Irish Abroad 2017/18

[tetsujin1979]

First appearance by an Irish player in the 2017/18 season goes to Tom Holland, named on the bench for new club The New Saints in their Champions League qualifier against Europa FC of Gibraltar

Graeme Cummins and Joe Shaughnessy's St Johnstone playing Trakai of Lithuania while Cillian Sheridan's Jagiellonia Bialystok travel to Georgia to take on Dinamo Batumi on Thursday night

<EDIT>

Sorry, wrote this late last night, meant to thank Danny for the post on Jagiellonia Bialystok starting their Europa League campaign on Thursday

[liamoo11]

First appearance by an Irish player in the 2017/18 season goes to Tom Holland, named on the bench for new club The New Saints in their Champions League qualifier against Europa FC of Gibraltar

Graeme Cummins and Joe Shaughnessy's St Johnstone playing Trakai of Lithuania while Cillian Sheridan's Jagiellonia Bialystok travel to Georgia to take on Dinamo Batumi on Thursday night

That polish season only finished the day of the Austria match have they had any holidays?

[DannyInvincible]

It was the 4th of June they finished up; the day of our Uruguay friendly. Still a fairly short break, mind.

[liamoo11]

It was the 4th of June they finished up; the day of our Uruguay friendly. Still a fairly short break, mind.

True my mistake I have no sympathy for them!

[OwlsFan]

O'Grady has been rewarded with another year's contract at Wednesday https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2017/june/ogrady-extends/

[Olé Olé]

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/40442228

Graham Carey has signed a deal at Plymouth. A year at League One level at 28 committed to amidst speculation that he was on his way to Sheffield United of the Championship.

[mark12345]

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/40442228

Graham Carey has signed a deal at Plymouth. A year at League One level at 28 committed to amidst speculation that he was on his way to Sheffield United of the Championship.

Stupid, unambitious move from a guy I had really high hopes for. He has the ability - showed it in flashed against Liverpool. End of a promising career or what's left of it

[CraftyToePoke]

You ever been to Sheffield ?
Plymouth is a very nice place to live.
Its all well and good to move to a northern England red brick dump town if its ManU on the phone but these places are proper sh*tholes.

[Olé Olé]

The Championship is becoming a very illustrious league. The man played for St Mirren and Ross County for 4 years. I could be open to correction but neither of them are situated in picturesque seaside towns. I'm all for players factoring in personal lifestyle choices to their decisions as it is their career after all. I just think this could have been worth the sacrifice given that he will be 29 by season's end.

[CraftyToePoke]

Are Sheffield Utd going to build their midfield round a guy like this though ? Or would he be more of a squad signing with a contract to match that, every chance Plymouth are paying him as much, or close, to be one of their main guys. And as you rightly say, after suffering living in some real outposts in his career, why not be the big fish in the smaller pond by the sea in a nice place, and in the team also every week.

[tetsujin1979]

Lee O'Connor was mentioned in this interview with Man United's U18 coach here; http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Exclusive-Interviews/2017/Jul/kieran-mckenna-full-exclusive-summer-interview-with-manchester-united-under-18s-coach.aspx

Lee O’Connor said in his interview you helped him overcome homesickness – does it help being able to relate to players in that way?
Yes, that’s the benefit of having been there yourself, in terms of coming to a big Academy and moving over from Ireland. It’s only natural at some stage he would feel a little bit homesick and would go through that process but he had a terrific season and made a really good impact.The big challenge for him, the other two players I nominated for the award [Angel Gomes and Callum Whelan] and the rest of the squad, is what they do next and what level they can go to next season after being a very dominant player last season.

[tetsujin1979]

After one of the followers of the site's facebook page noticed Andy O'Brien had won 21 Ireland caps before his first loss at from his international record, I investigated whether or not this was a record: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Blog?id=5553609640539890702

[Closed Account]

Not a great number in Fantasy PL this season:
http://i.imgur.com/xopXX8v.png

[samhaydenjr]

Not a great number in Fantasy PL this season:
http://i.imgur.com/xopXX8v.png

Doesn't include Wilson, Towell, Hoban and Rice, who are still senior players on the books of Premier League clubs, although we'll have to wait and see if they have an impact next season (but then we'll have to do the same for Elliot, Scannell and Murphy). So after we remove Delaney, that's still 21 players - nearly a full squad, so not too bad, with a few experienced internationals in the Championship

[OwlsFan]

O'Grady was on the bench for Owls pre-season game against Alfreton and came on to score his first senior goal in a 0-5 win.

[DeLorean]

Some club friendlies yesterday:

Hull 2-1 Bristol Rovers - Rory Gaffney gave Rovers the lead. Brian Lenihan started for Hull.

Ipswich 3-1 Peterborough - David McGoldrick equalised as Ipswich came from one down to win.

Hartlepool 1-2 Sunderland - Gibson & Amond played 90 mins, O'Shea played last half hour.

Morecambe 0-2 Preston - Boyle, Cunningham & Horgan all played the first hour. Browne & Doyle played last half hour.

Doncaster 1-1 Derby - Keogh gave Derby the lead (pics below) and Pearce also started.

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276250/binaries/Untitled%20design%20(55)5.png
http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276250/binaries/Untitled%20design%20(56)5..png

[OMTY]

Randolph and Rice played the first half yesterday of West Ham's 2-1 victory over Fulham. Josh Cullen played 77 mins.

Rice was replaced at half time by Reece Burke who you would imagine will be his competition for minutes in the Hammer's defence. Reece Oxford is gone out on loan for the season to Moenchengladbach and although he has played most of his time centre midfield he still might have been in competition for defensive places. With Nordtveit gone I'd put Rice at about joint 5th in West Ham's centre back depth. Reid, Ogbonna, Fonte, Collins, Rice/Burke. Collins and Fonte will both be 34 this year so hopefully Rice will get some chances this year.

[CraftyToePoke]

The money they are spending, I will be surprised if a defender or two don't come in. Delightedly surprised though.

[samhaydenjr]

Randolph and Rice played the first half yesterday of West Ham's 2-1 victory over Fulham. Josh Cullen played 77 mins.

Rice was replaced at half time by Reece Burke who you would imagine will be his competition for minutes in the Hammer's defence. Reece Oxford is gone out on loan for the season to Moenchengladbach and although he has played most of his time centre midfield he still might have been in competition for defensive places. With Nordtveit gone I'd put Rice at about joint 5th in West Ham's centre back depth. Reid, Ogbonna, Fonte, Collins, Rice/Burke. Collins and Fonte will both be 34 this year so hopefully Rice will get some chances this year.

That's an interesting tidbit - I think we were all assuming that Cullen would just be going out on loan again (I think QPR was mentioned, which wouldn't be bad). And while this might still happen, it appears that Bilic thinks it's worth his while giving him a second look, so here's hoping he was impressed

[Closed Account]

Not a great number in Fantasy PL this season:
http://i.imgur.com/xopXX8v.png
Randolph, Whelan and Murphy all gone from this. 1/3 now at Burnley.

[samhaydenjr]

Randolph, Whelan and Murphy all gone from this. 1/3 now at Burnley.

Bit of a disappointment at first glance anyway, but they're all experienced, known quantities so at this point it's not going to make a tremendous amount of difference to their abilities over the next four months and it's probably better for them to be playing in the Championship than bench-warming (or worse) in the Premier League - one question, though: If Rob Elliot becomes Number 1 at Newcastle and puts in some good performances, should he take over from Randolph, or does Darren remain our first-choice based on his performances to date and for the sake of continuity? All that said, we do need to have some of the emerging talent move up towards the top over the next twelve months.

[tetsujin1979]

QPR have released their squad numbers for the 2017/18 season: https://twitter.com/QPRFC/statuses/890512336162885632
Ryan Manning will wear number 14, Olamide Shodipo has number 27, Reece Grego-Cox will wear 28

[Closed Account]

Murphy(N Forest), Williams, O'Brien(Millwall), McGeady(Sunderland) and Keogh(Derby) all start as the Championship starts again.
O'Shea, Gibson(Sunderland) and Pearce(Derby) on the bench.

[DeLorean]

McGeady had a decent game and his set pieces were varied and generally very good. Keogh was solid for Derby.

Grayson didn't make any substitutions which was very odd, especially as Derby piled on a bit of pressure late on as Sunderland tired. Don't think I've seen that since Noel King desperately tried to cling on to a 2-0 defeat in Cologne.

[Doom]

Sean Maguire started but was subbed before Preston scored (though supposedly was well received by fans if sportsjoe (https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/sean-maguire-preston-2-132777?utm_content=buffer00126&utm_medium=Social+organic&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer)are to be believed), Horgan didn't play at all, Boyle didn't make the bench. Forrester was left on the bench for Peterborough and didn't play either... Disappointing for the past few years of LOI departures to England today

[CraftyToePoke]

Forrester was left on the bench for Peterborough and didn't play either... Disappointing for the past few years of LOI departures to England today

He has gone from captain to not starting today in a short time now, there is a loss of form and maybe he should have moved or wanted to move and didn't in the last window. Doughty came in from QPR in the summer, plays in the middle and is a big signing Peterborough raised a few eyebrows with, so CF will have to step up again, but he has it in him.

[Doom]

He has gone from captain to not starting today in a short time now, there is a loss of form and maybe he should have moved or wanted to move and didn't in the last window. Doughty came in from QPR in the summer, plays in the middle and is a big signing Peterborough raised a few eyebrows with, so CF will have to step up again, but he has it in him.

Yeah I hadn't realised before today that he had lost the captaincy.. Loved watching him at pats so I hate seeing him left out, same for all the recent LOI players overseas.. Want to see them tearing it up over there

[Olé Olé]

This James Collins is a right gas man. He had three prior promotions from League 2. Went back there this season. Scored a lovely hat trick on his debut for Luton. Looks to have a lot about him. You would wonder if being an accomplice to Carruthers at the races is the type of behaviour holding him back from moving up the divisions.

[CraftyToePoke]

This James Collins is a right gas man. He had three prior promotions from League 2. Went back there this season. Scored a lovely hat trick on his debut for Luton. Looks to have a lot about him. You would wonder if being an accomplice to Carruthers at the races is the type of behaviour holding him back from moving up the divisions.

Was he the lad with the DUI shortly before Villa moved him on ? Could be wrong.

[Olé Olé]

Was he the lad with the DUI shortly before Villa moved him on ? Could be wrong.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/no-charges-coventry-footballer-after-3034453

Looks like Barry Bannan was the driver but being present at something like that says enough.

He has a lot of goals to his name. You'd have to wonder what level he could be at if the head was screwed on.

[liamoo11]

field gone to Bradford from Bradford on loan now wood b good time to get him into our 21s

[CraftyToePoke]

field gone to Bradford from Bradford on loan now wood b good time to get him into our 21s

Will he have far to travel ?

[liamoo11]

The efl cup tonight. McDonnell on bench for Ipswich hope fully he can get a chance this year especially with dozzell out for season . Nice to see Barrett get game for reading tonight. Ronan started for wolves and manning started for qpr. O maley on bench for peterboro with Forrester starting. O Mara on bench again for gillingham.

[Olé Olé]

The efl cup tonight. McDonnell on bench for Ipswich hope fully he can get a chance this year especially with dozzell out for season . Nice to see Barrett get game for reading tonight. Ronan started for wolves and manning started for qpr. O maley on bench for peterboro with Forrester starting. O Mara on bench again for gillingham.

What's this O'Mara lad's deal? Only thing Ireland-related I can find about him is this: https://mobile.twitter.com/finnomara/status/866240228339716097

[liamoo11]

What's this O'Mara lad's deal? Only thing Ireland-related I can find about him is this: https://mobile.twitter.com/finnomara/status/866240228339716097

That'll do it for me! If Finn o Mara can't be Irish then what what sort of a multi cultural state have we become! I have no idea than I noticed his name last week and I thought I saw something that said he was Irish born

[samhaydenjr]

That'll do it for me! If Finn o Mara can't be Irish then what what sort of a multi cultural state have we become! I have no idea than I noticed his name last week and I thought I saw something that said he was Irish born

Shouldn't that be what sort of multicultural state Britain has become, where Irish immigrants are allowed to move there and have great-grandchildren called Finn O'Mara who don't qualify for Ireland? Anyway, on Gillingham's Wikipedia page, he's listed with an English flag beside his name, however on his page on Gillingham's website there's an Tricolour. Although this page also lists his Date of Birth as January 1st, 1901, so I don't know how reliable that is.

[samhaydenjr]

Ryan Nolan scored for Inter's Primavera team against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday: https://twitter.com/InterYoungsters/status/893471948444884993

[tetsujin1979]

Several debuts, some landmark appearances and Alan McCormack's first goal since 2014 in the first round up of the new English and Scottish season: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Blog?id=3897608500866546144

[Closed Account]

17 Year Old Lee O'Connor scored a cracker for the Man Utd U19s during the week.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/ireland-underage-international-lee-oconnor-scores-brilliant-goal-for-manchester-united-u19s-800927.html
0wn1JtRAcx4

[liamoo11]

17 Year Old Lee O'Connor scored a cracker for the Man Utd U19s during the week.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/ireland-underage-international-lee-oconnor-scores-brilliant-goal-for-manchester-united-u19s-800927.html
0wn1JtRAcx4

Ah now he put that first strike way too close to the keeper! Unfortunately he seems 6 inches too small to play for Jose

[liamoo11]

Shouldn't that be what sort of multicultural state Britain has become, where Irish immigrants are allowed to move there and have great-grandchildren called Finn O'Mara who don't qualify for Ireland? Anyway, on Gillingham's Wikipedia page, he's listed with an English flag beside his name, however on his page on Gillingham's website there's an Tricolour. Although this page also lists his Date of Birth as January 1st, 1901, so I don't know how reliable that is.

Reminds me of the time one of the lads on ybig was convinced molumpy at Brighton was African!!

[tetsujin1979]

Ahead of the Premier League kick off tonight, I've examined the record to find the last Ireland player to start a PL game for each of the 2017/18 teams: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Blog?id=8723519233567936041

[DeLorean]

That's interesting about Swansea. You'd think they'd be right around our (better) player's level. They do like to keep the ball on the floor though so maybe they go for players that are seen as more technical. Just a thought.


Arsenal have gone the longest since starting one of the Boys in Green, Eddie McGoldrick started their final game of the 1993/94 season under George Graham away to Newcastle - none of the Scot's successors has started an Irish player in the Premier League.

How times have changed...

https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3096690.1495737023!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_620_330/image.jpg

[tetsujin1979]

Just to point out that Conor Henderson did start an FA cup game for Arsenal in 2011, but the list is for Premier League games only.
Of the top of my head Thomas Butler is the last Irish player to start a league game for Swansea, in 2010

[Closed Account]

Sean Kavanagh (Fulham), Tyreke Wilson (Man City), Conor Coventry (West Ham), Harry Charsley (Everton) and Corey Whelan (Liverpool) all start in Premier League 2 (reserves) tonight. Conor Masterson (Liverpool) is on the bench.

[gastric]

That's interesting about Swansea. You'd think they'd be right around our (better) player's level. They do like to keep the ball on the floor though so maybe they go for players that are seen as more technical. Just a thought.



How times have changed...

https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3096690.1495737023!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_620_330/image.jpg

Graham Barrett played for Arsenal in 1999,I believe.

[liamoo11]

Sean Kavanagh (Fulham), Tyreke Wilson (Man City), Conor Coventry (West Ham), Harry Charsley (Everton) and Corey Whelan (Liverpool) all start in Premier League 2 (reserves) tonight. Conor Masterson (Liverpool) is on the bench.

Great info thank you. Ayoola played for stoke a striker in our under 19s this season

[tetsujin1979]

Posted this on Twitter on Thursday: https://twitter.com/irish_abroad/status/895639984278982656

The most @FAIreland players to start a @premierleague game is seven: @stokecity v @SunderlandAFC
on 4th February 2012
The starting XI from both sides featured @wildog87, Glenn Whelan, Rory Delap, @JonWalters19, John O'Shea, @DavidMeyler7 & @JamesMcC_14

Paul Fennessey of the42.ie, who follows me on Twitter, published this earlier today: http://www.the42.ie/tracing-the-marginalisation-of-irish-players-in-the-premier-league-3541394-Aug2017/
Which includes the following paragraph

Ireland actually had its highest number of Premier League representatives as recently as the 2011-12 season (33), with Mick McCarthy’s Wolves providing no fewer than six of the individuals in question. That season also happened to feature a record for the number of Irish players starting a game — Stoke v Sunderland on 4 February 2012 featured seven players from these shores: Rory Delap, Glenn Whelan, Jon Walters and Marc Wilson for the hosts, as well as David Meyler, James McClean and John O’Shea for the visitors

It's entirely possible that he came across this piece of trivia while researching the article

I've posted a comment asking for clarification under the article, if you could all upvote this, I'd appreciate it: http://www.the42.ie/tracing-the-marginalisation-of-irish-players-in-the-premier-league-3541394-Aug2017/#comment-6400713

[Charlie Darwin]

Seems to be gone tets?

[tetsujin1979]

Yep, the comment, and a message of support from a journalist friend of mine, were both removed earlier today.

I contacted the writer on Twitter, and he's not sure what he did: https://twitter.com/paulfennessy21/status/896792960028876802