Joey O'Brien

[theworm2345]

Goal JOB! Does well in the build up to get the ball to Diame, continues his run forward, O'Neil fires in a low cross from the right, O'Brien holding off Shawcross about six yards out fires it first time in to the roof of the net.

First ever Premier League goal.

[SkStu]

atta boy Joey!


Mohamed Diame's shot is blocked, but he directs the ricochet to the path of Gary O'Neil who then whips in a menacing cross for Joey O'Brien. The 26-year-old gets the better of Ryan Shawcross, tapping in from close range beyond the hapless Jussi Jaaskelainen. A first Premier League goal for O'Brien and the West Ham fans are in full song.

[tricky_colour]

I think I just caught a reply of the goal, cross came in from the right, a low one in to a fairly crowded penalty are,
O'Brien knocks it in, there seemed to be checking if he was offside, but obviously given.

Italian stream so I can't understand it, I think Walters got one for Stoke with assist from Whelan.

[tetsujin1979]

OptaJoe posted this on twitter: https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/270639810446761985

797 - Joey O'Brien's goal is the 797th by an Irishman in the PL, only England (9248), France (1166) & Scotland (819) have more. Contribute.
So, 23 more goals (assuming no more goals scored by Scots) and we'd be into third.

[tricky_colour]

Our second best (available) player on one football index in 70th spot.
How accurate the index is is another matter.

[DannyInvincible]

Our second best (available) player on one football index in 70th spot.
How accurate the index is is another matter.

If our second-best player is in only 70th spot, unfortunately, probably too accurate!

[tricky_colour]

If our second-best player is in only 70th spot, unfortunately, probably too accurate!

Well I can remember in the past when I followed the old Actim index and there were times when we had 10 or 11 players
in the top 100 (it showed the top 100), I mean there would be Keane Duff Dunne Given for sure, I am struggling to think of
the rest though, O'Shea perhaps or Steven Reid, Finnan?


Anyhow I have been using the search facility and found
from one of my posts in the past.



5 Dunne
52 Steve Finnan
63 Kevin Kilbane
65 Stephen Hunt
81 Stephen Ireland
87 Lee Carsley
90 Stephen Kelly

And from another post



4 A Reid Tottenham 0.51
9 R Keane Man Utd 0.44
13 D Duff Chelsea 0.42
31 J O'Shea Man Utd 0.37
67 S Finnan Liverpool 0.28

So we have certainly had better showings in the past.

I am sure I counted maybe 10 or 11 before but I can't find the post, it may not be archived.

[Colbert Report]

Those were the glory days, alright. Sadly I think we're going the way of the North. Without a proper domestic league of our own to develop players, we're going to wind up with a squad full of League 1 and Championship players, with the odd standout playing in the Premiership. Heck, we're almost there now when you look at our team. We've only five or maybe six players that are Premiership standard players.

[elroy]

Those were the glory days, alright. Sadly I think we're going the way of the North. Without a proper domestic league of our own to develop players, we're going to wind up with a squad full of League 1 and Championship players, with the odd standout playing in the Premiership. Heck, we're almost there now when you look at our team. We've only five or maybe six players that are Premiership standard players.

Now without any real 'marque' players (i.e. Roy Keane, Duff) anymore but I think our overall squad is quite strong. We have always had lower leagues playing in our squad, even in our XI. Yes we have less players at the top four or five clubs but overall I think our current strength in depth is pretty good and alot better than it was 4 or 5 years ago.

On J O'Brien, shows the difference having a good loyal manager can do for your career. Sam seems to be loyal to players he has worked with before and got on well with - Nolan, Taylor, O'Brien, Vaz Te, Jaaskelainen

[OwlsFan]

Now without any real 'marque' players (i.e. Roy Keane, Duff) anymore but I think our overall squad is quite strong. We have always had lower leagues playing in our squad, even in our XI. Yes we have less players at the top four or five clubs but overall I think our current strength in depth is pretty good and alot better than it was 4 or 5 years ago.

On J O'Brien, shows the difference having a good loyal manager can do for your career. Sam seems to be loyal to players he has worked with before and got on well with - Nolan, Taylor, O'Brien, Vaz Te, Jaaskelainen

It's not a question of having a loyal manager. It's a question of staying injury free. O'Brien has always had the talent like Stephen Reid. It's whether he can stay clear of injuries.

We don't have "less players" at the top clubs. We have none. We have mostly ordinary players playing in mediocre EPL teams but at least most are still playing in the top flight unlike Norn Iron and Wales.

[Supreme feet]

It's hard to evaluate the strength of our player pool on their standing and numbers within the EPL, due to the fact that the top-flight in England has become so money-driven and multi-national.

At the moment, QPR are bottom of the league, despite having a squad composed of 18 different nationalities, over 20 capped international players, and several Champions League winners. In 2001, Ipswich qualified for Europe in 5th place with an almost exclusively home-grown line-up, many of whom had never even played top-flight football before. Leeds challenged for the title that season with a predominantly British/Irish starting line-up, including Harte, Kelly and McPhail. We had some very ordinary players playing regular EPL football at the turn of the century, like Barry Quinn, Jason Gavin, Gareth Whalley, Dominic Foley, and others. Things have definitely changed since the deluge of foreign investors rolled into the league post-Abramovich. It's always been pretty difficult for Irish players to get regular first-team football in the top-tier, it's twice as hard now. A lot depends on luck, i.e. getting promoted at the right time, like Whelan, O'Brien and Hoolahan.

[tricky_colour]

Those were the glory days, alright. Sadly I think we're going the way of the North. Without a proper domestic league of our own to develop players, we're going to wind up with a squad full of League 1 and Championship players, with the odd standout playing in the Premiership. Heck, we're almost there now when you look at our team. We've only five or maybe six players that are Premiership standard players.

I think the problem is not so much the lack of a proper domestic league but the increased internationalisation of the Premier League.
I mean even England suffers form that, they certainly have far fewer players playing in the top flight than they used to.
I am not even sure if do not have more Irish playing in the PL than in the past, however that might be because I was not as aware of all the Irish players playing in it in the past.
I am pretty sure we had to draw on Championship players in the past??

[edit] Only just read Supreme Feet's post after I posted. Same sentiments basically.

[Stuttgart88]

It's hard to evaluate the strength of our player pool on their standing and numbers within the EPL, due to the fact that the top-flight in England has become so money-driven and multi-national.

At the moment, QPR are bottom of the league, despite having a squad composed of 18 different nationalities, over 20 capped international players, and several Champions League winners. In 2001, Ipswich qualified for Europe in 5th place with an almost exclusively home-grown line-up, many of whom had never even played top-flight football before. Leeds challenged for the title that season with a predominantly British/Irish starting line-up, including Harte, Kelly and McPhail. We had some very ordinary players playing regular EPL football at the turn of the century, like Barry Quinn, Jason Gavin, Gareth Whalley, Dominic Foley, and others. Things have definitely changed since the deluge of foreign investors rolled into the league post-Abramovich. It's always been pretty difficult for Irish players to get regular first-team football in the top-tier, it's twice as hard now. A lot depends on luck, i.e. getting promoted at the right time, like Whelan, O'Brien and Hoolahan.Agree totally. However, the key from our perspective is how do react to this. It would seem to me that we've done very little, just relying on Championship and SPL clubs to flog our players to instead.

[Stuttgart88]

I am pretty sure we had to draw on Championship players in the past?Yes, but we didn't have such delusions of grandeur in the past!

[DannyInvincible]

O'Brien played the full 90 minutes for West Ham today as they beat Chelsea 3-1 at home.

[tricky_colour]

Sigh him up Trap!!
He's in a top 8 team!!!

[SkStu]

Was "terrorising" the Liverpool defence according to bbc text updates... Currently 2-2

[Supreme feet]

Was "terrorising" the Liverpool defence according to bbc text updates... Currently 2-2

Would certainly prefer him to Kelly in the squad for the reserve right-back/utility defender role. He's played all three defensive positions competently this season, while Kelly - who, in my opinion, is less comfortable than O'Brien on the ball - has been stuck on the Fulham bench.

[Olé Olé]

Would certainly prefer him to Kelly in the squad for the reserve right-back/utility defender role. He's played all three defensive positions competently this season, while Kelly - who, in my opinion, is less comfortable than O'Brien on the ball - has been stuck on the Fulham bench.

I agree. At 26, time is on his side and it's great to see him getting such a strong run of Premier League football.

Again, Trap likes the continuity of calling on players like McShane and Delaney regularly, but O'Brien seems to be a far better quality alternative to both.

I'm looking forward to him getting a chance with Ireland. I think it will come. He's solid.

[tricky_colour]

Was "terrorising" the Liverpool defence according to bbc text updates... Currently 2-2


Bombing up the wing presumably.

[CraftyToePoke]

Would certainly prefer him to Kelly in the squad for the reserve right-back/utility defender role. He's played all three defensive positions competently this season, while Kelly - who, in my opinion, is less comfortable than O'Brien on the ball - has been stuck on the Fulham bench.

Definitely nudging ahead for that spot at present.. His early days as a midfielder at Bolton mean he is happy to have the ball, vital in a FB these days. Kelly is much less comfortable on it and using it.

[KK77]

Was "terrorising" the Liverpool defence according to bbc text updates... Currently 2-2

While sleeping as Joe Cole of all players nipped in to make it 2-2!

[theworm2345]

O'Brien with a goal so far against Norwich. A nice sort of triangle passing move all on the left side of the Norwich box with O'Brien finding Noble, who found Cole right in front of goal but heavily marked, Cole laid it off to O'Brien whose shot went in low at the near post.

[tricky_colour]

Think this will be 4 defeats on the trot for Norwich, but from some tough games.
A lot of big decisions have gone against them, including two penalty decisions.

[Charlie Darwin]

Signed a three-and-a-half year deal: http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/188050.html

[Fixer82]

Fair play to him. His career was over not too long ago!

[Olé Olé]

I still can't believe he's only 26. He's got 4 years of his peak to play and a return to midfield may occur if things go well enough. He definitely has a lot to offer Ireland, I hope Trap realizes. It's easy to constantly hark back to Paul McShane but his dwelling on the Hull bench should make this decision far easier for Trap. Stephen Kelly being likely to attain regular Premier League games with Reading (for now anyway) is another plus to the full-back positions, which should be further re-enforced by a timely recovery from Marc Wilson.

...Now to sort out centre-half!

[CraftyToePoke]

...Now to sort out centre-half!

Joey O'Brien !? :)

[squareball]

O'Brien could be a serious option at left back. He is playing well again and deserves a shot at the squad. I really hope he can at least replace McShane as the utility defender in the squad.

[theworm2345]

Very rough match for O'Brien (and the whole West Ham backline) so far today, has really struggled with Walcott.

[Charlie Darwin]

He seems to have reverted to right-back now. Lovely piece of skill to set up Kevin Nolan for the first chance of the game here: http://www.footytube.com/video/west-ham-united-v-swansea-city-156405?ref=wv_relbox

[tricky_colour]

He has been subbed, on 23' was limping before hand.

[Grafter]

Eh if he was withdrawn from squad yesterday through injury then why did he play full game versus Newcastle today? I smell a rat:question:

[Charlie Darwin]

He wasn't withdrawn through injury. He was allowed leave because he wasn't likely to be used in the games, and Trap and West Ham agreed he'd be better served playing on Saturday and then taking a week off considering his injury status. If we get injuries at full back, he'll be called back up.

[elroy]

In fairness to grafter, i did read at least one media source during the week that stated the reason O'Brien was out was due to injury.


On FAI website:

*Clarification on Joey O’Brien: Our medical teams were speaking prior to Joey’s withdrawal from the Irish squad. A decision was reached based on Joey’s serious knee injury sustained two years ago, and he requires treatment during the international window next week after a patellar tendon flare up. The manager has given his blessing to this as we have sufficient cover on this occasion. He may feature for his club tomorrow.

[Grafter]

Ok just heard on Today FM yesterday that Joey was injured like McGeady etc.... then BBC Radio 5Live this afternoon were confused as well about why he was withdrawn yet playing today....

I guess Mister Allardyce had words...

[Charlie Darwin]

There was confusion because the initial FAI statement suggested he had gone back to his club for treatment, so the initial reports ran with that, but it was later clarified because he had a fitness issue that was ongoing and being managed by the club and that Trap had agreed he'd be better off sticking to that program on the week off rather than hopping on planes and risking exacerbating it.

[DannyInvincible]

Why are RTÉ still reporting this?: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/0901/471541-ireland/


Wet [sic] Ham’s Joey O'Brien played 90 minutes in their defeat to Stoke, despite pulling out of the Ireland squad on Friday with a knee injury.

[Stuttgart88]

Because they're idiots? Stirrers?

[ArdeeBhoy]

There was confusion because the initial FAI statement suggested he had gone back to his club for treatment, so the initial reports ran with that, but it was later clarified because he had a fitness issue that was ongoing and being managed by the club and that Trap had agreed he'd be better off sticking to that program on the week off rather than hopping on planes and risking exacerbating it.

That still smells like BS from WHU though. RTE are just incompetent at times.

[DannyInvincible]

Surely the FAI's doctors had a look at him too though?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Don't understand why not in the squad when played yesterday, unless he's really injured, now.

[DannyInvincible]

According to the FAI, he requires treatment during the international window due to a patellar tendon flare-up. The flare-up is related to his prior long-term knee problem. It would appear he's still OK to play through it, but presumably as he's a peripheral squad member for us, Trap has let him return to his club for the scheduled treatment. I assume the problem would simply worsen until he could no longer play through it if Joey left it to later rather than now to receive treatment.

[liamoo11]

According to the FAI, he requires treatment during the international window due to a patellar tendon flare-up. The flare-up is related to his prior long-term knee problem. It would appear he's still OK to play through it, but presumably as he's a peripheral squad member for us, Trap has let him return to his club for the scheduled treatment. I assume the problem would simply worsen until he could no longer play through it if Joey left it to later rather than now to receive treatment.

true. tendonopathies are like turtles you have them for life. is not an injury that ever gets better. the aim is to reduce the degree of tendon degeneration by managing the load though the tendon. Bascically you are looking at rehab maximising lumbopelvic and lower limb muscle function and endurance, develop improved ability for the tendon to tolerate load in a lenghtened position (eccentric strenght) and improve the movement patterns you use in the sport to reduce the tendon stress.

Tendonopathies actually do very badly after a period of rest which is why u get so many tendon issues early season. You have no inflammation in tendonopathies which is why rest and steroid injections have such a poor outcome. PRP injections are used to act as an irritant for the tendon to help stimulte the tendon at a cellar level which may make the tendon more responsive to exercise rehab. Hateful condition really and not the easiest to explain away if you are looking for a new contract or new club

[Charlie Darwin]

O'Brien was moved to centre-half after Tompkins went off injured today. Conceded three goals but can't say any of them were his fault.

[Charlie Darwin]

Dislocated his shoulder tonight against Chelsea - faces up to three months out: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/obrien-facing-three-months-out-29963185.html

[SkStu]

He was actually playing very well too at LB. Took a yellow for the team. He really impressed me. Bad news, he should be knocking on the door of our starting 11.

[Charlie Darwin]

Certainly if Wilson is playing centre half you'd think he'd have a very good case. I suppose the upshot is that this will give him a chance to rest his knees for a while?

[geysir]

He needs to rest his knees in between games, in all likelihood he won't be an option for us.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Of all the Irish players playing in the Premier League and even the more higher profile players playing in the Championship, it is literally hard thinking of any that haven't had lengthy injury lay offs over the last 2-3 seasons. It really is incredible.

All the Hull players, all the Everton players (I think even McCarthy had a few months out after Muamba hacked him), O'Brien, the Sunderland players, the Palace players (Delaney was allegedly close to an amputation at one stage) and of course Reid at West Brom. That's just off the top of my head.

When I think of players that have largely avoided injury, the first that come to mind are Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters. How darkly ironic.