David McGoldrick F Notts County b.1987

[Diggs246]

I would imagine that conversation has all ready happened.


I mean to try an convince out of retirement, Kenny should time it perfectly
I would wait until McGoldrick isn't in the Sheffield team and fly over there and tell him he is loved and its only 6 or 7 more games

[geysir]

A classy player, the type of footballer I love to watch. I trust he has sound reasons for his decision.

[Straightstory]

One goal in fourteen games (as a centre forward). He won't be remembered; this generation's Tommy Coyne. He must be wondering why he even bothered.

[Diggs246]

One goal in fourteen games (as a centre forward). He won't be remembered; this generation's Tommy Coyne. He must be wondering why he even bothered.

Is that a gag? If not we already have bielsa

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, Coyne made much more of an impact in his Ireland career.

1 goal in 14 caps isn't great in fairness. But I think he can be an important player for us despite that.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Yeah, Tommy Coyne was very good for Eire, an all-rounded way much better number 9 than McGoldrick. He could do the fancy stuff of holding as McGoldrick, like the dummy for John Sheridan he did vs Italy when Costacurta got tricked, plus a good goalscorer, Coyne should have played for Ireland before 1991.

[Bielsa´s irish]

1. Connolly
2. Long
3. Idah
4. Maguire
5. Hogan
6. Parrott
7. Obafemi
8. Madden
9. O’Brien
10. Hoban
11. Collins
12. Afolabi
13. Kayode
14. Drinan
15. Keane

Maybe Cassidy too


Frankly, Adam Rooney, maybe. Eoin Doyle, maybe. Dave McMillan, maybe. Aaron Greene, maybe.

dont agree Sheridan is better than most of them from what we need atm. good list though

[Eminence Grise]

Seriously, Sheridan Smith has more chance of being called up. Change the record.

[seanfhear]

Seriously, Sheridan Smith has more chance of being called up. Change the record.
She is good up front !

[Diggs246]

Yeah, Coyne made much more of an impact in his Ireland career.

1 goal in 14 caps isn't great in fairness. But I think he can be an important player for us despite that.

He was player of the year and is our best player. He is a 10, not a 9 really.

[pineapple stu]

Had forgotten that. Probably says a lot about us at the moment that a forward with 1 goal in 14 games can be Player of the Year!

He'll be a definite loss though. Even playing through to the next World Cup would have helped bridge the gap until the likes of Connolly, etc, were most established.

But look, have to respect his decision; Stephen Kenny saying today his intention was to retire at the end of the campaign because he'd be 35 by the next World Cup, so just got to get on with things.

It does make Long's omission that bit stranger though. I know he hasn't scored in years, but I still think we need some experience there, even for during training.

[John83]

Had forgotten that. Probably says a lot about us at the moment that a forward with 1 goal in 14 games can be Player of the Year!
A few years ago, they opened the FAI award for goal of the season to women and youth internationals, largely because we'd scored three senior goals that entire year. We've been spectacularly toothless for several years.

[Bielsa´s irish]

you got the award, how many accolades does he have? you are an important, senior player, and you leave the boat atvm...something is not correct in his behaviour in my opinion

[Fixer82]

Great finish from him today

[elatedscum]

Really good goal. Hopefully, he will have a change of heart by the next games in March

[seanfhear]

I wonder does all the rig-mar-roll around Covid-19 make international football just too much of a palaver for players at the moment.

If McGoldrick has a family then he may feel he is better spending his time with them !

[Colbert Report]

I know he's retired from international duty and playing for the worst Premier League team in history, but McGoldrick has been hands down the best Irish player in the Premier League this season. Watched him again today and really wished he was ten years younger. Easily the best player for Sheffield United week after week.

[Fixer82]

I know he's retired from international duty and playing for the worst Premier League team in history.

I think Derby might have something to say about that

[Colbert Report]

I think Derby finished on eleven points in 2007-08, with one win and eight draws.

Sheffield United have played exactly half of their season and have five points so far. They're on pace to get ten points, one less than Derby did in 2007-08.

[Fixer82]

I think Derby finished on eleven points in 2007-08, with one win and eight draws.

Sheffield United have played exactly half of their season and have five points so far. They're on pace to get ten points, one less than Derby did in 2007-08.

Time will tell

[seanfhear]

Where did it all go wrong after last season. Obviously Premier League clubs worked out how to play against the Sheffield Utd way. This is where the manager need stop come up with another way to play.

[elatedscum]

Where did it all go wrong after last season. Obviously Premier League clubs worked out how to play against the Sheffield Utd way. This is where the manager need stop come up with another way to play.

I think the keeper is also a big factor. Henderson is significantly better than Ramsdale. A good keeper can be worth so many points across a season... Henderson was probably one of the 5 best keepers in the league last season, whereas Ramsdale has probably been about 18th or 19th this season

[seanfhear]

I think the keeper is also a big factor. Henderson is significantly better than Ramsdale. A good keeper can be worth so many points across a season... Henderson was probably one of the 5 best keepers in the league last season, whereas Ramsdale has probably been about 18th or 19th this season
Peter Shilton at Nottingham Forest would be a Prime Example from back in the Day.

[jbyrne]

Where did it all go wrong after last season. Obviously Premier League clubs worked out how to play against the Sheffield Utd way. This is where the manager need stop come up with another way to play.

last season they started very well and built some momentum. this season they have looked a bit jaded from the off, got off to a dreadful start and have not been able to recover. saw a little of the spurs game and they just didn't seem anywhere near as intense as they did last season. it was all very sloppy and half hearted

[elatedscum]

The injury to O’Connell was also massive. Himself and Egan were excellent last season

[Diggs246]

We should really sit on mcgoldrick and ask him to come out retirement . Who can link the play like him at the moment

[Colbert Report]

The guy is brilliant. Why wasn't he playing for us ten years ago?

[tetsujin1979]

Didn't get his passport until 2014

[irishfan86]

The guy is brilliant. Why wasn't he playing for us ten years ago?

We had better strikers 10 years ago. It’s pretty established at this point that McGoldrick was a late bloomer. Easy to say he would have made a difference had we brought him in sooner but it doesn’t really line up with what McGoldrick was doing in his club career at the time.

[elatedscum]

We had better strikers 10 years ago. It’s pretty established at this point that McGoldrick was a late bloomer. Easy to say he would have made a difference had we brought him in sooner but it doesn’t really line up with what McGoldrick was doing in his club career at the time.

This is a piece from 7 years ago. McGoldrick was definitely underused by O’Neill

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/stephen-hunt-mcgoldrick-can-be-national-asset-now-penny-has-dropped-30638639.html

[Diggs246]

I would give MON a pass for not utilizing him. For some unknown and bizarre reason David Mcgoldrick jogged around the pitch when he came on v Austria away.

[Eirambler]

I think McGoldrick himself is to blame as much as anyone. Clearly he has always been an incredibly talented player but for whatever reason didn't apply himself fully until the later years of his career. Could have played at a much higher level for longer and possibly been an important player for us at Euro 2016 if he had done.

[jbyrne]

I would give MON a pass for not utilizing him. For some unknown and bizarre reason David Mcgoldrick jogged around the pitch when he came on v Austria away.

he was also given a start against England at home in 2015 and didn't impress.
i didn't hear too many people calling for his inclusion in the team back then

[Fixer82]

He was brilliant V USA in a friendly. Set up a goal for Pilkington with an exquisite Hoolahanesque pass and both were barely seen again under O'Neill. Also set up a goal for Brady that night I think

[seanfhear]

He was slow to buy in to playing for Ireland and didn’t hang around for too long after getting a taste of it = = All of his choices as it goes !

[elatedscum]

he was also given a start against England at home in 2015 and didn't impress.
i didn't hear too many people calling for his inclusion in the team back then

Yeah, sure, but MON was famous for giving players no instruction, not telling them what position etc etc. The moment Mick arrived, he was a different player. I hold MON accountable for not being able to give McGoldrick the instruction he needed...

I could be wrong but that’s my belief

[elatedscum]

He was slow to buy in to playing for Ireland !

I don’t think that’s true. He was unaware he qualified. As far as I remember, it was something like: he was adopted or his mother was adopted and the adoptive family were irish and he spend time here and felt irish. But he thought he was ineligible because it was adoptive rather than biological. Then later, he was able to research and found out about his biological grandparents and that they were irish as well, which made it clear he qualified... and he went and got a passport then

Something along those lines.

Was also eligible for Scotland - who chased him before us but he rejected them

[seanfhear]

He didn’t hang around too long after he eventually did start playing regularly. Again his own decision.

[CraftyToePoke]

The timing of his exit is questionable to me also, we have a clutch of young forwards who might come to something and might not but we needed this guy for the coming couple of years and he walked. And without any convincing reason also you could argue.

[elatedscum]

The timing of his exit is questionable to me also, we have a clutch of young forwards who might come to something and might not but we needed this guy for the coming couple of years and he walked. And without any convincing reason also you could argue.

I guess the argument is that he’ll be 35 when the World Cup is on. I’d be interested comparing his age of retirement/age of next tournament to the likes of Keane, Doyle, Murphy, Long and Walters to see if he’s much of an outlier.

And in the 2 squads under Kenny he was involved in, he got injured in both of them and lost his place in the Sheffield team to Rhian Brewster who they spent £24m on. Obviously things looked differently in November to now. He regained his place and has looked Sheffield’s best player.

Huge loss for us though. He offers qualities which none of the young lads have... I’d definitely love if he decided to unretire

[samhaydenjr]

The timing of his exit is questionable to me also, we have a clutch of young forwards who might come to something and might not but we needed this guy for the coming couple of years and he walked. And without any convincing reason also you could argue.


I guess the argument is that he’ll be 35 when the World Cup is on. I’d be interested comparing his age of retirement/age of next tournament to the likes of Keane, Doyle, Murphy, Long and Walters to see if he’s much of an outlier.

And in the 2 squads under Kenny he was involved in, he got injured in both of them and lost his place in the Sheffield team to Rhian Brewster who they spent £24m on. Obviously things looked differently in November to now. He regained his place and has looked Sheffield’s best player.

Huge loss for us though. He offers qualities which none of the young lads have... I’d definitely love if he decided to unretire

Walters - nearly 35; Murphy - Nearly 34; Doyle - 34; Keane - 36. I guess the fact that he has reached the Premier League for the last couple of years of his career and wants to make that as good as it can be is a major factor, plus as Elatedscum said, he will be 35 when the World Cup actually takes place

[Diggs246]

He would have played in euro 2021 if we had qualified which is in june. The qualification for the WC starts in March. I would be keen to know if kenny will try to coax him back.

[Bielsa´s irish]

that ship has sailed away, folks!!! Adieu

If we are in the mood of the "experience forward up front role" we still have some other options around: James Collins, Shane Long, Cillian Sheridan, Scott Hogan, Joe Mason are all better options in that particular role than Callum Robinson, Aaron Connolly, Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, Sean Maguire. That's a fact.

Even we could use James McClean as a forward, but I dont know.

As for David, I think he doesnt fit in Kenny's vision as a 9. Could play as the attacking midfielder in the 4-3-3 but his legs are gone for that role. He needs a 4-4-1-1 to do his thing or the 3-5-2 for the blades

[geysir]

It did seem a soft decision by McGoldrick to retire at a time when he was still first team material

After a 2020 play-off defeat, Iceland's 38 year old central defender Kari was asked the retirement question post match, he replied 'even if it was blatantly obvious that it was over for him he still couldn't go to that place where he would have to consider that it was all over, it's an intolerably painful feeling that you will never play for your country again'.

[Diggs246]

He also our best player

I think people believe it to be Coleman or Doherty, its not its McGoldrick

[Bielsa´s irish]

The problem with McGoldrick is he doesnt fit in for Kenny's formation, he needs freedom to play his thing,

[Razors left peg]

Is McGoldrick what happens when a player doesn't really feel Irish? Was good for his career to play international football when he was a Championship player but now that he's in Premiership it doesn't matter as much?

I'm not a fan of him in general and I don't really care that he's retired. In the short term he would probably be 1st choice but he's a journeyman footballer whos had a nice end to his career. He has talent so I would question his attitude that it took him so long to make it as a Premiership footballer.

His goal record for us isn't exactly going to be hard to replace. Connolly, Idah, Parrott or even Scully could hopefully bypass his record in a couple of years

[CraftyToePoke]

Is McGoldrick what happens when a player doesn't really feel Irish? Was good for his career to play international football when he was a Championship player but now that he's in Premiership it doesn't matter as much

Its very possible in this scenario yes I feel. If you're in his position in team, at this stage of its evolution bringing vital experience in a key area while playing a high level club ball, while others find their feet you don't walk away as he did if you feel truly Irish.

Quoting the retirement ages of Keane ( who played till he dropped ) Walters & Doyle were finished by injuries while wanting to play on and Murphy was a squad guy, is neither here nor there in comparison to this McGoldrick situation IMO.

There was a bit of work to do, no glory to be had so McGoldrick didn't fancy it basically, isn't that quite possible here ?

[Razors left peg]

Im firmly of the opinion that Kenny should start the campaign with a team that suits the structure that he wants to move forward with. Ive said in other threads that I believe that this would in some cases mean bringing in a young player to replace a more experienced player who doesnt necessarily suit how Kenny wants to play. Kelleher for Randolph and O'Shea for Duffy are most obvious examples.

In McGoldricks case he was talked about as man of the match in the playoff against Slovakia when I thought he was actually terrible. He was in every position on the pitch except the one he was actually supposed to be playing in. Its all well and good running around the pitch like a mad man making it look like he was working hard. He was getting on the ball in areas that werent hurting the Slovaks and not giving us the outlet we needed up front. Theres a reason he only has 1 goal in 14 games for us.

My point being, that like the other examples, even if McGoldrick hadnt retired I would still rather pick one of the younger strikers that might suit his system better as the point of the attack and let them develop into the role, instead of sticking with McGoldrick who doesnt have the discipline to lead the line like Kenny wants.

[Bielsa´s irish]

El Bambino Pons the uruguayan official commentator on espn is creaming his pants on McGoldrick labelled him as a player of great category of flair!!

Egan is playing really well today, a Baresi kind of performance as a libero in a back 3

There are some videos of El Bambino Pons on youtube as how this crazy as a horse uruguayan sings and narrates the matches live, there is a video of Thierry Henry on him, that Van Nistelrooy sent him when at Man U.The guy sings songs from the beatles and the stones or u 2 when somebody scores crazy stuff, this guy is a character!!