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Agree totally on McGeady and Gibson. Gibson, bar maybe a fit and spritely Jack Byrne, is still our most gifted traditional central midfielder. I'm not saying they should be starting but they shouldn't be automatically discarded either. Byrne is another who could forge a comeback yet. I've always had a soft spot for Gibson it has to be said.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yard of Pace
I'd say so, MMcC's press conference featured heavily dual lads being entitled and welcome to play, and how he would be assessing all possible options for his first squad. It was no accidental message.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
I was happy to hear that. We need to get the best squad of players available to us as we possibly can and if that means recruiting a number of English born players then so be it.Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Add Patrick Hoban to the list as well, certainly on a par with some of the others, and knows where the goal is.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
The likes of Duffy and McEleney arguably should be included too.
Tom Field has virtually disappeared since bursting on to the scene a couple of years back. Still only 21 though.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
Hoban has what, 7 goals in 65 League 2 appearances, and 0 in 10 in the Conference.Quote:
Originally Posted by EAFC_rdfl
He is banging the goals in at LOI level, but you can't say he is on a par with somebody like Jutkiewicz, who has more than 60 championship goals to his name, and who scored 10 goals in 18 games for Birmingham last season.
Now, Hoban may be a much improved player these days than he was then, but the calibre of opposition player that they have proven themselves equal to (or better than) can't even be compared.
I know its not a popular stance, but if we look at the recent stars of the LOI who made a move to England its not good:Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Richie Towel over all disappointing, but is in a better place now to be fair
Daryl Horgan failed at Championship level
Andy Boyle never took off at all
Graham Burke looks like it hasn't worked
Seani Maguire the jury is still out ( injury hasn't helped)
I agree with osarusan & diggs. There is no way is Hoban good enough and the LOI is not a good standard in general. Player of the month for October Paddy McEleney, while a good player in the LOI, only very recently failed to make the grade at Oldham. That's not the standard required for the national team.
Particularly when we don't have so much as a friendly game to test their credentials.
I realize there are no friendlies scheduled at the moment -- is there any opportunity in the international calendar to get in a match or two before the Euro qualifiers begin? I would hope we can have at least one camp and a match or ideally two for Mick to at least establish some basics with the group.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
It would appear not. The point about our next game being a qualifier has been made repeatedly in press conferences and interviews. McCarthy said he's hoping for a favourable opening fixture.Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
I was wondering at the weekend whether Mick might try and have a B international? Clubs would never approve that sort of game though (those days are gone) so looks like the only time he will get to see them up close would be at some sort of training camp on an international week. Not even sure that is feasible.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Popular or not, it's entirely fair. Even Dave McMillan is struggling to make it off the bench at St Johnstone despite a promising start, and you could add Chris Forrester (transfer listed at Peterborough; recently moved to Aberdeen) and Danny Kearns (promising start at Peterborough, but now back at Linfield).Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
The LoI is a fun league, but it's a weak league. It's partly what makes the insistence that Mick must move aside in two years for Stephen Kenny a bit puzzling.
As far as I'm concerned, if we qualify for the Euros and play well at the tournament, Mick stays on. It would be absurd for any other situation to play out. He's an excellent man manager as well and I suspect senior players will speak out if the original plan is followed out regardless of our performance.
If Kenny is a patriot I would like him to sit out taking the role until an appropriate time for a switch (naïve and wishful thinking on my part I know).
It seems like a move to please LOI fans more than anything else to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I'm equally naive and wishful. And it could be spun that the U21s are doing well so it'd be disruptive to change, he'd agree to an extension to the handover (knowing an extra 100k a year has simultaneously been added to his pay packet!). He knows he'd be on a hiding to nothing if he took over if Mick is successful, especially if Kenny isn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
Anyway -- fingers crossed we perform well enough over the next two years to make this an incredibly awkward situation for everyone!
I don't know why that would be the case - LOI fans are a tiny portion of the community/fan base, really - and usually LOI opinions get quickly and easily ignored/dismissed by the rest. So there's very little goodwill on offer to JD in this equation.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
I'd like to think - and do believe - that it is a measured and merited decision.
True. And it's not like Delaney gives a **** about the league, let alone its fans
It was a win win win decision for Delaney. Kenny actually merits the appointment, there's the appeasement factor and the deflection.
In fairness to Horgan - he was doing very well under Simon Grayson until he left for Sunderland. Alex Neil never really fancied him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
McEleney hardly failed to make the grade at Oldham either. He left the club because it was a ****show. Forrester had a good couple of years before personal problems got in the way. Not saying the league is amazing but there've been plenty of players who have gone across and done well.
"As Mick McCarthy prepares to begin his second reign as Ireland manager we take a look at 15 potential players the former Wolves boss could introduce into the Irish first team." -
http://www.punditarena.com/irish-foo...thy-introduce/
Very well!? Has somebody got their galway colours on!!Quote:
Originally Posted by IsMiseSean
I probably have a little - but he was a regular in the team and scored a few goals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
He was certainly more impressive than the likes of Burke, O'Connor & Boyle.
Is that statement that Johansson is believed to be declaring for us true and where has that come from?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fly
Kyle Scott won't be eligible for our 21s but he is a good call would be worth bringing him in if we could even though he is currently at second division level in Holland
Inability to write coherent English- "it is widely expected that Johansson has decided to represent Ireland" - would make me doubt that writer's credibility.
Even in the little tight shorts??Quote:
Originally Posted by IsMiseSean
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11Is that statement that Johansson is believed to be declaring for us true and where has that come from?
Kyle Scott won't be eligible for our 21s but he is a good call would be worth bringing him in if we could even though he is currently at second division level in HollandQuote:
Originally Posted by The Fly
Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
you lost me at "punditarena"
You see I've a serious issue with him saying he can't be aware of every player. Of course he can. Half of the people on this forum - as a hobby! - know just about any player that is senior and available, but the National team manager isn't??? Come on for god sake.
if a player was truly worth knowing about he would be awareQuote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Mick and I have a lot in common, I hope he has as good a selection policy as I do.
I think Mick's appointment must be part time!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Ah come on, for the love of god, do you truly believe that? You're allowed to be critical of the manager every once in a while JB, you won't have to go to mass to seek absolution.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
That's what his management team is for though. As he says himself, if Noel King (or Robbie K or Terry C) tells him he needs to check so and so out and this player is eligible/interested, he will go do what he needs to as manager and will then decide whether to call up or not. I don't think you can ask fairer than that - his job is to have a team or system that brings these decisions to him effectively.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
I disagree, but I can appreciate where you're coming from. Personally I'll focus on the robbie and terry referee comment rather than Kinger.
I just would have expected him to know Dan Crowley, considering he was pretty high profile at Arsenal while playing for Ireland underage and also playing for Mick's hometown team.
I also understand that maybe he doesn't want to fan the flames on a potential recruit either, considering how it has effected previous managers.
Exactly - the size of the player pool does not excuse such a degree of detachment
He might just be a bit wary of Crowley which I’d understand,this new-found enthusiasm to don the green seems like it might be as much to do with career progression as any national pride.Crowley’s never going to play for England so we’ll have to do.He plays in a Mickey Mouse league for a Mickey Mouse team.True he plays in a position that we are desperately short of quality, but is he that great? If so, then why isn’t he playing at a decent level? His temperament is unlikely to suit Mick either and the squad generally.I actually think for us to start punching above our weight again we really need player morale to improve, shoehorning sub-par Englishmen with an attitude into the team won’t do that.
Really like that Mick shut Rice up with his ‘it was an honour’ insincere nonsense.Would like it if he also told Bamford to shove it,let him watch Parrott, Connolly and Obafemi lash them in for us from the comfort of his couch.Will Keane’s made of glass,he won’t win ten caps, give those caps to our youngsters and invest properly in our talents for the future rather than trying to plug holes in the short-term.
How do you account for his securing the lesser Keane brother so ? Why wasn't he wary of him ? As clear a case of career progression as you'll ever see.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fizzer
Mickey Mouse league? Would you go away? The second-best team in that Mickey Mouse just went toe to toe with Real Madrid, who have won the last three Champions Leagues. We're in no position to be looking down on Dutch football considering our own people look down on our own league (as Mickey Mouse) and somehow expect us to compete with countries that have proper football cultures.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fizzer