Joe Coll

[gastric]

Seemingly, hasn't found a club. Does anyone have an update on him? is it time to wonder about his future?

[gastric]

According to a poster on YBIG from Donegal, Joe is at home playing Gaelic and was homesick. Shane Supple all over again. Will be interesting to see if he ever returns to football.

[nigel-harps1954]

Funny, I heard he was out searching for a club in England not so long ago. Would be an interesting signing for someone like Harps.

I always figure it must be damning on the confidence of a young player like that to be released and told they're not good enough to make it.

It's precisely why I believe they shouldn't be going to the top clubs in England.

[geysir]

I always figure it must be damning on the confidence of a young player like that to be released and told they're not good enough to make it.

It's precisely why I believe they shouldn't be going to the top clubs in England.

Was he released by Man U? I understood that he walked away from them on his own terms.

[nigel-harps1954]

Technically yes, he quit because he wasn't getting any football there supposedly.

[geysir]

Afaiu Man u wanted to keep him on their books which is not the same as being released.

[tricky_colour]

That's the problem with going to Man U so many good players there it's hard to get anywhere which is not going to do
your confidence any good, better to start at a less club where you are more likely to get opportunities and progress
which will boost confidence.

[tetsujin1979]

you have to balance out the lack of opportunities against the superior training, facilities, etc that you won't get at lower ranked clubs

[SkStu]

You can't beat experience gained through game time in my opinion.

[CraftyToePoke]

That's the problem with going to Man U so many good players there it's hard to get anywhere which is not going to do
your confidence any good, better to start at a less club where you are more likely to get opportunities and progress
which will boost confidence.

Maybe.

But the top clubs naturally have not only the best players but their pick of coaches also. Would the holes in Robbie Keane's game that stopped him from being a world class player throughout his career have been better coached and ironed out of him at a bigger side than Wolves?

Understand, I am a Robbie fan, but I still think he hinted at even more than all he delivered, which is considerable none the less.

[Paddy Garcia]

According to a poster on YBIG from Donegal, Joe is at home playing Gaelic and was homesick. Shane Supple all over again. Will be interesting to see if he ever returns to football.

I wonder how Shane is doing & is he playing at any level. I thought he was a fantastic prospect!

[Charlie Darwin]

Supple is Stephen Cluxton's understudy for Dublin.

[paul_oshea]

he might be pushed up to 1st team this year then.

[Supreme feet]

You can't beat experience gained through game time in my opinion.

Would generally agree. A lot of talented lads who go to big clubs without getting regular football (Miller, Gibson, Stokes, Potter, Stack, Clifford, Henderson) end up having superior technique for the experience, but with question marks over work-rate, hunger and/or suitability for high-pressure competitive football. On the other hand, the players who served their time with LOI or smaller British clubs, and had regular first-team football from a young age (McCarthy, Hoolahan, Coleman, Long) have tended to make better use of their potential, and been able to stand out as genuine, hard-working team players once they make the step up, without lacking much in terms of technique.

Of course, there are exceptions, but most top-level Irish players fall in between these two extremes - coming through EPL academies, but then dropping down a division (like Whelan, Kelly, Walters, etc) and rebuilding their careers from there.

[liamoo11]

I'm sure this was posted but he signed for derry wil b backup to their international first choice keeper

[kennedmc]

Would generally agree. A lot of talented lads who go to big clubs without getting regular football (Miller, Gibson, Stokes, Potter, Stack, Clifford, Henderson) end up having superior technique for the experience, but with question marks over work-rate, hunger and/or suitability for high-pressure competitive football.

The fundamental problem is if the player is good enough though. There is a bias by us fans that when an Irish player signs for a big club we automatically put him on a pedestal.

The reality is though there are plenty of players who haven't made the grade at big clubs that are now playing for other pl and championship clubs. The fact that some Irish ones have't (along with other nationalities) means they are not good enough.
This is not just an Irish problem or issue!

I believe The more fundamental problem for Irish football is the technical ability of players we are producing between 8-14. It is currently no where good enough so how can we improve the overall standard of technique with Irish kids.

[DannyInvincible]

Would generally agree. A lot of talented lads who go to big clubs without getting regular football (Miller, Gibson, Stokes, Potter, Stack, Clifford, Henderson) end up having superior technique for the experience, but with question marks over work-rate, hunger and/or suitability for high-pressure competitive football.

Perhaps slightly harsh including Gibson in that group. Issue with Trap aside, which is maybe indicative of immaturity/a petulant attitude, he's shown himself to be more than capable having moved on to Everton.

[mark12345]

I believe The more fundamental problem for Irish football is the technical ability of players we are producing between 8-14. It is currently no where good enough so how can we improve the overall standard of technique with Irish kids.

The 64,000 dollar question right there. I've been banging away on this drum for years on this messageboard and no one wants to take up the debate with any sort of conviction. The issue is, as you quite astutely point out, the lack of technical ability of our youngsters. How do we improve it? My suggestion is that the FAI hire a few good South American youth coaches and let them work with the pick of Irish talent. Give the coaches a five or six year contract. Far better investment than spending telephone numbers on Trap.

[SkStu]

Just saw this Mark which reminded me of your post...very interesting read about our coaching mentality which we've talked about here before.

http://theleagueofirelandblog.blogsp...column_18.html

[paul_oshea]

i really wanted to read that but the white on black text after 10 hours sitting in front of a pc is just too difficult. Actually even after 1 hour id say its too difficult read white on black background.