Jack Byrne (M Shamrock Rovers b.1996)

[pineapple stu]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLS_performance_in_the_CONCACAF_Champions_League

I don't follow it but wouldn't the increase in teams getting to the quarters not indicate some degree of improvement stu? That as well as the improving results against teams from Mexico?

Where would you rank the Mexican league/MLS on a global scale? Or versus the English leagues as that's probably easier? League 1/2? I wouldn't have a clue.

Well there's only 16 teams in it, so getting to the quarters just means winning one round.

It's very hard to say where the leagues come in a global context because they don't really play against each other. A CONCACAF side has only once made the final of the World Club Cup (last year), but it's hard to know how much of a marker that is.

But I think if the MLS was "a very, very good league", it would be better than the Mexican league. And it's clearly not, by a long way. (That's not to say it's not improving, but I think it's a way off being "very very good")

The wage bill for the entire MLS - all 27 clubs - is around the same as Manchester United's. Half of all players each less than €3.5k per week - average League One salary is €5k per week. (I know I'm comparing median and average there, but it's illustrative)

I'm using the argument that salary equates to quality, which doesn't necessarily stack up, but I think studies generally show that there's a very good correlation.

(Also, which had me confused - my stat of two finalists in 20 years differs to that link, where it gives four, but I wasn't counting the Canadian teams, which I should have)

[nigel-harps1954]

Wilfried Zahibo arrived to Dundalk this year as an MLS all-star. He's been a bit crap in the LOI after great success in MLS.

I can only therefore suggest LOI is far higher standard than MLS.

[DCWA]

Wilfried Zahibo arrived to Dundalk this year as an MLS all-star. He's been a bit crap in the LOI after great success in MLS.

I can only therefore suggest LOI is far higher standard than MLS.

That throws our previous conclusion that the LOI is crap because Byrne is being told to bugger off by APOEL up into the air then so we are back to scratch.

Would current Ireland squad win the MLS if we got them into the eastern championship as a franchise ? Could we move to CONCACAF and play in the Gold Cup? Would we win that?

[ontheotherhand]

So we have Apoel > Jack Byrne > Rovers > MLS = .......Jack is coming home?

[Colbert Report]

Wilfried Zahibo arrived to Dundalk this year as an MLS all-star. He's been a bit crap in the LOI after great success in MLS.

I can only therefore suggest LOI is far higher standard than MLS.

He was an all-star in MLS three years ago, not last year.

[Colbert Report]

I watch MLS week in and week out, and it is definitely not up to the English Championship standard, which I also watch weekly. I'd say L1/L2 standard with most teams having one or two players that are has beens cashing in on their name before they retire, and one or two young players, mostly from South America, who might make it in a big league in Europe down the line.

Jack Byrne wouldn't make it in MLS as the league is far too physical. Steven Gerrard got shock when he came over here and Robbie Keane was dropped for the last month of his career in LA because he just couldn't keep up to the pace anymore.

[geysir]

I watch MLS week in and week out, and it is definitely not up to the English Championship standard, which I also watch weekly. I'd say L1/L2 standard with most teams having one or two players that are has beens cashing in on their name before they retire, and one or two young players, mostly from South America, who might make it in a big league in Europe down the line.

Jack Byrne wouldn't make it in MLS as the league is far too physical. Steven Gerrard got shock when he came over here and Robbie Keane was dropped for the last month of his career in LA because he just couldn't keep up to the pace anymore.

Robbie was a grandfather by that stage, after a long illustrious career with Galaxy, one that was even worthy of a statue in his honour.

[the 12 th man]

My mate

Lucky man.

[ColourfulPeanut]

Robbie was a grandfather by that stage, after a long illustrious career with Galaxy, one that was even worthy of a statue in his honour.
Yeah I don't see why Robbie is thrown in there. He went over at 31 and smashed goals in there for 5 seasons.

Jack Byrne is entering his physical prime, physicality is no excuse for him. This all comes back to this cliche that a lot of Irish fans throw around, that any vaguely technical, average player we have should go "play on the continent as it suits their style more" which is utter nonsense. Like the only thing holding them back is playing in English football.

Gerrard was physically done by the time he arrived in LA at 35, Jack has no such excuse.

[Diggs246]

Lucky man.

I dont believe him!

[Diggs246]

Robbie was a grandfather by that stage, after a long illustrious career with Galaxy, one that was even worthy of a statue in his honour.

Really? I knew becks got a statue, but did robbie get one?

[mark12345]

Mexican league would be slightly stronger in my opinion but the gap is closing. MLS is improving year in year out and at this point in time has supplied European leagues with a decent amount of talent

[pineapple stu]

MLS at this point in time has supplied European leagues with a decent amount of talent
Has it?

A couple of decent youngsters have come from the MLS for sure (Alphonso Davies a good recent example), but that should the case of any league. They go to Europe to finish development and that doesn't really reflect the standard of the MLS. The number of players who left the MLS for Europe last year (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Soccer_transfers_2020) was tiny for example, and that includes some retirees returning home (Rooney and Zlatan the obvious two).

I think that list of transfers argues quite strongly against the idea that the MLS is supplying European leagues with a decent amount of talent. The 2019 list (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Soccer_transfers_2019) isn't much better.

[irishfan86]

It’s just a bit of a strange league in that there can be a range of salaries and talents that you rarely see in a European league. Every team has its stars, but in MLS, that gap in pay and quality is huge. The Vancouver Whitecaps just recruited Scotsman Ryan Gauld who was considered one of the best players in the Portuguese league and wanted by Norwich this summer. He’s 25 and in his prime and came to Vancouver for the money. Three goals in three games arriving mid season with no match fitness and could definitely play at a higher level.

Then you’ve got guys on the fringe of the starting lineup who are quite inexperienced or journeymen that might find it tough to get regular minutes in League 1 or 2.

I am based in Vancouver and don’t watch much LoI so my knowledge is limited to Byrne’s Ireland appearances. I was impressed vs Bulgaria and there’s definitely something about him. In MLS I think the challenge is he’s not enough star power to qualify as a Designated Player, and if he’s a bit injury prone, it might be a bad league for him due to the physicality and focus on more athletic players.

The reality is we are currently picking League 1 players in our squad. If Byrne went to MLS and did well, I believe he should be considered for selection.

[Colbert Report]

Released by APOEL FC today. He had twenty-one months left on a twenty-nine month contract.

[tetsujin1979]

Good interview with Alan Cawley
1519234753433583616

[paul_oshea]

https://audioboom.com/posts/8073263-s3-e9-cawleys-call-alan-is-joined-in-studio-by-shamrock-rovers-jack-byrne-and-life-long-frien

Twitter doesn't work on a lot of firewalls so just provided the link directly.