Irish Players Abroad 06/07

**Paddy Garcia** · 07/06/2007, 3:12 PM

Maybury is for sale.

**cavan_fan** · 07/06/2007, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

He's 24 not 19. He should really at this stage be starting to develop into the finished article. Whether he plays for Ireland in the future or not is irrelevant. Paul Butler played for Ireland, it doesn't mean he's good. I would hope we would have a few better options at central defence in the future and not have to resort to playing McCarthy unless he improves dramatically. Next season is a big one for him.

Is Paul Butler the agreed shorthand for "how did he get capped", I always thought it was Kernaghan though in future we may have Joe Laipra

**youngirish** · 07/06/2007, 3:34 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

That's a different point. How many players have reached their peak at 24. None. How many players have been close to their peak at 24? None.

No players have been close to their peak at 24? Many players peak at 24 or beforehand in some cases. Most wingers peak in their mid twenties as do many strikers. A defender should be in his peak years from around the age of 25 to 30 I reckon.

**cavan_fan** · 07/06/2007, 3:35 PM

Originally Posted by SaucyJack

he a striker or what?

Of course he is, there's a rule that you're only allowed be a good Irish prospect if you play up front. I have visions of youth teams in Dublin with 11 strikers

**DmanDmythDledge** · 07/06/2007, 3:40 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

No players have been close to their peak at 24? Many players peak at 24 or beforehand in some cases. Most wingers peak in their mid twenties as do many strikers.

Name a player that has peaked at 24.

A defender should be in his peak years from around the age of 25 to 30 I reckon.

Could you be anymore vague? You're contradicting yourself there as well. Backtracking as well seeing as you said McCarthy should be almost the finished article.

**Paddy Garcia** · 07/06/2007, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by cavan_fan

Is Paul Butler the agreed shorthand for "how did he get capped", I always thought it was Kernaghan though in future we may have Joe Laipra

I don't know what you mean. Kernaghan put in some very solid performances for us & played an important part in qualification.

**eirebhoy** · 07/06/2007, 6:28 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

Name a player that has peaked at 24.

Duff.

Experience is vital for a centre half so McCarthy still has lots to learn.

**Paddy Garcia** · 07/06/2007, 8:56 PM

Robbie Keane
Stephen Reid
Andy Reid
Alan Kernaghan
Stephen McPhail ... even earlier
Keith O'Neil

...jeez I'm not going to continue with this....

**tetsujin1979** · 08/06/2007, 1:30 AM

There was an item on NewsTalk last night about Sean Thornton signing for an eircom League club, anyone catch it?

**bohsRap** · 08/06/2007, 8:08 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

There was an item on NewsTalk last night about Sean Thornton signing for an eircom League club, anyone catch it?

Yeah, heard it alright. It said Pats are interested, 5 grand a week salary. Can't see it being a good move for either parties. Don't think he's great and he'll probably have a "couldn't be arsed" attitude about the whole thing.

**tetsujin1979** · 08/06/2007, 9:36 AM

Originally Posted by bohsRap

Yeah, heard it alright. It said Pats are interested, 5 grand a week salary. Can't see it being a good move for either parties. Don't think he's great and he'll probably have a "couldn't be arsed" attitude about the whole thing.

Ah right, did a quick google on it, and there's this article - http://www.doncaster.vitalfootball.c...le.asp?a=66246 - from a few weeks back.

**Raheny Red** · 08/06/2007, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by SaucyJack

he a striker or what?

Anyone know if he was with any other clubs before Shels?

**youngirish** · 08/06/2007, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

Name a player that has peaked at 24.

Could you be anymore vague? You're contradicting yourself there as well. Backtracking as well seeing as you said McCarthy should be almost the finished article.

Now you're just being silly. McCarthy's 24 I said 25-30 is when a player should be around his peak so logic would dictate McCarthy should be really starting to show signs of being a decent player.

As for naming a player that was playing at their peak level at 24 or before? Maradonna, Duff, Michael Owen, Shearer, Marco Van Basten, Harry Kewell, George Best, Johann Crujiff were all better players at this stage of their career than the latter years. I could go on but can't be bothered. That should be enough.

**drummerboy** · 08/06/2007, 10:32 AM

McCarthy is starting to show signs that he is going to be a decent player. He has captained his club at 23 years of age, which would suggest he has both ability and leadership. There is a question mark about the amount of yellow and red cards he picks up but that is something he is trying to eradicate from his game.

**tetsujin1979** · 08/06/2007, 11:44 AM

Coventry and Leicester linked with Leon Best in today's Guardian.

**Paddy Garcia** · 08/06/2007, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Coventry and Leicester linked with Leon Best in today's Guardian.

... they clearly recognise he wants a move back to the midlands. Somesome mentioned that he commmitted to us very recently - how did he do that - in a statement or what?

**tetsujin1979** · 08/06/2007, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

... they clearly recognise he wants a move back to the midlands. Somesome mentioned that he commmitted to us very recently - how did he do that - in a statement or what?

think eirebhoy posted about that, it was reported on one line in this article in the Independent: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...on-680682.html

while Southampton's Leon Best - who has confirmed his declaration for Ireland - finished the season with a flourish, barring his misfortune in scoring an own goal in his side's play-off loss to Derby

also I missed this earlier in the week: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...ze-691304.html

Best primed to quit Saints
LEON BEST is set to depart Southampton after rejecting their latest new contract offer.

The former Republic of Ireland youth international's deal expires in the summer with Leicester City understood to be favourites for his signature having scored 17 goals last season, 10 of which came on loan at Yeovil.

Meanwhile, JJ Melligan has opted against signing a new deal with Cheltenham Town.

Confirms Leicester are at least interested in him, do they have that much to spend, and would he be considered a started for them?
According to soccerbase - http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=1527 - their top scorer last season was Hume with 14, then it's a drop to Kisnorbo with 7, given that Best scored 5 times in 11 games in the Championship, it's a distinct possibility

**Paddy Garcia** · 08/06/2007, 12:30 PM

Thanks Tets, also for the update on Sheehan - hopefully he will step up this year.

From what little I saw of Best he looked very direct and powerful. I think he is well worth a look, I'd have him on a par or maybe even slightly ahead of Keogh.

**youngirish** · 08/06/2007, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

Thanks Tets, also for the update on Sheehan - hopefully he will step up this year.

From what little I saw of Best he looked very direct and powerful. I think he is well worth a look, I'd have him on a par or maybe even slightly ahead of Keogh.

I like Best to be honest. Like Sheridan he offers something different than the majority of our other strikers. He seems a bit of a coinfidence player though so he needs to be playing regularly or he'll fade into obscurity.

Keogh is a good player but his goal return for a forward has never been much to write home about.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/06/2007, 7:46 PM

I've only seen Sheridan once, in the recent U19 game at Dalyer. I was really impressed by his pace, not something I'd have expected from a guy with his physique. I think he could go places and Venegoor of Hesselink could be under pressure at some point next season, he's really disappointed me.