Sean St. Ledger

Oh dear!
One step forward two steps back!

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/sean-s...55851-Dec2014/

St Ledger is without a club again.

Shame for Sean. Faintly damning that Mick saw untried youth as the same level as a 40-odd caps international centre half.

Maybe a year in the League of Ireland would be perfect for him. Joining up with Stephen McPhail and Keith Fahey at Shamrock Rovers would be a good move.

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Shame for Sean. Faintly damning that Mick saw untried youth as the same level as a 40-odd caps international centre half.

I'm sure Mick and the Saint still get on and theres a sensible reason for this.

But hey what do I know?

Originally Posted by the doc

But hey what do I know?

Well we're not exactly sure because you've never bothered telling us whether you're actually Sean or just his agent.

Waiting for the next sob story installment on the Herald .....

For sobs, the Hunt column is where it's at these days.

Originally Posted by geysir

For sobs, the Hunt column is where it's at these days.

Huntys a great lad, he deserved more.
As for the Euros there were at least 5 senior players not fully fit, 3 of them shouldn't of played, so you can understand other players frustrations.

Like Hunty states the pre tournament training was too long.

Croatia game killed us, we thought we'd get something from that and a draw against Italy too.

An update on St. Ledger in the Irish Mirror; he seems to favour a possible move to the US but wouldn't rule out joining a League of Ireland club either: http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/socc...nsider-4929383

Originally Posted by Paul O'Hehir

St Ledger told Mirror Sport: "A few clubs in America have made enquiries with my agent but we're just waiting on answers.

"I've no idea if it'll be a 'yes' or 'no'. Darren O'Dea played over there with Toronto and I've spoken to him about it.

"He says it's a better standard than you think. Steven Gerrard is going there soon and so is Frank Lampard.

"They're players coming towards the end of their careers but they're still big names who are cutting it in the Premier League.

"When you have that standard going over there, it'll only attract more players and I'd be chuffed if I could get that chance."

But St Ledger - capped 37 times for Ireland - is in the dark about his next move and admits there has been no interest from UK clubs.

It was only two-and-a-half years ago that he was a first-choice starter for Ireland at the European Championships in Poland.

But St Ledger - who scored in the opening group game against Croatia - says that feels like a lifetime ago.

Injury at the end of 2013 derailed his career and he hasn't played a senior game of any sort since Ireland's friendly draw in Poland under Martin O'Neill 14 months ago.

St Ledger said: "The Euros is history, it doesn't stand for anything. People only look at what you've done, or not done as the case may be, in the last six months.

"They don't care what you did three years ago, so that's a distant memory for me. It feels like it was ages ago and I can't do anything about that.

"It's in the past and I just want to get a club as I'm fit and ready to go. I don't know what I'd do career wise if I don't get one."

St Ledger is aware that Keith Fahey and ex-Irish international Stephen McPhail have both come back to play in Ireland.

While his wages could be an issue to clubs here, St Ledger insists he wouldn't close the door on playing in Ireland.

He said: "I'm not ruling anything out. Maybe in Ireland I'd be looked at more (by O'Neill) than I would if I played in Afghanistan!

"I've not spoken to Irish clubs, sure they probably wouldn't want me! But it's something I wouldn't rule out.

"Keith Fahey is doing well there and I know there are good players in the Irish league.

"Some of them came to train with us in the Irish squad and they were very impressive so I know the standard is good."

And St Ledger added: "I don't have a wife or kids. It's just me and my suitcase and I'll play anywhere in the world."

Poor guy, deserves much better than this. Would like to see him get something appealing in the States as he'd obviously prefer that than to drop to the LOI.

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Poor guy, deserves much better than this. Would like to see him get something appealing in the States as he'd obviously prefer that than to drop to the LOI.

As backwards as it sounds, maybe the LOI would put him more in the shop window to any potential move back to England rather than the MLS, which seems to be seen as sort of a graveyard for has-been footballers and those coming close to retirement.
Obviously, the chance to play in European competition over MLS may help matters too.

Not trying to blow the trumpet of LOI here by the way. Obviously the MLS is one of the fastest growing leagues in world football, and has the benefit of large financial backing, which wins all day over the LOI.
Say though, for instance, Shamrock Rovers or St Pat's offer St Ledger a deal for a year, potentially playing in European competition in July/August and most likely a couple of big friendlies against big English/Scottish opposition, but throwing something into his contract that says if a Championship club or above offer him a deal in the summer he can leave, that'd be a more attractive deal for him than being thousands of miles away, with no chance of being watched by Martin O'Neill or Roy Keane, and unlikely to win a move back to England, for the sake of a few extra quid a week?

Yeah not sure about the pros and cons to be honest. His chances of impressing MON enough for inclusion are remote, to say the least, regardless of where he's playing. If Damien Delaney can't even get into squads, performing well regularly in the PL, what hope has Sledge really? Playing good stuff in the LOI hasn't exactly put Keith Fahey back in the international picture either. All I know is that if I was a single man the wrong side of 30, who has barely played in two years, it would be a pretty easy decision.

To be fair, Keith Fahey hasn't really stood out in the LOI since coming back.

Didn't Fahey say when he came back that he didn't want to be asked about playing for the national side again?

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

To be fair, Keith Fahey hasn't really stood out in the LOI since coming back.

He never really stood out any time I watched him for Birmingham either.

I thought he was outstanding at the Aviva against Derry.

The doc on trial with DC United.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

The doc on trial with DC United.

Trial?
Next you will be telling me the contract details.
More about the player going over to look at things on offer over there.

Originally Posted by the doc

Trial?
Next you will be telling me the contract details.
More about the player going over to look at things on offer over there.

DC United published news of the trial on their website: http://www.dcunited.com/news/2015/01...-florida-day-3

Originally Posted by DC United

Ireland international Sean St. Ledger has joined D.C. United on trial.

Couldn't be clearer really.