Robbie did come on last night, but was ineffective. He needs to get his game sorted out. Tonight in the Champions League, Roy Keane started for United, played quite well, but was taken off with a knock in stoppage time. Steve Finnan played the full match for Liverpool.
Damien Duff was rested from the start, but came on in the second half for Chelsea, at home to PSG. McGeady was an unused sub in Celtic's draw at the Nou Camp.
A fairly good weekend for the Irish! Saturday: Premiership: Fulham 0-2 Blackburn Stephen Reid was again very good for Rovers, making their first goal. Skyports.com gave him a rating of 8/10. Birmingham 1-1 Norwich In only his second game back from injury, Clinton Morrison notched his first Premiership goal of the season, and apparantly was lively throughout. Was replaced with 11 minutes left, probably do to lack of fitness. Cunningham also played, and Doherty was on the bench (unused). Charlton 0-4 Chelsea Duff scored after 3 minutes, and again was excellent throughout. He's back on form. Holland was okay for Charlton, and former international Dean Kiely also played the full match. Southampton 2-2 Crystal Palace Delap played the full match for disappointing Southampton. West Brom 0-3 Manchester United Not very good news here. Roy Keane played, but O'Shea was an unused sub for United and there was no sign at all of Miller (Fletcher seems to have beaten him out). Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa Jon Macken scored City's first, and did very well to beat his man and send the 'keeper the wrong way. Dunne was solid as ever, though gave away a penalty (foul was in fact outside the area) which James saved. Coca Cola Leagues: In the Championship, Alan Mahon scored for Wigan. Stephen Elliott played for Sunderland, but was taken off before their goal. Gary Breen captained the side, and Irish hopeful Liam Lawrence was apparantly excellent. Quinn played for Sheffield United, Andy Reid for Forest, Connolly for Leicester, Lee for Cardiff, Kennedy and Andrews for Wolves, O'Connor for Burnley, Doyle and Staunton for Coventry, Kenna for Derby, and probalby some others I'm forgetting. In League One, Jon Walters and Damien Delaney played for Hull. Colgan, McPhail and Conlon were all on the bench for Barnsley. Joe Murphy cept a clean sheet for Walsall, and Mark Kinsella also played. In League Two, Dwayne Mattis and Brian Barry-Murphy scored for Bury in their 3-1 win at Swansea. In Scotland, Richie Foran scored for Motherwell to give them three points against Dunfermline, for whom Billy Mehmet started. Stephen Bradley and Tommy Butler were on the bench. Today: Newcastle 1-1 Everton Given started for Newcastle. O'Brien and Carr are still injured. Kilbane and Carsley both played full matches, and Carsely scored a great goal for Everton (free kick). Tottenham 2-0 Middlesbrough Robbie Keane started and was taken off for Kanoute in the second half. I believe he had a goal (wrongfully) disallowed for offside. Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal Steve Finnan played the full match at right back, and I believe be was fairly good. Scotland: McGeady played the full match in Celtic's disappointing draw with Dundee.
Ian Harte played the full match for Levante vs Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in front of 70,000 people. However it mustn't have been his best day as they lost 5-0.
just to say that andy reid needs to be bought hopefully in the january transfer window, he is not a bottom of division 1 player he should ne in the premiership. herd of anyone that is interested in him?
It seems most Premiership clubs have been linked with him. Spurs, Charlton, Aston Villa and Newcastle are the favourites, I believe.
Carling Cup Quarter Finals: Manchester United v Arsenal Miller and O'Shea start for United, Cregg is on the bench for Arsenal. Spurs v Liverpool: Robbie Keane starts up front with Kanoute. Potter starts for Liverpool, and Partridge is on the bench. Finnan is rested.
Cregg played the last 20 minutes for Arsenal. And Robbie was taken off for spurs, again failing to find the net. Last night, Duff scored AGAIN for Chelsea in their win over Fulham.
Saturday: Premiership: Chelsea 4-0 Newcastle United My, Chelsea are superb. Duff was excellent throughout, especially at the end. Didn't get a goal this time, though had and assist and was taken down by Shay Given for the penalty. O'Brien and Carr are still injured; hope to be back next week. Arsenal 3-0 Birmingham City Cunningham played for City, and apparantly had trouble dealing with the pace of Henry. Morrison was on the bench, and came on with about 25 minutes left. Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool Steve Finnan was in the soccernet.com team of the week. Very good going forward, apparantly. Hopefully he'll hold his right back spot when Josemi comes back from injury. Everton 3-2 Bolton Kilbane and Carsley both played. Manchester United 3-0 Southampton Only Roy Keane for United. He was solid. Apparantly Miller was very good in midweek against Arsenal, and he was on the bench (did not come on). Delap played for Southampton and was poor. Norwich City 0-1 Fulham Gary Doherty played at centre back for City. Blackburn 0-1 Tottenham Finally, Robbie Keane gets a goal for Spurs! Great finish after an excellent run/cross by Brown. Robbie didn't look too pleased when he was taken off, though. Stephen Kelly also played the full match, and looked excellent. He's got great pace and can get forward. Reid played for Blackburn, and showed flashes of excellence, but failed to get in the game. In the Championship, Andy Reid scored a crucial goal for Nottingham Forest as they beat QPR 2-1. Rowlands is still injured for Rangers. Paddy Kenny was sent off for Sheffield United, but they still managed to win - Derek Gearly scoring a winner. Alan Quinn also played the full match, while Graham Stack was in goals for Millwall. Sunderland suffered a rare home defeat to West Ham, and Stephen Elliott started but was taken off at halftime. Alan Lee and Graham Kavanagh are injured, so only Willie Boland played for Cardiff City. Gary Kelly scored an own goal. Michael Doyle started for Coventry, Barrett was again only on the bench (played 10 minutes), while Jeff Kenna started for Derby. Coughlan, Worrel and Evans all played for Plymouth. Clive Clarke again captained Stoke. And Mark Kennedy and Keith Andrews both played 90 minutes for Wolves. And in Scotland, Aiden McGeady played 90 minutes for Celtic. Alan Maybury is suspended, so didn't play for Hearts, while Bradley and Butler started for Dunfermline Athletic. Noel Hunt replaced Bradley at half time. Richie Foran played for Motherwell. Today: Matt Holland started for Charlton in their win over Crystal Palace. Dean Kiely saved a penalty. Alan Mahon again scored for Wigan, who won 5-0. I had a look at Hinkley United vs Brentford. John Burns, who plays for Hinckley, is apparantly an Irish U-21 International. Jay Tabb came on, and looked very good. He's small, but pacey. Gareth O'Connor also played. Ian Harte played another 90 minutes of football for Levante. 0-0 draw. Anyone have anything else to add?
Just a couple of additions/corrections Josemi's already back from injury - he came on at half time of that game for Nunez. Miller was given MoM against Arsenal in midweek, which is encouraging, even bearing in mind the two reserve sides. Andy Reid's goal was the rebound from his own missed penalty - does anyone know what his overall penalty record is like? McGeady got both assists for Hartson's goals, one from a corner and one from play.
Thank you, Leto! Tonight, Richard Dunne and Jon Macken start for Man City. Willo Flood is again on the bench.
City lost 3-2, with Macken setting up Robbie Fowler's goal with a knock-down, and Richard Dunne partially at fault for one of Boro's goals (a "messy challenge" according to soccernet.com). Flood came on after 76 minutes, and Macken was replaced at the same time.
That's his 5th goal of the season now he's been a revelation since he's been pushed into central midfield
Damien Duff has scored for Chelsea in the Champions League tonight. They lead Porto 1-0 at half time. A great run down the right, beat his man, cut onto his left foot, unleashed a shot which should have been saved, but found its way into the net. McGeady starts for Celtic against Milan. 0-0 at half time. They need to win, as Shaktar are leading 2-0 at half time v Barcelona. Some lines from soccernet.com's text commentary: "Superb play by the young McGeady down the left led to Sutton's chance; a bright, encouraging start for the Hoops." "McGeady skips past Coloccini once more, cuts inside and shoots just over with his right foot. Great effort, and a superb start from the youngster" "McGeady is proving a real handful; this time he beats Costacurta before attempting to find Hartson. The young Scot has been preferred to Juninho tonight, so he's got a lot of responsibility on his shoulders." "Sutton and Hartson combine to find McGeady, and the youngster brilliantly wins a corner. He's getting a lot of attention from the Milan defenders, but is playing with tremendous maturity." "McGeady attempts an audacious spin to beat Nesta, but he runs out of room and the ball goes out for a goal-kick. Great skill from the youngster." "Petrov dives on to the loose ball and tries to find an unmarked McGeady on the left-hand side, but his pass is mis-hit. Celtic need to get the ball to the youngster more; he's looked very dangerous." Encouraging.
Rumours today that Souness is interested in using Richard Dunne to help fill the gap at Newcastle. If true, this would really be a fantastic development - Dunne would be playing for a team with European aspirations (as well as playing regularly with three other members of the Irish backline), and it would allow Paddy McCarthy into the first-team setup at City.
Yes, that would be an excellent move. Champions League: Miller and O'Shea played for Man Utd in their loss in Turkey. Miller was taken off late in the second half. From what I heard, both put in satisfactory performances. Finnan started for Liverpool, and was replaced by Josemi with 5 minutes remaining. In League One, Joey O'Brien (on loan from Bolton) started along side Glenn Whelan in the Sheffield W. midfield. O'Brien scored a debut goal after 9 minutes. They lost 4-2 to Hull, whose side included Damien Delaney and Michael Keane, who scored a first half penalty.
I keep reading comments, here and there in the the english press, that insiders in Old Trafford are privately very disappointed with Liam Miller's progress since signing. Apparently he was particularly ineffective in his favoured position againt Fenerbahce - I didnt see the game though. I have to say, I have been distinctly unimpressed by his performances for ManU when I have seen him. He just looks a totally different player from the one who was breaking into the box every chance he got for Celtic. He looks timid, overawed and out of his depth - and its very disappointing. I hope Im wrong but I wouldnt be surprised if doesnt get a look in for a long time. He just always looks afraid to get forward, and afraid to do anything other than play a square ball. ---------------- On a more positive note - Stephen Reid has been exceptional for Blackburn recently and has been a big factor in our upturn in form. McGeady looked amazing against Milan and he looks tremendously assured and intelligent for such a young player. He definitly has a very bright future. We have left wingers coming out our ears though.
Luckily McGeady can play on the right, central mid field and up front too. In fact I think left wing is one of his least favoured positions, he's not even left footed afaik.
I'm in the midst of finals, so this will be a short report. Saturday: Premiership: Everton 1-0 Liverpool Great goal from Carsley, and he was good throughout. He'll be missed in the green shirt. Kilbane played quite well. Finnan was on the bench, and Josemi was predictably awful. Crystal Palace 0-0 Blackburn Steven Reid was taken off after 71 minutes. He's getting lots of football. Manchester City 0-1 Tottenham This was an awful match to watch. Dunne was solid for Man City, although Kanoute beat him for the goal. Macken was poor. Robbie Keane played the full match for spurs. Showed some brilliant flashes of skill, but can't score. He needs a goal or two. Stephen Kelly played the full second half at right back, and was again solid (except one awful tackle on Wright-Phillips which could have resulted in a red card and a serious injury to SWP) Newcastle 1-1 Porstmouth Given started for Newcastle. O'Brien was finally back on the bench, although he didn't come on. Hopefully next week. Carr remains injured. Norwich 3-2 Bolton Gary Doherty played the full match in defence. Southampton 2-2 Middlesbrough Delap played the full match, and was poor. Skysports.com gave him 5/10. West Brom 0-1 Charlton Matt Holland scored the only goal of the match. Skyports.com gave him 8/10. It will be quite a battle to see who partners Roy Keane in Ireland's midfield. Championship: No Irish goals, though most of the regulars played. Elliott was taken off after 75 minutes for Sunderland. Barrett was again only on the bench for Coventry City (Staunton and Doyle played). Scotland: Foran scored again for Motherwell (and is about to be given a new contract, I think). McGeady played another full match for Celtic. Sunday: Aston Villa 1-2 Birmingham City Morrison scored City's first, and had a helping hand in the second. Good to see him in goal scoring form. That's 2 since his comeback from injury. Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea Duff had a quiet day for Chelsea, though was no worse than anyone else on the pitch. He's playing on the right side of an attacking three, which can't be helping him. Ian Harte played 90' for Levante, who lost 1-0 at Malaga. Today: Roy Keane played another full match for Manchester United. O'Shea was an unused sub. No sign of Miller.
Shay Given to Arsenal or Man Utd? Freddy Shepherd has ruled out selling him (as he did with Jon Woodgate) and Given has denied any knowledge of a transfer, but he'd definately be a step up for either club. Whatever money Newcastle look for (I've seen £7-8 million quoted) could be too pricey though. Assuming that it's not all just the result of a slow coffee break at the newspaper offices.
Shouldn't that be pub break? Wasn't aware that journalists drank coffee, other than to recover from a pub break that went on longer than expected.....
Steve Finnan started for Liverpool on Tuesday night at right back. Was moved to right of midfield late on when Josemi repaced Nunez. Josemi was then skinned for the late Portsmouth equalizer.
And here's an article on Mark Yeates. Sounds like he's doing quite well at Spurs. http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=15197