Best foreign player in the eL

**Jerry The Saint** · 08/06/2006, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Vitruvian Man

Livingston... talented players no doubt but what have they done in the Irish game, sod-all.

Ahem. Aside from the fact that you can trace Pats terrible form before this season to the exact match when Charlie collapsed (week before the cup final in 2003 - that team weren't exactly world-beaters but losing Babaz ripped the heart out of the club and they went into freefall), scoring 15 goals to help an average Pats team to the best record in the 2002 league and inspiring us to our only European success wasn't bad.

Over 4 seasons in the league he played 104 games, scoring 21 goals mostly from midfield (and captaining his country) before having to retire at 24. I respect Hunt's achievements at Bohs but he was only the main man in an excellent squad of players during Bohs' run of success. I'd certainly give Babaz credit for having a bigger impact on the league than the likes of Ndo (and an immeasurably bigger impact on a single club).

**TonyD** · 08/06/2006, 12:16 PM

Yeah, what he said.

**wws** · 08/06/2006, 12:53 PM

Ndo is no good. Fact.

Charlie is d man. Possibly the second best player ever in the LoI after Paul Osam.

**Dodge** · 08/06/2006, 1:31 PM

He's not even 2nd best player at Pats. He's not even 2nd best black player at Pats

**wws** · 08/06/2006, 1:45 PM

he is. trust me on this.

Pauletta will not be top scorer in the WC

AND MAN U RONALDO will not either.

I know me football.

**Poor Student** · 08/06/2006, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

When he was quizzed about that legend he told the interviewer the following that he's never even been to Ireland never mind play here!

I was talking to a lad from Liverpool who lives in Canada about soccer and when he asked me who I supported I expected to get a "Who??" but instead he said "Oh yeah, Socrates played for you, didn't he?". This myth seems to have spread all over the place. Where does it originate?

**Jerry The Saint** · 08/06/2006, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

This myth seems to have spread all over the place. Where does it originate?

May have originated from someone's boredom I'd say. Normally these things have a grain of truth about them - i.e. Socrates went to med school in Ireland which then gets embellished over multiple tellings: he played soccer; he played GAA; he won a Sigerson Cup Medal

. There is a parallel rumour that he took a semester at the Royal College of Surgeons but I haven't seen any evidence for this either. It seems this has nothing going for it other than Socrates was a trained doctor so maybe someone flat out invented the lie at some stage. Possibly something to do with the Socrates/Erasmus student exchange program??? Surprisingly successful rumour as well, it's fascinating how these urban legends gain momentum:

Before he became a doctor (and a famous footballer) Brazilian footballer Socrates apparently spent some of his student years in Dublin. My memory is hazy but I think I was told that while there he played for University College Dublin (UCD) in the FAI Cup, or it could have been that he only managed to make the UCD reserve team. Is there any truth to these unlikely stories? if so, maybe that's where he picked up his smoking habit", writes Colman Walsh

Amazingly enough Colman, you're right. "Socrates did play for UCD, but it was way, way back, sometime in the 70s." says Brendan McKenna of the Football Association of Ireland. "He was an attraction at the time, but it was before he played for the Brazilian team. He wouldn't have played much more than a season." That's confirmed by Gerry Callan of the Irish Star, who says he thinks Socrates did play for UCD

, but only for the reserves on Saturday's as the first team played on Sunday, and he didn't want to play then. Did anyone see the great man in action for UCD? If so then let us know at the usual address.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...367951,00.html

More information about Socrates playing for UCD reserves in the 1970s. According to Paul McDonnell, Scorates only played a couple of games because the coach and manager at the time, Dr Terry O'Neill, insisted that he quit smoking. Socrates refused and instead quit the team.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/news/...630747,00.html

On a completely unrelated matter, it IS true that legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong played a number of games for Moyle Rovers Junior 'B' Hurling team while training with Sean Kelly in South Tipperary in the early-90s.

**wws** · 08/06/2006, 4:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint

May have originated from someone's boredom I'd say. Normally these things have a grain of truth about them - i.e. Socrates went to med school in Ireland which then gets embellished over multiple tellings: he played soccer; he played GAA; he won a Sigerson Cup Medal

. There is a parallel rumour that he took a semester at the Royal College of Surgeons but I haven't seen any evidence for this either. It seems this has nothing going for it other than Socrates was a trained doctor so maybe someone flat out invented the lie at some stage. Possibly something to do with the Socrates/Erasmus student exchange program??? Surprisingly successful rumour as well, it's fascinating how these urban legends gain momentum:

On a completely unrelated matter, it IS true that legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong played a number of games for Moyle Rovers Junior 'B' Hurling team while training with Sean Kelly in South Tipperary in the early-90s.

and Niall Quinn used to cycle to Thurles Town away games with Sean Kelly and Lance Armstrong.

One completely true thing is that James Caan. Sonny in The Godfather attended a few games in Croke Park. Saw him there with Colm Meaney. FACT TIMES 12.

**Jerry The Saint** · 08/06/2006, 4:20 PM

Originally Posted by wws

One completely true thing is that James Caan. Sonny in The Godfather attended a few games in Croke Park. Saw him there with Colm Meaney. FACT TIMES 12.

Well of course - they're joint owners of a small catering company that runs the hotdog franchise for 85% of all large stadiums in Western Europe. Jon Bon Jovi is the third major investor. Why wouldn't they keep an eye out for their investment

**Poor Student** · 08/06/2006, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint

May have originated from someone's boredom I'd say.

You got to hand it to them, it's been so successful. Doesn't do the club any harm either. There's a book on the history of UCD sport in the UCD bookshop and the section on soccer which covers the foundation of the college until Inter Toto qualification makes no mention of him and it's a pretty well researched piece.

**Rocky27** · 08/06/2006, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint

On a completely unrelated matter, it IS true that legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong played a number of games for Moyle Rovers Junior 'B' Hurling team while training with Sean Kelly in South Tipperary in the early-90s.

Well, I wonder if it's true that Xabi Alonso has a Meath Minor Football Championship medal.
Alonso did live with an Irish family in the summer of 97 in Kells whilst learning English and has gone on record as saying he played Gaelic Football at the time and enjoyed it.
I've since heard that he togged out for the Kells team that year (because a couple of the lads in his family were players) and was an unused sub on the Championship winning team. Chinese whispers, perhaps?

**monzo** · 09/06/2006, 3:52 PM

Kevin Hunt however is truely one of the eL's best ever players and is a huge asset to the league with his ability and indeed his personality. It's a bit strange that English or Scottish clubs haven't been interested in him; hopefully if they never do come after him

Wes Charles used to be fffffffffffb, he was outstanding for Rovers in my first ever LOI game in '99 and continued to be until the present season for Bray. I think he had a bad campaign last year as well.

On his day, Luca Asokuh, former Olympic gold medalist, is probably the most skillful defender in Ireland as his composure, heading and dribbling is top class. Unfortunately he's had a shocking season so far and seems totally off the pace.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 10/06/2006, 8:43 AM

Originally Posted by Rocky27

Well, I wonder if it's true that Xabi Alonso has a Meath Minor Football Championship medal.
Alonso did live with an Irish family in the summer of 97 in Kells whilst learning English and has gone on record as saying he played Gaelic Football at the time and enjoyed it.
I've since heard that he togged out for the Kells team that year (because a couple of the lads in his family were players) and was an unused sub on the Championship winning team. Chinese whispers, perhaps?

Xabi Alonso was here for a while, he says that's where he mastered English.I heard him discuss it on an interview on I think it was Newstalk 106 last year.
I can't recall whether he said he won a medal or not but he did play a bit of Gaelic Football.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 10/06/2006, 8:49 AM

Originally Posted by monzo

On his day, Luca Asokuh, former Olympic gold medalist, is probably the most skillful defender in Ireland as his composure, heading and dribbling is top class. Unfortunately he's had a shocking season so far and seems totally off the pace.

Gold medallist? at what?

**monzo** · 10/06/2006, 7:07 PM

Was mistaken actually. He won the World Cup. (Under-20 WC). However according to the PFAI guide he also played in the Olympics.

Atrocious decision by the ref to send off Avery John earlier. I was fuming.

Delighted for T&T - lets hope for a repeat performance in their next match.

**Kildare Lad** · 11/06/2006, 7:38 PM

Lads, i find it an insult that some people dont think it was Charles Mbabazi Livingston, he was by far and away the best player ever to play eircom legue football (in my lifetime). It is terrible what happened to him and he is a major loss to the league.