Ronnie O'Brien

[YankExile]

Well, Ronnie was expected to be used as a sub but wasn't last weekend for the home opener (TFC lost 1-0 but the fans rocked the house and are getting rave reviews across the whole league). Now expectations are that he could come in for the next game, home with Chicago on May 12. He is currently saying he is 65 to 70 percent healthy, and is doing well in all respects except kicking the ball, which I think is essential. ;) Still has to wear a knee brace but is hoping to not have to use it in game action.

[Noelys Guitar]

O'Brien played today for Toronto against Chicago for 77 mins and was excellent. Great pace. Never wasted a pass. Looked the best player on the park. The Toronto crowd are brilliant. Great craic and real football fans.

[YankExile]

Had been wondering if anyone would get to posting before me... he did look awesome today. I'd say he is healthy again. Loved seeing the crowd celebrate the first goal.

[Colbert Report]

A bit off topic but the crowd was indeed tremendous, cheering all the way. Frisbees and confetti all over the pitch, right before injury time started there was a bit of a scuffle over a ball that was going out near the corner flag, Toronto won the goal kick and as the offending Chicago player trotted back towards his half of the field someone hit him in the back with a paper frisbee and the crowd let out a massive cheer.

O'Brien looked brilliant, better than anything we currently have available in center midfield but granted he was playing against crap opposition. I can't wait to see this guy in mid season form.

[Paddy Garcia]

Given these reports, perhaps Stan will have the sense to give him a game in the friendlies.

Partner him with Garvan !!!!!

[irishfan86]

Great performance by him today alright, and he was a huge boost for a team struggling to get goals.

For those talking about him playing in the middle, he is a right sided winger who likes to drift into the middle and shoot, not a central midfielder.

He could probably be used in the creative role, but we've got Keane/Ireland/A.Reid for that spot.

I'd like to see him played on the right side of midfield at some stage, but I doubt it'll happen.

If I were to compare him to somebody you all know, it's probably Joe Cole at Chelsea.

[YankExile]

Frisbees and confetti all over the pitch

Actually, they were souvenir seat cushions.

[eirebhoy]

I have the Toronto game downloading, I have to have a look at him. :)

[tetsujin1979]

Mate of mine is living over in Toronto at the moment, said Ronnie was their best player. Somehow he manages to mention Juventus in almost every interview he's done! But Toronto FC are a poor team, and will finish close to the bottom of the table in their debut season.

[YankExile]

I have the Toronto game downloading, I have to have a look at him. :)

Hope you're getting the Fox Soccer Channel coverage. The picture quality on CBC was godawful. FSC was much clearer. And that's not just someone watching from 5 hours away from Toronto in another country talking, I have heard Toronto natives say the transmission wasn't too good either.

Having Ronnie back seemed to light a fire under everyone else. He was credited with 3 shots on goal, no assists, but everyone else seemed to gel as a team more than any other game so far for them.

[geysir]

I think I'll wait for Eirebhoy's report. But if I was pushed to watch tv coverage, is it one of the Sky channels.?

[eirebhoy]

Just watched the match. I was impressed with him but I was expecting more after reading the last few comments on this thread.

The first we saw of him he got the ball, faced one way, turned the other and blasted an excellent 30 yard shot which was saved. He also takes most of their set pieces. He didn't get enough of the ball really for the rest of the first half. When he did get it his head was always up looking for the quick pass, seems an intelligent player.

For the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half he was excellent. He showed that he has 2 good feet with a left foot shot from a similar distance to his shot in the first half. A couple of minutes later and he easily beat 2 players and sent in a poor low ball but it resulted in a goal. A bit like Kilbane's poor cross on Sunday. ;)

I liked the way he drifted into the middle once or twice to pick up the ball and lay it off to someone else. He was nearly put through on goal after a one two with the striker Buddle and he had a couple of good touches before he was taken off on 77 minutes.

Other than the 20 minutes after half time he wasn't involved all that much. I've pretty much mentioned most of his involvement. He certainly wasn't Toronto's most effective player imo. He definitely looks a good player though and good enough for us.

[lionelhutz]

Did toronto win?

[Stuttgart88]

Would he have been more impressive than, say, Wes Hoolahan seems to have been recently? Are they both playing in a similar standard of league?

Different positions I think (right vs left sided) but worth asking. Similarly, Roy O'Donovan.

[eirebhoy]

It's tough to judge the standard on one game. A few ex-England were playing. Carl Robinson had a decent game in the holding role. Danny Dichio scored a poachers goal and was sent off for a fight just before half time but he had a really tough battle with the centre half and rarely won anything. Welsh (ex-Sunderland) on the left wing gave the Chicago defence a tough time with his pace but wasn't very effective.

[YankExile]

Did toronto win?


Yes, 3-1. :D They play Houston Wednesday.

[YankExile]

Set up the only goal in 0-1 win over Houston. Didn't get credit for an assist far as I've been able to tell. He also knocked away a shot that would've gone in for Houston.

[YankExile]

Had a yellow card in 2-1 loss to DC United today.

[YankExile]

Looked good in 2-2 draw with Columbus, but didn't figure in the scoring.

[Plastic Paddy]

For whatever reason he wasn't included in the touring party (obviously not down to injury whatever was said at the time) so it seems to me that ROB's best chance of winning an Ireland cap has gone with this tour. Time to put the Man of the Century's bid for a full international cap to bed now, no? Unless, that is, he takes out American citizenship and plays for the land of the free instead...

:ball: PP

[SkStu]

i think its time to put to bed the myth that he is good enough for the squad in the first place.

Ive watched him for the last two games for Toronto and he does not stand out as a player of any real quality. He is a tidy passer and can tackle but really wouldnt add much to the current squad.

That coupled with the fact that the standard of the MLS is actually far worse than i thought it would be. Some of the attacking play can be quite decent but the defending is shocking bad. Nothing against the lad at all but he simply shouldnt be anywhere near the squad.

[tetsujin1979]

For whatever reason he wasn't included in the touring party (obviously not down to injury whatever was said at the time) so it seems to me that ROB's best chance of winning an Ireland cap has gone with this tour. Time to put the Man of the Century's bid for a full international cap to bed now, no? Unless, that is, he takes out American citizenship and plays for the land of the free instead...

:ball: PP

He was invited to train with the squad, and turned it down.

[YankExile]

Got one assist in 2-1 win over Colorado. It was a great goal... Ronnie corner kicked from the right of the Rapids net right to Andy Boyens (New Zealand), who got it on a header and knocked it right in.

I was watching the Colorado feed online, they could use some work. They referred to TFC onscreen as "FC Toronto" and miscalled a yellow card as a red, even though they had a great shot of the card being shown.

[Noelys Guitar]

No chance now of Stan including him in any squad.

[cclinton]

Traded to MLS's San Jose (California), yesterday. :ball:

The fee was $300K + a 2009 #1 draft pick for Toronto.
Good for his knee's after his problems.. Toronto play on artificial turf, San Jose on real grass.

[ken foree]

Toronto play on artificial turf, San Jose on real grass.

artificial grass surely? wouldn't have thought it any worse for the knees than soft natural turf. good luck to him regardless.

[Seagull-4-life]

Traded to MLS's San Jose (California), yesterday. :ball:

The fee was $300K + a 2009 #1 draft pick for Toronto.
Good for his knee's after his problems.. Toronto play on artificial turf, San Jose on real grass.
Could you give me a link or something for that mate? Used to know him.

[half_full]

Doesn't stand a chance of Ireland selection-he don't play in England shur:rolleyes:

[cclinton]

http://tinyurl.com/3xy97v

should be suffice. pm me if not. (article dated Feb 28th)

[Seagull-4-life]

http://tinyurl.com/3xy97v

should be suffice. pm me if not. (article dated Feb 28th)

Cheers

[brine3]

No chance now of Stan including him in any squad.

Thankfully, no. :D

[irishfan86]

Doesn't stand a chance of Ireland selection-he don't play in England shur:rolleyes:

Perhaps a couple of years ago he may have been good enough, but I watched all 13 of those performances while he was with Toronto. Good crosser of the ball, decent touch, and good vision, but not a dominant player.

It may have been the fact that he was a on a BRUTAL Toronto FC team, but he looked a good player, but nothing spectacular, certainly not good enough for the squad.

Keep in mind that he had an injury ravaged season and never really got going.

It will be interesting to see how he does on San Jose, one of the traditional title contenders.

I'd say he'll have a good season if he stays healthy.

[Metrostars]

Perhaps a couple of years ago he may have been good enough, but I watched all 13 of those performances while he was with Toronto. Good crosser of the ball, decent touch, and good vision, but not a dominant player.

It may have been the fact that he was a on a BRUTAL Toronto FC team, but he looked a good player, but nothing spectacular, certainly not good enough for the squad.

Keep in mind that he had an injury ravaged season and never really got going.

It will be interesting to see how he does on San Jose, one of the traditional title contenders.

I'd say he'll have a good season if he stays healthy.


Except that San Jose is a completely brand new team, formed in 2008. :)

On Ronnie, he has had better years in MLS but last year was a poor one for him.

[irishfan86]

Except that San Jose is a completely brand new team, formed in 2008. :)

I didn't realize that, I thought they were the San Jose Earthquakes still....didn't realize they moved to Houston, and that the new team coming in KEPT the old name.

Bizarre situation.

[deadman]

so Bray missed on the ronnie draft yet again.

was just wondering ... apart from ronnie, are there any other irish players playing in the states that people know of ???

[Seagull-4-life]

so Bray missed on the ronnie draft yet again.

was just wondering ... apart from ronnie, are there any other irish players playing in the states that people know of ???

What do you mean in the first part?

[youngirish]

so Bray missed on the ronnie draft yet again.

was just wondering ... apart from ronnie, are there any other irish players playing in the states that people know of ???

Yeah Justin Lee Collins aka Joe Lapira. As Irish as Cherry Pie.

[Metrostars]

Also Ciaran O'Brien son of Fran O'Brien(ex bohs).

[Wangball]

was just wondering ... apart from ronnie, are there any other irish players playing in the states that people know of ???

Is Brian Byrne still with New England Revolution? He's the only other one I can think of

[cclinton]

Michael Parkhurst :mad:

Ciara Crinion - Central Conneticut State
Alisha Moran – New York Athletic
Marie Curtin - Hofstra University
Edel Malone - Hofstra University
:D

[tetsujin1979]

All recently covered here: http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=83480