Kilbane to Retire?

[Razors left peg]

just came across this and am wondering if its true, has anyone else heard?
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/lo...TMNW&id=393575

I would find it hard to believe he would retire in the middle of a campaign if we are going well and he has been playing

[kingdomkerry]

He always gave 100% but i dont think he'll get a look in anymore anyway so he might aswell retire

[crc]

Good old Zinedine Kilbane! I always liked watching him play.

[irishultra]

I think he's always been good for Ireland. His crossing is ****, but he uses '' the cow'' to good effect.

[The Legend]

at least he tried and always committed unlike some others!

[Theskinloyal]

I remember before the 2002 World Cup reading his profile on the FIFA website:

"Pace and endevour make up for lack of any real talent."

[rambler14]

I hope he doesn't retire.

If the whole Ireland team played with as much heart and passion as Kilbane then we would be after winning the World Cup and European Championships numerous times by now.
He is an asset to Trappatoni's squad and a player I would love to see break the 100 cap barrier for Ireland.

One of the few players in the squad who sings the anthem before the games and he's lived in England all his life and had never spoke a word of Irish in his life and he still went away to learn the anthem before he played his 1st game for Ireland to make him feel as if he belonged.
Thats the sort of pride and passion you want in an international squad.

A great player who will be a huge loss when he retires. Which is a few years away.....I hope!

[stickyjoe]

I hope he doesn't retire.

One of the few players in the squad who sings the anthem before the games and he's lived in England all his life and had never spoke a word of Irish in his life and he still went away to learn the anthem before he played his 1st game for Ireland to make him feel as if he belonged.
Thats the sort of pride and passion you want in an international squad.

!

Kilbane may be born in England but he is most definitely Irish and always has been. Don`t put him in the same plastic paddy category that alot of our other players are in

[Hibs4Ever]

Great post rambler14

I hope he stays on too

[geysir]

The headline in Ireland Mad is a statement not a question.
"Kilbane will retire"
of course he will, one day.
I for one will not go back to that site voluntarily.
There is no article on the Wigan Observer sports page,
If there is and its just not online, the quote looks to be just about the friendly games and training camp.

"A lot of people know my situation its tough being away from the wife and kids, the big thing from my point of view is they have got to come first."

"I know its part and parcel of the job and my wife has been nothing but supportive but there comes a time when you think 'give the youngsters a chance` they are going to get more games than me anyways.

"It would have been difficult being away for that length of time over the summer when I should really be on a break with my family."

Somewhere else it was reported not quoted, that Kilbane would retire from Internationals at the end of next season.

[finnpark]

He always gave 100% but i dont think he'll get a look in anymore anyway so he might aswell retire

Why wouldn't he?

He was one of our most consistent performers and always gave 100%. Hes had a very good season with Wigan in the premiership at left back. McShane and O'Shea struggled whenever they played and Delaney is an average Div 2 left back.

So as you can see I find it hard to understand your point of view. Better than the average Irish player

[FarBeag]

Why wouldn't he?

He was one of our most consistent performers and always gave 100%. Hes had a very good season with Wigan in the premiership at left back. McShane and O'Shea struggled whenever they played and Delaney is an average Div 2 left back.

So as you can see I find it hard to understand your point of view. Better than the average Irish player

You obviously have not seen him play very often if you are looking for him in Div 2.

[jmurphyc]

Why wouldn't he?

He was one of our most consistent performers and always gave 100%. Hes had a very good season with Wigan in the premiership at left back. McShane and O'Shea struggled whenever they played and Delaney is an average Div 2 left back.

So as you can see I find it hard to understand your point of view. Better than the average Irish player

I've only seen one or two Wigan games this season, but when he's played left back for Ireland he's generally been quite poor. His positioning for a left back is woeful and it's probably the most important attribute for a left back. He always tucks in beside the centre backs and I'd much prefer to see Delaney given a chance because of Kilbane's weaknesses in that position. Judging by Saturday, Delaney should start the qualifiers for us.

[jbyrne]

Judging by Saturday, Delaney should start the qualifiers for us.

did he really play that well last sat? i think we are wanting him to have played well as its a problem position for us but i think if someone with 10 caps to their name had played like he did on sat we would be a bit more critical. most of serbias goal was down to mcshane but delaney was also at fault. kilbane to me would be a far better option at left back

[cavan_fan]

I agree that he has shown great drive and commitment and has been an asset to the team. I would say that if he feels that going it is at least honest of him to say so and step aside. I'd rather that than someone who just turns up (John O'Shea!)

[jmurphyc]

did he really play that well last sat? i think we are wanting him to have played well as its a problem position for us but i think if someone with 10 caps to their name had played like he did on sat we would be a bit more critical. most of serbias goal was down to mcshane but delaney was also at fault. kilbane to me would be a far better option at left back

I don't think he played really well. He had a "solid" debut. He didn't do too much wrong, and he didn't light up the game either. Steve Finnan rarely sets the game alight for us, but he does little wrong in most games, so if Delaney were like that he should be first choice IMO. Had Kilbane been playing in that position I think he would have given the full back far too much space and wouldn have made it a much more difficult job than Delaney did. Just by being in the correct position without doing anything else Delaney showed he was competent enough to be seriously considered for the position which I think is the weakest in our team.

I'm not trying to make him out to be a saviour for us and he may well have a nightmare tonight or in the future should he play for us in the qualifiers, but I just think he should be tried out up until the qualifiers to see if he's good enough.

[Seagull-4-life]

I think he's always been good for Ireland. His crossing is ****, but he uses '' the cow'' to good effect.

I don't get "The Cow" reference???

[tricky_colour]

I don't get "The Cow" reference???

I expect he is the only one who does.

[geysir]

I'm not familiar with that language but could it be in anyway related to
getting a good return from milking his only trick?

[rambler14]

I'd rather that than someone who just turns up (John O'Shea!)

John O'Shea should be centre-back with Dunne and Kelly and Delaney should be full backs thats if Finnan doesn't come back of course.
I'm undecided about whether Kilabane should be a defender or midfielder.