Andy O'Brien

[GavinZac]

Strange how opinions differ. I'd rather have u18's, who actually wanted to be there and are proud to be, on the pitch than players who have to be convinced to represent their country

Or Irish players (actually from Ireland) who play for Irish teams in the Irish national league where they are supported by Irish people and who would give careful consideration to giving their left leg for an Irish cap, rather than these over paid, under played goms who shouldn't have been near the shirt in the first place.

Of course, special bile is reserved for the first Irish 'superstar' to declare this type of crap, who continues to insult Irish football with his plastic paddy relegation fodder.

[Nipper]

If true, this is outrageous. Talk about going out with a whimper, you'd think the clown would want to redeem himself in some way after the utterly pathetic shifts he put in in the last couple of years. Never rated him in the first place, but we're not exactly blessed with central defenders.

[danonion]

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/sport/sportheadlines/display.var.2015507.0.riddle_over_obriens_irish_fu ture.php

Whole thing seems a little sketchy.

[Bondvillain]

Jesus Christ!

"Republic of Ireland coach (sic) Don Givens claimed he had received word that the centre-half, recalled into the squad for the first time in over a year to face Brazil in a friendly this week, may have quit the international game.

O'Brien has not yet confirmed or denied that he is ready to call time on his Ireland career after previously earning 23 caps whilst playing for Newcastle United and Portsmouth. But Givens said last night that he was preparing to face the Brazilians without the 29-year-old on Wednesday night

"I have tried to contact him (O Brien) but I won't be able to clear that up until I have spoken to him.

It is obviously disappointing for someone who can still contribute a lot to be thinking about retirement.

But I haven't spoken to him to find out about his reasons."


I was joking earlier whan I suggested that Givens was going to use O Briens retirement as his "Big Announcement" today, but I never dreamed that the moron would go on television, and effectively retire one of his named squad on the sole basis of "man down the pub" information, without having the decency to consult him to see if it was true before announcing it to the press.

What an utter buffoon! Was it a "Please dont ask me about the announcement I was supposed to be making about a new manager. The whole process is very traumatic for me. Would you like a juicy retirement story instead?" thing?

The question now is:

We know more about his terrible communication skills, poor judgement & lack of media ability now because he's constantly under the media spolight (due to his inappropriate presence on the 'interview committee' and his apparent dogged attempt to become the world's longest serving manager that nobody appointed) , but what else has Givens done in the past that was NOT scruitinsed? Who else has he alienated, and what damage has he done behind the scenes that we were never told about?

Even if Givens is sure that there's some substance to this "heard it off a bloke..." rumour, it was incredibly unprofessional of him to effectively leak it in such a way. Turn the spotlight off please. Mr Givens has had quite enough exposure, he has to go now.

[Qwerty]

What do you mean scapegoated, he was so unbelieveably sh*t in that match
it doesn't even bear talking about.. Even the passage of time doesn't make it any better..

Scapegoated in the sense that he hadn't been playing first team football at Portsmouth for quite a while and wasn't match sharp, he shouldn't have been in the starting 11. It was Stan's fault for picking the wrong midfield and Stan's fault for picking O'Brien though he has tried to pass the buck to Robson.

[dr_peepee]

Very dissapointed if true... But I think it's another example of the incompetence, innadequacies, unprofesionalism of the FAI waterfalling down to the players... Why should a player risk his club career to represent his country when the supporting structures mean it's a complete waste of time.. Players are jepardising the place in teams, and for what?? Clowns in suits, deflection of responsibility and accountability, mind boggling selections by an incompempetent manager, Delaney with his maverick appointments...

Everyone has to be on the same page and pulling in the same direction. If that was the case I'd resent O'Brien for what he's doing. As things stand there's no insentive to risk his club career to play for Ireland. The romantics amongst us may well argue differently, but you have to choose battles. This is a team game and the team in this case extends beyond the playing 23 squad members. If everyone's not channeling efforts properly it's a complete waste time for a commited individual...

[Billsthoughts]

Yeah I felted he was treated very similar to Weir by Bertie Vogts at Scotland.

:D which is relevant how?

[Dr. Ogba]

If it turns out that he hasn't retired then we can all add this to the ever-growing list of incompetence from the FAI.
how Givens can announce this to the media without even talking to the man himself takes unprofessionalism to a brand new level.
And this is the man that is charged with finding our new manager....? :mad:

[Stuttgart88]

Richard Dunne's comments suggest he has retired alright, and also that more may follow.

The players seem pretty angry with the FAI.

[ifk101]

The expression on Richard Dunne's face said it all. Indeed none of the senior players appeared to be at all happy.

[NeilMcD]

:D which is relevant how?

Cause Weir came back and played under another manager i.e. Walter Smith, so if O Brien was annoyed and being messed about and getting the blame, well guess what we will have a new manager in soon and Staunton is gone.

So it is relevant cause there is precedent with another country

[Billsthoughts]

Cause Weir came back and played under another manager i.e. Walter Smith, so if O Brien was annoyed and being messed about and getting the blame, well guess what we will have a new manager in soon and Staunton is gone.

So it is relevant cause there is precedent with another country

Scotland isnt a country tho...

[boovidge]

yeah 'tis

[Billsthoughts]

no 'tisn't

[NeilMcD]

no 'tisn't

for the point of international football it is it has an international team and this is a football thread so your point might be more relevant in off topic.

[Billsthoughts]

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=847258&highlight=Scotland#post847258
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=846239&highlight=Scotland#post846239
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=824420&highlight=Scotland#post824420
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=808390&highlight=Scotland#post808390
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=797228&highlight=Scotland#post797228
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=796737&highlight=Scotland#post796737
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=784584&highlight=Scotland#post784584
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=779482&highlight=Scotland#post779482
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=773526&highlight=Scotland#post773526
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=773472&highlight=Scotland#post773472
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=757049&highlight=Scotland#post757049
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=706821&highlight=Scotland#post706821
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=687067&highlight=Scotland#post687067
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=653906&highlight=Scotland#post653906
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=601785&highlight=Scotland#post601785
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=559287&highlight=Scotland#post559287
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=546247&highlight=Scotland#post546247
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?p=475620&highlight=Scotland#post475620
Wannabee Scot?

[NeilMcD]

Yeah I think you are, you should go to shrink bill, I think you need to get over your stalking problem.

[Billsthoughts]

Yeah I think you are, you should go to shrink bill, I think you need to get over your stalking problem.
:)
Maybe its because I am such a keen fan of your posts that I noticed your unusual ability to get a Sctoland reff into any thread regardless of the topic.

[NeilMcD]

Yeah you need help Bill but anyway this does not have much to do with Andy O Brien.

[Stuttgart88]

Andrew is a Scottish name.

[Billsthoughts]

Its actually the Gaelicised version of the old Azerbaijani "Andzerzki"....

[John83]

Andrew is a Scottish name.
Robbie and Richard are Germanic and Damian is Greek.

28? For shame, Andy, you coward.

[elroy]

Andys playing well at the moment and arguably is first choice alongside Dunne. Hopefully he'll return when the new manager comes back. Retiring at 28 is a joke though.

[dr_peepee]

The timing raises questions? Has he heard something in terms of an appointment I wonder??

I can understand the bitterness, but lads, Don Givens and Delaney represent everything that wrong with the set up. Givens constantly overlooks form players at underage level in Garvan and McCann and now Morrison, gets involved in childish media rows with players like Ireland, Connolly, McCann, is so unproffesional that he announces a players retirement before he's even confirmed it with the player inquestion.. I could go on. And Delaney, with his persistent deflection of accountabililty and responsibility..

And we expect player to jepardise the club careers to carry these clowns for our sake... I'm sorry lads, but I wouldn't do it. These are the same dopes who up until a few years ago travelled first class and left the players in steerage.. The whole lot needs a shake up.

[brine3]

Nothing has changed.

[Torn-Ado]

They're retiring at 28 now. Only 2 more years to put up with Sheasie so;-)! Seriously I'll always remember Andy for giving Dudo Aouate a nosebleed. Much better comic value than Cyprus.

There was nothing funny that day.

[jmurphyc]

I only just found this out now. Has it actually been confirmed by a reputable news source? I can't seem to find anything other than the links posted on this thread. If so, it's a massive loss as he is IMO currently our second best centre back. I wonder whether there's more to it than this. Maybe he was told he wouldn't be playing against Brazil and got ****ed off at not being given a chance. Whatever the reason though, it doesn't excuse retiring at the age of 28. Other than McShane, who I don't feel is quite ready yet, we really don't have anyone anywhere near to international class that can take his place.

[cornerflag]

Givens has said today that he has not heard from Andy so has called Alex Bruce into the squad to replace him. Its a strange one

“I haven’t been able to make any contact with Andy O’Brien, so I’ve called in Alex Bruce and he’ll arrive in this afternoon,” said Givens.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2833

[bohsRap]

Givens has said today that he has not heard from Andy so has called Alex Bruce into the squad to replace him. Its a strange one

“I haven’t been able to make any contact with Andy O’Brien, so I’ve called in Alex Bruce and he’ll arrive in this afternoon,” said Givens.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2833

Saw that earlier and thought maybe he hadn't retired but hadn't bother making the trip either without any communication being made. Givens might of been ****ed off and so said "Yeh Andy's retired". If so some serious questions need to be answered by Givens!

[Morbo]

You would think that anyone with a shread of self respect would not want that Cyprus game to be their last game for Ireland, talk about going out with a whimper. This retiring from internationals is getting more and more ridiculous, 28 is just taking the ****, many if not most defenders peak after 28

[dr_peepee]

Dunne's comments after the ceremony kind of confirmed it though...

Strange timing. I'd love to know the thinking behind his retirement.. Is he attributing his good club form to not being involved in the international set up? If so is he forgetting his good international form whan he wasn't involved in the club set up? I dunno...

I still think the shambles from the top down in the asc is a factor.

[macdermesser]

Thanks again Stan for blooding a few centre halves during your disastrous two year tenure. Anyone care to remember squads with two centres halves and Alan O Brien.

[Carrigaline]

Thanks again Stan for blooding a few centre halves during your disastrous two year tenure. Anyone care to remember squads with two centres halves and Alan O Brien.
How is our lack of central defenders down to Stan? We're not exactly blessed in that department when you consider who we can call up.

Alex Bruce: Has done ok with Ipswich, probably our third choice behind Dunne and McShane.
Darren O'Dea: Too inexperienced to be thrust into international football. Let's see if he's challenging for a spot at Celtic next year first.
Alan Bennett: Has been in the horrors at Southampton, doesn't look good enough.
Joe O'Cearuill: Playing at too low a level to be considered.
Sean St Ledger: I've never seen him play, but he's rated by some, doesn't strike me with confidence that his team is third bottom in the Championship.Gary Breen is still doing the business for Wolves . . .

[Wangball]

Joe O'Cearuill: Playing at too low a level to be considered

He's not at Barnet anymore, he's moved to Pats now

Besides when has the level a player plies his trade at been an obstacle to gaining an international cap.....................Joe Lapira & Jonothan Douglas are testimony to that

[boovidge]

He's not at Barnet anymore, he's moved to Pats now


yeah precisely. Step down... ;)

[Stuttgart88]

By all acounts St.Leger has been playing really well, despite his team's position.

[NeilMcD]

John I Shea is a centre back too and would be ahead of Mc Shane in my view. Its Dunne and O Shea for me.

[shakermaker1982]

John I Shea is a centre back too and would be ahead of Mc Shane in my view. Its Dunne and O Shea for me.

who would you have at LB Neil? I'd have Kelly at RB and O'Shea at LB.

[NeilMcD]

Probably Joey O Brien at right back and Kelly at left back or Kilbane at left back.

[Murpholini]

The trouble with Andy O'Brien is he can't see past his nose:rolleyes:

[Diarmo]

Well I still hope that we can coax O'Brien to stay unretired....
However our options at CB are limited but we could survive.

John O'Shea
Paul McShane
Pat McCarthy
Alan Bennett
St. Ledger
Alex Bruce
Darren O'Dea

And of course Joey O'Brien can play there also... :D

Can Stephen Kelly?

[Stuttgart88]

Kelly (O'Brien is injured) - Dunne - O'Shea - Kilbane (and pray!)

[boovidge]

Without bothering to check, i'm pretty sure Marc Wilson can do a job as a CB on Footie Manager. Worth a shot? ;)

[MojoPin]

would ya look at this. mr givens was unable to get in contact with him so he called up Bruce

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0204/ireland.html

[Wangball]

It has to be O'Dea or St Ledger in the long term, Someone like Bennett or McCarthy would only be a stop gap, McShane is in the driving seat right now but really has to up his game

[tetsujin1979]

Kelly (O'Brien is injured) - Dunne - O'Shea - Kilbane (and pray!)


Probably Joey O Brien at right back and Kelly at left back or Kilbane at left back.

Kilbane played left back against Cyprus, right in front of where I was sitting, and he was foul. Granted, he's played there a bit more for Wigan since then but his positional sense was woeful, didn't know when to push up, deny space to the opposing right winger, and seemed to drift into the penalty area quite a bit.

[Carrigaline]

It has to be O'Dea or St Ledger in the long term,
The last thing O'Dea needs is to be put in the first team. If he plays poorly or makes a mistake, the hyenas in the Irish press will crucify him. Let him prove himself in the under 21's and establish himself as a first-teamer for Celtic.

[macdermesser]

How is our lack of central defenders down to Stan? We're not exactly blessed in that department when you consider who we can call up.

Alex Bruce: Has done ok with Ipswich, probably our third choice behind Dunne and McShane.
Darren O'Dea: Too inexperienced to be thrust into international football. Let's see if he's challenging for a spot at Celtic next year first.
Alan Bennett: Has been in the horrors at Southampton, doesn't look good enough.
Joe O'Cearuill: Playing at too low a level to be considered.
Sean St Ledger: I've never seen him play, but he's rated by some, doesn't strike me with confidence that his team is third bottom in the Championship.Gary Breen is still doing the business for Wolves . . .

By calling up more than three centre halves ... by giving some of these young lads a chance in games. He wasn't afraid to put Alan O Brien in at Stuttgart for reasons unknown to all. O'Dea should have been called up by Stan, inexperienced as he might be. Why call Dixon and Alan O Brien and leave out a young centre half where we are struggling for centre halves?

[the doc]

By all acounts St.Leger has been playing really well, despite his team's position.

Yes he has, been on top form all season, easily the player with the most potential compared to the likes of the limited McShane and the slow, Bruce.

Why Givens called up Bruce is beyond me, then again Givens has his own agenda and circle of friend and foes in Football.

If Bruce was thought that highly of, the how come the FAI, wanted to fly St Ledger out for the game in Boston, after Bruce's less than convincing game against Ecuador.

St Ledger had to return back to PNE after picking up an injury whilst training with the squad in Dublin, prior to the USA trip.

Having watched St Ledger, McShane and Bruce in many games over the past two seasons St ledger is by far the better player in terms of pace,reading the game, positioning, and all round footballing ability.

Something Given is unable to see judging from past managerial record at U19 and U21 level.

Another point, as St Ledger has not played in any games for the Republic is he still free to play for other countries if selected?

Could be a big loss if he continues to progress with many tipping him for a move to the Premiership, it would therefore be fool hardy not to play him in at least one of the games coming up.

[Dr. Ogba]

Kilbane played left back against Cyprus, right in front of where I was sitting, and he was foul. Granted, he's played there a bit more for Wigan since then but his positional sense was woeful, didn't know when to push up, deny space to the opposing right winger, and seemed to drift into the penalty area quite a bit.

yeah I've been saying this for a while now. anytime i've seen him playing left full he has constantly tucked inside so much so that he's practically been playing as a third centre half!
hate to say it but its time to leave killer out of the first xi now, he's been a great servant but there is just no place for him in our side now.
which means we're stuck with O'Shea at LB :eek: