Healy, Breen and Colgan

**bitored** · 01/08/2003, 9:48 AM

Anyone know what happens when a player just can't get a club? Do they sign on!?

I reckon Healy will get somewhere eventually - probably English Division 1 though - Forest or Sunderland maybe.

What about the other two though? Has anybody heard anything? Our second choice goalkeeper and what Kerr seems to consider to be our second centre half have both not got anywhere to play ball next season!

Anybody heard any rumours? My guess is that as the deadline approaches (Aug 31, I think) they'll end up playing somewhere - Sunderland probably!!

**Dodge** · 01/08/2003, 10:08 AM

Colgan's agent has said that he's thinking about a couple of offers from some italian clubs (the smaller ones)

brine2 · 01/08/2003, 10:50 AM

I can't understand that Colin Healy can't find a club. I've been very impressed with him every time I've seen him play.

**NigeSausagepump** · 01/08/2003, 10:55 AM

Think Colgan still has a season left on his contract with Hibs, so the panic isn't as great with him.
Breen could probably do a decent job for a first division team. Any higher than that and he's shown up for the journeyman that he is.

**Peadar** · 01/08/2003, 11:00 AM

Originally posted by bitored
Anyone know what happens when a player just can't get a club? Do they sign on!?

All the players are members of the PFA.
They look after their needs like a union would but also see after player when they get a career ending injury.
I'd imagine they look after players who are out of work too.

**johnmac** · 01/08/2003, 3:31 PM

It must be a worry for Brian Kerr with the kickoff just 2 weeks away.
Colgan has indeed a year of his contract left but Hibs are desperate to unload him to save on wages, and although he is training there he has been told he will not be considered for 1st team football. Hardly ideal for our No 2 keeper.

Healy and Breen COULD both end up at Sunderland, but if anyone read the Mirror this morning they would see what a mess Sunderland are in. (and before anyone starts it is NOT McCarthy's fault), They have already unloaded McCann and Craddock, are in dispute with Sorensen over money owing, and desperately need to unload another 6 players, their top wage earners, before McCarthy can think about signing anyone on.
So Healy and Breen seem to be in limbo. Again a huge worry for Brian Kerr.
I wonder who he will pick for the Australia game.

Could Liam Miller be a better bet than Colin Healy, given that he looks like being a regular Celtic squad player.
Those of us who thought that Clinton Morrison might just be the answer alongside Robbie Keane, might have to think again with Birmingham signing the new Batistuta! Luciano Figueroa, who was the Argentine League top scorer last season, and looks like starting up front with Christian Dugarry. that's if they don't sign Francis Jeffers, another target.

What position will John O'Shea pay for Manchester United this season?

Will Stephen Reid get a regular place at Blackburn?

Altogether a few problems for our manager but he is the man to sort it out.

**bitored** · 03/08/2003, 3:04 PM

Looks like Keane is going to have some serious competition for his place at Spurs next season too with Postiga, Zamora and Kanoute

**NigeSausagepump** · 04/08/2003, 7:28 AM

Originally posted by bitored
Looks like Keane is going to have some serious competition for his place at Spurs next season too with Postiga, Zamora and Kanoute

There's a rumour doing the rounds that Hoddle is going to play him in midfield and start with two of the new boys up front. Doubt it's true, but if it is it's very worrying given O'Leary played him on the right wing before shunting towards the exit door at Elland Road.

**Slash/ED** · 04/08/2003, 6:23 PM

Breens doing a medical and will sign for Sunderland if (when) he passes, no word on Healy though.

brine2 · 04/08/2003, 6:32 PM

He should have gone to Parma last year. What kind of an idiot tells people to go to West Ham instead of Parma.. oh yeah... that kind.

**Footie_Fan** · 05/08/2003, 10:49 AM

Whatever happened to Dave O'Leary and his interest in Colin Healy? I think Villa would be the perfect club for Colin to develop at.

He needs a Premiership or at least a decent 1st Division club now!

**NigeSausagepump** · 05/08/2003, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by Footie_Fan
Whatever happened to Dave O'Leary and his interest in Colin Healy? I think Villa would be the perfect club for Colin to develop at.

He needs a Premiership or at least a decent 1st Division club now!

Gavin McCann and �2.25million happened.

The odds of him picking up Healy now must be remote given that he could have had him on a free, but opted to pay for McCann instead.

**tiktok** · 05/08/2003, 5:36 PM

Kevin Phillips signed for Southhampton which clears up Sunderlands wage bill a little and gets them 3 million stg, so it looks like McCarthy is going to offer Healy a deal now. Should see him playing regularly.

i'm not sure but could sunderland field something like seven irish players next year (definitely an all irish midfield).

Breen, Babb (?),
Thornton, Healy, McAteer, Kilbane
Reddy (?)

**Slash/ED** · 05/08/2003, 10:17 PM

Aside from a goal keeper they could, playing a 4-5-1

Reddy

Ryan McAteer Thornton Healy Butler

Kilbane Babb Breen Rossiter

Quinn!?

Even though you have to put Kilbane at left back that's pretty amazing, and only three have been signed by McCarthy.

**Junior** · 06/08/2003, 8:29 AM

Originally posted by Slash/ED
Aside from a goal keeper they could, playing a 4-5-1

Reddy

Ryan McAteer Thornton Healy Butler

Kilbane Babb Breen Rossiter

Quinn!?

Even though you have to put Kilbane at left back that's pretty amazing, and only three have been signed by McCarthy.

Was Babb not released during the summer?

**Footie_Fan** · 06/08/2003, 8:36 AM

Originally posted by Junior
Was Babb not released during the summer?

I don't think so, he is still listed in the Sunderland squad on their website. The list seems to be updated frequently as well, as Gary Breen has already been added. However Mick McCarthy has given him a free transfer if someone comes in for him.

**NigeSausagepump** · 06/08/2003, 8:47 AM

Originally posted by Footie_Fan
However Mick McCarthy has given him a free transfer if someone comes in for him.

Which isn't that likely unless the glue factory runs out of knackered horses

**Xlex** · 06/08/2003, 9:27 AM

Originally posted by Slash/ED
Aside from a goal keeper they could, playing a 4-5-1

Reddy

Ryan McAteer Thornton Healy Butler

Kilbane Babb Breen Rossiter

Quinn!?

Even though you have to put Kilbane at left back that's pretty amazing, and only three have been signed by McCarthy.

who ever posts a team form front to back?

**NigeSausagepump** · 06/08/2003, 2:53 PM

I see the latest on Healy is that he has agreed terms with Sunderland and has passed the medical.

All cut and dried? Nope, good ole Celtic are insisting on compensation, claiming that as he is under 23 he is not eligible for a Bosman. Colin is 23, which by my maths does not fall into the category "under 23".

Good to see Celtic re-establishing their impeccable Irish credentials again.

**Plastic Paddy** · 06/08/2003, 3:20 PM

Originally posted by NigeSausagepump
I see the latest on Healy is that he has agreed terms with Sunderland and has passed the medical.

All cut and dried? Nope, good ole Celtic are insisting on compensation, claiming that as he is under 23 he is not eligible for a Bosman. Colin is 23, which by my maths does not fall into the category "under 23".

Good to see Celtic re-establishing their impeccable Irish credentials again.

Oi, Nigel, you leave Celtic alone!

The following story might help explain the issue further:

PP

---

Healy move hit by compensation wrangle (source: Ananova)

Sunderland's hopes of landing Celtic midfielder Colin Healy before Saturday's opener against Nottingham Forest are being threatened by a wrangle over compensation.

The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international has agreed personal terms with the Black Cats and passed a medical.

However, Celtic believe they are due compensation for the player, whose contract at Parkhead expired at the end of last season, while the Wearsiders are confident they can sign him for free.

"We have been in talks with Colin Healy and his agent to agree personal terms and he has passed a medical," said a Sunderland spokesman.

"The situation now is that we are waiting for his agent to confirm that he is free to move to Sunderland on a Bosman and that there will be no compensation due to Celtic.

"Celtic have referred his agent to the International Football League Board agreement, which governs moves between English, Irish and Scottish Leagues under which they say compensation is still payable for a player aged 23 years and under.

"Fifa regulations state that no compensation is payable once a player has reached 23 years. As there is a disparity between the two sets of rules, and as Colin is aged 23, we need this to be clarified before we can proceed any further."

A collapse of the deal would come as a blow to manager Mick McCarthy, who has been trailing the player almost since the day he took over at the Stadium of Light.

Story filed: 16:02 Wednesday 6th August 2003