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But what about Brazil, Argentina, USA whose best players all play in Europe? They all qualified easily enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
As I've said before, Ronnie should be given a look. But it wont happen because football doesnt exist outside of Europe according to most people in Ireland/Eurosnobs.
Granted it is not a great league but still produces some good players. But discounting it completely is a very blind approach. And Ronnie is probably in the top 20 players.
are they mutually exclusive? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
USA got to the quarter finals with a team of mostly MLS players 4 years ago so it cant be all that bad
I watch a bit of MLS and while it is not a top league, Metrostars evaluation of it seems to be fairly accurate.
There are great talents to be found there, but its main problem lies in the fact that there isn't a big market for home-grown soccer/football in North America. A lot of North Americans will watch a game between European sides from time to time, but they have little to no interest in football involving primarily American born players.
I'd rate the league as somewhere between mid-championship to mid-league 1 standard.
Never has a player with so little talent got so much publicity
This fella could teach David Beckham a thing or two
if we hadnt voted him time man of the century, would this thread exist?Quote:
Originally Posted by hoops1
Nail on the head there Metro, you are correct. Eircom players have more chance of a cap. If O'Brien was any good he wouldn't have 'retired' to the MLS.Quote:
Originally Posted by Metrostars
As you say in the Big Apple - ENOUGH ALREADY.
I was in the US a while ago and saw the Metrostars. Not a great game. Then I went to California to see the Earthquakes and it was the most exciting game I've seen in years. Their passing that day was better than half of the teams in the Premiership, and their athleticism was fantastic. They're not aftaid to shoot from outside the box, either.
It'd be interesting to see some MLS teams upagainst eircom League teams.
I saw an U10s match yesterday, Kevins v Shels, their passing was excellent and their athleticism was fantastic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shimokita
rovers toured the us about 12 years ago, dished out some serious hidings....Quote:
Originally Posted by Shimokita
ahh sure theres no point going then so! boot could well be on the other foot this time one may assume...Quote:
Originally Posted by Roverstillidie
Read an article about him in the Sunday Times a few years back. It was basically singing his praises but stated that he was never going to be selected for Ireland while Kerr was in charge. I'm not 100% sure but I've a feeling that the article mentioned an incident that happened between him and Kerr while he was manager of the youth teams. Is that correct?
eL reject ?
as far as i know he was at middlesborough for a few years, they released him and he signed for juventus for 2seasons. i dont think he is a reject of the eircom league however.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roo69
Yeah i was thinking that, i know Ronnie from schoolboy football, a year below me at the same club and had a feeling he never played in the eL. I know Bray tried to sign him on loan a few seasons ago in the MLS off-season but he got injured. Was released by boro, went to juve then on loan to a few lower leage italian clubs and a swiss club as well. Played in a champions league qualifer for Juve with del perio up front if im not mistaken.Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
He also went on loan to Dundee United a few years ago and barely got a game from what I can recall which doesn't inspire confidence in him. Footballers thrive on confidence though so if he's been doing well I don't see the harm in having a look at him, he could be a different player by now.
if mark hughes hadn't came along at blackburn we could also be saying, stephen reid...he was at blackburn a couple of years ago but hardly played a game and was useless. its true players can change.Quote:
Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse
Today, it doesnt really matter what he did at Juve, Boro, Dundee United etc. That's a few years ago. How is he doing now does matter.
I've watched him play in MLS the last few years and he has done really well. I would include him for a friendly to see what he has got.
Ronnie O'Brien makes the MLS All-Stars squad to play Chelsea at the weekend. Didn't Celtic play a MLS All-Stars selection recently? I don't think O'Brien featured in that.
Metrostars - any comment on the strength of this All-Stars selection? My boss, a US soccer enthusiast, reckons that in general the MLS All-Stars would be better than the US national side.
If O'Brien can get in the best in US selection, then surely he can get in the best 23 of the Irish selection? At least he has to be given a chance. You'd hope that Stan or someone will look at a tape of this game at least. The squad also includes a Richard Mulrooney who I hadn't heard of previously but a quick google search shows he has 14 US caps. A defensive midfielder apparently.
MLS All Stars - Complete Roster:
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Joe Cannon (Colorado Rapids)
Coach: Defenders: Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Josh Gros (D.C. United)
Midfielders: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Christian Gomez (D.C. United), Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo), Freddy Adu (D.C. United), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Ronnie O'Brien (FC Dallas), Richard Mulrooney (FC Dallas) Forwards: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire), Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United)
Coach: Peter Nowak (D.C. United)