Steven Reid

**BigmanCas** · 26/02/2008, 10:52 AM

yeah but therein lies the problem - they are nowhere to be found.

**Dr. Ogba** · 27/02/2008, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by BigmanCas

yeah but therein lies the problem - they are nowhere to be found.

Stephen Kelly no?

**jmurphyc** · 27/02/2008, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

Stephen Kelly no?

He doesn't rate him, to put it as nicely as I can. I think that we could do with Finnan for at least this qualifying campaign as I'm not sure whether Joey O'Brien or Kelly are ready yet. However, if they're not ready for the next qualifying group, they'll never be ready.

**Dr. Ogba** · 27/02/2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by jmurphyc

He doesn't rate him, to put it as nicely as I can. I think that we could do with Finnan for at least this qualifying campaign as I'm not sure whether Joey O'Brien or Kelly are ready yet. However, if they're not ready for the next qualifying group, they'll never be ready.

ah yeah i know, just trying to see the reaction!

for the record, i think that both Kelly are solid if unspectacular and would have no problem with either starting RB in the qualifiers. LB however is another story, just can't trust Kilbane in that position...

**Wolfie** · 27/02/2008, 12:56 PM

An unprecedented dearth of quality full backs.

Years ago we could have fielded a complete team comprised of full backs!!

**paul_oshea** · 27/02/2008, 1:11 PM

thats what having a small nation does wolfie!

although it still doesnt explain why you have so many players in one position!

**Wolfie** · 27/02/2008, 1:26 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

thats what having a small nation does wolfie!

although it still doesnt explain why you have so many players in one position!

I didn't mean they all stood at full-back Paul!!

That part of the field may have been a bit crowded alright!!!

More along the lines of the fact that we had at least 11 half decent full-backs to choose from.

**paul_oshea** · 27/02/2008, 1:45 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

I didn't mean they all stood at full-back Paul!!

That part of the field may have been a bit crowded alright!!!

More along the lines of the fact that we had at least 11 half decent full-backs to choose from.

i know what you meant, and I think you know what I meant too.

**Wolfie** · 27/02/2008, 2:15 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

thats what having a small nation does wolfie!

although it still doesnt explain why you have so many players in one position!

I think I get ye now

- do you mean it doesn't explain how Ireland produced so many full-backs at the one time??? I was lost for a bit there.

I think a lot of them started out in different positions and were converted to full-back.

**paul_oshea** · 27/02/2008, 3:13 PM

yes thats exactly what i meant!!

**eirebhoy** · 08/03/2008, 3:33 PM

Hughes has a lot of faith in Reid. He took Tugay off after 55 minutes and went 3 up front with Reid as the only central midfielder. Bentley and Pedersen the wide players.

**eirebhoy** · 08/03/2008, 5:11 PM

Reid was Blackburn's best player today according to the Fantasy Football judge.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 08/03/2008, 9:42 PM

Only seen brieg glimpses of him but he seems to be more comfortable on the ball than he was before. Haven't noticed his added awareness but I'll take your word for it.

He would be brilliant with Andy Reid.

Here's another post that I read on some other forum

I've been keeping a very close eye on him since he got back from injury and I'm very excited about the thought of him in the Ireland team if he can stay injury free. Before his injury he turned down Spurs, while Man Utd were linked with him, after an excellent season with Blackburn. His injury actually came in the Ireland game against Germany if I remember (I think he got injured again recovering from that).

He used to be a poor man's Stephen Gerrard. A box to box player with incredible energy. Now he seems to have turned into a playmaker. He's the main man in the Blackburn midfield. He's not doing anything spectacular on the ball but his movement is fantastic. He seems to be a much more confident and determined player and pretty much demands the ball from his teammates.

He's playing in a team at Blackburn with 2 strikers, 2 attacking wide players and a relatively attacking partner in David Dunn. If Reid wasn't positionally sound and good defensively that team would get ripped apart. So I don't think he'd necessarily need someone like Carsley beside him in the Ireland team which he may have needed pre-injury.

He captained Blackburn against Bolton as Ooijer was injured and himself and Dunn were apparently outstanding. He was again supposedly Blackburn's best player today against Fulham. I'm just excited about the player he has turned into. A very intelligent player. Add in Andy Reid's beautiful brain and I think we could match many European teams in that area which is where the British and Irish teams have been lacking in recent years. 2 proper playmakers in midfield.

So has anyone seen much of him? Can he stay injury free at last? Maybe, after watching Ireland and Celtic in recent years, I'm getting over excited about something as simple as a central midfielder that actually moves into the best position possible to receive a pass all the time.

**as_i_say** · 08/03/2008, 9:58 PM

ah isnt that lovely!

if thats the case though then a central partnership of himself and carsley could be just the thing for us. hope he stays fit

**carloz** · 09/03/2008, 7:46 PM

Without blowing my trumpet , i have been singing this guys praises for nearly 5 years. If he remains injury free for at least 2 years i really really think he can hit the big time. He has everything you would want from a central midfielder. He has a good physical stature, but unlike O'Shea for example, he knows how to use it. Blackburn fans know how important he is for them. IMO he will be a massive massive player for us in the upcoming qualifiers. I have all my fingers crossed that he can stay injury free.

**Irish_Praha** · 27/03/2008, 4:13 PM

So we have no need to worry that his position could be under threat from Vogel then?

**Razors left peg** · 27/03/2008, 4:19 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

So we have no need to worry that his position could be under threat from Vogel then?

dont think so. he is very highly thought of at Blackburn and its more likely that Vogel will be his partner in midfield

**Razors left peg** · 27/03/2008, 6:12 PM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

I'd worry about Vogel to be honest, Vogel's a much more defensive player than Reid and it would be strange to drop the more attack minded Dunn for Vogel. Though Vogel has fitness problems so it's only really an issue if he rediscovers his best form which is unlikely.

Reids all round game is better than Dunn, he adds more to the team in my opinion

**Razors left peg** · 28/03/2008, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

He is but Vogel is a much more similiar player to Reid than he is to Dunn.

I could be wrong but I dont think Vogel is as mobile as Reid

**NeilMcD** · 28/03/2008, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

I'd worry about Vogel to be honest, Vogel's a much more defensive player than Reid and it would be strange to drop the more attack minded Dunn for Vogel. Though Vogel has fitness problems so it's only really an issue if he rediscovers his best form which is unlikely.

Who said Vogel is not just brought in as a squad player and as back up.