Serious lack of Irish players starting in the Premiership

**carloz** · 02/11/2008, 3:29 PM

Only really realised this on Saturday. Of the 16 Premiership teams that played on that day, there was only 3 Irish players who started for their clubs. They were Keane of Liverpool, Andrews of Blackburn and Delap of Stoke. John O'Shea, Glenn Whelan, and Caleb Folan were all quite late substitutes. Andy Reid, Kevin kilbane and Den kiely were all unused subs. Am i alone in being very very worried about the lack of Irish players now playing in the top flight.

**Colbert Report** · 02/11/2008, 3:36 PM

What an absolute garbage point to bring up. I'm watching Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland, and Andy O'Brien play in a match live right now. They all started.

Given and Duff play tomorrow. Finnan plays in Spain and McGeady in Spain. Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle play in the Championship (for now). O'Shea came on as a sub for Manchester United yesterday. Glenn Whelan came on as a sub yesterday as well.

Given (tomorrow)
Finnan(Spain)-Dunne(started today)-O'Shea(sub yesterday)-Kilbane
McGeady(Scotland)-Whelan(sub)-Gibson/Carsley/Reid-Duff(plays tomorrow)
Keane(started)-Doyle(started and scored).

**paul_oshea** · 02/11/2008, 3:38 PM

ya robert but behind those 11 there are feck all playing in the premiership, why are you attacking his post? He has a very valid point.

**Colbert Report** · 02/11/2008, 3:44 PM

Back in the glory days of Charlton how many players did we have playing in the Premiership beyond our starting eleven?

**SkStu** · 02/11/2008, 3:45 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

ya robert but behind those 11 there are feck all playing in the premiership, why are you attacking his post? He has a very valid point.

agree Paul. bizarre random over the top attack on a pretty valid point.

Original poster was talking about English premiership only yet Colbert Report uses players playing for teams in spain, scotland and championship to attack him?? Weird.

**SkStu** · 02/11/2008, 3:49 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Back in the glory days of Charlton how many players did we have playing in the Premiership beyond our starting eleven?

almost all our squad were First Division players, Charlton insisted that 2nd tier players would not start under him and most players did their upmost to ensure that they were playing to the highest level they could.

**Colbert Report** · 02/11/2008, 3:50 PM

Of our best eleven, only Given, Dunne, Duff, and Keane are regular starters in the Premiership.

Finnan, McGeady, Hunt, and Doyle all play regular football elsewhere.

I can see his point about Kilbane, Whelan, and Gibson not getting a regular start in the Premiership and certainly this is an area of concern. However, we already have the "central midfield crisis" thread on the go. No need for another thread to spout the kind of rubbish this guy is on about.

**Colbert Report** · 02/11/2008, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

almost all our squad were First Division players, Charlton insisted that 2nd tier players would not start under him and most players did their upmost to ensure that they were playing to the highest level they could.

How then did Alan Kelly get into the squad over Packie Bonner? He was nothing more than a reserve at Sheffield United if I remember correctly.

**carloz** · 02/11/2008, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

What an absolute garbage point to bring up. I'm watching Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland, and Andy O'Brien play in a match live right now. They all started.

Given and Duff play tomorrow. Finnan plays in Spain and McGeady in Spain. Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle play in the Championship (for now). O'Shea came on as a sub for Manchester United yesterday. Glenn Whelan came on as a sub yesterday as well.

Given (tomorrow)
Finnan(Spain)-Dunne(started today)-O'Shea(sub yesterday)-Kilbane
McGeady(Scotland)-Whelan(sub)-Gibson/Carsley/Reid-Duff(plays tomorrow)
Keane(started)-Doyle(started and scored).

Relax a bit mate, i think it was a very fair point to bring up. If we have only 3 players starting from 16 Premiership teams, we should be worried. Andy O'Brien has retired and Stephen Ireland has made himself unavailable. Finnan has played half an hour's football in Spain. Why you bring up Hunt and Doyle i dont know, as my point concerns Premiership players. Plus id ask you to read my point fully before commenting. I clearly mentioned that Glenn Whelan came on

**SkStu** · 02/11/2008, 3:58 PM

a similar lack of cover at certain areas ensured that there were exceptions, such as Gerry Peyton backing up Bonner. Kelly was understudy to Bonner for 3 years. Bonner then retired and Kelly took over from him if i recall correctly.. Kelly only won about 40 caps whereas Bonner won 90ish.

**tricky_colour** · 02/11/2008, 4:07 PM

The Premier League is full of overseas players these days, they have been replaced by foreigners.

**fionnsci** · 02/11/2008, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

The Premier League is full of overseas players these days, they have been replaced by foreigners.

Exactly, it has even affected the amount of Englishmen starting, take Arsenal for example.

**irishultra** · 02/11/2008, 6:02 PM

they have been replaced by other foreigners.

**sligofan4ever** · 02/11/2008, 6:05 PM

Originally Posted by fionnsci

Exactly, it has even affected the amount of Englishmen starting, take Arsenal for example.

Arsenal arent even an english team, there a french team, if you look at the nationality of there present and past players you'll know what I mean. Only Englishman in the squad right now is Theo Walcott I think.

**irishultra** · 02/11/2008, 6:11 PM

well there is no english nationality so you could say they have walcott, ramsey and wilshire.

**irishfan86** · 02/11/2008, 6:18 PM

Maybe soon to be joined by Almunia

**Supreme feet** · 02/11/2008, 6:33 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

almost all our squad were First Division players, Charlton insisted that 2nd tier players would not start under him and most players did their upmost to ensure that they were playing to the highest level they could.

From the squad that went to USA '94, Alan Kelly, McLoughlin, McAteer, David Kelly, Aldridge and McGoldrick were all playing in Division 1. Cascarino didn't even have a club, and was about to sign for Marseille, who were in Ligue 2 after the bribery scandal. Coyne was playing for Motherwell. Bonner was in and out of Celtic's team, Whelan was in Liverpool's reserves and about to sign for Southend. Kernaghan was on Man City's bench.

From the squad that qualified for 2002, many of our players had spent time in Division 1 during the campaign - notably Duff, Holland, Kinsella, McAteer, Alan Kelly, Connolly, Breen and Cunningham.

Football can change very quickly, and by next season - depending on how promotions, relegations and transfers go - the situation could have changed dramatically - especially if Reading go up, Garvan, McCann and O'Toole get transfers and O'Halloran, Treacy and Folan get established.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 02/11/2008, 6:34 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

almost all our squad were First Division players, Charlton insisted that 2nd tier players would not start under him and most players did their upmost to ensure that they were playing to the highest level they could.

Jack Charlton took a squad to the world cup finals in 1994 who's only top flight striker was Tommy Coyne of Motherwell.

**richieos** · 02/11/2008, 6:38 PM

i think we should look at the positives of our players instead of the negatives.
players who scored at the weekend:

doyle - 2 goals
noel hunt - 1 goal
andrews - 1 goal
stephen elliott -1 goal
robbie keane - 1 assist
rory delap - 2 assists
david mcgoldrick (is he irish?) 1 goal

also paul mcshane started in the premiership too, although he really looked like a championship player.
sheridan started for celtic
garvan, mcann, o'toole all started for their clubs