Keith Fahey

surely they could have got 500k up front for him?

I think Brum could be a good move for him, like kevin doyle, not being thrown into the deep end straight away. He has a good chance to play with a decent team and a team that could well be back in the premier league next year. The initial fee seems a bit low. The star player going for that surely isn't enough.

i actually think the fee is suitable. i'm a fan of fahey and wanted him in the ireland squad before but there are no guarentees of a player with his track record i.e a loose cannon being a success.

good move and is actually a true playmaker.

Was delighted to hear bout this move. Could be brilliant for Ireland if he establishes himself considering how stuck we are for midfielders.

And yes, I know if he's considered a playmaker in centre mid he might not fit into Traps system but surely his athletic style would be very suited to his system - kind of like Stephen Reid.

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Originally Posted by irishultra

Bundesliga is not poor at all. Hertha Berlin would probably be better in a practical sense than West Ham. You think of Ashton and players like that and only cause' you know them assume they would be better.

Even if Fahey failed in the English League, that would not mean he hasn't got anything to offer.

We can obviously see he is a brilliant passer of the ball and always demands the ball in all situations, this won't change because he moves to (what I presume) in your mind is super duper England.

Fahey should try to stay away from England and give it a shot somewhere else in Europe. His style would be much more suited to there.

Fahey should be in the Irish team, because what he probably lacks at a real top level is consistency but in Int. Football that isn't as important with the matches being every so often.

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totally agree with this and i wouldn't limit this opinion to Fahey only....think there's quite a few Irish lads over the years that could've benefitted in going to Europe ahead of the English leagues....just doesn't seem to happen though for whatever reason....

He should definitely be in the Ireland squad now.

I dont think a move to an English championship side should mean that someone is 'definitely' in the Irish squad.

If he performs better than the other Irish championship level midfielders for the course of the season then he should be in contention.

Can't believe you took the bait.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

He should definitely be in the Ireland squad now.

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Well, now he's qualified like. ;)

So now we sit back and wait for his Birmingham debut and the inevitable "Who it this Fahy (sic) chap?" thread that will follow...

Does he have to wait until January to play with them, or can he start playing as soon as they do the deal?

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Originally Posted by irishfan86

Does he have to wait until January to play with them, or can he start playing as soon as they do the deal?

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Has to wait until January

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Originally Posted by holidaysong

So now we sit back and wait for his Birmingham debut and the inevitable "Who it this Fahy (sic) chap?" thread that will follow...

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i hope you're taking the p!ss here given that there's already a 13 page thread on him...

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Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

i hope you're taking the p!ss here given that there's already a 13 page thread on him...

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Ciaran posted a thread yesterday asking who he is.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

He'll never get an Irish cap, he'll make a handful of poor sub appearances for Birmingham before vanishing into obscurity for a while, perhaps being loaned out to fill the bench for some first division scottish side the following season before returning to the LOI when his contract expires.

That's my prediction.

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Birmingham play with a 5 man midfield, with Carsley offering protection for two more offensive minded central players.

I think this system will suit Fahey perfectly as he'll have the freedom to go forward, and he'll still get to play in the middle.

I think a guy like Fahey would be forced to play as a wide player at most English clubs- look at a guy like Andy Reid for example. He'd never get played on the wings on the continent, but in England they feel that a non-athlete such as himself can't cope in the middle.

I look forward to following his progress anyway.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

He'll never get an Irish cap, he'll make a handful of poor sub appearances for Birmingham before vanishing into obscurity for a while, perhaps being loaned out to fill the bench for some first division scottish side the following season before returning to the LOI when his contract expires.

That's my prediction.

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He'lll do better than that Red guy anyway I'd wager

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

He'll never get an Irish cap, he'll make a handful of poor sub appearances for Birmingham before vanishing into obscurity for a while, perhaps being loaned out to fill the bench for some first division scottish side the following season before returning to the LOI when his contract expires.

That's my prediction.

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A trifle pessimistic. I've only seen him twice on TV but his peformances against Hertha were exceptional. McLeish is a canny and pragmatic manager, I dont think he buys players on a whim. I would expect him to get games fairly quickly.

The transfer fee isn't exactly trivial so I'd say this is a bit off being the "free option" that the Doyle & Long transfers to Reading were, or Liam Miller's transfer to Man United.

McLeish has said that Fahey is being signed for the first team squad. He's obviously not 100% sure about him but he's not being signed for the reserves

Good luck to the lad.

Pretty positive talk from McLeish here;
http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/pag...469106,00.html

Good to see he views him as a central midfielder anyway. He has the ability to do very well assuming he's managed to get his head sorted out. He had a habit of being a bit lazy and cruising through games in the League of Ireland, he won't get away with that in the Championship.

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Originally Posted by passinginterest

He had a habit of being a bit lazy and cruising through games in the League of Ireland, he won't get away with that in the Championship.

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He was only ever lazy when stuck out on the wing. For the past two years he's played (mainly) in the centre and hasn't been lazy at all

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Originally Posted by Dodge

He was only ever lazy when stuck out on the wing. For the past two years he's played (mainly) in the centre and hasn't been lazy at all

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I've seen him live a good few times and over the last two years and I'd still say he can be lazy by top professional standards. His tracking back and work ethic are questionable in my opinion, even against Hertha I felt his work rate could have been higher (and I was in the stand not watching on TV).

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Originally Posted by passinginterest

His tracking back and work ethic are questionable in my opinion

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Sometimes he was told not to track back, so if we won the ball we'd have a creative outlet.

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Originally Posted by passinginterest

against Hertha I felt his work rate could have been higher

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He was the best player on the pitch against Hertha, both home & away. His work rate in those games was exceptional

He tired towards the end of both, but he was coming back from injury

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Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

He was the best player on the pitch against Hertha, both home & away. His work rate in those games was exceptional

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Wouldn't argue he was one of the best players, but I think I said at the time I was slightly disappointed with his performance in the home leg against Hertha, only because I rate him very highly and have seen him use the ball better. Having said that conditions were very difficult that day and Hertha are a good side. I still think he'll have to improve his fitness and work rate a little to make himself a success. I really hope he does, not doubting his talent for a second.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

So he had two good games against Hertha, two games which not only did his side fail to win either but also failed to score. I don't think lavishing praise on an attacking midfielder who failed to achieve anything in his supposed peak performances is appropriate.

And regardless, at best he'll be a competent championship midfielder. i.e. the next Alan Quinn. Still has no business in the Ireland setup.

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These 2 games are an example. Are you seriously this stupid :confused:

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

So he had two good games against Hertha, two games which not only did his side fail to win either but also failed to score. I don't think lavishing praise on an attacking midfielder who failed to achieve anything in his supposed peak performances is appropriate.

And regardless, at best he'll be a competent championship midfielder. i.e. the next Alan Quinn. Still has no business in the Ireland setup.

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your the most positive man on this forum Ciaran!!! :D

Give the guy a chance.

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Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

These 2 games are an example. Are you seriously this stupid :confused:

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Do you seriously have to asK?

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

So he had two good games against Hertha, two games which not only did his side fail to win either but also failed to score. I don't think lavishing praise on an attacking midfielder who failed to achieve anything in his supposed peak performances is appropriate.

And regardless, at best he'll be a competent championship midfielder. i.e. the next Alan Quinn. Still has no business in the Ireland setup.

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You didn't know who he was yesterday?

Thats the other ciaran dodge.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

It was quite obvious that the thread was a parody of post #253. Looks like it went over your head. :rolleyes:

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Ciaran- the Jonathan Swift of our age.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

It was quite obvious that the thread was a parody of post #253. Looks like it went over your head. :rolleyes:

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I remember not so long ago Ciaran believed that playing Premiership subs was preferable to using Championship players. Now, with the Carsley - Gibson situation he's changed his mind.

Ciaran, my hat is off to you sir. A 'fountain' of football knowledge, if ever there was one.

a "fountain of knowledge" with a creepy man-crush.... ewwww...

I can't believe the amount of replies Ciaran still gets when he's quite obviously winding people up. He has to get his daily attention fix.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

There's a difference between playing in the championship and being a championship player.

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Just like there's a difference between warming a Premiership bench and playing week in and week out at a different level.

Anyway, Fahey can't be that bad. You said he was great before.

http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=1062804&postcount=9

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I can't believe the amount of replies Ciaran still gets when he's quite obviously winding people up. He has to get his daily attention fix.

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I don’t think he intentionally winds people up. He would not have the capabilities to do so. It’s just that he is so insightless and attempts to start and contribute to posts he knows nothing about but believes he does. He frustrates people rather than wind them up.I would hate to have to work with him particularly if he was a manager of some sort.;)

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Originally Posted by FarBeag

I would hate to have to work with him particularly if he was a manager of some sort.;)

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I think he's more of a chilled out entertainer than a manager....

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I can't believe the amount of replies Ciaran still gets when he's quite obviously winding people up. He has to get his daily attention fix.

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If you as a mod feel that he is clearly winding up people should you not do something about it.

Is he allowed to start training with them immediately or does he have to wait until January 1?