Steve Finnan joins Espanyol

[Drumcondra 69er]

Nope, not in Europe, finished 12th according to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espanyol#Recent_history
Still, that's a really good record in recent seasons

Now that you mention it I thinks it's Ath. Madrid I was thinking of, knew it was a local rival of one of the big two over there!

[irishultra]

Great news, now if only people like Andy Reid, Ireland, Doyle and McGeady moved to strong continential European teams it would be great.


Espanyol did well the season before last I think. I remember they were second for a long time.

[danonion]

Ian Harte Mk II?

[mypost]

He has retired from international football, as no Irish player is selected* unless he plays in the UK.

*Injuries permitting.

[NeilMcD]

John Aldridge, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David Connolly,

[Hibernian]

I wish him all the best

Must admit was annoyed at him leaving the international scene but now he back hope he can improve with the Spanish outfit for the good of the international team.

[geysir]

John Aldridge, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David Connolly,

I feel a best 11 coming on

Noel Campbell, Alan Campbell, Steve Heighway, Liam Brady, Mickey Walsh, Mick McCarthy, Tony Cascarino, John Byrne, Fran O'Brien and Don Givens.

[mypost]

John Aldridge, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David Connolly

Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, LOI players in general.

[deecay]

Shame about their fans

[Pauro 76]

What's wrong with their fans?

[tetsujin1979]

Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, LOI players in general.

Stokes never played LOI, although he was on the books at Shels before moving to Arsenal

[third policeman]

John Aldridge, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David Connolly,

Other Irish internationals who have played for European clubs?

Noel Campbell (fortuna Cologne)
Alan Campbell (Santander)
Mick Robinson (Osasuna)
Micky Walsh (Porto)
Liam Brady (Juventus, etc)
Liam Buckley (somewhere in Belgium?)
Tony Cascarino (Marseilles, Nancy)
Phil Babb (Sporting Lisbon)
Alan Mahon (Sporting Lisbon)
Mick McCarthy (Lyon?)
John Byrne (Le Harvre)

Probably a few more but its not many. It is extraordinary that our players dont look any further than England / Scotland.

[NeilMcD]

Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, LOI players in general.

We are talking about players being picked for the Irish senior team when not playing in the UK. So these lads do not qualify. But Jason Byrne and Glenn Crowe do.

[ifk101]

Dominic Foley with Gent in Belgium is another (former) international playing outside the UK. He also had a spell in Portugal before he joined Bohs.

[Carrigaline]

This is a terrible move for Finnan.

He's gone from playing with a top English team in the Champions League to a mid-table Spanish outfit.

Still, I hope he does well. We need him to be at his best for Ireland.

[ifk101]

Espanyol is a step down from Liverpool but realistically Finnan wasn't in Liverpool's plans so Espanyol is a good move for him. And I'd personally prefer to live in Barcelona than Liverpool

[Dodge]

This is a terrible move for Finnan.

He's gone from playing with a top English team in the Champions League to a mid-table Spanish outfit

He's gone from being the makeweight in a deal to bring Barry from Villa, to being the makeweight ina deal to bring Riera from Espanyol

Realistically he wasn't in Liverpool's plans and playing for Espanyol is better than the previous moves rumoured for him (Fulham, Portsmouth etc)

[Carrigaline]

Espanyol is better than the previous moves rumoured for him (Fulham, Portsmouth etc)

Everton were in for him as well. I think that would have been the better move to be honest.

[Dodge]

I disagree, but either way I can't see how its a "terrible" move

[mypost]

Dominic Foley with Gent in Belgium is another (former) international playing outside the UK.

Former is the key word.