Andy O'Brien

**Stuttgart88** · 03/02/2008, 5:58 PM

Terrible if true. In his prime, playing the best football of his life too. Why now?

**NeilMcD** · 03/02/2008, 6:01 PM

Its either true or Givens has made an almighty **** up and announced O Briends retirement and got it wrong which would be a big **** up.

**Stuttgart88** · 03/02/2008, 6:10 PM

Sure it wasn't Alan O'Brien?

**RockofGibraltar** · 03/02/2008, 6:12 PM

no def andy just watching givens again on sky sports news..he says he got a message saying he had retired but that he stil had to speak to him

**boovidge** · 03/02/2008, 6:14 PM

Why didn't Givens wait until Andy made a statement before announcing this? The professionalism of that man leaves alot to be desired.

As for O'Brien,retiring at 28 is a disgrace.

**carloz** · 03/02/2008, 6:15 PM

All boils down to Staunton here. To say O'Brien was treated **** after the Cyprus debacle is an understatement. To take so long to actually put him back in the sqaud and then have the gaul to come out and say that Bobby Robson, who wasnt in Cyprus, talked him out of picking McShane ahead of him for that game. You dont do that to good honest players and you dont scapegoat a player for a ****e performance from the whole team. Im disapointed as i felt he was excellent in the campaign before the last one and would have been an excellent partner for Dunne.

**NeilMcD** · 03/02/2008, 6:18 PM

Yeah I felted he was treated very similar to Weir by Bertie Vogts at Scotland. However O Brien was not getting his game for Portsmouth so did not deserve to be in the squad at that stage. Now he does and he has not turned up for training today and is rumoured to be retired by the caretaker manager and kingpin and U21 manager and ex Irish international and head of the FAI selection panel. Jesus give that man the job.

**Rob_the_cat** · 03/02/2008, 6:25 PM

They're retiring at 28 now. Only 2 more years to put up with Sheasie so;-)! Seriously I'll always remember Andy for giving Dudo Aouate a nosebleed. Much better comic value than Cyprus. Good luck to him, he always tried. But a call up for Sean Dillon is long overdue. And the likes of Graham Gartland is one of several better defenders over here.

**micls** · 03/02/2008, 6:28 PM

I hope that we qualify for the world cup and these lads have to sit and watch people who actually give a **** get to play for their country on the worlds biggest stage.

Slán

**the doc** · 03/02/2008, 6:34 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

All boils down to Staunton here. To say O'Brien was treated **** after the Cyprus debacle is an understatement. To take so long to actually put him back in the sqaud and then have the gaul to come out and say that Bobby Robson, who wasnt in Cyprus, talked him out of picking McShane ahead of him for that game. You dont do that to good honest players and you dont scapegoat a player for a ****e performance from the whole team. Im disapointed as i felt he was excellent in the campaign before the last one and would have been an excellent partner for Dunne.

I don't buy that if Stan had wanted to pick McShane to play and was advised not to, then why wasn't McShane on the bench?

**shakermaker1982** · 03/02/2008, 6:36 PM

Originally Posted by micls

I hope that we qualify for the world cup and these lads have to sit and watch people who actually give a **** get to play for their country on the worlds biggest stage.

Slán

well said.

**Wangball** · 03/02/2008, 7:00 PM

Retiring at 28 really does show O'Brien for the person he is, as a centre half he'll only be approaching his peak at 28 and any half decent footballer should be looking to display their skills on the grandest stage available to them, O'Brien is a good player but he's not gonna be gracing the Champions League any time soon so realistically International football is the highest level he's gonna get to and he's decided to jack it in....we're better off without him, time for O'Dea, St Ledger et al to step up & stake a place

**pete** · 03/02/2008, 7:16 PM

Good riddance. 28 FFS.

**Qwerty** · 03/02/2008, 7:26 PM

It says alot about the Ireland setup. He was treated poorly. Why should he bother. Besides he's english.

**micls** · 03/02/2008, 7:30 PM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

It says alot about the Ireland setup.

It says more about Andy O Brien to me

Originally Posted by Qwerty

He was treated poorly.

Boo hoo. He wasn't the only one, not least the fans. But now there's a new man coming in and he has a chance to prove himself for his country and help them reach a world cup.

Originally Posted by Qwerty

Why should he bother.

Seems to sum up his attitude alright

**NeilMcD** · 03/02/2008, 7:38 PM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

It says alot about the Ireland setup. He was treated poorly. Why should he bother. Besides he's english.

Come on do you really mean all that.

**co. down green** · 03/02/2008, 7:43 PM

Strange time to retire. Just before the appointment of the new manager.

Clearly has no interest in representing Ireland and to be honest he's unlikely to be missed.