Alan Browne M Middlesbrough (loan from Sunderland) b.1995

[JR89]

Officially leaves Preston as of today after ten years at the club and 414 appearances scoring 46 goals.

Surprised at the lack of news about his next move. Would have thought someone in Browne's situation would already have a club sorted by now.

New three year deal, supposedly the best deal anyone's gotten, club captain, and has been at the club since he was 18. Would have expected him to have a new club got weeks ago.

Officially he was able to sign a pre contract with English clubs as of June 1st and there's been no rumours whatsoever about his future I believe.

[Demesne Lad]

Linked with Sheffield United and Coventry, according to the Lancashire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post today.
Apparently Preston turned down an offer from Salernitana (Italy) back in January.

[seanfhear]

Linked with Sheffield United and Coventry, according to the Lancashire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post today.
Apparently Preston turned down an offer from Salernitana (Italy) back in January.
Obviously ~ ~ Not an offer that they couldn't refuse !

[Fixer82]

Officially leaves Preston as of today after ten years at the club and 414 appearances scoring 46 goals.

Surprised at the lack of news about his next move. Would have thought someone in Browne's situation would already have a club sorted by now.

New three year deal, supposedly the best deal anyone's gotten, club captain, and has been at the club since he was 18. Would have expected him to have a new club got weeks ago.

Officially he was able to sign a pre contract with English clubs as of June 1st and there's been no rumours whatsoever about his future I believe.

Yes he was mentioned on RTÉ radio yesterday as having something like their 5th most appearances for the club

[Demesne Lad]

Perhaps still hopeful of playing in the Premiership some day, Browne has travelled to Sunderland and initial discussions have gone well.

Sunderland hold talks with Alan Browne (the72.co.uk) (https://the72.co.uk/2024/07/09/sunderland-transfer-talks-alan-browne/)

[Fixer82]

I think Sunderland would be a good move for him

[Eirambler]

I don't think he's a Premier League standard player, but he might be the type that could get there for a short period and play a brief role at that level, like Hourihane did. He was never going to achieve that with Preston so maybe worth spinning the wheel and trying somewhere else.

[Olé Olé]

I don't think he's a Premier League standard player, but he might be the type that could get there for a short period and play a brief role at that level, like Hourihane did. He was never going to achieve that with Preston so maybe worth spinning the wheel and trying somewhere else.

Not sure if Sunderland are likely to be anything like this, but Browne is the type of player that if he had been promoted with Sheffield United under Wilder in 19/20, he could easily have had the impact of Fleck, Lundstram or Norwood in the Premiership. Good player, fitting into a specific system with three in midfield, capable of working hard, has a good engine and can get into the end of things.

He is also at the level that if he does well in the Championship and you are promoted, you probably hold onto him and for the attributes like the above.

[Eirambler]

Confirmed to Sunderland on a three year deal. A reasonable move for him hopefully, needs the change of scenery.

[Acornvilla]

Confirmed to Sunderland on a three year deal. A reasonable move for him hopefully, needs the change of scenery.
At the very least I hope he got himself a solid pay rise. It's probably more of a move sideways, but Sunderland definitely have more potential for long term upward mobility.

[JR89]

At the very least I hope he got himself a solid pay rise. It's probably more of a move sideways, but Sunderland definitely have more potential for long term upward mobility.

Did see someone say he was taking a pay cut to join Sunderland. Now whether that's a pay cut compared to the contract Preston were offering or his current contract.

Would assume they meant the contract that was offered to him. Browne and Ryan Lowe supposedly didn't get on so is possible he moved for less than what Preston were offering.

[Eirambler]

Apparently Preston were willing to make him their highest paid player - possibly ever. So I imagine the Sunderland wage "cut" will have been relative to that offer, not his previous wage.

[Demesne Lad]

Browne suffered a fracture to a leg bone in the draw with Coventry City just before the recent internationals. He will be out of action at Sunderland for 6 - 8 weeks. (Northern Echo, 21 November)

[Demesne Lad]

Browne is a week away from being ready to rejoin full training, says manager Le Bris. (Northern Echo, 21 Jan(.

[rebelmusic]

Did not expect to be saying this but looks like Alan Brown will be a premier league player next season. Unless Sheffield Utd pull off a miracle

[Eirambler]

If they keep him on. He hasn't been featuring much for them since his injury and didn't get any game time today.

Sunderland could threaten that famous Derby County low points record if they don't massively strengthen that squad.

Awful mistake from the Welsh lad Moore to gift Sunderland the Premier League place.

[rebelmusic]

Yeah that was brutal. Cannon half knocking out one of this own players just beforehand didn't help much either.

I would have thought the same on Brown but I took note of the commentator calling out how his experience in the squad has been crucial. He's also contracted until 2027.

In fairness he'd still likely just be a squad player unless they have an injury crisis...which historically they almost always do.

They've also very little depth with center backs so maybe a logical move for O'Shea

[Eirambler]

If that's the best option open to O'Shea he should stay where he is - he has suffered enough relegations already! Needs a safe mid-table team if he's moving again.

[CraftyToePoke]

Makes Cirkin an EPL player also. He'll hedge further you'd imagine. England 21s & EPL baller.

[Eirambler]

Judging by today he's one they'd need to replace to have any hope of staying up. He'd improve us but not sure he's quick enough (or good enough) for that level.

[Eirambler]

I would have thought the same on Brown but I took note of the commentator calling out how his experience in the squad has been crucial. He's also contracted until 2027.



Also, given that he has had to wait until he's 30 to get to the Premier League, I'd imagine he'll be keen to stick around if he can at all. This will probably be his only shot at it as, to be honest, he's not really good enough to play at that level. He'll need to make their 25 man squad and if he can do that he'll probably stay.

One thing that might be to his advantage is that he has always been better for Ireland when he has come in off the bench. He may hope to play a similar role to Jack Taylor's this season at Ipswich, where he rarely started but came on in a lot of games.

Another possible outcome is that he takes more of a Marcus Harness route, in that he makes a few early appearances but is swiftly dispatched back to his natural home in the Championship on loan before the end of the summer transfer window.

[Fizzer]

Yeah I don’t think there’s any way Browne plays in the Premier League. His football retention is abysmal, gives it away for fun in bad areas at bad times. Gets away with it in the Championship because the ball often comes back, but that’s his level. For the same reason he shouldn’t be near our squad, he’s just not an international standard player. I’d rather see any of the kids there ahead of him including Finn, Coventry, Hodge…anybody. Luckily Hallgrimsson seems to have twigged this pretty quickly.

[elatedscum]

Yeah I don’t think there’s any way Browne plays in the Premier League. His football retention is abysmal, gives it away for fun in bad areas at bad times. Gets away with it in the Championship because the ball often comes back, but that’s his level. For the same reason he shouldn’t be near our squad, he’s just not an international standard player. I’d rather see any of the kids there ahead of him including Finn, Coventry, Hodge…anybody. Luckily Hallgrimsson seems to have twigged this pretty quickly.

I’d agree with pretty much all the criticisms here, but I will say, he has games where he plays well above himself, where he wins everything in the air, where he knocks in an important goal and he’s inspired.

I think he had about 5 games for Ireland like that - where there was an important game against decent or good opposition where I thought he shouldn’t have started and he was given the nod and then was excellent

[seanfhear]

Time to try Alan Browne at centre-back ~ ~ A kind of go to, choice / experiment, for any Irishman of a decent physical size !

[Eirambler]

Well, joking aside, he has been played a bit at right back/right wing back and it's that kind of versatility that might make him worth keeping around for Sunderland.

[seanfhear]

Well, joking aside, he has been played a bit at right back/right wing back and it's that kind of versatility that might make him worth keeping around for Sunderland.To be honest, I am not even sure I am joking about this centre-back stuff anymore ! I think a rule of soccer may be ~ ~ Any Irishman of a decent size should be tried at centre-back !

[Eirambler]

Sounds like Sunderland are trying to move him on before the end of the transfer window, he may not make their 25 man EPL squad if he stays. Blackburn reported to be interested.

[Trequartista20]

Seems that he'll be moving to top-of-the-table Middlesbrough on loan.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25432908.middlesbrough-set-sign-sunderlands-alan-browne-loan/

[Eirambler]

In the not unlikely event Middlesbrough go up and Sunderland go down he'll end up back at Sunderland next season. Destined to never make it to the Premier League I think. To be fair there is a reason for that, but I thought he might at least get a few early season minutes as a sub before being moved on, like Marcus Harness last year, but not to be.

[samhaydenjr]

Had to go back to Page 6 to find the thread for a player who is playing regularly for a team challenging for promotion to the EPL. Thread has about one-fifth of the number of comments as Jack Byrne. Which begs the question, notwithstanding limitations laid out in earlier replies, why are we not talking about Alan Browne as a serious option? Especially given our problems in midfield. Anyway, he got a goal and an assist tonight to drive Middlesbrough into second.

[irishfan86]

Good shout. I doubt Halgrimsson would throw him straight into a starting role but is he a better option than Molumby or Taylor? There’s certainly an argument there and at bare minimum should be in the squad if needed off the bench as Taylor in particular seems to run out of gas.

[Eirambler]

Well, for one thing, he seems to be playing right back these days. But yeah, much as I've never really been impressed when he has started in midfield for us, he has had some good moments as an impact sub. Add in his versatility and he's a useful squad option for sure. A solid Championship performer who is not Premier League quality, but that in itself puts him on a par with plenty of our squad regulars.

[rebelmusic]

He's having a resurgence recently though right? I think we all stopped talking about him because he fell out of favour at Sunderland. Great to see him on a good run and he should definitely be an option considering his experience and being no stranger to internationals

[rebelmusic]

Scored already and having a great game. Definitely putting himself in the window for March

[Fixer82]

I would 100% have Browne in the squad

[Kingdom]

We exist in a polarising world at present, especially when it comes to opinions, which shows no sign of relenting. Football is not immune to the effects of this. Players are either brilliant, or they're ****, or they were brilliant and are now ****. More often than not, the reality is that they were actually neither to begin with.
When it comes to Ireland players, we often hear 'such-and-such' should not be in a squad; not because of the merits of their place in the current pecking order, but because of what is perceived to be needed based on what we expected from the incumbents peers in the past. That's fine and dandy, but we are dealing in the here and now.

I think this possibly applies to Alan Browne. Personally I like him, and I think his place in the squad was justified when he was fit and playing week-in, week-out. He's clearly a leader and is not afraid to step up to the plate.
When I think of him I think of the Serbia away match under Kenny. He had some great moments, some bad moments and kept on going before being subbed off exhausted. He's symbolic of where we are and what we are.

[rebelmusic]

Named championship player of the month by sky. With Lawal and Cullen injured I'd say he's guaranteed a squad place and has a good shot of starting

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, his absence is maybe not as confusing as Manning's extended absence under Kenny, but it's certainly confusing. He's a decent, versatile player. Not a world beater, but has to be one of our best options at the moment. I think he's not even been called up since starting HH's second game?

[Fixer82]

Solid and dependable. This crop’s David Meyler.
Should be in squad and possibly starting

[Eirambler]

He has generally been poor when he has started for Ireland. That, combined with mediocre club form until recently, is why he lost his place. But, on current form, he's a useful bench option, particularly for his versatility.

[rebelmusic]

I'd agreed with ER, he was nowhere to be seen there for a while so I don't think HH has been wrong about him. Form should dictate being called up and HH has been pretty consistent on that front

[Fixer82]

He has generally been poor when he has started for Ireland. That, combined with mediocre club form until recently, is why he lost his place. But, on current form, he's a useful bench option, particularly for his versatility.

He’s been ok. He was probably poor at times but most of the team were during that Stephen Kenny period.

He played well against Scotland I remember. If you watch that back on YouTube, we were brilliant at time but so frustrating also. It was the era/trend of keepers never kicking the ball out long and we were crap at it. Almost conceded a few times in that game alone.

[pixiehead]

Looks like he was proabably unlucky with injuries around our international windows:

HH has had 16 matches across 8 meetups.



Sep/24 Nations League (2): Started both games
Oct/24 Nations League (2): Knee injury, only played ~50 mins of club action, Not in squad
Nov/24 Nations League (2): Broken Leg
Mar/25 Nations League P/O (2): Only played ~130 mins of club action, Not in squad
Jun/25 Friendlies (2): Lots of champship players given rest, although he was in playoffs and wasn't specificially omitted.
Sep/25 WC Qual (2): Had just joined Middlesbrough, squad settled?
Oct/25 WC Qual (2): Dunno
Nov/25 WC Qual (2): Next time Alan

[SkStu]

Another goal today and 90 mins in a 4-0 win at QPR. On a good run of form and can fill a few problem positions for us.

A cert for the squad?

[Eirambler]

I'd say so, especially with our injury issues. Not sure I'd want to see him starting, but he's certainly a useful option to have on the bench given his versatility. And he has had some good cameos for Ireland as a sub in the past.

[rebelmusic]

I'd say so, especially with our injury issues. Not sure I'd want to see him starting, but he's certainly a useful option to have on the bench given his versatility. And he has had some good cameos for Ireland as a sub in the past.

Agreed. Shouldn't start but would be good to replace a striker if we're protecting a lead or in general as fresh legs

[OMTY]

Starts for Boro (2nd) v Millwall (4th) 12.30 today for anyone who feels they'd like a little bit more Alan Browne in their life after the last 8 days