Keith Fahey

[jbyrne]

the reason LOI supporters can get annoyed is that none of these players are given a chance to be involved in any way until they move across the water. They arent tested in friendlies or invited to train with the squad to see what they are capable of. Nobody is suggesting that many LOI players should be involved but what is to be lost by calling up a stand out performer from the LOI such Fahey or Brian Murphy to squads such as the 40 man one before they move across the water???????

didnt fahey himself say he struggled at first as he couldnt get up to the pace of the game in the championship? he has subsequently adjusted well and thats why he possibly justifys selection in the upcoming squads. i'm not having a go at the LOI when i say that players, even of faheys quality, simply dont get the chance to 'acclimatise' in such a way until they move to play in a higher standard lge

[paul_oshea]

good post,natural progression and all that, rather than being thrown in at the deep end. Thats probably partly why managers dont give them a chance at international level knowing this.

[Stuttgart88]

We have a deal Buller.

[Razors left peg]

didnt fahey himself say he struggled at first as he couldnt get up to the pace of the game in the championship? he has subsequently adjusted well and thats why he possibly justifys selection in the upcoming squads. i'm not having a go at the LOI when i say that players, even of faheys quality, simply dont get the chance to 'acclimatise' in such a way until they move to play in a higher standard lge

very good post.Im a LOI fan and there is no way I would be in favour of having players going from playing against Bray, Galway United, Sligo etc to be put into a team expected to compete well against the likes of Italy. No matter how good the player is he has to be playing at a level higher than LOI consistantly to be sharp enough for International football

[Buller]

very good post.Im a LOI fan and there is no way I would be in favour of having players going from playing against Bray, Galway United, Sligo etc to be put into a team expected to compete well against the likes of Italy. No matter how good the player is he has to be playing at a level higher than LOI consistantly to be sharp enough for International football

I think that is probably true for outfield players. It's just frustrating when you see they have the ability and must move away to prove it. Fahey opened up a top Bundesliga side, spreading passes all over the place and making fun of some of their players on one occasion (nutmeg) He certainly didn't look out of his depth anyway! But yeah, if he was selected he would of had to adjust to increased tempo.

While I'm reluctant to open up another debate, I just want to point out that on the goalkeepers side of things it's a different story. If can save a cracker in LOI, you can save it in any league. Brian Murphy for Bohs should be at least 4th or 3rd choice keeper. He has been absolutely fantastic whenever I've seen him and we are very lightweight in this position at the moment apart from Shay. If we are employing keepers from League 1 I do think that he should be at least considered a call up. I know Brian Murphy could make it at any Championship side if given an opportunity.

[DmanDmythDledge]

There's no way Murphy should be in the top 3. Can't comment after that as I haven't seen enough of other keepers but he's definitely not better than Given, Kiely or Westwood.

[Buller]

he's definitely not better than Given, Kiely or Westwood.

I never said he was better than best keepers in the world or Kiely...

[DmanDmythDledge]

Brian Murphy for Bohs should be at least 4th or 3rd choice keeper.

.....

[Buller]

At least 4th or possibly 3rd. Not 1st. Not 2nd.

Anything else while you're at it?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Well you've conviently edited your post that I responded too. Pretty quickly in fairness though.

[Buller]

Well you've conviently edited your post that I responded too. Pretty quickly in fairness though.

Yes, before you responded!

The edit was to take out a wink as shown here:
http://foot.ie/forums/posthistory.ph...pare&p=1158461


Can you please quit while you're ahead?

[DmanDmythDledge]

You originally said "I never said he was better than any of those keepers." #631 in case there's any confusion.

[Stuttgart88]

Given, Kiely & Westwood are definitely the top 3.

I remember Murphy from the Youth WC in UAE in 2003. He alternated with Henderson I think because the manager (Smyth?) couldn't choose between the two. I thought he was good - commanding, good shot stopper and great kick. I was suprised he didn't make it in UK. I hear he's been great at Bohs.

[NeilMcD]

Have not seen much of Westwood but Murphy is class but like anything else goalkeeping is about how you deal with it and the highest level and the atmosphere etc. Technically Murphy is a great keeper and I would be happy to see him in an Ireland squad.

Neil

[Drumcondra 69er]

Have not seen much of Westwood but Murphy is class but like anything else goalkeeping is about how you deal with it and the highest level and the atmosphere etc. Technically Murphy is a great keeper and I would be happy to see him in an Ireland squad.

Neil

Murphy is class alright from watching him regularly.

However, it's a moot point whether he's better then Westwood who has looked top quality in the few games I've seen him play and is playing better teams week in week out so he's there on merit at present.

[Buller]

Murphy is class alright from watching him regularly.

However, it's a moot point whether he's better then Westwood who has looked top quality in the few games I've seen him play and is playing better teams week in week out so he's there on merit at present.

That's great news. I have yet to see Westwood play but it's great to know there'll be a good keeper to take up the reigns when Given does eventually retire. (hopefully no time soon!)

[Dodge]

So we're all agreed then Fahey is the 5th choice Irish keeper?

[SunderlandBohs]

Just to clear up this Murphy-Westwood thing.

Brian Murphy is one of the best Irish keepers around. But he plays in the LOI and would only get praised on here if he was warming the bench up in Falkirk like Supple or playing in League 2 for Hereford or Darlo. Maybe if he was English and his great great Granny drank a pint of Guinness once.

As for Westwood. He's English but a good Catholic boy!! This is a pi$$ take. In other words, 'I'll never get a game for England so I'll dust down my first communion medal and call crisp tayto and pledge my future to Ireland.'

Keith Fahey deserves to be in the squad along time ago. He's exactly what we need. A ball winner in the middle of the park, someone who can create things, dead-ball specialist and someone who chip in with a goal. I'd have him over Gibson, Whelan and Andrews anytime.

[elroy]

Keith Fahey deserves to be in the squad along time ago. He's exactly what we need. A ball winner in the middle of the park, someone who can create things, dead-ball specialist and someone who chip in with a goal. I'd have him over Gibson, Whelan and Andrews anytime.

IMO Whelan is the most improved Ireland player in the last six months or so, has gone from a regularly unused sub at stoke to a solid first team starter and I think there is more to come from the lad. Def think that Fahey deserves a call up in the friendlies at least, he surely is ahead of the likes of Miller in the pecking order now.

[tetsujin1979]

Brian Murphy is one of the best Irish keepers around. But he plays in the LOI and would only get praised on here if he was warming the bench up in Falkirk like Supple or playing in League 2 for Hereford or Darlo.

Nope, he's been praised quite a bit on the site. Personally, I think his time in England (released by Man City and Swansea) have coloured my opinions of him, but I'm open minded enough to accept that if enough people on the site think he's that good, then he's worth a look. Supple hasn't played for Falkirk in over a year. Hereford are in League 1. Get your facts right before you go on a rant.

As for Westwood. He's English but a good Catholic boy!! This is a pi$$ take. In other words, 'I'll never get a game for England so I'll dust down my first communion medal and call crisp tayto and pledge my future to Ireland.'

Westwood put the record straight on that quote some time ago.
From http://www.sundaymercury.net/midland...6331-21135286/(dated 21 June 2008)

"Someone just asked me after some bookie had slashed my odds on an international appearance and I said that I could actually play for Ireland because I've got an Irish grandmother. That was it really"As a bit of a joke I said I'm a good Catholic boy and it seemed to have got taken out of context by somebody at some point. Now I would like to address it. "At that stage I didn't even think I would get anywhere near an Ireland call-up, it was tongue-in-cheek and me talking to a local reporter in Carlisle, a bit of banter.
"Obviously it has been blown out of proportion and I've taken some stick for it. I'm very proud and privileged to be called up and it's not something that I would take lightly."

He's recently been voted into the Championship team of the season, so he's obviously a decent keeper

Keith Fahey deserves to be in the squad along time ago. He's exactly what we need. A ball winner in the middle of the park, someone who can create things, dead-ball specialist and someone who chip in with a goal. I'd have him over Gibson, Whelan and Andrews anytime.

I'd argue that central midfield is one of the few areas that doesn't need to be changed. Instead of the revolving door of previous regimes, opposition teams are being forced to go out wide to generate goalscoring opportunities. Central midfield has been cast as the second line of defence, and because of that, central defence has been much stronger. I'd certainly have Fahey in the squad, but I wouldn't play him in central midfield. He doesn't play there for Birmingham, and I'm a big fan of not putting square pegs into round holes.