Irish Players Abroad 06/07

[Irish_Praha]

Jim O'Brien has scored for Dunfermline and it's currently 2-0 against Motherwell. If they win they will be only one point behind St Mirren (and safety) with two games to go. It looks like Stephen Kenny has finally settled in and is showing the Scots what a canny manager he is. (Potentially) 5 wins in the last 6 games and a Scottish cup final. I really hope it's not too late.

[eirebhoy]

No goals conceded in 5 or 6 games either and playing very good football.

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Abroad for 7 May 2007
English Premier (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=1)
Charlton (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=527) 0-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515224) Tottenham (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2590)
Charlton's Irish Players: Matt Holland (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3567)
Charlton's unused Irish substitutes: Darren Randolph (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41744)
Tottenham's Irish Players: Robbie Keane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11957)(substituted on 84)

Scottish Premier (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=12)
Dunfermline (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=749) 4-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515213) Motherwell (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1734)
Dunfermline's Irish Players: Jim O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=44696)(substituted on 74)
Motherwell's Irish Players: Paul Keegan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=45967)(introduced on 80)
Irish goalscorers: Jim O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=44696)(6)

[AustinoAsprilla]

Granny rule time again... Rumour has it Staunton is after Warnock for the Republic.

Anyone know if he qualifies?

Or does anyone know of other players who qualify and we might be interested in taking on board?

PS. NOT a thread on whether or not we should be using the granny rule...

[Dodge]

PS. NOT a thread on whether or not we should be using the granny rule...

Yeah, good luck with that :p

[OwlsFan]

According to Wikipedia he was called in to the English senior squad:

"Despite having made relatively few first team appearances for Liverpool, Warnock was called in to the senior England squad for the first time on August 29, 2005, due to lack of cover in the squad at left back. However, he has yet to make an appearance for England and has not been called up since".

Don't know if he qualifies for us.

[youngirish]

Stephen Warnock is utter pants. Not what we need swapping one goon (O'Shea) for another, possibly worse one.

Anyway he's been in a few English squads so dunno where this rumour came from. Nothing will come of it.

[DeNiro]

Granny rule time again... Rumour has it Staunton is after Warnock for the Republic.

Anyone know if he qualifies?

Or does anyone know of other players who qualify and we might be interested in taking on board?

PS. NOT a thread on whether or not we should be using the granny rule...


Where did you see this?

[tetsujin1979]

Sean Thornton was released by Doncaster Rovers yesterday: http://www.doncasterroversfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10329~1022021,00.html?ptvParm=

[tetsujin1979]

Paul Marshall started and scored for Man City's reserves, Karl Moore was a second half substitute and Garry Breen stayed on the bench as they beat Man United's reserves including Christy Fagan 3-1 in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup

Man United review: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB0 69%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=425982
Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=425914

[youngirish]

Sean Thornton was released by Doncaster Rovers yesterday: http://www.doncasterroversfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10329~1022021,00.html?ptvParm=

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Just goes to show you that you can't predict even at 19 or 20 which players are going to make it or not. He looked class when he first joined Sunderland.

In fairness his problems have been as much off the pitch as on it. I hope his brother lives up to his potential though he's very injury prone.

[dr_peepee]

Maybe Malaga will come back in for him....:D

His brother has a bit of a discipline issue as well.... Mickey Adams has had to pull him up a couple of times too... Will be interesting to see how he gets on with dowie.

[CraftyToePoke]

leicester v wolves 1-4


just Logan for leicester, he did save 2 one on ones in this game but didnt convince on crosses at all, this is currently his biggest failing, he just doesnt come and deal with the ball as you would want your keeper to. Keogh also made him look foolish from the spot.

for wolves, Keogh, Potter, Breen, Ward and Gleeson all featured at some point, and were all on the field at the end, good to see so many of our young players in an emerging side.

Keogh was the pick of the bunch by some margain, although you have to bear in mind he was against a pretty poor lcfc defence, most of whom have no future at this club and played as such.

he started quietly and hit a post on 20 when he should have scored but thereafter, he excelled, in no particular order, he: chased down and intercepted a leicester kick-off, disposessed the player and surged to the edge of the area, then played a great ball over the full back to put his winger in a great position; he took down a kickout and although forced wide by several players he somehow got a shot on goal which lobbed Logan from a tight angle and hit the post; his header from a setplay was parried but led directly to wolves opener; created half a dozen shooting oppertunities for teammates with presice passes released at the exactly right moment with superb awareness of the movement around him while in pressurised posession;
he got the leicester captain and centrehalf sent off for a foul in the 2nd half; he took the complete pi$$ out of Logan from the spot late on, dinking it down the middle like a golf putt.

the wolves fans sing his name to the tune of the man u tune for Keane, high praise.

he didnt win many ariel battles but more than compensated with his ground play, as ive said, you must bear in mind the opposition, but i cant wait to see how he does on the summer tour.

Ward got half an hour and from his first touch he did well when he showed at a throw and linked with Keogh, found space and immediately got it back all the while bearing down on goal, he and Keogh linked,maybe, 3 or 4 times like this in the halfhour they were together including the occasion which led to the wolves pen when the one two-ed superbly at pace and Ward was hacked down.he also did well.

Breen looked comfortable and showed the old pro experience at times, wasnt over troubled in this one, and Gleeson only played the last 3 + injury time, but was in posession twice and made sure he didnt give it away with a couple of quick basic 10 yard passes.

Potter played the deep midfield role, he impressed me more on prevoius occasions, but while not doing anything eyecatching, he didnt mess up either, always having an out ball, assured in posession, doing the right thing simply all the time, he was ridiculously booked early on for kicking it away when he had in fact just knocked it against the advert board for it to come straight back,one of those moments when both sets of fans agree on what a tit the ref is. another one who i will be interested to see in the summer games.

thats it for this season from ol'CTP boyos and girlies:), been a pleasure.

[eirebhoy]

Potter played the deep midfield role
That puts my mind to rest as to who can play that role out of the Stan's current squad.


thats it for this season from ol'CTP boyos and girlies:), been a pleasure.
Great work mate.

[tetsujin1979]

thats it for this season from ol'CTP boyos and girlies:), been a pleasure.
Nicely done CTP, the 2007/2008 promotion push starts now!

[Dr. Ogba]

That puts my mind to rest as to who can play that role out of the Stan's current squad.



Yeah...John O'Shea :rolleyes:

[Paddy Garcia]

Funny reading that Kevin Nolan has not even been selected for England B.

Off topic just a little, well he has been in Irish underage squads.

[tetsujin1979]

Michael Keane released by Rotherham: http://www.themillers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10360~1020943,00.html

[drummerboy]

Michael Keane released by Rotherham: http://www.themillers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10360~1020943,00.html

Looks like he is looking for an EL club. Wilo Flood also looks like he is going on loan to St Pats from Cardiff.

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Abroad for 12 May 2007

Football League Championship (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=2)
Southampton (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2471) 1-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515624) Derby (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=747)
Southampton's Irish Players: Leon Best (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38733)(introduced on 55)
Derby's Irish Players: Jonathan Macken (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=10775)(substituted on 77)

Football League Two (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=4)
Bristol R (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=388) 2-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515626) Lincoln (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1559)
Lincoln's Irish Players: Lee Frecklington (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=36619)

Scottish Premier (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=12)
Celtic (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=512) 2-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515621) Aberdeen (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=27)
Celtic's Irish Players: Aiden McGeady (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38265)(introduced on 61)
Celtic's unused Irish substitutes: Darren O'Dea (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41533)

Falkirk (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=955) 2-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515600) Dundee Utd (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=740)
Falkirk's unused Irish substitutes: Stephen O'Donnell (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41514)
Dundee Utd's Irish Players: Sean Dillon (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46004)

Hearts (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1289) 2-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515622) Hibernian (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1227)
No Irish players.

Inverness CT (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=482) 2-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515601) Dunfermline (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=749)
Dunfermline's Irish Players: Jim O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=44696)(substituted on 81)

Motherwell (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1734) 2-3 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515602) St Mirren (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2475)
Motherwell's Irish Players: Paul Keegan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=45967)(substituted on 79)
St Mirren's Irish Players: David van Zanten (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17856), Billy Mehmett (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34664)(introduced on 54)
Irish goalscorers: Billy Mehmett (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34664)(59)

Scottish Division 1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=13)
Airdrie Utd (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=3850) 2-3 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515596) Stirling (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2296)
No Irish players.

[Paddy Garcia]

I see that Jeff Kenna was on the losing side in the FA Trophy today ..... which is a bit scary.

Also a McGrath & McMahon on the two benches - I suspect these may be two x under 21 players.

[tetsujin1979]

Keith Treacy on the bench for Blackburn today

[KopKiller]

Just finished watching the Liverpool-Charlton game on livefooty, Darren Randolph played the entire match and was deservedly named MOTM. Wasnt at fault for either liverpool goal (indeed he nearly saved Kewell's penalty) and made a string of outstanding saves. Another good goalkeeping prospect for us.

[eirebhoy]

Only one angle but here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1_mR_YFpXg

It'd be better on another angle as it looks like he got lucky by hitting the opponents leg but it actually doesn't. Excellent piece of skill for a centre half.
He was on Soccer AM showboat so here's a better clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxBvhokHHx8

[McGinty]

ugh, hope he doesnt go the way of John O'Shea after he nutmegged Figo....

[theworm2345]

Wes Hoolahan had the winner for Blackpool
Highlights here:
http://www.footballclips.net/forum/showthread.php?p=26911#post26911
Check out the flip the defender does :D

[tetsujin1979]

Irish Abroad for 13 May 2007
English Premier (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=1)
Blackburn (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=308) 3-3 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515639) Reading (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2125)
Blackburn's unused Irish substitutes: Keith Treacy (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=44385)
Reading's Irish Players: Stephen Hunt (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17143)(substituted on 70), Shane Long (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41355)(substituted on 66), Kevin Doyle (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41354)
Irish goalscorers: Kevin Doyle (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41354)(58)

Bolton (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=354) 2-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515640) Aston Villa (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=154)
No Irish players.

Chelsea (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=536) 1-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515641) Everton (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=942)
Everton's Irish Players: Lee Carsley (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=1329)
Irish bookings: Lee Carsley (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=1329)

Liverpool (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1563) 2-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515642) Charlton (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=527)
Liverpool's Irish Players: Steve Finnan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=2516)
Charlton's Irish Players: Darren Randolph (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41744), Matt Holland (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3567)
Charlton's unused Irish substitutes: Robert Elliot (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=40710)
Irish goalscorers: Matt Holland (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3567)(2)

Man Utd (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1724) 0-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515637) West Ham (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2802)
Man Utd's Irish Players: John O'Shea (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=18121)

Middlesbro (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1697) 3-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515643) Fulham (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1055)
No Irish players.

Portsmouth (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2049) 0-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515644) Arsenal (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=142)
Portsmouth's unused Irish substitutes: Andy O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=9719)
Arsenal's unused Irish substitutes: Joe O'Cearuill (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=45106)

Sheff Utd (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2328) 1-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515638) Wigan (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2783)
Sheff Utd's Irish Players: Paddy Kenny (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=15285), Derek Geary (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17133), Stephen Quinn (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41911)(substituted on 56)
Wigan's Irish Players: Caleb Folan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=28492)(introduced on 77), Kevin Kilbane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=4193)
Irish bookings: Derek Geary (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17133), Caleb Folan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=28492)

Tottenham (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2590) 2-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515645) Man City (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1718)
Tottenham's Irish Players: Robbie Keane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11957)(substituted on 81)
Man City's Irish Players: Richard Dunne (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=10583), Stephen Ireland (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41708)
Irish goalscorers: Robbie Keane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11957)(10)

Watford (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2741) 1-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515646) Newcastle (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1823)
Newcastle's Irish Players: Shay Given (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=2898), Stephen Carr (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=1320), Alan O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=40591)(introduced on 67)
Irish bookings: Alan O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=40591)

Football League Championship (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=2)
Wolves (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2848) 2-3 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515647) West Brom (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2744)
Wolves's Irish Players: Gary Breen (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=949), Stephen Ward (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46039)(introduced on 78), Darren Potter (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=35630), Andy Keogh (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=39039)
Wolves's unused Irish substitutes: Stephen Gleeson (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=45301)
West Brom's Irish Players: Dean Kiely (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=4190), Paul McShane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11080)
Irish bookings: Paul McShane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11080)

Football League One (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=3)
Oldham (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1924) 1-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515666) Blackpool (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=317)
Blackpool's Irish Players: Wes Hoolahan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=43134)
Blackpool's unused Irish substitutes: Ben Burgess (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=20396)
Irish goalscorers: Wes Hoolahan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=43134)(87)

Scottish Premier (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=12)
Rangers (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2104) 0-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515648) Kilmarnock (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1455)
No Irish players.

[tetsujin1979]

With the end of the season more or less upon us, I've been collecting the Irish Abroad data for the whole season, not just the games I started posting on a few weeks ago. I'll be posting a few stats when the English season ends completely after the Champion's League Final, and I'll make the season data available for anyone who wants to use it.
Apart from the normal top scorer/most booked style statistics, is there anything in particular that you would like to know, e.g. who had the most home wins, who played in the most draws, what goalkeeper conceded the most goals, etc?
Reply with your suggestions and I'll do my best to figure it out.

Note: Unfortunately I can't get anything to do with assists or captaincy, because soccerbase.com (where I get the information from) doesn't record either.

[kingdom hoop]

Note: Unfortunately I can't get anything to do with assists or captaincy, because soccerbase.com (where I get the information from) doesn't record either.

What the fawk am I paying you for motherfuker:p

I look forward to that Tets. Maybe minutes on the pitch would be another one, and if possible to see if the player's team did better with or without him. Is there any site that does ratings for all the matches I wonder, that'd be good one

[tetsujin1979]

Recent call up to the U-19's Paul Marshall has been rewarded for an impressive season at Academy and Reserve level with a professional contract from Man City: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=428121

[tetsujin1979]

Richard Dunne tops Man City's stats for the season, and came in at 46th overall in the Actim stats - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=428441

[eirebhoy]

[/I]tetsujin1979;688356]Richard Dunne tops Man City's stats for the season, and came in at 46th overall in the Actim stats - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=428441
Sky Sports list the top 5 shooters, passers, etc. for each club on their site. Dunne has 1,260 passes according to them (Opta Stats). I wonder how that's so much more than the Actim figure?

Anyway here's the Irish players in the top 5s in their clubs Opta Stats:

Passing:
Steve Finnan 1,294 (80.0% success)
Richard Dunne 1,260 (62.1%)
Lee Carsley 1,157 (69.9%)
Paddy Kenny 753 (39.3%)
Kevin Kilbane 752 (67.4%)

Crossing:
Stephen Hunt 166 (21.7%)
Kevin Kilbane 132 (26.5%)
Steve Finnan 114 (37.7%)
Andy Reid 87 (24.1%)
Damien Duff 86 (22.1%)
Robbie Keane 63 (41.3%)
Derek Geary 52 (26.9%)
Stephen Quinn 43 (20.9%)

Tacking:
Richard Dunne 120 (73.3%)
Lee Carsley 99 (77.8%)
Steve Finnan 69 (84.1%)
Derek Geary 68 (82.4%)
Stephen Hunt 67 (76.1%)

Shooting:
Kevin Doyle 47 (57.4%)
Robbie Keane 38 (52.6%)
Lee Carsley 32 (28.1%)
Andy Reid 30 (50.0%)
Stephen Hunt 30 (33.3%)

Dribbling:
Stephen Hunt 83 (32.5%)
Kevin Doyle 57 (29.8%)
Damien Duff 42 (47.6%)
Kevin Kilbane 36 (19.4%)

Most Fouled Player:
Kevin Doyle 53
Stephen Hunt 53
Derek Geary 39
Kevin Kilbane 37

Fouls Commited:
Lee Carsley 59
Stephen Carr 36
Kevin Doyle 36
Stephen Hunt 34

Assists:
Kevin Kilbane 7
Stephen Hunt 6
Steve Finnan 4
Lee Carsley 4
Robbie Keane 4
Derek Geary 3
Stephen Quinn 3
Kevin Doyle 2
Damien Duff 1
John O'Shea 1
Stephen Ireland 1
Andy Reid 1
Alan Quinn 1

[tetsujin1979]

Hasn't been many games lately, so I haven't been posting.
Here's the Irish Abroad from games from the last week

2007-05-14 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-14+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
League 2 Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=149)
Shrewsbury (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2325) 0-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515677) Milton Keynes (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Milton Keynes's starting players: Keith Andrews (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17402), Jonathan Hayes (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38721)

2007-05-15 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-15+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
Championship Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=147)
Derby (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=747) 2-3 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515692) Southampton (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Derby's starting players: Jonathan Macken (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=10775)(substituted on 62 minutes)
Southampton's starting players: Leon Best (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38733)
Irish goalscorers: Leon Best (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38733)(66, OG)

2007-05-16 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-16+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
Championship Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=147)
West Brom (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2744) 1-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515709) Wolves (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
West Brom's starting players: Dean Kiely (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=4190), Paul McShane (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11080)
Wolves's starting players: Gary Breen (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=949), Darren Potter (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=35630), Andy Keogh (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=39039)
Wolves's substitutes: Stephen Ward (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46039)(introduced on 84 minutes), Stephen Gleeson (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=45301)(introduced on 59 minutes)
Irish bookings: Darren Potter (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=35630)

2007-05-17 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-17+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
League 2 Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=149)
Lincoln (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1559) 3-5 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515767) Bristol R (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Lincoln's starting players: Lee Frecklington (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=36619)

2007-05-18 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-18+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
League 1 Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=148)
Nottm Forest (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1845) 2-5 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515771) Yeovil (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
No Irish players.

League 2 Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=149)
Milton Keynes (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2812) 1-2 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515770) Shrewsbury (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Milton Keynes's starting players: Keith Andrews (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17402), Jonathan Hayes (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38721)(substituted on 67 minutes)
Irish goalscorers: Keith Andrews (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17402)(74)

2007-05-19 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-19+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
Scottish Premiership (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=12)
Dundee Utd (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=740) 0-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=514740) Motherwell (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Dundee Utd's starting players: Sean Dillon (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46004), Noel Hunt (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34469)
Motherwell's substitutes: Paul Keegan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=45967)

Dunfermline (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=749) 0-3 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515782) Falkirk (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Dunfermline's substitutes: Jim O'Brien (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=44696)
Falkirk's substitutes: Stephen O'Donnell (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41514)(introduced on 81 minutes)

St Mirren (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2475) 0-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=514742) Inverness CT (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
St Mirren's starting players: David van Zanten (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17856), Billy Mehmett (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34664)
Irish bookings: Billy Mehmett (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34664)

English FA Cup (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=58)
Chelsea (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=536) 1-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515783) Man Utd (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Man Utd's substitutes: John O'Shea (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=18121)(introduced on 112 minutes)

League 1 Play Off (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=148)
Blackpool (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=317) 3-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515784) Oldham (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Blackpool's starting players: Wes Hoolahan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=43134)(substituted on 89 minutes)
Blackpool's substitutes: Ben Burgess (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=20396)(introduced on 89 minutes)

2007-05-20 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results_by_date.sd?date=2007-05-20+00%3A00%3A00&seasonid=136&x=30&y=14)
Scottish Premiership (http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=12)
Aberdeen (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=27) 2-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=514743) Rangers (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
No Irish players.

Hibernian (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1227) 2-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=514744) Celtic (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Celtic's starting players: Darren O'Dea (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41533)
Celtic's substitutes: Aiden McGeady (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38265)(introduced on 69 minutes), Cillian Sheridan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46153)(introduced on 88 minutes)

Kilmarnock (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1455) 1-0 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515768) Hearts (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
No Irish players.

[tetsujin1979]

Hibernian (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=1227) 2-1 (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=514744) Celtic (http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=)
Celtic's starting players: Darren O'Dea (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=41533)
Celtic's substitutes: Aiden McGeady (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38265)(introduced on 69 minutes), Cillian Sheridan (http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=46153)(introduced on 88 minutes)
Sheridan came on for Celtic and played the last few minutes, despite having played the full 90 minutes, and scored, for the U-19's the night before!

[eirebhoy]

Yeah I couldn't believe it when I heard at half 1 yesterday that Sheridan was on the bench. An Icelandic striker Finnbogason has been at Celtic 2 and a half years and I was expecting him to be on the bench. It shows how highly Strachan rates Sheridan. He's not even at the club 12 months.

Here's an interview with him from February:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugy_Nwf3_N4

[tetsujin1979]

Q&A with Richard Dunne: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=429348

BEST MATE AT CITY – I don’t have any!
HARDEST PLAYER AT CITY – Steve Ireland
LEAST KNOWLEDGEABLE PLAYER ABOUT CITY – Steve Ireland
Odd that he doesn't have any mates at City, he's there longer than anyone in the first team, apart from Nicky Weaver.
Stevie Ireland - hard man or hardest to play against??
Not too surprised Stevie doesn't know much about City, he was a United fan growing up.

[tetsujin1979]

Lee Carsley signs new 1 year deal at everton: http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/exclusive-cars-signs-one-year-deal.html

[eirebhoy]

From the Irish Indo:

Stephen Ward of Wolves would be here if it weren't for the setback he picked up in Wolves' play-off semi-final second leg against West Brom, while Southampton's Leon Best - who has confirmed his declaration for Ireland - finished the season with a flourish, barring his misfortune in scoring an own goal in his side's play-off loss to Derby.
That's that one to rest.

[dr_peepee]

But Kevin Nolan though....

[livehead1]

is there a quote about Best

[youngirish]

From the Irish Indo:

That's that one to rest.

Nice one. I rate Best. Even though we have bags of talented young strikers many are quite similar - lightweight, quick and skillful but perhaps not as potent as we'd like. Best offers something different as he's big and powerful and is perhaps more a typical goal poacher than the others on offer (bar possibly Rooney).

Eirebhoy have you seen Cillian Sheridan play and if so is he a similar sort of player to Best?

[eirebhoy]

Eirebhoy have you seen Cillian Sheridan play and if so is he a similar sort of player to Best?
I haven't seen a lot of Sheridan but he's a target man, Jan Koller style (not as tall though). :) He'll battle with the centre halves and won't stray too far away from the penalty box. "Battering ram", "giant" and "gargantuan" are some of the terms you'll see if you google his name.

I put an awful lot of weight in the fact that Strachan rates him so highly.

[Paddy Garcia]

From the Irish Indo:

That's that one to rest.

Can't understand why he is not in the States!

[Paddy Garcia]

See that Dicker has signed for Stockport County. I'm surprised as I thought he would have moved to a higher level than Div 2.

[tetsujin1979]

Can't understand why he is not in the States!
Probably because of the play off involvement

[eirebhoy]

btw, I think this shows that the media are always reading these forums. I'm certain if we never mentioned Best on here they wouldn't have went and found out whether his heart was still with us. It's for that reason that I prefer to keep the likes of Glenn Whelan and Owen Garvan's name out of the limelight. If we're questioning why they're not involved in the squads, the media will bring it up with Stan and they'll have less chance of a call up because he's so stubborn. :)

[DmanDmythDledge]

See that Dicker has signed for Stockport County. I'm surprised as I thought he would have moved to a higher level than Div 2.
Division 3 actually (League 2). I'm surprised as well but I don't think there was too many clubs interested in him.

[dr_peepee]

John Thompson released from Forrest...

[tetsujin1979]

John Thompson released from Forrest...

Might get snapped up by Tranmere, he was rated there and they did well while he was there on loan.

[tetsujin1979]

End of season ratings for Man City players: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1007/1007604_city_season_player_ratings.html

Richard Dunne - The Blues' player of the season. Ever-present in the Premiership and if it wasn't for his form the club would almost certainly have been relegated - 9

Stephen Ireland - The most creative player on City's books but that's not necessarily saying much. He is still hampered by his small frame but has great early vision and would no doubt do more damage with a top class striker to work with. His progress with the Republic of Ireland is encouraging too - 7