On a positive note, tell me about Alan Quinn

[Fergie's Son]

Looking forward, can anyone give me some more information on Alan Quinn? Central midfielder for Sheffield United (currently top of the Championship).

What type of player is he?

Does he always get his game?

What age is he?

Thanks.

[Irish_Praha]

He's no Roy Keane. He's 26 gets his game and is a combative midfielder. He's playing very well this season and has a few goals. He already has 6 caps at full international level and he scored Ireland's goal in the 1998 European Championship Under-18 final against Germany. Think he was the captain of the team but I'm not 100% sure. He's played a few good games for us especially against Holland last year. I personally think he should be considered for the starting 11 considering the options we have. He'll never be world-class but he could be a decent option.

[Slash/ED]

He's a squad player at absolute best. Very very average, iirc has been in and out of the Sheff United squad since joining them and was not good enough for Sunderland when he went on loan to them recently. Has always looked disctinctly average even at first division level to me.

[dynamo kerry]

he's been first choice for sheff utf since about nov of last year. missed 2 games at the start of this season due to suspension.

featured in every game since -starting 7 or 8

he's an excellent player at div 1(championship)level and is unproven at anything higher

[ccfcgirl]

I dont know his name but Alans younger brother is suppose to be a class act .People in Cyprus were surprised he didnt make it into the under 21

[shakermaker1982]

he's better than Kavanagh, O'Shea and Kevin Kilbane in a CM position.

[OwlsFan]

He got Dunphy's imprimatur so he must be good

Played with Sheff Wed the season they were relegated from the Premiership and then dropped with them again into the 1st Division where he was ok - nothing special. Sunderland didn't keep him after a loan spell there so went across the city to United. Wednesday transferred him because he was on Premiership wages. Scampers around, gets booked a lot but is not the "passer of the ball" Dunphy referred to in the post match analysis.

Will never be a midfield general I regret to say. Mind you he played well in the game away to Holland. As someone said "a squad player" at best.

[mchurl]

i dunno maybe he's worth a chance in the friendly games we have coming up. He has been playing well recently

[Irish_Praha]

As I said considering the resources available to us at the moment he is worth a try.

Holland - passed it (maybe next to retire?)
Keane - Retired
Healy - will he come back?
Kav - 31 and still has to prove himself at international level
Kilbane - not a CMF player
O'Shea -
S. Reid - would like to see more of him at CMF but also still has to prove he can play consistantly well, looked good when he came on the other night though.
Miller - well you all know his problems
Ireland, Potter and Whelan are also still unproven.

Ideally Quinn should only be considered a squad player but with the above players as competition and 2 CMF spots available he has every chance of starting a few games.

[dr_peepee]

I've been impressed with him when I've seen him play for Ireland in the last few years. Haven't seen him play much club football though. He plays most games for Sheffield united, but as with the start of this season there are times when he starts on the bench....

He also spent half a season with Sunderland on loan with an option to buy that never materialised. MaCarthy reckoned he was too similar to what they already had on htier books at the time.

[Stuttgart88]

He's actually been staring LHM for Sheff Unitd recently but anytime I've seen him in CM I've been impressed. He also played very well against Villa in the FA Cup 3rd round last year, looking a far better central midfielder than anyone Villa had in that position.

He uses the ball proberly which 2 of our international CMs don't (KK & JO'S). Quinn usually leaves his team in a better position after he's had the ball than when he received it. He's not just happy to give the esay pass but he's not careless either.

[Irish_Praha]

Came on at half time tonight and scored a goal. Looks like it was from a direct fee kick but these text updates on sportinglife don't go into much detail so can't tell if it waa from far out:

68 Goal scored by Alan Quinn (Sheff Utd)
68 Shot by Alan Quinn (Sheff Utd) : on target
67 Sheff Utd freekick taken by Alan Quinn
67 Foul on Vincent Pericard (Sheff Utd) by Philip Ifil (Millwall), free kick awarded

[Stuttgart88]

From the (UK) Times:

Péricard was involved for United’s third in the 68th minute, drawing the foul from Phil Ifil that brought a free kick from which Alan Quinn curled a delightful effort into the net. Five minutes later, Quinn released the nippy Webber down the left and the striker cut inside to send another curving shot into the corner.

Quinn replaced Unsworth at H-T and it appears he played on the left again.

Also, Derek Geary came on after 18 mins last night.

[OwlsFan]

So he didn't start the game. I really don't think Quinn will make the international grade I am afraid to say.

Saw Miller on the bench for Man U last night. Hoped he might get a run.

[Stuttgart88]

So he didn't start the game.

Squad rotation though. Warnock, odious creep that he is, also dropped Shipperly & Kabba, his 2 top goalscorers.