Stephen Reid on the way back

**back of the net** · 22/09/2007, 10:08 PM

it finally looks like he is on the mend and about to return - our centre midfield needs a boost

Blackburn midfielder on the mend

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes is hoping to see an even better player as Stephen Reid returns from a 12 injury nightmare. Reid injured himself in Irelands game against Germany and has never fully recovered since then. It is like buying a new player for the Blackburn boss as he tries to take the club into Europe again this season despite losing away in the UEFA cup on Thursday.

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Hughes said of Reid

"We are really hopeful this time round. He's done a fantastic amount of work and once we do get him back, touch wood, he'll be bigger, faster and stronger because of the amount of preparation that he has had to do just to build himself up to get him back to the level he's at now.

"Once he starts playing and once he gets games under his belt, he is going to be a great player for us."

**carloz** · 23/09/2007, 9:17 AM

Thats good news indeed. Joey O'Brien came on for Bolton in Europe during the week. Interestingly he came on for Nicky Hunt so they will probably keep using him as a full back

**Colbert Report** · 24/09/2007, 3:14 AM

No Reid today, anyone know when he's expected to make a first team appearance?

**back of the net** · 24/09/2007, 12:22 PM

yeah colbert - he is back in training - i think they expect him to make his first team return over the next few wks - hope he is back for germany - but doubt it

they wanna ease him due to the long lay off he has had

**drinkfeckarse** · 24/09/2007, 12:42 PM

Are people over-hyping Reids return ala Carsley? I rate him but he has never reproduced club form for us even when he has been played in his right position.

Good enough to be in our starting eleven but I'm not getting worked up about his return.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/09/2007, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Good enough to be in our starting eleven but I'm not getting worked up about his return.

Fair summary, I think he'll need time for Ireland to grow into the role and to have a chance of showing the form he showed for a while at Blackburn. You just can't be confident he'll stay injury free for long enough or play to his potential often enough to get excited.

Still, having Reid, O'Brien & Garvan all available for us as midfielders ought to improve our existing options. Darren Potter, who's only on the bench at Wolves, looked decent in the friendlies.

**carloz** · 24/09/2007, 4:21 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Are people over-hyping Reids return ala Carsley? I rate him but he has never reproduced club form for us even when he has been played in his right position.

Good enough to be in our starting eleven but I'm not getting worked up about his return.

How many Irish players have we that were being courted by Alex Ferguson. None in my opinion bar S. Reid. Plus he has rarely played in his proper position and has never had a significant run in the team. His physicality and box to box running is something we are so lacking now. i have had enough of seeing complete lightweights like ireland in central midfield.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 24/09/2007, 8:28 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Are people over-hyping Reids return ala Carsley? I rate him but he has never reproduced club form for us even when he has been played in his right position.

I only remember him playing centre mid once against Sweden and was very good.

**Colbert Report** · 25/09/2007, 6:29 AM

I love Carsley but he's 33 and it's time to move on. Steven Reid is far younger and let's face it, we don't have that many central midfield players who have a shout at starting for a Premiership club. Stephen Ireland is the only one I can think of and I'm not sure his head is in the right place right now.

Potter really isn't starting at Wolves? I'm suprised, he was hyped as the next Steven Gerrard when he was at Liverpool and he looked nothing short of brilliant in the US tour.

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/09/2007, 7:58 AM

Originally Posted by carloz

How many Irish players have we that were being courted by Alex Ferguson.

Oh well better put him straight in the side then....

**tetsujin1979** · 25/09/2007, 9:17 AM

Originally Posted by carloz

How many Irish players have we that were being courted by Alex Ferguson. None in my opinion bar S. Reid.

Liam Miller?

**drummerboy** · 25/09/2007, 9:19 AM

Potter lost his place through injury, he will get back in and hopefully continue to develop.

**Dr. Ogba** · 25/09/2007, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Are people over-hyping Reids return ala Carsley? I rate him but he has never reproduced club form for us even when he has been played in his right position.

Good enough to be in our starting eleven but I'm not getting worked up about his return.

I'd agree with all of that alright...while Reid has shown glimpses of his potential at times for Ireland and definitely has the physical attributes to succeed, I haven't seen enough from him to be hailing him as the next big thing for us. A crucial aspect of a CM role (apart from the physical presence) is the ability to be constantly available for the ball and use it effectively and I just haven't seen that yet from Reid. If anything, he seems to shy away from the ball which isn't exactly what you want from your CM!

Time will tell whether he'll mature in to the role I suppose...

**back of the net** · 25/09/2007, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Are people over-hyping Reids return ala Carsley? I rate him but he has never reproduced club form for us even when he has been played in his right position.

Good enough to be in our starting eleven but I'm not getting worked up about his return.

thats a fair comment - but the reason for my original post was more due to our lack of resources and physical presence in the centre of the field - i do rate him and do believe we have yet to see the best of him - and if what mark hughes says is correct then - its only a good thing for ireland

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/09/2007, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by back of the net

but the reason for my original post was more due to our lack of resources and physical presence in the centre of the field - i do rate him and do believe we have yet to see the best of him - and if what mark hughes says is correct then - its only a good thing for ireland

Very true. IF he can reproduce his club form for us then it will be a big benefit to the team, no doubt about that.

**back of the net** · 25/09/2007, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Very true. IF he can reproduce his club form for us then it will be a big benefit to the team, no doubt about that.

100% agreed

**carloz** · 25/09/2007, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

Oh well better put him straight in the side then....

because our options are that damn good in midfield arent they

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/09/2007, 1:07 PM

I never said that although they are certainly not as bad as you suggest. You are the one who came out with the "but Fergie was looking at him" line. Hardly a valid reason to include him in the team when it has also been widely accepted that he has yet to perform for us as he has done for Blackburn....

Lets just hope he can get back to the form that he showed for Blackburn before his injury and then lets hope he can transfer that to a green jersey.

**Wolfie** · 25/09/2007, 1:18 PM

Stephen Reid on the way back.........

I'd have said he's a couple of weeks too late to make any difference to the short term.

Hopefully he'll continue to develop and hopefully be fit in two years time if we're hopefully still in the running for the 2010 world cup. Hopefully.