yeah, but was Folan really deserving of a call up? I think he got his call up only because of his size.
In my opinion Jonathan Walters deserves a look. Another goal today.
leon best should be given a chance in a friendly if we were willing to give folan a shot then best deserves one too
We control by attitudes positive mental attitudes not by rules.
yeah, but was Folan really deserving of a call up? I think he got his call up only because of his size.
In my opinion Jonathan Walters deserves a look. Another goal today.
I've usually been underwhelmed by Murphy but the quality of his cross for Doyle's goal against Bolivia and the quality of his crosses against Spurs recently leads me to think there's maybe something there just dying to be coaxed out! By itself his recent wonder goal says nothing but on top of his performance against Spurs I think it shows he can play a bit. Consistently? Who knows?
Just curious Youngirish - did you see the 3 crosses I'm talking about against Spurs? We discussed it here a few weeks ago. I think it was Irishfan86 (or Irishpraha) who was also particularly impressed.
Murphy is a player who is consistently improving all the time, albeit in small increments. Look at his career and you will see it. He reminds me of Mark Kinsella, who did the very same, although Murphy is well ahead of where Kinsella was at this stage of his career. Can't be discounted if he continues to improve, although I would not have him in the squad ahead of Clinton Morrison.
Yeah, it was me.
I'd say I'd have Murphy nowhere near the squad for a forward place, but he's definitely got to be considered for one of the spots on the wings.
Very unorthodox winger physically, but that's where he's played his best football for Sunderland. Up front he's not physical enough for a big man, and not fast enough to get behind defenses.
No superstar, but useful in certain situations, and given our team of midgets his height has to be a consideration.
There was bit about Best in the Indo http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-1756594.html
His international career has had several setbacks but he describes it as a "blessing" that he is now in the squad with Trapattoni confirming yesterday that he will travel to Sofia. At one point stories circulated that he would instead play for England but having been born in England to an Irish mother and returned to live in Inchicore for four years when he was eight, Best said the rumours were inaccurate.
"Ireland and England called me up when I was on loan at Shefield Wed I broke my fifth metatarsal on my second game into the new season and went back to Southampton and didn't travel for the Ireland squad. I think the mix-up came with people saying I was going to play for England and I was going to do this and that. But the only reason I didn't travel for Ireland was because I had broken my fifth metatarsal."
He was criticised by some but seems to be another young player who has difficulty being understood. "It's hard when people say 'how come you haven't been involved with Ireland?' because I don't think it was a matter of I wasn't good enough to play for them, I think it was that they thought I didn't want to. But I never got a phone call from anyone asking me did I want to play for Ireland. I think that was the disappointing thing. Because if anybody at a high level had asked me do I want to play for Ireland I would have been on the plane."
..Which I think is exactly what I told you all a few weeks ago!...Also, he never lived in Inchicore from 8 to 12!
Last edited by livehead1; 31/05/2009 at 6:41 PM.
...from Thursday's Indo..
Nottingham-born Best lived in Dublin for a period of his youth and, despite representing Ireland at U-17 and U-18 level, there was confusion over his international allegiance in 2005 when England named the front man in an U-20 selection.
Injury prevented him from making a decision -- Ireland had summoned him at the same time -- but he says there was no choice to make anyway.
"Because I didn't go with any of them, somebody in green probably had the wrong impression, but, like I said, when I was young, Ireland always showed me a lot of loyalty and I'll show it back," said Best.
"I went to Cherry Orchard school, I played for Lourdes Celtic and lived in Bluebell. It's a big part of me, most of family are in Ireland and my brother, Stephen, who lives in Bluebell will be coming over for the game."
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-1753135.html
"There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the fault of his feet" - Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot
2 more goals for Best tonight. I'm starting to believe this guy is the real deal. I really like the way he is progressing.
This fella could be the Kevin Doyle of the Championship this season. I had high hopes of Noel Hunt and Shane Long battling for the Championships Golden Boot but it could be Best and Morrison now. How old is Leon Best? Great to see him score again last night!
Seems to have come on in leaps and bounds this season, I wonder has the call up given his confidence a boost. Good to see anyway.
A lot of mates of mine are Cov fans and reckon that he has been unplayable in a few games this season. Always seemed to have the movement before but was maybe not the finshed article. Appears that he has bulked up a bit this season and his strength is becoming a key factor.
However, Keiran Westwood is rated as high, if not higher - apparently he was meant to be class last night.
Have to admit i allowed myself a broad smile when i saw Best's name come up on the Sky Sports news 'ticker' last night. Lets hope he keeps up this form and his progress. To be honest the South Africa game was the first time i'd gotten a decent look at Best and I liked what i saw.
I'm constantly looking out for the Coventry results at the moment, what with Best, Westwood and Clinton in great form. Funny how it goes eh; never thought i'd end up the slightest bit bothered about what Coventry City were up to!
Be great if he could get a move to the Premiership in January and if he could do well there. We could possibly have 4 strikers playing regularly in the Premiership come South Africa if we did manage to qualify.
I've always thought Best was a better player than Folan who's just a big lump to drag on every now and then to throw himself about. He offers little otherwise.
Considering all our promising young strikers a few years ago it's amazing how many fell off the radar.
Last edited by youngirish; 30/09/2009 at 1:41 PM.
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