.

Stokes could be next best thing, if he is as good as people are hyping him up to be but the truth is he has done nothing yet, im sorry i dont count scoring lots of goals in the SPL as an achievement that should push him into the national team, Richie Foran was banging them in up there for christ sake!

I have only seen him play once, and he was playing wide right and didnt look comfortable there to be honest so perhaps if Sunderland get promoted David Connolly will be sold to another championship club, because thats his level, and stokes will get a run as a striker in the premiership ... then we can all see if he is good enough for ireland.

I will get to see him in the flesh on easter monday (if keano picks him!) when sunderland go to southampton so ill report back then of where he played and how he looked.