Transfer Window

[gustavo]

Yeah they were only out by 15 years

[tetsujin1979]

Burnley trying to push through a loan move for Darren O'Dea before the game against Spurs on Wednesday: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/01/19/burnley-want-to-sign-darren-o-dea-ahaed-of-tottenham-semi-final-115875-21053173/

[OwlsFan]

Did you see the game? I saw he hit the bar as well. Darren Randolph was in nets for Charlton and was dreadful. At fault for first 3 goals and gave away a free with a wild rush from his line and was lucky not to get a red. I have grave doubts about Randolph despite what the FAI says about him.

No, didn't see it. Haven't even seen the goals yet. Goals will be on later this evening on Sky. Hope it works out for Potter.

[OwlsFan]

Darren Randolph was in nets for Charlton and was dreadful. At fault for first 3 goals and gave away a free with a wild rush from his line and was lucky not to get a red. I have grave doubts about Randolph despite what the FAI says about him.

Not quite what they're saying about Randolph on a Charlton site I was on:

"Saw the match first hand. Terrible. Appalling defensively, Randolph saved it from being nearer 10"

"Randolph -Spectacular goalkeeper with a point to prove"

[cavan_fan]

Jay Tabb to Reading, according to bbc, sounds great and may give another option.

[gufct]

Jay Tabb gone to Reading.Always fancied him as a player his size is against him though.

[tetsujin1979]

Could mean Stephen Hunt is on the way out of Reading?

[elroy]

Today's 'latest':

Newcastle's Shay Given could be taking his goalkeeper gloves to Manchester City. (Daily Star and The Sun)

Burnley want to sign Celtic defender Darren O'Dea on a loan deal. (Scottish Sun)

[Dr. Ogba]

could be a good move, would love to see O'Dea getting some regular game time...

[dr_peepee]

Billy Clarke has gone on loan to Northampton for a month...

[Closed Account]

could be a good move, would love to see O'Dea getting some regular game time...
Needs to sign today if he wants to get a game against Spurs tomorrow.

[Closed Account]

Looks like the O'Dea transfer has gone through but no official confirmation yet.
Kevin Moran confirms it. (http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/1/201/SPL-Moran-on-ODea/gnid-36309/)

Article from Celtic fan about the move
O'Dea should be playing for Celtic, not Burnley (http://www.celtic.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=140000)

[tetsujin1979]

AFAIK Moran is his agent, so I'd take that as read

[Stuttgart88]

UK Times says Jay Tabb has joined Reading for an undisclosed fee. Good player, good move if true.

[tetsujin1979]

Wolves could try to hijack O'Dea's move to Burnley right at the death. With Mancienne gone back to Chelsea, they're short of cover at centre half

[third policeman]

UK Times says Jay Tabb has joined Reading for an undisclosed fee. Good player, good move if true.

Coppell is a shrewd judge of player and has done more to develop Irish talent in the last few years than anyone at the FAI. Tabb is a very clever, technically gifted player, but I wonder whether anyone associated with the management of the international team even knows who he is.

[tetsujin1979]

Coppell is a shrewd judge of player and has done more to develop Irish talent in the last few years than anyone at the FAI. Tabb is a very clever, technically gifted player, but I wonder whether anyone associated with the management of the international team even knows who he is.
Givens has selected him several times for the U-21s

[brianw82]

City upped their offer for Given to 6 million. Honestly, that's laughable! If Buffon was worth 30 million in 2001, then Given is worth at the VERY LEAST half that. In my honest opinion, for a keeper of Given's quality and experience, they should stump up at least 25 million.

[irishfan86]

While I know what you're saying Brian, you've got to keep in mind that the English league transfer record for a keeper was just recently broken with Sunderland's signing of Craig Gordon at 10 million pounds.

While there's no question that Given is a far superior keeper to Craig Gordon, the fact remains that goalkeepers have low transfer values in England for whatever reason.

With that in mind, and his injury problems last year, I'd probably say anything in double digits will be taken into consideration by Newcastle if Shay really does want out.

[bwagner]

Preston are weighing up a £1m move for Stockport winger Anthony Pilkington, who is also being watched by Wigan and Bolton. (The Sun)

[third policeman]

Preston are weighing up a £1m move for Stockport winger Anthony Pilkington, who is also being watched by Wigan and Bolton. (The Sun)

Scored a couple at the weekend. Did he get a B cap during the Staunton era?

[third policeman]

Givens has selected him several times for the U-21s

Can one descibe Givens as being part of anything other than a wierd parallel universe where the normal rules of footballing judgement have been suspended? I bet Trapp and Brady have never heard of him, but no doubt he will get on to the radar if Reading are promoted and he gets on the telly a bit more regularly.

[DeLorean]

Stephen Hunt for Wigan?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4832830,00.html

[tetsujin1979]

Scored a couple at the weekend. Did he get a B cap during the Staunton era?
U-21 cap against Lithuania in October: http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3703

[Brendan 82]

Coppell is a shrewd judge of player and has done more to develop Irish talent in the last few years than anyone at the FAI. Tabb is a very clever, technically gifted player

Great point, Coppell has been a legend for us.

[geysir]

AFAIK Moran is his agent, so I'd take that as read
It's a plus to have an agent who also knows about that side of football development.

[irishfan86]

Folan linked with QPR- that would be a good move for him I think.

[irishfan86]

Skysports.com has Hunt on the main page saying Reading have agreed to sell him to Wigan for 5 million....I guess they just need to agree personal terms and the deal is on.

[Closed Account]

Preston are weighing up a £1m move for Stockport winger Anthony Pilkington, who is also being watched by Wigan and Bolton. (The Sun)
Didn't quite make the step up expected.
Terriers make double swoop (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11686_4836514,00.html)

Huddersfield Town have snapped up Anthony Pilkington and Lionel Ainsworth, subject to the duo passing medicals.
As revealed by skysports.com earlier this week (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11762_4833825,00.html)Huddersfield had lined up a move for Pilkington to bolster their attacking options.
Pilkington has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract to join the Terriers from Stockport County, while Ainsworth will move from Watford on a two-and-a-half year deal.
The League One club will pay undisclosed fees for the midfield duo and manager Lee Clark is delighted with his double swoop.
"They fill the criteria I set out for players being young, hungry and good footballers," Clark told the club's official website.

[eirebhoy]

Strachan won't let O'Dea go until he has assurance that Kennedy will be fit.

"I am very sympathetic to Daren.

"He needs games now and has been inspirational in training. But we have a lot of games to play.

"If we can help him to bring his career on, then we will."

It's just a pity Strachan is so intent on this left sided, right sided thing. O'Dea is only up for one position and that's McManus' spot. The captain and a player who's never injured.

[Maroon 7]

Strachan won't let O'Dea go until he has assurance that Kennedy will be fit.

"I am very sympathetic to Daren.

"He needs games now and has been inspirational in training. But we have a lot of games to play.

"If we can help him to bring his career on, then we will."

It's just a pity Strachan is so intent on this left sided, right sided thing. O'Dea is only up for one position and that's McManus' spot. The captain and a player who's never injured.

If Strachan won't give him a go ahead of the dismally average McManus he might be better off looking for pastures new.

[eirebhoy]

If Strachan won't give him a go ahead of the dismally average McManus he might be better off looking for pastures new.
Exactly and it really doesn't tell us anything about O'Dea's ability. This could be any player coming through the ranks and McManus would not be getting dropped for him because he's captain. To drop your captain at the peak of his career you might as well sell him (because it's not an unusual temporary dip in form) and to actually put him up for sale may cause a lot of disruption within the group. It's not easy for Strachan. McManus was literally the only option for captaincy when Lennon left.

In saying all that, I think McManus was absolutely brilliant in the 2 games against Man Utd. My Celtic motm both games. He's a player that's as good as his partner. If he was playing beside a world class player they'd keep many a clean sheet. But he's not and O'Dea is a more dominant type of player.

[tetsujin1979]

Robbie Keane linked with Man City: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/hughes-lines-up-keane-to--ease-robinho-transfer-worry-1613244.html
Hard to put any faith in it really, City have been linked with almost every player in the northern hemisphere at this stage

[tetsujin1979]

Willo Flood linked with Celtic: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4846990,00.html
Strachan refused to comment on this rumour earlier in the week

[eirebhoy]

Strachan always singles out Flood when commenting on Dundee Utd. Definitely rates him. Probably a similar type of player to Strachan actually.

[co. down green]

Strachan won't let O'Dea go until he has assurance that Kennedy will be fit.

"I am very sympathetic to Daren.

"He needs games now and has been inspirational in training. But we have a lot of games to play.

"If we can help him to bring his career on, then we will."

It's just a pity Strachan is so intent on this left sided, right sided thing. O'Dea is only up for one position and that's McManus' spot. The captain and a player who's never injured.

O'Dea needs to get away from Celtic asap

[Qwerty]

Strachan always singles out Flood when commenting on Dundee Utd. Definitely rates him. Probably a similar type of player to Strachan actually.

I'm surprised somebody has kicked off a thread on"Why isn't Willo in Trapp's squad" :) If he does sign for Celtic start your stop watch.

I know he was really highly rated at under age level but his small size has counted against him somewhat, appears to have proven that isn't really an issue.

[Dr. Ogba]

I'm surprised somebody has kicked off a thread on"Why isn't Willo in Trapp's squad" :) If he does sign for Celtic start your stop watch.

I know he was really highly rated at under age level but his small size has counted against him somewhat, appears to have proven that isn't really an issue.


i would think its because he's a short-arse lightweight winger and we have plenty of those already. Not to speak for anyone else here but just don't think he's good enough imho...

[tetsujin1979]

he's probably playing at a comparable level to our regular back up wingers (Hunt, Hoolahan, Long, Keogh) so until he proves himself at a higher level, Trapattoni is unlikely to bring him into the squad

[seanfhear]

If he does go to Celtic then that would be 4 Irish wingers at Celtic.

McGeady and Flood(?) = Ireland
McCourt and McGinn = N. Ireland

Maybe he is being lined up as a replacement for Aiden

[richieos]

i havent seen flood play since his man city days, but would i be wrong in saying that hes a central midfielder? not a winger. or maybe he changed position?

[seanfhear]

He definitely used to play on the wing whether he was quick enough too or not I am not too sure. He may be playing midfield now(Looked a bit lightweight for a central midfielder) but i do not know as I do not see that much SPL.

[pineapple stu]

Dave Mooney has had his loan at Stockport ended a week early after picking up an injury. He returns to Reading.

[eirebhoy]

i havent seen flood play since his man city days, but would i be wrong in saying that hes a central midfielder? not a winger. or maybe he changed position?
Yeh he's playing centrally for Dundee Utd. Rated as their best midfielder. I wouldn't read too much into not making it at Cardiff. Flood actually said he found the premiership easier for him in some respects than the championship.

[cavan_fan]

My usual rule is that about 1 in 4 transfer rumours we hear come true, but it looks like it will be a big week for some top Irish players. Sadly I'm not sure many fo them are really moving up in the world.

Shay - Looks likely to go to City now. It is a club with more ambition but it's not Arsenal.

Robbie - I'd say 50/50 to leave. Options are rotation at a mid table club (City or Spurs) or joining the disaster zone that is Newcastle

Richard Dunne - Saw a rumour today that he could be swapped for Shay, seems unlikely. Can only hope Sven gets a top club job soon and takes him back!

Stevie Hunt - Spurs (again) rumoured to be in for him. don't know why he doesnt stay at Reading. They should be in prem next year (probably as likely as Spurs) and he plays well in their system.

Good be significant but as always we are really only swapping on mid table team (at best) for another and in Robbie's case moving down.

[Irish_Praha]

Exactly and it really doesn't tell us anything about O'Dea's ability. This could be any player coming through the ranks and McManus would not be getting dropped for him because he's captain. To drop your captain at the peak of his career you might as well sell him (because it's not an unusual temporary dip in form) and to actually put him up for sale may cause a lot of disruption within the group. It's not easy for Strachan. McManus was literally the only option for captaincy when Lennon left.

The Daily Record says that Newcastle have made a bid for McManus, hope that deal goes through and paves the way for O'Dea to get a place in the starting 11 at Celtic.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/01/26/newcastle-make-bid-for-celtic-captain-stephen-mcmanus-86908-21072849/

Maybe when Robbie is a bit olde he might play a season or two with Celtic. Then there could be 4 Irish in the starting 11 - Sheridan, McGeady, O'Dea and Keane. Sure aren't Given and Duff Celtic fans too? :P

[Stuttgart88]

BBC confirms Celtic interest in Flood.

[eirebhoy]

BBC confirms Celtic interest in Flood.
Lennon said on the Daily Huddle last night that Celtic are interested.

"He is a player we've been keeping an eye on.

"Whether or not a deal gets done is still to be determined. We're hopeful maybe we can get him in.

"Willo played very well against us a fortnight ago. He can pass the ball and is a very fit boy who can play right side or central.

"We do lack a bit on the right-hand side. If you take Naka out of the team, you are looking at maybe Scott Brown to play that role.

"But we're loathe to put Brownie out there because he is playing so well centrally.

"Willo might fill that position."

[Closed Account]

From BBC Gossip column


Manchester City may have to pay Newcastle £8m to prize away goalkeeper Shay Given. (The Independent)

Lazio lead a pack of Italian clubs chasing Hamilton Accies' midfielder James McCarthy, and have had a £1.5m offer rejected. (The Sun)

Celtic have offered £100,000 for Cardiff City's Willo Flood and hope to tie the deal up after tonight's match with Dundee United. (Daily Star)

[tetsujin1979]

City representatives to discuss the transfer before the game against Newcastle tonight, apparently