The Never Made It's

**RiffRaff** · 15/11/2008, 1:36 AM

Roy Keane - always thought he'd captain us in a world cup finals one day. I'll get my coat....

**Torn-Ado** · 15/11/2008, 9:22 AM

I remember reading about six years ago that Willo Flood was going to be the next big thing in Irish football.

For a while there I thought they could be right.

**fionnsci** · 15/11/2008, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Macken scored quite a few times for City: http://www.soccerbase.com/players_de...playerid=10775

http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.u...9~8823,00.html

Only 12 goals in 3 years. Never really good enough for Ireland.

**S�C** · 18/11/2008, 3:36 AM

Originally Posted by Ash

Alex O'Reilly
Goalkeeper who was part of the U-18 European Champions squad in 1998.
Was with West Ham at the time but then drifted down to Wigan, Bristol
Rovers, Gravesend, Northampton and a few non league sides.

Remember channel flicking one lazy Sunday and saw where he ended up.

The sub keeper for England's beach football team...

**OwlsFan** · 31/01/2011, 9:11 AM

Came across this relatively old thread which made quite interesting reading. At least two people mentioned Anthony Stokes. Will they be proved wrong yet?

**Supreme feet** · 31/01/2011, 10:55 AM

I really hope we're not talking about any of Stokes, James McCarthy, David Meyler, Greg Cunningham, Marc Wilson, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Aaron Doran, Conor Clifford, Conor Henderson or Robbie Brady in this light in five years time. We have a very talented group of youngsters coming through, just hope they have more luck than their predecessors. All it takes is relegation, a bad transfer, or an injury.

Gibson, Garvan and O'Dea have been big disappointments recently. Still young, and will have decent careers at some level, but certainly haven't lived up to expectations.

**ifk101** · 31/01/2011, 11:28 AM

I think any player that makes a career for himself in professional football and has senior caps to show for it "has made it".

**Crosby87** · 31/01/2011, 11:40 AM

Terry Dixon. Shame.
Ger Crossley too.

**eitoof** · 31/01/2011, 11:48 AM

Just going back to the OP. Michael Reddy never played in Greenland or the Falklands. It's Wikipedia folks. Not always reliable!

**irishultra** · 31/01/2011, 1:08 PM

macken cudda been really good for us with preston i rememember loving him as a kid. i thought he was gonna be like michael bridges....in a way he kinda was.

yeates=was it jol or santini that said he was the new gascgoine?

**tetsujin1979** · 31/01/2011, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

yeates=was it jol or santini that said he was the new gascgoine?

Jol said it about him a few times, but constantly sent him out on loan without ever really giving him a run in the Spurs first team.
Again, making a decent career for himself in the Championship, hard to say he failed.

**pineapple stu** · 31/01/2011, 1:17 PM

Kevin Grogan, sadly.

**Dodge** · 31/01/2011, 1:19 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

I think any player that makes a career for himself in professional football and has senior caps to show for it "has made it".

Spot on. Even without international caps, plenty of good Irish pros playing in Championship in England earning a nice living. Some of whom, at various stages, were just unlucky to play in same position as better Irish players (or players the manager(s) liked more)

**irishultra** · 31/01/2011, 1:24 PM

its relative tho, freddy adu cud end up havin an alrite career in football but he would still be a never made it considering the hype about him bout 6 7 yrs ago

michael doyle ronnie o brien etc. they arent never made it cause who actually thought they were gonna be amazing?

**Serb** · 31/01/2011, 3:56 PM

Richie Partridge.

He was a legend in Championship Manager, and that's good enough for me.

**Sullivinho** · 31/01/2011, 4:45 PM

Originally Posted by Supreme feet

I really hope we're not talking about any of Stokes, James McCarthy, David Meyler, Greg Cunningham, Marc Wilson, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Aaron Doran, Conor Clifford, Conor Henderson or Robbie Brady in this light in five years time. We have a very talented group of youngsters coming through, just hope they have more luck than their predecessors. All it takes is relegation, a bad transfer, or an injury.

Only injury can stop the lads in bold. I can never make my mind up about Stokes. He seems to have it but he provokes doubt at the same time. I'm a big fan of Meyler and hope to God he hasn't picked up an injury curse. He could be the full-blooded tonic for our more than occasional midfield anemia. Duffy and Clifford appear to have the tools for the job.

Probability would support several of these not living up to expectations though. I'm actually gonna make a note of this post for future (2 years+) reference. Should make for interesting reading.

Originally Posted by Supreme feet

Gibson, Garvan and O'Dea have been big disappointments recently. Still young, and will have decent careers at some level, but certainly haven't lived up to expectations.

Would have to agree, unfortunately. O'Dea and Garvan are just about on the wrong side of stagnation at this point.

**cornflakes** · 31/01/2011, 5:36 PM

Does Stephen Ireland count?

**Closed Account** · 31/01/2011, 5:48 PM

Originally Posted by cornflakes

Can Stephen Ireland count?

Fixed

**Paddy Garcia** · 31/01/2011, 7:50 PM

Originally Posted by Supreme feet

I really hope we're not talking about any of Stokes, James McCarthy, David Meyler, Greg Cunningham, Marc Wilson, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Aaron Doran, Conor Clifford, Conor Henderson or Robbie Brady in this light in five years time. We have a very talented group of youngsters coming through, just hope they have more luck than their predecessors. All it takes is relegation, a bad transfer, or an injury.

Hope Keane can keep going cos there are no strikers there.