Keith Fahey

Originally Posted by lucanhoop87

yes it does, it makes you much more of a proper fan than someone who can't be arsed to get off their barstool, someone mentioned it previously in this thread that if you love football you should always want to go to games and thus i dont consider someone who doesnt go to regular games to be a proper fan

it makes oyu more knowledgeable in the sense that you make your own opinons on the game, you don't just agree/disagree with what the pundit has said

it was me that stated that earlier and its the truth. I agree with everything you state in that post.

In my opinion Fahey is easily good enough to get in to the Ireland B squad. He has more skill and talent than a lot of the players who have been chosen to represent this country at full international level, never mind B squads.

Some of the posts by the Plastics in this thread are ridiculous; saying that a player is not good enough for at least a B international because of the league he plays in? A player should be judged on his ability and not the league he plays in.

I believe the following clip proves that if you have the talent, and ability, you are good enough for international football:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_slBbkJMPd0

Originally Posted by Beavis

Aside from crimes against the english language, surely Bohemian1890 is guilty of aggressive behaviour, or, certainly as guilty as youngirish was?
Or is it that his opinion coincides with that of the mod(s), and restraint is only applicable to those who dare disagree ?


Fahey was quality again today and stands out every time I see him, worth a shout for an Ireland friendly sqaud.

Read what you post before you try and question anyone's grammar. Particularly when/how to use commas, capitals and question marks.

If this Fahey guy is so good then why isn't he playing for a team in England that will pay him much more money than he can earn playing in Ireland?

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

If this Fahey guy is so good then why isn't he playing for a team in England that will pay him much more money than he can earn playing in Ireland?

That's the problem isn't. Unfortunately we have a population that think they know something about the game but are actually the victims of marketing. It is beyond the fathoms of their thought that decent footballers exist outside the leagues of the "mainland". If you're not plying your trade on the mainland, you're obviously not good enough.

The fact of the matter is that Keith Fahey is deserving of a call-up to that B squad at least. You can argue that he is not playing in a team or a league filled with internationals - and that's fair enough. However you're fooling yourselves into believing that reserve team football is better preparation for the international side than playing competitive matches week in, week out.

We can all marvel at the brillance of the English Premiership but how many Irish players are regular starters for the teams in this league? And how many players do we usually select for the international squad get-togethers? It's been pointed out here by fans of the English game that our playing resources are limited. So what's the problem in giving Keith Fahey a chance to prove what he can do? Why are posters here "afraid" of giving the lad the chance to play international football? What's the harm in giving him a run-out - if he's not good enough, we move on. If he is - great. Surely this is a win-win situation for everybody?

YI was quick to be banned , Bohemian has been calling people tools etc....how come he hasn't been banned?

Beavis well said btw, two very valid points.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

YI was quick to be banned , Bohemian has been calling people tools etc....how come he hasn't been banned?

Because he didn't do it three times. Anymore queries can be posted in support

Originally Posted by Dodge

Yes it does. Watching football on TV is the equivalent of a **** compared to the porn of live football (to paraphrase a great quote from a previous thread)


Excuses. The opinions of one or two people on the internet stop you from going to games? Some of you people actually belive that fans of Irish teams sit/stand around at games and talk about those who aren't there?

You don't want to go to games. Fine, I've no problem with that. Don't start trying to use the people who do go to games as the reason why.

When I show an interest in EL matches and teams, and say something someone doesn't like im told "you're not a real football fan, football fans understand", "your're a G.A.A fan, you wouldn't understand" "real football fans understand" etc etc, yet then you come out with this double standard when tets makes a valid point. Do you honestly think people will go support clubs or go to matches if ye "in the clique" patronisingly make snide remarks and look down on those that don't go? Seriouslly, and don't come back with the usual crap of back up with points, its been said, I remember it, I dont have time to sit around and trawl through posts to find it. Argue the point or don't reply.

Finally a little analogy, I don't go to club gaa games at home, (i go watch the local junior soccer club though ) because I don't particularly like the clique and attitude of those that attend and play the game. WHy would I go somewhere I don't like the people, for the same reason that I wouldn't like the EL supporters. Dodge do you go to bars where you don't like the people that frequent them? I know I don't. BTW i have gone to a good few EL games and a fair few european matches when I lived in Dublin, but I could see it from others I know.

He was the best player on the pitch and is certainy worth a run out in the B squad. At this stage his ability to perform at international level is untested. But there are numerous players in the B and Full squads who are proven to be not good enough. It would also be a boost to the EL and an encouragement to other players that if they perform well they will get opportunities.

Originally Posted by ifk101

That's the problem isn't. Unfortunately we have a population that think they know something about the game but are actually the victims of marketing. It is beyond the fathoms of their thought that decent footballers exist outside the leagues of the "mainland". If you're not plying your trade on the mainland, you're obviously not good enough.

The fact of the matter is that Keith Fahey is deserving of a call-up to that B squad at least. You can argue that he is not playing in a team or a league filled with internationals - and that's fair enough. However you're fooling yourselves into believing that reserve team football is better preparation for the international side than playing competitive matches week in, week out.

We can all marvel at the brillance of the English Premiership but how many Irish players are regular starters for the teams in this league? And how many players do we usually select for the international squad get-togethers? It's been pointed out here by fans of the English game that our playing resources are limited. So what's the problem in giving Keith Fahey a chance to prove what he can do? Why are posters here "afraid" of giving the lad the chance to play international football? What's the harm in giving him a run-out - if he's not good enough, we move on. If he is - great. Surely this is a win-win situation for everybody?

Excellent post.

I understand Fats isn’t ready to be playing against the likes of Italy in a World cup qualifier but I really don’t see why he’s not given a chance in friendly matches. Isn’t that what there for? The established players only play half-hearted in most of them anyway. Keith has risen to any challenge he’s been faced with so far. I’m sure he’d rise to playing for Ireland.

The only thing is, if he did get called up, he’d no doubt be going to England soon thereafter.

Bennetts first game for southampton was a disaster and he was hauled off at half time, dont think he played much for them after dat and it was them who didnt extend his loan.
he is now playing in league two

Originally Posted by third policeman

He was the best player on the pitch and is certainy worth a run out in the B squad. At this stage his ability to perform at international level is untested. But there are numerous players in the B and Full squads who are proven to be not good enough. It would also be a boost to the EL and an encouragement to other players that if they perform well they will get opportunities.

Hertha have 8 internationals. Theya re certainly better than Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro.

Originally Posted by finnpark

Hertha have 8 internationals. Theya re certainly better than Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro.

I think you'll find all those teams have at least 11 internationals each

fahey is class, but will never be in an ireland team. we all know that. lovely piece of skill to shoot and hit the post yesterday and his overall passing was lovely to watch. given a run of games he could defo make an impact at championship level. hope we dont lose him from the league tho.

Originally Posted by Gypsy1890

Read what you post before you try and question anyone's grammar. Particularly when/how to use commas, capitals and question marks.

Both were typos but I accept your point. The remark was unnecessary and I'll retract it.

Originally Posted by disabledrog

Bennetts first game for southampton was a disaster and he was hauled off at half time, dont think he played much for them after dat and it was them who didnt extend his loan.
he is now playing in league two

Wrong.

Youre right about it being a disaster of a first game but he worked his way back in and they wanted to keep him. Reading called him back cos 3/4 of their centre halfs were injured.

hes at Brentford now I think

Originally Posted by third policeman

He was the best player on the pitch and is certainy worth a run out in the B squad. At this stage his ability to perform at international level is untested. But there are numerous players in the B and Full squads who are proven to be not good enough. It would also be a boost to the EL and an encouragement to other players that if they perform well they will get opportunities.

I agree. To be honest, the first time I saw him play was in the away game last week - but I must say he did stand out from the rest - including the Hertha players. He seems to have a great engine and excellent reading of the game. I would like to see him in a B friendly for ireland because alot of that B squad have been tried and tested already and have failed miserably.

Why should they get another chance to show how poor they are while players like Fahey aren't given the time of day?

Imagine if Trapp names him in the upcoming full squad. That would be some buzz!

Was Tardelli at the game last night???? He might be in with a shout

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

I agree. To be honest, the first time I saw him play was in the away game last week - but I must say he did stand out from the rest - including the Hertha players. He seems to have a great engine and excellent reading of the game. I would like to see him in a B friendly for ireland because alot of that B squad have been tried and tested already and have failed miserably.

Why should they get another chance to show how poor they are while players like Fahey aren't given the time of day?

That post has changed my mind slightly... Ive said before that while he is playin in the Eircom league he can realistically be a contender for a place in the National team, but there are guys in there like Liam Miller who have had enough chances and added nothing,Jonathan Douglas has plenty of caps(someone mentioned him on another thread as a possible call up) and there are a couple of others on the list too.After seeing him again last night I have come around to thinking that he should be in the at least the B squad and possibly the full squad, he looks like a lad that could offer something different

Fahey did impress me last night, but seeing as this is in the 'Ireland' section, I want to point out that Ireland are very well covered in central midfield at the moment. The promising Whelan-Reid partnership will be pursued with, and Andy Reid and Joey O'Brien are first-choice back-up. We rarely use more than four midfielders in a qualifying campaign anyway. For the 2002 qualifiers for example, we used only three. However, if Andy Reid or O'Brien are called into service in other positions, or Steven Reid gets injured, there may be one or two places going in the squad. The 'B' game is really a chance for Trap to assess who, from the multitude of contenders, gets these spare places, should they arise.

Trap seems to (controversially) favour Miller, but Owen Garvan would get my vote. Keith Andrews has a chance too, because of his good adjustment to Premiership life. Gibson is definitely one for the future - he's won two caps already, has played first-team football for Man United, is only 20, and thus deserves a chance to impress, if only for future reference. Anyone below this is, realistically, not going to be considered at the moment - not even Potter, Rowlands, Houlihan and others who made the B squad at Fahey's expense. In fairness, Fahey's not the only player to be disappointed. Spare a thought for Stephen McPhail and Mike Doyle, who were both outstanding last season as club captains in the Championship.

It is possible that he may be called up to future friendly squads but he would very likely then move. From a salary point of view he would earn more in the championship and possibly in League 1 in England.

On the general point there may be some domestically based players in Irish squads in the future but I'd be surprised if they then stayed with their clubs. I'd guess there are 50-60 Irish players in England that are paid better than any player in Ireland. Over time I'd expect any top 30-40 Irish player to end up in England (unless they are unmotivated by money which would be rare for a player!)