Mark O'Brien

[Charlie Darwin]

A loan to motherwell? really? Downward trajectory starts here.
Is that your one ridiculous and unfounded prediction based on no evidence for the day, or do you have more planned?

He hasn't played football for two years. This is a positive move for him and I hope it works out.

[paul_oshea]

As you have found out Charwin (ridiculous and unfounded predictions), not through any of your evolutionary processes either - unfortunately I'm usually correct.

[Charlie Darwin]

You've been dining out on Stephen Ward for years. Writing off a player you've never seen play because he's going on loan is a new kind of outrageous prediction.

[DeLorean]

Playing any sort of football would be clear upward trajectory in O'Brien's case. He's very highly regarded at Derby so I'm glad that it's only a loan move, as he was linked with permanent transfers to Sheffield United and one or two others. I think this works for everybody.

[paul_oshea]

I don't mind a loan move either given his injury problems but surely that could be done to another championship team.

[DeLorean]

Having played so little football for the past couple of years I think it's no harm that he goes to a club where he'll, hopefully, walk straight into the team, within reason obviously. I've no idea how long the loan spell is supposed to be for.

[Predator]

Playing any sort of football would be clear upward trajectory in O'Brien's case. He's very highly regarded at Derby so I'm glad that it's only a loan move, as he was linked with permanent transfers to Sheffield United and one or two others. I think this works for everybody.Mark was very highly rated by former manager Nigel Clough, but he is incredibly injury prone and it's not clear that he's valued as highly by McClaren.

As you say, any game time is a positive for him at the moment and he clearly has the quality to make it at Championship level at the very least, so it's a case of proving he can shake off the injury problems.

[back of the net]

Mark was very highly rated by former manager Nigel Clough, but he is incredibly injury prone and it's not clear that he's valued as highly by McClaren.

As you say, any game time is a positive for him at the moment and he clearly has the quality to make it at Championship level at the very least, so it's a case of proving he can shake off the injury problems.

Mark has signed for Motherwell on loan until january

[DeLorean]

Head Coach Steve McClaren said:

“It is important Mark gets out and plays some first-team football and going to Motherwell will allow him to do that. He has been incredibly patient waiting in the wings behind our other central defenders and it will benefit him going out and playing matches again.”

[drummerboy]

Still only a kid, hope he develops now.

[gastric]

Made his debut yesterday for Motherwell which in itself is big!

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report/315451/motherwell-v-st-johnstone

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I dreaded clicking on this thread.

[Eminence Grise]

We all dread you clicking on a thread!;)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Yeah. Sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. It's understandable.

[DeLorean]

OB desperate for fresh start. (http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/08/29/obrien-desperate-for-a-fresh-start/)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRmu10ofQXk&app=desktop

Had a solid debut according to the match report on their website. Got motm according to a Derby Facebook page, not sure if that was Motherwell's motm maybe.

[DeLorean]

O'Brien centre of a strange sending off last night as Motherwell lose on penalties. (http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/09/24/mccall-angered-with-cup-exit/)

He's been every present since getting into the team and it has coincided with an improvement in their results. Don't know any finer details of his performances but must be doing okay. Played the ninety in their 1-1 at Celtic Park also.

[Paddy Garcia]

"If there’s not much there for me at Derby I have to put it to one side and start focusing on what I want to do myself and make a career for myself. I’ve been at Derby for a long time and coming to Motherwell has made me think of more options other than just at Pride Park.
“If there is a career for me at Derby, brilliant, but if not this is my opportunity to make a name for myself elsewhere."

Interview here:

http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/09/30/obrien-keen-for-a-fresh-start/

[gastric]

With a lot of luck, he might turn out to be our left back solution.

[mark12345]

I haven't seen too much of O'Brien but have heard good things about him. If he's a future left back then great. At this point however, if I had to bet my life savings on it, I would say James McLean is our left back of the future. He has all the attributes to do the job long terms.

[Kingdom]

I haven't seen too much of O'Brien but have heard good things about him. If he's a future left back then great. At this point however, if I had to bet my life savings on it, I would say James McLean is our left back of the future. He has all the attributes to do the job long terms.


I got the impression Mark O'Brien is an out-and-out centre half, who can fill in on a very temp measure at full-back.

I'm convinced on McClean btw. Converting him to left-back and you've attacking talent on the flanks from deep that I've not seen in a long-time.

[Charlie Darwin]

I've never seen anything to suggest he's anything other than a centre-half, and a very promising one at that. If he's adding more strings to his bow, all the better for his chances of making it at Derby.

[gastric]

For some reason, thought he has played at left back for Derby, but is a centre back by trade. Happy to be told I'm wrong on this, but does anyone know if he has played there for Derby? Also, in looking to find out more about him, I discovered he is Cliff Byrne's cousin.

[DeLorean]

He's only ever been selected centre back for Derby as far as I'm aware.

[Kingdom]

Also, in looking to find out more about him, I discovered he is Cliff Byrne's cousin.

That's crazy. "Chinny" was the classiest centre half when I was a schoolboy. He was far from physical and his Tolka team weren't particularly good, but he stood out a mile (they had another decent player, Hempenstall I think, and the winger Lancaster who moved to the production farm later).

Cliff was always going to be a pro footballer, and it was a little surprising that his career never went higher than Scunthorpe. Didn't realise he was back in the LOI

I'm also pretty sure he would have played on the Irish Under 16's that won in Scotland, only he got badly injured just after Xmas. I think!

[gastric]

Thanks for your help Lads. For some unknown reason, I thought he had played there on occasion.

[DeLorean]

I see Stuart McCall has resigned as Motherwell manager. Hopefully the new guy's an OB fan.

[DeLorean]

Mark O'Brien was back in the Motherwell side for their 1-0 win over lead leaders Dundee United. He picked up a yellow card. Judging from the highlights, Motherwell rode their luck, particularly in the first half. Great win for them though. The poor lineswoman was lucky Andy Gray wasn't commentating, she's no Sian Massey!


Caretaker boss Kenny Black's first selection showed two changes from McCall's last, with Craig Reid and Mark O'Brien coming into defence in place of the dropped Zaine Francis-Angol and the injured Stevie Hammell.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRYzgVchZY0

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/sport/local-sport/o-brien-hoping-he-has-made-his-mark-1-3626212

O'Brien acknowledges that his time at Derby is coming to an end; hopes for extended stay at Motherwell.

[DeLorean]

In the wars again at the weekend as Motherwell grind out a 1-0 win against ten man St. Mirren. (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30459739)


St Mirren's cause appeared to sail further off course when Thompson was dismissed eight minutes later. The former Scotland striker appeared to be unlucky as he tried to connect with a loose ball only to catch Mark O'Brien's shin as the Motherwell defender flew in from behind.



Even finding themselves with a man advantage failed to breath life into Motherwell and it was St Mirren who came close to creating anything that could fairly be described as a chance in the first half.


A powerful Marc McAusland header was deflected clear from in front of goal and it was not until five before the break that Josh Law's half-volley warmed the fingers of goalkeeper Mark Ridgers with Motherwell's first effort on target.


Baraclough replaced the hobbling O'Brien and fellow defender David Ferguson with Fraser Kerr and striker Lee Erwin during the break as he attempted to introduce a goal threat.

[tetsujin1979]

extended his loan at Motherwell until the end of the season: http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2015/01/05/obrien-extends-his-loan/

[DeLorean]

Released by Derby.

[Fergie's Son]

It's a tough business. Hopefully he will sign up somewhere else.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I know there has been more recent comments on another, separate, thread for O'Brien, but I am going to post in this thread because it has more pages.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Burton-Albion-linked-Dutchman-Joey-Suk/story-26497201-detail/story.html

Linked with a move to newly promoted L1 team Burton Albion.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Training with Luton.

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Mark-O-Brien-training-Luton-Town/story-26860979-detail/story.html

[tetsujin1979]

signed for Luton Town on a two year deal: http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/luton-town-make-mark-obrien-10th-signing-of-the-summer-2536398.aspx

[paul_oshea]

What happened here this lad was tipped for greatness.

[DeLorean]

The article covers it pretty well.

[DeLorean]

Had kind of forgotten about this chap. He ended up signing a two year contract with League 2 Luton Town last summer. He hasn't played all that much but I don't know if that's fitness related. He was on the bench for their most recent game and has made three league starts, the most recent coming in November when they blew a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 against Carlisle.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

The fall from grace continues as he joins Southport on loan.

[Closed Account]

Calmest man on the pitch today as he scored the goal which clinched Newport Countys survival in the Football League at the expense of Hartlepool.
http://www.skysports.com/football/newport-vs-notts-co/359762

[DeLorean]

Was just reading about it, delighted for him (and a little for Hartlepool after Stelling's antics).

Mark O'Brien Twitter (https://twitter.com/mark_obrien92/status/860970884835790850)

[tricky_colour]

Calmest man on the pitch today as he scored the goal which clinched Newport Countys survival in the Football League at the expense of Hartlepool.
http://www.skysports.com/football/newport-vs-notts-co/359762

Unusually these days to see a proper football pitch, ie worn patch and mud etc....

Doubt Roy Keane would want to have to train on that! :D

[DeLorean]

I couldn't help notice a Balls.ie tweet on Saturday saying "Incredible scenes. Absolutely gutted for Jeff."

They did make a 'by the way' reference to "Dubliner Mark O'Brien" in the article that went along with the tweet, but you'd think for any self respecting Irish sports website that would have been the story.

Or, indeed, as one person also replied, "Forget over the top Jeff, more gutted for @padraigamond21".

Anyway, the BBC paid a nice little tribute to Newport's great escape...

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39839371

[OwlsFan]

Mark O'Brien, a name which will forever be remembered by Jeff Stelling of Sky Sports:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/moment-biased-sky-sports-pundits-12998097

The three different reactions are what we have all felt at times and this time I don't think it's just Sky hype.

[DeLorean]

Extensive and very good interview with O'Brien on Newstalk while ago. Was going around on circles for a bit at the start but I'd blame the questions more than him for that. Worth listening til the end I think when it's up on the podcast.

[DeLorean]

Interview here... might have to skip past a little bit at the start.

http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/The_Football_Show_on_Off_The_Ball/191382/Madrid_Battle_Arsenal_chasing_Liverpool__Mark_OBri en

[Paddy Garcia]

Great performance tonight by O'Brien - really impressive.

[samhaydenjr]

Great performance tonight by O'Brien - really impressive.

Good to see - at 26, there's still the chance that such an eye-catching performance could lead to a bigger club taking a punt on him - if there's been no extension that I'm unaware of, his contract expires in May and will be available for free - so not much to lose for a frugal Championship club, say. He's had a tough time with injuries, so I'm sure nobody would begrudge him leveraging today's game to get a good contract in the Summer

[Paddy Garcia]

Agree - did a better job at shutting out the City attack than some Premier defences.

[samhaydenjr]

Two years after scoring the goal that kept Newport in the Football League, he scores the opening goal in a victory that puts them into the play-off positions: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48018491