O'Dea starts for Celtic

**sligobhoy67** · 01/12/2007, 10:34 AM

lets see how this goes - could be good news for Ireland's centre back difficulties

**therock67** · 01/12/2007, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

lets see how this goes - could be good news for Ireland's centre back difficulties

He's playing left back though which is the problem. Looks a decent centre half but he's not quick enough to be a full back.

**eirebhoy** · 01/12/2007, 11:02 AM

He's playing left back against decent opposition. He's played in that position twice before against weak opposition and been exposed for pace. Milan game on Tuesday so O'Dea could be playing for his place.

**co. down green** · 01/12/2007, 11:09 AM

Its about time he got some first team football this season

Put in some solid defensive performances last season

**sligobhoy67** · 01/12/2007, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

He's playing left back against decent opposition. He's played in that position twice before against weak opposition and been exposed for pace. Milan game on Tuesday so O'Dea could be playing for his place.

I agree, LB or RB aint his spot - but it will be interesting to see how he handle Hertz RW Velicka who has genuine pace

**sligobhoy67** · 01/12/2007, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

I agree, LB or RB aint his spot - but it will be interesting to see how he handle Hertz RW Velicka who has genuine pace

well a clean sheet of sorts - that man Velicka did score from a undeserved injury time penalty - but O'Dea played well today, solid, efficient and set up a few attacking chances - one of which JvoH should have scored from.

encouraging!

**eirebhoy** · 01/12/2007, 2:28 PM

Was left on his arse a couple of times with tackles but did well with the ball at his feet as usual.

**Junior** · 01/12/2007, 2:35 PM

Ive not seen much of him (I was away when he had most of his performances for cEltic last season), looks a solid enough defender, committed in the tackle and more often than not came out with the ball or was first to it in the 50/50's. No pace, which is a concern anywhere but particularly if hes playing fullback.

Needs more appearances for Celtic before he would be challenging for Ireland, though Keenedys injury now means who could possibly get a chance at CH depending on how Pressley/McManus get on injury/suspension wise....

By the way Hearts penalty was fully deserved, stupid challenge by caldwell.

**sligobhoy67** · 01/12/2007, 3:20 PM

I heard that he didnt play that well in the Ireland v England U-21 game.

Anyone confirm/deny!?

**CollegeTillIDie** · 01/12/2007, 5:30 PM

He's in the shakeup for Celtic because of Kennedy's injury and who ever else got injured at centreback.

**zenokelly** · 01/12/2007, 7:13 PM

I have been very disappointed that he didn't get a decent crack this season by Strachan because I was really impressed with him last season especially in the San Siro, where I thought he was MOTM.

But what can I say, I'm not there for training but he deserves more opportunities than he's getting in my opinion. He's just lucky Kennedy got that injury. He should get a bit of a run now. He had a good game today, especially with no match practice.

**FarBeag** · 02/12/2007, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

I heard that he didnt play that well in the Ireland v England U-21 game.

Anyone confirm/deny!?

I have seen O�Dea play a couple of u21 games in the centre. He did ok and didn�t do a lot wrong. There is no doubt he has potential but needs to be playing on a more regular basis. In the Bulgarian game I really thought O�Cearuill outshone him though but this is only my opinion.

**kingeric** · 02/12/2007, 11:36 AM

i think he's 10 times the player O Cearuil will ever be...but that's just my opinion

**Stuttgart88** · 02/12/2007, 3:22 PM

All the signs are that O'Dea will be a better player than O'Cearuill and it's a big worry that O'Cearuill "failed" so many recent club trials. But on the night in Athlone O'Cearuill had the better game for the U21s I thought.

**NeilMcD** · 02/12/2007, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

I heard that he didnt play that well in the Ireland v England U-21 game.

Anyone confirm/deny!?

I was at the game and I tought he played well. One thing I noticed at that level he was very much the talker of the back four and he was constantly telling players what to do etc. It was more down the right side that Ireland got done that night.

**Junior** · 02/12/2007, 8:12 PM

Originally Posted by zenokelly

He's just lucky Kennedy got that injury. He should get a bit of a run now. He had a good game today, especially with no match practice.

It was really Naylors injury at LB that created the opening for Odea. Pressley has stepped in to the CB role and Id imagine he is ahead of O'Dea in the pecking order for that position

**DmanDmythDledge** · 02/12/2007, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I was at the game and I tought he played well. One thing I noticed at that level he was very much the talker of the back four and he was constantly telling players what to do etc. It was more down the right side that Ireland got done that night.

That's good to hear as Dunne is the only organiser we have in defence at the moment.

**irishfan86** · 03/12/2007, 3:48 AM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

That's good to hear as Dunne is the only organiser we have in defence at the moment.

Yeah I remember him barking at Balde when he played his first game in the Champions League.....I was thinking, who's the veteran centre half here?

**elroy** · 03/12/2007, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

I heard that he didnt play that well in the Ireland v England U-21 game.

Anyone confirm/deny!?

ya watched that game and he was quite poor, but the Irish defence in general was poor that night. Was tuning in expecting to see good performances from O'Dea and Garvan that night but both were a long way short. Having said that Don G played 433 that night against arguably one of the best U21 sides in Europe.