Best Ireland XI of Your Life Time |
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horsebox
Robbie Keane Born n bred in darndale. Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 34900 |
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Including Norman Whiteside as a striker too.
9 goals for NI |
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It was far across the sea,
When the devil got a hold of me, He wouldn't set me free, So he kept me soul for ransom. na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na. I'm a sailor man from Glasgow to |
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Devrozex
Jack Charlton Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 7676 |
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There is a definite bang of "in my day..." off those three teams selected alright.
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Left foot
Ray Houghton Joined: 16 Aug 2019 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Irelands golden generation thus far. What are we thinking? Around Italia 90? USA 94? Or are we looking at the 2000 team? Maybe 88?
Edited by Left foot - 05 May 2020 at 3:39pm |
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Territorial
Jack Charlton Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Status: Offline Points: 5817 |
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After an astonishing scoring record in youth football, Whiteside was first picked by Ferguson for Man U as a striker, while he was still only 17. Bingham picked him up front at the World Cup Finals at the same time. But later when he picked up a series of knee injuries which cost him his pace (he had been a schoolboy sprint champion), he was still so strong and skilful that they both moved him back into midfield. Eventually the injuries became too much and after a couple of seasons struggling at Everton, he packed it in at the age of 26. Considering that strikers invariably score more goals as they get older, and his unmatched big game temperament (youngest player at a World Cup Finals, youngest to score in a Wembley Final, youngest to score in an FA Cup Final etc), had it not been for injury, he'd surely have gone on to be one of the all-times greats, any stage, any era. As it was, you might consider that he didn't quite achieve enough to be worth a place in this team, but from what he did manage, he surely has to be a contender, whether as striker or midfielder.
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Drumcondra 69er
Jack Charlton Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 7123 |
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Certainly a contendor in midfield. Not even in the discussion as a striker. He was playing midfield long before his injuries.
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Gashley Grimes
Liam Brady Joined: 09 May 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1863 |
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Ron Atkinson surely 'T' picked him as a teenager?? - Ferguson got rid of him because of the drinking culture along with big Paul. |
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Territorial
Jack Charlton Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Status: Offline Points: 5817 |
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Oops! You're quite right, it was Big Ron who gave him his MU debut. But insofar as the drinking will have contributed to his departure (and SAF kept Bryan Robson on), it was as much because he was "done". And as it happens, Norman warmly acknowledges Ferguson's help and advice in negotiating his contract at Everton - basically told him what he should ask for. So much so that he made more from them in 2 seasons than he'd earned in the previous 5 years at OT! Consequently, when Ferguson was going through a rocky patch at MU and his future was in severe doubt, Norman says that one of the red tops offered him a fortune (iirc £50k) to dig the dirt on Ferguson. The Big Man told them to piss off!
Edited by Territorial - 05 May 2020 at 5:55pm |
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Territorial
Jack Charlton Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Status: Offline Points: 5817 |
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Depends which "injuries" you're talking about. As a young man, he had received some bad treatment from a physio on Belfast, which adversely affect his hip alignment (he always did have an ungainly running style). He later started picking up knee injuries which hampered him further, possibly as a knock-on from the hip problems? Anyhow, with Best and Robbie Keane available up front, I'd play NW in midfield - every bit as competitive and skilful as Roy Keane and far harder! Tbh, Stormin Norman is nearly as big a "what if" as George Best, except that George's problems were self-inflicted, Norman was just damned unlucky.
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The O'Shea
Jack Charlton I know everything and I’m NEVER wrong Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 9568 |
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I really don't think Whiteside achieved enough to be in the team, either at club or international level. Best wasted a lot, but he also achieved a hell of a lot in the short time he was at the top. So even though his NI career might have been a bit underwhelming, he's obviously a shoo-in for the team. Don't know enough about him, but Blanchflower seems to have been a great player and would be more or a contender than Whiteside based on what I've heard.
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We're decent enough..
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Territorial
Jack Charlton Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Status: Offline Points: 5817 |
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But fair enough comment overall, esp Blanchflower, who deserves it for his captaincy alone: Another v.strong contender in midfield would be Jimmy McIlroy, acknowledged as their greatest ever player by Burnley, who named a stand after him. He played for the NI team which reached the World Cup Quarter Finals in 1958 and then in the Burnley team who were Champions of England in 1959/60 (4th, 2nd and 3rd the following seasons): And from the same era, Peter McParland was a v.fine goalscoring winger, with 10 goals in 34 caps for NI, five of them in five games in Sweden in 1958. To this day, only Lineker (10) and Kane (6) from the British Isles have scored more goals in WC Finals tournaments. Also notched 98 goals in 293 league games for A.Villa. Oh, and was born in the same street in Newry as Pat Jennings!
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Gashley Grimes
Liam Brady Joined: 09 May 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1863 |
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You might as well throw Peter(Doherty) the Great in there - captained Man City to their first title.
Jimmy McIlroy was a class act - my neighbour is a Burnley fan and still raves about him. |
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horsebox
Robbie Keane Born n bred in darndale. Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 34900 |
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Not doubting that injuries robbed him, but for me he didn't play enough to be considered part of Ireland best 11. And more importantly he was before my time :) |
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It was far across the sea,
When the devil got a hold of me, He wouldn't set me free, So he kept me soul for ransom. na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na. I'm a sailor man from Glasgow to |
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longford claret
500 Club la la la Joined: 31 Dec 2016 Location: Longford Status: Offline Points: 561 |
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Burnley were well ahead in the league in 1961 -62 until McIlroy was injured. They hardly got another point over the last 10 games and finished 2nd. They lost in the cup final also that year. They got to the quarter final of the European Cup too in the McIlroy era, losing 5-4 on aggregate, McIlroy hitting the post twice in the last ten mins, if one had of gone in, they would have had a replay for a semi final spot.
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Claret Murph
Paul McGrath Hmmm, Goodness, I must say Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Location: Tibet Status: Offline Points: 15761 |
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GG must be good craic having a Claret next door
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Lansdowne Road debut aged 52 and 201 days .
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Territorial
Jack Charlton Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Status: Offline Points: 5817 |
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The following season (`1961/62), Spurs had to play a Preliminary Round (beat Gornik Zabrze 10-5 on aggregate), a 1st Round (beat Feyenoord 4-2 on agg) and a Quarter Final (beat Dukla Prague 4-2 on agg), to get as far as the Semi-Final. There they played the holders, the great Benfica team, losing 3-1 in Lisbon, before winning 2-1 at WHL. Jimmy Greaves had a goal ruled out for offside at home which he swears was onside. Having seen the video, it did look harsh. Anyhow, Blanchflower scored a penalty that night.
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longford claret
500 Club la la la Joined: 31 Dec 2016 Location: Longford Status: Offline Points: 561 |
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Yes, think Burnley had a good goal disallowed v Spurs too in the 62 cup final, would have made it 2-2. Spurs won 3 -1 after.
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The O'Shea
Jack Charlton I know everything and I’m NEVER wrong Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 9568 |
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Way before any of our times, but I would wager that Jimmy Dunne has the best goalscoring record of any Irish player ever. It's absolutely phenomenal.
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We're decent enough..
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bastardsonoflimpar
Liam Brady Joined: 26 Jul 2016 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 2065 |
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Given
Coleman Moran McGrath Dunne Irwin Houghton Keane (C) Whelan Sheedy Keane
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