Virgin Media Sport, the new home of European football in Ireland.
The match in Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Tuesday was 11-a-side with a twist! The pitch was a lot bigger than any sort of pitch that I would have even played on during my career - certainly the width of it.
I have played the odd 7-a-side or 8 or 9-a-side or whatever numbers actually turn up for games, so I have played a bit of that in the last couple of months.
I wouldn’t have really kicked a ball over the last five years. Some might have said, I didn’t kick a ball in the last 20 years, but anyway!
That being said, here’s the 5-a-side team I’d pick from the panel of Virgin Media Sports pundits and yes, I’m including myself.
GOALKEEPER
I had a great suggestion for the goalkeeper and it has to be Niall Quinn. Simply because, if anyone’s seen YouTube footage of Quinny saving a penalty for Manchester City in the ‘90s, it was a great penalty save for an outfielder.
He’s actually a handy keeper, a very good keeper. He always used to go in goal in training, so he’d get the gloves on and he’d have a blast in there. He’d be good to play out from the back.
Obviously, you’re missing his presence up front but it has to be Niall in goal!
Ireland's Niall Quinn acts as a goalkeeper during training in 1990. Picture by: Ross Kinnaird/EMPICS Sport
DEFENCE
We’ll play two at the back and two lads who can push on from the back all day. So I’m putting myself in this team! All day, every day.
So I would be playing alongside Mick McCarthy. Growing up I had a bit of a soft spot for Mick and then he later picked me for Ireland during his reign.
So it has to be Mick McCarthy in defence. That would have been great for me. I would have loved to played alongside Mick.
MIDFIELD
Midfield dynamo? You can’t look past Graeme Souness. As much as Keith Andrews would love me to pick him in this position, it has to be Graeme.
He’s a European Cup winner. Has he still got it? I’d say he would do. You’d be scared of him wouldn’t you? I think he’d just look at you and you wouldn’t want to go near him.
So Graeme Souness all day long in midfield.
Ireland's Andy Reid before the game ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
FORWARD
There’s a few you could go for. Notable mentions for Gary Breen and Keith Andrews. But I’m going to pick Andy Reid.
Brilliant footballer and one of the most technically gifted footballers that I would have played alongside. Brilliant left foot and we could play him anywhere.
Me and Reidy could swap over too, Keith would be on the bench with Gary Breen. We’ve also got Kris Commons in there and Brian Kerr.
Brian apparently was a handy footballer in his day as well so he could go up there but I’m going to go for Andy Reid up top.
Virgin Media Sport, the new home of European football in Ireland goes live on Tuesday 18th September. With more than 400 UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Nations League games live this season, Virgin Media Sport is exclusive to all Virgin Media TV customers who can also download the TV Anywhere App and stream all the action whenever and wherever they like. For more info check out Virgin-Media-Sports.ie
