Who is the best irishman never capped at full international level?

**youngirish** · 21/11/2006, 4:59 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

So then he was faced with a choice of NI or ROI, and he chose the latter, because they're a "better team", thereby demonstrating that he's stupid as well as useless...

He sounds like a plank alright as if he had any sense as you correctly suggest he would have declared for your team the North where he was quite likely to get a regular game.

He hasn't a hope playing for us when he's up against the likes of J O'Brien, Ireland, Garvan, McCann, Gibson (all far more talented) for a spot.

**Superhoops** · 21/11/2006, 5:13 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

Jackie Jameson, Eddie Gormley and Liam Buckley.

Are you serious about Eddie Gormley? I have a lot of time for Eddie, but never saw him as being international class. Although capped at U-21, he never really progressed through to senior international standard. I don't think he ever played for Spurs first team and he was loaned out several times before going to Doncaster Rovers for a few seasons.

When he came back and signed for Pat's he was probably one of the most consistent players in the league for several seasons. I'd say Eddie would think he played his best football at Doncaster, not what you would call international standard, especially when you consider the players Ireland had available in Eddie's positions at the time.

**soccerc** · 21/11/2006, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Buckley got 2 caps. deserved more but at least he got a couple

I'd forgotten about Bucko's two games, still he deserved more at the time in the mid to late 80's.

**Superhoops** · 21/11/2006, 5:28 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

I'd forgotten about Bucko's two games, still he deserved more at the time in the mid to late 80's.

Didn't even get 2 full games, the first only lasted 11 mins when he replaced Frank Stapleton. Got the full 90 minutes in the second game.

**Dodge** · 21/11/2006, 6:44 PM

Originally Posted by Superhoops

Are you serious about Eddie Gormley? I have a lot of time for Eddie, but never saw him as being international class. Although capped at U-21, he never really progressed through to senior international standard. I don't think he ever played for Spurs first team and he was loaned out several times before going to Doncaster Rovers for a few seasons.

When he came back and signed for Pat's he was probably one of the most consistent players in the league for several seasons. I'd say Eddie would think he played his best football at Doncaster, not what you would call international standard, especially when you consider the players Ireland had available in Eddie's positions at the time.

Just before coming home Chelsea offered �300k for him. Doncastor turned it foen and months later the situation changed and Eddie decided to come home. When he was playing for Pats and EASILY the best player here the likes of McGoldrick, Kernaghan and others nowhere near this level got capped. There's no doubt that loads of players of lesser ability gained caps.

**pete** · 21/11/2006, 6:47 PM

Pat Morley as eventhough he was lightweight & not a lot of pace was ace goal poacher. eL clubs were not so successful in europe in those days so hard to know how he would have fared. I think did score against ranger though when with Shels.

Would be interesting to place thread next to one on the the most useless players to get capped for Ireland.

**Paddy Garcia** · 21/11/2006, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

He hasn't a hope playing for us when he's up against the likes of J O'Brien, Ireland, Garvan, McCann, Gibson (all far more talented) for a spot.

He is not up against any of these for a spot.

He is up against the likes of O'Shea, O'Brien, McShane, Dunne and co. The first two don't have many fans on this site & the third can't currently get a game in the Championship. So I suggest he may have a hope.

**johnnyc** · 21/11/2006, 9:24 PM

Best surely has to be Gazza. I remember Jack saying on the Late Late that Gazza told him (genuinely) that he had an Irish granny.

**dr_peepee** · 21/11/2006, 9:30 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

How old are you? Henderson didn't join Bohs until well into his 30s after a very succesful career with Pats (and others). He started off with Rovers and never won a B cap (Olympic and U21 honours though) Played in the NASL too. In Paul McGrath's recent book, he claims Henderson is the best keeper he's EVER played with. Pats legend...

He's either the Da or uncle to Wayne Henderson. They're a bit of a goalkeeping dynasty. Daves has a brother, Stphen I think, played LOI and up the north. Dave's Da Paddy is friend of my bro. There's another one in the underage set up at Villa too. Stephen jr.

**Den Perry** · 21/11/2006, 11:07 PM

Neville Steedman

**Dodge** · 22/11/2006, 1:10 AM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

He's either the Da or uncle to Wayne Henderson. They're a bit of a goalkeeping dynasty. Daves has a brother, Stphen I think, played LOI and up the north. Dave's Da Paddy is friend of my bro. There's another one in the underage set up at Villa too. Stephen jr.

Dave, Stephen and Wayne are all brothers. Stephen is currently manager of Cobh. Paddy (the da) played with Rovers in the 60s. Stephen's son is the keeper with Villa

**dodgycanadian** · 22/11/2006, 7:02 AM

Kevin Nolan

Or wait is he irish or dutch?

**youngirish** · 22/11/2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

He is not up against any of these for a spot.

He is up against the likes of O'Shea, O'Brien, McShane, Dunne and co. The first two don't have many fans on this site & the third can't currently get a game in the Championship. So I suggest he may have a hope.

He plays in central midfield also and has done numerous times in his career. As for central defence McCarthy is better than him as is McShane and Heath St Ledger. O'Shea and O'Brien are terrible I agree.

**bennocelt** · 22/11/2006, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Kevin Gallen was a disgrace. They're from a fine London Irish family too and he didn't have the balls to play for us.

dont know much about him, just that he is a QPR legend, and you often see him as linesman for the odd GAA game in london (which i find funny!)

**Krstic** · 22/11/2006, 11:38 AM

Mick Neville, Paul Doolin and Brendan Bradley.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 22/11/2006, 11:48 AM

[QUOTE=Tuff Paddy;579109]

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

But we won't rush to judge or anything.

Why not judge him? All he does now is coach the kids at QPR and guess how many international caps he has on his mantelpiece? ZERO.
Sit on the fence as much as you like. I generally don't.

I'll agree he'd have had a decent international career if he'd been capped by us. He made a bad call ...possibly didn't think his U21 (friendly???) cap would exclude him from playing for Ireland -if so he was ill-advised and poorly served by those around him -many of whom, it's worth bearing in mind, worked for QPR and had a vested interest in "keeping him English" so to speak.

Gallen has expressed his desire to play for Ireland several times, I even remember him once having a letter published in hot press where he sought to put John O'Brien straight on a few points relating to his situation.

Oh ...and I've just thought of someone else ...Noel Whelan -great prospect as a young striker with Leeds United and Coventry who then slipped to unremarkability with Boro and Aberdeen. Still would've been a great asset to any Irish manager.

**gustavo** · 22/11/2006, 12:30 PM

The thread is titled "Best Irishman never to be capped at full internaltional level" , not best player that was possibly eligle to play for us but didnt!