You players capable of higher standard than LOI/IL

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 1:23 PM

Which players in your league do you think can make it at a higher level than our own?(I'm in work, not much to do so very bored)

McCallister (Dungannon) Being tracked by Celtic and apparently an offer has already been put in from a Championship side in England.

Jamie Mulgrew(Linfield) Only 20 or 21, has broke into the first team and is now a regular. He can pass, dribble, shoot and tackle. Also has tremendous fitness and has pace.

Peter Thompson(Linfield)23 year old. On his debut season, scored 27 goals, last season his second season 49 goals(including 1 under 21 international goal) Currently this season he is around 31 or 32 goals. Has pace, good feet, good with back against the goal. Is a bit suspect in the air though, although that has improved.

Alan Mannus(Linfield) 24 year old. Has been a regular for 4 or 5 seasons now. Is widely known as the best keeper in the Irish league. Comfortable with cross balls, great shot stopper, good penalty saver. However Kicking can be a bit suspect, always finds air but his direction is bad at times. He also isn't the most commanding either. But that can be worked on and it has got better with experience. International goalkeeper and IMO good enough to be top championship material possibly Premiership.

Ryan Berry(Glentoran)18. Good player, has pace and broke into the glentoran team. Don't really know too much about him, but he has been given a lot of plaudits in a very poor Glentoran side.

These are a few players off the top of my head.

EDIT: Could a mod or administrator change 'You' to 'Young'

**sligoman** · 10/05/2007, 1:31 PM

Seamus Coleman, only 18 and has a great future ahead of him. Recently signed a 1 year extension to his contract. Can see him playing at a higher level in a few years, although I believe he could do so now even.

Chris Turner, aged 20. Northern Ireland U-21 international. Was playing first team with Derby County last season but was released due to off the pitch problems. Most likely off to Bohs in the summer but definitely capable of playing at a higher level.

**Risteard** · 10/05/2007, 1:36 PM

Some very poor players could make it at that level.
John O'Shea has premiership medals.
Joe Gamble, Roy O'Donovan would be successful at Championship level.
If Colin Healy gets and stays fit for a year, i'd expect him to be gone fairly lively.
Thats just City.

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Which players in your league do you think can make it at a higher level than our own?

I'd hazard a guess that quite a few Linfield players could get by in the eL.

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Some very poor players could make it at that level.
John O'Shea has premiership medals.
Joe Gamble, Roy O'Donovan would be successful at Championship level.
If Colin Healy gets and stays fit for a year, i'd expect him to be gone fairly lively.
Thats just City.
I'd hazard a guess that quite a few Linfield players could get by in the eL.

Or better yet, we could have a few Cork players up here to play for our reserves so they can experience teh art of winning

Disclaimer - Do not take it seriously, it is a joke.

**Risteard** · 10/05/2007, 1:51 PM

I'm sure the hallions would be ecstatic to be accepted by the Blues faithful.

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 1:52 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

I'm sure the hallions would be ecstatic to be accepted by the Blues faithful.

As long as you don't start molesting

**OneRedArmy** · 10/05/2007, 2:03 PM

Is this thread about which IL players could make it in the EL?

Based on my experiences, outside of Linfield, not many would make it at top clubs.

The Irish League has been a happy dumping ground for Derry City rejects for years (particularly the unfit and overweight ones).

**lofty9** · 10/05/2007, 2:03 PM

At Derry,

We've had speculation linking Deery, McCourt and Kelly away.

Deery? The closest he'll get to a higher level is by climbing on a ladder.

Kelly: Good player, but too slow. He's at his level, previously found out at Carlisle under Paul Simpson.

McCourt: Was too inconsistent when in England before. However, he has knuckled down with Derry and could easily make a move.

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Is this thread about which IL players could make it in the EL?

Based on my experiences, outside of Linfield, not many would make it at top clubs.

The Irish League has been a happy dumping ground for Derry City rejects for years (particularly the unfit and overweight ones).

No it is about IL or LOI players making it in Scotland or England.

There are many players in the IL that would make the grade in the LOI. The problem is we have too many teams and the amount of quality players are spread among to many teams so you dont really get the full and proper standard of some players. When our league is narrowed down to 12 or 10 teams 2008-2009 season, you will see what i mean.

**paudie** · 10/05/2007, 2:08 PM

You never know who will make it at a higher level.

I wouldn't have put much on Kevin Doyle being one of the top scorers in the Premiership when he left us.

A lot of it is down to the mental strength and detemination of the player as well as their footballing ability.

I think Neal Horgan and Mick Devine (pushing on a bit maybe) would be well able for SPL or championship level. Possibly Softic in a few years and Darragh Ryan now.

**Dodge** · 10/05/2007, 3:02 PM

Darragh ryan couldn't get a game for UCD last year and now Corkies think he's good enough for the Championship in England...

Anyway loads could with a bit of luck. All our midfieldhave played in the World Youth Cup with players who have succesful careers across the sea, so they have the talent (except NDo, who of course played in the actual world cup!)

Robbie Doyle, Trevor Molloy and Paul Keegan were all given contracts in the English or Scottish leagues and none of them could be considered top level LOI players.

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 3:05 PM

[QUOTE=Dodge;683086]Darragh ryan couldn't get a game for UCD last year and now Corkies think he's good enough for the Championship in England...

Anyway loads could with a bit of luck. All our midfieldhave played in the World Youth Cup with players who have succesful careers across the sea, so they have the talent (except NDo, who of course played in the actual world cup!)

Robbie Doyle, Trevor Molloy and Paul Keegan were all given contracts in the English or Scottish leagues and none of them could be considered top level LOI players.[/QUOTE]

Are they regulars? When did they sign?

**GavinZac** · 10/05/2007, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Darragh ryan couldn't get a game for UCD last year and now Corkies think he's good enough for the Championship in England...

paudie being the democratic mouthpiece of all "Corkies", of course.

**gustavo** · 10/05/2007, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

No it is about IL or LOI players making it in Scotland or England.

There are many players in the IL that would make the grade in the LOI. The problem is we have too many teams and the amount of quality players are spread among to many teams so you dont really get the full and proper standard of some players. When our league is narrowed down to 12 or 10 teams 2008-2009 season, you will see what i mean.

Steve I believe it is folly to equate "Scotland and England" in their entirety as being of a higher quality than the EL/IL

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by gustavo

Steve I believe it is folly to equate "Scotland and England" in their entirety as being of a higher quality than the EL/IL

SPL, England League 2 up to Premiership then.

Why be so pedantic about it? Scotland and England offer better opportunities than LOI or IL will ever give.

**GavinZac** · 10/05/2007, 3:17 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Why be so pedantic about it? Scotland and England offer better opportunities than LOI or IL will ever give.

We actually have some ambition down here so I'd dispute you saying we will never offer better than Scotland/England. We might not match the insane money being spent at the moment in the premiership, or by certain attention seeking tools trying to get there, but i don't see it as impossible that at some point wages/crowds would be around championship level, with the added bonus offered of european football and playing for your home team.
off topic anyway.
everyone seems convinced roy o'donovan will be opting for richer shores this summer, it just seems a matter of which club is willing to stump up money first.

**gustavo** · 10/05/2007, 3:20 PM

welll it was because your original point was "at a higher level" which i dont believe League 2 is Fair enough then if you are saying English League 2 I would say most players in the EL Premier Division would be quite able to earn a living in that division , A lot of players in the top half teams would earn a living at League 1 level also , again this is just opinion

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

We actually have some ambition down here so I'd dispute you saying we will never offer better than Scotland/England. We might not match the insane money being spent at the moment in the premiership, or by certain attention seeking tools trying to get there, but i don't see it as impossible that at some point wages/crowds would be around championship level, with the added bonus offered of european football and playing for your home team.
off topic anyway.
everyone seems convinced roy o'donovan will be opting for richer shores this summer, it just seems a matter of which club is willing to stump up money first.

Another jibe

Anyway, You will NEVER match Championship level, You might get League 1 level but never championship. Crowds of 20,000 etc and wages of 10,000 a week. I very much doubt that. But if you do achieve that I will be the first to eat humble pie and tip my hat to yous.

**jebus** · 10/05/2007, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

We actually have some ambition down here so I'd dispute you saying we will never offer better than Scotland/England. We might not match the insane money being spent at the moment in the premiership, or by certain attention seeking tools trying to get there, but i don't see it as impossible that at some point wages/crowds would be around championship level, with the added bonus offered of european football and playing for your home team

In fairness the Championships average attendence passed out that of Serie A last year, and when you consider the attendence figures of clubs like Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland and quite a few more Championship clubs this year then I can't see how the EL will ever catch up the Championship in terms of crowds or wages

**Steve Bruce** · 10/05/2007, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by gustavo

welll it was because your original point was "at a higher level" which i dont believe League 2 is Fair enough then if you are saying English League 2 I would say most players in the EL Premier Division would be quite able to earn a living in that division , A lot of players in the top half teams would earn a living at League 1 level also , again this is just opinion

As you say it's your opinion.

I watch a lot of lower league football and a bit of LOI as well as a lot of Irish League.

My opinion is, the best teams from Northern Ireland and the Republic eg Linfield, St Pats, Drogs, Derry City and Cork would live in League 2. Around the mid table mark. The rest would be scattered amongst the lesser divisions.

There are players in both leagues who would compete in Championship/League 1 and many in League 2.

But our overall standard on this island I would say is more Conference with the better teams in League 2.

This has nothing to do with ambition, professionalism or banter/spite towards LOI, it is just my opinion on what I believe is a truer reflection on the standard of your game and Linfield.