Would LOI players have made an impact?

[sligoman]

There are a few keepers like Devine (lots of experience) definitely good enough for the 3rd keeper position.

John O'Hara would get that one

[TheOwl]

For me Wes would be the only one worth a place in the squad. He was great in those European games but he has improved 10-fold this season (shame about the rest of the team), he just doesn't seem to have bad games anymore, and the team looks so stale when he is out injured.

Jason Byrne isn't good enough though, his first touch is ropey at best, and his finishing is erratic. He has great positioning, but wouldn't get the same number of chances at international level, and despite all his goals, he actually misses more than he scores.

Owen Heary would have merited a cap or two a couple of years ago, but I think it is too late for him now.

As for Cork and Derry players? Well I think there are much more collectively strong than Shels, but I don't think they have an individual of Weso's class (now that Doyle has gone).

[Dodge]

No, the reasons Outlined here

[tiktok]

Danny Murphy is IMO at least as competent defensively as Harte/O'Shea and offers a lot more going forward than either.

At a stretch, Weso on song would be worth a look.
That'd be about it IMO. Georgie's nowhere close though.

[Cosmo]

Georgie's nowhere close though.

Totally agree - plus he's a scumbag- so is his car in buy and sell these days ?

[pete]

I think eL players have to prove themselves in Europe before international consideration so just Shels & Cork City squads for now. Derry City players would have to prove themselves in Europe & the league next season.

[gustavo]

is danny murphy not english ?

[pete]

is danny murphy not english ?

AFAIK Anglo-irish. Think his mother from Kinsale.

[Slash/ED]

It's not a case of them being international class or not but a case of them being better options than the utter clowns we have capped in their places like Barrett and Doherty amoungst many others, who if they're international class so am I.

[EnDai]

Added to the other plus points for the players listed, they would go out there and give it their all. They'd be hungry, fight for the ball, and work themselves like horses to give their all for the team. Something our current squad don't seem to fancy....

[pete]

Barrett & a few other useless players are proof that players get picked for International team based on the club they play for. Barrett is now at Livingston. Other failures at international level - Macken, Alan Lee etc...

[Shelsman]

If it was up to me I would give the following lads a few games in the friendlies over the next year or so ( what have we got to lose? ):

Goalkeepers:
Michael Divine ( surely should be 3rd choice keeper and not Colgan )

Defenders:
Owen Heary
Danny Murphy

Midfielders
Wes Hoolahan
George O'Callaghan ( cheating c*** as he is and all ).
Kevin Hunt ( Naturalised )

Strikers
Jason Byrne

[Vitruvian Man]

There is an argument that a handful of players, the absolute cream of the EL, would merit a place in the internmational squad ahead of the absolute worst of the players called up. and that is enough to say that the EL is ignored by the FAI management teams who are biased towards English football.

On the other side, I don't believe that the EL could put together 11 players who would have done better in Irelands qualifying group than the National side did. Perhaps the EL 11 might beat the national team in a freak one-off but don't cod yourselves people.

You can judge the EL players well enough by how they do in Europe. The things we like to celebrate are our victories over Aberdeen, Hajuk Split and Djurgardens but these are all third rate sides in the European sense. When we have played second rate sides like Rosenborg/Kaiserslautern, Derpotivo/Steau Bucharest or Sparta Prague we have got battered. The EL still celebrates it's moral victories (beat K'town away, kept Deportivo scorless for 130 minutes etc) and that in itself is a sign of minnowism.

[pete]

The problem with eL sides in Europe is that as they progress their weaknesses are exposed as don't have quality players throughout the team.

Little chance of eL XI beating International side.

I'd be very interested to see how eL elite squad would do in a season in the SPL or English Championship. That would be if they trained as a club all season.

[Shelsman]

I'd be very interested to see how eL elite squad would do in a season in the SPL or English Championship. That would be if they trained as a club all season.

A bit like Shels then?

[Mayo Red]

Alan Lee

This is the same man who was on about throwing his lot in with the U.S.A around the time that Glen Crowe got his two caps because he felt that he was not getting his chance, and that Crowe should not have been selected ahead of him!

Back to the thread - As was touched on earlier, if Gary Doherty can play for Ireland anyone can (I myself am waiting on the chance to impress the new manager! ). Seriously though, I have always thought that Owen Heary was worth a shot. He has consistently performed well for Shels, and in particular in Europe. Wes Houlahan and Liam Kearney may also be worth a look. I always thought Kevin Hunt was quality too, he would surely qualify by now but is gettin on a bit!

[A face]

No, the reasons Outlined here

"Doyle's doing great but he's still far from the finished article. In an ideal world he wouldn't have been picked last week but given more time to develop."

Dodge .... the fact that he was picked and knows that if he shines, he will get picked again .... do you not think that mentally it is very good for him and would make him strive to improve himself even further !?!?!

[Dyl10]

If i was tryin out a few players it would have to be:
wes houlihan
georgie
neale fenn

I dont think any others have the class but i think these players would give us something we dont have

[TonyD]

Whatever about the merits of this argument, the fact is that if Brian Kerr didn't pick any of the players mentioned then no Irish Manager will. This was one of the things that peed me off about the criticism of Kerr. He knows these players well, and it was a genuine judgement on his behalf that they weren't good enough. Does anyone honestly think that whoever takes over is even going to know who these players are, or is going to bother finding out ? You can be damn sure that you aren't going to see Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill, David O'Leary or John Aldridge(God Help Us) At Tolka Park, Richmond Park or Turners Cross. What we can expect instead is a frantic rush to find lots more players not good enough for England who have Irish grannies. Yes folks, this is the brave new world John Delaney is leading us into. I wonder can we petition FIFA to break away from the FAI and have our own national team.

[drinkfeckarse]

There are a few keepers like Devine (lots of experience) definitely good enough for the 3rd keeper position.

I would definately agree with that.