Irish Players Abroad 06/07

[tetsujin1979]

O'Cearuill was on the bench for Arsenal last night, but never came on.

[theworm2345]

You're not allowed to say nice things about Mark Kennedy on foot.ie
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=512736&highlight=reasons+kennedy#post512736 :(

[CraftyToePoke]

leicester v villa 2-3

only Maybury on display for us in this one, and he had a decent game, seemed at home in, and more motivated than usual by, the atmosphere and big crowd and higher general standard of the play than CCC league games. he started at r.b. and ended it on the right of midfield.

McCarthy was again ruled out by his nose injury and no sign of Logan, not on the bench even, maybe because of a finger injury he hinted at in a piece i posted a link to yesterday. time will tell on that one. some posters on the leicester sites felt he might have come for palaces opener on sat. hard to know.

one things for sure, his replacement,Henderson, made the most of the chance with a m.o.t.m. performance saving a Barry pen a couple of topclass point blank saves to boot.

O.S. report here, scant Irish interest in it:http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~36257,00.html

[theworm2345]

Robbie Keane and Shane Long scored
Keane's was a just a hard shot off a cross
and I think
Long's was a head in off a a free kick (pretty much from 1 yard out I think)

[theworm2345]

Stephen Elliott played 25 minutes of a reserve game for Sunderland against Leeds and created 2 goals

[tetsujin1979]

John Thompson is gone on loan from Forest to Tranmere for a month

[CraftyToePoke]

Paddy McCarthy is back in training.from the bluearmy site.

McCarthy return a real headache!

Leicester City manager Robert Kelly admits he faces a selection headache when club captain Paddy McCarthy returns from injury.

Mccarthy is back in training with a protective face mask to shield the broken nose he sustained in the victory over Southampton two weeks ago.


City's trip to QPR tomorrow is likely to come to soon for the 23-year-old. But when McCarthy is ready to make his comeback, Kelly admits that the form of players like Gareth McAuley and Patrick Kisnorbo in his absence has given him a welcome selection dilemma.

"Paddy McCarthy has trained with a face mask, but it might be a big ask for him to play," said Kelly. "He was doing terrifically well before he got injured.

"All credit to the other defenders who have come in because they have done really well.

"When he is fit it's going to be a dilemma, but they are the type of selection dilemmas that you want."

[theworm2345]

James O'Connor scored and St. Ledger put the ball in his own net today

[Paddy Garcia]

See Partridge get a couple - be great to see him fight his way back. Lots of unfulfilled potential.

[Closed Account 2]

Alan Lee had a great game (got hattrick) for Ipswich v Luton. He dominated the Luton defence, and had a great game in terms of work rate. His aerial ability gives us an extra option and I would start him an Doyle upfront for us if we had a match next week.

Billy Clark played most of the game too, did ok, lots of effort but no end product this time. The Ipswich goalie (Supple) is Irish too, looks about 15 years old - had an ok game but not really tested.

From the Luton point of view, Foley was ok, but gave away a pen at the end.

Is Ian Harte still injured at Levante, doesnt seem to make the squad these days.

[dr_peepee]

Graham Stack is on loan at Leeds!! That one crept under the radar. Had no idea til I seen the team sheet on Saturday. Wise had him on loan at Millwall and he obviously made some sort of impression. Can only be good.

No better manager for Douglas to hone his trade under aswell.

[Stuttgart88]

Stack played well by all accopunts. By being a regular first teamer he now automatically is back in contention for an Irish squad place in my opinion.

Golkeeper is a position I think we'll be very strong in 2 yrs from now. We have good young keepers gaining valuable match experience.

[dr_peepee]

Yeah. Well we're guaranteed some depth at least, the way things are going. Hopefully the lads in waiting step up a division in the next few years. The days of Given, Keily and Kell seem a very long time ago though.

[CraftyToePoke]

q.p.r. v leicester 1-1

Logan returned in goal here, skytext saying his absence v villa in midweek was in fact due to that finger injury, Maybury was also involved playing half the game, he played at r.b. and a welcome return to the fold for McCarthy, complete with face mask to protect the broken nose, he was on the bench but saw 20 mins action at the end.

the q.p.r. equaliser came from the spot after a handball on the line, in the build up to this, Logan had failed to hold a cross, with Rowlands sending him the wrong way completely from the spot to notch his 5th in 10 appearences this season, he had also earlier hit the post.

report here: http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~33375,00.html

[CraftyToePoke]

Paddy McCarthy on playing with the face mask, and getting fitted for it etc

here: http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/CaptainsComments/0,,10274~920551,00.html

[tetsujin1979]

Stephen Ireland and Karl Moore started for Man City reserves against an Everton second string including Irish youngsters Alan Kearney and Darren Dennehy. The game finished in a 1-1 draw with Ireland missing a header late in the first half. With the injury list easing a bit at Eastlands, Stephen Ireland might find it a little tough to get into the matchday 16 from now on.

Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=375583
Everton review: http://www.evertonfc.com/match/report/0607/everton-res-v-man-city-res.html?t=2

[theworm2345]

Tony Stokes' three goals from the weekend
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes.html
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes2.html
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes3.html
(done by me for my site (www.footballclips.net/forum) ;))

[Dr. Ogba]

Tony Stokes' three goals from the weekend
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes.html
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes2.html
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes3.html
(done by me for my site (www.footballclips.net/forum) ;))

Good work sir! A couple of very good goals in there. I particularly liked the way he immediately grabbed the ball off yer man for the penalty....a nice greedy streak like all good strikers should have!

[eirebhoy]

Darron Gibson started for Antwerp over the weekend. I think it was his first start since injury. He's currently 3rd in the motm poll on their website.

"16th Minute: Campbell returns the compliment, but Dong’s effort is blocked.
Royal Antwerp are the more attack minded side, with Gibson showing why he is considered such a big talent."

http://www.rafc.be/eng/index2.html


Cillian Sheridan made his first appearance the Celtic reserves. He scored the only 2 goals of the game and got man of the match. O'Carroll also started and Cahillane came off the bench for his first appearance at this level.

http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-10-31_1630df'

"Sheridan, with eight goals in seven games for the Under-19s, has been a revelation for Willie McStay’s side this season and showed up well in the early stages.

Standing at well over 6ft, the Irish teenager has a deft touch for a target man and he had Celtic’s first attempt on goal with a left foot shot that was blocked by Willie Kinniburgh."

[CraftyToePoke]

leicester v stoke 2-1

McCarthy and Logan played for leicester, no sign of Maybury, or Rooney for stoke who i was hoping to get a look at.

McCarthy, back in as captain with his busted nose and face protected by a specially made plastic mask for halloween. the smartarse who sits behind me enquiring if this meant he was now a plastic-paddy, my reply being a well known two word phrase, the second word of which is ''off'' which in turn resulted in a yellow card for ol'CTP from Mrs.CTP.

to the game....... McCarthy was superb, there had been doubts about his getting his spot back immediately but suspension and injury saw him rushed back in the end. he and Logan seem to get on well, big hugs between them at the start of each half. he won everyting all night bar one flick-on from which a midrange volley shook the crossbar. in the air and on the ground always timing his leap or intervention spot-on and finding a blue shirt in space on all but one occasion in the entire 90, and even then his pass was only half blocked and went for a throw to leicester.

wheather on his left, right or in the air he tried to play football and generally succeeded in doing so, composed in posession and picking the right option time and again. the manager sought him out at the final whistle for a special congratulatory man-hug.nice.

Logan didnt have any outstanding save to make but was constantly busy with the routine stuff, i lost count of the ammount of times he was passed to from open play and stoke began to read it and lurk to charge him down and his kicking although generally very solid did suffer on 3 occasions 2 of which were sliced but had plenty air on them so it was ok, however he scuffed one knee-high straight down the park and was lucky it got as far as it did, and in turn fell to a leicester player.

he had 3 smothering saves to make, not quite one-on-ones, but still having to leave his line and he came out on top on all 3, one in particular v Ricardo Fuller when a bone cruncher of a colission followed, but Logan got up and walked off, leaving the stoke player rolling around needing attention.

he didnt have many crosses to deal with but on one occasion in the 2nd half a ball crisscrossed his 6 yard area 3 times in quick sucession, but it was probably too high to come for each time.no goal attempt followed so i suppose he called it right.

the stoke goal was from a tight angle off a setpiece when the player, side on to goal, struck a shot across the goal and which looped across under the bar just inside the post, ive not seen any tv replays yet but at the time thought it was either just a flash of brilliance or a slice of luck and didnt apportion any blame to Logan for it.

anyone else seen it? what ye make of it?

thats 8 unbeaten in the league for leicester, creeping towards top 10 with a striker who has hit 5 in 5. steady improvement with rumour of 4 takeover bids currently under consideration.

oh yeah, the OS version:http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~33477,00.html

[RiffRaff]

I just noticed that Man City have a young striker called Ashley Grimes, who scored for their reserves last night. Anyone know if he is a son of the Man Utd legend????

[CraftyToePoke]

leicester manager Rob Kelly on McCarthy last night, from the bluearmy site



Kelly hails defence after Kisnorbo blow

Leicester City manager Robert Kelly praised his new-look defence after they overcame the loss of key players to extend their unbeaten Championship run to eight games with a 2-1 victory against free-scoring Stoke last night.

City, who were already without the suspended Gareth McAuley, were rocked by the late withdrawal of Patrick Kisnorbo through injury.

Kisnorbo twisted a knee in the weekend draw at QPR, but City had hoped he would recover in time.

However, the Australian failed a fitness test yesterday and was forced to sit out the game.

His absence forced Kelly to throw club captain Paddy McCarthy back into the fray ahead of schedule, complete with a face mask to protect his nose and cheek injuries.

Kelly said: "I don't think it can be easy with a mask. He can either get on with it or be out for six weeks. But you know Paddy, and he will be tearing the door down. He was great tonight."

McCarthy was joined in the centre of the defence by Darren Kenton, who has spent the majority of the season at right-back, while Richard Stearman moved to the right of the defence against a side that beat Norwich 5-0 in their last outing.

[bwagner]

keough and barry corr score for bristol last night

[FootballsKing]

Stokes takes young player prize

Stokes has been in fine goal-scoring form for Falkirk
Falkirk striker Anthony Stokes has been named as the SPL's young player of the month for October.
The 18-year-old, on loan from Arsenal, scored six goals last month, including a hat-trick against Dundee United at the weekend.

The teenage forward hit a double the week before in a 3-2 defeat at Inverness and grabbed a late goal to secure a home draw against St Mirren.

Stokes has made eight appearances since moving to the Bairns in September.

[tetsujin1979]

So Stokes, and McGeady (twice) in 3 months, what odds an Irish lad picking up the November award to make it 4 in a row?

[eirebhoy]

Celtic U-19s won 2-0 today. No guessing who scored both goals... Cillian Sheridan. He's on a roll.

[co. down green]

Ireland u19 international Chris McCann was the hero for Burnley as they snatched a last gasp winner over Jim Magilton’s resurgent Ipswich side at Turf Moor.

The young 19 year old Dublin born midfielder headed home from close range in stoppage time to keep the pressure on leaders Cardiff and open his account for the season in dramatic fashion.

Speaking after the win, Burnley manager Steve Cotterill was keen to praise young McCann for his performance –

"The players don't give up. I put Alan Mahon on for something a bit different - but it was quick thinking from a centre-half, a good run by Mahon and a fantastic ball in for Chris McCann.

"I thought McCann was immaculate. He saved me making lots of changes which might help us.

"He did not let me down, or himself; he is a good young player."

[CraftyToePoke]

sheff weds v leicester 2-1

Logan and McCarthy played for leicester with Maybury an unused sub with Whelan an unused sub for the home side.

OS report here:http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10274~33506,00.html?

[Stuttgart88]

Irish players' ratings from The Times this morning:

Keane 6/10
Finnan 5
Doyle 5
Hunt 6
Kilbane 7 (did very well for Wigan's winner)
Andy O'Brien 5
Carr 3
Duff 2
Dunne 6
Andy Reid 7
Alan Quinn 6
Gavin Mahon 8
Carsley 5

All fairly subjective I know, but I think it's actually a good indication of current form in general.

Quinn, Hunt & Mahon are players that we should get a better look at. Look at the Newcastle lads' ratings :(

Andy Reid played very well again, in behind Darren Bent.

[drummerboy]

6/10 for Keane. I watched the game yesterday and he was the best player on the pitch. I'd have given him 9/10. I wonder if Damien Duff is feeling he made a mistake by signing for Newcastle instead of spurs.

[geysir]

I had a look outside to see if pigs were flying after I saw KK in the build up to Wigan's goal.
Here's one write up.
"The ball landed at the feet of Kevin Kilbane in the centre circle. Kilbane played the ball to Henri Camara and received the ball back courtesy of a delightful flick. With his next touch Kilbane played in McCulloch, who gleefully lashed the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen."

[dr_peepee]

See Brian Law from Skuntthorpe just took the Wednesday job. Wonder will he bring any of his Irish brigade up a division with him. I know that up until recently they were in the lookout for a keeper and a striker. Murphy and Kehoe maybe??? Fingers crossed anyway.

[CraftyToePoke]

Alan Sheehan has returned to leicester after his time on loan at mansfield, he goes straight into the squad for the weekends game, he needs to make an impression now as his deal runs out in the summer afaik

here: http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10274~924324,00.html

[dr_peepee]

where does he play?? Left Full??

[eirebhoy]

Cillian Sheridan scored again for the Celtic U19s in their 1-2 win over Rangers. Skinner, Cahillane and Carey also started.

"Sean Anderson broke out of defence and found Sheridan on the left-hand side of the box. The 17-year-old, faced by Ross Perry, still had work to do but he jinked to go inside before cutting back and slamming a stunning left-foot drive into the top corner.

It was the youngster’s 11th goal of the season and would no doubt have impressed the watching Gordon Strachan. Full of confidence, Sheridan tried his luck again minutes later, but this time Perry got a block on the shot."

http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-11-07_1603df'

[CraftyToePoke]

where does he play?? Left Full??


yes, a left full with a dead piece delivery talent and direct free kick also, he won academy player of the year here 2 seasons back and kicked on into first team thereafter but got a red card on his league debut when he lost the head, rumours he had been abusing senior pros like Dion Dublin and Hughes all day that day re; their play and some rumour of an attitude problem generally but certainly a very talented lad, hopefully he will get another shot.

[tetsujin1979]

Jim O'Brien on the bench for Celtic tonight, with McGeady, Cregg, O'Donnell, Stokes and Cregg also involved .

[theworm2345]

Stokes' 2nd hattrick
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes__1.html
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes2__1.html
http://www.attachmax.com/Stokes3__1.html
(done by me for my site (www.footballclips.net/forum) ;))

[tetsujin1979]

Ian Daly and Michael Daly were in Man City's Pontin's League 2-0 win over Carlisle United. Ian Daly opened the scoring be slotting in a rebound from a penalty midway through the second half.

Man City review: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=377832
Carlisle review: http://www.carlisleunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10361~925289,00.html?ptvParm=

[co. down green]

Blackburn seem to be after Kevin Doyle

http://www.clubcall.com/index.jsp?storyID=299048

[CraftyToePoke]

Paddy McCarthy's most recent captains comment piece, he's settled with a missus and kid by the sounds of it.

http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/CaptainsComments/0,,10274~925973,00.html

and him on his B squad call up
http://www.elevenaside.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=25277

and mansfield want Alan Sheehan back from leicester
http://www.elevenaside.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=25273

and Colin Healy steps down a level in search of fitness, yet to start a match for barnsley
http://www.elevenaside.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=25270

[Stuttgart88]

he's settled with a missus and kid by the sounds of it.Brian Clough would be pleased!

[tetsujin1979]

Paddy McCarthy's most recent captains comment piece, he's settled with a missus and kid by the sounds of it.

A friend of mine met him once on holidays a few years ago, when he was still with Man City. Said he was a lovely bloke and doted over his child.

[dr_peepee]

Freckleton scored the weekend. I asked on a Lincoln message board about what type of player he was. The reckon he's a hard tackling, box box goalscoring midfielder. Good to hear, but it's hard to get too exited given the level. Reading have apparently shown an interest.

[co. down green]

Darron Gibson scored for Antwerp in a 3-2 win against Wagarem.

[dr_peepee]

Colin Healy gone on loan to Bradford. Surprised Barnsley let him go cos although he's not been starting he's always on the bench and gets on more often than not... He'll be in the Eircom league soon enough I imagine.

[eirebhoy]

Darron Gibson scored for Antwerp in a 3-2 win against Wagarem.
He got voted man of the match in their previous game. He's 2nd in the poll for the weekends game.

Decent weekend for the Irish in the main. A goal for each of our main strikers. Richard Dunne was outstanding, as was Paddy Kenny. Paul McShane started. Steve Finnan looked to be playing much better than usual. Andy Reid still playing well.

[tetsujin1979]

Decent weekend for the Irish in the main.
John O'Shea was involved in the build up to the United goal, crossing for Giggs to lay it on to Saha.
On the other hand, Duff was largely ineffectual against Man City, he seemed to have some sort of free role behind Ameobi on both wings, but didn't see much of the ball and didn't do much when he did have it.
How did McGeady play for Celtic?

[eirebhoy]

McGeady was on the bench. Strachan had a full squad to choose from with the exception of Mark Wilson so went with Maloney over McGeady. Maloney isn't exactly fans favourite at the minute so most people are annoyed he's starting ahead of McGeady. He got a hamstring injury in the 2nd half and was replaced by Sno. Zurawski and Jarosik also came on, McGeady an unused sub. He'll surely start next week though.

[Stuttgart88]

John O'Shea was involved in the build up to the United goal, crossing for Giggs to lay it on to Saha. I heard the radio commentary, which went something like this: "O'Shea crosses, it's way overhit, Giggs retrieves it brilliantly and Saha scores a great goal".

You haven't been reading Alastair Campbell or some other positive spin merhant have you? :)