An eircom league striker???

**Peadar** · 03/08/2004, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

If any EL striker is to get a call up for Ireland, it should logically be the top scorer in the Eircom League this season.

What if that striker wasn't eligible?

**Schumi** · 03/08/2004, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

What if that striker wasn't eligible?

I believe Willie Doyle is elligible.

**Peadar** · 03/08/2004, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

I believe Willie Doyle is elligible.

I think 13 goals for Jason Byrne in the Premier Division has more weight than the 15 of Willie Doyle in the First Division.

**John83** · 03/08/2004, 2:26 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

I think 13 goals for Jason Byrne in the Premier Division has more weight than the 15 of Willie Doyle in the First Division.

And I think that the smilie was originally used to mark posts on the internet which weren't meant to be taken seriously.

O'Flynn is certainly worth a look, and the sooner the better. There's no point in qualifying for the world cup and finding that three of the only four strikers you've called up in the past two years are injured. O'Flynn certainly looks like the kind of player who can make the step up.

**Peadar** · 03/08/2004, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by John83

And I think that the smilie was originally used to mark posts on the internet which weren't meant to be taken seriously.

I know that John. I was just having a dig at Schumi and his Div. 1 players.
Thanks for the support for John O'Flynn though.
It would be just reward for him if her were to start against Bulgaria.

**Schumi** · 03/08/2004, 2:38 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Schumi and his Div. 1 players.

Div. 1, still in the Cup players.

**Peadar** · 03/08/2004, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

Div. 1, still in the Cup players.

Touch�!

**sylvo** · 03/08/2004, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by davros

Relative 'one-offs' dont count.....Hate to say it.....making it in the Eng.top 2 Divs.,the S.P.L.or top divs.of countries who regularly feature in the CL,is the Minimum criteria for aspiring internationals.

Soccer always a relative 3rd.in Ireland after GAA or Rugby.....until you change that culture,the EL is little more than a sideshow with regards to potential Ireland players.....

Well David Connelly was playing in the belgian second division for a season while on loan from fire-noord and he alway's got into the team, and i doubt that division is much kop.
EL player's like Hoolihan, O'Flynn, Conner and Zayed have all performed well at u21 level, Hoolihan was the main man in our win over the Swiss in Nauchatel and got on the score sheet and has been consistant for Shel's this season, so I can't see why the same level of confidence can't be bestowed on him at senior level as it is at u21 level.
Dav as for one off's Cork beat Malmo home and away and were were only beaten 4-2 on aggregate by a team pretty used to the champion's league, and Shel's are within one game of touch wood playing Deportivo.
I'd judge a player playing well in Europe as a better assesment then playing
well in lower division's in other country's.

**John83** · 03/08/2004, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick J.

Irish team would be as well off resurecting the career of Jimmy Doyle from Fair City and playing him up front than that pr!ck.

Woah! What did Willie Doyle ever do to earn that kind of abuse?

**John83** · 03/08/2004, 7:47 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick J.

He's a big-headed arsehole. He won't amount to much in the premier division. Send the fcuker back to Wexford.

No, that's just more abuse. I asked what he's done to earn that abuse.

**Junior** · 03/08/2004, 8:58 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick J.

He robbed my football boots a few years back. He's a real townie. Never admitted to it even though he was seen taking them. He even took a Cadbury's cream egg that I was going to have for lunch. And he was really big-headed in training.

brilliant.. that made me laugh. If I was you I'd be praying that he made it in to the irish squad, so you could sell your 'Irish player stole my cadburys cream egg' story to the tabloids.........

**Condex** · 03/08/2004, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Pete_Briquette

Anyway back to the Eircom League striker debate, personally I'd give Mouse one final chance and play him with Clinton.

No more chances for mouse!!

**�anna** · 03/08/2004, 11:35 PM

who the hell is mouse?

**tiktok** · 04/08/2004, 7:51 AM

Originally Posted by �anna

who the hell is mouse?

I think Mouse is Angry Ant

Or was that a show on Nickelodeon

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by Patrick J.

He even took a Cadbury's cream egg that I was going to have for lunch.

Maybe that's why he's a division 1 striker, he's still trying to burn off the calories from that egg

Looks like he saved your life, mate.

Originally Posted by �anna

who the hell is mouse?

"Danger" as in Dangerman Connolly?

**eirebhoy** · 04/08/2004, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Condex

No more chances for mouse!!

I am going to repeat this until it stops being brought up because I think he gets too much of a hard time:

Connolly scored 7 goals in his first 15 appearances for Ireland (he has not got worse since than, he has obviously improved). We all know he can't play with Robbie so he shouldn't be judged by his performances partnering him. Would you believe, since Robbie came on the scence Connolly has only started 5 matches without Keane as his partner (in the other 18 matches he was either partnered by Robbie or came on as a sub for the last 15 or so minutes). Them 5 matches were against Sweden, Turkey, Andorra, Cyprus (scored 1), Turkey (scored 1 and got MOM).

At Wimbledon he was partnered with Neil Shipperley and scored 42 goals in 63 games.

So what I am trying to say is don't judge Connolly by his performances when partnered with Keane. Also over half of his caps were substitute appearances which were usually between the 70-90 minute. If Keane was ever unavailable I would be more than happy to have Connolly replace him.

**Greenbod** · 04/08/2004, 10:58 AM

With Keane out, Connolly is the next best available option.

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Greenbod

With Keane out, Connolly is the next best available option.

Yes but we need to have strikers on the bench for options and the best thing to do is blood these players in friendlies so that you know what you have in reserve should you need to or be forced to make changes.
John O'Flynn deserves a chance!

**Greenbod** · 04/08/2004, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Yes but we need to have strikers on the bench for options and the best thing to do is blood these players in friendlies so that you know what you have in reserve should you need to or be forced to make changes.
John O'Flynn deserves a chance!

Sorry, I'm talking about our best available team for competitive matches. Sure give O'Flynn a chance against Bulgaria, however given that Robbie Keane looks like being out, I would like to see Connolly and Morrison together for at least 45 minutes.

**1MickCollins** · 04/08/2004, 2:07 PM

Morrison & Connolly are the obvious choice with Keane out. Doherty as the first choice striking sub - not inspiring choices but clearly the realistic options.

I look forward to see what Elliott & McGeady do at club level this season.