Glenn Whelan

BrendanD88 wrote: gufct wrote: Conor Hourihane is not getting a game with Villa and looks the most vulnerable. Should have went on loan to a league one side.

That’s Glenn retired surely 

He's probably played his best football for Ireland in the last 12 months, certainly the home games

Left foot wrote: zizu Kilbane wrote: He's probably played his best football for Ireland in the last 12 months, certainly the home games I agree he probably played his best for his standards... but when you compare performances to a bench mark it paints a different story. For example Roy Keanes performance vs Juventus in the champions league semi final was a 9-10. Richard Dunne vs Russia was a 9-10 Paul McGrath vs Italy was 9-10 Glenn Whelan in the last few games would have been a 3 or 3.5 at best. All hard work but limited quality. I'm not trying to disrespect Glenn but he was never a 7-10 player and in reality it'll be less difficult to find a successor for him than it has been for the others.

Both Whelan and David McGoldrick were finished under the O'Neill/Keane management. They would not have played for Ireland again but Mick brought them back and both have been outstanding. Kenny will have his own ideas going forward but it remains to be seen if he will risk any of the emerging young players in the play-offs. One thing he might do is check out James McCarthy,see what has been going on there.

Regardless of age, Kenny doesn't play with a traditional defensive midfielder. Whelan would have struggled for a call up at any point.

The O'Shea wrote: Banjaxed wrote: Regardless of age, Kenny doesn't play with a traditional defensive midfielder. Whelan would have struggled for a call up at any point. With a number 10 in the hole, we will have 2 Midfielders in behind. Molumby a shoe in. Whoever takes other slot will have to be similarly dynamic but it will be ESSENTIAL that they are comfortable on the ball, and if anything demands to be on the ball. In this instance, even someone like James McCarthy would have to be worried. Great off the ball, not so on it.  We have to remember that Kenny will primarily be a proactive team not a reactive one.  McCarthy does his best work as a solitary holding midfielder; if we're going for a flat two in behind an attacking midfielder, Arter/Hendrick/Hourihance/Knight/Cullen are probably more suitable partners for Molumby. In saying that, if Coventry starts getting regular game time next year, he may well leapfrog them all.

Browne's a different type of attacking midfielder, more an athlete and goalscorer than a creative influence. The only 3  "creative" attacking midfielders we have are Byrne, Ronan, and Judge (with Judge looking past his best if we're being honest). Crowley may yet be an option, as well as Mandroiu if he keeps up his development. I wouldn't entirely look past McGeady doing a job there for a year or two either, his form over the last few years for Preston and Sunderland as a creative influence has been brilliant, and moving in off the wing may be a natural development for him as his career draws to a close.

I wouldn't call Molumby lightweight, he's very combative.