Keith Fahey

[DannyInvincible]

Substituted after 67 minutes in his second game for Birmingham since October. Birmingham leading Crystal Palace 4-0 now. Damien Delaney scored an own-goal.

[Grafter]

Leaving Birmingham FC
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/english/2013/0506/390640-fahey-set-to-leave-birmingham-city/

[Fixer82]

Speculation that he'll move back to Ireland in that article?
That's a bit harsh to say the least. He's only just gone 30 and is a very good midfielder that would sit into any Championship side comfortably.
Also, according to Wikipedia he has 16 caps, not 6...definitely sounds right to me.
Poor journalism

[peadar1987]

Speculation that he'll move back to Ireland in that article?
That's a bit harsh to say the least. He's only just gone 30 and is a very good midfielder that would sit into any Championship side comfortably.
Also, according to Wikipedia he has 16 caps, not 6...definitely sounds right to me.
Poor journalism

I'd love to see him back in the LOI. Depending on his personal situation and finances, the chance to play in Europe might trump picking up one last payday dropping down the English leagues.

[Charlie Darwin]

Even after the last year, I don't think he'd have any trouble getting a contract in the Championship. I'd love to see him at Rovers but no chance.

[Grafter]

Fahey is a curious case... his return to Ireland during the season would suggest he's a bit of a home bird, plus wasn't his original stint in the uk cut short due to homesickness if I'm not mistaken?

I'd imagine we'll hear more about Fahey and his circumstances over coming days....

[Fixer82]

He's too good for the LOI at this point in his career.

[nigel-harps1954]

It would be a timely boost to the League here of course. I just wonder, what's the possibility of him joining Sligo? Champions League qualifiers, and Joey N'do really getting on in the years.

[Dodge]

He'll be playing in the English Championship next season lads

[paul_oshea]

QPR?!

[gustavo]

Any news of Keith getting himself a club?

[Dodge]

He's injured so can't train. he start running last week.

Apparently he's had a couple of offers from Championship clubs and one from outside Ireland/UK but all depends on his recovery

[Charlie Darwin]

Would be good to see him move outside the UK. Preferably to Tallaght.

[Bungle]

Forget Tallaght. I hear Landon United play a good passing game that might suit him :)

[BonnieShels]

Forget Tallaght. I hear Landon United play a good passing game that might suit him :)

Landen...

[BonnieShels]

Landen...

This would be a deadly friendly to set up v FC Landen (http://www.fclanden.be/)

[nigel-harps1954]

Would it be an option for him to sign for the final 7 games of the League of Ireland season to regain a bit of match fitness? He surely could sign a contract until November and then head over to England?

[Charlie Darwin]

As far as I understand it, he's a free agent (unlike Liam Kearney) and can sign for anyone he likes. If he was fit and signed for a LOI side, he'd be paid for two months and then have to spend two more months on the sidelines, whereas with an English club he'd be free to play right away. I don't see why it would make sense for him to sign for an LOI club unless he absolutely had to.

[squareball]

Would he not be able to sign up till the end of November then become a free agent again?

[Dodge]

Would he not be able to sign up till the end of November then become a free agent again?

Well he's not fit so he wouldn't be playing for anyone. None of the teams challenging could afford to take the risk that he wasn't fit, and he's not going to line out for someone just for fun in midtable.

There's no real reason for him or the clubs

[tetsujin1979]

Fahey was at the Sheffield United game last night, and is rumoured to be signing for them soon

[tetsujin1979]

played for the Sheffield United reserves today, scored and got an assist: https://twitter.com/Keith_Fahey/statuses/397423637642608640

Played 1st reserve game back today for #sufc (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sufc&src=hash) !! Won 3-1 at Barnsley.. Managed a goal & a little asisst.. another step towards full fitness

[SkStu]

What is a little assist? :)

[TonyD]

What is a little assist? :)

It's a bit smaller than a big assist ;)

[DannyInvincible]

Fahey's future still uncertain: http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2013/11/14/4406157/eunan-okane-keen-to-stake-claim-for-ireland-place


Keith Fahey's future remains shrouded in doubt as Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough admitted that the club was still assessing their options regarding the midfielder.

Former Birmingham City midfielder Fahey has been without a club since his release from the Blues in the summer and he has been training with the Blades in recent weeks.

"There is no doubting his quality, you can see it in training, he just need to get his fitness up. In terms of his ability on the ball, he is a very good player," Clough told Radio Sheffield.

"We have had a chat with him. There is no point in him being here if there wasn't something at the end of it. We will assess it over the next few weeks."

[Charlie Darwin]

I assume that means Fahey is waiting until January to decide what to do.

[nigel-harps1954]

I've heard he'll be signing for St Pat's next season. Albeit an unreliable source, but considering the fact he's now over 30 and has been out for over a whole year, combined with Pat's playing Champions league next season, it wouldn't be completely out of the question.

[Charlie Darwin]

Or he could sign for the club whose manager has released about 42 midfielders already this week.

[nigel-harps1954]

Or he could sign for the club whose manager has released about 42 midfielders already this week.

Lack of European football would put him off that one I'd say ;)

[Charlie Darwin]

Lack of European football would put him off that one I'd say ;)
Well then maybe he can convince the rest of the squad not to go on strike to avoid playing European football :)

[tetsujin1979]

dislocated his toe in training and out injured until February: https://twitter.com/Keith_Fahey/statuses/411125985875341312

Had a wire put in my toe last wk to correct a dislocated toe which happened trainin at sheff utd.. Wont be fit till feb now.. NIGHTMARE ��
and https://twitter.com/Keith_Fahey/statuses/411126292298620928

And i still havnt signed for anyone.. Very bad timing !!!!

[DannyInvincible]

Fahey's re-signed for St. Pat's: http://www.independent.ie/incoming/keith-fahey-returns-to-st-patricks-athletic-29862015.html


Republic of Ireland international midfielder Keith Fahey has returned to St Patrick’s Athletic ahead of the new League of Ireland season.

The 30 year-old joins the Inchicore outfit for the third time since Birmingham City released the Irish international at the end of last season. He will add to the 191 appearances he amassed under previous managers Eamonn Collins and John McDonnell and has said he can’t wait to get back onto the pitch.

“I’m delighted with the prospect of coming home and to be back at the club,” Fahey told the St. Patrick’s Athletic website. “I really enjoyed my time here before so I’m now just looking forward to get back playing football.

“I was offered various deals from other clubs and ones which were financially a lot better, but I’ve come back here because of the great loyalty I’ve always received. Both the fans and the club have always been great to me, and the stability of the club behind the scenes really made me want to come back and play my football in Inchicore again.”

Fahey was let go by Birmingham City after making more than 100 appearances for the club over four years, during which he played in two Premier League campaigns before relegation in 2011. Most recently he was on trial at Sheffield United but that failed to lead to a permanent deal.

He was a youth player at Arsenal and Aston Villa before returning to Ireland for spells with Bluebell United, Pat’s and Drogheda United and won 16 international caps under Giovanni Trapattoni and scored three international goals, most crucially in Yerevan to beat Armenia 1-0 in the opening Euro 2012 qualifier in September 2010.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Disappointing.

[Stuttgart88]

The lure of Champions League football.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I wonder if any European clubs came in for him. He turned down Hertha Berlin before joining Birmingham, I believe.

[Charlie Darwin]

I wonder if any European clubs came in for him. He turned down Hertha Berlin before joining Birmingham, I believe.
Hertha made enquiries but there was no bid that I know of. He's a bit of a homebird it seems so England would have suited him better anyway. I doubt there'd be many European clubs after a Championship midfielder who'd been injured the previous year. It's great to see an Irish player willing to come back to the league, even as a stopgap, rather than toiling around the English lower leagues.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Ah, I see.

Can't believe Stephen Hunt turned down an attractive financial offer to move to Valenciennes this summer in favour of staying in The Championship. Playing against the likes of Ibrahimovic and Falcao in one of the best Leagues in Europe seemed like a decent way to wind down his career instead of toiling for another season in the Championship.

In fairness, he admitted himself it was a mistake.

Would like to see more Irish players abroad.

[Dodge]

Disappointing.
Couldn't disagree more.

:)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fahey-can-show-oneill-hes-at-home-at-top-level-29873955.html

Daniel McDonnell on the logic of Fahey's LOI return and chances of an International return.

[Fixer82]

Sound was down on tv earlier but it looked on the news like he signed for St. Pat's.
Bit of a waste I feel as his star was on the rise.
Felt he was screwed in that Germany game being asked to mark Ozil when he was always a playmaker and never a defensive midfielder

[nigel-harps1954]

Bit of a waste I feel as his star was on the rise.


That's a bit harsh. Not good for the league here as opposed to a bad career move?

Funny, when something good happens to the league, it's classed as a disappointing move by those who don't support it in Ireland.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sound was down on tv earlier but it looked on the news like he signed for St. Pat's.
Bit of a waste I feel as his star was on the rise.
Felt he was screwed in that Germany game being asked to mark Ozil when he was always a playmaker and never a defensive midfielder
He signed a month ago. He left England because he had a series of injuries. He'll be the best player in the league next season but it's not like he's come home to play for his local five-a-side. He'll be playing in the Champions League qualifiers. Most players of his ilk would be content slumming it at some dead-end League One club, but he knows the quality of the league he's returning to and that it can provide him a platform to resurrect his career.

[Fixer82]

That's a bit harsh. Not good for the league here as opposed to a bad career move?

Funny, when something good happens to the league, it's classed as a disappointing move by those who don't support it in Ireland.

Ok let me re-phrase....

I don't think he'll get a look in with the international team now that he's playing in the League of Ireland.

Sure, it 's good for the league but I'm not sure it's good for Fahey's chances.
Though it's probably good for his head and soul so, if that's the case, it's the right move for him

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Sound was down on tv earlier but it looked on the news like he signed for St. Pat's.
Bit of a waste I feel as his star was on the rise.
Felt he was screwed in that Germany game being asked to mark Ozil when he was always a playmaker and never a defensive midfielder

Imbecilic tactical decisions like that are the reason why we lost that game by such a lofty margin. Of course if we are to believe people like Trapattoni, it's to be expected because it's em Germany.

Nothing to do with stuff like playing Cox and Walters on the wing and bringing on Green to play on the wing and leaving two knackered (and poor) strikers on up front and taking the energetic Long off (Austria).

[nigel-harps1954]

Don't think he'd have got a look in with the previous management team, but with O'Neill and Keane vowing to keep an eye on the league here, and with Fahey one of the few Irish internationals playing Champions League football next season, he may well have an eye glanced his direction now and again.

[Fixer82]

Don't think he'd have got a look in with the previous management team, but with O'Neill and Keane vowing to keep an eye on the league here, and with Fahey one of the few Irish internationals playing Champions League football next season, he may well have an eye glanced his direction now and again.

I hope you're right.
I really think he has something to offer and is a very smart footballer

[geysir]

I think Trap gave him chances considering he has an aversion to the value of finer skills in our team and he would have given him more chances. That's a credit to Keith that he impressed himself favourably to Trap.
He had injury issues in the 2012 campaign and again after the Germany game, he ran into a string of injury woes.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think Trap gave him chances considering he has an aversion to the value of finer skills in our team and he would have given him more chances. That's a credit to Keith that he impressed himself favourably to Trap.
He had injury issues in the 2012 campaign and again after the Germany game, he ran into a string of injury woes.
Assuming you're responding to Nigel, I think he meant Fahey in the LOI wouldn't have had a chance playing for Ireland because Trap didn't consider the LOI a proper league. He would only consider him if he was playing in League One or higher.

[geysir]

Assuming you're responding to Nigel, I think he meant Fahey in the LOI wouldn't have had a chance playing for Ireland because Trap didn't consider the LOI a proper league. He would only consider him if he was playing in League One or higher.
I wasn't responding to Nigel, just rambling in general.

Every manager that we have had, ignores players in the LOI, unless on that rare occasion when we were stripped to the bare bone in a friendly or some other odd circumstance that existed 40 years ago.
Keith might have a chance of a squad place as he already has established his standard of play with Ireland.
The LOI has some good players and some potentially good players but it's a low standard league. Trap's comments about the LOI were cruel but not pertinent to use as an excuse for his results, however they were relatively accurate. The general standard of the LOI doesn't meet minimum standards. Maybe it's stronger than what you get in the IL, the Faroes and Wales but well below most of the rest in Europe.

[Crosby87]

Brass watches Fahey score, enjoys snacks at match.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish-soccer-league/2014/0302/507793-fahey-seals-presidents-glory-for-pats/