Irish Players Abroad 06/07

[co. down green]

Michael O'Connor from Crewe named in the u21 squad for the friendly with Luxemburg.

18 year old Belfast lad, just signed a three year contract extension with Crewe.

http://oneteaminireland.bravehost.com/

[SaucyJack]

Ex wolves keeper, Mike Stowell, who is currently leicesters assistant manager/goalkeping coach, on Conrad Logans present scenario

http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10274~907007,00.html


any chance of a cut and paste of the article?, it's a registration site.

[TheBoss]

Paul Armstrong (Midfield) - 05/10/78 - Eastbourne Borough (Conference South)
Lee Boylan (Forward) - 02/09/78 - Grays Athletic (Conference)

[SaucyJack]

Paul Armstrong (Midfield) - 05/10/78 - Eastbourne Borough (Conference South)
Lee Boylan (Forward) - 02/09/78 - Grays Athletic (Conference)

Former Brighton and West Ham respectively, if I remember right.

[gustavo]

They are the type of players we should be looking to attract home.

[eirebhoy]

any chance of a cut and paste of the article?, it's a registration site.
http://www.bugmenot.com/

Assistant boss Mike Stowell has admitted to an embarrassment of riches within the goalkeeping department.

With Conrad Logan, Paul Henderson and Rab Douglas all fit and raring to go, Rob Kelly is facing the type of selection headache all managers crave.

Logan currently occupies the number one jersey having started City's last three matches and has received rave reviews for his performances, especially at St Andrews last Saturday where he made a string of impressive saves.

The 20-year-old Donegal-born shotstopper, whose hero is Pat Bonner, has certainly made a dramatic impact but Stowell knows it is his job to keep Logan's feet firmly on the ground.

Stowell said: "Conrad has made a very decent start and we are proud of him and pleased for him.

"His coming out has been positive, he's been brave and done really well.

"He certainly has the potential and we are very pleased with what he has achieved so far but the best goalkeepers are the ones who make the least amount of mistakes so we'll look at him in a season or two seasons time and we'll then have a measure of him."

However, Stowell, who doubles up as goalkeeping coach, insists that the former Academy starlet can ill afford to rest on his laurels.

"All three of our goalkeepers want to play and so they should," he added.

"But with Conrad holding the jersey, now the real battle begins.

"It's all well and good getting into the team but now he's in there, the other two will be fighting it out to dislodge him and that's great competition and is exactly what we want.

"Competition for places breeds good habits and that is what we want all over the pitch.

"We want players knowing that they have to play well to stay in the team."

[Rovers'Til IDie]

Benny McCarthy - Blacburn Rovers :)

[SaucyJack]

http://www.bugmenot.com/

Assistant boss Mike Stowell has admitted to an embarrassment of riches within the goalkeeping department.

With Conrad Logan, Paul Henderson and Rab Douglas all fit and raring to go, Rob Kelly is facing the type of selection headache all managers crave.

Logan currently occupies the number one jersey having started City's last three matches and has received rave reviews for his performances, especially at St Andrews last Saturday where he made a string of impressive saves.

The 20-year-old Donegal-born shotstopper, whose hero is Pat Bonner, has certainly made a dramatic impact but Stowell knows it is his job to keep Logan's feet firmly on the ground.


Stowell said: "Conrad has made a very decent start and we are proud of him and pleased for him.

"His coming out has been positive, he's been brave and done really well.

"He certainly has the potential and we are very pleased with what he has achieved so far but the best goalkeepers are the ones who make the least amount of mistakes so we'll look at him in a season or two seasons time and we'll then have a measure of him."

However, Stowell, who doubles up as goalkeeping coach, insists that the former Academy starlet can ill afford to rest on his laurels.

"All three of our goalkeepers want to play and so they should," he added.

"But with Conrad holding the jersey, now the real battle begins.

"It's all well and good getting into the team but now he's in there, the other two will be fighting it out to dislodge him and that's great competition and is exactly what we want.

"Competition for places breeds good habits and that is what we want all over the pitch.

"We want players knowing that they have to play well to stay in the team."


thanks

[CraftyToePoke]

heres an interview with Paddy McCarthy from the bluearmy site which touches on most of his career thus far:


It made me so proud - to win was a bonus!

In the first of our new Leicester City series, the Friday interview, defender Paddy McCarthy reveals the biggest moment of his career to Andy Mann.

As 20,000 fans made their way to the FA Cup clash with Tottenham, and millions more settled down to watch it at home, Leicester City's Paddy McCarthy was digesting the highlight of his career so far.


In the home dressing-room beneath the Walkers Stadium main stand, McCarthy had just been told he would be leading City out for the first time.

McCarthy said: "Housty (coach Peter Houston) said to me 'come on, let's go. We are going to see the referee because you are captain tonight'.

"I was taken aback, but delighted as well. I had no idea beforehand.

"I think it was the highlight of my career so far.

"It was a live game on TV, in the FA Cup against a Premiership team. It was a massive moment for me, and made me really proud. The win made it that much better."

Little could he have known just how much of "a massive moment" it would prove to be.

With club captain Danny Tiatto injured, and Dion Dublin, an oft-used stand-in, about to move to Celtic, McCarthy became the on-field leader for last season's successful relegation fight.

And the 23-year-old was taking his first steps to becoming skipper this season under manager Robert Kelly.

"I was delighted at that," he said. "Rob had a word with me and said that he was considering me for the role.

"I told him I would be delighted but that, even if I was not captain, I would continue to give what I give.

"Having said that, I was a bit surprised when it came, particularly with Danny Tiatto coming back. He spoke with Danny about it and he was happy.

"Since I arrived, the senior players have been great around the club - Dion Dublin, Alan Maybury, Rab Douglas, Danny Tiatto and, more recently, Andy Johnson.

"They have been a great help because I am young and still learning the game."

That learning process started as a young boy kicking a ball near his home in Dublin. McCarthy represented the city at hurling and Gaelic football but always wanted to play football.

"My uncle played for Shamrock Rovers, " said McCarthy. "I looked up to him and my other uncle who played at a decent level. My first memories are of kicking a ball."

McCarthy broke into the Dublin schoolboy set-up and was then capped by his country at junior age groups.

Trials followed at Arsenal, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tranmere before he was taken on by Manchester City, along with other youngsters from the Republic of Ireland including Stephen Elliott (now of Sunderland), Glenn Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday) and Willo Flood (Cardiff).

McCarthy found his way into the Manchester City side blocked by the likes of Steve Howie, Richard Dunne, Silvain Distin, and David Sommeil, and so jumped at the chance to join City in March last year.

"I had told Kevin Keegan that I wanted to get some first-team experience," said McCarthy.

"He was great with me and told me if the right offer came in for both myself, and the club, he would accept it.

"He pulled me in after a reserve game and said he had accepted an offer from Leicester. I was delighted. It was what I wanted, the chance to play at a big club like Leicester."

Such has been the recent turnover that McCarthy has now made the third highest number of appearances, with 68. Only Maybury (72) and Gareth Williams (80) have played more.

And McCarthy feels that could be a reason for City's inconsistent start to the season.

"We are a bit disappointed with the start," he admitted.

"But I am here, after 18 months at Leicester, and we are talking about me being one of the players with the most appearances for the club.

"It was never going to be easy. We have a young squad that's still learning but I believe we have enough in the squad to be higher than we are.

"Hopefully, we can start scoring a few more goals and keep defending well, as I think we have been doing, and see where that takes us."

[CraftyToePoke]

Alan Sheehan has extended his loan at mansfield for another month, seems to be doing fine there, played in each game, but i think he may have missed a pen in one of them.


http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10274~908247,00.html

[bwagner]

Ian Morris and andy keough got a goal each for s****rope against leaders notts forrest and a clean sheet for murphy

[shakermaker1982]

Keogh impressed me Saturday - well worth a look.

[dr_peepee]

Morris scored as well for Skunthorpe on Saturday..

[livehead1]

Keogh impressed me Saturday - well worth a look.

spoke to quite a few lads at the game, said he was quality

[Paddy Garcia]

Rory Delay to Stoke on loan.

[eirebhoy]

Apparantly Darren O'Dea has been doing really well of late for the Celtic reserves. He started in central defence beside O'Carroll for the 2nd or 3rd game in a row against Rangers yesterday. This is a very good sign:

"Competent enough performance in the centre of defence and wasn’t too frightened to boss left-back Alan Thompson about."

The Celtic team included Alan Thompson, Maloney, Jarosik, Beattie, Riordan, Marshall, Sno and Pearson. All senior players, albeit they can't make the 1st team. You could forgive O'Dea for shying away and letting someone else do the leading but it's a good sign that he was leading the line and not afraid to instruct Thompson.

Jim O'Brien came on after 20 odd minutes and scored his 5th goal of the season.

"Came on for Beattie and always impresses with his work-rate. Put away his goal well and should expect to be promoted to the first team bench for the upcoming CIS cup game."

Celtic won 2-3.

[tetsujin1979]

Ian Daly started for Man City's Pontin's League side, while Garry Breen and Michael Daly were among the substitutes in a 1-0 win over an experienced Preston North End team.

Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=370468
Preston North End review: http://www.pnefc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10362~910298,00.html

Incidentally, the 2 Daly's are not brothers, they're not even related. I can hear George Hamilton already...."The Daly brothers are, of course, not related"

[Paddy Garcia]

Michael O'Connor from Crewe named in the u21 squad for the friendly with Luxemburg.

18 year old Belfast lad, just signed a three year contract extension with Crewe.

http://oneteaminireland.bravehost.com/

Has this squad been named somewhere?

[theworm2345]

Rory Delay to Stoke on loan.
For three months with the option of a permanant switch. Elliott, Lawrence, Miller, Cunningham, and Kavanagh are ruled out. Connolly is, and has been for the last week and a half (:o), fully fit, but will probably start for the first time in about a month (he was a late sub in their last match)

[tetsujin1979]

Richard Dunne was voted Man City's player of the month for September and Aiden McGeady won the scottish premier league young player of the month for the september, the second month running for the young winger.

[Stuttgart88]

Darren O'Dea ...started in central defence beside O'Carroll for the 2nd or 3rd game in a row. This is a very good sign
Not for O'Carroll though. Isn't he a striker (We're both talking about Diarmuid O'carroll, yes?)

[CraftyToePoke]

interview with McCarthy from the o.s. in which he touches on hoping to re-emerge as an international after his time as an u-21 player

http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/CaptainsComments/0,,10274~911194,00.html?

[Peadar]

Joe O'Cearuill scored the winner as Arsenal reserves beat West Ham's second XI 2-1. Any final word on his eligibility?

Joe has declared for Ireland and is included in the squad for the U21 game against Luxembourg next Wednesday.

[eirebhoy]

Not for O'Carroll though. Isn't he a striker (We're both talking about Diarmuid O'carroll, yes?)
I meant it was a good sign that he wasn't afraid to order instructions to a 32 year old on about £30k a week. :) O'Carroll seems to be a Chris Sutton type player. I presume he's only filling in at centre half until Cuthbert recovers but you never know with Strachan. He likes his players to be able to read a game from the opponents perspective so probably getting him used to the defenders game. That type of thing is why I really rate Strachan. :) He'll often play a left back on the right wing too.

[theworm2345]

I'm listening to the Sunderland match and they were absolutely horrible. No defense whatsoever. Only Lawrence, Connolly, Clarke, and Murphy played. Murphy did nothing and was replaced by Yorke. Lawrence may have had a hand in Sunderland's only goal, and Connolly had Sunderland's only other 2 chances, one that was saved and parried for a corner, and one that was cleared off the line in the 90th minute. Connolly is SAFC.com's man of the match
Scorers:
David Bell (Luton)
Martin Rowlands (2) (QPR)
Glenn Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday)
Mark Kinsella (Walsall)

[tetsujin1979]

Anthony Stokes scored his first league goal for Falkirk to equalise Billy Mehmet's opener.

[tetsujin1979]

Garry Breen scored for Man City U-18's, and Chris Fagan notched one for United as United ran out 4-2 winners over their local rivals.

Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=371283
Man United review: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB0 69%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=371257

[CraftyToePoke]

leicester v southampton 3-2

McCarthy and Logan played the 90 for the home side, no Irish played for saints, neither was there any sign of Maybury.

Logan had an eventfull game and despite being beaten twice he again played well, he may feel slightly disappointed with the second but it came through a crowded area and was a very well struck shot in the corner, it would have needed a very good save.

he was solid on crosses taking several well, and punching impressively from under his own bar late on from a superb inswinging deep cross, he was beaten to one late on but the header flew over.

he had one one-on-one to deal with,from B.Wright-Phillips from which he shut the angle down well and saved with his feet.he also produced a vital save with the game at 2-2 from a close range volley.

his kicking was again a major plus point in comparison with the other keepers here, from his hands he gets great height on them along with the distance. and from the ground he finds a shirt most times including the clearence for one of leicesters goals, which came from a nightmare backpass played bobbling at pace accross him, which he managed to kick perfectly to a team mate. he dealt with a coulple of these type backpasses in the game, each time finding a leicester player.

he also displayed confidence coming and tidying up outside the area and he threw to the fullbacks well at times, which is just as well, with leicester lacking real height uptop.

i also noticed him talking to the ballboys during a stoppage instructing them not to be so hasty with the multi-ball return system as leicester hung desperately to their lead, and deep into 7 mins of injury time he took a goalbound looping header on the chest and took it away to the edge of the area to kill the opponents momentum.

McCarthy played well, it was a hectic game for him but he avoided the refs attention and saw it out well, i only recall him being beaten once in the air all day and his headers were solid, never once putting it straight to an opponent, he was not in posession very often on the ground, but again only gave it away once, when he attempted to play it out of a tight spot near the corner flag and gave it away, he would have been better served launching it.

he made one tremendous challenge on B.W-B to deny him a one on one, when just as the striker had been sprung and was about to take it into his stride, Paddy slid in, almost from behind, and took the ball away brilliantly, it even deflected off his opponent for a leicester throw.

he got his nose broken near the end when taking a goalbound effort from under his own bar with a header and required a full kit change on the sideline as the physios struggled to stop the bleeding so he could return, the tension was tremendous as the ref found 7 mins from somewhere and he was urging the physio to get it sorted as he watched the leicester defence creaking under great pressure.he eventually returned with his nose in tatters and rose to head away the last saints attack.

smashing game, this one, in which the 2 Irish lads more then played their part.


o.s. report here; http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~33267,00.html

[eirebhoy]

Seems like an entertaining injury time anyway. :)

All Irish scorers for Celtic U19s. Cillian Sheridan again scored 2 with Graham Carey and Sean Anderson getting the others in a 4-2 win.

[Stuttgart88]

Saw the Leicester vs Southampton goals on TV. Logan was blameless for the second in my opinion. Shot was nearly unstoppable, low & at pace just inside the post. Wasn't unlike Israel's equaliser in Tel Aviv last year.

Logan's a big lad. Looks a bit like Smeichael with the white blond hair.

I see David Bell, ex-youth intl, scored Luton's winner on Saturday. Stephen Kelly missed a good chance for Brum to equalise late on.

[CraftyToePoke]

Saw the Leicester vs Southampton goals on TV. Logan was blameless for the second in my opinion. Shot was nearly unstoppable, low & at pace just inside the post.

yeah, id go along with that, but he seemed a bit annoyed with himself that he hadnt gotten to it, maybe because of the distance it came from.

McCarthy is a doubt for tomorrows game at leeds, having his nose fixed.
story here:http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10274~912849,00.html

[CraftyToePoke]

leeds v leicester 1-2

Logan again in goal, McCarthy out injured and Maybury a late sub, for leeds, Kelly, Butler and Douglas played, Butler with a late consolation and Douglas going close on one occasion only to be denied by Logan according to radio, Logan also saving well from a dipping Healy effort.

O.S. report here http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~33306,00.html

[tetsujin1979]

Karl Moore started and played the whole 90 minutes, while Donal McDermott was an unused sub for Man City's reserves in a 2-1 win over a Sheffield United reserve side including Derek Geary. Sheffield United's website refers to the team as "Reserve A", Man City's site lists them as the reserves

Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53%2D8346%2D431D%2DA04F%2D5D0F866 4DE80%7D&newsid=371877&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=&frommonth=8&fromyear=2006&tomonth=10&toyear=2006
Sheffield United review: http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ReservesReport/0,,10418~914105,00.html?ptvParm=

[theworm2345]

Jon Walters scored for Chester City yesterday.

I'm listening to the Sunderland commentary and from what I can tell, the midfielders are god awful (besides Yorke who seems to be alright). Lawrence is afraid of the ball. Murphy has had pretty much no service. They keep flying the ball up to Connolly whos up against a 6'0'' guy, while they could be playing to Brown whos taller. Cunningham hurt is hamstring, but he seems to be OK. Colgan has had no work in net and Devaney seems to be OK.

[tetsujin1979]

Anthony Stokes has notched 2 for Falkirk so far this afternoon.
Clarke and Lee with a goal apiece for Ipswich

[Stuttgart88]

And David Bell got his second in two games for Luton vs. Leeds.

Given he has only just got into the first XI at Luton, fair play. He's usually on the bench, if he's even in the squad.

Just to recap, from what I recall, Bell was called up to the Irish squad before the World Youth Cup in 2003. He impressed Gerry Smyth in a friendly at Belfield just before the tournament started and I think he played one or two games in the UAE. He played in central midfield then and looked a very skillful player & I was surprised he didn't go on to do anything of note in club football. He was at Kidderminster I think (or Rushden??) and out of the blue Luton bought him late last season.

Good news about Clarke & Stokes in particular.

[co. down green]

Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton had praise for Irish youth striker Billy Clarke who scored one and created another after coming off the bench as the Blues defeated Southend 3-1 at Roots Hall. Magilton was generally pleased with the performance, although he was concerned at his side's late jitteriness.

Magilton said that 18-year-old Clarke will go a long way: "He is going to be a special player. He has got all the attributes and we're delighted to have him at this club.

"He has proved he can do it at this level. We normally like to put him on after an hour, but he is desperate to play and desperate to score goals.

[tetsujin1979]

Shane Long makes his first premiership start against Arsenal with Reading today, playing up front with Doyle

[Dr. Ogba]

And David Bell got his second in two games for Luton vs. Leeds.

Given he has only just got into the first XI at Luton, fair play. He's usually on the bench, if he's even in the squad.

Just to recap, from what I recall, Bell was called up to the Irish squad before the World Youth Cup in 2003. He impressed Gerry Smyth in a friendly at Belfield just before the tournament started and I think he played one or two games in the UAE. He played in central midfield then and looked a very skillful player & I was surprised he didn't go on to do anything of note in club football. He was at Kidderminster I think (or Rushden??) and out of the blue Luton bought him late last season.

Good news about Clarke & Stokes in particular.

Yeah he was at Rushden at the time. Good to see he's getting a run at Championship level, could be one for the future...

[drummerboy]

Shane Supple came on in the 8th minute for Ipswitch in their 3 - 1 away win at Southend.

[drummerboy]

Roy Keane doesn't take long to make a judgement on a player, as Clive Clarke has found out

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/6077170.stm

[Stuttgart88]

From BBC:

Reading are interested in signing QPR's 27-year-old midfielder Kevin Rowlands. (News of the World)

Personally I think Martin Rowlands is a better player, Kevin being the eccentric frontman of Dexy's Midnight Runners!

[tetsujin1979]

Man City's U-18's hammered their Liverpool counterparts 4-0 this afternoon. City's line up included Ian Daly and Karl Moore, with Donal McDermott coming on as a sub, while Shane O'Connor and Michael Collins lined out for the reds.

Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=373286
Liverpool review: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N153858061023-1150.htm

[theworm2345]

From BBC:

Reading are interested in signing QPR's 27-year-old midfielder Kevin Rowlands. (News of the World)

Personally I think Martin Rowlands is a better player, Kevin being the eccentric frontman of Dexy's Midnight Runners!
Come On Eileen is a great song, but Martin is doing quite well and could break our senoir squad soon

[Stuttgart88]

Michael Doyle scored for Coventry last night. Clive Clarke played left back and Jay Tabb came on for last 5 minutes. No sign of Kevin Thornton.

[cheifo]

Whats the word on young Kevin?I remember a quote from Mickey Adams such as "He knows what he has to do" which sounded a little ominous.

[CraftyToePoke]

leicester v palace 1-1

Logan played and Maybury made the bench mainly due to injuries, he didnt see any action but was involved in some very show-offy keepy-uppy at h.t. with Momo Sylla.

Logan was at times over cooking his kicks in squaly conditions and had little enough to do for long periods, to be fair to him he had absolutely no height to hit from his kicks anyway, due to a few injuries hitting the squad. he had two key saves in the game, one from Morrison after a mix up at the back for leicester which kept at one each and one in injury time from a one on one with Freedman when he did brilliantly coming out quickly and saving at the feet.it saved the point for his side.

for palace, Morrison was in and out of the game, he hit a post in the first half and was getting touch tight to the c.b.'s a lot and rolling them well and showing for it quite a bit but it wasnt really happening for him. Kennedy, on the other hand was superb, dictated the pace of it totally in the first half, everything went through him in the middle and in the second half, as his side were outplayed he got through a load of work, tracking back very well and organising his side, even chasing down and catching breaking wingers and fullbacks to nick the ball out of play on a couple of occasions. in the entire game i never saw him give the ball away despite looking for and generally finding a forward pass.best player out there comfortably.


O.S. report here:http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~33322,00.html

heres Logan on the unbeaten run which has coincided nicely with his breaking into the side:http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10274~915864,00.html

[eirebhoy]

Scottish Reserve League
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Darren O’Dea

http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-10-18_1604gk'


Scottish Premier Reserve League
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Darren O'Dea
http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-10-24_1625df'

[theworm2345]

Colin Larkin scored against West Ham in the Carling Cup, Alan O'Hare had an assist on Folan's goal, and Barry Roche let in a bad goal (nice shot, but Roche was in terrible position) all for Chesterfield against West Ham

[Stuttgart88]

You're not allowed to say nice things about Mark Kennedy on foot.ie