Irish player most likely to be true World Class

[Noelys Guitar]

An Irish player who can win a match on his own. Which players coming through might fit that bill. And I being greedy want someone to emerge within the next 2 years.

[RogerMilla]

if potter continues to play like he did in america then he is the closest we have..

[Risteard]

None of them.
Maybe if Arsenal sign Doyle he can become a true all-time great but i suspect he'll remain as a very good striker for mid-table Premiership teams a la Keane.

[youngirish]

An Irish player who can win a match on his own. Which players coming through might fit that bill. And I being greedy want someone to emerge within the next 2 years.

Given already fits that description.



if potter continues to play like he did in america then he is the closest we have..


Are you serious? Potter hasn't a hope, I doubt he'll even be Premiership class. Doyle, Stokes, Garvan and Dixon are the most likely candidates.

[Bluebeard]

Given already fits that description.
At the risk of being more pedantic than usual, Given saves matches, but can't really win them - I think that we are looking for a Maradona or a Cruyff.

[youngirish]

At the risk of being more pedantic than usual, Given saves matches, but can't really win them - I think that we are looking for a Maradona or a Cruyff.

Point taken but Given has almost singlehandedly won matches for us - Cyprus away a couple of years ago is a classic example.

[Torn-Ado]

Six months ago I would have said Stokes. Now I'm not sure any of them will be world class. McShane maybe in a few years.

[Noelys Guitar]

Giles took time to develop into a WC player Brady looked the part from the beginning. McGrath took time as did Roy Keane. The one thing they all had in common (apart from being great players) was top sides. It would be great to see an Irish player playing in a team at the top of the Premiership, La Liga or Seria A and being that sides best player.

[Theskinloyal]

Anything to be said for McGeady? Stokes' hasn't looked comfortable playing for Ireland yet.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Given already fits that description.
.

Praise be! We agree on something!. (though he would want to bone up a bit on penalties ...can't recall ever seeing him stop a penalty)

[Torn-Ado]

Anything to be said for McGeady? Stokes' hasn't looked comfortable playing for Ireland yet.

Either has McGeady unfortunately

[Pablo]

Given is the only one. Depressing Fact.

[Theskinloyal]

Given saved the peno against Cyprus in the 1 - 0 win in 2005

[Stuttgart88]

Stokes' hasn't looked comfortable playing for Ireland yet.
All I can say is thank God he came on against San Marino (made a difference immediately) and nearly scored twice in Boston. OK, one he should have scored (lifted over keeper and just over the bar) and once when keeper made a brilliant save from a superb 25 yard shot.

He takes a bit too much out of it and is a bit selfish, but "hasn't looked comfortable" is a bit harsh for a 19 year old.

[tetsujin1979]

All I can say is thank God he came on against San Marino (made a difference immediately) and nearly scored twice in Boston. OK, one he should have scored (lifted over keeper and just over the bar) and once when keeper made a brilliant save from a superb 25 yard shot.

He takes a bit too much out of it and is a bit selfish, but "hasn't looked comfortable" is a bit harsh for a 19 year old.
I think that shot showed what's missing from Stokes's game at the moment, to just shoot directly would have been easier to score, the keeper left an amount of space on the far post, but he went for the spectacular and missed.
He needs to learn when is it appropriate to do something like that (some might argue Robbie Keane still hasn't learned that) to make him more of an all round player. At the Germany U-19 game, he was stepping up to take every free kick, and wasting them by going for goal. Sheridan took one after coming on where he drove it in low, and nearly led to a goal. As has been often said of Henry, Stokes wants to be a scorer of great goals, rather than a great goalscorer. It has to be remembered, he is still only 19 and has plenty of time to learn.

[Stuttgart88]

A lot of his Falkirk goals were straightforward affairs though. At the German game we didn't put enough pressure on them for Stokes, Sheridan or Rooney to hunt in the box, they had to do it all outside the box. He does look a bit of a peacock alright but the raw talent is there.

I just thought it was a bit harsh to say Stokes hasn't looked comfortable at international level yet, in the context of answering who might become world class in the future!

[RogerMilla]

Are you serious? Potter hasn't a hope, I doubt he'll even be Premiership class. .

Did you watch irelands games in america ? if potter progresses at wolves and can put in performances like those continuously at international level then i'm sure he would move to the premiership and continue to develop ijternationally . it's a hypothetical question and cannot be answered with any level of certainty , he has as much chance as any of the fellas you mentioned , moreso than dixon who hasnt kicked a ball in months and doestn look likely to for a while .

[tetsujin1979]

At Falkirk Stokes was played as an out and out striker, stand in the box, shoot on sight, like Andy Cole back in the day for Newcastle. I don't think I've seen him play that role for Ireland yet, at any level.
When he came on against San Marino, he seemed to be coming in from the left wing, in the States he was playing behind the main striker.

[Bungle]

World Class for me is the top 10 players in the world in their respective position.

Given is one of the top 5 keepers in the world imo. Duff was world class. Robbie is a very very good premiership player, but isn't world class. Finnan is one of the best right backs around. I would consider him world class. An outstanding defender, which is first and foremost his job. The best rb in the premiership imo.

That's two world class players in the current Irish squad.


Of the younger lads, we seem to be blessed with alot of very talented lads. Doyle, McShane and Stokes could become world class. I think Ireland will become a very good international player but I don't think he'll ever be world class.

I think Potter is definitely good enough to become a very decent international player, but I don't think he'll ever be world class. Mind you, 5 years ago I never would have said Gattuso would have gone on to be world class.

I haven't seen enough of O'Dea, but he looks like he could be a top player.

McGeady appears too light weight to become world class. He gets bundled off the ball too easily. I couldn't picture him offering much against the very best Italian or Argentinian defenders for example.

[lionelhutz]

I'm hoping Stephen Ireland progresses next year. He already has the knack of being in the right place at the right time to score vital goals and he's cool as a cucumber when one-on-one (unlike robbie keane who sh*ts himself).

If eriksson takes over city, i think he'd fancy ireland and have him as their playmaker behind one (or two) strikers. I think we'd see the best of him then

[jbyrne]

Doyle, Stokes, Garvan and Dixon are the most likely candidates.

have been hearing about Garvan for a few years now. i know he was out sick for a while but has not been within a mile of the snr team yet so i doubt he'll make it at this stage. maybe i'm missing something though

[Stuttgart88]

I worry for Ireland under Sven. Sven is starstruck and likes to surround himself with big names and big egos.

I also think Joey Barton complemented Ireland's abilities perfectly but he's gone now.

I think a manager needs to be clever to employ Ireland most effectively and Sven never really showed much savvy in this regard.

In fairness to Sven, he almost always got results in the games where dropping points was a possibility, tricky away trips etc. If he can do the same at MCFC, consistently grinding out narrow wins against their immediate peers and below, City's status will shoot up.

[Stuttgart88]

have been hearing about Garvan for a few years now. i know he was out sick for a while but has not been within a mile of the snr team yet so i doubt he'll make it at this stage. maybe i'm missing something though

Maybe we all are. He returned to the Ipswich team in early 2007 and has been playing well. Remarkably he was overlooked by the U19s recently, not just the senior team. Because Bayly was suspended for the German U19 game we struggled a bit and I wonder would Garvan have made the difference. Would love to have seen him play.

[Noelys Guitar]

Stephen Ireland for me is the player who might become that consistent goalscoring, goal making, crafty, game changing type of player. He needs to improve defensively (as a young Giles had to)He is sure to get physically stronger. If Sven believes in him and keeps Ireland in his team then he just might develop into that type of WC player we really need. I agree with other posters comments about Given, Finnan, Keane and Duff. But having a midfielder leading by example is priceless.

[youngirish]

How good is this Adam Rooney? Has he potential?

Good goalscorer but very slow for a striker.

[youngirish]

People forget Garvan is still only 19 and he's one of Ipswich's best players who are a decent Championship team. I can see them pushing into at least the play-offs next season.

Joey O'Brien if he manages to get himself over his knee problems in pre-season.

[Stuttgart88]

very slow for a striker.Did yiou see the RTE interview after his recent hat trick. "It's great to score especially in Dublin. Well, I know it's Drogheda, so not actually Dublin." Then giggled like an idiot.

Very slow!

[youngirish]

Did yiou see the RTE interview after his recent hat trick. "It's great to score especially in Dublin. Well, I know it's Drogheda, so not actually Dublin." Then giggled like an idiot.

Very slow!

Are you seriously telling me Stutts that one of our very own professional footballers isn't the sharpest tool in the box? Surely not.

[Paddy Garcia]

Did yiou see the RTE interview after his recent hat trick. "It's great to score especially in Dublin. Well, I know it's Drogheda, so not actually Dublin." Then giggled like an idiot.


It's a suburb.;)

[tricky_colour]

John O'Shea.

[Bungle]

John O'Shea.

O'Shea had the potential to be a really top player...possibly world class. Don't know if it's a confidence thing with him that he hasn't progressed, or if it's more a case he couldn't be arsed to realise his potential. Still to be fair, he had a very decent season with United.


Garvan's ommission from the u19 squad was incredible. A few of my Ipswich supporting mates say he's the most naturally talented youngster they've had in a long time. When you consider that Martin of Norwich played a few games for the first team and is considered one of the most talented players of his age group and played for England u19...yet he wouldn't come close to the talent of Garvan (they play different positions but England have a far bigger pool of players).They compare him to Frank Lampard down there. Haven't seen enough to say if he's good enough to be world class, but he'll definitely be good enough to be a very decent player.

Does anybody have any news on Dixon's progress?

[tetsujin1979]

Does anybody have any news on Dixon's progress?

He signed a full professional contract towards the end of the season
From Spur's end of season Academy review: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/academytalk180607.html

Can you give a progress report on Terry Dixon?
Alex: “Terry’s back in full training now. It was a huge loss to us to lose someone of his calibre. In the first two games, he scored two goals and created three, so if the season had continued that way, he would have without doubt made a lot of reserve team appearances. He’s worked incredibly hard and he’s had to mature over the season. The injury has given him a renewed sense of purpose and we all hope he steers clear of injury next season.”

[gustavo]

Does anybody have any news on Dixon's progress?

Supposed to be going to Pats on loan

[EalingGreen]

Football fans tend to bandy the phrase "World Class" about far too easily, imo. Personally, I always think the criterion should be that if you were picking a World XI, would the player in question be a contender?

Personally, I don't think the ROI has had any such players since Roy Keane and Paul McGrath. (And NI not since Jennings and Best)

And if you assess the next level down as "International Class" i.e. if eligible, would they get into, say, the French/Dutch/Spanish National sides, I would say that Given (especially), Duff (on previous form), Finnan and Robbie Keane would all qualify.

As for the future, it's hard to say that any of the current crop of ROI youngsters can become World Class (Doyle possibly excepted?), though they do appear to have a higher than average number of players coming through who might become "International Class".

As for NI, although we have a handful of promising youngsters emerging, I would say its somewhat fewer than ROI's. However, we do have one young gem in Jonny Evans who might just go all the way - certainly Roy Keane was very keen (sorry:o) to keep him at Sunderland, but Ferguson insisted he come back to Old Trafford.

Beyond that, there's a younger NI player at OT, Cathcart, who's captain of their Youth Team and is possibly the pick of his particular year. When UEFA picked a Europe U-17 select to play Africa U-17's in Spain earlier this season, not only was he the only representative from the UK or ROI, but he actually captained that team, as well. Obviously there are a hell of a lot of things which can go wrong before any such youngster makes it, but Cathcart could have a bright future.

[co. down green]

[QUOTE=Bungle;713137]O'Shea had the potential to be a really top player...possibly world class. Don't know if it's a confidence thing with him that he hasn't progressed, or if it's more a case he couldn't be arsed to realise his potential. Still to be fair, he had a very decent season with United.


Garvan's ommission from the u19 squad was incredible. A few of my Ipswich supporting mates say he's the most naturally talented youngster they've had in a long time. When you consider that Martin of Norwich played a few games for the first team and is considered one of the most talented players of his age group and played for England u19...yet he wouldn't come close to the talent of Garvan (they play different positions but England have a far bigger pool of players).They compare him to Frank Lampard down there. Haven't seen enough to say if he's good enough to be world class, but he'll definitely be good enough to be a very decent player.

Owen's been having a few 'personal problems' at home.

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/sport/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=Sport&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=sport&itemid=IPED28%20Jun%202007%2017%3A01%3A18%3A973

Its A big season for him and he needs to be focused from the first game.

I would have every confidence in him becoming a very important player for Ireland and Magilton certainly rates him very highly at Ipswich.

[eirebhoy]

Football fans tend to bandy the phrase "World Class" about far too easily, imo. Personally, I always think the criterion should be that if you were picking a World XI, would the player in question be a contender?
I wouldn't go that far. If Pirlo is the best holding midfielder in the world then he's the only world class holding midfielder around? There's only 1 world class keeper, right winger, etc? In athletics many would class the 10 100m sprinters that make the Olympic final as world class. Then the same goes for the 200m and so on. If you're around about top 10 in your position then you're world class in my book.

[gustavo]

I dont know about that eirebhoy , I cant imagine the 10th best left back in the world being regarded as world class but I suppose thats because of the position
World Class for me would be the best 50 or so players in the world

[eirebhoy]

I dont know about that eirebhoy , I cant imagine the 10th best left back in the world being regarded as world class but I suppose thats because of the position
World Class for me would be the best 50 or so players in the world
Yeah, world class full backs are probably a bit rarer. Maybe go for 5 for each position so. ;) There's certainly 10 centre halves, central midfielders and strikers I'd put in the top bracket.

[EalingGreen]

Originally Posted by EalingGreen
"Football fans tend to bandy the phrase "World Class" about far too easily, imo. Personally, I always think the criterion should be that if you were picking a World XI, would the player in question be a contender?"



I wouldn't go that far. If Pirlo is the best holding midfielder in the world then he's the only world class holding midfielder around? There's only 1 world class keeper, right winger, etc? In athletics many would class the 10 100m sprinters that make the Olympic final as world class. Then the same goes for the 200m and so on. If you're around about top 10 in your position then you're world class in my book.

Perhaps I didn't explain properly, but the key word is "contender". In any given position, there might be hald a dozen contenders, none of whom would look out of place if selected for a World XI. For your example of holding midfielder, I might prefer e.g. Claude Makalele over your choice of Pirlo; both would be equally valid as "World Class". However, Michael Carrick would not (imo), even though he is performs that role for the English club champions and is good enough to be in contention for many international teams.

[eirebhoy]

Perhaps I didn't explain properly, but the key word is "contender".
Yeah I should read posts a bit slower next time. ;) In that case I don't think "world class" is over used. Given and Finnan are arguably world class. Maybe not Finnan but defensively he's up there with the very best full backs.

[youngirish]

Yeah I should read posts a bit slower next time. ;) In that case I don't think "world class" is over used. Given and Finnan are arguably world class. Maybe not Finnan but defensively he's up there with the very best full backs.
I struggle to name a single right back in the world that is unarguably better than Finnan so I'd say he is definitely world class. Same for Given.

[SkStu]

easy, Daniel Alves for starters.

[billybunter]

would take finnan over daniel alves any day. Alves is a hyped up product. Finnan for consistency. Alves was pure sh*t in the Uefa cup final. Never seen Finn have a stinker to be honest. Alves is rated for going forward. A full back is rated for defending, so its finnan by a country mile.

[gustavo]

Alves hyped up Spanish mediocrity. Another country that manage to pull the wool over everyone's eyes and hype their players up to ridiculous levels. Funnily enough whenever they come up against anyone half decent in a tournament they always get beaten confortably. Strange that.

I remember someone tried to tell me Puyol was one of the best defenders in Europe. Pure tripe. Torres 20 million plus Luis Garcia? Someone's having a laugh. Another of Benitez's genius striker signings.

Alves is Brazilian and Puyol is a great player .

[youngirish]

Alves is Brazilian and Puyol is a great player .

Puyol is muck if he played for Ireland nobody would rate him.

[gustavo]

quite the opposite , if Puyol was Irish we would all be raving about him and how fantastic he like , like we do for Dunne

[youngirish]

quite the opposite , if Puyol was Irish we would all be raving about him and how fantastic he like , like we do for Dunne

Nobody other than us then. I personally don't think Dunne is brilliant tbh as he is always liable to do something stupid that may cost you the game but he's by far the best central defender we have at present.

[RogerMilla]

Nobody other than us then. I personally don't think Dunne is brilliant tbh as he is always liable to do something stupid that may cost you the game but he's by far the best central defender we have at present.

so name for us one time when he cost ireland the game ?

[KopKiller]

I struggle to name a single right back in the world that is unarguably better than Finnan so I'd say he is definitely world class. Same for Given.

Absolutely!

Judging on his performances of last season, Finann is the best right full back in the world.

[youngirish]

so name for us one time when he cost ireland the game ?

France in Dublin when he passed the ball to Thierry Henry. How do you like those apples? He also has made mistakes that could have cost us the game but we got away with it. Wasn't it his fault that Bellamy got clean through against Wales or was that McShane?