The Never Made It's

[SaucyJack]

Thats the lad not sure where I got John from.

Be fair it was properly the media who hyped him up more then anything but pity there were not right

maybe the American John O'Brien who played for Ajax?

[tetsujin1979]

I too am reluctant, and I've received as many call ups as he has... :rolleyes:
He was invited to train with the squad on the tour in the States last year, and turned it down.
from http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=433303&root=mls&&cc=5739

Republic of Ireland coach Steve Staunton wanted uncapped Toronto FC midfielder Ronnie O'Brien on his squad for this week's two-game tour of the U.S. But not only did O'Brien, who recently returned from a knee injury, nix the invite, he's not the least bit bothered about getting another chance to represent his country.

NewsTalk contacted Toronto FC to request an interview with him. They were told he'd only speak to them if they didn't ask him about why he wasn't going to train with the squad. Which was kind of what the whole interview was going to be about, so it never took place.

[gspain]

Speaking of goal keepers, anyone remember Paddy Roche who went from Bohs to Man U and made some awful howlers? Really felt for the player.

It was Shels. Saw him play at the Markets Field in the early 70's. I think we put 3 past him that day. He was error prone at Man Utd. He also played in the game in Berne in 1975 when we lost to a poor Swiss side. A win would have put us in Euro76.

No idea where he is now.

[Closed Account 2]

Liam Daish, Sean Devine,

[Ash]

Alex O'Reilly
Goalkeeper who was part of the U-18 European Champions squad in 1998.
Was with West Ham at the time but then drifted down to Wigan, Bristol
Rovers, Gravesend, Northampton and a few non league sides.

[back of the net]

Thats the lad not sure where I got John from.

Be fair it was properly the media who hyped him up more then anything but pity there were not right

not forgetting the chain email scams that caused him to win both "Time Magazine - person of the century" and juventus's most promising newcomer, i doubt that helped either with the hype - - lol

[Hibernian]

not forgetting the chain email scams that caused him to win both "Time Magazine - person of the century" and juventus's most promising newcomer, i doubt that helped either with the hype - - lol

haha i think i remember that one. i remember getting mail of mates at time.

ya prob did him no good

[Thunderblaster]

Ronnie O'Brien. Was on the books of Juventus....last playing footie in the MLS.

[Thunderblaster]

What about Ken De Mange? Kelham O'Hanlon?

[irishfan86]

I always enjoy threads like this...

Ronnie O'Brien making half a million dollars a year to play the game we all love, a star within the MLS, and being labelled as "never making it."

[theworm2345]

I always enjoy threads like this...

Ronnie O'Brien making half a million dollars a year to play the game we all love, a star within the MLS, and being labelled as "never making it."
That doesn't mean he isn't ****e

[Ash]

Wish I was sh*te enough to earn half a million a year playing football!!!!
Damn my silky skills!

[Hibernian]

I always enjoy threads like this...

Ronnie O'Brien making half a million dollars a year to play the game we all love, a star within the MLS, and being labelled as "never making it."

well now I agree with your point would not mind being that s*it either and getting balls off money.

Im just saying that he never really lived upto what he was meant to become hence the title of the thread

[irishfan86]

After seeing Ronnie O'Brien play a fair bit, I can say that he is a decent player.

He has a touch of class, is a good crosser of the ball, and can score from midfield as well.

I'd compare him to Andy Reid, except Ronnie is right footed.

Like Andy Reid, he lacks pace, but makes up for it with a fantastic footballing brain.

It's easy to see why Ronnie didn't make it in the UK- playmakers are rarely found in British sides.

Okay, the MLS isn't the greatest league in the world, but it's not as if he's a middling player over here.

He's well known by fans around the league, and consistently makes the "All-Star" team, and as I said, makes about half a million a year.

To be honest, I wouldn't have him near the Ireland squad, and I get what people are saying about not living up to potential, but it's not as if this guy flopped; he's just not suited for the British game, and as an Irishman, would have had a hard time finding another continental team after failing at Juventus.

[endabob1]

Trevor Molloy, a good LOI career but considering the company he was in as part of the 97 Youth Side..

[irishultra]

What about Ken De Mange? Kelham O'Hanlon?

class...french i'd say.

[randomcomment]

Two lads who didn't make it for different reasons....

1) Barry Kehoe - Probably the most talented player ever to grace a LOI pitch. He was diagnosed with cancer, played in the LOI throughout his treatment, nearly got a cap. Retired from the game early due to his ill health and sadly passed a few years back in his mid 40's. In Paul McGrath said in his autobio that it was Kehoe who should have been kept on at United instead of him.

2) Dessie Gorman - 1st Catholic to play for Linfield. Bags of talent. Went on trial to Arsenal but never made it off the boat as he was tricked into having a pint on the way over by a club spy and was sent home immediately.

[gustavo]

Trevor Molloy, a good LOI career but considering the company he was in as part of the 97 Youth Side..
Apart from one or two of those lads , he done just as well as the rest to be fair

[endabob1]

Apart from one or two of those lads , he done just as well as the rest to be fair

Was angling at opposition as well as the Irish boys...

[p_o_r]

Does anyone remember the exoticly named Kwame Ampadu? I remember first reading about him in my brothers Arsenal annual as a player who was going to be huge in the future. He got huge alright, only around the waistline though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Ampadu


Liam Daish, Sean Devine,


Ampadu and Devine played for Exeter against Man Utd in the FA Cup in 2005, it was on TV as well, as soon as I heard Ampadu's name I though 'oh so that's where he ended up'

[Row Z]

Keith foy. classiest left foot in years. bags of ability, bag's of burgers too i suspect ;)
Wouldnt class Daly and Flood as "the never made its" both playing for SPL side Dundee Utd on a regular basis and if you class playing in front of 50,000 screaming Scotsmen in Ibrox and Celtic Park as not making it..... :rolleyes:

[RiffRaff]

Wouldnt class Daly and Flood as "the never made its" both playing for SPL side Dundee Utd on a regular basis and if you class playing in front of 50,000 screaming Scotsmen in Ibrox and Celtic Park as not making it..... :rolleyes:

Daly has done ok for himself as his english league career was spent in the lower divisions. Flood on the other hand scored in a premiership match for Man City when he was 19 or something and his career has fallen badly since then.

[RiffRaff]

Dessie Baker, Jacko McDonagh

[tetsujin1979]

Daly has done ok for himself as his english league career was spent in the lower divisions. Flood on the other hand scored in a premiership match for Man City when he was 19 or something and his career has fallen badly since then.

that was against Norwich, queue "Flood warning" headlines in the Indo: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/nothing-gray-about-early-flood-warning-141343.html

[back of the net]

Keith foy. classiest left foot in years. bags of ability, bag's of burgers too i suspect ;)
Wouldnt class Daly and Flood as "the never made its" both playing for SPL side Dundee Utd on a regular basis and if you class playing in front of 50,000 screaming Scotsmen in Ibrox and Celtic Park as not making it..... :rolleyes:

foy was quality...absolute quality

real shame he didnt make it

[EalingGreen]

2) Dessie Gorman - 1st Catholic to play for Linfield

"Are You Roy Keane in Disguise?" ;)

Keane in the bad books at Linfield
Published Date: 03 September 2002
By James Little
ROY Keane’s autobiography was at the centre of further controversy yesterday after it emerged that Northern Irish club Linfield have threatened to sue the Manchester United captain.
Linfield officials are incensed at allegations made in Keane’s book concerning the Belfast team, which they claim are “disgraceful”.

Referring to the atmosphere at Linfield’s Windsor Park before the vital 1993 World Cup qualifier between Northern Ireland and the Republic, Keane stated: “Linfield was a Protestant club. For the first time in its history Linfield had recently signed a Catholic, a decision that caused great controversy.

“The player, who was also black, another major problem for Linfield’s bigoted supporters, didn’t last long (nor did the manager who signed him).”

Linfield chairman Billy McCoubrey insists the claims are inaccurate and the club’s legal advisers will decide whether to take further action.

“It is a disgrace,” he said. “Linfield FC has had Catholic players since the post-war era, including some famous internationals. Roy Coyle was the manager who signed two black players and he left the club of his own accord after 13 years.

“One of the black players, Tony Coly, is still a hero among the Linfield support for the outstanding service he gave the club – and he was signed five years before the international Roy Keane is talking about.”
http://sport.scotsman.com/top-stories/Keane-in-the-bad-books.2358190.jp

P.S. Genuinely don't mean to stir, or drag this thread off topic, but I don't like to see factual inaccuracies go uncorrected, either - even when in means speaking up for Linfield! ;)

[Plastic Paddy]

Genuinely don't mean to stir, or drag this thread off topic, but I don't like to see factual inaccuracies go uncorrected, either - even when in means speaking up for Linfield!

That's good enough EG. I think that the fair-minded amongst us recognise the contribution made by Linfield fans to this forum even though we may disagree with some of their views. :)

Not sure that your fellow Glens may see it the same way, however... :eek:

:ball: PP

[fionnsci]

Jon Macken. Scored one goal for Man City which somehow got him an Irish cap.

[tetsujin1979]

Jon Macken. Scored one goal for Man City which somehow got him an Irish cap.
Macken scored quite a few times for City: http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=10775

[Fergie's Son]

David Savage. Always thought he would be a regular player for Ireland. Still. he had a decent career.

[RiffRaff]

Roy Keane - always thought he'd captain us in a world cup finals one day. I'll get my coat....

[Torn-Ado]

I remember reading about six years ago that Willo Flood was going to be the next big thing in Irish football.

For a while there I thought they could be right.

[fionnsci]

Macken scored quite a few times for City: http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=10775

http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10309~8823,00.html

Only 12 goals in 3 years. Never really good enough for Ireland.

[SÓC]

Alex O'Reilly
Goalkeeper who was part of the U-18 European Champions squad in 1998.
Was with West Ham at the time but then drifted down to Wigan, Bristol
Rovers, Gravesend, Northampton and a few non league sides.

Remember channel flicking one lazy Sunday and saw where he ended up.

The sub keeper for England's beach football team...

[OwlsFan]

Came across this relatively old thread which made quite interesting reading. At least two people mentioned Anthony Stokes. Will they be proved wrong yet?

[Supreme feet]

I really hope we're not talking about any of Stokes, James McCarthy, David Meyler, Greg Cunningham, Marc Wilson, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Aaron Doran, Conor Clifford, Conor Henderson or Robbie Brady in this light in five years time. We have a very talented group of youngsters coming through, just hope they have more luck than their predecessors. All it takes is relegation, a bad transfer, or an injury. :(

Gibson, Garvan and O'Dea have been big disappointments recently. Still young, and will have decent careers at some level, but certainly haven't lived up to expectations.

[ifk101]

I think any player that makes a career for himself in professional football and has senior caps to show for it "has made it".

[Crosby87]

Terry Dixon. Shame.
Ger Crossley too.

[eitoof]

Just going back to the OP. Michael Reddy never played in Greenland or the Falklands. It's Wikipedia folks. Not always reliable!

[irishultra]

macken cudda been really good for us with preston i rememember loving him as a kid. i thought he was gonna be like michael bridges....in a way he kinda was.

yeates=was it jol or santini that said he was the new gascgoine?

[tetsujin1979]

yeates=was it jol or santini that said he was the new gascgoine?
Jol said it about him a few times, but constantly sent him out on loan without ever really giving him a run in the Spurs first team.
Again, making a decent career for himself in the Championship, hard to say he failed.

[pineapple stu]

Kevin Grogan, sadly.

[Dodge]

I think any player that makes a career for himself in professional football and has senior caps to show for it "has made it".

Spot on. Even without international caps, plenty of good Irish pros playing in Championship in England earning a nice living. Some of whom, at various stages, were just unlucky to play in same position as better Irish players (or players the manager(s) liked more)

[irishultra]

its relative tho, freddy adu cud end up havin an alrite career in football but he would still be a never made it considering the hype about him bout 6 7 yrs ago

michael doyle ronnie o brien etc. they arent never made it cause who actually thought they were gonna be amazing?

[Serb]

Richie Partridge.

He was a legend in Championship Manager, and that's good enough for me.

[Sullivinho]

I really hope we're not talking about any of Stokes, James McCarthy, David Meyler, Greg Cunningham, Marc Wilson, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Aaron Doran, Conor Clifford, Conor Henderson or Robbie Brady in this light in five years time. We have a very talented group of youngsters coming through, just hope they have more luck than their predecessors. All it takes is relegation, a bad transfer, or an injury. :(

Only injury can stop the lads in bold. I can never make my mind up about Stokes. He seems to have it but he provokes doubt at the same time. I'm a big fan of Meyler and hope to God he hasn't picked up an injury curse. He could be the full-blooded tonic for our more than occasional midfield anemia. Duffy and Clifford appear to have the tools for the job.

Probability would support several of these not living up to expectations though. I'm actually gonna make a note of this post for future (2 years+) reference. Should make for interesting reading.


Gibson, Garvan and O'Dea have been big disappointments recently. Still young, and will have decent careers at some level, but certainly haven't lived up to expectations.

Would have to agree, unfortunately. O'Dea and Garvan are just about on the wrong side of stagnation at this point.

[cornflakes]

Does Stephen Ireland count?

[Closed Account]

Can Stephen Ireland count?
Fixed

[Paddy Garcia]

I really hope we're not talking about any of Stokes, James McCarthy, David Meyler, Greg Cunningham, Marc Wilson, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Aaron Doran, Conor Clifford, Conor Henderson or Robbie Brady in this light in five years time. We have a very talented group of youngsters coming through, just hope they have more luck than their predecessors. All it takes is relegation, a bad transfer, or an injury. :(



Hope Keane can keep going cos there are no strikers there.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Stephen Ireland's a c#unt.

Fixed better. :)