Keith Andrews

[Ireland4ever]

The young boy got himself a great move today. I think Ince has an eye for a player and this young boy should be banged into the squad asap..has a real physical presence that young boys like miller and whelan just dont have. Thats my opinion and im sticking to it.

[SkStu]

The young boy got himself a great move today. I think Ince has an eye for a player and this young boy should be banged into the squad asap..has a real physical presence that young boys like miller and whelan just dont have. Thats my opinion and im sticking to it.

he is 28 in 3 weeks time - hardly a young boy, hardly one for the future...

[Speakthetruth]

he is 28 in 3 weeks time - hardly a young boy, hardly one for the future...

Jays SkStu, you have little to be contributing if thats the way your going on! Relative to arguably our most consistant midfielder over the last 2 years, Lee Carsley, the lads a nipper!

Seen the chap play a couple of times in the MK stadium this time last year and the lad was head and shoulders above the rest of players on the park - Strong, mobile, good in the tackle and can have a pop as well.

Who knows better late than never in terms of making his Ireland debut!! Take him already over O'Shea or Miller in the middle of the field.

[SkStu]

Jays SkStu, you have little to be contributing if thats the way your going on! Relative to arguably our most consistant midfielder over the last 2 years, Lee Carsley, the lads a nipper!

Seen the chap play a couple of times in the MK stadium this time last year and the lad was head and shoulders above the rest of players on the park - Strong, mobile, good in the tackle and can have a pop as well.

Who knows better late than never in terms of making his Ireland debut!! Take him already over O'Shea or Miller in the middle of the field.

havent seen much of the guy at all and i trust your evaluation of him (Ciaran, not so much) but it was the young boy bit i was objecting to - hes not a young boy. A young boy is closer to 10, not pushing 28.

:p

[Speakthetruth]

havent seen much of the guy at all and i trust your evaluation of him (Ciaran, not so much) but it was the young boy bit i was objecting to - hes not a young boy. A young boy is closer to 10, not pushing 28.

:p

Ah yeah, no bother lad...this guy fits the bill for one half of a combative midfield duo that trap seems to favour..perhaps himself and reid could be the next combo we might try!

But yeah, I agree about your classification of what a "boy" is, but sure its all relative..Ireland4ever could be an old timer!

[Bohemian1890]

Throw him into the squad just because he moved from MK Dons to Blackburn:ohas not even played a game yet.Keith Fahey should be in a head of this loser.

[tetsujin1979]

It's a big move for the guy, but it's a long time since any player made that kind of jump, and was a success. Finnan played his way up the divisions, improving all the time, before moving to Liverpool. Just by comparison, Robbie Earnshaw failed to impress, and Bobby Zamora has been hit and miss despite both scoring all around them in the lower leagues.
I hope it works out for Andrews, I really do, but it really could have a negative outcome

[Speakthetruth]

Throw him into the squad just because he moved from MK Dons to Blackburn:ohas not even played a game yet.Keith Fahey should be in a head of this loser.

Good man, "Loser", sad Indictment that you cant wish a lad well after getting a move to the best league in the world...I'm an avid fan of the EL but if these guys are good enough, they will be picked...end of.

If the guy performs at the highest level, no doubt he will get his chance under Ince, then of course he deserves a place in a squad thats not awash with quality midfielders...

[Bohemian1890]

Good man, "Loser", sad Indictment that you cant wish a lad well after getting a move to the best league in the world...I'm an avid fan of the EL but if these guys are good enough, they will be picked...end of.

If the guy performs at the highest level, no doubt he will get his chance under Ince, then of course he deserves a place in a squad thats not awash with quality midfielders...


My point is the guy went from MK Dons to Blackburn and you have people saying he should be in the squad asap :confused:its like moving from Rovers to Bohs not everyone can handle that step up,If fahey went to derby he would be in the squad sad fact.

How often have you see Andrews and Fahey??

[Bohemian1890]

Good man, "Loser", sad Indictment that you cant wish a lad well after getting a move to the best league in the world...I'm an avid fan of the EL but if these guys are good enough, they will be picked...end of.

If the guy performs at the highest level, no doubt he will get his chance under Ince, then of course he deserves a place in a squad thats not awash with quality midfielders...

That is not true and you know it bet Dave Mooney will be playing for Ireland within six months

[newbie]

lads,

id put good money on it that Ireland4ever was being sarcastic with his original post...

[Speakthetruth]

[QUOTE=Bohemian1890;1009325]My point is the guy went from MK Dons to Blackburn and you have people saying he should be in the squad asap :confused:its like moving from Rovers to Bohs not everyone can handle that step up,If fahey went to derby he would be in the squad sad fact.

How often have you see Andrews and Fahey??[/QUOTE

Knew that was coming, I said earlier that I lived in London and took an avid interest in the guy as he was captaining an upcoming side in the capital whilst earning rave reviews...seen him live 6 or 7 times and impressed me. In terms of Fahey seen him god knows how many times back in the day as I' m down watching the saints week in week out...

Sean Scanell had v.few starts for palace last season and was called into a squad that arguably has wingers down as there forte (duff,murphy,hunt,mcgeady)...IMO, we are weakest in central midfield and this guy is an option if he gets his game.

[Speakthetruth]

That is not true and you know it bet Dave Mooney will be playing for Ireland within six months

just like Roy O'Donovan?

[Bohemian1890]

just like Roy O'Donovan?

No just like Kevin Doyle,Mooney went to the Championship O'Donovan went to EPL.And if O'Donovan had of being getting his game he would be in the squad.

[Bohemian1890]

[quote=Bohemian1890;1009325]My point is the guy went from MK Dons to Blackburn and you have people saying he should be in the squad asap :confused:its like moving from Rovers to Bohs not everyone can handle that step up,If fahey went to derby he would be in the squad sad fact.

How often have you see Andrews and Fahey??[/QUOTE

Knew that was coming, I said earlier that I lived in London and took an avid interest in the guy as he was captaining an upcoming side in the capital whilst earning rave reviews...seen him live 6 or 7 times and impressed me. In terms of Fahey seen him god knows how many times back in the day as I' m down watching the saints week in week out...

Sean Scanell had v.few starts for palace last season and was called into a squad that arguably has wingers down as there forte (duff,murphy,hunt,mcgeady)...IMO, we are weakest in central midfield and this guy is an option if he gets his game.

It took Fahey years to realise his potential and he can pass the he ball just as good as anyone in that squad and he plays centre mid:confused:

[Speakthetruth]

Kevin Doyle was banging them in through his first season, why wouldnt he be in the squad??? Playing a higher level of football, lets face it, and performing!

I infer that your suggesting any EL player who gets a move to the Championship ends up in the Ireland squad...Jason Byrne & George O'Callaghan are two prime examples of players who were regarded as the best in the EL went to the Championship and didnt get a cap during their time there...Oh wait, yeah they didnt get a game for their clubs either! Ironically Byrne received his 2 caps whilst playing for Shels!! And even then, they were of tokeneque ala Stephen Geogahan & Glen Crowe...

[Bohemian1890]

Kevin Doyle was banging them in through his first season, why wouldnt he be in the squad??? Playing a higher level of football, lets face it, and performing!

I infer that your suggesting any EL player who gets a move to the Championship ends up in the Ireland squad...Jason Byrne & George O'Callaghan are two prime examples of players who were regarded as the best in the EL went to the Championship and didnt get a cap during their time there...Oh wait, yeah they didnt get a game for their clubs either! Ironically Byrne received his 2 caps whilst playing for Shels!! And even then, they were of tokeneque ala Stephen Geogahan & Glen Crowe...


Byrne scored his debut and got injured after that O'Callaghan played a good few games.
Glen Crowe was the best irish player that night FACT didnt seem a step up for him:confused:and Fahey is playing European football step up from championship level.

As you didnt know that Fahey played centre mid you must have be lying saying you support pats real Oirish fan,Ole,Ole

[NeilMcD]

Lads will you settle down. He should not be in the squad just cause he made the move from MK Dons to Blackburn. However if he is a star in the Premiership then he should be in the squad. Also he is not a loser just cause he is in the squad.


Regarding Fahey I think he is class and should be in the squad at least for a friendly but he does have a habit of drifting out of games at times and he did it for a good while tonight in the 2nd half. I am a big fan of his though.

There are so many OTT comments in this thread so far from both sides.

[NeilMcD]

[quote=Speakthetruth;1009335]

It took Fahey years to realise his potential and he can pass the he ball just as good as anyone in that squad and he plays centre mid:confused:


He is not as good as Andy Reid and football is not all about passing the ball. Fahey goes missing at times and does not look for it at times when the going gets tough. Just like Gerrard does for Liverpool.

Just cause some people are using hyperbole about Andrews no need to respond with Hyperbole about Fahey. It does not do your argument or Faheys any good.

[Bohemian1890]

[quote=Bohemian1890;1009347]


He is not as good as Andy Reid and football is not all about passing the ball. Fahey goes missing at times and does not look for it at times when the going gets tough. Just like Gerrard does for Liverpool.

Just cause some people are using hyperbole about Andrews no need to respond with Hyperbole about Fahey. It does not do your argument or Faheys any good.

Well a lot of people seem to think Gerrard is word class.
I am hardly doing Fahey any harm as most of the people on here dont know who he is but they know he is crap:rolleyes:

[Supreme feet]

We'll find out soon enough if Andrews is good enough - the truth is; none of us know how good he can be, not even Ince or Andrews himself. Five or ten solid games in the Premiership would be enough to get him into the Irish squad - if he stays on the bench or fails to impress, then it's no disaster, we'll just have to wait for Gibson or Garvan to come good. No-one can deny that Andrews has a once-in-a-lifetime chance now, particularly given the position he plays in, to stake a claim for the Ireland squad. Could be the next Holland or Kinsella. Oh, and don't forget that Andy Townsend enjoyed a similarly rapid rise to prominence back in the day - from Weymouth to the old First Division!

Ince obviously sees something in him - why didn't he try to sign Garvan, O'Toole, Alan Quinn, Stephen Quinn, McPhail, McCann, Rowlands or any other competent lower-league midfielder? He obviously knows something that we don't.

As for Fahey, he's obviously a decent player, but seems to be more in the Hoolahan mould - tidy, good technique, but not big or muscular enough for the modern game at any elevated level. Probably still better than Miller though!

[The Legend]

exactly, everyone calm down and wait and see. I wouldnt be getting excited yet, but nor would I be knocking the lad down...

[Speakthetruth]

Byrne scored his debut and got injured after that O'Callaghan played a good few games.
Glen Crowe was the best irish player that night FACT didnt seem a step up for him:confused:and Fahey is playing European football step up from championship level.

As you didnt know that Fahey played centre mid you must have be lying saying you support pats real Oirish fan,Ole,Ole

when did I say Fahey didnt play midfield ya ham!...sad sign when you have to invent things to support an arguement.

Its well known Jones didnt rate Byrne when he got there, hence he cut his losses and let him go for free...Point is neither of them cut the mustard and i didnt see either in the squad..hence, my point if your GOOD enough, you Should be selected! The guys just didnt make the grade.

How come Crowe wasnt a regular then? Hardly, going to respond with your generic EL conspircy theories are ya?

[tetsujin1979]

All these "[x] should be called up" debates are trivial at this point. Trap is a real manager and he won't call up fring players to "give them a go." Don't be surprised if he doesn't give a 1st cap to a single player over the upcoming 2 year campaign, most international managers wouldn't.
He's already given Whelan, Delaney and Hoolahan their first caps, and with the number of players from the current U-21 setup who are overage for the next campaign, it's highly likely that one or more of them will make the step up to the senior team over the next 2 years.

[disabledrog]

its a massive step up for him ,he looks good and ince must think he can handle it but as for him to be called into the squad is a joke .you get called into the squad cause you deserve it not cause you signed for a premiership team

[NeilMcD]

All these "[x] should be called up" debates are trivial at this point. Trap is a real manager and he won't call up fring players to "give them a go." Don't be surprised if he doesn't give a 1st cap to a single player over the upcoming 2 year campaign, most international managers wouldn't.

Classic.

[jbyrne]

That is not true and you know it bet Dave Mooney will be playing for Ireland within six months


and if he is, it'll be because he will be fitter, better coached and used to playing at a higher level than he was

[elroy]

I like the look of Ince as manager and have changed my opinion of late, i dont think Blackburn will be the relegation material that i thought they would be. As for Andrews, Im not sure if he will make the starting 11 straight away but hopefully he'll be given his fair chance. A partnership with S Reid would do very nicely.

[boovidge]

It's always good to see more Irish players playing at the top level. If he proves himself then he should be in the squad.

[EalingGreen]

its a massive step up for him ,he looks good and ince must think he can handle it
I've no idea about Andrews and his ability to play Prem or international football.
But it's not entirely beyond possibility that Ince has signed him for reasons other than strictly footballing ones.
There are rumours of dissent in the Rovers dressing room, as often happens when a strong character like Ince takes over from an equally strong-willed, but popular, man like Hughes.
In such circumstances, the new manager often likes to get someone he trusts 100% into the Dressing Room, so he can find out what's really going on behind his back. (Brian Clough used to do it all the time, with players like O'Hare and Bowyer following him from club to club).
In which case, since Andrews won't have made much of a dent in his transfer and wages budget, it won't matter hugely to Ince whether he plays regularly or not.

Just a theory, mind.

[disabledrog]

and if he is, it'll be because he will be fitter, better coached and used to playing at a higher level than he waswhy is nobody on aboun noel hunt in dat case as he has played at a higher level dan mooney and has aquitted himslef v well at it

[Bohemian1890]

when did I say Fahey didnt play midfield ya ham!...sad sign when you have to invent things to support an arguement.

Its well known Jones didnt rate Byrne when he got there, hence he cut his losses and let him go for free...Point is neither of them cut the mustard and i didnt see either in the squad..hence, my point if your GOOD enough, you Should be selected! The guys just didnt make the grade.

How come Crowe wasnt a regular then? Hardly, going to respond with your generic EL conspircy theories are ya?


IMO, we are weakest in central midfield and this guy is an option if he gets his game. that is a quote from you.

[Bohemian1890]

and if he is, it'll be because he will be fitter, better coached and used to playing at a higher level than he was


How will he be fitter??Better coached you know this how??I take you know how Reading and Cork players are coached??Higher level how is that??

[jbyrne]

How will he be fitter??Better coached you know this how??I take you know how Reading and Cork players are coached??Higher level how is that??

if you think that the coaching, facilities, level of football etc at cork are on a par with reading you're in dreamland

[Bohemian1890]

if you think that the coaching, facilities, level of football etc at cork are on a par with reading you're in dreamland

If you know nothing about Cork or Reading coaching then dont talk about it.

[jbyrne]

If you know nothing about Cork or Reading coaching then dont talk about it.

likewise! but id say my assumptions are way closer to the truth than yours

[Bohemian1890]

likewise! but id say my assumptions are way closer to the truth than yours
I go on facts Mooney was full time like he will be at Reading,Stephen Ward went over scored a few goals and was tipped for player of the month all in his first month over there.

His fitness was fine and he said coaching was more or less the same.
I am going on that someone who has played European football and LOI football has said it and thats good enough for me.

[Paddy Garcia]

Throw him into the squad just because he moved from MK Dons to Blackburn:ohas not even played a game yet.Keith Fahey should be in a head of this loser.

I can't see how Andrews justifies the term loser being thrown at him. Most Irish fans will be pleased at his progress, whether or not he turns out to be a latter day Kinsella. But we live in hope - or some of us do.

You seem very angry. I also think resorting to the Ole Ole cliche against another poster on this forum is very strange indeed. Why are you cross & why do you think it is OK to call Andrews a loser?

[Karl Phillips]

All, i know a member of the Andrews family and i think he ( Keith ) may have told Don Givens the truth allegedly so I would not hold your breath waiting for him to play. He was youngest captain of Wolves and could not get a game he was in the premier before and could not get a game so why should he get one now

[Supreme feet]

All, i know a member of the Andrews family and i think he ( Keith ) may have told Don Givens the truth allegedly so I would not hold your breath waiting for him to play. He was youngest captain of Wolves and could not get a game he was in the premier before and could not get a game so why should he get one now

The 'truth'? :confused: Little bit ambiguous - could you elaborate?

Is it beyond the realms of possibility that a player could have improved between the ages of 23 and 27?! He came on for the second half today, which is encouraging.

[elroy]

I'd imagine its what the majority on his here think about DG and his position in the FAI. Give Andrews a few months, if he has broken into the starting eleven by then, he should be called up.

[irishultra]

The thing is to break into the first team he will need to displace Reid, who many consider one of our better players.

The problem is that the chances of him replacing Reid are high enough. I was reading that bbc 606 site, and they don't seem to share our love for Steven...to say the least.

Even if Andrews was to replace Reid, I would still want Reid in the starting 11.

[elroy]

Might not necessarily have to replace Reid, could partner him!! I cant remember who it was, but the guy that partnered Reid in midfield today was also a new signing so perhaps a place up for grabs there. If he stays injury free I can see Reid becoming a top player and is a potential future captain for both club and country.

[irishultra]

Definetly. I was quite shocked by the reaction I got when I made a thread about him after the Norway game. Although I have to say I don't really trust opinions on those sort of sites. An official forum would probably be a better place to get opinions.

He's too good for Blackburn. Love to see where he would have been had he stayed cleary injuries. Your right about that though, the other midfield place is probably up for grabs. Grella played there today.

[Razors left peg]

Definetly. I was quite shocked by the reaction I got when I made a thread about him after the Norway game. Although I have to say I don't really trust opinions on those sort of sites. An official forum would probably be a better place to get opinions.

He's too good for Blackburn. Love to see where he would have been had he stayed cleary injuries. Your right about that though, the other midfield place is probably up for grabs. Grella played there today.

Well it looked like at one stage ManU were gonna make a bid for him so if he had stayed injury free he could easily have ended up there or one of the other top 4 clubs

[drummerboy]

While Givens was head of youth coaching at Arsenal he tried to sign Keith Andrews. Andrews spurned the opportunity to join Wolves. Givens never forgave him and refused to pick Andrews for the U21 team despite the fact he was captaining the Wolves team.

[Karl Phillips]

While Givens was head of youth coaching at Arsenal he tried to sign Keith Andrews. Andrews spurned the opportunity to join Wolves. Givens never forgave him and refused to pick Andrews for the U21 team despite the fact he was captaining the Wolves team.

Correct, the same person who ended R Forans career at U 21 Level because Richie stayed out late, how has this man got so much power and what is his connection with J Delaney?????:confused:

[seanfhear]

There are so many stories about Don Givens that there must be something behind it.Do the powers that be think that Irish international football would collapse without this man.No one is indispensible and one of the first rules of management must be to get your best players in the squad.To lose 1/2/3/4 might be unlucky but Don must have lost a whole team over the years.
To counter my own argument perhaps the clubs are putting pressure on young players not to play for their countries due to the possibility of injury and wanting them to be in the best condition when playing for them.
I think that this must be the case when you see players that everyone believes should be in the squad ommitted or just maybe some of the players are not interested in playing under age football for their country.

[Ireland4ever]

See the boy got a good goal yesterday...Trap should be keeping an eye on this decent prospect.

[Supreme feet]

Praise for Andrews from Ince:


Paul Ince is backing Blackburn goal hero Keith Andrews to finally make the grade at the age of 28 - after dismissing accusations he signed the midfielder as "an old pals' act".

Ince first became aware of Andrews' qualities during the latter days of his playing career at Wolves and then worked with him when manager of MK Dons last season.

He always felt Andrews had the quality to play at the highest level and had no hesitation in taking him to Ewood Park in a £1.3million deal in August.

And Andrews went some way to repaying that faith with a late equaliser during Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Ince said: "I played with Keith at Wolves. He couldn't get in the side because I was playing but he is a fantastic player.

"He went through a bad time when he was 21, 22. I think he was misguided, misled. His attitude has always been spot on but he needed some guidance and I think, when I went to MK Dons, he got that.

"When I went there he was going to leave but I forced him to stay. By then he was really serious about his football and his talent is second to none for what we paid for him.

"It shows that you can go and buy quality players down the leagues. Keith is much better than that lower league anyway, hence why I brought him to Blackburn."

Ince added: "Some people tried to question it when I signed him for Blackburn. Some people were saying 'Is it an old pals' act?' after working with him before.

"It wasn't that. You've seen what a quality player he is. You saw that against Aston Villa in midweek when he was man of the match.

"Those midfield players who get forward and score goals, you don't get them 10 to a penny.

"He had a couple of chances against Villa, a couple of shots against West Brom and it was great for him to finally score because he was a fantastic player.

"He got 14 goals last season. I don't care what league it is, if you get 14 goals as a midfielder you've got a knack for doing that and he will score a lot more goals for Blackburn."

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4444674,00.html