Bohs Accept Ward Bid

[eirebhoy]

Getting slightly back on topic, there's sod all eL fans can do re. the olé olérs but Dodge's post telling them about the merits or not of Ward is at least educating them.
Who's "them"? We follow the Irish national team as much as you follow Rovers. We follow the U-17s, U-19s, U-21s. We keep track of pretty much every Irish professional footballer.

You may find it annoying that there's so many Irish people that don't support the league and I'm exact same when it comes to the national team. If Ward only becomes known to some people when he joins Wolves (although you won't find those people here) I can understand how it annoys you as I'm the same when people see someone like Kevin Foley or Jay Tabb in the Ireland squad and they have to ask who they are. If you're an Ireland fan you should know who these players are from the underage system. If you're not an Ireland supporter then you are to me what youngirish is to you. Simple as that.

[youngirish]

If you're an Ireland fan you should know who these players are from the underage system. If you're not an Ireland supporter then you are to me what youngirish is to you. Simple as that.
In defence of myself I am well and always have been well aware of Stephen Ward. I know all about most of the players that have played at our youth levels in recent years. My previous posts should clarify that.

I reckon I know far more about most of our young players than the majority of the EL brigade which if they'd pull their head out of their arses and read a few of my previous they'd come to realise deep in their hearts that I speak the truth.

[NeilMcD]

But he no more plays for Ireland now than he did last week. I think he should be discussed here when and if he does anything to suggest he is worth calling up (which seems unlikely). Until then the main interest is surely from an eL point of view.


He does play for Ireland at U21 level.

[wws]

Who's "them"? We follow the Irish national team as much as you follow Rovers. We follow the U-17s, U-19s, U-21s. We keep track of pretty much every Irish professional footballer.

You may find it annoying that there's so many Irish people that don't support the league and I'm exact same when it comes to the national team. If Ward only becomes known to some people when he joins Wolves (although you won't find those people here) I can understand how it annoys you as I'm the same when people see someone like Kevin Foley or Jay Tabb in the Ireland squad and they have to ask who they are. If you're an Ireland fan you should know who these players are from the underage system. If you're not an Ireland supporter then you are to me what youngirish is to you. Simple as that.


whether you (or anyone else) ever heard of him is not the point - the point is some people posting here seem to equate a move to england as a sign that the player is suddenly great
someone even went on to suggest doyle had been "developed" in his short time at reading (dOYLE IS A MATURE PLAYER - with wide experience - is game will evolve but the implication being that there was 70,000 to 5 million worth of "development" is preposterous and yes - insulting to the quality of football he faced here)

he's not some raw talent who was polished off by the english - he was a developed player in his own right

[eirebhoy]

whether you (or anyone else) ever heard of him is not the point - the point is some people posting here seem to equate a move to england as a sign that the player is suddenly great
Fair enough. I'll tell you one thing though, I tipped Doyle for the Eircom league top scorer at the start of his last season there. :) Out of about 15 people (on the old soccercentral forum) I was probably the only one going for Doyle, a few were going for Daryl Murphy, most for Byrne. He was miles ahead of everyone before he moved to Reading afair. So even at the start of that season not many EL fans knew how good he was. I appreciate he wasn't playing regularly up front before that though.

[Dodge]

Not many soccercentral forumites knew about him. Us pats fan did though

And lets not go over the whole following the national team is just as legitimate as the a club side as we've gone over it a thousand times. Its not ;)

[pete]

whether you (or anyone else) ever heard of him is not the point - the point is some people posting here seem to equate a move to england as a sign that the player is suddenly great


Exactly. Pity some people have to change the debate into eL v non-eL.

:rolleyes:

[eirebhoy]

And lets not go over the whole following the national team is just as legitimate as the a club side as we've gone over it a thousand times. Its not ;)
It's simply something that can't be answered. It's not a decision we even make. Our heart does the choosing. My heart will always have Ireland above anything in sport. :)

[cavan_fan]

(dOYLE IS A MATURE PLAYER - with wide experience - is game will evolve but the implication being that there was 70,000 to 5 million worth of "development" is preposterous and yes - insulting to the quality of football he faced here)

he's not some raw talent who was polished off by the english - he was a developed player in his own right

Look whether you want to call it development or evolution is irrelevant. Doyle is a better player now thean he was a year ago, never mind 2 years ago.

You keep assuming that somehow the value of a player is a sign of how good the buying club thinks he is. It isn't. I never said he had got 80 times better. He was 'worth' 70,000 18 months ago because that's the max the market would pay. He is 'worth' more than 5 million now as that is a bid that has been rejected. As an example Sylvain Distin is a quality Central Defender but is likely to be sold for less than 1 million pounds. That is no reflection of his quality, it's a financial equation. Equally if Ward was a Shelbourne player he probably would have been bought for less money as they need to sell more than Boh's.

[Schumi]

He was 'worth' 70,000 18 months ago because that's the max the market would pay.Incorrect. That's the max the market was allowed to pay, he had a minimum fee clause. I'm sure a Cork fan will explain, if there's one thing this thread needs it's a Dolan debate. :D

[Paddy Garcia]

Incorrect. That's the max the market was allowed to pay, he had a minimum fee clause. I'm sure a Cork fan will explain, if there's one thing this thread needs it's a Dolan debate. :D

I don't know the detail at all. However the max the market is allowed to pay is entirely differerent to a minimum fee.

Anyway I think Cavan fan is correct. The market is defined by competition. If other clubs were interested at the time the market would have generated a higher price.

[cavan_fan]

Incorrect. That's the max the market was allowed to pay, he had a minimum fee clause. I'm sure a Cork fan will explain, if there's one thing this thread needs it's a Dolan debate. :D

I'm not sure how the minimum fee clause works but if another club had offered 200,000 could Cork have rejected Reading's offer?

[wws]

I'm not sure how the minimum fee clause works but if another club had offered 200,000 could Cork have rejected Reading's offer?


CAVAN FAN STOP getting hung up on the doyle thing - it was a misleading transfer - which has skewed this debate and cloaked the underlying trend - because of background club politics between opposing parties.
It is not an instructive example - in fact it is now clear in the light of Ward and Molloy's recent moves - to be a totally misleading anomally. By the way - I've seen plenty of Doyle post and pre transfer - there has been no great improvement in his game. We're talking about a player who had reached senior status, played in his national league, played in Europe, played at various international level sides. Theres literally not much you can do with someone like Doyle at his age - he comes "as is" to the game in England and just applied himself and did his stuff as he did previously.

[soccerc]

Not many soccercentral forumites knew about him. Us pats fan did though


Typical Dodge statement.

I can assure you that many old soccercentral forumites knew of Doyle, some of them Pats fans others like EB not.

For the record, while I recognised Doyle had potential I didn't ever think he would have such goalscoring success.

[Calcio Jack]

:rolleyes:

Has your alter ego never read any of my posts on our forum?


KOH


If I can track him down I'll ask him....

[Irish_Praha]

Typical Dodge statement.

I can assure you that many old soccercentral forumites knew of Doyle, some of them Pats fans others like EB not.

For the record, while I recognised Doyle had potential I didn't ever think he would have such goalscoring success.

Well I have been posting on SC for the last 4.5 years and I knew about him too because I'm from Wexford. Can't say I know him personally but I know his family (ah little Ireland). I admit I didn't take much notice of him when he was at Pats but when he started banging in the goals for Cork and I realised he was from just up the road I always kept and eye out for the Cork results. Like SC I never expected him to be the success that he has been.

As a side note, I totally disagree with the people who say he hasn't improved since leaving Cork. That's bull, he wasn't even 22 when he moved and since then has played a season and a half. Any player getting an extended run of competitive first team football at that age is going to improve.
The argument should be if he would have improved as much if he stayed with Cork - maybe.

[Dodge]

Typical Dodge statement.

I can assure you that many old soccercentral forumites knew of Doyle, some of them Pats fans others like EB not.

For the record, while I recognised Doyle had potential I didn't ever think he would have such goalscoring success.
Relax I was kidding. Just pointing out how his sample of 15 el fans was flawed.

[wws]

Well I have been posting on SC for the last 4.5 years and I knew about him too because I'm from Wexford. Can't say I know him personally but I know his family (ah little Ireland). I admit I didn't take much notice of him when he was at Pats but when he started banging in the goals for Cork and I realised he was from just up the road I always kept and eye out for the Cork results. Like SC I never expected him to be the success that he has been.

As a side note, I totally disagree with the people who say he hasn't improved since leaving Cork. That's bull, he wasn't even 22 when he moved and since then has played a season and a half. Any player getting an extended run of competitive first team football at that age is going to improve.
The argument should be if he would have improved as much if he stayed with Cork - maybe.

YES iRISH Praha - because he never had an extended run of first team football before he left these shores? :rolleyes:
I just can be done with some of these posts. They're ludicrous sometimes.

[WeAreRovers]

If I can track him down I'll ask him....

You have mail old chap.

KOH

[republicofwhite]

Getting back to Stephen Ward, he doesn't seem to be an out and out goalscorer... statistically anyway. And haven't heard he's anything outstanding aswell, not someone who warrants a fee totalling 500K anyway. Personallly I think O'Donovan is worth that, he's a class act and the one most capable of doing a Kevin Doyle...

[Dodge]

Getting back to Stephen Ward, he doesn't seem to be an out and out goalscorer... statistically anyway. And haven't heard he's anything outstanding aswell, not someone who warrants a fee totalling 500K anyway. Personallly I think O'Donovan is worth that, he's a class act and the one most capable of doing a Kevin Doyle...

This is the O'Donovan who didn't score for 3 months of the season. Not a world beater either. Standard LOI footballers.

[republicofwhite]

When I mean doing a Doyle, I dont neccessarily mean banging in goals. O'Donovan is more of a winger cum striker then out and out striker anyway isn't he? Its not about goalscoring with him, moreso about pace and and bit of flair. I mean he looks like he could well do a job in England.

[Irish_Praha]

Personallly I think O'Donovan is worth that, he's a class act and the one most capable of doing a Kevin Doyle...

Apparently he has a trial with Celtic lined up. Will there be anydecent players left in the EL by the end of January? :eek:

[cavan_fan]

YES iRISH Praha - because he never had an extended run of first team football before he left these shores? :rolleyes:
I just can be done with some of these posts. They're ludicrous sometimes.

Praha said any player getting an extended run of football at his age, whcih he cant have had at Cork.

By the way happened to notice this post from you at the time of Doyle's trasnfer.

No. I didn't think that at all. The point you are making makes absolutely no sense. You drew the comparisons with Chelsea/Barca and Cork pal not me. Guess what ? - Chelsea/Barca can and do retain their best players most of the time (figo move accepted if you wanna get technical) - Cork City cant even compete with fcking Reading. Big difference in scale. For both Cork (transfer fee) and Doyle (improvement in his career) the move makes perfect sense. It wont catch on at Barca and Chelsea - cos they are unlikey to be in competion with the likes of Reading when it comes to retaining players (and there arent too many big clubs who can compete with those two either). It will happen at Cork because LoI clubs cannot compete financialy with most UK outfits.

edit: Pete saw your post after i posted - the Doyle and Murphy fees are a reflection of where its at - you might not like it but thats about right.

Just to clarify does that make you racist or an Uncle Tom?

[eirebhoy]

YES iRISH Praha - because he never had an extended run of first team football before he left these shores? :rolleyes:
I just can be done with some of these posts. They're ludicrous sometimes.
Come on wws, I think it's pretty clear what Irish_Praha was saying. Of course Doyle has improved as a player since his move from Cork. I'd find it pretty strange if he didn't improve after a year and a half of playing football. Read his post again.

[wws]

Praha said any player getting an extended run of football at his age, whcih he cant have had at Cork.

By the way happened to notice this post from you at the time of Doyle's trasnfer.

No. I didn't think that at all. The point you are making makes absolutely no sense. You drew the comparisons with Chelsea/Barca and Cork pal not me. Guess what ? - Chelsea/Barca can and do retain their best players most of the time (figo move accepted if you wanna get technical) - Cork City cant even compete with fcking Reading. Big difference in scale. For both Cork (transfer fee) and Doyle (improvement in his career) the move makes perfect sense. It wont catch on at Barca and Chelsea - cos they are unlikey to be in competion with the likes of Reading when it comes to retaining players (and there arent too many big clubs who can compete with those two either). It will happen at Cork because LoI clubs cannot compete financialy with most UK outfits.

edit: Pete saw your post after i posted - the Doyle and Murphy fees are a reflection of where its at - you might not like it but thats about right.

Just to clarify does that make you racist or an Uncle Tom?



I'm chuffed you did a trawl through all my posts! Fair play to you.
Btw atko a total racist - too many examples to go into. His comments on Irish people in the McGrath book a revealing insight into his mindset....not that we expected much from the big Desailly fan.

Uncle Toms - "unneccessarily accommodating" - I think it can be applied to certain ludicrous posts on here - I'm not gonna search back through them all tbh.

The post above - I'm guessing is me having a go at Cork City fans or something (hey its what i do - Im a Pats fan) or else making a really great point about the difference between Barca and Reading. God I'm brilliant. I love reading my old posts. They're great, really really great. I nominate your post quoting me as post of the month.

[Irish_Praha]

YES iRISH Praha - because he never had an extended run of first team football before he left these shores? :rolleyes:


Gawd do I have to spell it out? My point was that several posters on here have blindly refused to admit that he has improved in the slightest over the last season and a half.

My point was that when he left Cork he was only 21 and a player usually doesn't reach his peak until his mid to late 20's. Granted some players lose form or don't get games and don't get a chance to improve. However, Doyle is on form and playing every week and is still only 23. So logic would say that he is improving.

Basically all I am saying is that he has actually improved because he is older and has more experience - this can be applied to most things. I'm not saying that he has improved just because he moved to an English club. So IMO it is nonsense to say he still the exact same player since he left Cork. He had played 90 games up until then and has played almost 70 games since then.

[wws]

Gawd do I have to spell it out? My point was that several posters on here have blindly refused to admit that he has improved in the slightest over the last season and a half.

My point was that when he left Cork he was only 21 and a player usually doesn't reach his peak until his mid to late 20's. Granted some players lose form or don't get games and don't get a chance to improve. However, Doyle is on form and playing every week and is still only 23. So logic would say that he is improving.

Basically all I am saying is that he has actually improved because he is older and has more experience - this can be applied to most things. I'm not saying that he has improved just because he moved to an English club. So IMO it is nonsense to say he still the exact same player since he left Cork. He had played 90 games up until then and has played almost 70 games since then.

point taken

I mis read your post. Sincere apologies.

[kingdom hoop]

I'm sure doyle has improved as a result of working with coppell, the man who brought ian wright into league football and helped mark bright become a top goalscorer. that point should not be overlooked. unfortunatley its hard to see ward benefiting as much under mick macs tutelage!

[adamcarr]

Apparently he has a trial with Celtic lined up. Will there be anydecent players left in the EL by the end of January? :eek:

Eh no! He has rejected a trial at Wolves as he believes he is above going over to some English crowd for a trial, he is right. On Wednesday, there was a quote from him in the Irish Examiner saying that England isn't all that its cracked up to be and he is very happy at Cork City. Unlike most eL players, Roy has no aspirations to go back to England ASAP.

Roy didn't score for the first 5 months of the season but he was then moved up front and got 9 goals in 11 games. IMO, Roy could certainly make as big an impact in England as Doyler and should be given a shot with Ireland.

[Irish_Praha]

point taken

I mis read your post. Sincere apologies.

OK all is forgiven :p

[Irish_Praha]

Eh no! He has rejected a trial at Wolves as he believes he is above going over to some English crowd for a trial, he is right. On Wednesday, there was a quote from him in the Irish Examiner saying that England isn't all that its cracked up to be and he is very happy at Cork City. Unlike most eL players, Roy has no aspirations to go back to England ASAP.

Roy didn't score for the first 5 months of the season but he was then moved up front and got 9 goals in 11 games. IMO, Roy could certainly make as big an impact in England as Doyler and should be given a shot with Ireland.



Maybe this is not true then because they say Cork refused Wolves not Roy.

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=26029

[adamcarr]

Maybe this is not true then because they say Cork refused Wolves not Roy.

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=26029

Cork City's Roy O'Donovan named eircom/ Soccer Writers Association Player of the Month for November

The 21 year old also won the award in November last year, when he finished the season in terrific form.

O'Donovan was prolific for the Leesiders in the final weeks of the campaign after being switched to centre forward from midfield. He ended the campaign with eleven league goals, four of those coming in November.

The former Coventry youth scored twice in the 4-1 win over Waterford before grabbing the only goal of the game in victories over St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park, and Shelbourne at Turner's Cross. He also impressed when starting up front for the Irish 'B' side in their drawn game with Scotland.

The Cork native was actually better known as a forward player during his time in England, but acknowledges that he had to be patient when he returned to Ireland given the quality of strikers that were at Cork.

"When I came back first, I just wanted to get my foot in the door and make a career for myself out of the game. At that time, I was behind Kevin Doyle, John O'Flynn, Neale Fenn and George O'Callaghan in the forward positions. The best option was to play on the right wing, but after 18 months the chance came to go back up front again, " said O'Donovan.

It was a move brought about my circumstances which almost pushed Cork into the league title frame. They had to settle for a disappointing fourth place position, but O'Donovan prefers not to dwell on the past and is looking ahead to the future with new investment helping out chairman Brian Lennox.

"It's a shame the season ended when it did because we were close to the shakeup at the end and we were just hitting form at the right time," he says.

Of course, O'Donovan himself could be a valuable asset for Cork with suitors from cross channel interested in bringing him back across the water. Wolves have been the most high profile side linked with his services, while Southend United were reported to have made a bid.

However, the player himself says that if he is to move it will have to be a fair deal for Cork. And he also believes that clubs should have seen enough of him already to be confident in making a bid, rather than needing to invite him over for a trial as has been suggested.

"I think I'm above that. If people want to see me play, they can come and see me play for Cork. They've had plenty of chances. I've played in 10 European games, around 10 under 21 games and I've got a 'B' cap in addition to playing around 80 games for Cork City. Maybe on trial, they might want to see me and get to know me as a person for a few days rather than seeing me as a footballer because there have been plenty of opportunities for that." "I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I have to be fair to the club. If people want me, then they're going to have to make a bid that's fair to everybody," said O'Donovan.


Happy now??

[Irish_Praha]

Cork City's Roy O'Donovan named eircom/ Soccer Writers Association Player of the Month for November

The 21 year old also won the award in November last year, when he finished the season in terrific form.

O'Donovan was prolific for the Leesiders in the final weeks of the campaign after being switched to centre forward from midfield. He ended the campaign with eleven league goals, four of those coming in November.

The former Coventry youth scored twice in the 4-1 win over Waterford before grabbing the only goal of the game in victories over St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park, and Shelbourne at Turner's Cross. He also impressed when starting up front for the Irish 'B' side in their drawn game with Scotland.

The Cork native was actually better known as a forward player during his time in England, but acknowledges that he had to be patient when he returned to Ireland given the quality of strikers that were at Cork.

"When I came back first, I just wanted to get my foot in the door and make a career for myself out of the game. At that time, I was behind Kevin Doyle, John O'Flynn, Neale Fenn and George O'Callaghan in the forward positions. The best option was to play on the right wing, but after 18 months the chance came to go back up front again, " said O'Donovan.

It was a move brought about my circumstances which almost pushed Cork into the league title frame. They had to settle for a disappointing fourth place position, but O'Donovan prefers not to dwell on the past and is looking ahead to the future with new investment helping out chairman Brian Lennox.

"It's a shame the season ended when it did because we were close to the shakeup at the end and we were just hitting form at the right time," he says.

Of course, O'Donovan himself could be a valuable asset for Cork with suitors from cross channel interested in bringing him back across the water. Wolves have been the most high profile side linked with his services, while Southend United were reported to have made a bid.

However, the player himself says that if he is to move it will have to be a fair deal for Cork. And he also believes that clubs should have seen enough of him already to be confident in making a bid, rather than needing to invite him over for a trial as has been suggested.

"I think I'm above that. If people want to see me play, they can come and see me play for Cork. They've had plenty of chances. I've played in 10 European games, around 10 under 21 games and I've got a 'B' cap in addition to playing around 80 games for Cork City. Maybe on trial, they might want to see me and get to know me as a person for a few days rather than seeing me as a footballer because there have been plenty of opportunities for that." "I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I have to be fair to the club. If people want me, then they're going to have to make a bid that's fair to everybody," said O'Donovan.


Happy now??

Yeah fair play to him.
But what i meant was maybe the whole article I posted a link to was not true because it falsely reported that Cork refused Wolves not O'Donovan himself.

However, what you have posted above would explain why they think a trial with Celtic would also be rejected.
The only problem with him saying they can come and see him play at Cork is that there are no games at the moment and the transfer window closes in two and a half weeks.

[adamcarr]

Yeah fair play to him.
But what i meant was maybe the whole article I posted a link to was not true because it falsely reported that Cork refused Wolves not O'Donovan himself.

However, what you have posted above would explain why they think a trial with Celtic would also be rejected.
The only problem with him saying they can come and see him play at Cork is that there are no games at the moment and the transfer window closes in two and a half weeks.



It was City who rejected a trial from Wolves which O'Donovan was happy to hear. City turned down a €250,000 bid from Southend aswell and Roy said he wouldnt have gone given the choice. I have a feeling that he will sign a new contract if offered one. His current one runs out in 8 months time.

[DmanDmythDledge]

whether you (or anyone else) ever heard of him is not the point - the point is some people posting here seem to equate a move to england as a sign that the player is suddenly great
Nobody said that. The fact is that the standard of football and the standard of coaching is better in the English Championship than it would be in the EL. Players like Doyle and Ward will only reach the potential that they have by moving to England. At the present the Eircom League is not good enough for a number of players to reach their full potential.

someone even went on to suggest doyle had been "developed" in his short time at reading (dOYLE IS A MATURE PLAYER - with wide experience - is game will evolve but the implication being that there was 70,000 to 5 million worth of "development" is preposterous and yes - insulting to the quality of football he faced here)

he's not some raw talent who was polished off by the english - he was a developed player in his own right
So what you are saying is that you think Doyle had reached his peak before he left Cork, at the age of 20/21?:D Doyle is receiving much better coaching than what he received at Cork. There is no chance that he would be as good as he is now without making the move.

I'm not sure how the minimum fee clause works but if another club had offered 200,000 could Cork have rejected Reading's offer?
No.

By the way - I've seen plenty of Doyle post and pre transfer - there has been no great improvement in his game.
He was voted Championship player of the year last year. He never achieved that in Ireland. He's already scored more goals for Reading than he did at Cork, playing less games at Reading.

[pete]

Nobody said that. The fact is that the standard of football and the standard of coaching is better in the English Championship than it would be in the EL. Players like Doyle and Ward will only reach the potential that they have by moving to England. At the present the Eircom League is not good enough for a number of players to reach their full potential...

Quiet probably true but theres also the other side of the coin...

Roy O'Donovan: Released by Coventry. Since then has become regular U21 & now B International.

Joe Gamble: Reading loaned him to Barnet in the Conference, then released him. Now a B International & thought to be best midfielder in the league by many.

I only mention players from my own club as more familiar with them but could this mean eL coaching actually improving players? Why did the Championship clubs fail to recognise their talent? :confused:

[Qwerty]

Is this the 'Kevin Doyle Effect'? why are so many eL players suddenly being seriously considered for moves to England and Scotland? Is it simply because these players may be cheaper than similar players in the lower leagues in England? If you look at the summer transfers there really wasn't much cash changing hands beyond the big clubs so I'm thinking that clubs are looking for bargains. Of course Kevin Doyle and Shane Long are good adverts for buying Irish.

[eirebhoy]

Hooperatzi - As I said, we discuss almost every overseas transfer of Irish players on this forum. The reason it's only oversea's players is because transfer from EL to EL club are obviously for the EL forum.

[eirebhoy]

the implication of posting this thread in the international team forum is clear.
Obviously not.


on monday as a gypo he isnt good enough for the national team.
And would you like to point me in the direction of a post claiming he's now good enough for Ireland since his move to Wolves?

It may be the international forum but trust me, every transfer is discussed here whether they have a chance of playing for Ireland or not. Most of us just like to see Irish players do well. For example, here's a thread on someone that obviously won't play for Ireland again:
http://www.foot.ie/showthread.php?t=36916

Just because there's a thread on Ward here doesn't mean we now think he's good enough to play for Ireland. It doesn't matter if Ward moved from Bohs, Real Madrid or Accrington Stanley...this transfer still would have been discussed on this forum just because the player is Irish.

Any Ireland fan should know who Ward is and I seriously doubt there's any regular poster on here that doesn't know who he was last week.

[Billsthoughts]

I didnt. never heard of him.
and I regularly check the international forum.(....to keep up with all the celtic news;) )
I think its a bit sad that irish players have to go abroad to get any recognition. its sadder that people drag out things like better standard of coaching(..I mean does anyone actually know feck all about the standard of coaching at championship clubs??...) to justify their own inferiority complex.
maybe playing in a successful cork team that played decent football helped doyle settle into a succesfull reading team that played decent football?

[Donal81]

This is getting ridiculous...How much longer is this going to be dragged out? This holier than thou rubbish from eL posters is a joke. Stephen Ward ended up in the international section because he's made an international move. We're not going to discuss him in world football because he's Irish. As an U-21 international, it makes sense to leave him in here. Mods here should really have handled this one better. Some of them obviously take this "ole ole brigade" tripe seriously.

[Dodge]

just for the record billsthoughts wouldn't consider himself an el fan...

[youngirish]

This is getting ridiculous...How much longer is this going to be dragged out? This holier than thou rubbish from eL posters is a joke. Stephen Ward ended up in the international section because he's made an international move. We're not going to discuss him in world football because he's Irish. As an U-21 international, it makes sense to leave him in here. Mods here should really have handled this one better. Some of them obviously take this "ole ole brigade" tripe seriously.

Exactly. The pure sh*t some of the EL brigade come out with is comical. They really should read some of the cr*p they type. Doyle hasn't improved since he moved from Cork?

Yeah right. Wake up ffs. He wasn't even a regular when he first joined Reading he had to wait until Kitson got injured. Now he's one of the top scorers in the Premiership. If he'd moved straight from the EL to the Premiership I'm sure he would still have banged in the goals like he's doing now.

Do some of these people watch top level football I wonder.

[eirebhoy]

This is getting ridiculous...How much longer is this going to be dragged out? This holier than thou rubbish from eL posters is a joke. Stephen Ward ended up in the international section because he's made an international move. We're not going to discuss him in world football because he's Irish. As an U-21 international, it makes sense to leave him in here. Mods here should really have handled this one better. Some of them obviously take this "ole ole brigade" tripe seriously.
I purposely let this go into the discussion it did otherwise every similar thread will be taken over with this rubbish. I'm trying to explain what this forum is about now so I don't have to anymore, for the time being.

[Billsthoughts]

just for the record billsthoughts wouldn't consider himself an el fan...

yeah for sure...but I wouldnt have anything against it either which is what I think a few people on here do. which I find a bit weird. I was just making the point that I would normally check this section and not the other ones. and I have never heard of the guy. so basically a lot of what is bein said is balls.

[gustavo]

As an eL fan it did rankle with me a bit when eL players are automatically put in this Forum which is called the "National Team" forum , but i do accept eb's argument that many people feel that the forum fulfills a wider remit of providing a place for comment on Irish players not playing in the Eircom League.

[Dodge]

What gets me is that people can't understand the el fan's POV and actually think it makes US look small minded...

[eirebhoy]

yeah for sure...but I wouldnt have anything against it either which is what I think a few people on here do. which I find a bit weird. I was just making the point that I would normally check this section and not the other ones. and I have never heard of the guy. so basically a lot of what is bein said is balls.
Well you're not really like the average poster on this forum then as they'd usually follow the U21s. I actually find it very suprising that you, as a regular poster, haven't heard of Ward. He's certainly been talked about a bit on here.

[Soper]

Exactly. The pure sh*t some of the EL brigade come out with is comical. They really should read some of the cr*p they type. Doyle hasn't improved since he moved from Cork?

Yeah right. Wake up ffs. He wasn't even a regular when he first joined Reading he had to wait until Kitson got injured. Now he's one of the top scorers in the Premiership. If he'd moved straight from the EL to the Premiership I'm sure he would still have banged in the goals like he's doing now.

Do some of these people watch top level football I wonder.
They lost on the opening day.Doyle then got his chance (or so I remember).Hardly ages.

Maybe you should let someone who watches championship matches every second week in person judge the standard of Championship everything (coaching, players).

Sligo Rovers have better training facilities than Cardiff City.FACT.

The Championship is not the holy grail of football.Ireland fans, get off your high horses.