SPL players?

**wws** · 04/02/2005, 10:18 AM

Just wondering - following on from another thread how many SPL players have made the step up and done well in the eircom league???

I cant think of any off hand, can you?

**ColinR** · 04/02/2005, 10:33 AM

ian gilzean, or does the scottish lower leagues count?????

**eoinh** · 04/02/2005, 10:40 AM

If memory serves me correctly (probably wrong). He didnt make much of an impact with Pats who let him go to Sligo Rovers in the First Division.

**wws** · 04/02/2005, 10:41 AM

he played for Dundee yeah

tahn went back to the spl

eoinh - he was pats top scorer with trevor molloy in two championship winning teams

**S�C** · 04/02/2005, 10:50 AM

The Bull McCabe, major player in Cork City FC's only ever league win

**ColinR** · 04/02/2005, 10:52 AM

did sligo have a whole host of players in the mid 90s over from scotland.

we had stewart taylor in 2002/03. signed him from airdrie (scot div 1), was excellant, a touch of class in what was sometimes a inconsistant team. returned to scotland for falkirk before the relegation play offs, where he won div.1 medal. he then went to partick last season who got relegated from spl, dont think he got off the bench too much though for them

**wws** · 04/02/2005, 10:56 AM

ok so a handful have done well here - but I fail to see how these isolated examples makes the SPL a good league like ours

**S�C** · 04/02/2005, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by wws

ok so a handful have done well here - but I fail to see how these isolated examples makes the SPL a good league like ours

They dont you can name more EL players who went over there.

I've agreed with dubya dubya essssss twice in 24 hours, I feel dirty

**Junior** · 04/02/2005, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by wws

ok so a handful have done well here - but I fail to see how these isolated examples makes the SPL a good league like ours

Absolutely. I think you have a rock solid case, no question, no doubt about it you have me, who could argue with the case you present.

Well done.

**pineapple stu** · 04/02/2005, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by wws

ok so a handful have done well here - but I fail to see how these isolated examples makes the SPL a good league like ours

I assume you're taking the p!ss...I can't think of more than a handful of English Premiership players who have done well here...and no La Liga players who have mastered the eL...we must be better than them so...

**Schumi** · 04/02/2005, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I assume you're taking the p!ss...I can't think of more than a handful of English Premiership players who have done well here...and no La Liga players who have mastered the eL...we must be better than them so...

Maybe it is.

**drinkfeckarse** · 04/02/2005, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I assume you're taking the p!ss...I can't think of more than a handful of English Premiership players who have done well here...and no La Liga players who have mastered the eL...we must be better than them so...

At last , a sensible post..... Considering the wages are generally a lot higher in the SPL, why would players leave the SPL to join the EL

**pete** · 04/02/2005, 1:10 PM

Gerry McCabe definitely one of the best imports for city. Remember him beating opposition players in a CUp game against non-leaguers, waiting fro them to catching up & beating them again.

I think its hard to judge league v league as SPL has more strength in depth whereas only top 3 maybe in eL on any one year at good standard.

I think eL players just as skillful or skill-less but non-fulltimers suffer from less fitness. I've seen a few mins of SPL highlights here & there on Setanta & finishing looks of eL standard i.e. get fluffed shots & similar like when tv3 show 5 mins of various chances in highlights.

Dempsey, Hunt & Byrne all went to Dunfirmline & made 1st team fairly quickly & only Hunt could even get close to being el "star".

**drinkfeckarse** · 04/02/2005, 2:08 PM

I don't think the issue here is about which league is better as it's a pointless debate and one that's been done to death anyway.

However, the question WWS stated was about "how many SPL players have made it in the EL?". This must be a p!ss take as Pineapple Stu asked because it really is totally stupid and pointless question if it's not a wind up.

As he said, it's like saying why haven't any Serie A stars made it in the EL. The money in Scotland even in this age of cutbacks is a lot better than than EL so the only way you'd get SPL players plying their trade in the EL now would be if (a) they're at the end of their careers or (b) at the start and sent out on loan or something.