Oman for Stoke City?

[Ceirtlis]

Why? He's been the one of the top centre halves in the League over the last 2 seasons.

Well first of all i wasnt altogether impressed any time that i have seen him play and secondly look over all the players that went to england and scotland this season and last and you will see that more than half are not playing regularly including Alan Bennett who i would have thought was better than Oman. I l stick my neck on the line and say i expect him to play less than 50% of the games for which he is fit and available. Please dont start listing the names of players who have done well after leaving the league please or i will list the names of the players who are not getting their game.

[pete]

Central Defence is a difficult position to break into as Mangers do not bring defenders off the bench for the last 10-15 minutes very often.

[Ceirtlis]

Central Defence is a difficult position to break into as Mangers do not bring defenders off the bench for the last 10-15 minutes very often.

Agreed.

[Anto McC]

He hasnt been playing of late has he?

Hawkins was in Germany (i think) very recently getting an operation on his knee as far as i know.

[LeixlipRed]

This is one that Shels fans might get only,

It's "fright'nin" to see Oman leave for Stoke

[Steve Bruce]

Colin Hawkins moved to Coventry during last season, he walked straight into the team and held his place.
Wes Hoolahan is flying at Blackpool, Doyle, Murphy, Long, and many more have found it easy transition from Eircom League to Championship football.
Ken Oman should be good enough for Stoke.

I'm not saying their arent players in the LOI that can't make hte step up. But the league as a whole is not on par or near as good as the Championship

[Steve Bruce]

Tell Kevin Doyle and Shane Long that. If a player is good enough, he's good enough.

Anyway, good to see you and your anti-EL views back on here Steve.

My point wasn't that certain players cannot make the step up. My point is that it is indeed a BIG step up.

[Steve Bruce]

Because the Steve Bruce who posts on here reckons he isn't even good enough for Stoke, so I guess Oman should be grateful of any offer outside the Rymans Premier League.....

Some one asked why would he move to Stoke. The simple answer is because Eircom League is a lesser standard, so obvsiouly he is going to try and pit his wits in a far superior league.

[Steve Bruce]

Can I also state that their has been many Irish League players who have made the grade over in England as well. It doesn't mean that hte IL is a great standard, it means we have players in our league who are capable of playing at a far greater standard.

E.g Gareth McAuley, Glenn Little, Ivon Sproule(who wasn't even a great player in the IL)

Do people understand what I am getting at?

[Dodge]

Some one asked why would he move to Stoke. The simple answer is because Eircom League is a lesser standard, so obvsiouly he is going to try and pit his wits in a far superior league.

Without being funny, its completely down to money in the vast majority of cases.

And of course the LOI, as whole, isn't close to the Championship in England. Have yet to read any posts claiming otherwise. Player wise, the top level players in the LOI are good enough to play at that level

[OneRedArmy]

their has (sic) been many Irish League players who have made the grade over in England as well.

Stretching the truth a bit there Steve if you are referring to the top 2 divisions.

Anyway, again completely immaterial in the context of whether Oman is good enough to play in the Championship (he is).

[Mad Moose]

Well stepping up to te Championship level is one thing but word is he has now headed for a trial with Sunderland.Not sure how much truth is in it actually but Stoke is a no deal and he' getting a try out at SunIreland.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Getting a trial at Sunderland... hmmm.... what's he being charged with?

[Steve Bruce]

Stretching the truth a bit there Steve if you are referring to the top 2 divisions.

Anyway, again completely immaterial in the context of whether Oman is good enough to play in the Championship (he is).

Stuart Elliot, Andy Kirk, Johnathon Harkness, Richie Barker are just a few that has went over to England and have made the grade.

These 4 plus the other 3 are just off the top of my head. I could sit do more research if you like.

But it depends on what you call many. If you think 20 is many, then your right I have been stretchin the truth, if you call 10 many, then maybe I haven't been.

[dcfcsteve]

Some one asked why would he move to Stoke. The simple answer is because Eircom League is a lesser standard, so obvsiouly he is going to try and pit his wits in a far superior league.

Your inherent prejudice aside, how do you genuinely know the EL is far inferior to the Championship ? Seriosuly - please explain.

Particularly in the light of examples of decent, but not spactacular, EL players going straight into premeirship first teams and making a big impact.

Are you suggesting that EL teams couldn't survive somewhere in the 22 team Championship - alongside the likes of Blackpool, Norwich, Colchester and Burnley....?

And on what basis are you making your judgement ?

And as Dodge has said - moves to English or Scottish teams are often more about money and exposure than anythign to do with standards. Or love, in Darren Kelly's case. Unless you're now going to claim the Conference Premier is of a higher standrad than the EL, just because someone made that move.....

[gustavo]

Particularly in the light of examples of decent, but not spactacular, EL players going straight into premeirship first teams and making a big impact.
...

When did this happen?

[dcfcsteve]

When did this happen?

Seen the Reading team recently.....?

[Dodge]

When Roy O'Donovan rugby tackled the corkie keeper for Birmingham.

[pateen]

Seen the Reading team recently.....?

And that’s it.
Wud live to think we are as good as the championship but were not.
Jason Byrne - top scorer in the EL for two seasons, seriously struggled at Cardiff
Glen Crowe - Released by wolves, top scored in EL for two seasons
Alan Bennet - Struggling at Southampton

There are success stories.
Colin Hawkins
Wes Hoolahan
George O Callaghan (ish, was released by Ipswich but don’t know why)
But these were the best players in the league.

It’s very hard to use players when comparing the divisions but you watch EL games week in week out and then sit down and watch an average championship game.

Sadly, It’s still a faster game.

[dcfcsteve]

And that’s it.
Wud live to think we are as good as the championship but were not.
Jason Byrne - top scorer in the EL for two seasons, seriously struggled at Cardiff
Glen Crowe - Released by wolves, top scored in EL for two seasons
Alan Bennet - Struggling at Southampton

There are success stories.
Colin Hawkins
Wes Hoolahan
George O Callaghan (ish, was released by Ipswich but don’t know why)
But these were the best players in the league.

It’s very hard to use players when comparing the divisions but you watch EL games week in week out and then sit down and watch an average championship game.

Sadly, It’s still a faster game.

Glen Crowe hasn't been a good player in Ireland either for years - arguably not since he left Bohs first time round.

You've conveniently glossed over the Reading lot, and others like Dayl Murphy.

I watched QPR play Norwich in the flesh last month, and it was certainly nothing that i wouldn't have seen in an EL ground.Despite QPR having an outrageously wealthy owner and large fan-base.

I'm not saying EL teams would win the Championship; I'm not even saying they'd all do well. But I can't believe that our top teams couldn't at least exist in that league somewhere above 22nd place - alongside the Burnleys, Colchesters, Norwich's etc.

We're certainly better than Division 1 standard - which, if you're saying we're not up to the Championship, is the level you're putting us at.