Keith Fahey

[youngirish]

It's a pity another positive Irish story of the season has been turned inside out on this forum by childish insults and braindead argument.
I was only responding to the original insult by Buller but as I've stated before on other boards you can ignore the original reference if you want I won't lose too much sleep over it.

I actually hope Fahey does well next season as Ireland are short of decent players in his position at the moment but the majority of posts on here are just reactive nonsense in response to the last 2 games. He had been solid, if not spectacular in the Championship beforehand, hardly International form. At best I can see him doing a Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan type job in the Premiership next season. Solid but unspectacular so I will hold my excitement in a tad while longer thanks very much and hope the likes of McCann or McCarthy continue to improve as they have done this season and Garvan gets his career back on track.

Anyway that's all I have to say on the subject. It gets tiresome being shouted down but ultimately being proved right in these flavour of the month arguments - Darren Potter, Patrick McCarthy, Alex Bruce, Roy O'Donovan, Daryl Murphy we've seen the exact same arguments many times before endlessly recycled again and again. The posts are endless with ill informed posters jumping on the bandwagon if an Irish player has a couple of good games ignoring all that has gone before.

Dodge's last post says it all about the prevailing wind that blows amongst many on these boards.



As you said, in the biggest 2 games of Birmingham's season, he scored twice and set up the other goal, playing very well in both games. If thats not a good pointer to a footballer's ability I don't know what is.

How about consistently performing well over an entire season of 50+ games?

[tetsujin1979]

How about consistently performing well over an entire season of 50+ games?
hasn't Fahey played more than 80 games this season!

[pete]

I see only 3 Birmingham players have scored more than Fahey in the Championship this season which isn't bad as they are not exactly a prolific team. Good luck to him in the Premier League next season. Terrible to see such begrudgery from some people...

[Dodge]

How about consistently performing well over an entire season of 50+ games?

He did. In fact he won the league's Player of the Year award.

[youngirish]

hasn't Fahey played more than 80 games this season!
Again so what? Didn't I quote a claim by Dodge that because Fahey had been impressive in the previous 2 games that was a good indicator (perhaps it is even implied it may be the most important indicator) of his ability? Where did he mention the 80 games that came beforehand as being used as the grade to judge his talent?

Why oh why aren't these things obvious? Does everything have to be explained in such minute detail? Please stop quoting my posts and leave me be. I have work to do.

[Dodge]

Again so what? Didn't I quote a claim by Dodge that because Fahey had been impressive in the previous 2 games that was the way to judge his ability.

That’s not correct. Seeing as you're one for minute detail, surely you can see the difference between "that’s a pointer to his ability" and "lets judge him solely on 2 games"

[soccerc]

How about consistently performing well over an entire season of 50+ games?

Since March 2008 Fahey has been very consistent and as Dodge stated was the LOI's Player of the Year, agong voted for and awarded by his peers.

He has also being playing since that time not just since August 2008.

Bear in mind he's predominantly a central/right sided attacking midfielder, whereas since his arrival at Birmingham has been used mainly in a defensive left sided role.

[pineapple stu]

Why oh why aren't these things obvious? Does everything have to be explained in such minute detail? Please stop quoting my posts and leave me be. I have work to do.
:D

Translation - "Oops. Oh yeah."

[Billsthoughts]

He has been one of Birmingham's best players since he arrived there, playing out of position on the left. The quotes I have from him said he loved the training- mainly the step up of training with a higher quality player. If he has found it tough it certainly hasn't shown in his performances. A high Championship standard player is more than good enough for a squad place for an international side like us.

Regardless, this stuff is irrelevant to Colbert Report's post to which I was responding to.

It was on a phone call on MNS. Point I was making is that he is realistic himself about what he needs to do to have a successfull career over there. What has he got to gain from being a fringe player member of the Ireland squad?

[Dodge]

What has he got to gain from being a fringe player member of the Ireland squad?

The gratitude of Pats fan for another add on fee kicking in?

[geysir]

What has he got to gain from being a fringe player member of the Ireland squad?

He would have nothing to lose. It would be up to Keith to decide if he has anything to gain by being a part of the Ireland squad. He doesn't need to be called up in order to be a better player. He has nothing to prove to anybody how talented he is, except to his own standards of footballing ambition.

[Brendan 82]

Whew, what a thread. Some of the old Irish self hatred coming out and it is sad to see. This stuff really drags soccer down in this country in my opinion. This sort of stuff is not present in the rugby community. Imagine Irish rugby fans actively willing Irish players not to do well because they play for Munster or Leinster? Because Wasps and Harlequins and Ospreys are just better like...

Obviously our domestic league is of lower standard. I find that LOI are fans usually the first to admit this. Sure they love their clubs, but I don't see any delusions of grandeur or claims that certain players in the league are the next Marradona(spelling?). But that does not mean that good players, and in fact the occasional brilliant one, cannot come out of the LOI. To suggest otherwise means that you know very little about soccer; actually, you know very little about sports in general. Good players always slip through the cracks in all sports. You see it all the time. Why would it not happen with the LOI?

[Billsthoughts]

The gratitude of Pats fan for another add on fee kicking in?

Fair enough. Was more thinking of peoples perception of what constitutes him being a decent player or not. He was a good player at pats, he seems to be a good one at Birmingham and he will still be a good player regardless of whether he does or doesnt get picked for an Ireland side were his type of ability isnt really valued too highly.

btw for those who said his goal on sunday was flukey....did you not see the pass for the Phillips goal? excellent.

[MeathDrog]

How about consistently performing well over an entire season of 50+ games?
Yes because he's just been pure **** apart from them 2 games...:rolleyes:

[NeilMcD]

His dribble and pass to Phillips in the first half was sublime also. Point about it is, that we have another player who is of Championship level at the moment who seems to be showing signs of progression and stepping up to the plate. We have a glut of midfielders at this level at the moment and it would be great if these ones could then go to the next level or two and be as good as Stephen Ireland without the tantrums and personality.

I would take no joy from any players failing to make the grade whereas I think there are certain people on the forum who would love to say I told you so and see players fail.

[Dodge]

Well one on this thread posted that he hoped Birmingham wouldn't go up. Although in fairness to Ciaran, it was obviously so his predictions on Fahey wouldn't look even more ridiculous.

Hopefully some people won't comment on players they haven't seen play in future.

I doubt it though...

[pete]

One of the ways to judge Fahey is to look at the players he is playing instead of. I have only seen him a little bit for Birmingham but it can be difficult to breaking into teams after joining mid season especially in midfield. Manager must see something in him as the tendency would be to view him as a risk as he was coming from what some consider as football back water in the LOI.

[tricky_colour]

One of the ways to judge Fahey is to look at the players he is playing instead of. I have only seen him a little bit for Birmingham but it can be difficult to breaking into teams after joining mid season especially in midfield. Manager must see something in him as the tendency would be to view him as a risk as he was coming from what some consider as football back water in the LOI.

Well he played him in a £50 million promotion 'final'. Games don't get much bigger than that really. In fact such matches more are worth more than winning the Champions League!! (correct me if I am wrong!!).

[tricky_colour]

hasn't Fahey played more than 80 games this season!


68 or 69 including sub appearances apparently.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05052009/63/fahey-relishing-rest.html

[tricky_colour]

This is weird, notice how he kicks up his other leg just after striking the ball!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klnn_EtKdmw&feature=related

??:confused:

[Saint_Charlie]

He just lifts his other foot off the ground.

He's a quality free kick taker too to be fair to him.

[TonyD]

Can you not see that spelling has nothing to do with footall knowledge .

Freudian slip ?:D:D Very good.

On the Keith Fahey debate. He's a super player, and I hope he does well in the premier league. And if he doesn't, he'll still be a damn good player. Part of me would love to see him get a call up, it would be great for him. On the other hand I genuinely don't give a toss about the national team. Attitudes like that of youngirish have done their fair share in bringing me to this view. People who purport to be Irish football fans but who have some sort of perverse delight in rubbishing football that's actually played in this country. Yes, we get it, our teams aren't as good, as rich or as glamorous as top English clubs, but so what, they are still our clubs playing in our towns and cities. In no other field of sport (or anything else) do you come across this attitude.

[NeilMcD]

Tony D do not let youngirish put you off supporting the Irish team. There are plenty of guys and girls who support the Irish team and also support the League of Ireland or at least are not anti League of Ireland and would like to see it do well, they may not have a team but would like to see it prosper.

I would say the same too if an Ireland fan said he was not into the League of Ireland because most League of Ireland fans are anti the national team. I would defend the League of Ireland fans and say that most of them support the Ireland team. Do not let extremists on either side put you off what is our national team.

[paul_oshea]

in fairness neil, if he can be that fickle about supporting his country then its all the better he doesn't.

[Greenbod]

in fairness neil, if he can be that fickle about supporting his country then its all the better he doesn't.


Spot on!...Nobody should have to be persuaded or talked into supporting their country.


BTW...same goes for playing and a certain Man City midfielder!

[geysir]

Just the same as the objectionable odd Pats supporter shouldn't be a issue to stop anybody cheering on Pats when they represent the LOI in Europe.

Maybe Trap will bring in a few new names into the squad, which has some honour.
I'm a bit sceptical of the value of the honour of a first senior cap for a player brought on 5 seconds before the end (monetary value not considered :) )

[Billsthoughts]

Spot on!...Nobody should have to be persuaded or talked into supporting their country.



Replace "country" with "local club" and you might have a better understanding of TonyDs pov.

[youngirish]

Freudian slip ?:D:D Very good.

On the Keith Fahey debate. He's a super player, and I hope he does well in the premier league. And if he doesn't, he'll still be a damn good player. Part of me would love to see him get a call up, it would be great for him. On the other hand I genuinely don't give a toss about the national team. Attitudes like that of youngirish have done their fair share in bringing me to this view. People who purport to be Irish football fans but who have some sort of perverse delight in rubbishing football that's actually played in this country. Yes, we get it, our teams aren't as good, as rich or as glamorous as top English clubs, but so what, they are still our clubs playing in our towns and cities. In no other field of sport (or anything else) do you come across this attitude.
I don't have anything against the LOI. I've never stated anything of the sort though it's an accusation that many LOI fans like to throw around when I disagree with some of their more outlandish statements regarding the relative qualities of different players since they've often nothing more constructive to pull out of the hat to disparage my arguments.

If the truth is to be known it's that I respect people who support their local club and pump their hard earned cash into it wherever they are from. I've lived away from home for the best part of a decade now so I certainly can't be strolling down to Tolka park anytime soon when I fancy catching a game.

What I do have a problem with on these forums is that many of these so-called LOI fans who think they are somehow more knowledgeable about who should be playing for the National team (again I stress isn't this what this forum is about?) than the non LOI fans even though a cursory look through the vast majority of their previous posts on these matters have invariably been proven to be unrealistically biased and enormously wide of the mark.

You can generally spot the above quite easily, they use terms like barstoolers, slag people off for supporting United or Liverpool and shout people down who quite rightly (imo) point out the limitations in the abilities of the players they worship. They often claim that they have some deeper insight into the game because they occasionally waltz down to their local ground to watch players and levels of the game that are often almost (note the term almost) as far removed from International football as the Sunday league teams many of us play for (or have played for in the past). You can see many such opinions from LOI fans referencing some of my earlier posts on this thread.

This would be tolerable if it wasn't for the fact that their inflated opinions of the majority of LOI players that move abroad are proven to be incorrect time and time again without any sort of knock on humbling effect.

Maybe Fahey will turn out to be the exception to the rule that they called right (along with Doyle) but I won't get too vocal about shouting for him to be called up over McCarthy, McCann or Garvan until he performs consistently well at a higher level. As stated earlier I think he'll do ok in the Premiership but Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews do okay and I don't sing their praises. We need some international midfielders noticeably better than those 2 if we are to progress over the next few years so the told you so smugness on the original post I referenced is not even slightly warranted yet.

[Billsthoughts]

I don't have anything against the LOI...... .

Fahey is a completely different type of player to Andrews and Whelan.

[topia]

I don't have anything against the LOI. I've never stated anything of the sort though it's an accusation that many LOI fans like to throw around when I disagree with some of their more outlandish statements regarding the relative qualities of different players since they've often nothing more constructive to pull out of the hat to disparage my arguments.

If the truth is to be known it's that I respect people who support their local club and pump their hard earned cash into it wherever they are from. I've lived away from home for the best part of a decade now so I certainly can't be strolling down to Tolka park anytime soon when I fancy catching a game.

What I do have a problem with on these forums is that many of these so-called LOI fans who think they are somehow more knowledgeable about who should be playing for the National team (again I stress isn't this what this forum is about?) than the non LOI fans even though a cursory look through the vast majority of their previous posts on these matters have invariably been proven to be unrealistically biased and enormously wide of the mark.

You can generally spot the above quite easily, they use terms like barstoolers, slag people off for supporting United or Liverpool and shout people down who quite rightly (imo) point out the limitations in the abilities of the players they worship. They often claim that they have some deeper insight into the game because they occasionally waltz down to their local ground to watch players and levels of the game that are often almost (note the term almost) as far removed from International football as the Sunday league teams many of us play for (or have played for in the past). You can see many such opinions from LOI fans referencing some of my earlier posts on this thread.

This would be tolerable if it wasn't for the fact that their inflated opinions of the majority of LOI players that move abroad are proven to be incorrect time and time again without any sort of knock on humbling effect.

Maybe Fahey will turn out to be the exception to the rule that they called right (along with Doyle) but I won't get too vocal about shouting for him to be called up over McCarthy, McCann or Garvan until he performs consistently well at a higher level. As stated earlier I think he'll do ok in the Premiership but Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews do okay and I don't sing their praises. We need some international midfielders noticeably better than those 2 if we are to progress over the next few years so the told you so smugness on the original post I referenced is not even slightly warranted yet.

Just as couple of points on this, i dont think ive ever heard a LOI supporter claiming that any LOI player should be walking straight into the international team. the reason LOI supporters can get annoyed is that none of these players are given a chance to be involved in any way until they move across the water. They arent tested in friendlies or invited to train with the squad to see what they are capable of. Nobody is suggesting that many LOI players should be involved but what is to be lost by calling up a stand out performer from the LOI such Fahey or Brian Murphy to squads such as the 40 man one before they move across the water???????

You also seem to have a problem with the term "Barstooler" which in my opinion is quite apt unless these people attend 10-15 of 'their' english or scottish clubs games a season then they are effectively observing from the comfort of their barstool.

"and shout people down who quite rightly (imo) point out the limitations in the abilities of the players they worship"
A LOI fan would have every right to disagree with someone who points out the limitations of any player they have never seen playing, how is someone who doesnt attend LOI games in a position to comment on the limitations of its players?

on that note i dont really think you are in much of a position to comment on the standard of the league as you have done unless you have managed to attend a good number of games recently

[youngirish]

on that note i dont really think you are in much of a position to comment on the standard of the league as you have done unless you have managed to attend a good number of games recently
Fair enough but let's apply that logic equally to LOI fans who don't attend Ireland games regularly (probably applies to most of them on here) and state that they shouldn't be allowed to express any opinion regarding the inclusion of an LOI player in the International team over another player as they are not in any position to comment on the LOI player's strengths relative to the Ireland team and its current players.

[Drumcondra 69er]

They often claim that they have some deeper insight into the game because they occasionally waltz down to their local ground to watch players and levels of the game that are often almost (note the term almost) as far removed from International football as the Sunday league teams many of us play for (or have played for in the past)

I'm sorry but that is utter garbage, the likes of Bohs at present would survive in the Championship and would more often then not beat more then half the teams in the SPL where James McCarthy is plying his trade.

You're essentially stating that Sunday League level is almost (note the term almost) the same level as LOI. Laughable analysis.

[topia]

Fair enough but let's apply that logic equally to LOI fans who don't attend Ireland games regularly (probably applies to most of them on here) and state that they shouldn't be allowed to express any opinion regarding the inclusion of an LOI player in the International team over another player as they are not in any position to comment on the LOI player's strengths relative to the Ireland team and its current players.


I think there are only a few extremists so to speak that have no interest in Irish matches, LOI fans generally make up the singing section at irish matches and those who dont attend would watch on tv and so in my opinion would be in a position to comment on the national team, unlike people who comment on the standard of the LOI without seeing any games and before someone says that if a non LOI fan happened to come across 5 mins of sligo v galway on tv that they can then comment on the standard of LOI dont bother... its completely different, watching an Irish game you see the whole picture* and can judge the whole thing whereas watching a few minutes of the odd LOI game doesnt tell you what the standard of the league as a whole is or whether that was just a particularly poor/good match

*by this i mean you can see exactly how the team performed, i understand that unless you are there in person you cannot see off the ball running etc

[youngirish]

I'm sorry but that is utter garbage, the likes of Bohs at present would survive in the Championship and would more often then not beat more then half the teams in the SPL where James McCarthy is plying his trade.

You're essentially stating that Sunday League level is almost (note the term almost) the same level as LOI. Laughable analysis.

The usual clever clogs post that misses the point and often invents points of its own:

1. I never stated James McCarthy was brilliant or should be playing for Ireland? Why bring him into the argument? I simply stated I wouldn't get anymore excited about Fahey than him.
2. Bohs and who else would survive? If one team in a league would survive in the Championship does that make the league as a whole comparable? Of course not. This point that you made is as in your terms the definition of utter garbage. Celtic would survive in the Premiership so therefore is the SPL as a whole comparable to the Premiership? Not a chance. Bohs would struggle to survive anyway. Teams with better players were relegated this season (Norwich and Southampton). Here's the clincher for you Norwich had 2 of the best players from previous years in the LOI playing for them at the time Mooney and Hoolihan. Hoolihan struggled to get into the team.
3. The standard is so far removed from the top level of football it might as well be. I was comparing it to International football and the vast gulf in quality that exists between the two levels. I thought I spelled that out quite clearly. Perhaps I should have highlighted it.
4. To sum it all up the Championship is far higher quality than the LOI. It has numerous International players plying their trade in it. The stadiums, training facilities, attendances and therefore player salaries are way beyond those available in the LOI (look up capitalist economics to see why this is a good indicator why it might have better players). Basically anyone who still wants to stick to their introverted, ignore all facts, fundamentalist LOI attitude needs to ask themselves this one question why if so many LOI teams would survive in the Championship then how come so many of the LOI's best players have proved to be nowhere near good enough for the second tier of English football?

Logic is your friend. Embrace it.

Anyway I'm off. I have work to do. Sometimes this can feel like beating a christian fundamentalist creationist over the head with a fossil and getting nowhere.

[lionelhutz]

I'm sorry but that is utter garbage, the likes of Bohs at present would survive in the Championship and would more often then not beat more then half the teams in the SPL where James McCarthy is plying his trade.

You're essentially stating that Sunday League level is almost (note the term almost) the same level as LOI. Laughable analysis.

I've attended all Limerick FC's home games this season. IMHO the standard is very poor in the 1st division. I can't comment on the standard in the eircom premier because I haven't seen many games.

I also play with a local junior soccer club in Limerick and I honestly believe Youngirish isn't far off in his opinion that the Eircom 1st division's standard isn't that far above the likes of the Junior Premier League in Limerick.

This has been proven by the fact that a number of players from Junior Premier League teams have played with Limerick FC and other Eircom league teams and the majority of them haven't looked out of place.

[lionelhutz]

The usual clever clogs post that misses the point and often invents points of its own:

2. Bohs and who else would survive? If one team in a league would survive in the Championship does that make the league as a whole comparable? Of course not. This point that you made is as in your terms the definition of garbage. Celtic would survive in the Premiership so therefore is the SPL as a whole comparable to the Premiership? Not a chance. Bohs would struggle to survive anyway. Teams with better players were relegated this season (Norwich and Southampton). Here's the clincher for you Norwich had 2 of the best players from previous years in the LOI playing for them at the time Mooney and Houlihan. Houlihan struggled to get into the team.

3. The standard is so far removed from the top level of football it might as well be. I was comparing it to International football and the vast gulf in quality that exists between the two levels. I thought I spelled that out quite clearly. Perhaps I should have highlighted it.

4. The sum it all up the Championship is far higher quality than the LOI. It has numerous International players plying their trade in it. The stadiums, training facilities, attendances and therefore player salaries are way beyond those available in the LOI (look up capitalist economics to see why this is a good indicator why it might have better players). Basically anyone who still wants to stick to their introverted, ignore all facts, fundamentalist LOI attitude needs to ask themselves this one question why if so many LOI teams would survive in the Championship then how come so many of the LOI's best players have proved to be nowhere near good enough for the second tier of English football?



I have to say I agree with the above points. I think most people have a problem with YI posts cause he somtimes comes across condescending in an Eamon Dunphy manner.

But the actual points he's making above are correct.

[topia]

The usual clever clogs post that misses the point and often invents points of its own:

1. I never stated James McCarthy was brilliant or should be playing for Ireland? Why bring him into the argument?
2. Bohs and who else would survive? If one team in a league would survive in the Championship does that make the league as a whole comparable? Of course not. This point that you made is as in your terms the definition of garbage. Celtic would survive in the Premiership so therefore is the SPL as a whole comparable to the Premiership? Not a chance. Bohs would struggle to survive anyway. Better teams were relegated this season (Norwich and Southampton).
3. The standard is so far removed from the top level of football it might as well be. I was comparing it to International football and the vast gulf in quality that exists between the two levels. I thought I spelled that out quite clearly.
4. The sum it all up the Championship is far higher quality than the LOI. It has numerous International players plying their trade in it. The stadiums, training facilities, attendances and therefore player salaries are way beyond those available in the LOI (look up capitalist economics to see why this is a good indicator why it might have better players). Basically anyone who still wants to stick to their introverted, ignore all facts, fundamentalist LOI attitude needs to ask themselves this one question why if so many LOI teams would survive in the Championship then how come so many of the LOI's best players have proved to be nowhere near good enough for the second tier of English football?

Logic is your friend. Embrace it.

All this is getting quite petty, but sure feck it... Knowledge is your friend embrace it???? should try that yourself some day, so celtic would survive in the EPL but the League as a whole is not comparable, The same applies to Bohs, the championship and the LOI etc... probably all very true but even teams like everton and villa cant compete with the likes of united over the course of a season nevermind the bottom teams so whats the point in making all these comparisons between the leagues. applying your principals to your benchmark of international football, Brian Kerrs Faroe Island Army arent exactly Brazil but an international nontheless and a side that id expect a LOI team to beat so where does that leave us????

oh and on the attendance issue, the attendances in the championship are much higher for a variety of reasons, not least because in england a good percentage of people support their local club, are at least a club by going to their matches rather than just watching manchester united on tv because they have found that they can combine their passion for watching football on tv and actually going to the odd game

[Drumcondra 69er]

The usual clever clogs post that misses the point and often invents points of its own:

1. I never stated James McCarthy was brilliant or should be playing for Ireland? Why bring him into the argument? I simply stated I wouldn't get anymore excited about Fahey than him.
2. Bohs and who else would survive? If one team in a league would survive in the Championship does that make the league as a whole comparable? Of course not. This point that you made is as in your terms the definition of utter garbage. Celtic would survive in the Premiership so therefore is the SPL as a whole comparable to the Premiership? Not a chance. Bohs would struggle to survive anyway. Teams with better players were relegated this season (Norwich and Southampton). Here's the clincher for you Norwich had 2 of the best players from previous years in the LOI playing for them at the time Mooney and Houlihan. Houlihan struggled to get into the team.
3. The standard is so far removed from the top level of football it might as well be. I was comparing it to International football and the vast gulf in quality that exists between the two levels. I thought I spelled that out quite clearly. Perhaps I should have highlighted it.
4. The sum it all up the Championship is far higher quality than the LOI. It has numerous International players plying their trade in it. The stadiums, training facilities, attendances and therefore player salaries are way beyond those available in the LOI (look up capitalist economics to see why this is a good indicator why it might have better players). Basically anyone who still wants to stick to their introverted, ignore all facts, fundamentalist LOI attitude needs to ask themselves this one question why if so many LOI teams would survive in the Championship then how come so many of the LOI's best players have proved to be nowhere near good enough for the second tier of English football?

Logic is your friend. Embrace it.

Anyway I'm off. I have work to do. Sometimes this can feel like beating a christian fundamentalist creationist over the head with a fossil and getting nowhere.


The usual snidey BS retort to an arguement you're losing (unsuprisingly seeing as it's about a subject you know nothing about).

1. Despite this attempt at flip-flopping it was YOU who brought McCarthy into this, not me.

2. I would disagree that Norwich and Southampton players make a better team but that's opinion. Hoolahan was one of Blackpool's better players the season before and was well up in the top 50 players in the Football League as voted by his fellow pros and managers , I don't get your point here.

3. Certainly there are poor teams in the LOI, no one as denied this but your comparison with Sunday league football was trite in the extreme and takes away rather then adds to your arguement. I never said the entire league was comparable. If your post didn't come across as you intended I'd suggest you work on your sentence construction.

4. The Championship is undoubtedly streets ahead of the LOI in terms of stadiums, training facilities, attendances and therefore player salaries are way beyond those available in the LOI. This doesn't change the fact that some teams would survive in it (Bohs, Derry, Cork would certainly give it a good go) as many teams that have come up from League One (where salaries up to this season would have been comparable) have done. You'd swear Fahey was the first player to go over from the LOI and thrive in that league in recent years the way you crap on. Yes, the likes of O'Callaghan and Byrne failed but O'Callaghan has an attitude problem and Byrne got injured after a promising start, these things happen in football.

As for your logic remark, cop yourself on, no one is suggesting that LOI players should be brought en masse into the set up, but the fact is that there are plenty of good players plying their trade there that shouldn't be written off just because they've played there, some of the stuff being written about Fahey by people who seem sick that he's proving himself (at the back end of a 13 month season for him) is cringewrothy. It was obvious to those of us who'd seen him play that he has something about him, I'm looking forward to seeing how he is next season following a rest and a good pre season.

In response to LionelHutz the difference between the Premier and First Division in the LOI is huge, given that this thread is about a player who played in the Premier Division I think I'm safe in assuming that it wasn't the First Division that Youngirish was referring to.

[lostinbrum]

Lee Carsley praised Keith Fahey in yesterday's Birmingham Evening Mail

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/2009/05/05/carsley-praises-mcleish-for-spurring-blues-players-on-to-promotion-97319-23544132/2/


Carsley, meanwhile, paid tribute to the impact Keith Fahey has had since joining from St Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin in January. The midfielder cemented his place on the left of midfield during the run-in and scored the breakthrough goal at Reading.


“He’s been brilliant,” said Carsley.


‘‘When Keith came in there were a few raised eyebrows – a League of Ireland player in a team that was going for the Premier League and all that.
“But he has done more than his fair share, he has been fantastic.”

[Stuttgart88]

In partial defence to at least one aspect of YI's stance I have to say how much I resent the term barstooler and it's a phrase that some LOI posters here seem to think is appropriate to apply to anyone who doesn't go to live games regularly.

I live in the UK and despite my love for football I rarely watch live football here. For a start it's appalling value for money in my opinion. I have 2 young kids and I'm loathe to take 4-5 hours out on a Saturday (that's pretty much what it'd take including travel time etc.) when I have family responsibilities. I used to watch LOI footy regularly, Budweiser Cup (University football) and played both LSL and AUL (lower divisions) for years. These days the only live football that excites me is Ireland, a game in UK featuring Irish players worth getting a close look at or midweek Arsenal CL games when I was able to go on way home from work.

I watch 99% of my football on TV these days and am happy to stand by any judgment I make on that basis. To be called a barstooler like I'm some form of inferior football enthusiast is insulting. I may not be a "fan" in that I'm no longer devoted to one team and one team only as I now have a broader interest in the game. I'm sure others here feel the same affront.

[Greenbod]

Replace "country" with "local club" and you might have a better understanding of TonyDs pov.

I replaced it and still don't understand his pov.

..You can support club and country, they're not mutually exclusive.

[Greenbod]

In partial defence to at least one aspect of YI's stance I have to say how much I resent the term barstooler and it's a phrase that some LOI posters here seem to think is appropriate to apply to anyone who doesn't go to live games regularly.

I live in the UK and despite my love for football I rarely watch live football here. For a start it's appalling value for money in my opinion. I have 2 young kids and I'm loathe to take 4-5 hours out on a Saturday (that's pretty much what it'd take including travel time etc.) when I have family responsibilities. I used to watch LOI footy regularly, Budweiser Cup (University football) and played both LSL and AUL (lower divisions) for years. These days the only live football that excites me is Ireland, a game in UK featuring Irish players worth getting a close look at or midweek Arsenal CL games when I was able to go on way home from work.

I watch 99% of my football on TV these days and am happy to stand by any judgment I make on that basis. To be called a barstooler like I'm some form of inferior football enthusiast is insulting. I may not be a "fan" in that I'm no longer devoted to one team and one team only as I now have a broader interest in the game. I'm sure others here feel the same affront.

I agree..........and can I add in defence of Barstools....they can be pretty great places to sit!

[soccerc]

In partial defence to at least one aspect of YI's stance I have to say how much I resent the term barstooler and it's a phrase that some LOI posters here seem to think is appropriate to apply to anyone who doesn't go to live games regularly.

Come on Stutts, you know very well the term barstooler applies to a very particular type of fan, just like the application of the word taliban to a different set of supporters - both can be appropriate terms, but I would suggest they are not blanket terms.

[Stuttgart88]

yeah, but it was first time I heard the term from that particular poster and wanted to set the record straight, certainly for me and I'm sure for quite a few others.

Anyway, Mrs. Stuttgart has just said I have to go out to watch Clelsea v Barcelona tonight. Looks like a barstool is the place for me...

[Dodge]

In partial defence to at least one aspect of YI's stance I have to say how much I resent the term barstooler

Well it isn't a term of endearment

As you don't support an English club team exclusively, it wouldn't apply to you

[richieos]

anyone who thinks keith fahey cant or shouldnt succeed in english football just need to look at kevin doyle. he wasnt even one of cork city's top players as far as i understand.
and as for critisim of the league of ireland or the national team, the fact is, its one game, were all irish, and we should support anyone who plays football in ireland or abroad, it makes no difference, they are all irish at the end of the day.

[eirebhoy]

Therefore, the facts are: McCann played almost three times as many games as Fahey but only scored twice as many despite being an attacking midfielder and is only five years younger than Keith
Just to say I definitely wouldn't class McCann as an attacking midfielder. Very much a box to box player from what I've seen and intelligent defensively.

[topia]

In partial defence to at least one aspect of YI's stance I have to say how much I resent the term barstooler and it's a phrase that some LOI posters here seem to think is appropriate to apply to anyone who doesn't go to live games regularly.

I live in the UK and despite my love for football I rarely watch live football here. For a start it's appalling value for money in my opinion. I have 2 young kids and I'm loathe to take 4-5 hours out on a Saturday (that's pretty much what it'd take including travel time etc.) when I have family responsibilities. I used to watch LOI footy regularly, Budweiser Cup (University football) and played both LSL and AUL (lower divisions) for years. These days the only live football that excites me is Ireland, a game in UK featuring Irish players worth getting a close look at or midweek Arsenal CL games when I was able to go on way home from work.

I watch 99% of my football on TV these days and am happy to stand by any judgment I make on that basis. To be called a barstooler like I'm some form of inferior football enthusiast is insulting. I may not be a "fan" in that I'm no longer devoted to one team and one team only as I now have a broader interest in the game. I'm sure others here feel the same affront.


To be honest, the term barstooler is mostly applied to the type of person who watches Man Utd/Liverpool on TV, believes that they are an avid Man Utd/Liverpool fan and looks down on or mocks a LOI fan despite the fact that the have never even experienced a LOI game

[eirebhoy]

Did you also believe Roy O'Donovan was going to be the next Thierry Henry a couple of seasons ago? Drag up the thread where I showed my misgivings about him and you can state how brilliant he's turned out to be while your looking through old posts claiming how knowledgable you are. I recall similar threads about Jason Byrne, Alan Bennett, George O'Callaghan, Daryl Murphy but I suppose the laws of probablility suggest you'll eventually get something right though I'm yet to be convinced it's your inflated opinion on Fahey relative to one of the best young midfielders in one of the best teams in the Championship.

I think Fahey was seen on a different level to any of the above players. I actually think a lot of our players just aren't suited to the English championship. It's probably the fastest league in the world if some of the games I've seen are anything to go by. Players don't get a second on the ball. I'm actually surprised a player like Fahey settled in so well.

[geysir]

I had a look at some of the LOI games on RTE, time and space are in short supply.
Considering the gulf in resources, the Championship is not that much better.
The LOI clubs that do spend a bit and achieve a very decent standard, do so on borrowed money, then it falls down when it comes time to pay the bills.

It's funny that as if by some mysterious force the English commentator can manage to pronounce an R, but only when they see a H and a Y -- Farhee