Ssshhh - don't tell the Derry boys!
The thing is though, he didn't look like one of the best. Terrible at crosses and high balls, prone to flapping about. There were several goalkeepers better than him at the time he was here, and there remains several better than him now.
Westwood's record for the season added to irish abroad: http://www.chatsoccer.net/irishabroa...playerID=37039
He was ever present for Carlisle this season: http://www.chatsoccer.net/irishabroa...ery?teamID=643
Won the award as Keeper of the year in 2006. Who were these several goalkeppers beter then him back then? Football's all about opinions but can't agree with you on that. Most keepers are prone to errors and this is even more prevelant in the EL. Brain Murphy had a number of them playing for Swansea and is probably the best keeper in the EL now. Ashley Bayes was able to win a title ffs!
From RTE
I'm confident that Trap knows what he's doing and he wont shy away from picking Eircom players if they show theyre good enough.There was still time for Vitinha to force a solid save from Westwood, a 62nd-minute replacement for Joe Murphy, after Damien Delaney's slip had put the midfielder in on goal.
Trapattoni later defended his decision to call up the Carlisle keeper in the wake of criticism from Bohemians counterpart Brian Murphy that he should have looked closer to home.
The Italian said: 'I did not know him (Westwood), but our scouts told me he played in the (English League One play-off) semi-final against Leeds and played two or three important games. We are looking at the young players. We have to look at all the possibilities.
Well, Kieron Westwood has succeeded in making a career in League One. Brian Murphy did not.
Drumcondra 69er says it better than me really........I don't want to cause offence but I really think you guys overestimate how good your league is. It's nowhere near Championship standard, as some think.
"Life is like a hair on a toilet seat. Sooner or later you are bound to get pi$$ed off."
"In this league, a draw is sometimes as good as a win" - Steve Morison
Westwood isn't Irish, Murphy is.
The Championship is a better standard than the Premier Division in the LOI - I think the majority of LOI supporters would acknowlege this. But that's irrelevant as Carlisle United isn't a Championship club or a Championship standard club.
Westwood got the "call-up" because he can potentially play international football for another country.
Last edited by ifk101; 20/05/2008 at 1:58 PM.
oh come on, what are the realistic chances of Westwood getting an England call up in the next few years? There are good English keepers coming through the ranks and James' place in the side is pretty comfortable after another good season.
Westwood is unlikely to feature in September he was just called up at short notice so they could explore other goalkeeping possibilities.
Due to criticism i recieved for not bothering about the EL i've watched a load of games recently and must say i've been surprised. It is around championship level, probably the bottom half of the championship would be suitable to accomodate the best 3 or 4 sides in the el. the rest would be league one although possible one or two would struggle at that level. the championship in england however, is a shocking league; demonstrated by the massive struggle any side getting out of it has in avoiding immediate demotion.
Non Irish Irish Italians Non League of Ireland playing Irish have been playing for us for years. Whats the problem?
John Aldridge is as Liverpool as they come and Houghton is Scotish through and through. 9 out of 10 ex Irish internationals live in England. They speak english and probably read english papers.
How many of the WC90 Squad could claim to have been born in Ireland, played LOI football ?
Always thought Vinny Jones was hard done by to be honest with some of the lads we took in.
I suppose in all honesty, If were depending on Westwood or Murphy to qualify for any major tournament were in trouble. Were not blessed with talent on tap and if we uncover a gem, welcome aboard. Thats the crux of the matter.
Who is this guy, Trapper Tony?
One of the most ill informed posts I've ever read. Like it or not for a lot of people of Irish descent living in England then being sent to Catholic / Irish schools over in England defined what was different about them to other kids over there. Most of the lads I travel to away trips with are born in Birmingham or London, the phrase 'a good catholic boy' is totally tounge in cheek and is one I've regulalry heard used by second generation Irish in a jokey manner. It's exactly the sort of thing the likes of Dermot O'Leary (who's big on his Irish heritage) would say for example.
And the last line of your post actually makes no sense at all, I assume you meant the opposite as 'mutually exclusive' means 'unable to be true at the same time' which clearly being Irish and Cathloic isn't. Did you mean as though the 2 are one and the same?
The fact that you left the 'as such' out of you're I'm not Irish (as such)' quote completly changes the context. Cr@p argument. My opinion is that he meant he wasn't born over here.
He's hardly the first and won't be the last player to be like this, can't believe why people are up in arms about this, if we cap him and he turns out to be a top keeper then happy days, if he doesn't he doesn't make the squads. What's the big deal?
A basic requirement for anyone playing for us is that they consider themselves Irish. I don't care if they are second, third or whatever generation Irish as long as they identify themselves as Irish. He said he's not Irish so your cr@p argument that he might turn out to be a top goalkeeper doesn't cut it.
any reasonable reading of what he said would see that he meant he was not born in Ireland.
please, IFK, pick something else to get all worked up over.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
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