Shelbourne's best current XI?

MrJoeSoap · 14-03-2006 2:11pm #1

Just one I'd like to put out there for the eL lads and Shels fans alike on boards.

With Nutsy changing our entire midfield last night, and constantly changing teams, what does everyone think is our best starting XI (when all are fully fit)?

For me, its...

Williams

Heary

Hawkins

Rogers

Dillon

Ryan

Crawford

Ndo

Cahill

O'Neill

Byrne/Crowe

Firstly, after Delaneys recent blunders I feel Willo has to be restored in goals. One of the best keepers in the league for many's a season, still only 31, and well capable of holding his own.

At the back, Heary is a gimme, and I thought Rogers and Hawkins did very well together at the back end of last season and had built up a real understanding. Dillon should be given a shot at left back, he really needs to build up a confidence in himself and throwing him straight in at centre back is too big a risk.

Playing Dillon at left back will allow Cahill to play on the left wing, as he is the only decent left winger we have at the moment (don't rate Kearney at all from what I've seen so far). Alan Moore is fine against lower opposition, but put him up against a defender of any quality and pace, and he will struggle. Right midfield should be Bobby Ryans at this stage. Arguably our best player against Bray, he gives us a genuine creativity on the right flank and finally looks to have settled in.

Central midfield is one position we really are spoiled for choice in. O'Halloran, Reynolds, Stewie Byrne, Ndo and Crawford, all competing for two places. It hasn't really helped us as we might have hoped, because it is very important to have a solid and regular pairing in the middle. I feel the combination of Ndo and Crawford would give obvious attacking/defending balance, and allow Joey to work his creative magic.

Up front, we are blessed with three wonderful strikers, with Byrne and Crowe having both been rewarded for their efforts by international call-ups in years gone by. However, I feel Gary O'Neill should be the first striekrs name on the teamsheet every game. Pair him with either Crowe or Byrne and we are almost guaranteed goals. It's obviously going to be tough to drop Crowe or Byrne, but they're the kind of decisions a good manger has to make and stick by. If you look at the run we went on towards the end of last season, most of those games featured Gary O'Neill in a prominent role. Once Nutsy realises his value to the team I think we can start going places. Oh, and Jamie Harris is a reserve centre back.

Appreciate any opinions or input lads!

Töpher · 14-03-2006 4:08pm

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love Nutsy, and really want him to become a cult hero, but he suffers from what can only be described as Ranieri syndrome, with added rage!

Williams

Heary

Hawkins

Dillon

Rogers

Ryan

Ndo

Crawford

Cahill

O'Neill

Byrne/Crowe

Other than playing Joeys "set" position as the right sided central midfielder (not really that important as he works best in a free role), and switching Dillon and Rogers positions, I'd agree with you hands down. That said, you have a point in the sense of Rogers and Hawkins partnership, and Dillon is very suitable left back.

Actually, scrap my team, I agree 100% with your selection there.

If Nutsy drops Jayo my respect for him will skyrocket!

finnpark · 14-03-2006 4:59pm

Shels are gone to the dogs. Its time to ship a few of them out including Fenlon. Crowe has been past it for years. Had 1 good season that was it. Get O'Neill in and put Crowe on the doll.

Fenlon has to go after these performances and last year's shambles.

MrJoeSoap · 14-03-2006 5:07pm

finnpark wrote:

Fenlon has to go after these performances and last year's shambles.

Which performances? 1 game lost in 4 so far this season, the loss being against a side who are unbeaten in 42 domestic games this season... The Bray game was poor but they were lucky to get a point.

Not exactly a crisis ffs.

finnpark · 14-03-2006 5:14pm

Lats season was a distaster. If Stephen Kenny had Fenlon's budget you would win the league every year. Too much loyalty is being shown to Fenlon. Get in a manager that will use the money right!

Töpher · 14-03-2006 5:24pm

Loyalty? He has like 5 years left on his contract. No club in the country could afford to encur that compensation payoff.

finnpark · 14-03-2006 5:47pm

Einst&#252 wrote: »

Loyalty? He has like 5 years left on his contract. No club in the country could afford to encur that compensation payoff.

Would any club want him? Whats his track record....not very good considering the amount of cash he has wasted. If he doesn't produce the goods this year then surely he must go to the dustbin.

Töpher · 14-03-2006 6:03pm

Well, he's had 4 years managaing, although the first one was player/manager.

Since then his record is: 2nd, 1st, 1st, 3rd.

Anyways, lets not drag this away from the original topic - Shels best XI.

bohsman · 14-03-2006 7:41pm

finnpark wrote:

Lats season was a distaster. If Stephen Kenny had Fenlon's budget you would win the league every year. Too much loyalty is being shown to Fenlon. Get in a manager that will use the money right!

Stephen Kenny was given a big budget at Bohs, he did his best to bankrupt us. He seems to be better with no budget - Longford and Derry.

Apparently Shels lost 1million last year (todays irish times) so can see budget cuts at Shels fairly soon, especially if they fail to win the league and/or Setanta.

As far as lineup dont think Byrne+Crowe was ever going to work, Ndo needs to play and from what I know of Hawkins as long as he isnt playing for a new contract he's happy to do the minimum.

KdjaCL · 14-03-2006 8:33pm

Shels best 11?

Williams was the best keeper in the league, no idea why he was dropped but hes getting well paid to sit on the bench for near 2 years.

Williams

Heary

Hawkins

Rogers

Cahill

Ryan

Crawford

Byrne

Kearney

Ndo

Byrne/Crowe

bohsman wrote:

Stephen Kenny was given a big budget at Bohs, he did his best to bankrupt us. He seems to be better with no budget - Longford and Derry.

Who did he buy? Heard this rumour before and was told it wasnt him who agreed to pay X players X a week as would be the case with any manager. He inherited a team and those players were being paid a lot, didnt he win a league with Bohs too?

kdjac

_blank_ · 15-03-2006 1:57am

Lads, Rogers?

Come on, season before last Jamie Harris was in the top five league players nominated for player of the year. He is the best and only option in my opinion to partner Hawkins in the centre of defence. Sure, I've been away from the eL since moving to Australia, but that was in August, and I simply cannot believe Rogers has gone from what he was then to being better than Harris. Harris made him look good in the season we won the league for two-in-a-row.

As for the inclusion of O'Neill, I agree.

Töpher · 15-03-2006 6:33am

Only reason I'd have Rogers ahead of Jamie atm is his fitness and his existing partnership with Hawkins has a full season behind it. Jamie's played well as a striker when he'c come on though...

Shelbourne's best current XI?

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