Dan Crowley M MK Dons b.1997

[liamoo11]

Great to see him back in England with morecambe

[seanfhear]

Great to see him back in England with morecambe
Hopefully it turns out to be a wise move for him.

[JR89]

Not that he'll get any caps but does Crowley even qualify to play for us. Wasn't there something about issues with sorting his paperwork and must be four years now since talk that he met with Mick and wanted to switch.

[Eirambler]

I'm sure he had at least one Irish grandparent so the change of rules that helped Ryan Johansson a few years ago would have sorted out any issues with Crowley also.

However, he never built out his all round game beyond being a technical, creative sort. I'd be surprised if he ever wins an Irish cap to be honest.

[Olé Olé]

I'm sure he had at least one Irish grandparent so the change of rules that helped Ryan Johansson a few years ago would have sorted out any issues with Crowley also.

However, he never built out his all round game beyond being a technical, creative sort. I'd be surprised if he ever wins an Irish cap to be honest.

I think Crowley could have 4 Irish grandparents. Both on the father's side are Irish and the mother has an Irish background too. He was very much from the same sort of Irish Birmingham community as Jack Grealish in that he played a lot of GAA and the family are well known and liked in that circle per someone in that community.

And, yes, he's 25 but he hasn't done anything to suggest that he has developed into a player that will play on the international stage. At least with Hoolahan, for example, there was a trajectory.

[samhaydenjr]

I think Crowley could have 4 Irish grandparents. Both on the father's side are Irish and the mother has an Irish background too. He was very much from the same sort of Irish Birmingham community as Jack Grealish in that he played a lot of GAA and the family are well known and liked in that circle per someone in that community.

And, yes, he's 25 but he hasn't done anything to suggest that he has developed into a player that will play on the international stage. At least with Hoolahan, for example, there was a trajectory.
Yeah, at the age of 25, Wessi had just finished his first season in England,playing for Blackpool in League one, on loan from Livingston. Why wasn't he getting picked by Stan?

[samhaydenjr]

Hopefully it turns out to be a wise move for him.
Took me a moment but I see what you did there

[liamoo11]

Goal today and good performance it seems on his first start. Would wood love to see him in the squad don't see anyone else that brings that kind of creativity to us for games against weaker sides where we need to make chances or if we are chasing games

[tommy_c12000]

Jesus Liamoo, between Masterson and Crowley you’ve got some soft spots!! Dan is a bit away from a call up….

[DCWA]

Got a goal because keeper made complete mess of what should have been a straight forward enough palm away.

[liamoo11]

Got a goal because keeper made complete mess of what should have been a straight forward enough palm away.
Best we don't cap the keeper so thanks for the heads up

[liamoo11]

Jesus Liamoo, between Masterson and Crowley you’ve got some soft spots!! Dan is a bit away from a call up….

True! Still the fact is we have no creative number 10s so having that option off the bench seems reasonable to me. I'm not giving up the masterson dream just yet either!

[Eirambler]

Definitely time to give up on Masterson. And Crowley too, being honest.

[third policeman]

True! Still the fact is we have no creative number 10s so having that option off the bench seems reasonable to me. I'm not giving up the masterson dream just yet either!

I think Crowley’s potential will remain tragically unfulfilled. Moran looks like a potential 10 and Ronan was playing a similar role for St Mirren at time. I think even the MLS is a higher standard than League1, and even Byrne is probably a more credible candidate for that role than Crowley.

[samhaydenjr]

Goal today and good performance it seems on his first start. Would wood love to see him in the squad don't see anyone else that brings that kind of creativity to us for games against weaker sides where we need to make chances or if we are chasing games


Got a goal because keeper made complete mess of what should have been a straight forward enough palm away.

Also credited with two assists - so a very good day at the office


Jesus Liamoo, between Masterson and Crowley you’ve got some soft spots!! Dan is a bit away from a call up….


I think Crowley’s potential will remain tragically unfulfilled. Moran looks like a potential 10 and Ronan was playing a similar role for St Mirren at time. I think even the MLS is a higher standard than League1, and even Byrne is probably a more credible candidate for that role than Crowley.

Once again, Wessi - At the age of 25, Crowley's career record is surely superior to Hoolahan's - 60 appearances in the Eredivisie, 41 in the Championship, 50 in League One, 32 Eerste Divisie vs 5 years at Shelbourne, 16 SPL games for Livingston, one season in League One for Blackpool.

OK, Crowley's career has seemed to go backwards a bit since his first season at Birmingham but if today's performance is a sign of things to come, then he may yet become an option

[pineapple stu]

Released by Morecambe after they were relegated back to the fourth tier

[ontheotherhand]

Released by Morecambe after they were relegated back to the fourth tier

Would he possibly have been involved with the Championship / League One training camp in Turkey? I don't think I've heard Kenny mention him at all.

[Eirambler]

There's a reason for that!

[Trequartista20]

Willem II finished third in the Eerste Divisive and are in the promotion play-offs, so it may well turn out that Crowley would have been better off staying put.

[Exgrad]

Willem II finished third in the Eerste Divisive and are in the promotion play-offs, so it may well turn out that Crowley would have been better off staying put.

Maybe better for Willem that he didnt?

[liamoo11]

Dan signed for notts county so will be providing the assists for mcgoldrick this season. Needs a good season to be in a position to be on a new irish managers radar

[CraftyToePoke]

Needs a good season to be in a position to be on a new irish managers radar

Let it go man, for your own wellbeing ;) Never happening.

[liamoo11]

Let it go man, for your own wellbeing ;) Never happening.

It seems he has found God so Im Keeping the faith.

[Eminence Grise]

Crikey! That must have been some pass.

(With thanks to Jasper Carrott for that one...)

[CraftyToePoke]

Crikey! That must have been some pass.

It was a cross.

( coat on, going )

[liamoo11]

Crikey! That must have been some pass.

(With thanks to Jasper Carrott for that one...)

In fairness if he was in our squad I think he'd be the only one capable of making that pass!

[liamoo11]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67500212

I'm not a religious man myself but if it's good enough for Dan...

Would like to see the next manager involve crowley given.our lack of creativity.

[seanfhear]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67500212

I'm not a religious man myself but if it's good enough for Dan...

Would like to see the next manager involve crowley given.our lack of creativity. Praise the lord and pass the ball.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67500212

I'm not a religious man myself but if it's good enough for Dan...

Would like to see the next manager involve crowley given.our lack of creativity.

From League Two?

That said, he seems to be ripping it up there. 8 goals and 3 assists from midfield in 18 games. Would be interesting to see if he can make his way back up the divisions but it was only last season that he put up fairly underwhelming stats in League One.

[nigel-harps1954]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67500212

I'm not a religious man myself but if it's good enough for Dan...

Would like to see the next manager involve crowley given.our lack of creativity.

If League Two is used as a stick to batter James McClean with, then Crowley shouldn't be anywhere near the equation.

[liamoo11]

If League Two is used as a stick to batter James McClean with, then Crowley shouldn't be anywhere near the equation.

Totally different situation. We have no creative midfield and crowley offers that. The question with crowley has been his physical capabilities not his technical creative ability

[Eirambler]

I think the thing is now though that we do have creative midfielders emerging in Moran, Azaz and potentially McAteer. With those lads coming through I think we can safely forget about Crowley, and any other League 2 player born before 2000 now.

[JR89]

I think the thing is now though that we do have creative midfielders emerging in Moran, Azaz and potentially McAteer. With those lads coming through I think we can safely forget about Crowley, and any other League 2 player born before 2000 now.

Ogbene, Johnston, Moran, Azaz, potentially McAteer and Szmodics. Parrott starting to find his feet in Holland. Surely there's enough talent there along with Ferguson that the new manager can work a bit of magic with.

[nigel-harps1954]

Totally different situation. We have no creative midfield and crowley offers that. The question with crowley has been his physical capabilities not his technical creative ability

By this argument, if Jack Byrne needs to be playing at a higher level than League of Ireland, Crowley needs to be at a higher level than League Two.

[samhaydenjr]

When it comes to McClean and Crowley, bear in mind that they were brought into League Two by ambitious owners willing to pay for higher-league players in order to move up the ladder, so essentially they are League One/Championship players playing for teams in League Two. Now for McClean, it's just like a cow's opinion, a moo point.

For Crowley, in the end, you would have to say that there are enough options ahead of him right now, with a couple more in the pipeline. But by the time we start our next qualifying campaign, there's a good chance he'll be back in League One, or even The Championship, and he should be judged by where he is then, not where he is now.

That said, it is time in his career to really move things on, if he does want to play internationally.

[liamoo11]

By this argument, if Jack Byrne needs to be playing at a higher level than League of Ireland, Crowley needs to be at a higher level than League Two.


When it comes to McClean and Crowley, bear in mind that they were brought into League Two by ambitious owners willing to pay for higher-league players in order to move up the ladder, so essentially they are League One/Championship players playing for teams in League Two. Now for McClean, it's just like a cow's opinion, a moo point.

For Crowley, in the end, you would have to say that there are enough options ahead of him right now, with a couple more in the pipeline. But by the time we start our next qualifying campaign, there's a good chance he'll be back in League One, or even The Championship, and he should be judged by where he is then, not where he is now.

That said, it is time in his career to really move things on, if he does want to play internationally.

All very fair I think.

[CraftyToePoke]

Liamoo, your hero Dan Crowley turned up to sign on loan at Peterborough United one time, and its a city centre stadium with a gravelled car park mostly. A little stone flew up and hit his fancy automobile so he told them all he wouldn't be playing anywhere with such sh it parking etc etc & off he went & they left him off.

[liamoo11]

Liamoo, your hero Dan Crowley turned up to sign on loan at Peterborough United one time, and its a city centre stadium with a gravelled car park mostly. A little stone flew up and hit his fancy automobile so he told them all he wouldn't be playing anywhere with such sh it parking etc etc & off he went & they left him off.

That was before he found God I'd say!

I've no doubt he is a complex character but I also know we have minimal creativity in our current side and crowley offers us the possibility of that

[seanfhear]

On the road to Damascus !

[Eminence Grise]

For everyone's sake I hope that Damascene road leads to Serie A not Syria!

[liamoo11]

https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/dan-crowley-202324-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics

An analysis of him at Notts County.

[Diggs246]

Liamoo, your hero Dan Crowley turned up to sign on loan at Peterborough United one time, and its a city centre stadium with a gravelled car park mostly. A little stone flew up and hit his fancy automobile so he told them all he wouldn't be playing anywhere with such sh it parking etc etc & off he went & they left him off.
If that's true. He is a lem and we are better off without his limited ability

[seanfhear]

If that's true. He is a lem and we are better off without his limited ability
Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone ~ ~ Except not in a car park obviously ! !

[JR89]

When it comes to McClean and Crowley, bear in mind that they were brought into League Two by ambitious owners willing to pay for higher-league players in order to move up the ladder, so essentially they are League One/Championship players playing for teams in League Two. Now for McClean, it's just like a cow's opinion, a moo point.

For Crowley, in the end, you would have to say that there are enough options ahead of him right now, with a couple more in the pipeline. But by the time we start our next qualifying campaign, there's a good chance he'll be back in League One, or even The Championship, and he should be judged by where he is then, not where he is now.

That said, it is time in his career to really move things on, if he does want to play internationally.

Maybe Crowley has just found his level though. Spent half a season on loan at Hull who won League One but he was mostly a sub. They could have signed him for nothing that summer but didn't and he signs a six month contract with Cheltenham. Rejoins Willem were he plays half a season of Eredivisie and half a season in the second tier before returning to Morecambe on a six month contract who get relegated from League One.

[liamoo11]

Maybe Crowley has just found his level though. Spent half a season on loan at Hull who won League One but he was mostly a sub. They could have signed him for nothing that summer but didn't and he signs a six month contract with Cheltenham. Rejoins Willem were he plays half a season of Eredivisie and half a season in the second tier before returning to Morecambe on a six month contract who get relegated from League One.

He absolutely may have reached his club football level. That's not to say that we would not benefit from.having him involved given how chronically short in creativity we are. We have seen that players like browne Knight ogbene etc while excellent professionals and athletes don't offer us guile or creativity so we struggle to create chances even against mid ranking sides like Greece not to mind the Dutch or French. If a league 2 footballer has this skill set and we don't have any or many other players higher up the football pyramid who possess those particular qualities then why not involve him? If we had 3 creative midfielder s playing in top leagues s in Europe like we do with centre halves or keepers then I wouldn't be pushing for Dan

[Diggs246]

He absolutely may have reached his club football level. That's not to say that we would not benefit from.having him involved given how chronically short in creativity we are. We have seen that players like browne Knight ogbene etc while excellent professionals and athletes don't offer us guile or creativity so we struggle to create chances even against mid ranking sides like Greece not to mind the Dutch or French. If a league 2 footballer has this skill set and we don't have any or many other players higher up the football pyramid who possess those particular qualities then why not involve him? If we had 3 creative midfielder s playing in top leagues s in Europe like we do with centre halves or keepers then I wouldn't be pushing for Dan

I think Sammie S or Andrew moran, might be the key to unlocking Fergusons magic. I'm of a view we should be playing a 4-4--1-1 ( 4-5-1)

Let's push Collins up beside Cullen
Johnson on the left and ogbene on the right.

[JR89]

He absolutely may have reached his club football level. That's not to say that we would not benefit from.having him involved given how chronically short in creativity we are. We have seen that players like browne Knight ogbene etc while excellent professionals and athletes don't offer us guile or creativity so we struggle to create chances even against mid ranking sides like Greece not to mind the Dutch or French. If a league 2 footballer has this skill set and we don't have any or many other players higher up the football pyramid who possess those particular qualities then why not involve him? If we had 3 creative midfielder s playing in top leagues s in Europe like we do with centre halves or keepers then I wouldn't be pushing for Dan

Where were these skill sets when he was playing in the Championship or League 1? He's ended up in League 2 for a reason because no half decent team thinks he contributes enough to sign him. So it's either battling relegation in League One or join a League 2 team that wants to gain promotion.

Andy Moran and Finn Azaz. Just two players doing it in the Championship. And with Finn Azaz he's made that step up each season from League 2 whereas Crowley is making that step down with each club he joins.

[zero]

Where were these skill sets when he was playing in the Championship or League 1? He's ended up in League 2 for a reason because no half decent team thinks he contributes enough to sign him. So it's either battling relegation in League One or join a League 2 team that wants to gain promotion.

Andy Moran and Finn Azaz. Just two players doing it in the Championship. And with Finn Azaz he's made that step up each season from League 2 whereas Crowley is making that step down with each club he joins.

let's not rule him out just yet. Wes didn't really get motoring fully til the Norwich move when he was 26 or 27 and his best football came in his early to mid 30s.

[samhaydenjr]

I think Sammie S or Andrew moran, might be the key to unlocking Fergusons magic. I'm of a view we should be playing a 4-4--1-1 ( 4-5-1)

Let's push Collins up beside Cullen
Johnson on the left and ogbene on the right.

I was thinking of the players we have and I started looking at 3-4-1-2 - we have a lot of talented centre-backs, so three at the back will utilize them. We've had problems with shots from distance so let's put two defensive midfielders in front of the back three for extra protection - Cullen as one and the second will depend on the circumstances - somebody more defensive for games against stronger opponents, like Collins, or a box-to-box player with a license to move up against middling or weaker teams. Two fast wing backs to give us width in attack; An advanced midfielder, that can again be flexible - an agent of chaos like Ogbene against stronger teams, a more creative type like Moran for unlocking tight defences put out by weaker opposition. Up front, Ferguson partnered by Obafemi (hopefully), with Obafemi able to drop back if needed to support the advanced midfielder, making it a 3-4-2-1. We can even put Idah up front with Ferguson, if we need to resort to hoofball at any point.

And just to keep this on topic, with the emergence of Moran, Azaz and hopefully Hodge, Crowley is probably still well away from a place. The only way he could really come into contention would probably be to get picked up by a Championship club in the next few transfer windows and really impress.

[Eirambler]

let's not rule him out just yet. Wes didn't really get motoring fully til the Norwich move when he was 26 or 27 and his best football came in his early to mid 30s.

Have to say I'm happy enough to rule him out. Would be very surprised if he ever won a cap for us, unless maybe if we go on one of those end of season US tours that nobody cares about again and 20 other players drop out.