QuoteI predict that by the time we hear the final closing verdict on Finnan, Ciaran will have started 57 new threads
Kiely will be almost 40 by the time of the World Cup. I'd be surprised if he came back, to be honest.
I predict that by the time we hear the final closing verdict on Finnan, Ciaran will have started 57 new threads
Kiely retired because he was tired o playing second fiddle to Shay Given. I he returns he will still be second fiddle to him.
Finnan has agreed to meet Brady but personally i just think that is out of curtosy. He has a battle to get his position back at liverpool so i think he will stick to his decision. Maybe if he will be given assurances that he will play in his correct position then he may return.
Id expect Andy O'Brien to return. He is still in his 20s and has finally got his club career back in order. I guess he retired due to his shocking treatment by Stan
I see no point in bringing back any of these players. Bring in some new blood. Finnan never played great for Ireland since 2002 in my opinion. O'Brien is a ****ebag. Kiely is a quality keeper but I don't see what he has to gain from coming back.
I'd rather see Sean Dillon and Colin Doyle get more of a chance. I can't think of a young centre half, a position I think we're going to struggle with in a few years.
If Kiely came back we'd be wise to let him play some games, if we lose given we are f'd. Kiely is streets ahead of Paddy Kenny, even at his age. He is also a consummate professional who looks after himself and can carry on his career for a few more years.
"No regrets, none at all. My only regret is that we went out on penalties. That's my only regret. But no, no regrets." -Mick McCarthy
Yeah I'd rather have Kiely than Kenny as well. I think Kiely would be fine with playing as our backup if he's allowed to play in some friendly matches, which is fair enough.
Hope Brady can convince O'Brien and Finnan to return as well.
O'Brien is no great shakes alright, but we have no depth whatsoever in the Central Defensive area. I agree that we do need to start looking at the players coming through, but you really don't want to be throwing St. Ledger or someone like that in against Italy because Dunne is injured and John O'Shea is suspended. You need someone with the experience of playing at the top level and internationally.
Why all the undue abuse on Andy O'Brien. His parnership with Cunningham was probably the best we have had for the past 8 years.During the one campaign where they were our deensive partnership yu could count the amont of goals we conceded on one hand, and this was in a group with France
It is amazing to think that Kiely is 37 with a grand total of only 8 caps - when did he get his first call up? I always think of him as a supremely reliable back-up keeper. I did find it amazing that Given was never dropped to give him a few friendlies over the years - this may say more about confidence in the defence in front than any lack of confidence in Kiely though.
I think that the anti-Andy buzz is largely owing to the fact that, while not particularly bad, he is very not very good. He gets a bad press too for having played for England to under 21s. Personally, I always found him to be less than inspiring at the centre of defence, and would generally feel that his game was reliant on his partner beside him having a good one. However, it is quite remarkable that we only conceded five goals in that campaign (him playing in 6 of them) and still finished 4th.Originally Posted by carloz
Last edited by Bluebeard; 10/04/2008 at 9:42 AM.
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Kiely's Ireland record: http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/p...starts=1&id=68
Only the one competitive start - away to Turkey in Euro 2000 play off second leg
To those who feel we should bring the younger players through, i disagree. Trappatoni is not been paid all this money to bring young players into the side; he is there to get us qualified. O'Brien and Finnan in particular are good enough to be in our starting 11 when playing at their best, Kiely is certainly good enough for the squad and may be back playing in the premiership next season. Let the young players stay around the squad and you never know, if they are performing well at club level then they will put pressure on the more established names; if the established players aren't there then there will be less motivation for the young players to be constantly on the lookout for that extra 2%. The more experienced players the better as far as my humble opinion is concerned.
I think it's important that we have a reliable back-up keeper as Given has had a lot of trouble with injury recently and I think that Kiely is the best alternative we have. Hopefully lads like Doyle and Supple will become more viable options as time goes on.
Tough call for Finnan. Returning to the international fold may give the wrong message to Benítez and make it even more difficult to win his place back. At the same time, if he's frozen out at Liverpool, he may find playing for Ireland more attractive.
Centre-half is a difficult position for us; we've one top notch player in Dunne and then several lads who either due to youth/inexperience (McShane, St Ledger, McCarthy, O'Dea, etc.) or general averageness (O'Shea, O'Brien) don't inspire quite enough confidence. I think what the new management should do is concentrate on choosing a centre-half pairing and help them develop an understanding. Despite his failings, I think O'Shea is the most viable partner for Dunne at this moment in time although I reckon Andy O'Brien could do the job too.
Greece 1 - 0 Germany
Socrates (89)
You've got to be joking. Fair enough its probably not worth having Kiely back but Finnan and O'Brien are absolutely vital if we have any chance of qualification i think.
The best alternatives for both Finnan and O'Brien at this moment in time are probably Kelly and O'Shea - bringing Kilbane to full back. I wouldn't give us much chance of qualification if Kelly and O'shea are regulars - two very poor readers of the game. Finnan is an excellent defender and O'Brien seems to be in the best form of his career - these two are streets ahead of the alternatives.
If we have these two throughout the qualifiers, I'd be so much more confident. Which would you prefer - a backline of Kelly O'Shea Dunne Kilbane or Finnan O'Brien Dunne Kilbane??
If sluggish and error prone Andy O'Brien turns out to be vital to our qualification I'll eat my own legs. He's average in his best form and poor when not. If we want to qualify we need McShane, O'Dea or Ledger to come through and establish themselves as reliable defenders at least within the initial stages of the campaign.
No Way!!! He's had some great games for Ireland, every time I think of him I remember the countless times he has performed, not the Cyprus debacle. Get him back in and playing for us!
I think Given stated that he wanted to be part of all Irelands games both qualifiers and friendly.
Also I think RMK had a dig at him before about wanting to accumulate a lot of caps.
Larry Be Wyse
www.acsportsimages.com
Its good that Given wants to be a part of every game for Ireland and its ridiculous to have a dig at him for that but its not his decision and doubt he is going to quit internationals if the manager chooses to test out our back up keepers in a few friendlies
O'Shea - rarely playing for Man Utd, extremly rare that he plays at centre hal
McShane - cant get back into the Sunderland team, their form imporved when he was dropped, awful at beginning of season. Error prone.
O'Dea- Cant even break into the worst defence Celtic have had for years
St. Ledger- Preston are just out of relegation trouble. Not the answer at the moment.
Simply put O'Brien is the best of what we have. he is almost a certainty for player of the year at Bolton this season. yes they are going to be relegated but he has had a good term. Plus if we have him and Dunne in our team we will be a major threat from set pieces, and set pieces are vital in football. Anyone dismissing O'Brien for Ireland hasnt a clue and has seen little of him in the past. Yes he is limited but he is the best of what we have to partner Dunne.
dont think kiely will come back
finann should though hes well worth a try anyway
andy o brien isnt up to it i dont think same as mcshane
o dea should get a chance in these next 2 friendlies
Is O'Dea even getting in the match day squad for Celtic??
I liked the look of him against Milan last season but if he's not getting near the starting 11 for Celtic how can you expect him to play for Ireland?
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