I think we had one last year. Starting off with one that I think is very very interesting. This is fairly big news. He's not moving to goto a first division reserve side rather than a premiership teams one. This means he should be a regular first teamer in a top division one side next year. If he's half as good as he's looekd in his career with the youths so far, then he'll hopefully score a lot of goals for Sunderland next year. This means he could emerge as an option for Kerrs squad sooner than expected. I thought Keegan rated him quite highly so i'm suprised their letting him go, the City fans certinaly seem fairly pissed off about it, but it has to be good news for us I think. Elliot has got the potential to be an excellent player, and is also exactly the kind of player who would work very well alongside Robbie Keane.
more from eleven-a-side... Keane nets Hull move June 2, 2004 Former Irish under-21 midfielder Michael Keane has bagged a move to ambitious Second Division club Hull City, where he will join fellow Irishmen Damien Delaney and Ben Burgess. Keane was a prominent member of the first team squad at Preston North End last season, playing 33 times for the Deepdale outfit. However, he lost his place in March and failed to start a game for the last six weeks of the campaign, and made the decision to leave when Hull manager Peter Taylor came calling this week. Keane, whose combative element should make him a favourite of the fans at the newly-promoted Division Two side, can play in either left flank role but is probably most at home in central midfield. Delaney and Burgess helped the Tigers to promotion last season, although the latter – a former under-21 international teammate of Keane – will be out of action until Christmas with a cruciate ligament injury.
Delighted for Elliott and for us. We need more options up front and the more he plays the better he'll get.
Douglas signs Rovers deal June 9, 2004 Irish international midfielder Jonathan Douglas has ironed out the formalities on a new three-year contract at Premiership side Blackburn Rovers. The Monaghan man spent some of the early part of the season on loan at Second Division Blackpool, has been a transformed player in 2004. Having broken into the team following an injury crisis at Ewood Park, his eager running and strong tackling saw him held onto his place in Graeme Souness’s side. His senior international debut followed against Poland in April and he also played as a sub in the 3-0 defeat to Nigeria at the Valley last week. He was in line to start against the games against Jamaica at the Valley and Holland in Amsterdam but was forced out with a knee injury. And the disappointment in missing out on a memorable win at the ArenA will have been tempered somewhat by the finalization of his new deal at Ewood Park, which had been under discussion for some months. Blackburn chief executive John Williams said: "We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Jonathan. It might seem like it’s taken a while to sort out but in reality it hasn’t. It was agreed in principle some time ago that Jonathon wanted to stay and we wanted to keep him, so it was just a case of sorting out the finer details."
Not an Irish player transfer, but I wonder how the signing of Argentinian defender Heinze by Man Utd will affect John O'Shea's selection and playing time. He's a fairly hot property in the Left Full Back position, where O'Shea has seen most of his playing time the last year at Utd.
I saw him against Brazil and if that performance is anything to go by he wouldn't keep Gary Doherty out a team, nevermind O'Shea. Hopefully it gets O'Shea back to his best though.
It was interesting to see what your first thought was. Not just a little bit of a complex then! This messageboard is for fans of soccer, relating to Ireland. Primarily discussions here deal with the International scene, the players, the boys in Merrion Square etc. Topics relating to the Eircom Leagues are also regularly dipped in and out of and enjoyed. How our players, be they full internationals or young up and coming kids who are making their names in the L.O.I. or down the English leagues, are getting on is of major interest and well worth discussion. This messageboard is not however a haven for fans of the domestic game with a large chip on his/her shoulder.
I'd be absolutley amazed if O'Flynn went to Northampton, he'll only leave Cork for a first division/premiership club imo and he's said as much himself.
Let's keep the tone down guys. This forum is dedicated anything to do with Irish soccer and Irish soccer players.
Stephen Bradley has been released by Arsenal. Though good news for Graham Stack, as Rami Shabaan was also released.
Hmmmmm..........I'm not sure you understand the depth of this fan's feelings. From the UEFA boards, ("which country has the best fans?") https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116889. And here was me thinking I am an Irish fan. I have little recourse now but to reevaluate this support, my citizenship, my whole way of life. Damn, and all I was looking forward to was a quite Sunday.............. (Note, BTW, the clever use of 'we' in the second sentence as in, you know, he speaks for EVERYONE and their pet donkey on all matters relating to Irish football. Well, all I can do is anxiously await more such intelligent discourse, enlightened views and, of course, how to be a politically correct Irish fan. Oh, the joys............)
Paul Butler has signed for Leeds. P.S. - I'm off to Dublin tomorrow night, I'll have internet access some of the time, but I might not get a chance to check the board very often. I wish you all the best over the coming weeks, and I will be back in early/mid July. Cheers!
Good luck Pmannion. The silly season has started early this time, Ian Harte has been linked to Valencia
New manager, the timing is right for him anyway, but I wouldn't hold my breath... Ritchie Foran has signed for Motherwell.
according to this report he's signed for Coventry... McPhail for Sky Blues June 18, 2004 Republic of Ireland international Stephen McPhail has reportedly signed for First Division side Coventry City and will link up with former boss Peter Reid at Highfield Road for pre season training in July. Ironically during his time in charge of Leeds that only lasted eight months, Reid played McPhail once when he introduced the midfielder as a substitute on the final day of the 2002-03 season in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Elland Road. McPhail was linked earlier in the week with a move to second division side Barnsley where another of his former managers, Paul Hart is currently in charge, although the 24-year-old is sure to want to play in a higher division. The midfielder spent a successful three-month spell with Nottingham Forest last season with then manager Hart wanting to sign McPhail on a permanent basis but the club could not afford him. After Reid was sacked as manager of Leeds in November 2003, Eddie Gray was handed the job on a caretaker basis and he immediately brought McPhail back to the club from his loan spell at the City Ground. On his return, McPhail made 12 appearances for United scoring one goal but he could not help the club avoid relegation to the First Division for next season. Reid is currently building a squad capable of pushing for promotion next season and sees McPhail as the ideal player to drive the side on from midfield. The move to Highfield Road has been put on hold as the Irishman is currently on his honeymoon after he got married in the Duleek, Co Meath last weekend. The Sky Blues could possibly have a strong Irish connection in midfield next season as Graham Barrett and Michael Doyle both of who were in the Irish squad for the end of season friendlies are thought to be very much in Reid’s plans for the new campaign, while the experienced Steve Staunton has also indicated that he would like to continue his playing career for another 12 months at least.
Alan Quinn's gone to Sheffield United then, officially. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/default.stm
http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,7-1140521,00.html Duff+Parker to Liverpool for Gerrard? Gerrard is overated and Liverpool should do this move.
Gerrard overrated? Based on what? His outstanding season for Liverpool where he was on the Premiership 1st XI? Or his performances for England at Euro '04, where he played well (with the possible exception of the Portugal game), set up one goal and scored another?
What exactly did he inspire Liverpool to? A whopping 4th place. Where was he last night when Deco and Rui Costa were running at the English defense at will? I think a player of his supposed stature should have taken hold of the game by the balls and stem the tide. But he failed to do that.
Gerrard is the Liverpool player of the year, selected on the Premiership 1st XI and is an automatic choice for England; the fact that Liverpool finished 4th is neither here nor there. Players and fans alike recognize his worth. I did say in my post that he did not have the best game against Portugal (not every player plays 100% in all games - think Beckham, Figo), so your points about the Portuguese game are somewhat moot. He did have a good tournament, playing well against France, scoring against Switzerland and setting up a goal or two against Croatia. Even against Portugal, he played reasonably well in an ineffecitve English midfield, running himself into the ground. One poor-ish game in one tournament can hardly mean he is overrated. There isn't a team in England that wouldn't want him, I think, and that holds for Europe also. He is the heir apparent to Roy Keane for best all around midfielder in England (though I'm sure Vieira might have a say there), and he has only just turned 24.