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Pal of mine has been asked to write a article for a forthcoming Ireland programme for 3 prospective influential players...he's of Irish heritage but has only a passing interest in soccer and I struggled to come up with any credible names.
My best attempt was McCarthy finally being this great midfielder many believed him to be 4-5 years ago, Grealish (though playing in Eng.Div.3) and maybe Shane Duffy (though he just 'helped' Yeovil get relegated!)?
Any better suggestions...
Joey Lapira is still only 27. :p
In seriousness though, why is he writing a piece for a match programme if he has only a passing interest in football?
Journos write on lots of subjects they don't know much about...
:rolleyes:
He has a passing interest, but less knowledgeable than say people on here.
Jack Byrne, Ian Lawlor, Jeff Hendrick, Noe Baba, Jack Grealish, Tommy Hoban and Sean Murray are all players who might make an impact in 2016.
Looking at the last U21 squad: http://www.fai.ie/international/unde...ontenegro.html
you'd think that Duffy, Hoban, Grealish, McEvoy, and possibly Drennan and Egan have the best chance of making the step up to senior level and of course Hendrick already has
Sweeney has a chance, but he'd want to be making more regular appearances for Reading next season
Just on Duffy, he's been recognised as one of Yeovil's outstanding performers in a season where the odds were always going to be stacked against their survival. It would be unfair to say their relegation was aided by his presence; it was more in spite of his efforts.
Robbie Keane.
What about up-and-coming under-19 goalie, Richard Brush? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
James McClean. Silik Tikum? Tilikum? Silikum? What's a programme?
Well it's always good to have a sweeper at the back.
Selcuk Tidim.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
Here is an example of a programme:
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/23...e1d52f45a1.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_programme
Hendrick should be in.
Take your pick from Duffy, Hoban, O'Brien & Kiernan at the back.
Grealish being the potential eye catcher.
Honourable mentions for Murray, Mason, Brady at Hull still has to fully emerge after a season lost to injury largely.
Tets, wasn't Egan released last week ?
alex o hanlon perfect for rogers revolution at liverpool
I'd go with Hendrick, Duffy and Grealish. The first two have been in senior squads and there's been plenty clamour for a Grealish call-up (for varying reasons, granted). Hence, I'd hope that by 2016 they'll all be fairly influential.
Murray, Kiernan and Hoban have a tad more work to do. Hoban due to injury, Kiernan has only recently come into the frame at Wigan and Murray had a good season this year having blazed a trail the season before last but last season wasn't so hot for him.
If you were to luck at younger, less-established players at senior level then there's been a lot of talk about Cleary, O'Hanlon and McEvoy.
Mason and Ronan Murray have finished the season on strong goal-scoring streaks. Two confidence players it appears. Stick 'em in, it might help their progression!
Thanks for your suggestions...some more sensible than others.
What's the likelihood of the 3, Duffy, Grealish & Hendrick playing in the end-of-season tour?
The latter being subject to Derby's play-off bid...
I reckon Hendrick is nailed on. He was left with the under-21's last time a squad was named but he's finished the season strong and O'Neill didn't fancy leaving him as a sub for a friendly when he could have played the full whack of a competitive game.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Ignoring the obvious Derry links, Duffy has been immense for Yeovil and the likes of Richard Dunne and John O'Shea are of the age where I'm sure their bodies are crying out for post-season rest.
Grealish is an interesting one on many levels and opinion is split on the likelihood of him going. I feel League One is that level below the level where we've traditionally selected internationals from. I know he's ripped it up there at times but it's difficult to justify calling him up as being for a reason other than taking steps to cementing him in the Ireland set-up.
I'd guess 2/3. Different circumstances but the last Ireland squad to tour in America was oh so inclusive for so many players who have since failed to progress at both club and country.
Agreed. Damien Delaney is a relative 'newbie' who must be in the frame too...
No thoughts on DD? Or he unworthy of the label of one to 'watch' given his advanced vintage...
I think he is a fairly agricultural defender at the wrong end of what is a rough & tumble division outside the top handful, whatever Sky would have you think. He is making the most of what he has, fair play and all luck to him, I admire enormously the way he has rebuilt his career. I hope he eek's out another season or two there but that's all he is likely to do. In terms of international options blossoming he is more of an example of the paucity rather than the bounty of options we have in that CB position presently.
Maybe I am being picky but I was raised on an Ireland that could play Paul McGrath in midfield and ignore David O'Leary entirely for stretches so well stocked were we.
I think you're damning Delaney with faint praise a bit there. Much the same could be said of Richard Dunne - in fact Delaney would be a more cultured player in my estimation. Bear in mind too that Charlton's main reason for playing McGrath in midfield was because he didn't think our midfielders were good enough.
I don't agree there. I can't see how you will credibly compare those two, but am all ears.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
A rough and tumble defender plowing the lower reaches of the Premier League. I wasn't comparing the two, I was saying the description was apt for both.Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
11th is mid-table. They could technically even finish in the top-half. Only 6 teams have a better goal difference; 3 by any significant margin.Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
I think he deserves a bit more credit. He hasn't ever looked out of place at this level. He has been solid for Ireland too.
Chris Forrester? I think he has the potential to play for his country at full international level.
Hear good reports, but realistically are MO'N et al going to pick an EL player directly into the full squad?
No, O'Neill has more or less stated as much. In truth, he needs more physical development and arguably a higher standard to play at.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
True, but the OP referred to "prospective influential players".Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Forrester has the potential to move on to a much higher level I think.
Fair point, but is Forrester realistically likely to break through?
My hunch is he will make the lower two divisions in England say, which is a higher standard, but unlikely to make an international impact?
Have you ever seen him play?
He has a chance, I mean take a look at the squad in the neighbouring thread today, and see how many of our present lads began their football education in LOI. A significant proportion, presently. And some of them key players also.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Who, me? A few times, mostly in Europe with Pats as I don't actually support Pats. Also, pretty sure I saw him play for Bohs in a European tie. He's very light but has a lot of "potential" (there I am, back to that word again!)Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Sorry, no, I was talking AB.
Yeah, on a few highlights programmes, what eitoof said.
Take the point about LOI, but skill is usually not enough these days. He doesn't look strong enough though, maybe he can put fill out a bit and have a more athletic build...
Bulking up would be a given for any player going to a pro set-up.
I'll bite.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
No it isn't.
What isn't...
This, I'd imagine.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
I'd also like to butt in at this point and simply say...wise up.
If we are going to compare standards against those on the mainland, the LOI is most comparable in standard to the Scottish Championship imo.
In my very honest opinion, outside of Celtic, there's no club in the SPL who would realistically walk away with the League of Ireland Premier Division.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
Most of the Premier clubs here are comparable to the top of half of League One, with the exception of maybe Dundalk and St Pat's, who would be lower Championship standard sides over the course of a full season. Nobody is under any illusions within the League of Ireland that the standard is anything overly amazing, but when people completely disregard it, and say it's a lot worse than it is, that grinds some collective gears.