Sky Sports Poll for Irish Captain

CountryWise

Just browsing at the http://home.skysports.com/football/ website a few minutes ago and saw a poll to click on who you think should be the new Irish captain??
I voted for Shay as i really think he deserves it for both outstanding and consistent performances in the Ireland shirt and i know some argue that its better to have an outfield player but i dont care i really think the fella deserves it after his contributions to our game and then i clicked on the see results button expecting him to be the only player voted for so far...to my shock i see Robbie Keane following him very closely in the poll....just wondering if this is a fair reflection of all your views out there??
Id be surprised anybody would have voted for Keane but people obviously are choosing him so i ask why??i know he is our top scorer but i still think that is the worst goals record in football.
And alot of Irish people use Skysports so its not as if its English peoples opinions solely!
Views on this?

PHB

I want to know which 3% voted Breen!!!

MrJoeSoap

CountryWise wrote:

Id be surprised anybody would have voted for Keane but people obviously are choosing him so i ask why??i know he is our top scorer but i still think that is the worst goals record in football.

The reason people are voting for Keane is because he is the only real alternative is Given, and Keane has recently been Spurs' captain in the absence of Ledley King, and has done quite a good job in fairness to him. I'd probably still pick Given ahead of Keane though.

CountryWise

Legend.......Number 1 Gary Breen, Number 2 Gary Breen.....etc
He wont even be in the team, brilliant

CountryWise

If you click on the link and go to the bottom left of the page!

MrJoeSoap

Got it, cheers.

BaZmO*

CountryWise wrote:

just wondering if this is a fair reflection of all your views out there??

Why don't you include a poll?

Kingp35

I honestly dont think goalkeepers make good captains but in Irelands case we dont really have any alternatives. I think Keane doesnt play as well for Ireland as he does for Spurs in that he is more selfish for Irealnd and doesnt pass the ball around. Not the attributes of a captain. It has to be Given for me, but reluctantly.

dr zoidberg

I agree about keepers not being ideal as captains but Given is certainly the best choice. I don't know if Keane is vocal enough for captain. He hasn't been playing well for Ireland but I don't think it's greediness, it's more down to the fact that we don't have enough creativity in the side and the burden for creating goals is carried by Keane and Duff.

CountryWise

"the burden for creating goals is carried by Keane and Duff"
ya this is more than a fair point but still he does not produce for Ireland what he does for Spurs, a sign of a great player is making something out of nothing like Henry did to us in Dublin last year but he never really does that even against lower opposition!
I think Given being made captain might also get rid of any retirement thoughts he might be starting to get at his age

MrJoeSoap

Given is only 29, I'm sure he's not thinking about retiring just yet.

CountryWise

Bazmo i have added a POLL just for you, sorry i should have thought of it earlier!!!
he is still only 29 but he might not see the team going anywhere in the short term and it must be frustrating putting in great performances time and time again and coming fourth in a qualifying group

mchurl

I am also of the opinion that goalkeepers dont make great captains but there is no real alternative to Given. Richard Dunne may be an alternative. Robbie keane isnt really captain material in my opinion as i dont think that he is a team player.

MrJoeSoap

CountryWise wrote:

Bazmo i have added a POLL just for you, sorry i should have thought of it earlier!!!
he is still only 29 but he might not see the team going anywhere in the short term and it must be frustrating putting in great performances time and time again and coming fourth in a qualifying group

Well lets hope for Irelands sake that he has a lot more pride in his country than to retire from international football while still playing for his club. Although maybe Messrs Carr and Shearer will be talking with him...

Rikand

Well, keane was a very selfish player with tottenham too before they made him captain, he cut out all his little stupid flicks and stuff and started playing more for the team, the team did well with him as captain. i think he would be a lot less selfish if he was captain of ireland too...cut out all the ****e that he pulls off in matches and start playing for the team, maybe its just what he needs!

I'll plum for keane for captain

Roddy23

I honestly dont think goalkeepers make good captains

dino Zoff anyone?
Lev Yashin was also a captain?
Granted these were two of the best goalkeepers the world has ever known, Given still some catching up to do, but I think if ye have that personality it shouldn't be a problem.

CountryWise

Oliver Kahn too club and country if i remember correctly.
I know what ye are saying about him playing well for Spurs and even better when he is captain but he has never produced anything like this for the national team even when in form for Spurs so i dont see it changing too much although i genuinely hope im wrong for the sake of the national team.

Big Ears

I'd be happy with either Given or Dunne , both would be capable of fufilling the role well .

BaZmO*

Rickylovesuall wrote:

Well, keane was a very selfish player with tottenham too before they made him captain, he cut out all his little stupid flicks and stuff and started playing more for the team, the team did well with him as captain. i think he would be a lot less selfish if he was captain of ireland too...cut out all the ****e that he pulls off in matches and start playing for the team, maybe its just what he needs!

I'll plum for keane for captain

Being made captain for Spurs wasn't the turning point for Robbie, it was his spell as a bench warmer that made him knuckle down. Although, I wouldn't really have a problem with him being made captain for Ireland, I just think Shay is more deserving.

CountryWise

"Being made captain for Spurs wasn't the turning point for Robbie, it was his spell as a bench warmer that made him knuckle down"

This seems very true, Ireland will have to start him though as there is no competition, It will be Keane and Doyle up front in a few months

scuba steve

def Given, he deserves it so much. He really didnt deserve to not make it to the World Cup

eirebhoy

My choices:
1. Given
2. Kav
3. Keane

cashback

Given is the only choice really. Apart from Keane or Duff, he's the only member of the panel guaranteed to be in the starting XI on a regular basis.
I'm not a fan of making strikers captains (see Henry for instance) as I feel their sole purpose should be scoring.
Duff would probably admit himself that his personality doesn't lend itself to the captaincy.