People have often slagged me off for saying he needs to be replaced, but todays match is a case in point as to why we must look at other options. He's not good enough. We must look at switching Finnans side, or putting O'Shea or Babb there, though O'Shea would be my last choice as he must be played central mid field. Want to know what the Leeds fans think? Have a look here. http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=888&p=16&style=2&forumId=4029&action=1&replytoid=2136685720 Even his set peices have been rubbish this season, loss of confidence maybe, but he's still a passanger and a liability.
yeah, it's a shame he's had such a fall from grace. i can't understand how far his form has dropped over the last two seasons. is this the same ian hatre that was voted the top left back in the EPL for two seasons? i'm dissapointed with a lot of leeds fans for the way they're treating him (do they suffer from short term memory loss?), he obviously needs help - not week-in, week-out abuse. his confidence is shattered and i hate to say it but he should be replaced while it gets sorted out. in his defence, he is being targeted by the opposition as a weak link but he's not afforded the same level of protection from kewell or barmby as he is given from kilbane. any error he makes and he's immediately crucified by the 'fans'. smith missed the penalty but nothing is mentioned about that. the best thing that could happen to him right now is if tel and mmc drop him for while he gets his head sorted out - it happended last season with do'l.
To be fair, I would have thought the majority of us agree with you that he isn't cutting the mustard anymore. It's terrible he's getting stick off the Leeds fans, but that's football. Looking at it in simple black and white terms, he's a liability, and as such should not play for Ireland. Arguments along the lines of "leave off him, he's had a hard time" ring very hollow when you see him skinned over and over again for pace.
So you would put someone who has had a handful of first team games in to the National side in a position he hasn't even played in those first team games. A bit risky ??
In fact, I just read somewhere that Venebles is after another left back, an interview he did, there's a link to it on the Leeds Rivals Board link above.