Sean Maguire F Carlisle United b.1994

[DeLorean]

I'm not sure being tried and tested for fifteen minutes against Belarus alters things much really.

[tetsujin1979]

Maybe so, although international managers have damageable egos too. And, whatever about pundits and fans, an international manager still ought to at least care about what the association, upon whom his job and livelihood depend, think of his performance and choices.

My theory about internationals managers possibly being fearful of taking a risk when other perceived "safer" options are available is actually somewhat based upon something I read in relation to the apparent reluctance of English clubs to employ black managers (on page 112 of Soccernomics [PDF] in the chapter on racial discrimination (http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23525044/1262928679/name/Socceronomics.pdf)):



Obviously, League of Ireland players aren't suffering racial prejudice, but their ability is seemingly doubted until a manager from England decides (perhaps reassuringly for the international manager in charge) to put faith in their ability too. Only then, do the players seem to get recognition. In the case of Brian Lenihan who moved from Cork to Hull, he received a surprise call-up as soon as he stepped off the plane in England.

Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were notable exceptions last season in being called into a final 23/28-man squad whilst still at Dundalk*, but, even then, as I pointed out above (http://foot.ie/threads/186367-Sean-Maguire?p=1915321&viewfull=1#post1915321), O'Neill had an ideal opportunity to go one step further and hand the ridiculously-in-form Horgan his debut against Austria, but declined to do so. Horgan would have been the first League of Ireland player to feature in a competitive international for Ireland since Shamrock Rovers' Pat Byrne lined out against Denmark in 1985.

*I acknowledge Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers also made squads to play Oman and Serbia last year, but he'd already been in and around the set-up for a while as a convenient training keeper (despite being error-prone and nowhere near the best keeper in the League of Ireland), we were very stretched in the back-up goalkeeping department and the position is a bit of an anomaly anyway.
Barnes' problems are more to do not being a good manager. He got his first job in charge of Celtic, and (after an admittedly promising start) was woeful at it. It's not a Premier League job, but at the time it was the second biggest job in Scotland. He didn't do much better at Tranmere.

[topia]

Maybe so, although international managers have damageable egos too. And, whatever about pundits and fans, an international manager still ought to at least care about what the association, upon whom his job and livelihood depend, think of his performance and choices.

My theory about internationals managers possibly being fearful of taking a risk when other perceived "safer" options are available is actually somewhat based upon something I read in relation to the apparent reluctance of English clubs to employ black managers (on page 112 of Soccernomics [PDF] in the chapter on racial discrimination (xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23525044/1262928679/name/Socceronomics.pdf)):



Obviously, League of Ireland players aren't suffering racial prejudice, but their ability is seemingly doubted until a manager from England decides (perhaps reassuringly for the international manager in charge) to put faith in their ability too. Only then, do the players seem to get recognition. In the case of Brian Lenihan who moved from Cork to Hull, he received a surprise call-up as soon as he stepped off the plane in England.

Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were notable exceptions last season in being called into a final 23/28-man squad whilst still at Dundalk*, but, even then, as I pointed out above (http://foot.ie/threads/186367-Sean-Maguire?p=1915321&viewfull=1#post1915321), O'Neill had an ideal opportunity to go one step further and hand the ridiculously-in-form Horgan his debut against Austria, but declined to do so. Horgan would have been the first League of Ireland player to feature in a competitive international for Ireland since Shamrock Rovers' Pat Byrne lined out against Denmark in 1985.

*I acknowledge Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers also made squads to play Oman and Serbia last year, but he'd already been in and around the set-up for a while as a convenient training keeper (despite being error-prone and nowhere near the best keeper in the League of Ireland), we were very stretched in the back-up goalkeeping department and the position is a bit of an anomaly anyway.

I worded it in a bad way... I agree that he might be fearful... I just think it's ridiculous!
All he has to do is add any potential player to one of his ridiculously large training squads instead of another marginal player such as Gleeson and check them out. Noone is going to judge him for that and it would be far more beneficial.

[DannyInvincible]

Barnes' problems are more to do not being a good manager.

Sure, he wasn't a good manager, but plenty of white coaches/trainers/managers/ex-players are repeatedly given jobs on the managerial merry-go-round (in significantly greater numbers proportionately compared to the number of their black counterparts who are given managerial roles) despite not being very good either. The theory (which is backed by data) is that the colour of their skin is an additional "impediment" or "handicap" to career progression for black coaches/trainers/managers/ex-players due to existing societal prejudices atop of what may be the bounds or frame of their abilities.

[DannyInvincible]

Maguire's goal against Derry last night to put Cork 3-0 up (see from 1m37s):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3vbrGMHRRg#t=1m37s

His eighth of the season out of eight games played.

[DannyInvincible]

According to a report in the Irish Daily Star, Maguire is to be called into the senior international squad for the friendly against Uruguay: http://www.punditarena.com/football/sokeefe/maguire-ireland-friendly-uruguay/


According to the Irish Daily Star on Tuesday, Maguire is set to be called up the the senior national team for the friendly against Uruguay at the Aviva Stadium on June 4th.

Ireland play three matches in early June, but Maguire is likely to only be involved in one of them. The report states that the former under-21 international will not be taken to New Jersey with the rest of the squad to face Mexico on June 1st due to Cork City’s clash with Dundalk the following day, while the chances of him being thrown in against Austria in a World Cup qualifier on June 11th would appear to be remote.

[tetsujin1979]

So, a report in the Star, that was copied by Pundit Arena (who have a dodgy reputation as it is) says he'll be included in a squad that won't be announced for at least a month, for a game that's a further month away.

[DeLorean]

Interview with him here after winning player of the month. He speaks about the possibility of an Ireland call up as well as his desire to play again in England or, perhaps interestingly, in Europe.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/cork-city-hitman-sean-maguire-sets-sights-on-the-title-447581.html

[DannyInvincible]

"'Time will tell if we decide to pursue it any more' - Preston boss on Seán Maguire": http://www.the42.ie/preston-boss-on-sean-maguire-3360372-Apr2017/


[Simon] Grayson and Lilywhites chairman Peter Ridsdale even turned up to watch Maguire play, as league leaders Cork beat St Pat’s 3-0 at Richmond Park on Friday.

“I know quite a bit about the player,” Grayson told BBC Radio Lancashire (https://audioboom.com/posts/5858042-pnefc-boss-simon-grayson-on-reported-interest-in-corkcityfc-striker-sean-maguire). “I got a free opportunity to go and watch him with us not playing (against Newcastle) until Monday. Time will tell if we decide to pursue it any more. He’s obviously a player that people are looking at and it was a perfect opportunity to go and look at him in live match time rather than the internet.”

[DannyInvincible]

According to Neil O'Riordan, Maguire has a buy-out clause of €150,000 in his contract, meaning he'll likely leave Cork in July if an interested club is willing to match that amount: https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/913154/cork-city-stand-to-lose-star-striker-sean-maguire-for-tiny-fee-this-summer-with-preston-north-end-keen-to-do-a-deal/


SunSport has learned the prolific ace has a buy-out clause [of €150,000] in his contract which means he can leave Turner’s Cross for the modest sum in July.

...

With Maguire, the club will argue it had no choice but to agree to the clause to persuade him to sign a new deal amid UK and Belgian interest and, given he will be available for free in November anyway, it was the best they could hope for.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Celtic the latest team to scout him.

[elroy]

After a strong start, seems like Horgan dropped to the bench a lot lately. Anyone know more?

[DannyInvincible]

'Martin O'Neill open to calling up Maguire': https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0505/872822-martin-oneill/


O'Neill too has shown his willingness to give domestic talent a chance on the international stage, and he is keeping the door open for Maguire to make the step up.

"Of course I'd consider him," O'Neill told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue. "I have plucked players from the League of Ireland, and I'm not averse to that at all - absolutely not. I'll have a look at it. The young lad's done very, very well. I saw quite a few games last season; not so much this season I must admit, when he's doing well. But it's pretty easy for me to get the games now. In terms of bringing someone in, again, I'm not averse to that. I want them to feel as if they've earned that right."

[DannyInvincible]

Maguire scores his tenth league goal of the season tonight to put Cork 2-0 up at home to Finn Harps.

Edit: Maguire assists a third for Cork.

Edit: Maguire scores a penalty to put Cork 5-0 up.

Edit: Video of the penalty here: https://twitter.com/corkcityfcnews/status/860593414890545157

[DannyInvincible]

Maguire scored twice tonight in Cork's 5-0 victory over Drogheda.

[nigel-harps1954]

What's the chances of a call up to replace Long now I'd wonder?

[DannyInvincible]

What's the chances of a call up to replace Long now I'd wonder?

Did O'Neill mean that there were other players who weren't named in the provisional squad who would currently be ahead of Maguire when he said (https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/1001939/martin-oneill-defends-decision-to-leave-cillian-sheridan-and-sean-maguire-out-of-ireland-squad/) the following?: "If [Maguire] continues to progress, there's no reason why he can’t make it but there are people ahead of him in terms of experience as much as anything."

If so, I wonder who they are...

Or was O'Neill simply referring to those players already named in the provisional squad as being the people ahead of Maguire? If that's the case, then I suppose there could be a chance of Maguire getting a nod now that we're very short on out-and-out striking options, or it'll just mean Rooney or McGoldrick (who usually miss out on the final cut, if I'm not mistaken) getting promoted to the final squad when it's named.

Does anyone know if the entire provisional squad is heading to the US or will it be cut down before travelling?

O'Neill also explained the exclusion of Cillian Sheridan similarly to how he explained Maguire's: "Of course [Sheridan] was under consideration. Other people are in front of him at this moment but we are certainly keeping a close eye on him."

Who between Maguire and Sheridan would be higher in the pecking order at present, I wonder?

[samhaydenjr]

Did O'Neill mean that there were other players who weren't named in the provisional squad who would currently be ahead of Maguire when he said (https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/1001939/martin-oneill-defends-decision-to-leave-cillian-sheridan-and-sean-maguire-out-of-ireland-squad/) the following?: "If [Maguire] continues to progress, there's no reason why he can’t make it but there are people ahead of him in terms of experience as much as anything."

If so, I wonder who they are...

Or was O'Neill simply referring to those players already named in the provisional squad as being the people ahead of Maguire? If that's the case, then I suppose there could be a chance of Maguire getting a nod now that we're very short on out-and-out striking options, or it'll just mean Rooney or McGoldrick (who usually miss out on the final cut, if I'm not mistaken) getting promoted to the final squad when it's named.

As you said, McGoldrick and Rooney for starters and probably Sheridan. And while I'm usually fairly optimistic I think I need to be a bit more realistic about Maguire - people are talking about him as though it's inevitable that he'll follow in the footsteps of Kevin Doyle and make an immediate impact at Championship level by the end of this year (and I certainly hope that happens), but it's also possible that he ends up like other highly touted Cork City strikers: Dave Mooney, John O'Flynn and Roy O'Donovan, who did make a step up in their careers but not enough to become full internationals. With that in mind, it could be argued that League One strikers like Billy Clarke, Aiden O'Brien and Paddy Madden could have as much of a claim to a spot in a squad if it were depleted.



Who between Maguire and Sheridan would be higher in the pecking order at present, I wonder?

Probably Sheridan, based on the level he's playing at right now

[backstothewall]

Who between Maguire and Sheridan would be higher in the pecking order at present, I wonder?

With all due to respect and a hearty GRMA to a hero of Irish football, I'd argue both should be ahead of Doyle.

[DannyInvincible]

Shane Keegan, the manager of Galway United, discusses Maguire's international hopes on Pundit Arena's football podcast: http://www.punditarena.com/football/sokeefe/keegan-manning-maguire-ireland/

Keegan's Galway played against Cork last week but he also knows Maguire from his days as head of youth development in the Kilkenny District League.


No doubt I’d have absolutely loved to have seen Sean get called up. He’s a fella I still have a decent relationship with, we’d be texting on and off around events and that. I don’t think he can do a whole lot more at the moment in terms of putting himself in the shop window. Just looking at quotes yesterday, Martin [O’Neill] felt that there was still a few players in front of him in the pecking order, but I don’t know when the squad size is unlimited.

If it’s a case of you have to name a 22-man squad and naming Sean and somebody else is missing out, well then I can see there’s only so many spots, but when it is unlimited I don’t really see what the negatives could have been in naming Sean for it. But look, hopefully Sean will keep banging in goals (just not against us) and he might get that call-up again all going well shortly.

[DeLorean]

And while I'm usually fairly optimistic I think I need to be a bit more realistic about Maguire - people are talking about him as though it's inevitable that he'll follow in the footsteps of Kevin Doyle and make an immediate impact at Championship level by the end of this year (and I certainly hope that happens), but it's also possible that he ends up like other highly touted Cork City strikers: Dave Mooney, John O'Flynn and Roy O'Donovan, who did make a step up in their careers but not enough to become full internationals. With that in mind, it could be argued that League One strikers like Billy Clarke, Aiden O'Brien and Paddy Madden could have as much of a claim to a spot in a squad if it were depleted.

You're right of course but I don't think anybody thinks it's inevitable that Maguire will go and tear up the Championship, it's a huge step up and I'm pretty sure everybody would accept that. The difference I would see between Maguire and the others you named is that we know their level at this stage and it's probably a bit short of international football to be fair. We don't know what Maguire is capable of yet so in that context I don't think it would be any harm to try to find out ourselves, given the situation we are in regarding our striking options.

[DannyInvincible]

With the squad gathering in Fota Island for a training camp before heading to the US, you'd think/hope it'd be deemed worthwhile to get Maguire down, even if it was just for him to train with the squad (a bit like Gary Rogers' involvement on a few occasions). It would allow O'Neill to make a better assessment of the player as he'd get the chance to judge Maguire against the rest of the squad who are playing at a higher level.

I presume Maguire lives in or near Cork city?... Fota Island is less than a half-an-hour's drive away, so bringing the lad in would hardly be a hassle or costly. If it wasn't to work out, no big loss. If Maguire was to prove himself up to it, however, the potential benefit would be a striker for the long term with a clinical finishing ability. It seems like a no-brainer.

[DannyInvincible]

Dan McDonnell reports (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/roy-keane-england-move-would-help-maguire-35757723.html) that Preston are "expected to activate [Maguire's] €150,000 release clause" and states that "advanced discussions [are believed to] have already taken place, with the main detail to be thrashed out revolving around his point of departure", as keeping Maguire at Cork for a portion of July would allow him to play for Cork in their opening Europa League qualifying fixture as well as league games.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane has stated that Maguire will have to bide his time for an international call-up and has reiterated that there are a number of options still ahead of him:


We have looked at Sean, we've seen him live on a few occasions - the manager has - he's doing well and he has to keep doing well. There is talk of him maybe getting a move and if that happens we'll probably get more opportunities to see him. But there are just a few players ahead of him at this moment in time but that's all pretty normal. There is nothing untoward.

He needs to keep doing the business, keep putting the ball in the back of the net and keep knocking on the door and eventually, like the other lads here… you have to be patient. I know we have Shane Long injured but there are lads ahead of him, people like Jon Walters, James McClean can play through the middle, Daryl Murphy has never let us down, there are good options there for us. We see Kevin Long coming into the squad at 26. I'm not saying Maguire will have to wait that long but sometimes you have to be patient in this game."

[nigel-harps1954]

Magic plane is getting refueled ahead of the August/September international games.

[samhaydenjr]

Dan McDonnell reports (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/roy-keane-england-move-would-help-maguire-35757723.html) that Preston are "expected to activate [Maguire's] €150,000 release clause" and states that "advanced discussions [are believed to] have already taken place, with the main detail to be thrashed out revolving around his point of departure", as keeping Maguire at Cork for a portion of July would allow him to play for Cork in their opening Europa League qualifying fixture as well as league games.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane has stated that Maguire will have to bide his time for an international call-up and has reiterated that there are a number of options still ahead of him:

If more than one club are interested, could a bidding war erupt, and could City decide where he ends up? Or does Maguire have the option of just going to the first place that offers 150k?

[DannyInvincible]

Once the release clause is triggered, I would assume Cork have no further legal control over the situation. If Cork are able to get Preston to agree to allowing Maguire to stay at Cork for a portion of July, I suspect it would be as a gesture of good will on Preston's part.

[pineapple stu]

If more than one club are interested, could a bidding war erupt, and could City decide where he ends up? Or does Maguire have the option of just going to the first place that offers 150k?
The only bidding war would be over Maguire's wages. Cork would be stuck with 150k regardless.

(Source - all the times it's happened me in Championship Manager...)

[nigel-harps1954]

Little bit short sighted on Corks part to have put such a small release fee on his contract. They'd have easily got another €100k on top of that.

[DannyInvincible]

Little bit short sighted on Corks part to have put such a small release fee on his contract. They'd have easily got another €100k on top of that.

Cork had little choice but to agree to the inclusion of the small-fee release clause in the contract in order to persuade Maguire to sign a new deal at a time when there was interest in him from the UK and Belgian interest. Also, he'll be available for free in November anyway, so Cork didn't have a huge deal of bargaining power.

[DannyInvincible]

'Cork City talisman Sean Maguire set to join Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle in Preston': http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/cork-city-talisman-sean-maguire-10502325


Sean Maguire looks set to sign a three-year deal with Preston this summer.

Mirror Sport understands the Championship club are now confident they have their man in a crushing but inevitable blow for Cork City.

[DannyInvincible]

Maguire has scored twice tonight for Cork away to Dundalk. Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane are in attendance. Still 20 minutes to go.

[Olé Olé]

They were both brilliant finishes too. One touch but real poacher's finishes. The second was a delightful glancing header. Both borne from his elusive movement.

He looks good in all around play too. It's a bit more difficult for him though as he's somewhat isolated and is tightly marked by two men when he gets it.

Ryan Delaney is centre back for Cork. He looks a prospect. 20 years and is big and moves well too. On loan from Burton Albion.

[DannyInvincible]

Hat-trick for Maguire.

[Olé Olé]

Hat-trick. Capitalises on a Dundalk mistake and lifts it over the keeper with a deft finish. Food for thought for the management.

EDIT: The way he lifted that ball over the keeper and his body shape doing it reminded me of Robbie against Germany in 2002...

[DannyInvincible]

Video of Maguire's first goal against Dundalk: https://streamable.com/uarmo

His second: https://streamable.com/jk0ac

And the third: https://streamable.com/43tjg

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Preston are supposedly targeting Kevin O'Connor too.

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/1084314/preston-plotting-a-swoop-for-cork-city-stars-kevin-oconnor-and-sean-maguire/

[DeLorean]

Joining Preston at the end of July - http://mobile.pnefc.net//news/article/2016-17/sean-maguire-to-join-preston-north-end-in-july-3728500.aspx

[Olé Olé]

Joining Preston at the end of July - http://mobile.pnefc.net//news/article/2016-17/sean-maguire-to-join-preston-north-end-in-july-3728500.aspx

Seemed to be Preston for a while. Great to see they have given him a 3 year deal. Good show of faith.

[Stuttgart88]

Great stuff. He should be catapulted into the Austria XI now :)

[DeLorean]

He might have a better chance of getting a game for them but I don't think he qualifies. :o

[DannyInvincible]

Frankly perplexing comments from O'Neill in relation to Maguire: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0603/880085-maguire-not-ready-for-austria/

When asked about why Maguire hasn't been called upon, O'Neill said the following:


I can consider a lot of things, but at the end of it all, putting someone so young and so inexperienced into the Austria game would be a really tough ask, a really tough ask. In terms of people coming to train, I’ve never had a problem with that and sometimes they pick up a few things that would help them with experience, so I’d have a look at [the possibility of bringing him in].

But in terms of someone starting a game against Austria, which is a really, really important match, with no experience, I think that would be a tough call for the player.

O'Neill is erecting a total strawman there. Nobody was saying that Maguire should start against Austria. It's just bizarre waffle to even speak in those terms, as if someone had seriously suggested it. What people had suggested was to bring Maguire in to train with the squad, maybe give him a run-out in one or both of the friendlies and see how he fares.

If O'Neill has no problem with bringing people in to have a look at them, as he claims and which is really what people who appreciate Maguire's abilities have been suggesting, then why didn't he bring Maguire in to train with the squad in Fota Island, which is only a few miles down the road from Cork?

O'Neill did at least say he was very impressed by Maguire last night, although he also admitted that he missed the last goal, which came in stoppage time, as he had departed Oriel Park in the 83rd minute. :confused:

[tetsujin1979]

Not too surprised that he left early, I've been to games where visiting players and management have left before full time to avoid the requests for photos, autographs, etc

[mark12345]

Seemed to be Preston for a while. Great to see they have given him a 3 year deal. Good show of faith.

Super important now that Maguire end his LOI season as soon as possible and get some rest before pre-season training and a long and grueling season in English Championship.
The lack of rest has affected Horgan and Boyle's performances at Preston

[Pablo Escobar]

Super important now that Maguire end his LOI season as soon as possible and get some rest before pre-season training and a long and grueling season in English Championship.
The lack of rest has affected Horgan and Boyle's performances at Preston

What's important is that he continues to perform throughout our European campaign as long as he's available. He can print off the boarding pass then along with his invitation to Ireland training.

[DannyInvincible]

Super important now that Maguire end his LOI season as soon as possible and get some rest before pre-season training and a long and grueling season in English Championship.
The lack of rest has affected Horgan and Boyle's performances at Preston

As has been agreed by both clubs, he'll remain at Cork for most of July so as to enable him to play up to the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League, if Cork make it that far.

[mark12345]

As has been agreed by both clubs, he'll remain at Cork for most of July so as to enable him to play up to the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League, if Cork make it that far.

Sort of crazy on Seanie's part. No doubt he wants to play for Cork in Europe - it would be strange if he didn't. But he's going to be knackered by the time October / November comes around. And then comes the heavy pitches in England. A recipe for injuries wouldn't you say. And where does that leave his Ireland career at a time when we are crying out for a bona fide striker? And then of course there is the chance that he gets seriously injured for Cork and the transfer to Preston is called off.

[DannyInvincible]

Obviously, it's his decision as the release clause was met and the transfer window opens at the start of July. Considering that, it's entirely possible - perhaps even likely - that he has weighed up the potential costs and benefits of staying at Cork for most of July and is relishing both the prospect or experience of testing himself against European opposition again and potentially helping his club progress.

[mark12345]

Obviously, it's his decision as the release clause was met and the transfer window opens at the start of July. Considering that, it's entirely possible - perhaps even likely - that he has weighed up the potential costs and benefits of staying at Cork for most of July and is relishing both the prospect or experience of testing himself against European opposition again and potentially helping his club progress.

I'm sure you're right. He will have considered all of the above. But I can see a scenario where Cork are doing well in Europe (probably having qualified for Europa League) and he has to leave for Preston. All for naught at the end of the day for the player himself.

[DannyInvincible]

I'm sure you're right. He will have considered all of the above. But I can see a scenario where Cork are doing well in Europe (probably having qualified for Europa League) and he has to leave for Preston. All for naught at the end of the day for the player himself.

In what sense? It might prove to be good experience for him. As an added bonus, he might even get personal enjoyment or fond memories from a potential European run.

[mark12345]

In what sense? It might prove to be good experience for him. As an added bonus, he might even get personal enjoyment or fond memories from a potential European run.

Yes, he'll get all of the above with Cork. And I think you're right he will shine and I would back them to make it to the Europa League proper given the level of football they are playing right now.
But the man himself has said he is over the moon about his move to Preston and he can't wait to get started and there is talk of him being a goal-getter for Preston. But he is spreading himself too thin.
He's in his mid season now with City and he'll surely hit the ground running for Preston's pre-season, but he's going to hit a wall before Christmas because he'll have had no break.