Sean St. Ledger

[DeLorean]

Pretty short stint, hopefully he can impress immediately. Who are the regular centre backs for Ipswich these times? I know Christophe Berra is there and obviously liked by Mick. Who else is competing does anybody know?

[paul_oshea]

Not by the sounds of all his travelling, he was enjoying himself well enough!

[eitoof]

Pretty short stint, hopefully he can impress immediately. Who are the regular centre backs for Ipswich these times? I know Christophe Berra is there and obviously liked by Mick. Who else is competing does anybody know?

Ironically enough he'd also be competing with Luke Chambers who was linked with a possible Republic of Ireland call up a while back.

Also Tommie Smith, an English born New Zealand international.

[DeLorean]

Ipswich away to Charlton is live on Sky Sports 1 Saturday afternoon but I suppose it's unlikely he'll feature.

[DannyInvincible]

Not by the sounds of all his travelling, he was enjoying himself well enough!

Escapist distractions, I would say. Feeling so purposeless and hopeless can't have been a nice feeling. He said as much with regard to his trip to Greece when he spoke to Dan McDonnell in Lansdowne before the USA game.


"All my friends are in football and during the week they're concentrating on building up to games on Saturday. They don't do anything apart from that."

St Ledger has stopped going to watch them play.

"It makes me sick waking up on a Saturday and watching it because I know I'm fit and still capable of playing at that level."

Boredom is the enemy, and it tests the discipline. Through the help of the PFA, he went to St George's Park for a few days to maintain his fitness.

With English badges everywhere and just a couple of women footballers and coaches in the building, he found it an odd experience.

[Luke] Steele extended a holiday invite to Greece which was gratefully accepted, but the goalkeeper's intensive work and travel commitments meant that St Ledger found himself home alone a few days per week. He discovered the joys of Greek yoghurt and, bizarrely, Bikram yoga.

"I was just sick and tired of running, bored of it, so I thought I'd try something different and I enjoyed that," he says.

"Otherwise, I was just sunbathing and waiting for my mate to come back from training. It might sound great, and it was for a week or so, but by the end I wasn't enjoying it."

[geysir]

That's good news for us if it all goes to form.
But there is still little doubt that (Epl stalwart) Ward's LB spot is safe from any and all permutations arising from the centre half musical chairs of O'Shea, Keogh, Pearce, St Ledger and Wilson :)

[DeLorean]

Sadly I think that's true. I think Ward's been okay defensively recently but I'd prefer somebody with a bit more craft there, who can also defend a bit obviously. I know people say a full back's primary job is to defend, but the game has progressed to the point where they really need to be comfortable on the ball and offer an outlet going forward. Ward, just about, does his primary job functionally enough but I do think we need better when you see Robertson in Glasgow or De Sciglio in London. Brady may have left gaps but you can't put a value of the amount of trouble he caused the States. It's a problem less for the opposition knowing we've a full back that's of little threat going forward and compounded by the fact that he's not exactly ultra reliable defensively. The default selection of the three W's, Ward, Whelan and Walters, is holding us back a bit I feel, although I've good time for Walters in a lot of ways.

[DannyInvincible]

The default selection of the three W's, Ward, Whelan and Walters, are holding us back a bit I feel

Yes, but then there's Wes. :p

[DeLorean]

First name W's are exempt!

Speaking of which, when is aul Wessi due back? Will it be touch and go for the Poland game. Can't see him getting a look-in unless he has had significant game time before then.

[DannyInvincible]

Wes will be back playing next month, according to this: http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city-fc/injured_norwich_city_midfielder_wes_hoolahan_ruled _out_until_december_1_3818135

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I would be much more comfortable with St Ledger at the back in case of an injury to Wilson or O'Shea, seeing as Delaney is out of favor.

Hopefully he gets regular football by March.

[Closed Account]

On the bench today with Sammon and Noel Hunt.
Chambers, Tabb, Stephen Hunt, Murphy and McGoldrick all start.

[BonnieShels]

When did he sign?

[Charlie Darwin]

Thursday I think. Month-long deal with a view to more.

[BonnieShels]

Missed that.

[the doc]

Thursday I think. Month-long deal with a view to more.
Keep up Chazza, it was Tuesday!

[DannyInvincible]

So long as you're here, doc, to keep us right.

[Charlie Darwin]

Keep up Chazza, it was Tuesday!
I knew you'd know, Sean.

[SwanVsDalton]

I don't have a pic but there was a great shot in the Football League show of the Ipswich highlights after Noel Hunt scored - he raced to the bench, did a powerslide and was quickly mobbed by St Ledger, Stephen Hunt (who had been subbed), Jay Tabb and Connor Sammon. It was a like a B international.

[Stuttgart88]

Is Stephen Hunt an option for us at left back?

And calling St Ledger a B International? Dangerous...

[SwanVsDalton]

I would've called it a Trap dream team if not for poor Jay Tabb.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.herald.ie/sport/sean-st-ledger-desperate-for-return-to-republic-squad-30835018.html

"Football has changed in recent years and people seem to have shorter memories and look at how you have played in the last six months. People are now short term and want instant success and that's proved by how quickly managers are sacked.

"I always thought that I've always done ok for Ireland, I've made one or two mistakes and had bad games and I thought that maybe people would have seen that I've done it against some of the best players in the world but that doesn't seem to matter too much," added the defender, whose Ipswich side are just a point off the top in the Championship.

[Charlie Darwin]

A moan Richard Keogh would be proud of :)

[the doc]

Is Stephen Hunt an option for us at left back?

And calling St Ledger a B International? Dangerous...

Dangerous and disrepectful

[nigel-harps1954]

My little heart always lights up when I see the Sean St Ledger thread updated and the doc has posted. I'm never disappointed either.

[Charlie Darwin]

It's adorable.

[the doc]

My little heart always lights up when I see the Sean St Ledger thread updated and the doc has posted. I'm never disappointed either.

I can feel the love!

Lets all join hands and sing Sea Lion Dion's Chartbuster,

"My Heart will go on"

(No jokes about international career going down faster than the Titanic, please!)

[nigel-harps1954]

I can feel the love!

Lets all join hands and sing Sea Lion Dion's Chartbuster,

"My Heart will go on"

(No jokes about international career going down faster than the Titanic, please!)

And the club career?

[the doc]

And the club career?

Deuce!

Never say never, in football, Hero to Zero then Zero back to Hero that's how it can go.
This time next year, we could all be Millionaires or even Milliners to cap it all again!

[BonnieShels]

He plays for Manchester City though.

[the doc]

Oh dear!
One step forward two steps back!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/sean-st-ledger-no-club-1855851-Dec2014/

St Ledger is without a club again.

[SwanVsDalton]

Shame for Sean. Faintly damning that Mick saw untried youth as the same level as a 40-odd caps international centre half.

[nigel-harps1954]

Maybe a year in the League of Ireland would be perfect for him. Joining up with Stephen McPhail and Keith Fahey at Shamrock Rovers would be a good move.

[the doc]

Shame for Sean. Faintly damning that Mick saw untried youth as the same level as a 40-odd caps international centre half.

I'm sure Mick and the Saint still get on and theres a sensible reason for this.

But hey what do I know?

[Charlie Darwin]

But hey what do I know?
Well we're not exactly sure because you've never bothered telling us whether you're actually Sean or just his agent.

[ifk101]

Waiting for the next sob story installment on the Herald .....

[geysir]

For sobs, the Hunt column is where it's at these days.

[the doc]

For sobs, the Hunt column is where it's at these days.

Huntys a great lad, he deserved more.
As for the Euros there were at least 5 senior players not fully fit, 3 of them shouldn't of played, so you can understand other players frustrations.

Like Hunty states the pre tournament training was too long.

Croatia game killed us, we thought we'd get something from that and a draw against Italy too.

[DannyInvincible]

An update on St. Ledger in the Irish Mirror; he seems to favour a possible move to the US but wouldn't rule out joining a League of Ireland club either: http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/sean-st-ledger-would-consider-4929383


St Ledger told Mirror Sport: "A few clubs in America have made enquiries with my agent but we're just waiting on answers.

"I've no idea if it'll be a 'yes' or 'no'. Darren O'Dea played over there with Toronto and I've spoken to him about it.

"He says it's a better standard than you think. Steven Gerrard is going there soon and so is Frank Lampard.

"They're players coming towards the end of their careers but they're still big names who are cutting it in the Premier League.

"When you have that standard going over there, it'll only attract more players and I'd be chuffed if I could get that chance."

But St Ledger - capped 37 times for Ireland - is in the dark about his next move and admits there has been no interest from UK clubs.

It was only two-and-a-half years ago that he was a first-choice starter for Ireland at the European Championships in Poland.

But St Ledger - who scored in the opening group game against Croatia - says that feels like a lifetime ago.

Injury at the end of 2013 derailed his career and he hasn't played a senior game of any sort since Ireland's friendly draw in Poland under Martin O'Neill 14 months ago.

St Ledger said: "The Euros is history, it doesn't stand for anything. People only look at what you've done, or not done as the case may be, in the last six months.

"They don't care what you did three years ago, so that's a distant memory for me. It feels like it was ages ago and I can't do anything about that.

"It's in the past and I just want to get a club as I'm fit and ready to go. I don't know what I'd do career wise if I don't get one."

St Ledger is aware that Keith Fahey and ex-Irish international Stephen McPhail have both come back to play in Ireland.

While his wages could be an issue to clubs here, St Ledger insists he wouldn't close the door on playing in Ireland.

He said: "I'm not ruling anything out. Maybe in Ireland I'd be looked at more (by O'Neill) than I would if I played in Afghanistan!

"I've not spoken to Irish clubs, sure they probably wouldn't want me! But it's something I wouldn't rule out.

"Keith Fahey is doing well there and I know there are good players in the Irish league.

"Some of them came to train with us in the Irish squad and they were very impressive so I know the standard is good."

And St Ledger added: "I don't have a wife or kids. It's just me and my suitcase and I'll play anywhere in the world."

[DeLorean]

Poor guy, deserves much better than this. Would like to see him get something appealing in the States as he'd obviously prefer that than to drop to the LOI.

[nigel-harps1954]

Poor guy, deserves much better than this. Would like to see him get something appealing in the States as he'd obviously prefer that than to drop to the LOI.

As backwards as it sounds, maybe the LOI would put him more in the shop window to any potential move back to England rather than the MLS, which seems to be seen as sort of a graveyard for has-been footballers and those coming close to retirement.
Obviously, the chance to play in European competition over MLS may help matters too.

Not trying to blow the trumpet of LOI here by the way. Obviously the MLS is one of the fastest growing leagues in world football, and has the benefit of large financial backing, which wins all day over the LOI.
Say though, for instance, Shamrock Rovers or St Pat's offer St Ledger a deal for a year, potentially playing in European competition in July/August and most likely a couple of big friendlies against big English/Scottish opposition, but throwing something into his contract that says if a Championship club or above offer him a deal in the summer he can leave, that'd be a more attractive deal for him than being thousands of miles away, with no chance of being watched by Martin O'Neill or Roy Keane, and unlikely to win a move back to England, for the sake of a few extra quid a week?

[DeLorean]

Yeah not sure about the pros and cons to be honest. His chances of impressing MON enough for inclusion are remote, to say the least, regardless of where he's playing. If Damien Delaney can't even get into squads, performing well regularly in the PL, what hope has Sledge really? Playing good stuff in the LOI hasn't exactly put Keith Fahey back in the international picture either. All I know is that if I was a single man the wrong side of 30, who has barely played in two years, it would be a pretty easy decision.

[nigel-harps1954]

To be fair, Keith Fahey hasn't really stood out in the LOI since coming back.

[tetsujin1979]

Didn't Fahey say when he came back that he didn't want to be asked about playing for the national side again?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

To be fair, Keith Fahey hasn't really stood out in the LOI since coming back.

He never really stood out any time I watched him for Birmingham either.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought he was outstanding at the Aviva against Derry.

[Charlie Darwin]

The doc on trial with DC United.

[the doc]

The doc on trial with DC United.

Trial?
Next you will be telling me the contract details.
More about the player going over to look at things on offer over there.

[DannyInvincible]

Trial?
Next you will be telling me the contract details.
More about the player going over to look at things on offer over there.

DC United published news of the trial on their website: http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/01/dc-united-preseason-report-florida-day-3


Ireland international Sean St. Ledger has joined D.C. United on trial.

Couldn't be clearer really.