Pick your best Starting Irish 11

Alfred Borden

was just wondering what would everyones strongest team be with everyone available? what team would you like to see for the world cup qualifiers?

PaddyCar

1. Gary Breen
1. Gary Breen
2. Gary Breen
3. Gary Breen
4. Gary Breen
5. Gary Breen
6. Gary Breen
7. Gary Breen
8. Gary Breen
9. Gary Breen
10. Gary Breen
11. Gary Breen

dan1895

PaddyCar wrote: »

1. Gary Breen
1. Gary Breen
2. Gary Breen
3. Gary Breen
4. Gary Breen
5. Gary Breen
6. Gary Breen
7. Gary Breen
8. Gary Breen
9. Gary Breen
10. Gary Breen
11. Gary Breen

We all dream of that team.

Dempsey

4-4-1-1

Forde; Coleman, Dunne, O'Shea, O'Brien; McGeady, McCarthy, Wilson, Brady ; Reid ; Keane

I'm writing off Darron Gibson, I think his career at EPL level is likely to be over and he certainly wont be involved in the next campaign until the its nearly over if he's lucky.

A_Sober_Paddy

Dempsey wrote: »

4-4-1-1

Forde; Coleman, Dunne, O'Shea, O'Brien; McGeady, McCarthy, Wilson, Brady ; Reid ; Keane

I'm writing off Darron Gibson, I think his career at EPL level is likely to be over and he certainly wont be involved in the next campaign until the its nearly over if he's lucky.

Would have wes in for reid, and maybe depending on the system long for keane

richierichballs

Westwood, Coleman, Dunne, O'Shea, O'Brien, Gibson, McCarthy, Brady, Hoolahan, Pilkington, Stokes.

astonaidan

Westwood,
Coleman, Pearce, Stearman, Clark
Wilson
McCarthy, Gibson
McGeady, Brady
Keane

GavRedKing

4-5-1

Forde, Coleman, Dunne, Clark, O'Brien, McCarthy, Wilson, McGeady, Pilkington, Brady, Keane

Lucas Hood

Westwood
Coleman O Shea Clark O'Brien
Wilson Gibson McCarthy
McLean/McGeady Long Brady

433/451 .

Maybe not the best at the minute but I'd like to see a team built around most of the ones I've listed .

Red Crow

Westwood, Coleman, Clark, Pearce , O'Brien, Brady, Gibson, Wilson, McCarthy McGeady, Stokes.

That should be the team moving forward IMO. Dunne, Forde are getting too old and O'Shea is well past it. I worry for us at CB as we could have a problem there for a few years.

slingerz

4-2-3-1

Westwood;
Coleman, Clark, O'Shea, Wilson;
Whelan, McCarthy;
McGeady, Hoolahan, Brady;
Long

Subs: Forde, Dunne, Delaney, Pilkington, Stokes, Keane, Gibson, Reid, Ireland, McClean, Green, Walters

Oranage2

Given
Carr staunton breen Harte
Macateer keane holand duff
Keane quinn

v3ttel

4-2-3-1:

---

Forde

---

Coleman, Dunne, Clark, O'Brien

---

Gibson-McCarthy----
McGeady----Wes

---

Brady

---

Keane

---

Subs: Westwood, Delaney, O'Shea, Wilson, Reid, Walters, Long, Stokes, McClean, Pilkington

Techless

Obviously no one is taking this seriously, I haven't seen Conor Salmon mentioned once........

Macca07

I'd agree with the change of formation. We actually have some pacey wingers, and we should be playing a 3 man midfield.

Problem is we don't really have 3 quality midfielders.

Westwood should be the starting keeper, he's young and playing PL football.

Coleman is a given. Clarke should be one CB, O'Shea or Dunne as the other, even play O'Shea LB and Dunne in the middle.

Keane is pushing on, and should step aside for the greater good. Long/Doyle/Walters/Stokes are all options there.

Brady, McGeady, Pilkington, McClean for the 2 wing spots.

Midfield is the problem, After McCarthy, we're hard pushed for players. Options are Ireland (if he'll play), Hoolahan, Reid, Whelan.

One thing I would push for is play more of the younger players.

Pro. F

Westwood
Coleman Dunne Clark O'Brien
Wilson McCarthy
Brady Hoolahan Pilkington
Keane

A little harsh on Forde, but I just think Westwood is better.

Clark in ahead of O'Shea and St Ledger (edit: also Pearce, forgot about him) in my hypothetical team, but in reality it would just come down to whoever is found to be the best CB partnership.

Keane could be swapped with Long, Walters or Stokes if he isn't getting enough service. A nice collection of creative options to swap about like Reid, McGeady, McClean, Gibson (whenever he recovers).

rebelomar

Westwood
Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, O'Brien
Wilson
McCarthy Gibson
McGeady Brady
Long



Subs: Forde, Dunne, Wes, Reid, Ireland, Pilkington, Stokes, Keane, Walters, Kelly, Meyler, Delaney,

Coillte_Bhoy

Dempsey wrote: »

4-4-1-1

Forde; Coleman, Dunne, O'Shea, O'Brien; McGeady, McCarthy, Wilson, Brady ; Reid ; Keane

I'm writing off Darron Gibson, I think his career at EPL level is likely to be over and he certainly wont be involved in the next campaign until the its nearly over if he's lucky.

Why?? I thought the word is that he'll be back before the end of the season so if he is he'll be ready for the start of the next campaign or did i miss something?

klose

Oranage2 wrote: »

Given
Carr staunton breen Harte
Macateer keane holand duff
Keane quinn

Carr over finnan? Cmon man....

Jarrod

Macca07 wrote: »

Keane is pushing on, and should step aside for the greater good. Long/Doyle/Walters/Stokes are all options there.

How would Keane stepping aside be for the greater good? Particularly if you consider Doyle and Walters viable alternatives.

Dempsey

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Why?? I thought the word is that he'll be back before the end of the season so if he is he'll be ready for the start of the next campaign or did i miss something?

I think its best to prepare for the campaign without him. I dont believe he'll be anywhere near match fitness or a 1st team berth come next season.

Coillte_Bhoy

Dempsey wrote: »

I think its best to prepare for the campaign without him. I dont believe he'll be anywhere near match fitness or a 1st team berth come next season.

We dont have the quality to be able to write off players of his ability, if he's fit he'll be in contention, if not he wont, it's that simple. Where you hearing that he wont be back this season?

Dempsey

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

We dont have the quality to be able to write off players of his ability, if he's fit he'll be in contention, if not he wont, it's that simple. Where you hearing that he wont be back this season?

I read he'll be out 9 months.

The way I see it, he has to play a few months of club football to get his conditioning up. Considering he broke down with a serious knee injury just back after a minor knee injury he'll be susceptible to niggly injuries for a while after he does gets back to to training. Travelling to meet up for Ireland squad wouldn't help so I'd be leaving him be until he's fully fit and playing well.

SantryRed

Keane can't play up top on his own in all these 4-3-3/4-5-1 formations.

RoryMac

SantryRed wrote: »

Keane can't play up top on his own in all these 4-3-3/4-5-1 formations.

Unfortunately I agree, Keane doesn't suit playing up front alone and the lack of quality we have in midfield riles out playing 4-4-2 which leaves the new manager with a tough decision to make.

Do we drop our best striker to make a stronger unit or give up possession in midfield in the hope Keane can put away some of the half chances we might create.

Not sure which is best to be honest

Pro. F

SantryRed wrote: »

Keane can't play up top on his own in all these 4-3-3/4-5-1 formations.

He can. In the right system with the right type of players around him. Most of the suggested teams are dominated by the more skilful players who would provide him with good service and there would be plenty of opportunity for the midfielders to get near to him in support if the team looked to hold onto the ball for spells rather than play direct.

He scored goals for Trap even though he had to work off terrible service with very few players getting close to him (usually just the other striker and, if he was lucky, one winger).

G.K.

4-5-1

Westwood, Coleman, O'Brien, Wilson, McCarthy, Brady, McGeady would be definites for me.

3rd CM could be Gibson, Reid, Wes, or Brady with Pilkington on the left. If a more defensive prescence is needed except Gibson, then it would be Meyler or heaven forbid, Whelan/Green. There could be games where Ireland go 4-4-2, but I'd only be happy with that if the 2 front men were Long and Walters. Running needed in those games.

CB's and the CF come down to one major point of contention - is it those who are the best now but need to be eased out of the team so their replacements don't come in with little integration into the team or those repalcements who should play? For me it's the latter but I'd understand why people want the former players to be played.

For me, going forward, it'd be Sledge and Clark as CB's and the forward... would depend on the game I guess.

v3ttel

SantryRed wrote: »

Keane can't play up top on his own in all these 4-3-3/4-5-1 formations.

Completely disagree with this, but hard to argue with your logic seeing as you haven't provided any

If the tactical plan is to lump it forward at every possible opportunity as we've seen over the last few years, or to expect your striker to be isolated and to hold up the ball waiting for support, you are right. Otherwise, you are wrong imho.

Regardless, making such a sweeping statement like, Striker X can't play as a Striker in formation Y, without understanding what his role would be in any given formation is a bit of a non-sense anyways.

eagle eye

Looking to the future this is what I'd have to go with.

Forde

Coleman

---

St. Ledger----Clark

---

O'Brien

Meyler

---

McCarthy----Wilson


McGeady

---

Long

---

Brady

Westwood, Pearce, Duffy, Pilkington, Cox, Sammon, Walters

I'm a big fan of Robbie Keane but he is getting on now and its time to move on imo. The next generation has to get their opportunity to show what they can do.

Muff_Daddy

Given

Irwin McGrath Dunne Staunton

Roy Keane Giles

Ronnie Whelan Brady Duff

Robbie Keane

ballsymchugh

klose wrote: »

Carr over finnan? Cmon man....

holland over kinsella too. i mean, ipswich town??

klose

eagle eye wrote: »

Looking to the future this is what I'd have to go with.

Forde

Coleman

---

St. Ledger----Clark

---

O'Brien

Meyler

---

McCarthy----Wilson


McGeady

---

Long

---

Brady

Westwood, Pearce, Duffy, Pilkington, Cox, Sammon, Walters

I'm a big fan of Robbie Keane but he is getting on now and its time to move on imo. The next generation has to get their opportunity to show what they can do.

St.leger is stuck playing u21s games these days at leicester so will need a move if his career is gonna go any further

Red Crow

Pearce and Clark have been by far the two best standout CB's on club form excluding Richard Dunne.

keeponhurling

Surprised so many people pick Wilson midfield, I'd have him left back or not at all.

Also I don't get why Westwood is considered better than Forde.

Forde
Coleman
St Ledger
Dunne
O'Shea

McGeady
McCarthy
Whelan
Brady

Stokes
Keane

That was tough, we really don't have a great pick at the moment.
5 or 6 of my team are the wrong side of 30

Remember when we used to have loads if top full backs ?!

Pighead

v3ttel wrote: »

Completely disagree with this, but hard to argue with your logic seeing as you haven't provided any

If the tactical plan is to lump it forward at every possible opportunity as we've seen over the last few years, or to expect your striker to be isolated and to hold up the ball waiting for support, you are right. Otherwise, you are wrong imho.

Regardless, making such a sweeping statement like, Striker X can't play as a Striker in formation Y, without understanding what his role would be in any given formation is a bit of a non-sense anyways.

Spot on. This recent phenomenon of people spouting 'Robbie can't play up top on his own' is a bit of a nonsense given the service he has been getting from the Ireland midfield over the last four or five years. And it has been said so many times at this stage that it seems to be taken as almost fact at this stage.

Put in some midfielders who can actually pick a pass and read one of Robbie's many runs and we'll see if he can play up top on his own. Maybe he can't anymore. But to see he definitely can't using the Irish set up as proof is a joke. Keane makes so many intelligent runs during Irish games that are either ignored or are ruined by dreadful passes. It's a miracle he's managed to score so many during the Trap years to be honest.

Left Back on the Bench

westwood
Coleman o shea Clark Wilson
mccarthy
hendrick/Gibson Ireland
pilkington brady
keane.
id be trying to get Ireland back,another midfielder and is a good one in fairness. we need to blood youth and although we're not blessed wit an abundance of talent,a good team spirit and tight knit group and we can do well. forde,dunne,mcgeady,mcclean,stokes, whelan,hoolahan,Reid,o brien,long,keogh,Richard not Andy.

noodler

Westwood?

WTF?

noodler

Dempsey wrote: »

4-4-1-1



I'm writing off Darron Gibson, I think his career at EPL level is likely to be over and he certainly wont be involved in the next campaign until the its nearly over if he's lucky.

Dempsey wrote: »

I think its best to prepare for the campaign without him. I dont believe he'll be anywhere near match fitness or a 1st team berth come next season.

Certainly one of the most OTT assumptions I have read on boards for a while!

Dempsey

noodler wrote: »

Certainly one of the most OTT assumptions I have read on boards for a while!

Hardly an OTT assumption that a midfielder is going to struggle to get back to the sort of form people know him for after a knee ligament injury in less than a year.

jem

Given

Irwin McGrath Laurenson

Roy Keane Giles

Houghton Whelan Brady highway

Aldo
Subs
Bonner, davie O leary, duff, keane finnan staunton

Seaneh

Westwood

Coleman
O'Shea
Dunne
Wilson

McCarthy
Meyler
Reid

McGeady
Brady

Long

Pighead

noodler wrote: »

Westwood?

WTF?

Not really a WTF is it? Would have thought himself and Forde are pretty evenly matched. Both have staked decent claims thus far for the number one jersey. Would be happy with either one between the sticks.

keeponhurling

jem wrote: »

Given

Irwin McGrath Laurenson

Roy Keane Giles

Houghton Whelan Brady highway

Aldo
Subs
Bonner, davie O leary, duff, keane finnan staunton

Would that team not be a little old at this stage?

I'd have particular concerns of the fitness of Giles, and didn't Brady have a heart-attack before? Just can't see him having the legs to track back when needed.

The only pick I actually agree with is Glen Whelan in midfield

beakerjoe

v3ttel wrote: »

4-2-3-1:

---

Forde

---

Coleman, Dunne, Clark, O'Brien

---

Gibson-McCarthy----
McGeady----Wes-

---

Brady

---

Keane

---

Subs: Westwood, Delaney, O'Shea, Wilson, Reid, Walters, Long, Stokes, McClean, Pilkington

Are you best mates with him???

LeBash

Oranage2 wrote: »

Given
Carr staunton breen Harte
Macateer keane holand duff
Keane quinn

No McGrath. GTFO.

The_Kew_Tour

keeponhurling wrote: »

Would that team not be a little old at this stage?

I'd have particular concerns of the fitness of Giles, and didn't Brady have a heart-attack before? Just can't see him having the legs to track back when needed.

The only pick I actually agree with is Glen Whelan in midfield

Brady had heart attack?

Jesus fair play to him playing for Hull all the same.

noodler

Pighead wrote: »

Not really a WTF is it? Would have thought himself and Forde are pretty evenly matched. Both have staked decent claims thus far for the number one jersey. Would be happy with either one between the sticks.

How are they evenly matched?

Forde has performed superbly since been given a chance for Ireland.

Westwood has only just got his place back in the Sunderland team.

Christ, if Forde's performances for Ireland don't edge you ahead of the likes of Westwood then I don't know what it will take.

Pighead

noodler wrote: »

How are they evenly matched?

Forde has performed superbly since been given a chance for Ireland.

Westwood has only just got his place back in the Sunderland team.

Christ, if Forde's performances for Ireland don't edge you ahead of the likes of Westwood then I don't know what it will take.

They've both played pretty much the same amount of games for Ireland and neither have let themselves down as of yet. As you said Westwood has regained his place in the Sunderland team and is playing week in week out in the Premiership. Forde is playing in the Championship. It's possible the new manager may go for the guy playing in the top league. But as I said there is not a whole lot between them. I'd be happy with either.

Aenaes

Westwood has looked shocking at times, for Ireland and Sunderland. Forde has looked very safe and dependable for Ireland in comparison.

Corholio

Dempsey wrote: »

4-4-1-1

Forde; Coleman, Dunne, O'Shea, O'Brien; McGeady, McCarthy, Wilson, Brady ; Reid ; Keane

I'm writing off Darron Gibson, I think his career at EPL level is likely to be over and he certainly wont be involved in the next campaign until the its nearly over if he's lucky.

Who's centre mid in your team?

keeponhurling

Pighead wrote: »

It's possible the new manager may go for the guy playing in the top league. But as I said there is not a whole lot between them. I'd be happy with either.

This attitude is completely wrong. Don't pick players based on what league they play in.

In the last games, v Germany, Forde and maybe Stokes were our best players, neither is in Premiership.
Even Andy Reid was excellent v Kazakhs, and McGeady's introduction killed off the game for us, again neither in Premiership.

Pick players based on ability and suitability to our team, not based on English Premier League bias.

Forde is simply better than Westwood, doesn't matter what clubs they are at.