Phil Babb

Phil Babb could yet make a late, late attempt to board the plane for Japan if reported interest from West Ham turns into something concrete over the next few weeks.

With just ten weeks to go before Mick McCarthy finalises his squad for the World Cup finals, Babb is unlikely to make a return despite a series of excellent performances for Sporting Lisbon.

But a switch to West Ham could be enough to tip McCarthy's hand and force him to at least have a look at Babb in action.

Babb has not been selected for an Irish squad since the now infamous Harcourt Street incident before Ireland's World Cup qualifying opener against Holland in September 2000.
from www.soccercentral.ie

typical mccarthy. you can be playing for a famous european team, guaranteed to be near the top of their league every season, but you don't get picked unless you move to a mid-table bunch of geriatric scrappers who are "better" because they play in england.

I agree Eanna, surely Sporting Lisbon are better than West Ham, even if they weren't its always good to have players who are used to playing a different style of football in a different country. Although this was on soccercentral which is an awful website in my opinion, it does seem typical of McCarthy alright. Even if Babb moved to the 1st division in England he'd probably have more of a chance of getting a game under McCarthy which is a shame.

plus mick is using a double standard seing that mark kennedy is now back in the fold for a long time , surely the man is gotta be considered ahead of john o shea a man with only a handful of first team games to his credit

do we really want phil babb in the squad? :rolleyes: