Paddy Kenny

[NeilMcD]

From the Irish Times. (No link as its a subscription website)
Time to stop blaming Kenny for other players' shortcomings

EMMET MALONE ON SOCCER: Paddy Kenny got a raw deal under Steve Staunton and, with the lack of any real quality to back up Shay Given, deserves another chance in the new set-up

WITH LIAM BRADY having declined to provide even the most rudimentary of assessments to the media of Georgia on the night they played in Belfast lest he encroach on Giovanni Trapattoni's territory, it's not entirely clear what we might learn at this afternoon's press conference out at Abbotstown.

Both Brady and Marco Tardelli are due to attend but it seems likely we will have to wait for the manager himself to touch down in early May before we are provided with any sense of how the squad-evaluation process is shaping up under the two assistants.

That the pair will be in Dublin just after lunchtime suggests neither will be in Sheffield this evening for the 120th Steel City derby.

The two men could probably do without a midweek trip to Bramall Lane but there seems little question they will have to have run the rule over the home side's goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny, once or twice before Trap arrives in town.

Providing back-up to Shay Given has not always looked the most enticing of roles for an established goalkeeper.

Dean Kiely tired of the job having observed that his one-liner about being ready to do a job in midfield for Mick McCarthy was the only contribution to Ireland's campaign in Japan and South Korea for which he would be remembered.

Things weren't helped, it seems, by the fact that Given, who was almost always fit in those days, didn't particularly appreciate being rested for friendly games, and it was hard to blame Kiely when he eventually decided enough was enough.

As it happened, the form shown by Kenny around the same time softened the blow somewhat and his first few appearances, mainly as a substitute and always in friendlies, went well enough.

By 2006, though, Given's fitness could no longer be taken for granted and Kenny's two appearances that year were in the games against the Netherlands and Cyprus in which, remarkably, he conceded a total of nine goals.

In truth, though the then 28-year-old did not play well in either game, neither did he do a huge amount wrong.

His lack of conviction when coming for a cross 10 minutes into the Nicosia game pretty much handed Alexandros Garpozis the goal that gave the Cypriots a 2-1 lead, but otherwise his performances were not characterised by actual mistakes, merely by the repeated failure to avail of the opportunity to make good saves.

And with defensive mayhem reigning just in front of him on both occasions it seemed harsh to single Kenny out for blame, but that's more or less what Steve Staunton appeared to do. Kenny, Clinton Morrison and Andy O'Brien carried the can for the 5-2 defeat - none of the three has played for the Republic since - when the reality is that poor team selections and tactics, indecision in the dugout and the poor performances of countless other players all contributed to two of the most embarrassing defeats in the team's history.

Kenny could easily have been forgiven if his confidence had been shattered by the experience, but a week after the 5-2 international drubbing he played for United at Anfield and made a couple of really fine saves in a 1-1 draw - the home side's goal coming from a Robbie Fowler penalty after Chris Morgan was reckoned to have brought down Steven Gerrard.

Around this time Kenny's personal life was also imploding, his wife of two years, Karen, leaving him for one of his best friends before the admission by another friend, while on a drunken night out in Halifax, that he too had had a relationship with her led to a brawl in which the footballer had most of one eyebrow bitten off.

His hurt and humiliation must have been compounded on a weekly basis by the chants of opposing fans who persistently needled him about his wife's infidelities. But Kenny soldiered on, generally playing well and keeping nearly a dozen clean sheets as United went narrowly and controversially down.

This year he has continued in much the same vein. United are firmly planted in mid-table but the cause of the team's failure to mount a serious challenge for an immediate return to the top flight is at the other end of the pitch.

Only one side in the division has conceded fewer goals but only three have scored fewer, leaving manager Kevin Blackwell in little doubt as to the value of his goalkeeper's contribution.

"Since I've been at the club he's been outstanding," he says. "He has all the equipment needed to be a quality goalkeeper. He's got good feet, terrific hands, he's a great shot stopper and he possesses bundles of confidence.

"He's very proud of his Irish roots but I don't think anybody would argue about Shay's status as top man for Ireland. For me, though, Paddy's been the best goalkeeper in the Championship this year by a mile and I would have thought that merited a place in the squad."

Staunton thought otherwise, with Wayne Henderson handed the job of covering for Given after Cyprus while Nicky Colgan, Colin Doyle and Joe Murphy all moved above the former Whitby Town and Bury man in the pecking order.

Henderson had done all right in the circumstances but prior to picking up a back injury that effectively ended his season in August, his lack of height probably cost Ireland a goal against the Czechs four days after Nicosia, while his lack of experience helped San Marino come close to achieving a draw against the Republic in February 2007.

Doyle, meanwhile, has paid for a couple of poor early-season performances in the Premier League with Birmingham City while Colgan, now at Ipswich Town, has seen little action in the past couple of seasons and Murphy looks set to be playing in League One with Scunthorpe next season.

His occasional mishaps, such as the one against Middlesbrough in the cup back in February, remind us that Kenny is certainly human, but he deserves better than to keep paying a disproportionate price for the collective shortcomings displayed by the Irish more than a year and a half ago.

[Sligo Hornet]

I also think he has been playing well enough to be given a second chance......just hope he is more alert ( and lucky ) the next time he appears for The Boys in Green;)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NG9y64khZG8&feature=related

[Dr. Ogba]

Well we've noone else at the moment so I'd be happy to see him back

[Kingdom]

Thanks be to God a journalist ( and no surprise which one) has written a fair and balanced article about Paddy Kenny. He is the only established keeper we have plying his trade at a high level as an alternative to Shay and he merits being considered our 2nd choice.

[jmurphyc]

It's good to see him get some deserved praise. He was poor against Holland and Cyprus but he was unfairly targeted as one of the fall guys when there are people who seemingly took none of the blame and were a lot worse than him. For all his faults he's still by far our second best keeper from what I've seen.

[carloz]

Along with Andy O'Brien he was treated appalingly after the Cyprus debacle by that excuse of a manager we had. Both deserved better. Simply put we were ba from 1 to 11 that night but those 2 were made scapegoats. Welcome back Paddy

[shakermaker1982]

Didn't he pull out of squads because of 'marriage/personal problems'? He was ok to keep on playing for his club but not turn up for international duty (same as S Ireland at Man City)? I thought that was why Stan banished him?

[Kingdom]

I think you'll find Stan banished him and alluded to those problems before it all became public.

[Razors left peg]

I know we dont have alot of options there so its good that hes in the squad, but he is not a viable long term option in my opinion. Yes he did get a raw deal under Staunton when the likes of Colgan were in the squad ahead of him but I really dont think he is a very good keeper. His biggest problem from what I have seen of him is his comunication, or lack there of. He doesnt seem to ever organise the defense in front of him(or never when he has played for us anyway).
He was in goal for our hammering by Holland in that friendly too and even though it was a terrible team performance I thought that night that the communication between goalkeeper and defense was shocking and I thought the same in the Cyprus game. Yes he was exposed by the tactics in that game and he shouldnt have been made a scapegoat but his performance in Nicossia was apalling

[Drumcondra 69er]

I know we dont have alot of options there so its good that hes in the squad, but he is not a viable long term option in my opinion. Yes he did get a raw deal under Staunton when the likes of Colgan were in the squad ahead of him but I really dont think he is a very good keeper. His biggest problem from what I have seen of him is his comunication, or lack there of. He doesnt seem to ever organise the defense in front of him(or never when he has played for us anyway).
He was in goal for our hammering by Holland in that friendly too and even though it was a terrible team performance I thought that night that the communication between goalkeeper and defense was shocking and I thought the same in the Cyprus game. Yes he was exposed by the tactics in that game and he shouldnt have been made a scapegoat but his performance in Nicossia was apalling

I disagree, he's been outstanding for Sheffield United (did well in the EPL lat year in a poor side) over the years and much as he was poor against Cyrpus I wouldn't be close to blaming him for all teh golas that night, the whole team were poison. He's a decent number 2 to have and with Murphy's career stalling at Birmingham definitely our best back up option.

[Kingdom]

I disagree, he's been outstanding for Sheffield United (did well in the EPL lat year in a poor side) over the years and much as he was poor against Cyrpus I wouldn't be close to blaming him for all teh golas that night, the whole team were poison. He's a decent number 2 to have and with Murphy's career stalling at Birmingham definitely our best back up option.

Its Colin Doyle's career thats stalling while Joe Murphys is going through the trap door with the Irons.

Also, he wasn't a complete flop against Cyprus, he made some great saves in that game, he really did. He made a blunder on the cross thats about it.

[neville neville]

Didn't he pull out of squads because of 'marriage/personal problems'? He was ok to keep on playing for his club but not turn up for international duty (same as S Ireland at Man City)? I thought that was why Stan banished him?

thats what i heard from a good source

faked an injury to miss the Czech game

[HolylandsMan]

He's a decent keeper and there should be a clean slate for everybody under Trap. Not in Given' league really and I hope that by the time Shay goes, we have a better keeper than Kenny coming though but on current form he deserves to be first choice. Pity Doyle hasnt progressed this season as we might have hoped.

[geysir]

Kenny looked a bit too eager and nervy when playing for us.
I don't know if it would make much difference but I'd use him for most of the 2 friendlies.
And put Shay's collection on temporary hold.

[geysir]

Shay looks to be out for the rest of the season (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/04/15/manual_145737.html).
Good news then For Paddy Kenny, he should get plenty of game time in the next 2 friendlies.

[Serb]

Looks like Paddy Kenny is facing a minimum ban of 6 months having failed a drugs test (possibly from some over-the-counter medicine). More details here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/07/paddy-kenny-drugs-test

[Colbert Report]

See you later Paddy Kenny. Thanks for coming out. You're a millionaire football player, is it that hard to watch what drugs you put into your body?

[drummerboy]

He has never struck me as the brightest of individuals but I wouldn't condemn him as a cheat just yet. It seems it was an OTC medicine which contained some banned substances. Lets wait and see what happens.

[irishfan86]

Obviously it's important that you be aware of all banned substances as a professional athlete, but mistakes do happen.

If it was a genuine mistake on his part, hopefully he just gets a warning and maybe a fine.

[OwlsFan]

Paddy isn't a bad keeper. He's not international standard but then neither is any of our second choices. He's also good at picking the ball out of the net in Sheffield derbies ;)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/02/07/article-0-03547BD2000005DC-809_468x320.jpg

Probably banned because he was taking a hair growth restorer!

[Stuttgart88]

or diet pills.

I think that Westwood is a really good addition to our set up.

[eirebhoy]

"Ephedrine is believed to be present in a cough mixture that the Republic of Ireland star bought over the counter"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/8137680.stm

[Serb]

The quote from Neil Warnock on that BBC article is priceless:

"He's a smashing lad but can be a bit daft and because of that he can get himself into situations and unfortunately this could be the biggest of the lot."

[John83]

"Ephedrine is believed to be present in a cough mixture that the Republic of Ireland star bought over the counter"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/8137680.stm
That quote is a little selective.

"'It's going to come down to whether the science backs up Kenny's claim that this was nothing more sinister than a bit of cough medicine,' said Farquhar.

'The labs will be able to tell if this ephedrine has come from an over-the-counter remedy and whether the amount of it in his system tallies with his account of how much he says he's taken.'"

[tricky_colour]

There will be a few raised eyerows in the dressing rooom.

[dr_peepee]

I'd say Blackwell chew'd the face off him...

[philliyk]

I'd say Blackwell chew'd the face off him...

:D:D

He has no excuse & neither does the club's medical team if they allowed him to take it. He deserves the full punishment for being so thick & the club should just write him off for the loser he is(as i blade fan he's been crap for at least 3 years now & as owlsfan said his biggest acheivement in recent years has been to pick the ball out of our net in derby match's). Cue the calls for preston to sue us!!!!

Makes you glad Trap seen better than to pick him for the Bulgaria match incase FIFA came down hard on us for his mistakes:eek:

[Manblue]

:D:D

He has no excuse & neither does the club's medical team if they allowed him to take it. He deserves the full punishment for being so thick & the club should just write him off for the loser he is(as i blade fan he's been crap for at least 3 years now & as owlsfan said his biggest acheivement in recent years has been to pick the ball out of our net in derby match's). Cue the calls for preston to sue us!!!!

Makes you glad Trap seen better than to pick him for the Bulgaria match incase FIFA came down hard on us for his mistakes:eek:

Players have minds of there own and the majority would not consult the club doc for an otc remedy, similarly if he was taking it to better performance or for whatever reason he wudnt of brought it to their attention so i would not blame the medical staff.

Why would fifa come down on us? would this be a precedent?

[Scram]

He does seem to be a bit of a gobsh!te.

[Razors left peg]

I have absolutely no sympathy for any footballer getting caught for doping even if its for something as stupid as cough medicine. All they have to do when they get a cold or a chest infection is talk to the club doc to find out what medicine is availible to them with running the risk of failing a dope test.Its not complecated and doesnt take much brain power.They are athletes and its part of their job to look after their bodies as best they can and they they get all the help they need from their clubs so there is no excuse for doing something as stupid as Kenny is claiming he did

[irishfan86]

I have absolutely no sympathy for any footballer getting caught for doping even if its for something as stupid as cough medicine. All they have to do when they get a cold or a chest infection is talk to the club doc to find out what medicine is availible to them with running the risk of failing a dope test.Its not complecated and doesnt take much brain power.They are athletes and its part of their job to look after their bodies as best they can and they they get all the help they need from their clubs so there is no excuse for doing something as stupid as Kenny is claiming he did

Whose to say he didn't consult with a team doctor?

[Razors left peg]

Whose to say he didn't consult with a team doctor?

if he did and the doc gave the go ahead then of course Kenny isnt at fault.... but do u really think he did, considering he has been suspended by his club now

[irishfan86]

if he did and the doc gave the go ahead then of course Kenny isnt at fault.... but do u really think he did, considering he has been suspended by his club now

Fair enough.

[philliyk]

Players have minds of there own and the majority would not consult the club doc for an otc remedy, similarly if he was taking it to better performance or for whatever reason he wudnt of brought it to their attention so i would not blame the medical staff.

Why would fifa come down on us? would this be a precedent?

To answer your fifa question it appears that Preston have been having talks with the FA to see where they stand over the play-off match from which he was caught & thus i was only highlighting if he had played there may have been repurcutions but he didn't & there wasn't so need to continue that particular ill-thought topic!!

You say players have minds of their own but could you see a player from Madrid, Manchester or even Macclesfield risking their career to self medicate when we all know the pitfalls of professional athletes taking over the counter medicine as many top class athletes had tested positive for drugs all related to medicine & been banned for doing so. I would like to think that all professional players have this brought to their attention regularly.

[Ghost2hammers]

Anyone know if it was an over the counter medicine he took by accident?

[Superhoops]

Anyone know if it was an over the counter medicine he took by accident?
According to BBC Sheffield:

Kenny tested positive for a banned substance, ephedrine, following last season's Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Preston.

Ephedrine is believed to be present in a cough mixture that the Republic of Ireland player bought over the counter, BBC Radio Sheffield understands.

[John83]

The cough medicine story is something Kenny himself has claimed. It should be taken with a pinch of a non-controlled substance.

[Manblue]

To answer your fifa question it appears that Preston have been having talks with the FA to see where they stand over the play-off match from which he was caught & thus i was only highlighting if he had played there may have been repurcutions but he didn't & there wasn't so need to continue that particular ill-thought topic!!

You say players have minds of their own but could you see a player from Madrid, Manchester or even Macclesfield risking their career to self medicate when we all know the pitfalls of professional athletes taking over the counter medicine as many top class athletes had tested positive for drugs all related to medicine & been banned for doing so. I would like to think that all professional players have this brought to their attention regularly.

Rio Ferdinand maybe

[Noelys Guitar]

Makes two good saves then charges out allowing Long a clear shot at goal (from a poor angle). Also lucky not to give away a peno as Long stayed on his feet while being held. Long is still carrying a hip injury and has grimaced a few times while running around. Might well be a doubt for the Wales game.

[Yard of Pace]

Makes two good saves then charges out allowing Long a clear shot at goal (from a poor angle). Also lucky not to give away a peno as Long stayed on his feet while being held. Long is still carrying a hip injury and has grimaced a few times while running around. Might well be a doubt for the Wales game.

That chested pass by Long was superb. Great save from Kenny too. Terrible allowing Long in afterwards though for that chance!

[Noelys Guitar]

Long showing some nice turns of speed but the game itself is truely awful standard. Reading keeper has yet to make a save. and just as I type that QPR score!

[Deckydee]

Another world class save by Paddy again tonight for us agains Derby.

Why anyone else is ahead of him for Ireland is baffling

[ChrisRed]

24 clean sheets in 42 games is some record, the way things are going he will be the only Irish keeper playing consistently in the Premier League.

[BonnieShels]

Another world class save by Paddy again tonight for us agains Derby.

Why anyone else is ahead of him for Ireland is baffling

Quote the Raven, Cyprus and Drug tests.

[Charlie Darwin]

Kenny asked not (http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/given-back-in-time-for-macedonia-qualifier-152816.html) to be considered for international duty:


Kelly, now a vital member of Trapattoni’s backroom team, also revealed that Kenny, on the verge of promotion to the Premier League with QPR, asked not to be considered for an international return at the start of the season.

[geysir]

Sounds like they had a very short conversation or Kelly does not want to reveal what transpired.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Tets posted something along those lines pre-Macedonia, but the post got ignored because it suited people to do so.

[EastTerracer]

There is a similar piece in the Oirish Daily Mail but there is no link so full text below:


April 28 (Daily Mail) -- THE puzzle of Paddy Kenny's absence from the Republic of Ireland squad was finally resolved yesterday -- the in-form QPR goalkeeper is unavailable for selection. According to Alan Kelly, the Irish goalkeeping coach, Kenny -- who completed a nine-month ban from football a year ago -- asked not to be considered for international duty at the start of the season.
Since then, Kenny has kept 23 clean sheets in 44 Championship games to help propel QPR to the brink of a Premier League return, sparking calls for an international return after a five-year gap.
But Kelly, like Kenny a former Sheffield United stalwart, yesterday shed a revealing light on Kenny's continued absence.
'We had a private conversation at the beginning of the season where he said he didn't want to be considered,' said Kelly.
'As far as I'm aware, he is still unavailable. I've not had a text from him to make himself available, so you'll have to ask him, it's not my question,' he added.
Asked would Kenny, 32, be selected if he changed his mind, Kelly smiled and said that was a hypothetical question. Kelly gave an upbeat progress report on the fitness of Shay Given, whom he expects to be on the bench for Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 14.
'Shay is doing very well. I got a message from him the other day that he is back in full training. He's pushing the envelope and hopes to be fit for our games in May. I'll be very surprised if he's not on the bench for the FA Cup final,' he said.
Given, who had a shoulder operation three months ago after injuring himself in the warm-up for a Europa League tie in Greece, is expected to leave City at the end of the season.
'Shay is probably looking to go, and he will tell you that himself. Looking for first-team football is easier said than done, especially when goalkeepers are under contract,' said Kelly, who feels the crop of Irish goalkeepers is particularly strong.
'Keiren Westwood is out of contract, Joe Murphy too and right now we have a good stable of goalkeepers.
'The two lads who came in for last month's games, Darren Randolph, who is playing in the Scottish Cup final, and David Forde, I can't say how well they did.
'Brian Murphy is back from a broken leg, Colin Doyle played last week for Birmingham. We probably have eight or nine good keepers now,' he said. Even so, they may not quite be at the same level as Schalke's Manuel Neuer, whom Kelly watched approvingly against Manchester United in Tuesday night's Champions League tie. 'If he was auditioning for a move to Manchester United then I think he would have sealed it. He was absolutely fantastic,' purred Kelly. 'He really came to the fore in last year's World Cup.
'If it was me [managing United] then I would go after someone like him.'
Alan Kelly was speaking at the launch of the ninth annual Docklands Festival of Football. It continues until tomorrow and is open to 8-13-year-olds from the Dublin Docklands area.

Copyright (c) Associated Newspapers Ltd. 2011

[geysir]

That's fair enough, Kelly says they had a private conversation. It's Givens who has the abrupt conversations.

[DannyInvincible]

That's fair enough, Kelly says they had a private conversation.

Not so private now though.