David Meyler

[Charlie Darwin]

I didn't think he'd go straight back into the team after his injury. Then again they were so roundly slaughtered by Liverpool last week something had to give. Good to see he played well again, though.

[Paddy Garcia]

Agree, not realised he was injured, thought he had been dropped!! Seems to have a bit of attitude - essential for CM.

[The Legend]

Saw that game today, hope he keeps progressing, had a great game!

[Brendan 82]

Surprised people are not talking more about this guy. He has looked very solid any time I have seen him

[irishfan86]

He's doing a great job with Sunderland, but not much changes game to game for him. He plays an aggressive, hard working game, and keeps things fairly simple.

That sort of player is not generally going to get the headlines, and subsequently, isn't going to capture the imagination of fans.

But considering his age, and the fact that he is playing in a position where we're short on options right now, I understand why you're surprised there isn't more enthusiasm for his commendable performances.

[seanfhear]

He's doing a great job with Sunderland, but not much changes game to game for him. He plays an aggressive, hard working game, and keeps things fairly simple.

That sort of player is not generally going to get the headlines, and subsequently, isn't going to capture the imagination of fans.

But considering his age, and the fact that he is playing in a position where we're short on options right now, I understand why you're surprised there isn't more enthusiasm for his commendable performances.
Trap wants exactly that from his two central midfielders so David Meyler must be coming into contention for a squad place and is certainly worth a look.

[irishfan86]

No arguments here Sean, I'm sure if Trap got a close look at him, he'd seriously push for a place in the middle. A Meyler/Whelan partnership seems like it would be difficult to break down.

[drummerboy]

I agree, he has what Trap wants in his engineroom. I'd be surprised if he was ignored for the upcoming games. Hopefully Trap has been informed that he is Irish.

[Manblue]

Excellent game again today for Sunderland. His composure on the ball has improved beyond belief from last season. Looks as fit at the end of games as he does at the beginning. Won a peno and some of his passing and tackles were excellent. Real find here guys.


While this is undoubtably true, just interested as to where you saw him play last year?

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Went to the game on Saturday with a Spurs mate and have to say that I was very impressed. His dominant presence at 6ft 2 makes him perfect for the modern midfield role and whereas he didn't necessarily do anything fancy he was always an option and keeps the ball moving well. Have heard grumblings from some Sunderland mates that he has a bit of a tendency to pass sideways - however that fits the way Sunderland play and hopefully some more incisive passing will come as his confidence (which he already has in abundance) grows.

Amazing how our fortunes have changed from having a real fear for our strength in depth in midfield when Whelan and Andrews came on the scene to looking like it is one of our strongest positions with the progression of these two and the emergence of players like Meyler, McCarthy, Gibson and McCann. We should be sorted for a few years with these lads.

[Murfinator]

Well premature to say that, none of those 4 have made a significant impact at the top level yet, they're all living off potential and in reality at right this moment none of them would be out of place in championship.

Of course I'd like to be optimistic for them all but I was optimistic for Stokes, Long, Miller etc and none of them lived up to their promises, at least not yet.

[Serb]

Missed this paragraph in the Guardian's match report on Saturday. Worth posting in here:


Fortunately, being a vogue name has little to do with a player's effectiveness. On arrival, few of the Spurs team were probably au fait with David Meyler's game but the former Cork City central midfielder's splendid, slick‑passing performance suggested Sunderland's injured captain, Lorik Cana, may struggle to reclaim his place.

[Kingdom]

The Summer training camp is going to be vital again this year I think. Anyone who wants to have a chance of being involved in the Euro's needs to be there. Thats how Whelan and Rowlands got their breaks. This young lad is another option to add to McCarthy which gives real competition to a functional midfield, which is what we needed. Hopefully he gets invited to the camp, and more importantly, he accepts.

[Paddy Garcia]

... and more importantly, he accepts.

What's the story here? I was unaware that there was an issue.

[Brendan 82]

What's the story here? I was unaware that there was an issue.

Not that I'm aware of. I seem to remember watching him at Turner's Cross giving blood, sweat, and tears for the U21s a short while ago

[bwagner]

There is noi issue sure he was playing in the under 21s game

[tetsujin1979]

he played in the most recent u21 game against Armenia, so there's no issue that I'm aware of

[Charlie Darwin]

I think he's alluding to the fact Meyler is from Cork and therefore genetically bound to quit the international team in the middle of a trip abroad.

[Kingdom]

No folks, nothing sinister in that. What I meant was that it seems that if you want to get into the gaffers good books when an offer is extended to you, in this case the training camp, that you bust a gut to go there. Not going off on holidays or treating it as a chore to do it.
I'm not saying he will, not even hinting it, but that if he doesn't go, it surely will make things awkward to break into the squad let alone the team over the next season.

[Wexford Delboy]

http://www.safc.com/news/20100407/meyler-driven-to-succeed_2256213_2016594

[Junior]

cheers for the article.

How pi$$ed would you be if you came over to watch your son play in the premiership and he gets red carded after 90 seconds!!!

Good to see him progressing well. Hadnt heard of him 12 months ago and now surely has a great chance to be a squad member for the forthcoming campaign

[Wexford Delboy]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6081395,00.html

new contract looming for the lad

[geysir]

He will have to impress his case for squad inclusion at the Summer camp.
Obviously to make the squad someone will have to make way.
Nice situation for us.

[Wexford Delboy]

to make the squad for summer camp, are u taking the ****?how many players did we have the last summer camp who havent played with us since, he is a definite inclusion

[geysir]

Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I meant to write, he will have to make his case at the Summer training camp for inclusion onto the squad for the qualifiers.

[Stuttgart88]

The Summer training camp is going to be vital again this year I think. Anyone who wants to have a chance of being involved in the Euro's needs to be there. Thats how Whelan and Rowlands got their breaks. This young lad is another option to add to McCarthy which gives real competition to a functional midfield, which is what we needed. Hopefully he gets invited to the camp, and more importantly, he accepts.Is central midfield becoming a cause for optimism? Meyler has taken his chance well, Gibson is a fine player already with bags more potential, McCarthy has had an impressive run, whilst Whelan & Andrews have been getting better as a pairing. I hope the May training camp and friendlies will be used to good effect. Foley has been doing well at RHM for Wolves lately.

[Acornvilla]

myler just stretchered off, looks really bad....

[Charlie Darwin]

I only saw the stretcher come out. What happened?

[Acornvilla]

I only saw the stretcher come out. What happened?

i was drawing with the tv on in the background and missed it but looks like his knee or something, the presenters said it looks like somthing that will have him out for months, sorry i wasn't really paying attention but his face said it all...

[Serb]

This is from the Sunderland site's match report:


[...] Nevertheless, Sunderland bounced back well, testing van der Sar with some excellent deliveries into the box. Their cause wasn't helped, though, by the departure of Meyler with a serious-looking leg injury seven minutes before the break. The Irish youngster departed on a stretcher and required oxygen following a lengthy spell of treatment after he stretched for the ball just outside the United box.

Real shame with the training camp only a couple of weeks away.

[Charlie Darwin]

Oh well. Even with a serious injury he'll still be more use to the side than Stephen Ireland.

[Alf Honn]

Forget the RDS...and probably Armenia. V. sad for the kid.

http://www.safc.com/news/20100502/boss-fears-worst-over-meyler_2256213_2041735

[Predator]

Very unfortunate for Meyler. A full international debut would have been a great way to end a good season. Here's hoping he makes a speedy recovery.

[Crosby87]

Oh Jesus it's his knee? Gulp.

[seanfhear]

Hopefully David has a full and speedy recovery.

[Acornvilla]

Oh Jesus it's his knee? Gulp.


yeah.. i knew it looked bad at least it was now (granted he wont get a chance with ireland just yet) i guess than the start of next season..

[Charlie Darwin]

At least he's only 20 - will give him maximum chance of a speedy recovery. Gutted for him though, he could really have made a case for himself over the summer internationals.

[Colbert Report]

Let's hope that's not the end of his career.

[ofjames]

Let's hope that's not the end of his career.

although obviously very sad and unfortunate for the lad i wouldnt think his career is in jeopardy. he should make a good recovery from a crutiate injury within a reasonable period of time... could well be less than 6 months so i'd certainly expect to see him back well before xmas.

although serious, they dont seem to be the death-knell for careers that they once were. many top players have had them and returned in good time without any great affect on their levels of performances... roy keane obv, joe cole (think he might have had two?), robert pires, van nistelrooy, shearer, henrik larsonn, fat ronaldo, michael essien etc...

he'll probably be off to colorado to visit mr steadman

thankfully he got his 5 year contract signed last week. best of luck to him in his recovery

[outspoken]

And has evreyone heard that Cork were supose to get 50k for Meyler when he was called up 2 the Ireland squad but since Cork hit ther wall evrey penny of that 50k will go to the tax. Its a discrase that money should go to the FAI and it should be spread out evenly amongst the clubs or just let the FAI use it in some way to benifit the league or just give it to Cork City Foras there basically the same club. But that money is going to end up with the govermant and when the GAA come calling for a grant that they dont need they will get it and if the FAI were 2 ask they would b told to jog on thats always the way its been and it always will be unfortunately

[Acornvilla]

And has evreyone heard that Cork were supose to get 50k for Meyler when he was called up 2 the Ireland squad but since Cork hit ther wall evrey penny of that 50k will go to the tax. Its a discrase that money should go to the FAI and it should be spread out evenly amongst the clubs or just let the FAI use it in some way to benifit the league or just give it to Cork City Foras there basically the same club. But that money is going to end up with the govermant and when the GAA come calling for a grant that they dont need they will get it and if the FAI were 2 ask they would b told to jog on thats always the way its been and it always will be unfortunately
keep it on topic Kienan ranting about the gaa has nothing to do with any of this.. yes its a shame old cork are dead and for a scoop wont get the money but if anything would sunderland not just be keeping the money?

anyone here in the know on the matter?

[Charlie Darwin]

And has evreyone heard that Cork were supose to get 50k for Meyler when he was called up 2 the Ireland squad but since Cork hit ther wall evrey penny of that 50k will go to the tax. Its a discrase that money should go to the FAI and it should be spread out evenly amongst the clubs or just let the FAI use it in some way to benifit the league or just give it to Cork City Foras there basically the same club. But that money is going to end up with the govermant and when the GAA come calling for a grant that they dont need they will get it and if the FAI were 2 ask they would b told to jog on thats always the way its been and it always will be unfortunately
Unless Cork City still owes it money, the FAI has no right to the money. Other clubs definitely don't have a right to it.

[Stuttgart88]

And has evreyone heard that Cork were supose to get 50k for Meyler when he was called up 2 the Ireland squad but since Cork hit ther wall evrey penny of that 50k will go to the tax. Its a discrase that money should go to the FAI and it should be spread out evenly amongst the clubs or just let the FAI use it in some way to benifit the league or just give it to Cork City Foras there basically the same club. But that money is going to end up with the govermant and when the GAA come calling for a grant that they dont need they will get it and if the FAI were 2 ask they would b told to jog on thats always the way its been and it always will be unfortunatelyThe biggest disgrace is your sentence construction and spelling

[Irish_Praha]

And has evreyone heard that Cork were supose to get 50k for Meyler when he was called up 2 the Ireland squad but since Cork hit ther wall evrey penny of that 50k will go to the tax. Its a discrase that money should go to the FAI and it should be spread out evenly amongst the clubs or just let the FAI use it in some way to benifit the league or just give it to Cork City Foras there basically the same club. But that money is going to end up with the govermant and when the GAA come calling for a grant that they dont need they will get it and if the FAI were 2 ask they would b told to jog on thats always the way its been and it always will be unfortunately

And Jesus wept.

[tetsujin1979]

And has evreyone heard that Cork were supose to get 50k for Meyler when he was called up 2 the Ireland squad but since Cork hit ther wall evrey penny of that 50k will go to the tax. Its a discrase that money should go to the FAI and it should be spread out evenly amongst the clubs or just let the FAI use it in some way to benifit the league or just give it to Cork City Foras there basically the same club. But that money is going to end up with the govermant and when the GAA come calling for a grant that they dont need they will get it and if the FAI were 2 ask they would b told to jog on thats always the way its been and it always will be unfortunately
em, priorities?

[Serb]

Only that Kieran Burke writes more than one sentence in a post, I would have thought Yapster set up a new account.

[SkStu]

all the best to David Meyler. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[drummerboy]

Really wish him well because I think he can go on to be a huge player for Ireland in the future.

[Kingdom]

Is central midfield becoming a cause for optimism? Meyler has taken his chance well, Gibson is a fine player already with bags more potential, McCarthy has had an impressive run, whilst Whelan & Andrews have been getting better as a pairing. I hope the May training camp and friendlies will be used to good effect. Foley has been doing well at RHM for Wolves lately.

It could be Stutt. The few lads I go to Ireland matches have completely changed their opinion on Glenn Whelan. Andrews looked weak for a large part of the campaign, then was very good in Paris, then faded when Whelan went off. Throughout the last campaign the options were limited, due to injury, form, or miscellaneous :-)! Whereas now, McCarthy, Meyler, Gibson to a lesser extent, have all had an extra season and offer an alternative. It's a real pity Chris McCann got injured early in the season, a years EPL experience could have been crucial, as he's a real prospect. Garvan is still in the background too.
So all in all, yes a cause for optimism.

[geysir]

It's a tough break for Meyler and for us, just at such an opportune time to get into the squad before a campaign.

I haven't seen Andrews play but at least he has been a solid regular for Blackburn.
I doubt if anything will change with Trap's CM, at least to start with.
Considering the choice now with all games being streamed, McCarthy is my default first choice to watch. He is an understated talent and only going in one direction.
I think he will make the Euro Qual squad and will gradually make his way into the first team like Duff did in the 02 WC qual campaign.