Steven Reid

**paul_oshea** · 07/09/2009, 10:41 AM

WC winning resolve brings/requires/acquires sheer good fortune.

Reid is a class midfielder, the key to him is his energy levels alright but also he is an intelligent footballer with the ball, and always always shows for the ball when the defence have it. He is that outlet that links the defenders to the midfield, and is not afraid to demand the ball. Compare that to our current midfield maestro in glenn whelan and you can see the huge difference reid makes in this team. Although its a long time ago now, montenegro away he was our best player in my opinion, he kept showing for the ball, holding onto possession and rarely lost the ball and most importantly very little hoof football. I cant remember a game away from home where we had so much possession and looked so comfortable. Yet we never looked like winning as we never went for it.

**Wolfie** · 07/09/2009, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

.... Although its a long time ago now, montenegro away he was our best player in my opinion, he kept showing for the ball, holding onto possession and rarely lost the ball and most importantly very little hoof football. I cant remember a game away from home where we had so much possession and looked so comfortable. Yet we never looked like winning as we never went for it.

I thought Reid played very well that night, certainly baring in mind the constraints of the game plan that night. We retained possession well enough and used the ball with a modicom of purpose for once.

I can remember thinking we'd actually witnessed the green shoots of a properly functioning midfield that night and Reid has been a big loss to us.

We had a presence and intelligence in our midfield play that Reid was primarly responsible for.

We'd a couple of chance as well - McGeady was through, albeit an acute angle, Keane made the keeper work in the 2nd half and we had a huge peno claim overlooked.

**Stuttgart88** · 07/09/2009, 12:39 PM

Remember the first half away to Norway? We started badly but after about ten minutes we dominated a midfield in a way I haven't seen for ages. We defended very high up the pitch.

**eirebhoy** · 07/09/2009, 2:07 PM

I always remember Reid pushing up when Norway had the ball to put pressure on one of their defenders. Gibson, Whelan and Andrews wouldn't dare do that and disrupt Trap's system. Reid is crucial to us. Much more important than Stephen Ireland would be imo because Reid offers us the ability to dominate games.

**swinfordfc** · 10/09/2009, 10:05 AM

According to Paul Lennon in the star today - Reid will not be consider for the Italy game - i hope he is wrong

**tetsujin1979** · 10/09/2009, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by swinfordfc

According to Paul Lennon in the star today - Reid will not be consider for the Italy game - i hope he is wrong

same in the examiner: http://www.examiner.ie/sport/world-c...ni-100603.html

Sadly, an injury much earlier in Trapattoni’s reign has already eliminated Steven Reid from the final two games of Ireland’s World Cup qualification bid, with the manager yesterday confirming that the Blackburn Rovers midfielder – who is slowly returning to fitness after missing most of last season following knee surgery – has not yet made sufficient progress to be considered for selection for the back-to-back games next month against Italy and Montenegro in Croke Park.

"It is impossible," said Trapattoni. "In six months he doesn’t play apart from 30 minutes in a friendly. He doesn’t play for his club and it is a serious injury. So at the moment there isn’t the possibility he can play for us."

and in the Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...254207647.html

He added he has pretty much given up hope of Steven Reid making the sort of rapid return to fitness that would be required for him to feature against Italy.

“Steven hasn’t played for six months, only 30 minutes in a friendly or the Carling Cup. I have always said that if players haven’t played 90 minutes in one, two, three, four games then I have to look elsewhere because they are injured. . . .

**Duggie** · 10/09/2009, 10:15 AM

could have him back for the play off's if we get them.

**geysir** · 10/09/2009, 10:28 AM

Surely our luck was out when Steven Reid got injured last year?

I think there are just as many entries in the "bad luck" column as there are in the "good luck" column to be honest.

2 OG's for Italy on Saturday. As someone else said, is that WC winning resolve or sheer good fortune?

In the end it's the resolve that gets you through.
It's hard to objective about things like fortune or luck

**republicofwhite** · 10/09/2009, 11:01 AM

It doesn't matter anymore whether he plays against Italy or not after last nights results. All that matters now is that he is wrapped in cotton wool until the play offs, hopefully by then he'll be nearing full fitness and and getting some game time for Blackburn. If we could get 70 minutes out of him in both play off matches that would be as much as we could hope for. He could make ALL the difference in the play offs. We'll actually have a midfield when it matters most...

**eirebhoy** · 10/09/2009, 11:26 AM

“Steven hasn’t played for six months, only 30 minutes in a friendly or the Carling Cup. I have always said that if players haven’t played 90 minutes in one, two, three, four games then I have to look elsewhere because they are injured. . . .

He'll have played a few games for Blackburn before the Italy game hopefully.

We'll probably need 2 points from the 2 games btw. Don't be taking a win against Montenegro for granted.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/09/2009, 11:29 AM

I agree. If we lose or even draw the Italy game I'll be sweating bricks for the next 4 days.

**dr_peepee** · 10/09/2009, 11:34 AM

Reid is a slow starter though when he comes back from extended periods out. He'll need half a dozen consectutive games at the very least.... (that's not to say that a half match fit Reid wouldn;t improve our squad. More about meeting our expectations of him)

**Stuttgart88** · 10/09/2009, 11:41 AM

Mid-November (if we have any games then) could be realistic I'd say. I think he'll need to have at lesat 3 or 4 full games under his belt at his club.

**geysir** · 10/09/2009, 3:44 PM

There is an amount of hope that he could be match fit in time for the play offs in mid Nov.

**Razors left peg** · 10/09/2009, 4:35 PM

Yeah Id go along with the thought of having him fit for the playoffs is the important thing after last nights result, Im confident with the lads we have there at moment we will get the 2 points we need

**irishfan86** · 11/09/2009, 1:48 AM

I was reading an ancient Chinese military document, and I couldn't help but make an association with how our midfield is following Trap's orders to the letter (how obsessed am I?): "Rigid applications of military theory will only result in defeat on the battlefield."

I think Steven Reid is the only midfielder we've got currently who knows when to adhere to Trap's tactics, and when to step outside them. He's the only one up for selection with the maturity, match intelligence, and personality to step outside his instructions when necessary.

**jbyrne** · 11/09/2009, 9:18 AM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

I think Steven Reid is the only midfielder we've got currently who knows when to adhere to Trap's tactics, and when to step outside them. He's the only one up for selection with the maturity, match intelligence, and personality to step outside his instructions when necessary.

hes also been playing international football since 2001 and has the experience etc that goes with that. our current ctre mid options have been playing only a fraction of that and will learn

**Duggie** · 11/09/2009, 9:52 AM

ya reid is defo the best we have right now. but id like to see whelan take it on a bit more. hes aggressive, nice passer and a good shot, id like to see him stick to the plan but influence the game a bit more. i think he has the capabilities to do it.