Our best current XI (no injuries etc)?

**Closed Account 2** · 12/09/2007, 12:21 PM

What would you pick as our best current 11 ?

Assuming:-

-No injuries (all players at 100% fitness)
-No squabbles (eg Garvan, Hunt etc)

I'd go with

GK-Given
--------
LB-Harte
CB-Dunne
CB-McShane
RB-Finnan
--------
LM-Duff
CM-Garvan
CM-Steven Reid*
RM-Andy Reid*
**Hunt - I'll explain this later
--------
ST-Keane
ST-Doyle

I think that is the best bet in terms of mixing ability/youth/experience. I don't think there can be too many doubts about Shay, he's a great keeper and even our subs and reserves (Colin Doyle, Stack, etc) are good young players.

I think central defence picks itself. Dunne is our best player IMO, and also a great center back. Since Gary Breen left the scene we've not really had a concrete center back. Andy O'Brien has been a bit dodgy, so I'd go for McShane who's looked assured at Sunderland and could become a good player for us.

Finnan aside, on the flanks is where we really struggle at the moment. I don't think we have good natural defenders there. We seem to have a lot of mediocre players who can play full back (St. Ledger, Kelly, Foley, Harte, Joey O'Brien etc). Carr hasn't really been the same for the last few years, he's good to have on the bench but I wouldnt start with him, and due to his age I'd be tempted to use younger players - he is no longer one for the future.

I would play Ian Harte, we are weak at left full back irrespective of who is picked. In international football set pieces are vital - being good at them can win you games and he is our best free kick and corner taker. Picking him leaves us open down that flank but I'd try to limit that using other players. I'd make sure Dunne and Garvan (or Carsley) took on the left-of-center central roles in defence and midfield, and would encourage Duff to track back regularly. Remember it's not really lack of pace that scuppers Harte, it's more innate lack of defending ability.

Central Midfield would be Garvan (just gets the nod ahead of Carsley) with Duff on the left wing. The next major problem is on the right flank and the second midfielder. In a tight match I'd have Steven Reid in the center (I've always thought he plays better in the center) and Andy Reid on the right. This would shut up shop in the center, but also keep Reid on the pitch allowing him to build attacks. Steven Reid is, IMO, versitile enough to be able to switch out with Andy Reid and play on the right if needed. In a more open game I would play Andy Reid in the middle and Steven Hunt on the right, I think Hunt is good down any wing and think Andy Reid would be more effective in the middle. Duff is best on left wing so should always play there. We do have solid options on the bench here, like McGeady, Carsley and Kilbane.

Upfront I'd pick Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle, with Stokes and Long on the bench or maybe Alan Lee if we needed to mix things up with a big striker. As well as Stokes and Long being young we also have Billy Clarke of Ipswich as a good option in the near future.

In my opinion that is a fairly strong team, which should be in contention for 2nd place in most Euro2008 groups. Other teams of similar strength are in contention (Scotland, Bosnia, Finland, Russia, Romania all spring to mind although perhaps the latter are a degree stronger). Obviously it's a good distance behind the likes of France, Germany etc in terms of strength, but I don't think it's very far from the Czechs and it is stronger than the Slovaks or Welsh teams.

**gustavo** · 12/09/2007, 12:25 PM

Given
Finnan McShane Dunne Harte

A. Reid S. Reid Carsley Duff

Keane Doyle

If Harte gets any kind of form going with Sunderland i'd have him in the team , same with Duff and S. Reid , mostly picks itself really

**kingdomkerry** · 12/09/2007, 12:27 PM

Given

Finnan
Dunne
McShane
Carr

Hunt
A Reid
Kilbane
Duff

Keane
Doyle

**rambler14** · 12/09/2007, 12:33 PM

Given
Finnan Dunne McShane O'Shea

A.Reid S.Reid McPhail Hunt

Doyle Keane

I had to be controversial. I'm thinking beyond Carsley who is 33, we need a quality holding midfielder and I believe that the answer to that problem is McPhail. A quality player being overlooked at every squad.
I just think Duff is crap now, thats why hes not in my team.

**paul_oshea** · 12/09/2007, 12:34 PM

ed when you put the logic to your arguments re: harte and the interchanging of the two reids, it makes for good reading. However we have seen nothing of owen garvan to say anything.

**Hibs4Ever** · 12/09/2007, 1:37 PM

Given

Finnan - Dunne - McShane - Harte

S Reid - A Reid - Carsley - Duff

Keane - Doyle

**mackannovic** · 12/09/2007, 2:36 PM

Given
Finnan Dunne O'Dea O'Shea
S.Ireland S.Reid A.Reid D.Duff
K.Doyle R.Keane

**shelbourne1904** · 12/09/2007, 2:59 PM

Given
Finnan Dunne McShane O'Shea
S.Ireland S.Reid A.Reid D.Duff
K.Doyle R.Keane

Not 100% happy with O Shea for obvious reasons might also try Kilbane

**Adrianovic** · 12/09/2007, 3:43 PM

Rambler, I disagree with you over McPhail. He flatters to deceive, he plays a lot of sideways passes that don't go anywhere and is too soft to be a genuine holding midfielder. I think there's deserved 8 or 9 players ahead of him to play central midfield.

I would have:

GK Given

RB Finnan
LB O'Shea
CB Dunne
CB McShane

RM Ireland
LM Duff
CM Carsley
CM Reid

CF Keane (c)
CF Doyle

Given, as has been said, picks himself. Perhaps the only player we have that could get into most sides in the World on merit, and I don't remember the last time he has let us down.

Finnan, ideally, should play at right back - but his problem is that he's the best option at left back as well. I've gone for O'Shea there, as on form, he can be a good player, but we haven't seen his form in a green shirt, ever. I could live with Harte, if not Kilbane can cover there. If we can't defend anyway, sure we may as well be positive. Dunne is the heart and soul of the team and McShane is learning from him all the time.

I feel Duff keeps his place on the count he can be so good. Carsley is now an important player for us. I would play two from three of Ireland, Reid and Hunt, in that order probably. Obviously, because Duff is so frequently unavailable, I would expect to play all three. Steven Reid has not been forgotten, I think his job would be to dislodge Carsley. Gibson and Potter will probably be in this line up in two years time. I would like to find a place for Kilbane as well, because he's such a good servant, however if we are to progress then I feel his involvement will have to decrease.

Keane plays. Doyle is his most able partner, i.e. the only one who has scored goals in the Premiership. I'd hold fire on picking Murphy and Stokes as much as possible until they get more games under their belts. Whatever happened to Clinton? I thought he was OK. I'd have him on the bench.

Ade

**The Legend** · 12/09/2007, 5:07 PM

HARTE? Have you all lost your f**king minds?

**rambler14** · 12/09/2007, 10:32 PM

I may be wrong about McPhail but Stan hasn't given him a fair chance which i think he deserves.
Duff is crap why do ye keep picking him in yeer teams. Hes headin down the same road as Kilbane, left-back.

**Closed Account 2** · 13/09/2007, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by The Legend

HARTE? Have you all lost your f**king minds?

Aside from Finnan, which full backs have played better for us since the wrold cup ?? We've not got a full back who can defend, so we may as well play Harte who has a bit of top level experience (World Cup, Champs Lg Semis, Spanish League). How many games have we lost by one goal ? If we had someone like Harte who can lash the ball in from 30+ yards we might have converted some of those defeats into draws and some of the draws into wins.

Originally Posted by rambler14

I may be wrong about McPhail but Stan hasn't given him a fair chance which i think he deserves.
Duff is crap why do ye keep picking him in yeer teams. Hes headin down the same road as Kilbane, left-back.

I agree that Duff isn't the force he once was, the only thing is , on form he can still be great, the other thing is decent teams always put their best marker on him, often they double up on him, this frees up our other midfielders like thr 2 Reids, to be more creative.

**soccerc** · 13/09/2007, 12:46 AM

Carsley can go fcuk off again as far as I am concerned. He only came out of retirement to prolong his club career.

When he ditched Ireland in April 2004 that should have been the end of him IMHO

**ainsie** · 13/09/2007, 7:17 AM

Who cares about our best team now, all we have to look forward to is friendlies( thats what the next 3 are now) so lets mix it up and see what we have. The next meaningfull game will be Sept 2008. So when the FAI decide not to admit their mistake Stan will have loads of time to fool us into believing that things are getting better.

Retire Harte, Retire Carsley, drop O shea, retire Kilbane,then pick your "best" team from the rest.

**The Ball Boy** · 13/09/2007, 8:25 AM

Andy Reid isn't up to it in a 2 man central midfield, he hasn't got the legs simple as that. Maybe in a 3 man with Ireland, Carsley or Potter and him with Hunt and McGeady wide of that. But who do drop up front in that case. Central midfield if massive problem for us going forward.

**Hibs4Ever** · 13/09/2007, 8:31 AM

Originally Posted by The Ball Boy

Andy Reid isn't up to it in a 2 man central midfield, he hasn't got the legs simple as that. Maybe in a 3 man with Ireland, Carsley or Potter and him with Hunt and McGeady wide of that. But who do drop up front in that case. Central midfield if massive problem for us going forward.

Give it up with McGeady. He should never play for us again. No where NEAR good enough for international football

**robbie_B** · 13/09/2007, 10:40 AM

Given

Finnan McShane Dunne Gibson Hunt

Ireland Steven Reid Andy Reid

Keane

Doyle

**Scruttox** · 13/09/2007, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

What would you pick as our best current 11 ?

Assuming:-

-No injuries (all players at 100% fitness)
-No squabbles (eg Garvan, Hunt etc)

I'd go with

GK-Given
--------
LB-Harte
CB-Dunne
CB-McShane
RB-Finnan
--------
LM-Duff
CM-Garvan
CM-Steven Reid*
RM-Andy Reid*
**Hunt - I'll explain this later
--------
ST-Keane
ST-Doyle

I think that is the best bet in terms of mixing ability/youth/experience. I don't think there can be too many doubts about Shay, he's a great keeper and even our subs and reserves (Colin Doyle, Stack, etc) are good young players.

I think central defence picks itself. Dunne is our best player IMO, and also a great center back. Since Gary Breen left the scene we've not really had a concrete center back. Andy O'Brien has been a bit dodgy, so I'd go for McShane who's looked assured at Sunderland and could become a good player for us.

Finnan aside, on the flanks is where we really struggle at the moment. I don't think we have good natural defenders there. We seem to have a lot of mediocre players who can play full back (St. Ledger, Kelly, Foley, Harte, Joey O'Brien etc). Carr hasn't really been the same for the last few years, he's good to have on the bench but I wouldnt start with him, and due to his age I'd be tempted to use younger players - he is no longer one for the future.

I would play Ian Harte, we are weak at left full back irrespective of who is picked. In international football set pieces are vital - being good at them can win you games and he is our best free kick and corner taker. Picking him leaves us open down that flank but I'd try to limit that using other players. I'd make sure Dunne and Garvan (or Carsley) took on the left-of-center central roles in defence and midfield, and would encourage Duff to track back regularly. Remember it's not really lack of pace that scuppers Harte, it's more innate lack of defending ability.

Central Midfield would be Garvan (just gets the nod ahead of Carsley) with Duff on the left wing. The next major problem is on the right flank and the second midfielder. In a tight match I'd have Steven Reid in the center (I've always thought he plays better in the center) and Andy Reid on the right. This would shut up shop in the center, but also keep Reid on the pitch allowing him to build attacks. Steven Reid is, IMO, versitile enough to be able to switch out with Andy Reid and play on the right if needed. In a more open game I would play Andy Reid in the middle and Steven Hunt on the right, I think Hunt is good down any wing and think Andy Reid would be more effective in the middle. Duff is best on left wing so should always play there. We do have solid options on the bench here, like McGeady, Carsley and Kilbane.

Upfront I'd pick Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle, with Stokes and Long on the bench or maybe Alan Lee if we needed to mix things up with a big striker. As well as Stokes and Long being young we also have Billy Clarke of Ipswich as a good option in the near future.

In my opinion that is a fairly strong team, which should be in contention for 2nd place in most Euro2008 groups. Other teams of similar strength are in contention (Scotland, Bosnia, Finland, Russia, Romania all spring to mind although perhaps the latter are a degree stronger). Obviously it's a good distance behind the likes of France, Germany etc in terms of strength, but I don't think it's very far from the Czechs and it is stronger than the Slovaks or Welsh teams.

Cast of Fair City?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 13/09/2007, 2:56 PM

Given

Finnan
Dunne
McShane
O'Shea

S. Reid
A. Reid
Garvan

Keane
Duff

Doyle

This is the team I think we should have for the next qualification campaign, with Doyle, O'Halloran, Hunt, Ireland, Long, Keogh providing cover.