Liam Lawrence

[DannyInvincible]

Good to see. Short bit on his move here: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0303/1224312713123.html


One of those anxious to play his way back into Trapattoni’s plans, meanwhile, was on the move yesterday, with Liam Lawrence leaving Portsmouth for Cardiff City until the end of the season.

City will pay a loan fee for the 30-year-old and all of his wages until the end of the season.

Lawrence said he was “really sad to be leaving Pompey for the rest of the season, but,” he added, “if my move can help the club carry on then it’s something I’m willing to do.”

[the bear]

anyone following lawrences progress since his loan move?

[tetsujin1979]

Lawrence agrees to leave Portsmouth: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Lawrence-To-Leave-Pompey-3585.aspx
He's the last registered professional at the club, so they won't be liquidated now, and it clears the way for Conor Clifford (among others) to join on a season long loan

[the bear]

he'll be a good free transfer option, one of the promoted clubs should snap him up

[Closed Account]

The squad page on the Pompey site is pretty impressive.
http://i.imgur.com/hml4O.png

[dr_peepee]

I was very surprised at the Portsmouth move in the first place. I don't think anyone though it would work out bar himself..

[SkStu]

I thought their jersey sponsor was "gobsh!te" there for a second...!

[tetsujin1979]

Signed for PAOK: http://www.paokfc.gr/swift.jsp?CMRCode=174FKJD3L&extLang=
(translation: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http://www.paokfc.gr/swift.jsp%3FCMRCode%3D174FKJD3L%26extLang%3D )

[BonnieShels]

Janey. Great move.

[IsMiseSean]

He goes from a broke club to a broke country....

[AlaskaFox]

Some quotes from Liam here:
http://greenscene.me/2012/08/paok-sign-liam-lawrence-from-portsmouth/

[Eminence Grise]

Hope it works out for him - it's potentially a great move.

Hopefully, along with McGeady, it will encourage other Irish players to move abroad, and European coaches to consider signing them.

[Murfinator]

Very good move, I rate him very highly as a player and he was massive for us in Trap's first campaign. hope to see him get his form back and be back for us.

[the bear]

shocking news on here tonight. great move

[Diarmo]

shocking news on here tonight. great move

Wow. Wasn't expecting that. Great move, and I'm very happy with Lawrence for trying life in a different league. Good for him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the green in the next year or two.

Incidentally, I'm surprised with all the withdrawals he hasn't been called up for the Serbia game, but I suppose we'd need to see some form at PAOK first.

[John83]

I didn't see that coming. Still, it makes sense, if you ignore the question of whether or not he'll get paid.

[the bear]

i'd like to see Liam play more centrally for us

[BonnieShels]

I'd like to see Liam play for us.

[OwlsFan]

I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the green in the next year or two..

Do you know what age he is?

Not sure why he fell out of favour. Seemed to play well for us.

[Charlie Darwin]

He had a year or so where he had a lot of ongoing injuries and fell out of favour. Unlucky for him McGeady finally came good in that time.

[tetsujin1979]

off the bench tonight for PAOK to get the assist on the equaliser against Rapid Vienna. PAOK had a player sent off so entirely possible he'll start the return leg

[DannyInvincible]

Liam Lawrence scored his first goal for PAOK last night in their 2-1 victory over Asteras. Can be seen at 2:15:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtngi7_newslook-gr-yyyy-yyyyyyy-yyyyyyyy-2-1-highlights_sport

[BonnieShels]

Nice finish.

[theworm2345]

Scored PAOK's first today, they're up 4-1 at half time

[AlaskaFox]

Sent off too. Goal and report here:
http://greenscene.me/2012/09/liam-lawrence-scores-and-is-sent-off-for-paok-in-4-1-over-aris/

Smashing strike.

[Grafter]

Sweet strike! Let's face it though, he's never going to be picked by Trap again along with Hunt, Reid, Hoolahan, Best, Clark etc....

[Colbert Report]

What did he do to tick off Trap? I thought he just got injured whilst at Portsmouth and fell out of favour.

[Grafter]

What did he do to tick off Trap? I thought he just got injured whilst at Portsmouth and fell out of favour.
Reading between the lines, Trap doesn't trust him since the 3-2 home defeat to Russia in 2010. Pity for him as for the most part he added a bit of "umph!" to our midfield and was just as responsible as any for getting a win in Armenia in Sept 2010... if he's recalled I'll eat my words but seems unlikely now....

[Charlie Darwin]

Sweet strike! Let's face it though, he's never going to be picked by Trap again along with Hunt, Reid, Hoolahan, Best, Clark etc....
Clark? I think he has a better chance than any of those players of breaking into the team.

[Grafter]

Clark? I think he has a better chance than any of those players of breaking into the team.
We'll see, though probably after World Cup when someone like Redknapp/McCarthy is in charge of team....

[Charlie Darwin]

There is more chance of Andy Reid playing at the World Cup than Redknapp taking charge of Ireland.

[Yard of Pace]

Looks like he's enjoying himself anyway. He was incredible in Paris that time. Whatever happens, we'll always have that.

[Grafter]

There is more chance of Andy Reid playing at the World Cup than Redknapp taking charge of Ireland.
The Rovers fans were rather rude to 'Arry last year alright but still, he loves Irish golf courses:rolleyes:

[tetsujin1979]

returned from suspension at the weekend against AEK Athens, and was booked in the second half and sent off again

[Grafter]

How is LL doing these days? Merits an International recall....? I guess it's true what they say: out of sight/out of mind...
Shame, gone too soon IMO.

[Supreme feet]

How is LL doing these days? Merits an International recall....? I guess it's true what they say: out of sight/out of mind...
Shame, gone too soon IMO.

Was starting a lot recently, scored in the cup a few weeks ago, but seemed to have been dropped after their home defeat to Xanthi, wasn't even on the bench for their last game against Aris. Made 13 appearances in the league this season so far.

[Paddy Garcia]

How is LL doing these days? Merits an International recall....? I guess it's true what they say: out of sight/out of mind...
Shame, gone too soon IMO.

Gone too soon.... & started too late!

[Charlie Darwin]

Liam will be playing against Schalke 04 in the Champions League playoffs after Metalist Kharkiv, who beat PAOK in the previous round, were thrown out.

http://www.uefa.com/uefa/disciplinary/news/newsid=1981184.html#paok+replace+metalist+play+off s

[Junior]

What did the Mentalists do to get thrown out?

Big ask for PAOK to qualify but good luck to Liam. Always thought he got a bit of a rough deal getting discarded following the Russia debacle, he did well for us overall I thought.

[Charlie Darwin]

They lost a CAS appeal against a five-year ban for match-fixing. It seems they may get back in while they appeal though.

[Junior]

First leg of Play offs are next Tues/Weds. Will the appeal be before then?

[Charlie Darwin]

No, which creates the problem of whether to suspend the ban or not. Fenerbahce are set to face Arsenal while appealing against a ban for match-fixing so there is precedent, but Fenerbahce are on their first appeal whereas Metalist have been banned already and lost their appeal. The papers seem to think they'll get a reprieve but in reality I don't think we know what UEFA will do. I'd lean towards them upholding the ban.

[DannyInvincible]

Lawrence started for PAOK tonight as they went on to draw 1-1 away to Schalke in the Champions League play-off round. He was replaced by Kace after 62 minutes, however. Valuable away goal for PAOK, that.

[Charlie Darwin]

Damn you, I was about to post this. Great result for PAOK, though it will still be a huge battle for them to deal with Schalke's firepower in Thessaloniki.

[geysir]

A mundane predictable Bundesliga team is bound for elimination.
Go on the Greeks.
Power to PAOK

[Charlie Darwin]

PAOK's fans were easily the best and most passionate visiting crowd I've seen in Tallaght. Delighted to see them doing well and Liam too.

[Fixer82]

How did he play?

[DannyInvincible]

Liam Lawrence's PAOK take on Schalke tonight in the Champions League play-off round. They've given themselves a fantastic opportunity to qualify with an away goal in the 1-1 first-leg draw in Germany. The game is to be played behind closed doors, however, which surely won't help the home team. Remains to be seen whether Lawrence will start. He started the first leg but I'm not sure he's nailed down a regular starting place this season.

[Charlie Darwin]

Misses the tie due to injury.

[geysir]

Schalke in front, by dint of a flukey dubious goal.