I'd stick Shane Supple in the squad as third choice keeper. He's playing regularly now at Ipswich and looks like he has a vast amount of potenital. I'd certainly have him there instead of Murphy, Colgan or Stack. None of which play regular football at a high enough level to justify their inclusion.
I expect Pete is referring to a combo of holding player / attacking player which does tend to be the favoured approach these days. I wouldn't call it a diamond so much myself, that's just Sven bullsh1tology & I expect it strictly refers to the "wide" two playing narrower than having conventional wingers.
An obvious exception is the way Barton & Ireland interact at City. I heard the term "piston" to describe the Vieira / Petit pairing at Arsenal & it kind of refers to City aswell.
I'd be inclined to leave the Irish U19 team alone for the time being. Let them develop together for now.Originally Posted by youngirish
Colin Doyle is playing regularly and very well. He's also twice Supple's size. Colgan no chance though, I agree. Supple is still only no. 2 at Ipswich - he's only getting a game because Lewis Price is injured ( I think). I think Wayne Henderson is in with a shot of being no. 3 keeper, esp if he can seal a permanent move to Brighton. They really like him down there. He's been injured and I think he may be back at Villa as they're arguing over his transfer price.
Supple's time will come, as will Randolph's.
Price has been back for a while now but Supple is keeping his place in goal. Henderson was impressive during his time with Brighton but he hasn't played regularly for a while. I think Supple at the moment is a better keeper than Doyle even if he is only about half his size.
Not sitting on the fence here but they could rotate 3rd keeper, just to make sure they all get some experience. It's a totally remote possibility than a 3rd keeper will ever have anything to do. I'm very positive about Supple but am I right in thinking he's not even no. 1 choice for Ireland's U19s?
The underage keepers, in my opinion, are better off playing for the underage sides right now. Who'll be U21 keeper now that Henderson & Deeney are overage?
Finnan played at left back for a lot of his time at Fulham and I think he's the best option for that position with Kelly at right back. We need an attacking right back as the right midfield position will most likely be filled by someone who'll drift inside a lot and will need overlapping.
O'Brien has been doing well at Pompey and always plays well for us so I think Dunne-O'Brien is a cert to start at centre half.
In my opinion, we have more players coming through now than ever before. When Kerr's underage teams were doing so well, very few of the players were getting games at club level. A lot of the U19s are getting first team football now.
Off topic but here's a pass from Duff which was on Soccer AM last week:
http://media.putfile.com/Duff-Pass
Quality pass.
did anyone mention Ronnie O'Brien? He might be worth a look in.
Top pass from Duff there EB
I saw Finnan play at left full once for Ireland under Kerr, that was the Norway game. Played at right full later in the game too and didn't seem out of position in either. I think that was the only time Kerr tried him out there, and settled on O'Shea in there.
Finnan played left back against Switzerland afair.
That's right. I think he, O'Brien & Given were only players to do well that day. Carr played left back against Celtic.
Indeed he did, my mistake - http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=430756
Could be Darren Randolph from Charlton Athletic
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
Quigley was in the last few squads as second choice. He's still underage.
Thank you brine3! I don't know why he is constantly overlooked - out of sight, out of mind maybe? Ronnie O'Brien, apart from being voted Time's Man of the Millennium, is lighting up the MLS with Dallas Burn and has been on their Team of the Season for the last 2 years. He's a right-winger - which has been a trouble position for us lately - and is surely as good, if not better, than anything we have going in that area at the mo. I wouldn't agree with playing Joey O'Brien at RM - generally the less players playing out of position for us the better - but his natural position is CM; perhaps give him a run there for 25 mins?
In any case, I think a big squad for Sweden is a decent idea. Mine would run as follows:
Given, Kenny, Stack.
Finnan, Kelly, J. O'Brien, Dunne, O'Brien, McCarthy, Harte, O'Shea.
R. O'Brien, S. Reid, A. Reid, Kavanagh, Holland, Ireland, McGeady, Duff.
Keane, Morrison, Connolly, Trundle, Doyle.
With the team being:
Kenny
Finnan
Dunne (c)
O'Brien
Harte
R. O'Brien
Kavanagh
A. Reid
Duff
Keane
Doyle
Would like to see Kelly, McCarthy, J. O'Brien, Ireland, Trundle and McGeady all get a half or at least 30 mins.
Has anyone mentioned Neil Kilkenny of Birmingham yet? He's been in and out of the team this season - worth a look?
Andy Reids club position means he should struggle to get near the team let alone hold down a place in the centre of midfields.. he really needs to get a grip of his career again!
Wants to play for England.
Not an option. After originally declaring for Ireland he's taken the Queen's Shilling instead.
PP
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