Norway V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 20th August 2008 - Friendly

**NeilMcD** · 21/08/2008, 1:23 PM

Whelan is a better option that Miller. You are right in that he is conservative, but it is his 2nd game for Ireland, many players say it takes up to 15 games to get to grips with international football and esp for a young footballer in the defensive midfield role, if he can break up attacks and keep possession I would be happy.

**Wolfie** · 21/08/2008, 1:26 PM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Whelan was trash again last night. He seemed adamant to not give away possession (even though he still did more than any other player) but the general flow of the 1st half last night was that Reid would cut the team open with a pass to McGeady or Duff who'd skillfully bring the ball forward, play Keane or Doyle who play it back all the time probing for an opening, then Whelan would appear in space, they'd give it to him and he'd take some safe useless option like passing back to the defence breaking down our attack. We need somebody with courage in that role, Andy Reid ideally but if I HAD to I'd take Miller if Whelan is the only alternative. Georgia will have every reason to be thrilled if we start Whelan.

The whole point of Whelans inclusion is to retain possession and protect the back 4 - particularly away from home, when its envisaged we'll be under pressure. Its undoubtedly a conservative approach but something we could be seeing a lot of - hopefully which results in a dramatically impoved away record.

**OwlsFan** · 21/08/2008, 1:35 PM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Whelan was trash again last night.

I wouldn't call his performance "thrash". I obviously saw a lot of Whelan when he played for Wednesday (let go by Man City). For every good 3 good passes, he'll give away 1 or two rather sloppily. He's not a bad player and he's definitely a good Championship player but he's NOT the solution to our midfield problem. He'll do a fair job but I am not sure that's enough at the level we're looking at. Perhaps Trap can bring more out of him which would be great.

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Delaney is the tallest player in the squad as far as I can see. I have a very good team photo that I took against Coloumbia and there was nobody taller than him there.

Perhaps I should have said: good in the air rather than for his height. Kilbane competes well in the air (he even set up the Norwegian goal from a set piece

). I haven't seen enough of Delaney to ascertain whether he's good in the air. Is he?

**Duggie** · 21/08/2008, 1:42 PM

i dont see why he cant play steven reid as the defensive midfielder with andy reid getting forward. makes sense to me.

**irishultra** · 21/08/2008, 2:08 PM

They were saying good things on Sky Sports for the record. 'Ireland's European() stye play couldn't cope with the conditions'

Whelan was nice to watch last night, definetly looks better on the ball than Carsley. Ciaran is being unfair on him. He didn't lose the ball that much, I'd say over 80% of his passes were accurate...definetly.

He compliments S.Reid well. Andy Reid is interesting though. I wish we had one more friendly to try him behind Keane. I liked Doye last night but he doesn't seem hungary enough to score.

**DotTV** · 21/08/2008, 2:10 PM

I think Trap hinted in his interviews that he wants a more defensively solid midfield away from home and gainst the better teams at home, but we'd use more attacking options against the lesser teams at home.
If three of your midfield are Duff, McGeady and A Reid, that doesn't give a lot of cover at the back.

**soccerc** · 21/08/2008, 2:16 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I obviously saw a lot of Whelan when he played for Wednesday (let go by Man City).

He was no let go by Man City, he refused the offer of a new contract.

As I posted yesterday, he has been mandated a particular role by the management and has impressed in his application to those instructions. (I am of course biased)

This is a team being built,a group who will work for and with each other, not a bunch of outstanding individuals.

**Kingdom** · 21/08/2008, 2:21 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

He was no let go by Man City, he refused the offer of a new contract.

As I posted yesterday, he has been mandated a particular role by the management and has impressed in his application to those instructions. (I am of course biased)

This is a team being built,a group who will work for and with each other, not a bunch of outstanding individuals.

What does he think of the setup soccerc? There seems to be a fair bit of harmony in the camp.

**youngirish** · 21/08/2008, 2:30 PM

Whelan's a decent Championship player but he's not good enough to make a mark in the Premiership and consequently International football imo. I think we'll struggle against decent opposition with him in midfield.

Hopefully Joey O'Brien, Darron Gibson or Owen Garvan become more attractive alternatives for the defensive midfield role within the early stages of the campaign.

He's a better option than Miller or Carsley though.

**Razors left peg** · 21/08/2008, 2:34 PM

I thought Whelan was very good last night

**Stuttgart88** · 21/08/2008, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I haven't seen enough of Delaney to ascertain whether he's good in the air. Is he?

I can't say either, but he played regularly at CB for Hull as far as I know, so I'd imagine he's no slouch in that department.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/08/2008, 2:44 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I thought Whelan was very good last night

I agree with this and almost every word of your initial match assessment earlier in this thread (wouldn't quite have gone as far as "over the moon"). It was refreshingly pleasing to see a pattern and purpose to our play, at least an attempt to play conventional football. It was as if they'd been made to watch and study Euro 2008.

**irishultra** · 21/08/2008, 2:50 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I agree with this and almost every word of your initial match assessment earlier in this thread (wouldn't quite have gone as far as "over the moon"). It was refreshingly pleasing to see a pattern and purpose to our play, at least an attempt to play conventional football. It was as if they'd been made to watch and study Euro 2008.

Nail on the head.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/08/2008, 2:58 PM

With regard to Whelan, he's not that much different to Mark Kinsella who thrived alongside Keane. He's the kind of player that doesn't figure that much in English football anymore, an old fashioned central midfielder who just keeps the ball moving and has a good - but at times careless - range of passing.

I like him but prefer Andy Reid. I don't see my prediction from 3 years ago that he's a future Ireland captain coming true, but I expect we'll see more of him.

I'd be curious to see how he and Delap, and Lawrence of course, cope this year.

**geysir** · 21/08/2008, 3:02 PM

I didn't realise that Stoke are in the EPL now.
How did that happen?

That should bring Lawrence and Delap more into the limelight.

**irishultra** · 21/08/2008, 3:08 PM

Doesn't Whelan play for them?

**geysir** · 21/08/2008, 4:06 PM

He does but at least he has the eye of Trap whereas the other 2 have dropped out of the squad altogether.

**Wheels** · 21/08/2008, 4:46 PM

I like the look of the sytem... 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2. We had lots of good movement off the ball.

I'm still confused by Andy's absence. This season Sunderland are using the same 4-2-3-1 and Andy is pivotal as one of the 2 holding midfielders. He works hard and does a good defensive job, but (when the time is right) he can spread the ball and open up the game.

Personally, I think that is even more important in a tough away fixture. We are likely to be pinned back for long periods and a long precise pass from deep can allow our 4 fast attacking players to grab vital counter-attack goals. This is especially true against better teams who are likely to throw more players forward.

We saw what precise long passing can do to open up teams whenever we played Russia and Switzerland in recent years, they tore us apart with them.

**eirebhoy** · 21/08/2008, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

Thinks thats a stupid mark to give Whealan. I thought he played very well, particularly in the second half in the horrible conditions. He goes through a lo of the donkey work that often never gets appreciated. I was very impressed with his partnership with Reid and think it has good potential for the future. Plus it adds much needed bite to our midfield

I was hoping that would bet ignored.

That rating would not change no matter what performance Whelan put in. Don't bite.

**Kingdom** · 21/08/2008, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

With regard to Whelan, he's not that much different to Mark Kinsella who thrived alongside Keane. He's the kind of player that doesn't figure that much in English football anymore, an old fashioned central midfielder who just keeps the ball moving and has a good - but at times careless - range of passing.

I like him but prefer Andy Reid. I don't see my prediction from 3 years ago that he's a future Ireland captain coming true, but I expect we'll see more of him.

I'd be curious to see how he and Delap, and Lawrence of course, cope this year.

Stutts I love you. I couldn't put my finger on who he reminded of. Kinsella. Thats him in a nutshell. Now for Steven reid to morph into a level headed Roy Keane and we're set!