Nobody is looking for world beaters. We want a cohesive team plan that allows the squad to perform greater than the sum of their parts. Northern Ireland were in the last Euros.
With all the world beaters in the squad presumably.And how did they manage that?
Not as many youngsters in the English academies, bloody Johnny Foreigner has taken his place or so I’m told anyway, don’t know if there is truth in that for real.Honest question for those in the know:
Why don't we see the same quality of Irish footballer playing in England now that we were so used to through the 70s to 90s as they were top-notch.
Other countries have caught up or even overtaken Ireland in terms of youth production. These younger players are more likely to be picked up by Premier League academies now. Also, with Brexit it is now not possible for younger players to move over until they're a bit older. The mismanagement in the FAI have put us back twenty years.Honest question for those in the know:
Why don't we see the same quality of Irish footballer playing in England now that we were so used to through the 70s to 90s as they were top-notch.
Yeah but there was a much smaller pool of players to pick from for Premier League sides then too. Brighton had three players playing for Ecuador in the World Cup today, and they all looked very good. Football has grown, the FAI haven't.It kind of doesn’t make sense. The 22-28 year old PL players in their prime all had access to far better facilities and coaching during their formative years in Ireland than the likes of Roy or Robbie Keane, McGrath or Duff.
Yeah but there was a much smaller pool of players to pick from for Premier League sides then too. Brighton had three players playing for Ecuador in the World Cup today, and they all looked very good. Football has grown, the FAI haven't.
A player playing with Wigan in League 1 but onStephen Kelly on commentary mentioned he had made over fifty appearances for Tottenham before an Ireland call up. We now start lads on loan from Tottenham to lower league sides.
Can anyone imagine a player like Paul McGrath going over from LOI at 22 and very quickly being around the first team of a top end side in the PL now? It's unthinkable.
I'm not sure we can say that for certain, outside of some of the obviously top class players like Roy Keane and Paul McGrath. Competition in football is insane nowadays. Midtable clubs have managers like Lopetegui and Emery.Yeah but the very best players from previous eras were amongst the best in the Uk top division. They would all play for top teams if they were round now. Even with more competition for places.
Coleman?Can anyone imagine a player like Paul McGrath going over from LOI at 22 and very quickly being around the first team of a top end side in the PL now? It's unthinkable.
Took him a couple of years to establish himself at Everton from memory? And they weren't quite at the top end. But fair point.Coleman?
Took him a couple of years to establish himself at Everton from memory? And they weren't quite at the top end. But fair point.
Disagree. Strongly.Yeah, but also that was 13 ish years ago now.
Took a couple of seasons but he was up for young player of the year and got in the team of the year the following season (I think)Took him a couple of years to establish himself at Everton from memory? And they weren't quite at the top end. But fair point.
I'm not sure we can say that for certain, outside of some of the obviously top class players like Roy Keane and Paul McGrath. Competition in football is insane nowadays. Midtable clubs have managers like Lopetegui and Emery.
It kind of doesn’t make sense. The 22-28 year old PL players in their prime all had access to far better facilities and coaching during their formative years in Ireland than the likes of Roy or Robbie Keane, McGrath or Duff.
It’s probably the worst generation of Irish footballers in history if you move up the age slightly to peak players for us. We’re still using the likes of Coleman, McClean etc, while the likes of Idah, Parrott have been thrown right into the side but are still very young. The lads in their middle to late 20s now, where you want your team to be made up with to win games in the present are relatively very poor to their peers on any good international side.
Any ideas who it might be?