Rory Delap photo gallery from today's Guardian!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/g...ture=339593666
He'd be handy if you could bring on players just for particular set pieces and take them off again after. As soon as Duff or McGeady win a throw in within range, on lumber the dynamic duo of Delap and Gary Doherty to create havoc in the opposition penalty area, beating a hasty retreat before open play resumes.
Greece 1 - 0 Germany
Socrates (89)
Bring Ian Harte on for free kicks! Where is he these days?Originally Posted by Over the post
Just saw tonight on Sky Sports News that Harte is on trial with Charlton Athletic. Hope it works out for him this time.
"There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the fault of his feet" - Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot
more here about the trial: http://www.sportbox.tv/football/news....php?id=273771
I was updating my Fantasy League team and I noticed that Delap was doubtful for the weekend.........Has an arm injury!
Anyone else would play on but his he really that bad with his feet that he'd be classed as doubtful with an arm injury???
LESS OF THE BULL NOW!
Well it must put some strain on his arm muscles doing those long throws, but apparently he injured in in a fall.It does not necessarily mean he is being played exclusively for his throw, but obviously that helps.
I doubt they would be playing him if he had a knee injury for example.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/7774110.stm
I'm watching the Stoke/Liverpool match from Saturday again, it is on replay on Setanta. This guy should at least be on the bench for Ireland matches. His long throw-ins cause mass confusion and Stoke are a threat to score anytime they get a throw in within the Liverpool third of the pitch. Surely we could throw him on when we need a goal? Liverpool's defense is better than anyone in our group's bar Italy, and if they can't deal with the throw ins, how will anyone else?
He certainly would be an option and could do a job in midfield if and when he was brought on in games probably for the last 20/25 minutes
As previously posted, I'd resist the temptation to play him solely on the long throwing ability alone. It would have to be someone who can do a competent job with the added bonus of a long throw. Not the other way around!!!
This isn't water polo and its a bit of an insult to the player also.
He could be instrumental in causing some organised chaos if introduced for the final 10 mins of a game but again, there would have to be confidence in his footballing ability in open play, first and foremost.
Parking the long throw ability aside - I think he could be worth a serious look at right full - even as cover for Finnan.
Quoting years at random since 1975
I think we're ok at right full if everyone is fit: Finnan, Foley & Kelly. I don't rate McShane as a full back.
I personally think Delap is worth at least a squad place in CM on merit, even if he couldn't throw a ball 10 feet. At worst I think we should test this hypothesis - give him a run out in a friendly. I'd also like Carsley to be tried again.
Brian Kerr says he hasn't got the finesse required for international football CM but I'm not sure we actually have anyone that does.
I was looking at some of his long throws in the recent game against Liverpool (and dont shoot me down here...) but they werent that long, I mean they entered the penalty box and caused havoc but it wasnt like he was throwing them in from the half way line.
If Trap pulled his chosen squad together and got them to do a couple of long throws each in training, Im sure at least one of the first team squad could come close to a throw of that distance. Therefore if it was a tactic we wanted to use at some stage in a game - we could do it without picking Delap solely for that purpose.
However, I agree with Stutts here, Id like to give him a run out on footballing ability, unfortuantely we dont have any friendlies now until weve played another 3 competitive games (I think) by then, the squad should be even more settled and the ship may have sailed..........
Last edited by Junior; 13/01/2009 at 5:21 PM.
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
It looked to me vs Liverpool that the pain in his shoulder/arm was getting too much for him because there looked to be little power and distance on the throws.
LESS OF THE BULL NOW!
I don't think he is played solely for his throws.
He is a decent enough player anyway.
It's not like he can't kick a ball because he can
I think Kerr did an alright job as our manager, so don't think I'm being brutally anti-Kerr here, but this is the same man who played Kevin Kilbane as a central midfielder in international football.
I'm not saying it wasn't effective- it was in certain games certainly, and anybody proposing Delap would be claiming that he would be in the team for his effectiveness rather than his finesse as well.
Everybody likes to see finesse players in midfield, but not every team or formation has or can accommodate these players.
Delap is rated not good enough for the squad based on his football ability.
Trap reckons it would be an insult to the player to have him there just for his long throw.
I wonder would Delap feel so insulted if he were to be called up?
He looked alright when he came on the field about 10 years ago, a bit raw but keen and not afraid to get stuck in.
It would appear that there are varying arguments for about 10 or 15 players on the fringes to be called up into the squad. I haven't seen Delap play, though I'd have doubts (based on that intelligent ignorance) that he would make any difference.
I imagine if Delap was about 4 years younger he would have been in the squad as soon as Stoke were promoted. Look how Trap reacted to Andrews moving to Blackburn, he got a call up as soon as he started getting game time in the Premiership.
Perhaps Trap is worried that Delap is simply too old for this campaign to start in central midfield (he'll turn 34 in July 10, just after the WC). However, I think he'd be worth a shot as he seems to be the type of midfielder Trap is looking for: good at tackling, breaking up play, playing simple passes etc.
Maybe he might get called up, but I think its unlikely. Certainly a better bet at the moment than Gibson.
Given what Trapp expects from the Central Midfielders in his formation I see no reason why shouldn't be in the team, never mind the squad.
Given what Trap expects of his CM then obviously Trap thinks he has enough options to do what he wants done in CM and doesn't see Delap as offering anything better than what he has selected in the squad.
Then again, I haven't seen Delap play in years
Probably his reasons for overlooking Delap are similar to his reasons for overlooking Carsley. I'd say Trap is of the opinion that the limit to the ability of the younger players have not yet been reached and that he is satisfied with the number of experienced players in the squad who have more international experience than Delap.
That, Kilbane for example may not have any more ability than Delap but has a zillion caps and other influences to bear.
The time of a player doing enough at club level to earn a call up to the squad are over for now. The criteria has shifted to the team as a unit, away from individual merits.
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