View Full Version : Roddy Collins
Roddy wary of Byrne inclusion
May 14, 2006
Former Bohemians and Dublin City boss Roddy Collins has labelled Jason Byrne’s call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad as a “political” decision by Irish manager Steve Staunton.
Byrne was the sole eircom League player included in a 29-man senior squad for a training camp in Portugal followed by the friendly against Chile at Lansdowne Road on May 24th.
But Collins is wary of Staunton’s motives for including the prolific Shelbourne striker, claiming that there are better players in the lower divisions of the English league.
He told Newstalk 106: “It’s a political move. Brian Kerr went down that road and Steve Staunton is going the same route.
“Fair play to Jason, I hope he enjoys his holiday. But you have Richie Foran, [Lee] Trundle, a stack of players in the lower leagues who would be superior to Jason. It’s a cosmetic, political decision.”
www.elevenaside.com
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What a muppet
Why is he? he's tellin the truth! thats a token call-up, Byrne is NOT international quality and there are better around
I think Roddy is bang on the money on this. He's 100% coorrect for once. That said EL players should take advantage of this policy as long as its fashionable in Merrion Sq - they've nothing to lose and could have a lot to gain from it
Pablo Escobar
14/05/2006, 2:39 PM
Why is he? he's tellin the truth! thats a token call-up, Byrne is NOT international quality and there are better around
I will always defend the EL, and Byrne, just like Gamble, deserves his chance!
He's got to be better than Alan Lee or Milton Clorrison or whatever sh1te Kerr came up with!
The fact is Kerr was favouring lower league English players and we were going backwards!
Did Kerr not pick Byrne too? That was probably token too but anyone who thinks Staunton carres more about the league than Kerr is an idiot. He still goes to a game a week FFS
Oh and I agree with Roddy
Poor Student
14/05/2006, 3:04 PM
The fact is Kerr was favouring lower league English players and we were going backwards!
What lower league English players? Championship players?
thejollyrodger
14/05/2006, 4:00 PM
I agree with Roddy unless the EL players get a proper 45 minute spell in a friendly. None of them can realistically expect to play in a competitive game.
Stan is just trying to get the real irish soccer supporters on board with the move.
Roverstillidie
14/05/2006, 4:07 PM
can i ask one big favour from the foot.ie community. dont start a thread every time toderick sounds off, because lets face it, its the only reason he does it. a sad unemployed arse biscuit making noise for attention.
jason byrne is the 6th choice irish striker. so logically he is in the 29 man squad. there is no politicing involved.
I might listen to Roddy if he offered some creditable alternatives. FFS Foran isn't "much better".
pineapple stu
14/05/2006, 5:10 PM
The fact is Kerr was favouring lower league English players and we were going backwards!
There's no actual cause and effect link between those two ideas though. We were going backwards because Kerr had an overly cautious, negative approach, not because of the players he picked.
I might listen to Roddy if he offered some creditable alternatives. FFS Foran isn't "much better".
Gary O'neil is better ;)
Sniffer
14/05/2006, 5:59 PM
Yep, reckon Roddy is right on the money re. political edcision. No offence to Jason Byrne, but I don't think he's international quality. Still, having any eL players around the squad can only improve them.You've got to play with and against the best to improve so why not take advantage of the situation. Would love to see someone from eL getting the first half in a friendly,I think it may happen soon.
BohsFans
14/05/2006, 6:02 PM
Jesus, I didn't know people were still listening to Roddy :rolleyes:
Stan is just trying to get the real irish soccer supporters on board with the move.
How do you know that?
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Its comments like this(from Roddy) and the crap that the likes of Keely and Devlin come up with that gives the barstoolers a reason to criticise the el
LeixlipRed
14/05/2006, 7:17 PM
he''s right about it being a political dcision but foran and trundle "much better"? how the hell would he know? he only ever managed to get all those "much better" lower league players relegated to the conference. Byrne and Gamble deserve their chance. now, roddy crawl off somewhere and die will you
Paddyfield
14/05/2006, 8:06 PM
We might as well all sit on the fence.
If an EL player gets called up and susequently becomes an ever-present for even ten consevutive games, he'd be dumped for not getting first team regular football at his Club.
Our League is not international-friendly. We play in the summer when the World Cup* & European Championships* are on and we are on holiers when Rihard Dunne and Robbie Keane are getting into the swing of things.
If Jason Byrne gets bunked up to First Choice striker, $hel$ would go cracked because he would miss games for them while he is at training camp in Portugal or better still, leading the Rep of Ireland to World Cup glory. And when Jayo is off for the EL four month winter break, Steve Staunton will be forced to pick Richie Foran because Byrne is shopping with the missus in Liffey Valley.
* OK, so the EL takes a little summer break so we can watch the World Cup on TV.
Roverstillidie
14/05/2006, 8:07 PM
We might as well all sit on the fence.
If an EL player gets called up and susequently becomes an ever-present for even ten consevutive games, he'd be dumped for not getting first team regular football at his Club.
Our League is not international-friendly. We play in the summer when the World Cup* & European Championships* are on and we are on holiers when Rihard Dunne and Robbie Keane are getting into the swing of things.
If Jason Byrne gets bunked up to First Choice striker, $hel$ would go cracked because he would miss games for them while he is at training camp in Portugal or better still, leading the Rep of Ireland to World Cup glory. And when Jayo is off for the EL four month winter break, Steve Staunton will be forced to pick Richie Foran because Byrne is shopping with the missus in Liffey Valley.
* OK, so the EL takes a little summer break so we can watch the World Cup on TV.
utter garbage. games are postponed from time to time for international call ups like in any other league. uninformed drivel
Paddyfield
14/05/2006, 8:13 PM
utter garbage. games are postponed from time to time for international call ups like in any other league. uninformed drivel
So how will the likes of Jason Byrne expect to get a call up to the Rep of Ireland senior squad in February when the EL closes down in November until March? He wouldn't be match fit!
Roverstillidie
14/05/2006, 8:16 PM
So how will the likes of Jason Byrne expect to get a call up to the Rep of Ireland senior squad in February when the EL closes down in November until March? He wouldn't be match fit!
yet somehow the russians, ukranians and scandanavians soldier on.
Anto McC
14/05/2006, 9:07 PM
That was probably token too but anyone who thinks Staunton carres more about the league than Kerr is an idiot. He still goes to a game a week FFS
Well what the f*ck else is a sh*te unemployed manager to do!!
In his short tenure in charge i have already seen Stan at more games than i saw Kerr at!!
Dr.Nightdub
14/05/2006, 9:40 PM
That's probably because Kerr is at most Pats home games. No surprise there.
In his short tenure in charge i have seen Stan at more games i saw Kerr at!!
Crap Anto. Kerr attended games regularly while he was underage manager and when he was senior manager. Anyone seriously claiming that Staunton is more interested in the league than Kerr is living on another planet. If Kerr didn't pick home based players it was because he honestly didn't think they were up to it. When it comes down to it you'll find that Staunton thinks so too. Anyone expecting either Byrne or Gamble to be in the squad when the qualifiers come around is heading for a disappointment. In fact I'll be surprised to see either player get on the field against Chile. Staunton is trying to play a cute game and be all things to all men as far as I can see. He knows the kicking that both McCarthy and Kerr got from the media and is concerned that the same thing doesn't happen to him. Which will be all well and good until the honeymoon period is over.
dcfcsteve
14/05/2006, 9:58 PM
Roddy who ??
I remember some Collins fella who managed a club or two a few years back, but after seen him doing anything since....
Why are the press giving this goon print space for his views ? He's a finished nobody in Irish football - which is why he's probably so keen to kick back at it.
Roddy Collins- isn't he a GAA manager?
Poor Student
14/05/2006, 11:28 PM
Why are the press giving this goon print space for his views ? He's a finished nobody in Irish football - which is why he's probably so keen to kick back at it.
He's a weekly columnist with the Star and has been as far back as his tenure with Dublin City. I remember him writing how he would definitely be at Dublin City come the season's end a few weeks before he jumped to Rovers.
dcfcsteve
15/05/2006, 12:27 AM
He's a weekly columnist with the Star and has been as far back as his tenure with Dublin City. I remember him writing how he would definitely be at Dublin City come the season's end a few weeks before he jumped to Rovers.
Ahhhhh - so he's a journalist !
Sorry - I thought he might be somebody more directly involved with the game.
Strange for a journalist to interview another journalist on something like this though. I guess they gotta keep themslves in readies though...
I think Byrne is in the squad because beyond the top 4 strikers Ireland have feck all other options. Lee, Connolly etc... don't really scream for irish squad placement.
Gamble is best midfielder in the eL & because of unavailable players offers backup for the holding midfielder role as not so many other options in the squad. In all likehood he will not make next 22 man squad.
Since leaving Bohs Collins has failed at every management job he has undertaken. He is entitled to his opinion but media outlets like Newstalk 106 have a duty not to allow him free reign on the air - anytime i listen they never challenge anything he says because he is entertaining. Sky Sports wouldn't use a tv pundit who slagged off the Premiership at every opportunity so RTE should not employ Collins as their pundit again. If RTE use Collins again it will be very obvious what they think of the eL.
pól-dcfc
15/05/2006, 11:57 AM
Connolly is absolute tosh. Pure rubbish. I'd take Byrne any day ahead of David Connolly.
However I would take Foley or Lee Trundle before him.
joema
15/05/2006, 12:17 PM
Connolly is absolute tosh. Pure rubbish. I'd take Byrne any day ahead of David Connolly.
However I would take Foley or Lee Trundle before him.
Foley may be a decent player but he doesnt score near enough goals. We need a golascorer, thats why Byrne is in there
CuanaD
15/05/2006, 1:09 PM
Foley may be a decent player but he doesnt score near enough goals. We need a golascorer, thats why Byrne is in there
I'd always take Byrne over Connolly, Foley or Foran. Trundle I've never seen, so i can't comment. Jason is a proven goalscorer in League & Europe, & his style just might compliment Robby kean's style. His appointment may be political, but Staunton has said good things about him.
BTW - Roddy Collins - just ignore him & hopefully he will go away:mad:
Speranza
15/05/2006, 1:17 PM
Oh no.....someone likes David Connolly. Don't do drugs!
CuanaD
15/05/2006, 2:16 PM
Byrne's not a proven goal-scorer in Europe. He has scored a couple in preliminary stages, you can hardly give him the same acolade that the like of Shevchenko has.
People who think that he is better than David Connolly need to get a grip of themselves.
Against better quality opposition David Connolly's goals dry up. anyway, I would play Jason before him because of their different styles. Basically, I'd pick Robby Kean first, so I'd put in Jason (bigger, powerfull) alongside him rather than David (small, nippy - not adding a different dimension to Robbie).
You are right about Shevchenko of course - but then NONE of our strikers have won the right to the same acolade as him
Steve
Roddy is a contributor to Newstalks EL slot (every thursday I think) Himself and Irish Star journalist generally offer views on the latest el games, give brief previews and comment on issues concerning the league - I have to say that far from being an impediment in this role, having no job in the el finally frees Roddy to talk something approaching sense when on the radio nowdays. When he was manager at Bohs/Dub City/Rovers he was always battling on a agenda - mainly to suit himself and his own further advancement so his public comments were always perverse and he has that reputation but I've been genuinely impressed with his recent performances on newstalk - has called most EL games to a tee in his previews and analysis of how they'd go - giving evidence of how this seeming gobdaw could actually win a double.
In short he knows his football and also knows how to work the media.
In this issue he has called it for what it is - a policy decision by the FAI/Staunton - a PR move designed not solely for a footballing outcome - England are pretty much riddled with a similar type of PR before common sense approcah to squad selection under eriksson.
But that means nothing to Gamble and Byrne - if they can cadge a few mins and fluke a goal they'd be made for life career wise.
Why is he? he's tellin the truth! thats a token call-up, Byrne is NOT international quality and there are better around
And trundle is will you stop talking sh1te.
mypost
15/05/2006, 6:40 PM
David Connolly is a very talented player.
:D :D :D
David Connolly is about as useful up front, as Roddy Collins is a pundit.
fergalr
15/05/2006, 9:12 PM
:D :D :D
David Connolly is about as useful up front, as Roddy Collins is a pundit.
Best ending of a thread - ever.
theworm2345
20/05/2006, 7:25 PM
Against better quality opposition David Connolly's goals dry up.
Not true, I think he probably scored in 3/4 of the games he started this year even after moving from leicester (he got hurt, and couldnt play for a while).
P.S. He only started about 7, scored in 3, 1 against WBA, 1 against Newcastle (FA Cup) and one against Leeds (Carling I believe) so Im right, its not his fault Jewell wouldnt start him (not to mention his hat trick against Stoke, and his goal agianst now EPL Sheffield United in the CCC) Dont count all of the games that he came on for 5 minutes at the end as opportunities
:)
thomas
22/05/2006, 6:57 AM
Ronnie O'Brien,
Irelands only good overseas player. Selected in the MLS season XI for the last two years.
Acquired
Signed on July 12, 2002.
Professional Experience
2005: Named to the MLS Bext XI team and All-Star team for second consecutive season…Was selected as the MLS Player of the Week for Week 8 after scoring goals in consecutive games on 5/18 vs. Colorado and 5/22 vs. Chivas USA… Scored the loan goal in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal 1-0 win over Chicago on 9/14.
2004: Named to MLS Best XI for the first time…Along with leading the team in assists, ranked first on the squad in games started (29) and minutes played (2,581)..Selected to start in his first MLS All-Star Game…named MLS Player of the Week after contributing to three Dallas goals on 8/28 vs. Chicago.
2003: Netted his only goal of the year with a highlight reel blast on 4/12 vs. LA…Started the first three matches of the season before suffering a broken right tibia on 5/3 @ D.C. United… Missed the next 24 matches due to the injury before coming back late in the season.
2002: joined the team in mid-July… Made his Dallas regular season debut, entering as a sub in the 69th minute and scoring his first MLS goal in the 88th minute of the 2-1 win over San Jose on 7/13… Netted the winning-goal in overtime on 8/7 vs. Coloraro in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup…Registered his first MLS assist on 9/1 @ COL.
1999-2002: During his time with Juventus, he played in pre-season games and one InterToto match, entering in the 77th minute of Juventus' 5-1 in over Russian club Rostselmaschl on 4/19/99…Trained with players like Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero and Edgar Davids … he was loaned to Lugano in Switzerland for six months, Crotone in Italy's Serie C for six months, and Lecco also in Italy's Serie C…Spent the 2001-02 season with Dundee United in Scotland, playing in 13 matches and scoring one goal.
1997-1998: Began his professional career at the age of 18 with Middlesbrough in the English league, coming from Irish soccer at Wolfe Tone, Wayside Celtic, St. Joseph's Boys, and Bray Wanderers…Spent two years with Middlesbrough before signing a five-year contract with Juventus of the Italian Serie A.
International
Played with the Ireland U-18, U-19 and U-21 National Teams, winning the European Championship with the U-18 side.
Personal
In August of 1999, as a member of Juventus, a computer glitch on Time Magazine's website caused O'Brien to receive the most online votes as the Time Magazine Person of the Century. It was reported that though O'Brien had received a few hundred votes, due to a high-number of people voting at the same time, the computer crashed and scrambled the results. The software glitch was corrected and O'Brien was taken off the poll…Worked as a shelf stacker at a supermarket when he was young…Enjoys playing golf and going to the movies …Listens to a variety of music, especially rhythm and blues…Once asked Franz Beckenbauer for an autograph…Has one older brother and two younger sisters…Married to Vicki.
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