Irish Abroad 2011/2012

[CraftyToePoke]

Peterborough United 3 Reading 1

I went to this earlier with the prospect of a few Irish lads on view and a bit of nice weather combining to get me back to London Road for the first time in a while and witnessed a full blooded and really enjoyable game. For a nice change, it was very well refereed, no bookings despite a game played aggressively, but in a good spirit also with heavy but well timed challenges in the middle throughout, and good football also.

For Peterborough, Kearns was on the bench but didn't feature and ex B squad player Lee Frecklington played on the left of a narrow four man midfield, he played o.k., didn't stand out creatively but neither did he do anything obviously wrong. His best period was in the second half where his grafting, tracking, closing down and several blocks as his side soaked 20+ minutes of sustained intense pressure was admirable.

The real interest was in Reading who started with Pearce, Harte and Hunt on the field and Tabb on the bench and it was Hunt who showed a cool head to open the scoring in this match, first on the scene after the keeper had blocked with his feet, he turned and shot across goal into the net as players chased to cover. This was his only sight of goal on the 90 and he took his chance, the rest of his evening was spent being a nuisance and difficult to mark, while trying to feed off the efforts of his strike partner Jason Roberts, but he didn't carry a goal threat again.

Pearce played CB and had good moments, cool in his distribution and did have passages where he looked a bit of quality, mopping up and picking a nice pass, however, two of Peterborough's goals were from set piece deliveries, one was a shot into the roof of the net after a ball hadn't been cleared, the other a header from a corner/free by the main target striker right in front of the goal. Not saying either was purely his fault though.

To Ian Harte, all game long, Peterborough targeted him on the deck and over his head, down the right side, all game long his side backed him up with numbers quickly. He misplaced a couple of defensive headers badly, but his left foot never gave the ball away, whether picking a pass along the ground, or being forced long into a channel, he always securely found a shirt and his set piece delivery, one ballooned effort apart was excellent without yielding a goal, he also clipped two lovely first time passes into his strikers in the box from open play. Little flashes of real quality. Then, late in the game, as his side chased an equalizer which looked like it must be close as his side had owned the ball for over 20 minutes, there was a long clearence up field which Harte was the last man back for. He had a huge head start, so much, I remember thinking the striker may not even chase it, but he did, and as he gained on Harte the crowd began to rise to their feet. It happened right opposite where I was sitting and although an impressive burst of pace, it was difficult to see how any defender would come out second here. Then he not only caught Harte, but overtook him, left him for dead and finished past the keeper to kill the game.

Afterward, Harte's body language said it all, but he spoke to the other defenders a fair bit as the Peterborough celebrations went on and they seemed to be apologizing as much as he was for leaving him exposed.

[Closed Account]

Samir Carruthers on the bench for villa today.

[tetsujin1979]

Samir Carruthers on the bench for villa today.

best of luck to the lad, he started with Arsenal as an academy player

[SkStu]

Hogan Ephraim, on loan from QPR, grabs a cheeky goal for Bristol City today.

[theworm2345]

Congratulations to John Sheridan and Chesterfield on winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy today. A rare positive though as they're still rock bottom of League One.

[theworm2345]

Watched Luton vs York today...wasn't paying that close attention and was going between that and Shamrock Rovers - Bohs but Keith Keane and Lanre Oyebanjo both played the full match. Keith Keane was in the middle of a three man midfield and didn't make much of an impact, at least in the parts when I was paying attention. Oyebanjo was on the right hand of a three man midfield (didn't know he could play outside of defence) and I thought did pretty well including a great effort that came back off the post. Towards the end he did seem to move back to his usual position of full back. Still surprised he has never made the jump to the Football League.

[tetsujin1979]

Was in Skibereen for the weekend on a stag, and we hired a mini bus to take us around a few of the surrounding villages for a pub crawl. Got talking to the driver at one point and she told me her nephew is U17 player Stephen McCarthy and he's been over for trials with Wolves

[liamoo11]

Was in Skibereen for the weekend on a stag, and we hired a mini bus to take us around a few of the surrounding villages for a pub crawl. Got talking to the driver at one point and she told me her nephew is U17 player Stephen McCarthy and he's been over for trials with Wolves
That lad signed for sunderland a few days ago he is a striker/wide player. His dad is mick mccarthy who was a savage Gaa player but was unfortunately killed in a traffic accident. Best of luck to the lad

[tetsujin1979]

sorry, it was Sunderland, not Wolves. Not sure why I said Wolves. The two days straight drinking in the People's Republic may or may not have had something to do with it.
There was a report in the Examiner last Friday about him signing for Sunderland too: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/sunderland-snap-up-cork-teen-mccarthy-188930.html

[Olé Olé]

Just spotted that Jon Daly's brace for Dundee United over the weekend has moved him to the top of the SPL scoring charts and he is now on 17 goals for the season, one ahead of "£6million" striker Gary Hooper.

[tetsujin1979]

Connor Smith secures pro contract at Watford: http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~2734662,00.html

[tetsujin1979]

Profile of Phillip Roberts, Arsenal's U19 striker: http://news.arseblog.com/2012/04/player-profile-philip-roberts/

[theworm2345]

MK Dons pretty much a lock for the playoffs at this point in League One. Have a large Irish contingent there so its good to see them doing well, not least Shaun Williams who has 6 goals in 7 matches (four from the spot). Interesting method for taking penalties as well, left footed, very little run up and just put it where the keeper can't get it.

[SkStu]

Shaun Williams who has 6 goals in 7 matches (four from the spot). Interesting method for taking penalties as well, left footed, very little run up and just put it where the keeper can't get it.

you've made him sound a bit like Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori there... One of my favorite players as a young lad...

http://aziende.babilot.com/video/?v=R_VX0fcZfGI&des=beppe_signori_lazio

[theworm2345]

you've made him sound a bit like Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori there... One of my favorite players as a young lad...

http://aziende.babilot.com/video/?v=R_VX0fcZfGI&des=beppe_signori_lazio
Christ what is it with Europeans and the Backstreet Boys? Don't even seem to be ashamed of it is the worst part. Williams has a similar run up but he tends to go for placement over power and usually seems to go for the top corner.

[theworm2345]

Kevin Walker (Carlow-born father) scored his first goal today for Sundsvall in Sweden...came against his old club AIK as well.

[theworm2345]

John Sheridan (Chesterfield) and Gary Waddock (Wycombe) both relegated this weekend from League One.

Liam Daish's Ebbsfleet finished 14th in the Conference.

Mark Kinsella's Daventry Town finished 16th out of 22 in Southern Football League Division One.

[CraftyToePoke]

James Collins 16th of the season is worth a mention as it seals his side, Shrewsbury Towns promotion to League 1. His first full season there after leaving Villa, worth keeping half an eye on next season, still young enough to improve further.

[tetsujin1979]

only just read this on boards.ie, an 8 year old from Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo has been accepted to the Real Madrid academy!
There's an interview with his dad on Red FM here: http://soundcloud.com/redfm-sport/john-john-finn-real-madrid

The discussion on boards (or what passes for discussion on the soccer forum on boards) is here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056605403
If they removed all the "this is basically forced child labour" posts, it would be about half a page long

[Charlie Darwin]

God, boards is awful. Nobody even considered the possibility he might already live in Madrid.

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Abroad stats for April 2012: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=4

Andy Keogh strengthened claims for a surprise call up by winning the most game(5), scoring the most goals(5) and being the only player to score a penalty in April!
Despite all playing for different clubs, Shay Given, Sean Murray and James McClean all managed to draw four games
Paddy McCarthy and relegated Joe Murphy started the most losses in the fourth month
As it was a short month, eleven players all started the same number of games with Shay Given, Joe Murphy, Ian Harte, Damien Delaney, Paddy McCarthy, David Norris, Chris McCann, Jeff Hendrick, Sean Murray, Andy Keogh and Daryl Murphy all appearing in the starting XI six times
Of these Shay Given, Joe Murphy, Ian Harte, Damien Delaney, Paddy McCarthy and David Norris completed 90 minutes for each game
Stephen McPhail, Lee Frecklington, Jamie Devitt were withdrawn from the action more than their counterparts, each player was substituted four times
Conversely, Robbie Brady and Connor Sammon were introduced from the bench more than any other player, with Sammon accruing a massive 17 introductions so far this season
Goalkeeper David Forde was kept on the bench for the most games, keeping the pine warm for six games in April
Alan Maybury was booked as many times in April as in the rest of the season combined after being shown the yellow card three times

[Closed Account]

From Daniel McDonnells Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/McDonnellDan

In case people missed it in papers today, New York Red Bulls first choice keeper Ryan Meara has declared for Ireland. Called into U-21 squad

[Carrigaline]

I have heard on the grapevine that Rhys Murphy of Arsenal does not expect to be offered a new contract at the end of the season and will be a free agent.

[tetsujin1979]

I have heard on the grapevine that Rhys Murphy of Arsenal does not expect to be offered a new contract at the end of the season and will be a free agent.
that's been expected for a while, he had trials with Rangers, Hibs and Middlesbrough in the last 12 months before going on loan to Preston but for various reasons was not offered a deal.

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Abroad statistics for May 2012: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=5
Traditionally the quiestest month, with the season wrapping up, very little of note happened in May
no player made more than three appearances, and only Jonathan Walters scored more than once with his brace on the final day

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Abroad statistics for 2011/2012: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=14
After a long season that began on 30th June with Stephen Kelly and Damien Duff lining out for Fulham against NSI Runavik (incidentally, if they play in the final on 1st July they'll have played football non stop for 12 months) here are the compiled appearance statistics for Irish players in England and Scotland for the 2011/2012 season:
Anthony Stokes started 25 wins for Celtic over the course of the season, with one more win coming away from home than at Celtic Park. In goals, Darren Randolph almost double the number of wins of second placed Paddy Kenny, starting 20 wins for Champions League bound Motherwell
David van Zanten started 17 of St Mirren's games that finished all square, one more than Shay Given, Paddy McCarthy and Jim Goodwin
Coventry's Joe Murphy and Richard Keogh both started 25 games that ended in a loss for the Sky Blues in their relegation season. one more than also relegated player Stephen Ward
Paddy McCarthy and Chris McCann both started an incredible 48 games this season, an astonishing amount for outfield players, one more than Jonathan Walters and Joe Murphy
Of these, Paddy McCarthy completed 90 minutes in 47 games, it would have been a perfect season for the Crystal Palace defender but for a sending off against Cardiff in the League Cup in January
Peterborough's Lee Fecklington* was substitued in almost two thirds of the games he started, in total he was withdrawn from the action 24 times, just ahead of Sean Scannell on 20 substitutions
Conversely, Andy Reid and Conor Sammon were introduced from the bench more than any other players, both players coming on 18 times in total with Reid slightly more often than Sammon with 18 introductions from 23 starts on the bench VS 18 from 26 for the former UCD striker
Unsurprisingly goalkeepers dominate the not introduced list, with Colin Doyle (43), Robert Eliot (33) and Kieren Westwood (27) coming ahead of David Meyler (25)
Jon Daly scored more goals than any other player this season, finding the back of the net 22 times for Dundee United, just ahead of fellow SPL player Anthony Stokes, who strangely enough only scored four times at home for Celtic, but never lost a game when he scored. Jonathan Walters scored the most penalties, converting from 12 yards six times over the season. Keith Andrews was the only midfielder to reach double figures, with 11 goals in 2011/2012 for Ipswich and West Brom.
Defender Jim Goodwin received the most bookings of the season, he was shown the yellow card 15 times

*of the Donegal Frecklington's, I'm led to believe

[gastric]

Just read some of the rumours regarding the Villa job. Paul Lambert seems to be the early favourite, but Mick McCarthy is also being mentioned. I reckon the Irish boys might favour Mick!

[SkStu]

i know just rumours but i cant see Villa appointing Mick Mac. I rate him as a very good manager and i think he was excellent for Ireland as a player and manager but he has a pretty bad rep in England and just isnt rated as highly as he should be in my opinion. I reckon Bolton should sack Coyle and Mick will bring them straight back up... :)

[Closed Account]

Quick request:

Someone asked me for a list of Irish Players to play for Bolton since 1985.

So far I have:
Owen Coyle
Jon Walters
Jason McAteer
Andy O'Brien
Joey O'Brien
Gareth Farrelly
Mark Connolly

Go....

[AlaskaFox]

Missing: Keith Branagan, John Sheridan, maybe more.

Alan O'Hare was with them until 2002, but I think the best he did was playing for the reserves. He's in the eighth tier these days.

[tetsujin1979]

Quick request:

Someone asked me for a list of Irish Players to play for Bolton since 1985.

So far I have:
Owen Coyle
Jon Walters
Jason McAteer
Andy O'Brien
Joey O'Brien
Gareth Farrelly
Mark Connolly

Go....
Don't have time to look through them all, but there's a list on wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Bolton_Wanderers_F.C._players

[AlaskaFox]

Alan Kernaghan and Gerry Peyton were the only others we missed I think.

[Deckydee]

Republic of Ireland U19 - Michael Harriman - Offered new deal by QPR

[gastric]

Richard Keogh wanted by Cardiff.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/05/30/cardiff-city-make-official-bid-for-coventry-defender-richard-keogh-91466-31072804/

[theworm2345]

Shane Robinson scored for Haka today in Finland

[gufcfan]

Shane Robinson scored a hat-trick in 3-1 today for Haka.

[CraftyToePoke]

Gary Deegan - Coventry. Not the messiah ......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18625727

[Junior]

Not the sharpest it would seem (Though I know The BT is not always the most impartial)...............


Suspended by Coventry for posting "up the IRA" on twitter.


Championship football player Gary Deegan is under investigation after posting a pro-IRA slogan on Twitter.

Coventry City FC launched the probe after the midfielder sparked outrage by posting “Up the IRA” on Saturday.

Dubliner Deegan publicly made the comments to his Scottish-born teammate James McPake who has been called up for international duty by Northern Ireland.


Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/coventry-city-player-deegans-ira-tweet-probed-16177868.html#ixzz1z5LMldmw

[Closed Account 2]

Kohlmann talking about Ireland at the Euros to his local paper. This was done on the eve of the Spain game it would seem.

He said Ireland's best hope would be to nick a penalty. He didnt hold much hope of Ireland winning, but expected the team to "fight to the final whistle". He watched the game with his wife, son and mother and said getting to the Euro cup was a success itself.

Of playing again for Ireland he says it seems, "that time has passed" and he now "just watches the games as a fan". He says he doesnt expect to be picked in the squad again, but jokes that if the next manager (after Trap) wants a free holiday to Berlin he can use visiting Union's training ground as an excuse.

http://www.berliner-kurier.de/1--fc-union/unions-ire-kohlmann--trap-braucht-einen-elfmeter,7168992,16374702.html

He's a natural left back who can also play left midfield, and has been rated as one of the most consistent players in the 2.er Bundesliga over the last two seasons (he's one of only two Union Berlin players to play 33 games this season just gone). From what I've seen of him he's got a great engine on him and hardly ever gives the ball away. I'm a bit dissapointed he never played for the full team as to my mind he's better than Ward or McShane and he's only 2-3 years older than them.

[Charlie Darwin]

What has McShane got to do with it? He's never played on the left for us. A player at a second tier German side is no great loss to our national side.

[mark12345]

What has McShane got to do with it? He's never played on the left for us. A player at a second tier German side is no great loss to our national side.

No, the point is McShane shouldn't be next nor near the squad, and for that matter Ward has had his autition and failed miserably. So when you have a credible player like Kohlmann he should have been looked at. We don't have that many good players - as the Euros painfully bore out - to ignore any player who's worth a look.

[Irish_Praha]

No, the point is McShane shouldn't be next nor near the squad, and for that matter Ward has had his autition and failed miserably. So when you have a credible player like Kohlmann he should have been looked at. We don't have that many good players - as the Euros painfully bore out - to ignore any player who's worth a look.

It's a matter of opinion I guess but for me being around 30 and a steady performer at a level worse than the championship probably doesn't meet the criteria for "being worth a look".
However stranger candidates have been given a look but this is one player I wouldn't use as a stick to beat Trap with.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, it makes sense to bring up Ward when talking about a left back but not McShane. It's like asking why McShane is in the squad but not Randolph. They play in different positions. Why is O'Dea in the squad but not Leon Best? Different positions.

[Closed Account 2]

Yes, it makes sense to bring up Ward when talking about a left back but not McShane. It's like asking why McShane is in the squad but not Randolph. They play in different positions. Why is O'Dea in the squad but not Leon Best? Different positions.

Was McShane not taken ahead of another defensive player for his versatility? Both McShane and Kohlmann are versatile defensive players. Given McShane pretty much didn't feature at the Euros, I was suggesting that if Kohlmann had been there instead of him Kohlmann could have been given game time in the last two matches since Ward was struggling. I'm not sure why you equate this to taking a striker or a 4th keeper instead of a central defender.

Kohlmann was widely regarded as one of Borussia Dortmund's most promising young defensive players when in their youth team. You probably haven't heard of Dortmund (as you seem to so readily dismiss German football) but they are one of the most successful teams in Germany and the current champions. Since leaving them he's established himself as one of Union's most consistently good players. But hey you've never heard of him nor his team so its no great loss.

[Charlie Darwin]

Of course I've heard of him. I just don't think a player who has consistently been one of the German equivalent of Bristol City's best players is quite making the clamour for inclusion you think he is. O'Dea was in the squad to cover left-full, as was O'Shea and Kelly. We were more than adequately covered in that area.

Anthony Stokes was widely regarded as one of Arsenal's most promising young strikers a few years back. Ditto Graham Barrett. I'd still take Simon Cox over either. Unfulfilled promise is not sufficient qualification to play at a European Championships.

[liamoo11]

reise allassani who played for us at under 15 level last season linked with 3million move to prem clubs including chelsea. he also played for brits. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/330059/Premier-League-quartet-target-Crystal-Palace-starlet-Reise-Allassani

[mark12345]

It's a matter of opinion I guess but for me being around 30 and a steady performer at a level worse than the championship probably doesn't meet the criteria for "being worth a look".
However stranger candidates have been given a look but this is one player I wouldn't use as a stick to beat Trap with.

Nothing is worse than the championship. It's a graveyard for unskilled players. I'd be willing to bet Kohlmann has just slightly more technical ability than McShane (but that wouldn't be hard). Unfortunately we'll never find out because Trap never gave him a chance. We've a millin McShanes playing football for Ireland. It's technical ability we need - Spain should have proved that to all of us.

[CraftyToePoke]

Conrad Logan signs on for another year at Leicester. http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~2827478,00.html

At the club since 2001, only 29 first team apps since his debut nearly a decade ago, settling for a back up role despite decent lower league loan periods. He is 26 now.

[Charlie Darwin]

That is strange. All the indications seemed to be that he wasn't in the club's plans.

[CraftyToePoke]

That is strange. All the indications seemed to be that he wasn't in the club's plans.

He isn't, Kasper Schmeichel will play, even should he leave, Logan won't inherit the shirt for longer than it takes to sign a keeper, and he may well spend the season on loan anyway with a younger keeper on the bench regularly. Strange isn't it? He deems it better to be on a contract at Leicester with loans here and there, than to try to forge a career lower down as a first choice.