Report here on the trial game. A lot of Irish players involved including Devitt who is also on trial. Paul Cook's Irish experience may be the key!
http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/footb...ld-3-1-5833046
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Report here on the trial game. A lot of Irish players involved including Devitt who is also on trial. Paul Cook's Irish experience may be the key!
http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/footb...ld-3-1-5833046
Strong rumours that Clifford is set to join Bristol City.
Sean O'Driscoll is coming close to earning himself a strong pat on the back there. Williams, Moloney and Clifford have found their careers stalling in the past 6 months and O'Driscoll seems to have offered all an outlet. Just had a look at the Bristol City squad there too. It seems quite strong with players like Davies, Kelly, Baldock, Adomah (if they can keep him), Kilkenny and Emmanuel-Thomas. Hopefully they can bounce back up like O'Driscoll's former club, Doncaster.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football...our_94483.html
on trial at southend
Ex-Shamrock Rovers/Longford Town striker Don Cowan as well.
It seems Clifford will be offered a contract at Southend and he has undergone a medical.
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/105...uthend_United/
signing confirmed, two year deal: http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news...tt-960904.aspx
short interview with him on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuyCO...ature=youtu.be
I'm not sure if this is a waste of talent or if he was never as good as we thought he was in the first place. Still young enough to come up through the ranks, assuming he gets first team football.
Amazing that a year ago he was in the Ireland squad. Hopefully he can get back on track under Brown Phil.
I'm hoping he just lost his way for a while. Chelsea is probably the worst club a young prospect can be at, and I'd say it was a tad depressing to be winning the FA Youth Cup as captain, dreaming of featuring for the senior team, to going out on loan to Notts County and Yeovil, probably getting kicked around every week by gnarled old pros. He's only a small lad too. Class is permanent and he seems to have a good attitude so now he's in his early 20s lets hope he grasps the opportunity, steps up and shows his undoubted talent. If he's any use he should be running the show at League 2 level and he'll get back up the divisions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Our squad selections have long since stopped amazing me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Only on the bench today :(
Hardly that surprising. He's up against players who've had a full pre-season together so he'll have to earn his spot.
Starts in the League Cup tie with Yeovil today, along with ex-Shamrock Rovers/Longford Town striker Don Cowan. Interestingly, lining up in the Yeovil midfield is Clifford's ex-Chelsea teammate Billy Clifford.
Scored Southend's opener at Oxford today. 2-0 now.
bossing the millwall midfield. Could still be quality
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/114...ngton_Stanley/
Fans happy with CC yesterday on twitter.....
First goal of the season away at Cheltenham tonight.
started on the bench, good to see him come on and score
Clifford was the Shrimpers Trust player of the month for August: http://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/home.asp?page_id=562
http://www1.skysports.com/transfer/n...r-list-quintet
Transfer listed.
Well done to Conor started 10 games sine he moved to barnet in Feb and looks like he has helped them get out of the conference which is a tough slog of a league
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
5 years ago had you told me that a post on this thread in 2015 would begin with "Well done to Conor..."... well, I wouldn't have predicted the rest of the sentence.
More Cliff Clavin than Cliff Huxtable.
Graham Stack also part of that Barnet side
Nowadays, that's actually a good thing;)Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
He's changed his name to Cliff Conor to get a fresh start.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32973463
Where next for Clifford?
Repeating every thread that has someone released here, but he'd be best rebuilding a career in Ireland rather than heading off down the League Two route.
Conference I'd agree with you. League Two, I'd say there's merits to both approaches.
Neal Ardley could swoop in for Irish star and ex Shrimper Clifford, suggests one publication.
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport...layers-9511228
linked with Dundalk in today's Independent: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-35355035.html
Very interesting move if it came off. Interesting to note that the article states Crawley are looking at bringing him back in to the football league again too. Funny how Dundalk's season has changed perceptions of the league. Clifford and O'Hanlon are too of the most highly touted young players to cross the water in recent times. Kenny McEvoy had a big reputation for a while too (had some solid loans at a young age, it wasn't just the Bale-like appearance).
What can Clifford show at 25/26 to suggest he'll make it to the level we were led to believe and may have believed he was capable of as a teenager? Foggy path.
I think they're coming back because the league's brand is cool.
Signs for Dundalk. Those are the signings that excite me, getting schooled over in England playing against the best underage sides and now getting the chance to shine in the LOI. IF he does well with Dundalk he will get his chance again in a few years. Its a cycle that is becoming more frequent, one that I think can only be good for the players, the league and the National team.
realistically, it's at least two years before he'll get a chance to move back to England. He's 25 now, the same age as Towell. He'll really want to excel in the LOI, and in Europe, before any Engilsh club will take a chance on a player that's unproven (at the moment) at any level higher than non-league. Having said that, it's the kind of signing that I want to see LOI clubs push for - talented young players who, for whatever reason, don't make it beyond the "promising academy" status. O'Hanlon to St Pats is another example.
I'd say he's back for good. Few but the most exceptional go over in their late twenties and his career so far hasn't suggested he will be.
Ya id agree with all that when i posted it i thought he was still only 23 or so.
In the past, I think players felt like they had failed if they moved home to play LOI so they would rather hover around the lower divisions. With Dundalk's exploits in Europe and the likes of Towell, Boyle and Horgan making big moves, they've effectively broken the stigma and I would hope to see more players coming home to develop further rather than signing for the likes of Boreham bleedin' Wood!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenny82
In fairness living basically in London if you are 23/24 playing for boreham wood is a bit more attractive than Dundalk making a hundred thousand sterling a year. Isn't his partner an actress/dancer as well which I'm sure living in London is fantastic for . Excited to see him home though but more excited by o Hanlon at pats think he could light it up