Ireland Team 2006

GuanYin

Lot of new faces available for Ireland at the moment and the emergance of a few players who were previously peripheral figures.

Kerr has a few games to decide on a best 11 for the 2006 qualifiers, but no doubt a few other players will emerge along the path.

The usual arguments about where to put Duff and whether Morrisson or Connolly should partner Keane have been made more interesting with the rebirth (or perhaps just birth) of Kilbane's footballing abilities and Andy Reid's appearance as a potential left winger (notice how we seem to breed left footers while England have none).

So from the following below, who do you see as the best Irish 11 for the upcoming campaign and what 5-6 players will be the regular bench huggers.

Note I'd appreciate if the mods considered any degeneration into a Roy Keane debate or even a mention of him as thread spoiling, unless he personally announces his comeback.

Shay Given (Newcastle United)
Nick Colgan (Hibernian)
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United)
Joe Murphy (West Bromwich Albion)
Gary Breen (Sunderland)
Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham City)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Steve Finnan (Liverpool)
Ian Harte (Leeds United)
Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United)
Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur)
Gary Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur)
John O'Shea (Manchester United)
John Thompson (Nottingham Forest)
Lee Carsley (Everton)
Matt Holland (Charlton Athletic)
Kevin Kilbane (Everton)
Mark Kinsella (West Bromwich Albion)
Jason McAteer (Sunderland)
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
Colin Healy (Sunderland)
Rory Delap (Southampton)
Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday)
Stephen McPhail (Leeds Utd)
Graham Kavanagh (Cardiff City)
Liam Miller (Celtic)
Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest)
David Connolly (West Ham)
Damien Duff (Chelsea)
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Clinton Morrison (Birmigham City)
Alan Lee (Cardiff City)
Marlon King (Forest)
Graham Barrett (Bradford)

Sposs

Shay Given (Newcastle United)

Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur)
Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham City)
John O'Shea (Manchester United)
Steve Finnan (Liverpool)


Liam Miller (Celtic)
Matt Holland (Charlton Athletic)
Stephen McPhail (Leeds Utd)
Damien Duff (Chelsea)

Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Clinton Morrison (Birmigham City)

bdiddy

Shay Given (Sligo Rovers)

Stephen Carr (Sligo Rovers)
Kenny Cunningham (Sligo Rovers)
John O'Shea (Sligo Rovers)
Steve Finnan (Sligo Rovers)

Stephen Reid(Sligo Rovers)
Liam Miller (Sligo Rovers)
Stephen McPhail (Sligo Rovers)
Damien Duff (Sligo Rovers)

Robbie Keane (Sligo Rovers)
Clinton Morrison (Sligo Rovers)

jank

u have a good team there sposs but im wondering will keane be there instead of McPhail?

LoneGunM@n

Kevin Nolan may declare for Ireland yet ... If Brian gets around to talking to him!!

LoneGunM@n

Originally posted by jank
u have a good team there sposs but im wondering will keane be there instead of McPhail?

Thread spoiler ... skye won't be happy

Gillie

Originally posted by bdiddy
Shay Given (Sligo Rovers)

Stephen Carr (Sligo Rovers)
Kenny Cunningham (Sligo Rovers)
John O'Shea (Sligo Rovers)
Steve Finnan (Sligo Rovers)

Stephen Reid(Sligo Rovers)
Liam Miller (Sligo Rovers)
Stephen McPhail (Sligo Rovers)
Damien Duff (Sligo Rovers)

Robbie Keane (Sligo Rovers)
Clinton Morrison (Sligo Rovers)

If these guys played for Rovers we wouldn't be in the sh*t at the mo!:D

Joeface

Kevin Nolan may declare for Ireland yet ... If Brian gets around to talking to him!!


thats all we need is an other player who played for England under 21 and then got rejected...........................other begin Matt holland

LoneGunM@n

Originally posted by JoeFace
thats all we need is an other player who played for England under 21 and then got rejected...........................other begin Matt holland

True, but Nolan is a much better player than Holland

Citizen7

Stephen Elliot and Willo Flood at Man City ... both look very talented and should be regular first teamers this time next year... There are loads of other young Irish players at city which could do I job for Ireland in the future.

Joeface

I suppose nolan is a better player...................my be thats why liverpool droped him

GuanYin

Personally I see the team backbone as:

---

Given

---

---Carr

---

XXXX

---

Cunningham

---

XXXX-

---XXXXX

---

XXXX

---

XXXX

---

Duff----

---

Keane

---

XXXX

---

Which is a very strong backbone.


O'Brien and O'Shea would be my current defensive preferences

I guess Finnan, Kilbane and Holland as the other Midefielders

Up front Morrisson.

Maybe Andy Reid for Holland and I'd like to see Delap given a chance.

eirebhoy

The perfect partner for Keane is Elliot. He is a super player and scored a hatrick on his U-21 debut at the age of 19. He came of the bench at the weekend to make his premiership debut and didn't travel with the U-21's to Madiera becuase Keegan needs him. Morrison is doing well at the moment but we need a partner for Keane who has a good head of the ball. He won't have the experience to play in the qualifiers though I just like the look of him.

.......................................Given...........................................

Carr............Cunningham..............O'Brien.................Finnan

A.Reid................Miller................Kavanagh..................Duff

...........................Keane.............Elliot................................

subs:
Kenny
O'Shea
Kilbane
Holland
Morrison

AngelofFire

---

Given

---

---Carr

---

O`brien

---

O`shea----Finnan


---Holland

---

Miller

---

A.Reid

---

Duff

---

Keane

---

Morrisson

---

Draupnir

Definitely agree about Elliot, grew up with the lad and he is a superb player, anyone who saw him against Colombia in the UAE recently realised how great he is going to be.

Unbelievable pace and strength to boot now.

Also Flood is a super player, Thornton at Sunderland should be added as should Graham Stack who is probably better than Paddy Kenny just a bit inexperienced.

Id definitely throw Matt Holland out, he has no class or real footballing ability

bizmark

could some one give me a site with info about Elliot ? never heard of the lad tbhh

(im a newbe football fan so be kind)

Draupnir

Heres mine:

---

Given

---

Carr

---

Cunningham

---

O'Brien

---

O'Shea

Reid

---

Kavanagh

---

Miller

---

Duff

---

Keane

---

Elliott

---

Subs:

Kilbane
Breen
Colgan
Morrison
Finnan

The Muppet

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxShay Given (Newcastle United)

Stephen Carr xxxx Kenny Cunningham xxxx Andy O'Brien xxxx John O'Shea




Steve Finnan xxxx Liam Miller xxxx Graham Kavanagh xxxx Andy Reid




xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Damien Duff




x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Robbie Keane

kamobe

Was anyone else here at the Brazil game? Morrison was pants, most of the stand laughed when he was announced man of the match. He did not win a single header from a kick out! He put in two good assists, but he's not good enough.

Given

Carr (Finnan) O Brien (Dunne) Cunningham O'Shea

Finnan Reid Holland Duff

Morrison/Connolly/Any other striker & Keane

I thought McAteer played well when he came on, bar that terrible free kick. Kavanagh didn’t let himself down either, but lacked a lot going forward (much like most of our central midfield options at the moment). Kilbane to his credit has been playing well, but he does annoy me sometimes. We clearly missed Harte's ability from set pieces in the friendly. But that's my strongest team at the moment...

zAbbo

Originally posted by kamobe
He did have two good assists

Who scored?

Davey Devil

---

Given

---

---

Carr

---

O'Brien

---

Cunningham

---

Finnan

---

O'Shea

---

---

Miller

---

A.Reid

---

---

Duff

---

---

Morrison

---

Keane

---

---

You gotta love the diamond.
- Finnan can easily play left back
- O'Shea used as a holding ball winning since the midfield is very attacking, he has the ability to play here I feel, also his defending can be hit and miss at times, anyone remember the Swiss game?
- Miller's in if he can get some first team games under his belt if not Holland can come in.
- The rest pick themselves, Andy Reid is going to be a star.

kamobe

Originally posted by bazH
Who scored?

OH ffs.

He played two nice passes which lead to glaring goal scoring opportunities.

knobbles

Originally posted by Davey Devil

---

Given

---

---

Carr

---

O'Brien

---

Cunningham

---

Finnan

---

O'Shea

---

---

Miller

---

A.Reid

---

---

Duff

---

---

Morrison

---

Keane

---

---

You gotta love the diamond.
- O'Shea used as a holding ball winning since the midfield is very attacking, he has the ability to play here I feel, also his defending can be hit and miss at times,

the diamond is sexy alright and an interesting position for O'Shea but ahead of him is a fairly bare midfield - stronger teams would run the midfield.
He does have potential as a midfielder though and with a partner it could work well.

jerenaugrim

Originally posted by bdiddy
Shay Given (Sligo Rovers)

Stephen Carr (Sligo Rovers)
Kenny Cunningham (Sligo Rovers)
John O'Shea (Sligo Rovers)
Steve Finnan (Sligo Rovers)

Stephen Reid(Sligo Rovers)
Liam Miller (Sligo Rovers)
Stephen McPhail (Sligo Rovers)
Damien Duff (Sligo Rovers)

Robbie Keane (Sligo Rovers)
Clinton Morrison (Sligo Rovers)

John O'Flynn (Cork City)
Liam Kearney (Cork City)
Kevin Doyle (Cork City)

DEG viper

---

Given

---

Carr

---

Cunningham

---

O'Brien

---

O'Shea

Reid

---

Kavanagh

---

Miller

---

Duff

---

Keane

---

Yeates

---

I would put keane in instead of kavanagh if he came back

cruiserweight

Kevin Nolan may declare for Ireland yet ... If Brian gets around to talking to him!!

I think that under FIFA's current rules Kevin Nolan can not play for Ireland, the same applies to Jon Macken.

For a player who has played under age for one country to play for another, he must hold passports from both countries at the time that he played under age. That is the rule at the moment apparently, so unless it changes no Kevin Nolan or Jon Macken for Ireland.

Citizen7

Starting XI

---

Given

---

---Carr

---

O'Brien

---

Cunningham

---

O'Shea-

---A Reid

---

Miller

---

Healy

---

Duff----

---

Keane

---

Elliott

---

Rest of Squad( total 23):

Stack
Kenny

Finnan
Dunne
Doherty/Breen/P McCarthy

Kilbane
W.Flood
S.Reid
Kavanagh
Holland

Connolly/Yeates
Morrison

cournioni

GK: Shay Given (Newcastle United)

DC: Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham City)
DC: Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United)
DR: Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur)
DL: John O'Shea (Manchester United)

MR: Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
MC: Colin Healy (Sunderland)
MC: Liam Miller (Celtic)
ML: Damien Duff (Chelsea)

FR: Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest)

SC: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)

Subs:
Kenny
Dunne
Finnan
Holland
Morrison

johnor

I reckon with Ireland one of our major strengths is in our wingbacks, carr/finnan and oshea to a certain extent. I reckon we should play with a back 5, think it would suit the players we have better. That said can never see it happening due to only a few teams implementing this in the premier league....


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGiven

xxxxxxObrienxxxCunningham(c)xxxOShea

CarrxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxFinnan


xxxxxxxReidxxxxxHollandxxxxxxxDuff


xxxxxxxxxxxxxMorrisonxxxxKeane



I reckon u lads will slate me as all the other posts have gone for a 442 scenario,

what do yah think anyhow?

john

Davey Devil

I'm not a fan of 5-3-2, anyone remember when McCarthy tried it - disaster.
All successful teams play 4-4-2 or a slight variation of it. 5-3-2 just doesn't work. Most players play 4-4-2 with their clubs and they are comfotable with it. Everyone knows their jobs. Put them in a 5-3-2 and they are lost.

Citizen7

I tend to agree with Davey Devil, as a Man City Fan (yes there are a few of us) I've seen the ups and downs of KK's attempts at a 5-3-2 formation (usually played by KK as 2-1-7), at club level you have to have the right players (city don't) and at international level you have to be used to the system as they don't have a lot of time to train etc.

ella minnow pea

Elliot is indeed a class player, he was outstanding in the under 20 tournament in the UAE last year, and made FIFA's list of twelve stars for the future - http://www.fifa.com/en/display/article,73638.html. He's a strong striker and would compliment Keane well.

One worrying thing is that though we seem to have a good crop of new players coming through at underage level, not many of them seem to be playing first team football...someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Flood is our real hope for 2006 though.... With him and Duff on each wing we would be very attacking and creative and would need a mid-field anchor, like Kavanagh (who scored from a free kick on Saturday afaik, don't know why his set pieces were so bad against Brazil) and..I want to say Miller but he won't get a game at Man Yoo till he's 24....

So until Flood and Elliot are ready....

....................................Given..............................................

Carr....................Cunningham............O' Brien...........O'Shea

S.Reid/Finnan.......Kavanagh.......Holland............Duff

......................Keane...........Harte*..............

*= just make him sit at the corner flag till we need him for set pieces. Can't do any worse than Doherty

sleepwalker

given

finnan
o'brien
cunningham
o'shea

s.reid
miller
kavanagh/healy
duff

keane
morrison

watman

Given
Carr O'Brien O'Shea Finnan

A Reid Miller Healy Duff

Elliott Keane

Subs
Kenny
Cunningham
S Reid
Flood
Morrison

thesecret7

4 - 3 - 2 or 4 - 4 - 2 anything else is a waste of time.

The main topic of this thread should be the complete lack of decent strikers. its our main problem. Keane is good but he isnt a out and out striker and anyway we need someone beside him. Morrision is a joke and so is the rest of the so called strikers. Duff should be out on the wing

eirebhoy

Originally posted by thesecret7
4 - 3 - 2 or 4 - 4 - 2 anything else is a waste of time.

I'd tend to go with the 4-4-2, the extra player would do nicely.:D

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGiven

xxxxxxObrienxxxCunningham(c)xxxOShea

CarrxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxFinnan


xxxxxxxReidxxxxxHollandxxxxxxxDuff


xxxxxxxxxxxxxMorrisonxxxxKeane



I reckon u lads will slate me as all the other posts have gone for a 442 scenario,

what do yah think anyhow?

If you are playing with 3 midfielders at least 2 (preferably 3) of them would have to be central. There is no way Holland would hold the midfield on his own.

As for people saying Harte can take decent free kicks, I'd prefer to let Given take them. But seriously Harte is really overrated on set pieces and someone like Reid or Duff would be better.

Ella Minnow Pea - your link doesn't work so here is the piece on Elliot:

Stephen Eliott (IRL):
If anyone was ever born with an eye for goal, it is this young lad. A tireless worker up front for the Irish, the Manchester City forward impressed by virtue of his clinical finishing. Popping up as if from nowhere, he chalked up 3 goals, include a splendid angled header against Saudi Arabia. No slouch, he is also physically fine-tuned and blessed with a cool head in front of goal. Gerry Smith, coach of the Greens is effusive in his praise of his young colt: “Eliott is a genuine goalscorer, a boy who can get you a goal at any time and in any way,” he enthused after the match against the Ivorians.

Seaneh

---

Given

---

Finnan

---

Ciningham

---

O'Brien

---

O'Shea

S.Reid

---

A.Reid

---

Thornton

---

Duff

---

Keane

---

Morisson

---

I reckon by this time 2 years that will be the best setup.

eirebhoy

S.Reid...

...will never live up to his 3 year old potential.

Seaneh

Well, I don't believe Carr is better at Rb than finnan, and I don't believe that finnan should be played at right mid, so thats carr dropped.

Who else can play right mid?
Holland was invisable against brazil, and there doesn't seem to be any other irish players besides Micheal Keane at preston playing on the right wing for any first team in the prem/div 1.

eirebhoy

Originally posted by Seaneh
Well, I don't believe Carr is better at Rb than finnan, and I don't believe that finnan should be played at right mid, so thats carr dropped.

Who else can play right mid?
Holland was invisable against brazil, and there doesn't seem to be any other irish players besides Micheal Keane at preston playing on the right wing for any first team in the prem/div 1.

Miller has played their for Celtic in probably half of hi matches and has played well. We could also play A.Reid on the right and give him more or less a free role like Duff had against Turkey.

Seaneh

duff played crap against turky.
I think miller would be alright on the right, but wouldnt be sure, celtic dont really play with wingers besides Agathe and Thompson, the other mids are more or less attacking or defensive centers...

eirebhoy

Originally posted by Seaneh
duff played crap against turky.
I think miller would be alright on the right, but wouldnt be sure, celtic dont really play with wingers besides Agathe and Thompson, the other mids are more or less attacking or defensive centers...

Duff played excellent against Turkey as far as I remember and i think only played 45 minutes. As you said Celtic don't play with an out and out right winger when Agathe is out (and Sloppy Sylla doesn't play), why do we need one? I'm sure Finnan or Carr will control the right side of the pitch and if they are under pressure Miller can slip over to the right. Its not as if we need wingers when there is no Niall Quinn type player to cross to anyway.

Seaneh

Alan lee is the feture!!!
But seriously, Carr is kack IMHO, far over rated, Finnan is our best right back, and he should be played in the posistion.
maybe Thorntonon the right, he has played there a few times and is fairly fast, and good with his feet.

eirebhoy

from mcfc.co.uk

Stephen Elliott who made his debut for the Blues on Saturday is set to feature in the Premiership clash against Chelsea.

And fellow Republic of Ireland U21 international Paddy McCarthy could join the twenty year old in the squad.

Both players were wanted by the Irish to travel to Madeira this week to compete in the island's U21 tournament.

But Kevin Keegan has kept the two players with the City squad this week to prepare for the visit of Chelsea.

"I pulled Stephen Elliott and Paddy McCarthy out of the Republic of Ireland U21 squad," explained the City manager.

"I talked with Don Givens, the manager and told him that we would let him have the other two, Willo Flood and Glen Whelan but these two are on the fringe of the first team due to the suspensions and injuries that we have at the moment."

"Obviously he was disappointed as he wanted them for the tournament but it included a Saturday and we have just had an international week."

"People say they are only young kids but they are on the fringe of our first team and also it would have weakened our reserve team."

Stephen Elliott missed the reserves scoreless draw in midweek due to a sore back but will be fit for the visit of Chelsea.

And the manager revealed that he could hand a debut to Paddy McCarthy in central defence.

"If Daniel van Buyten doesn’t come through and one of the players get an injury then Paddy will probably be playing."

"It is a big step for him but one that he can make. He has a great attitude and he is one of those lads who has the ability to give you everything he has got, whatever you ask him to do."

The twenty-year-old has shot ahead of Mikkel Bischoff in the pecking order. The Dane made his debut for the Blues last season and was on the bench for six other matches.

But injury has curtailed his progress and former academy player, Paddy McCarthy is now in line for a debut.

"Paddy has gone ahead of Mikkel Bischoff as he has stayed fit and has done well. We cannot get Mikkel fit so Paddy has jumped ahead of him at the moment and that is what happens in football."

"A year ago in my thoughts he would have been behind Mikkel but because of circumstances he is ahead of him."

The two Irishmen along with Stephen Jordan are currently on the verge of signing new deals with City.

"Paddy has agreed to sign and I understand that Stephen Elliott is about to sign. Stephen Jordan’s agent is coming to see me and we will see what we can do."

"I am a great believer that if they get one year it is great for them. If they get two years and do not do well then it is worse for us."

"We will have to see. I will probably start looking at two year deal from now as it gives them an assurance that the club wants them to stay."

Great News.:)

carl carlson

Given


O'Shea O'Brien Cunningham Carr





Duff Miller ? Reid





Trundle Keane

sleepwalker

given

finnan
o'brien
cunningham
o'shea

a.reid
miller
kavanagh/healy/s.reid
duff

keane
morrison

wynters

I think Cunningham is one of the most underrated players in the Premiership. I'm a Villa fan, and Villa fans widely acknowledge that he's the one Birmingham City player that we respect and covet. He's excellent, but by 2006 he'll be 35, almost 36! Anything can happen to a player that age ,especially in a league as physically demanding as the Premiership. He could lose it overnight. He should still be around, and I'd definately have him in the squad for his leadership qualities, but there's no guarantees that in 2 years time he'll still be playing to the same standard he is currently. It's unlikely.

There's a young centre half marching through the ranks at Man Utd called Paul McShane. He's 6ft 3, a red head. Ferguson already rates him as one of the best young players he's seen at Utd, which is some statement considering Giggs, Scholes, Beckham and the rest who've come through in Fergusons time. McShanes' supposed to be a real no-nonense defender who'd put you in the stands before thinking twice about it, hit first ask questions later. He captained their FA youth cup winning team last May. He's only 17 at the moment, so he'll be 19 in 2006. If he progresses the way he's expected to, he'll be in the Utd first team by then, so I'd probably have him in the Ireland team if he is.

Stephen Elliot looked really, REALLY sharp in the Youth World Cup. A great finisher. I'd expect him to have made the breakthrough at club level by 2006 aswell so he's in too.

GK - Shay Given
RB - Steve Carr
LB - Steve Finnan
CB - Roy Keane
CB - Paul McShane / Kenny Cunningham
DM - John O'Shea
LM - Damien Duff
CM - Andy Reid
RM - Liam Miller
CF - Robbie Keane
CF - Stephen Elliot

It's a 4-1-3-2 formation, with O'Shea in the holding role behind 3 attacking midfielders. Andy Reid will be a Premiership player come the summer, his vision and range of passing makes him ideal for the centre mid. Duffs best position is out left. Miller should have 2 years Champions league football under his belt by 2006, so that should be a very strong midfield by then.

I know the original poster requested that the Roy Keane debate not be brought up in this thread, so I apologise, but I've included Roy because I think he'll definately be back. To be considered a truly great player, you must have done it at a World Cup. The likes of George Best, Marco Van Basten and countless other 'greats' never did, and their names aren't remembered as well as they should be. Keane knows this. He wants to play, and I think Kerr will definately have him back.

Seaneh

McShane won't be first team by 19, he has no hope, he is a a good player, and one of the best under talents ireland have at the moment but he isn't going to be better than Dunne/O'Bien/O'Shea by the time he is 19, but that's just my opinion.

Davey Devil

Originally posted by wynters
To be considered a truly great player, you must have done it at a World Cup. The likes of George Best, Marco Van Basten and countless other 'greats' never did, and their names aren't remembered as well as they should be. Keane knows this.

Don't you remember the '94 World Cup? Keane has already 'done it' at that, where he was Ireland's second best player behind McGrath. Keane has nothing to prove.

Seaneh

94 world cup, did ireland's midfeild actually see the ball, i just remember Magrath hoofing the ball to Quinn who then laid it off to aldrige... and that was it...

Davey Devil

Originally posted by Seaneh
94 world cup, did ireland's midfeild actually see the ball, i just remember Magrath hoofing the ball to Quinn who then laid it off to aldrige... and that was it...

If you don't know anything about football why are you wasting your time and my time. Quinn didn't even play in the '94 World Cup. Idiot.