John Egan (D Sheffield Utd b.1992)

[Charlie Darwin]

May as well start a thread on this guy. Ireland U19 captain at the European Championships last summer, has been the bench for Sunderland a couple of times and has now secured a one-month loan with Crystal Palace. I'm surprised to see him get a loan with a Championship side (and a decent one at that) - shows they obviously rate him there.

http://www.safc.com/news/20120105/egan-seals-palace-loan-move_2256213_2567273

[tetsujin1979]

Interesting that he's going to be eligible for the FA Cup and League Cup games, hope he gets a decent run out at Palace.

[TrapAPony]

Starting today for Crystal Palace

[OMTY]

Didn't feature in squad last night.

According to Palace fans he did well enough Saturday (http://www.holmesdale.net/page.php?id=106&tid=118248&page=18), played the full 90 anyway.


kept thinking it was Keinan, however i was impressed by this young lad, read the game well, very good with the ball, passed it out of defensive and didnt shy away from the game.


Egan played very well.

[tetsujin1979]

Broke his leg last night - http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/egan-injury-blow-499086.aspx
out for the rest of the season

[Stuttgart88]

The jinx strikes again. Poor lad.

[Charlie Darwin]

This is old news so apologises if it's been posted elsewhere, but he was awarded a one-year extension on his contract last month, despite being out until next year with a broken leg. Martin O'Neill seemed to be a fan so hopefully he can impress Di Canio when he regains fitness.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/safc/safc-news/2013/03/27/sunderland-defender-john-egan-offered-contract-extension-61634-33067121/

[Crosby87]

I think the Cardinal here before Dolan was John Egan.

[tetsujin1979]

Egan is back fit after the leg break, was on the bench for Sunderland's development squad last night but didn't take part in the game: http://www.safc.com/news/reserves-and-academy/2013/september/egan-back-on-duty

[tetsujin1979]

gone on a one month emergency loan to Southend: http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/article/270214-john-egan-signs-for-southend-1387148.aspx

[Crosby87]

What made it an emergency?

[Charlie Darwin]

Just scored what I believe is his first senior goal away at table-topping Scunthorpe.

[tetsujin1979]

and it's an absolute belter of a goal too!
HxsZqROB4n8

[DeLorean]

Some goal and what an impact it had on the table. The 2-2 draw knocked Scunthorpe off top spot and moved Southend into the playoff positions.

[Olé Olé]

What a goal. That should provide the lad with an abundance of confidence now to push on given that it was his first senior goal and I can't imagine many have marked such a milestone like that.

Given the personal and professional terrors that this young lad has gone through over the past 2 or 3 years, I sincerely hope he pushes on now.

[Charlie Darwin]

What a goal. That should provide the lad with an abundance of confidence now to push on given that it was his first senior goal and I can't imagine many have marked such a milestone like that.

Given the personal and professional terrors that this young lad has gone through over the past 2 or 3 years, I sincerely hope he pushes on now.
Oooooooohh


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfGpA_DUl6E

[Olé Olé]

Oooooooohh


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfGpA_DUl6E

I didn't say 'nobody' has marked such a milestone like that. I said I can't imagine 'many' have.

[tetsujin1979]

interviewed in the independent today: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/in-the-name-of-the-father-30118732.html
Southend are playing Oxford tonight on Sky Sports 1

[paul_oshea]

Lovely piece and nice tribute to his father.

Seems like a decent lad. Hopefully things work out for him at Southend and Conor Clifford too.

Maybe a capitulation in some of the big clubs and owners, would restore natural order to the English game again and see more of our guys getting through.

[Stuttgart88]

I didn't say 'nobody' has marked such a milestone like that. I said I can't imagine 'many' have.You can add that bloke from Norwich City on Saturday to the list now :)

[Predator]

"That was all a bit of a whirlwind really," laughs the unlikely Matt Le Tissier impersonator as he discusses his first senior goal.

John 'the unlikely Matt Le Tissier impersonator' Egan. :confused:

Good piece overall though.

[Olé Olé]

Really enjoyed that article. Decent timing too for an article like that in that the loss of his father isn't quite as fresh/raw and he's able to speak about it at length. He seems inspirational and demonstrates a strong level of responsibility on his own part that he repeatedly asserts that his father taught him so much and, now that he's dead, Egan is determined to keep learning and improving. Wish Egan all the very best.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/adam-johnson-can-see-bright-7031147

Released by Sunderland. Linked with Southend, Bradford and Man United. :confused:

[Charlie Darwin]

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/adam-johnson-can-see-bright-7031147

Released by Sunderland. Linked with Southend, Bradford and Man United. :confused:
Well that's... unexpected. Disappointed he's been released as he seemed to be making progress under O'Neill until he had his injury.

[Olé Olé]

I looked up that Louis Laing and his profile isn't much greater than Egan's- he's a 21 year-old defender who had a loan with Wycombe in 2012. Has played for England all the way up until under 19 but that was in 2011. So, I'm not really sure what the thinking is from Manchester United as you would think that 21 years of age is slightly on the old side in terms of their (prospective) youth acquisitions.

[Charlie Darwin]

RTE are showing Setanta's Football Scholars documentary with Egan at the moment. Little tidbit about his plans for next season from a Southend United website.


Egan on the other hand isn't so likely to come back to Roots Hall next season though with clubs in the Championship and League 1 showing a strong interest in him now that he's a free agent after being released by Sunderland.

A permanent signing wasn't something that Egan is against exactly it seems but he wants to play higher than League 2, and instantly not in another 12 months or so.

http://www.southend.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=360774#ixzz35USL97CY

Blackburn have made an offer according to Alan Nixon of the Mirror, along with Leyton Orient:

http://www.blackburn.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8916&posts=151 (http://www.blackburn.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8916&posts=157&mid=61459)

[gastric]

The Blackburn link is certainly looking a strong possibility. Would be a great move for Egan, another emerging CB!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2674330/Former-Sunderland-defender-John-Egan-linked-Blackburn-switch.html

[tetsujin1979]

Signed for Gillingham, two year deal: http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/john-egan-signs-for-gills-july-3-1714760.aspx
step up from Southend, but not as much as I had hoped for him

[Joe Dixon]

Gillingham fans impressed and worried already about him making another quick step up.

http://fansonline.net/gillingham/mb/view.php?id=229354

[Charlie Darwin]

God, I was convinced when I opened this thread it would be another injury. Glad to see he's impressing.

[gastric]

Praise from Peter Taylor as well. Another young Irish player beginning to mature nicely!

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/taylor-hails-egan-23825/

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

John Egan recently penned his own article.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/the-shouting-men-with-john-25403/

Some of the reader comments...

"Totally agree with all the comments especially the best defender since Simon King. I think our gain Sunderland's loss, John gets better every game and I would give him the captains arm band, he looks to me like a born leader and a very down to earth lad. I think he will be looked at by clubs at a higher level, lets hope and pray we can hang onto him. Certainly a top candidate for player of the year already. Players like this don't come along to often lets hope he can inspire the other youngsters for the rest of the season and keep us in the division."

"Top guy and top player - early contender for player of the year and destined to play at a higher level, hopefully with us!"

"Best Centre back weve had since Simon King, pure class"

We have some good aged 23 or under options at center-half - Duffy, Hoban, Kiernan, O'Brien, Egan, Williams, Gunning. If even half of them fulfill their potential, we'll be doing well.

[liamoo11]

Oh the great Simon king that is some compliment considering he is an England international

[Charlie Darwin]

A first Gillingham goal at home to Port Vale.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Two for Egan.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.herald.ie/sport/john-egan-strikes-it-rich-30824789.html

Turns out he was wanted by Man Utd after all. Decent article. Seems like an ambitious lad. Good luck to him.

[Olé Olé]

http://www.gillinghamfcforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1858

Looks like Egan will run away with player of the year at Gillingham, on the basis of early votes. Should be interesting to see if he moves on in the summer. At 22, there's a lot of potential there.

[SkStu]

http://www.gillinghamfcforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1858

Looks like Egan will run away with player of the year at Gillingham, on the basis of early votes. Should be interesting to see if he moves on in the summer. At 22, there's a lot of potential there.

lol - 6 votes cast. :D :D true he has 4 of them.

[Olé Olé]

lol - 6 votes cast. :D :D true he has 4 of them.

Haha well I was interested to see how he was faring this season and I thought that's as good an indication as any. The comments underneath all praise him also.

[paul_oshea]

We are always on about lads showing potential and how great they are doing in the lower leagues but I've said it before you rarely see any of them bought by premiership teams its only if they're lucky enough to get into a side who gain promotion. what exactly do we expect or hope when we say things like "interesting to see will he move on" it's a choice made solely by him or "he has lots of potential" potential to do what exactly? win 150 caps playing for mid level championship teams at the very best?

[CraftyToePoke]

Well, Rickie Lambert played lower league before England and Liverpool, Ashley Williams played non league with Hednesford before Swansea & Wales. Even our own Wes Hoolahan has graced several smaller stages before his recent sojourn in the top club level. And if Williams at Bristol carries his L1 form into the Championship next year, people will be looking at him.

I take your point, and these are exceptions, but we are operating from a small base and these lads only have to move up a level or two to be on our radar, this is our lot and its not going to alter dramatically very soon and it can happen. The option, the alternative is them plummeting through the leagues and out of sight and mind, like Henderson, Clifford and so many more.

Its nice to see them get in a side and lower league contracts are just as hard to come by if in a different way than Prem ones, because budgets are airtight and deals tend to be performance, appearance and result loaded after the basic weekly sum.

[SkStu]

We are always on about lads showing potential and how great they are doing in the lower leagues but I've said it before you rarely see any of them bought by premiership teams its only if they're lucky enough to get into a side who gain promotion. what exactly do we expect or hope when we say things like "interesting to see will he move on" it's a choice made solely by him or "he has lots of potential" potential to do what exactly? win 150 caps playing for mid level championship teams at the very best?

so what are you suggesting then oh wise one? That we don't talk about them? What's your point?

[CraftyToePoke]

so what are you suggesting then oh wise one? That we don't talk about them? What's your point?

I think he means they aren't relevant in terms of becoming credible options at international level, most of them wont, and I agree there with him, but some could, and among the handful we have rebuilding their careers lower down presently, one, maybe two, will play for Ireland at some stage and I enjoy tracking them to see which one does, or looks most like doing. Particularly in terms of weighing up whether it is better to go home to a top LoI side or take their path.

[paul_oshea]

That's exactly what I meant and whilst you can add austin to that list I did mean Irish players.

I am just unsure what potential means.it always seems to be potential but I'm not sure to what and it's a thing that is always said and spoken of but then all of a sudden the player is facing the end of his career!

[Olé Olé]

To qualify a bit of my excitement regarding Egan, he hasn't really had a steady partner at centre-half this season. Consequently, he's been a mainstay of their defence whilst being 21/22. That's no mean feat at League One level, or any level. Having seen him play a few times, he strikes me as having a comfort in his touch and foresight in his reading of the game. Couple those with an ability to cope with the physicality of the lower league and maybe this year will do him the world of good.

He might never rise above League One, who knows- many haven't. Crafty refers to Ashley Williams and Ricky Lambert. There's a chap who used to play for the mighty Woking that goes by the name of Harry Arter.

Egan garnered interest at a higher level upon his Sunderland release so a very successful year at Gillingham could re-ignite some of that interest. Hopefully. Hopefully not Blackburn though. Someone else. Duffy needs to establish himself completely there first!

[Charlie Darwin]

Duffy needs to establish himself completely there first!
And Lenihan too.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Egan's fifth goal of the season has just consigned Notts County to relegation.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.the42.ie/son-of-former-kerry-gaa-legend-player-of-the-season-2085705-May2015/

Named Gillingham's Player of the Season.

[Charlie Darwin]

No surprise there. Would be disappointed if a higher-league team didn't come in for him.

[Olé Olé]

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/offer-on-the-table-for-70266/

This one slipped under the radar for me. John Egan was the subject of a rejected deadline day bid from Brentford.

I met him last summer and he was hoping to sort something in the Championship but another year at League One won't have done him any harm. He'll be a very attractive proposition in the summer when he's a free agent. With Gillingham well-poised in third in League One, he's in a fantastic position in the summer- free agent, will have an offer on the table from Gillingham to fall back on and Gillingham may have gained promotion to the Championship anyway.

He only turned 23 in October and is almost a year younger than Shane Duffy, for example. A lot of time on his side for a centre half to climb back up.