Irish player most likely to be true World Class

[jbyrne]

Doyle, Stokes, Garvan and Dixon are the most likely candidates.

have been hearing about Garvan for a few years now. i know he was out sick for a while but has not been within a mile of the snr team yet so i doubt he'll make it at this stage. maybe i'm missing something though

[Stuttgart88]

I worry for Ireland under Sven. Sven is starstruck and likes to surround himself with big names and big egos.

I also think Joey Barton complemented Ireland's abilities perfectly but he's gone now.

I think a manager needs to be clever to employ Ireland most effectively and Sven never really showed much savvy in this regard.

In fairness to Sven, he almost always got results in the games where dropping points was a possibility, tricky away trips etc. If he can do the same at MCFC, consistently grinding out narrow wins against their immediate peers and below, City's status will shoot up.

[Stuttgart88]

have been hearing about Garvan for a few years now. i know he was out sick for a while but has not been within a mile of the snr team yet so i doubt he'll make it at this stage. maybe i'm missing something though

Maybe we all are. He returned to the Ipswich team in early 2007 and has been playing well. Remarkably he was overlooked by the U19s recently, not just the senior team. Because Bayly was suspended for the German U19 game we struggled a bit and I wonder would Garvan have made the difference. Would love to have seen him play.

[Noelys Guitar]

Stephen Ireland for me is the player who might become that consistent goalscoring, goal making, crafty, game changing type of player. He needs to improve defensively (as a young Giles had to)He is sure to get physically stronger. If Sven believes in him and keeps Ireland in his team then he just might develop into that type of WC player we really need. I agree with other posters comments about Given, Finnan, Keane and Duff. But having a midfielder leading by example is priceless.

[youngirish]

How good is this Adam Rooney? Has he potential?

Good goalscorer but very slow for a striker.

[youngirish]

People forget Garvan is still only 19 and he's one of Ipswich's best players who are a decent Championship team. I can see them pushing into at least the play-offs next season.

Joey O'Brien if he manages to get himself over his knee problems in pre-season.

[Stuttgart88]

very slow for a striker.

Did yiou see the RTE interview after his recent hat trick. "It's great to score especially in Dublin. Well, I know it's Drogheda, so not actually Dublin." Then giggled like an idiot.

Very slow!

[youngirish]

Did yiou see the RTE interview after his recent hat trick. "It's great to score especially in Dublin. Well, I know it's Drogheda, so not actually Dublin." Then giggled like an idiot.

Very slow!

Are you seriously telling me Stutts that one of our very own professional footballers isn't the sharpest tool in the box? Surely not.

[Paddy Garcia]

Did yiou see the RTE interview after his recent hat trick. "It's great to score especially in Dublin. Well, I know it's Drogheda, so not actually Dublin." Then giggled like an idiot.

It's a suburb.

[tricky_colour]

John O'Shea.

[Bungle]

John O'Shea.

O'Shea had the potential to be a really top player...possibly world class. Don't know if it's a confidence thing with him that he hasn't progressed, or if it's more a case he couldn't be arsed to realise his potential. Still to be fair, he had a very decent season with United.


Garvan's ommission from the u19 squad was incredible. A few of my Ipswich supporting mates say he's the most naturally talented youngster they've had in a long time. When you consider that Martin of Norwich played a few games for the first team and is considered one of the most talented players of his age group and played for England u19...yet he wouldn't come close to the talent of Garvan (they play different positions but England have a far bigger pool of players).They compare him to Frank Lampard down there. Haven't seen enough to say if he's good enough to be world class, but he'll definitely be good enough to be a very decent player.

Does anybody have any news on Dixon's progress?

[tetsujin1979]

Does anybody have any news on Dixon's progress?

He signed a full professional contract towards the end of the season
From Spur's end of season Academy review: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news...alk180607.html

Can you give a progress report on Terry Dixon?
Alex: “Terry’s back in full training now. It was a huge loss to us to lose someone of his calibre. In the first two games, he scored two goals and created three, so if the season had continued that way, he would have without doubt made a lot of reserve team appearances. He’s worked incredibly hard and he’s had to mature over the season. The injury has given him a renewed sense of purpose and we all hope he steers clear of injury next season.”

[gustavo]

Does anybody have any news on Dixon's progress?

Supposed to be going to Pats on loan

[EalingGreen]

Football fans tend to bandy the phrase "World Class" about far too easily, imo. Personally, I always think the criterion should be that if you were picking a World XI, would the player in question be a contender?

Personally, I don't think the ROI has had any such players since Roy Keane and Paul McGrath. (And NI not since Jennings and Best)

And if you assess the next level down as "International Class" i.e. if eligible, would they get into, say, the French/Dutch/Spanish National sides, I would say that Given (especially), Duff (on previous form), Finnan and Robbie Keane would all qualify.

As for the future, it's hard to say that any of the current crop of ROI youngsters can become World Class (Doyle possibly excepted?), though they do appear to have a higher than average number of players coming through who might become "International Class".

As for NI, although we have a handful of promising youngsters emerging, I would say its somewhat fewer than ROI's. However, we do have one young gem in Jonny Evans who might just go all the way - certainly Roy Keane was very keen (sorry) to keep him at Sunderland, but Ferguson insisted he come back to Old Trafford.

Beyond that, there's a younger NI player at OT, Cathcart, who's captain of their Youth Team and is possibly the pick of his particular year. When UEFA picked a Europe U-17 select to play Africa U-17's in Spain earlier this season, not only was he the only representative from the UK or ROI, but he actually captained that team, as well. Obviously there are a hell of a lot of things which can go wrong before any such youngster makes it, but Cathcart could have a bright future.

[co. down green]

[QUOTE=Bungle;713137]O'Shea had the potential to be a really top player...possibly world class. Don't know if it's a confidence thing with him that he hasn't progressed, or if it's more a case he couldn't be arsed to realise his potential. Still to be fair, he had a very decent season with United.


Garvan's ommission from the u19 squad was incredible. A few of my Ipswich supporting mates say he's the most naturally talented youngster they've had in a long time. When you consider that Martin of Norwich played a few games for the first team and is considered one of the most talented players of his age group and played for England u19...yet he wouldn't come close to the talent of Garvan (they play different positions but England have a far bigger pool of players).They compare him to Frank Lampard down there. Haven't seen enough to say if he's good enough to be world class, but he'll definitely be good enough to be a very decent player.

Owen's been having a few 'personal problems' at home.

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content...A01%3A18%3A973

Its A big season for him and he needs to be focused from the first game.

I would have every confidence in him becoming a very important player for Ireland and Magilton certainly rates him very highly at Ipswich.

[eirebhoy]

Football fans tend to bandy the phrase "World Class" about far too easily, imo. Personally, I always think the criterion should be that if you were picking a World XI, would the player in question be a contender?

I wouldn't go that far. If Pirlo is the best holding midfielder in the world then he's the only world class holding midfielder around? There's only 1 world class keeper, right winger, etc? In athletics many would class the 10 100m sprinters that make the Olympic final as world class. Then the same goes for the 200m and so on. If you're around about top 10 in your position then you're world class in my book.

[gustavo]

I dont know about that eirebhoy , I cant imagine the 10th best left back in the world being regarded as world class but I suppose thats because of the position
World Class for me would be the best 50 or so players in the world

[eirebhoy]

I dont know about that eirebhoy , I cant imagine the 10th best left back in the world being regarded as world class but I suppose thats because of the position
World Class for me would be the best 50 or so players in the world

Yeah, world class full backs are probably a bit rarer. Maybe go for 5 for each position so. There's certainly 10 centre halves, central midfielders and strikers I'd put in the top bracket.

[EalingGreen]

Originally Posted by EalingGreen
"Football fans tend to bandy the phrase "World Class" about far too easily, imo. Personally, I always think the criterion should be that if you were picking a World XI, would the player in question be a contender?"

I wouldn't go that far. If Pirlo is the best holding midfielder in the world then he's the only world class holding midfielder around? There's only 1 world class keeper, right winger, etc? In athletics many would class the 10 100m sprinters that make the Olympic final as world class. Then the same goes for the 200m and so on. If you're around about top 10 in your position then you're world class in my book.

Perhaps I didn't explain properly, but the key word is "contender". In any given position, there might be hald a dozen contenders, none of whom would look out of place if selected for a World XI. For your example of holding midfielder, I might prefer e.g. Claude Makalele over your choice of Pirlo; both would be equally valid as "World Class". However, Michael Carrick would not (imo), even though he is performs that role for the English club champions and is good enough to be in contention for many international teams.

[eirebhoy]

Perhaps I didn't explain properly, but the key word is "contender".

Yeah I should read posts a bit slower next time. In that case I don't think "world class" is over used. Given and Finnan are arguably world class. Maybe not Finnan but defensively he's up there with the very best full backs.