Best Irish Players Ever

**gastric** · 01/03/2011, 6:37 AM

When Ferguson let McGrath leave Utd he was convinced his career was over. I think Graham Taylor was manager at Villa and was astounded that McGrath could only train in 5 aside games due to his injuries. His performance on the field put paid to any scepticism he had and on many occasions it was McGrath alone who kept Villa in games. One game I vividly remember was when he played at right back against Scotland. The Scottish winger, Davey Cooper from Rangers I think, tried to run past McGrath right on the touchline. McGrath's face told a story as he put Cooper and ball into the fence - the look being one of how stupid to even try it. I might be showing my age, but McGrath was the greatest Irish player I have ever seen play

**AlaskaFox** · 01/03/2011, 7:39 AM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

The SoccerRepublic website did a similar series last year and the Top 10 selected by a panel of judges ended up as follows (SwanvDalton and TheFly are very close):

10. Ronnie Whelan Jr
9. Ray Houghton
8. Denis Irwin
7. Packie Bonner
6. Robbie Keane
5. John Giles
4. Shay Given
3. Liam Brady
2. Roy Keane
1. Paul McGrath

The full list was covered in a thread here http://foot.ie/threads/132843-Soccer...-Players-Vote?

Be interesting to see how they compare.

**ifk101** · 01/03/2011, 8:20 AM

Is GreenScene not your website AlaskaFox?

**AlaskaFox** · 01/03/2011, 9:22 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Is GreenScene not your website AlaskaFox?

My cover has been blown...

Myself and carloz from here run it. I hope you guys think we're doing a good job.

**geysir** · 01/03/2011, 9:56 AM

You're doing a very good job with that site.
Never knew Carloz had it in him

**ifk101** · 01/03/2011, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

My cover has been blown...

Not to worry. I've blown Sean St Ledger's cover as well.

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

Myself and carloz from here run it. I hope you guys think we're doing a good job.

Of course. I echo Geysir's sentiments as well. At least now you don't need to refer to yourself as "they".

**geysir** · 01/03/2011, 11:27 AM

Caps must have hard to come by in the old days.
Shay Brennan gained only 19 caps, yet he was a Man U regular/stalwart for a decade.

**tetsujin1979** · 01/03/2011, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Caps must have hard to come by in the old days.
Shay Brennan gained only 19 caps, yet he was a Man U regular/stalwart for a decade.

less games played then too

**Sullivinho** · 01/03/2011, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

Myself and carloz from here run it. I hope you guys think we're doing a good job.

You certainly are, well done. The recent 'McCarthy in quotes' piece was very good.

**AlaskaFox** · 01/03/2011, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

You're doing a very good job with that site.
Never knew Carloz had it in him

Originally Posted by ifk101

Not to worry. I've blown Sean St Ledger's cover as well.

Of course. I echo Geysir's sentiments as well. At least now you don't need to refer to yourself as "they".

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

You certainly are, well done. The recent 'McCarthy in quotes' piece was very good.

Thanks guys.

That McCarthy article got us another mention on Newstalk, so it was worth it.

**SkStu** · 01/03/2011, 3:40 PM

It can only be McGrath.

Untouchable.

**OwlsFan** · 01/03/2011, 4:46 PM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

The SoccerRepublic website did a similar series last year and the Top 10 selected by a panel of judges ended up as follows (SwanvDalton and TheFly are very close):

10. Ronnie Whelan Jr
9. Ray Houghton
8. Denis Irwin
7. Packie Bonner
6. Robbie Keane
5. John Giles
4. Shay Given
3. Liam Brady
2. Roy Keane
1. Paul McGrath

The full list was covered in a thread here http://foot.ie/threads/132843-Soccer...-Players-Vote?

Hard to disagree with that list except I'd probably inter change Houghton and Bonner. There's also a difference between the "best Irish player ever" and the "best Irish international ever". Houghton was not the most talented player but he was one of, if not the, most effective Irish internationals of the Charlton era. Giles was the best passer of a ball. Ronnie Whelan, great player for Liverpool but no huge impact as an Irish international for a number of reasons. Roy Keane: immense presence on the pitch for both Ireland and Man U/Forest but his international legacy is flawed. Paul McGrath - a collossus.

Not on the list: Mark Lawrenson. Sheer class but not a huge international impact similar to Steve Heighway.

**The Fly** · 01/03/2011, 6:11 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

My cover has been blown...

Myself and carloz from here run it. I hope you guys think we're doing a good job.

What's the Batman between Clooney's and Bale's from?

**AlaskaFox** · 01/03/2011, 6:35 PM

Originally Posted by The Fly

What's the Batman between Clooney's and Bale's from?

No idea, this didn't help either:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...s_cast_members

**The Fly** · 01/03/2011, 6:40 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

No idea, this didn't help either:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...s_cast_members

From a computer game perhaps?

**paul_oshea** · 01/03/2011, 7:39 PM

Series?

**geysir** · 01/03/2011, 7:46 PM

I take it then that Alaska is Batman and Carloz is Robin?

**paul_oshea** · 01/03/2011, 8:38 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Hard to disagree with that list except I'd probably inter change Houghton and Bonner. There's also a difference between the "best Irish player ever" and the "best Irish international ever". Houghton was not the most talented player but he was one of, if not the, most effective Irish internationals of the Charlton era. Giles was the best passer of a ball. Ronnie Whelan, great player for Liverpool but no huge impact as an Irish international for a number of reasons. Roy Keane: immense presence on the pitch for both Ireland and Man U/Forest but his international legacy is flawed. Paul McGrath - a collossus.

YOu make a fair point there owlie with the distinction but the one that always stands out for me is houghton, I honestly think some are blinded by his earlier exploits. I grew up watching with my brother, and my earliest memory is the Christian Brothers(yes those god-fearing anti soccer fascist) letting us take half day and head to the assembly hall to watch ireland in the soccer(on an ancient tele, god i loved those days), and the first games i can really remember were around 89(possibly 88 late) and qualifying for WC 90. I digress slightly, but i came on the scene a bit later in houghtons playing days, and my brother would agree at the time even though he was a little older and remembers the heady days(and hazey) of Euro 88 etc, but houghton was one of the most frustrating players for me. I honestly thought that he was getting game time far too long for his previous exploits. Yes he had a few huge moments for ireland but I really think he was over-rated. I remember time and again especially 96 and 98 getting so frustrated and wondering how he was still getting in the team, it was a big bugbear with my brother and I for a good few years. I honestly think if you take out the few big moments and especially from 94(possibly 92) onwards he didn't do a great deal.

That said, I acknowledge he got some very important goals for us.

**AlaskaFox** · 01/03/2011, 9:41 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I take it then that Alaska is Batman and Carloz is Robin?

I'm Alfred and he's Jim Gordon.

**Fixer82** · 01/03/2011, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

YOu make a fair point there owlie with the distinction but the one that always stands out for me is houghton, I honestly think some are blinded by his earlier exploits. I grew up watching with my brother, and my earliest memory is the Christian Brothers(yes those god-fearing anti soccer fascist) letting us take half day and head to the assembly hall to watch ireland in the soccer(on an ancient tele, god i loved those days), and the first games i can really remember were around 89(possibly 88 late) and qualifying for WC 90. I digress slightly, but i came on the scene a bit later in houghtons playing days, and my brother would agree at the time even though he was a little older and remembers the heady days(and hazey) of Euro 88 etc, but houghton was one of the most frustrating players for me. I honestly thought that he was getting game time far too long for his previous exploits. Yes he had a few huge moments for ireland but I really think he was over-rated. I remember time and again especially 96 and 98 getting so frustrated and wondering how he was still getting in the team, it was a big bugbear with my brother and I for a good few years. I honestly think if you take out the few big moments and especially from 94(possibly 92) onwards he didn't do a great deal.

That said, I acknowledge he got some very important goals for us.

I thought he continued to perform after '92 certainly

Set up goal for John Sheridan V Spain in '93 that played as important a part in qualifying us for USA'94 as McLoughlin's V the North.

Scored against Belgium in play-off game. He was 37 at that stage. Never let Ireland down and continuously turned out his best performances in the big games.

EDIT: He was 35 when he scored V Belgium