Irish centre-halves - any prospects?

FrankGrimes

Great performance last night by Richard Dunne, and though Andy O'Brien was shaky he's normally solid enough for us, though he's likely to be playing Championship football next season. Looks to me like John O'Shea has to be our 3rd choice centre-half, which doesn't fill me with confidence.

Who are the up and coming Irish centre-havles out there? I've heard of a lad called Barry Quinn I think who is captain at a very young age with a Championship club but I don't know the details. So who do you think is close to making the breakthrough?

Big Nelly

McShane who is on loan at Brighton, bloke at Leicester, cant remember his name

Also I think O'Shea could be our best centre half if he gets the chance! this is one position we have never been short of cover

johnor

Yea yer man at leicester is Patrick McCarthy, has been doing very well this season, first full season with them too...

gracehopper

johnor wrote:

Yea yer man at leicester is Patrick McCarthy, has been doing very well this season, first full season with them too...

I played with him for Malachy's and Stella Maris before he got signed to Man City. I met him last week in our local and he seemed dissappointed not to be included in the recent irish first team squad. I personally though he should have been included, he's captained Leicester a few times this year aswell and i think he's a very solid player for his age.

PHB

Paul McShane is a really good prospect.
Upon arriving at Brighton he played about 7 matches, where he scored twice, and got 2 MOM's.
He then recieved a serious injury and was meant to be out for 5 months, but worked through it and recovered after only 2 months(always the sign of great physical ability like Lampard)
now he is back playing in the Brighton squad, and while they are struggling, he is playing very well, doing his best to keep them in the championship.
United are very very keen on him, and were vary to loan him out to Brighton for fear he might get a taste of first team football and not want to return, which is exactly what has happened. He however has said he is willing to go back and fight for his place at United, which is fairly impressive considering he has Ferdinand, Brown, Vidic, O'Shea, Slyvestre, Pique, Spector ahead of him atm.
I would imagine next season he will be loaned to a premiership club, like Spector's path, and will then get his shot at United in about 3 years time.
He is a great prospect for Ireland.

O'Shea is our second best CB, and it is his natural position. However Ireland will need him to play left back or cnetral midfield, so he isn't an option.

Big Nelly

PHB wrote:

O'Shea is our second best CB, and it is his natural position. However Ireland will need him to play left back or cnetral midfield, so he isn't an option.

If Whelan can get back into top form and O'Brien gets a midfield role for Bolton we will then have Reid, A. Reid, Whelan and O'Brien fighting for the 2 midfield slots so O'Shea can drop into the back line then!!

Also couold stick in Graham Coughlan if need be:-)

Kingp35

Yeah McShane is our brightest prospect at the moment. I watch alot of Championship football and whenever I have seen him play he has been great in a struggling side. Will surely get his chance in the squad soon but might have to wait until the World Cup qualifying campaign. McCarthy is another bright prospect playing Championship football who looks like he has the ability to make the grade.

Ireland are never really short of centre backs because this country seems to continually produce top class centre halves. Centre back is one position I wouldnt be overly worried about.

Mitch Connor

Steve Bruce's son has declared for us to, CB playing for Birmingham, haven't seen much of him though.

Big Nelly

Tauren wrote:

Steve Bruce's son has declared for us to, CB playing for Birmingham, haven't seen much of him though.

Started for the U21's on Tuesday night, think he had an ok game. Whelan ran the match

He was playing for Shef Wed last season on loan and did ok for us when we won in Play Offs, was more or less playing as a right back but knows how to tackle. Has abit more pace the old Steve used to have and could turn into a decent player. Last I seen of him was the Birmingham game a few weeks back when he was playing in the holding midfield role because Butt threw a strop! did ok but he wasn't used to that role and made a few mistakes

gimmick

If John O Shea were allowed settle as a centre half for both club and country, he would be perfect. Having seen him a few times in that position, he always looked solid, great reading, and great positional sense.

Its just a pity that his versatility has, in essense, woked against him, as he has always been moved around, never settling at just one.

Big Nelly

gimmick wrote:

If John O Shea were allowed settle as a centre half for both club and country, he would be perfect. Having seen him a few times in that position, he always looked solid, great reading, and great positional sense.

Its just a pity that his versatility has, in essense, woked against him, as he has always been moved around, never settling at just one.

more or less said the exact same thing on the Ireland game thread:D greta minds and all that:D

Mitch Connor

O'Shea is not good enough to be centre half for United - not even close. He is so far behind Brown, Rio, even Vidic and Silvestre to play CB there is no hope of it happening. In fact, i would see Pique playing CB for United ahead of O'Shea. Prone to far too many mistakes and his distrodution it terrible, not strong enough, on the ball or in the tackle either.

Big Nelly

Tauren wrote:

O'Shea is not good enough to be centre half for United - not even close. He is so far behind Brown, Rio, even Vidic and Silvestre to play CB there is no hope of it happening. In fact, i would see Pique playing CB for United ahead of O'Shea. Prone to far too many mistakes and his distrodution it terrible, not strong enough, on the ball or in the tackle either.

Easiest way to answer this, Sir Alex Ferguson knows more about Football than you and he rates him

wheres me jumpa

I cant see O'Shea having a futrue anywhere in the United back line, his future if any is in midfield imo. I dont think were too bad at CB. OBrien and Dunne are out starting CB, we have OShea and young O'Brien can play in the centre(?). If were desperate we always have Doherty and even Harte has played CB before. Not the best of options but OBrien and Dunne will start every game while fit.

The problem area's for me are left back and right midfield. We have no specialist right winger at the moment. Anyone know any yougin's who are out and out right wingers?

Also Harte seems to be our only out and out left back. O'Shea can do a good job there too but I would much prefer to have a player playing there week in week out.

finlma

gimmick wrote:

Having seen him a few times in that position, he always looked solid, great reading, and great positional sense.

You obviously didn't see Switzerland v Ireland in the European Championship qualifier we lost 2-0. He was shockingly bad.

I don't rate him in any position apart from the bench. He lacks authority on the pitch and goes missing in games all too often. Take last night as an example - he was our worst player.

Paddy McCarthy id definitely the best prospect but we need some more to come through.

Pigman II

Is there anyone in the prem we could nab under the auld F.A.I. rules? That'd probably be our best prospect to get someone solid.

mchurl

the two lads already mentioned, mccarthy and mcshane look very good prospects and from what ive seen of alex bruce, he has the potential to go a long way. I dont think we are that weak in central defense anyway

Pepe LeFrits

Matthew Connolly for Arsenal. He's 18 and a regular in the reserves, he's tall and strong and is fairly highly rated.

Rollo Tamasi

wheres me jumpa wrote:

The problem area's for me are left back and right midfield. We have no specialist right winger at the moment. Anyone know any yougin's who are out and out right wingers?

right midfield looks good to me.
Miller
Elliott
McGeady
Lawerence
Andy Reid (left foot i know, but he has played there)

Left back is the big concern, i would rate Maybury over Harte. Thought Harte was terrible against Sweden. The only thing he is good at is distrubtion of the ball and that was medicore on Wednesday night tbh

Lemlin

There's a young fella at Blackburn who's pretty good: John Fitzgerald, it'll be a few years before he's ready though. If he does make it, that is.

By the way Rollo Tamasi, Steven Reid can also play right wing. He's not as effective as in the centre IMO but he's still a viable option.

treefingers

wheres me jumpa wrote:

Anyone know any yougin's who are out and out right wingers?

roy o'donovan at cork city. and before anyone shoots him down look where doyle was last year. o'donovan has made a better start to his cork city career than doyle did, and has played well for the irish u-21s. i think he will be good enough eventually, although he will never get a chance unless he moves from the eirocm league. (which is ridiculous imo)

Necronomicon

Isn't there a young left-sided defender called Damien Delaney that's held in pretty high regard? Last I heard he was with Leicester, not sure if that's right though.

eirebhoy

Lemlin wrote:

There's a young fella at Blackburn who's pretty good: John Fitzgerald, it'll be a few years before he's ready though. If he does make it, that is.

Bury signed him last summer.

Lemlin

eirebhoy wrote:

Bury signed him last summer.

Wasn't that just on loan though? It was initially anyway.

Mitch Connor

Big Nelly wrote:

Easiest way to answer this, Sir Alex Ferguson knows more about Football than you and he rates him

He also rated Taibi, Djemba Djemba, Cryuff, Prunier, Forlan and Fletcher, and thought Veron, Poborsky and Blanc would be suited to the Prem. Fergie is a great manager, but he is not perfect.

It is clear to 99% of United fans that O'Shea is CONSTANTLY a weak link in the United team.

Seaneh

First off, Taibi had been (and was still untill very recently) one of the most consistant keepers in Italy, he barely got a chance at UTD, he couldn't speak ANY english and was completely trhown in at the deep end.

Poborsky was doing great until beckham started playing and put him out of the team, everyone on the planet though Cruyff was going to be a star, Dx2 was a great prospect, Veron is world class and if united used him as he should be used he would have been great for them (same goes to Chelsea), Forlan is proving he can score goals, and infact did score when he played for united for any stretch of games, fletcher will be a good player when he gets stronger physically and isn't asked to play as a holding player, Prunier you get because he was infact a muppet!

As for O'Shea, how can someone be expected to play well in a set posistion when a manager constantly plays him in a fiferaint posistion every three weeks, declares "he's a centre half" "i'll be grooming John as a holding midfeilder" or "John is a smashing Left full and thats where i see him in the future" dependong on what month it is and how many players are missing from said posistion?

tetsujin1979

Necromomicon wrote:

Isn't there a young left-sided defender called Damien Delaney that's held in pretty high regard? Last I heard he was with Leicester, not sure if that's right though.

He's at Hull, and has been for about 3 seasons now. Peter Taylor made him his first signing when he took over there, after having worked with him in the youth teams at Leicester.

Mitch Connor

Sorry, O'Shea has played A LOT at left back in his first season and did well, and has played there a lot since, and has been crap. Yes, moving position does not help, but even when he has got runs in a consistent position he has been poor. I don't care how much you are moved around, your ability to win tackles or pass the ball should not be affected, and they are two areas of O'Shea's game that really let him down. O'Shea has all the attributes required to be a top player - he is strong, fast, good positional sense and can actually pass and tackle when on top form - but he has not shown anywhere near the form he showed in his first season since then. How long are we prepared to wait for him to rediscover his ability to play football?

Don't get me wrong, i would love O'Shea to prove me horribly wrong and become the player i believe he can be - but i won't be holding my breath.

Mark

Does anyone know anything about Alan O'Brien? He's a young Irish left winger in the Newcastle reserves and was doing so well a few months ago that they sent him out on loan. Hopefully he'll be another N'Zogbia!

The Rooster

Tauren wrote:

O'Shea is not good enough to be centre half for United - not even close

Big Nelly wrote:

Easiest way to answer this, Sir Alex Ferguson knows more about Football than you and he rates him

I think your argument actually backs up Tauren. Ferguson almost never plays O'Shea at centre back, which would indicate he doesnt really rate him in that position.

Personally I think O'Shea could make a very good centre half for Ireland, however it is the one position you really need to be playing week in week out to grasp the full knowledge of the position. You could play a club centre half as a regular international midfielder or full back, but playing a club full back or midfielder as a regular international centre back will not work. And it seems clear that O'Shea will never be a regular CB for ManU.

Kingp35

Mark wrote:

Does anyone know anything about Alan O'Brien? He's a young Irish left winger in the Newcastle reserves and was doing so well a few months ago that they sent him out on loan. Hopefully he'll be another N'Zogbia!

He was in my class in primary school and I still chat to him whenever he is home. Last time I was talking to him he said he was making great progress. Starts every game for the reserves and came on a couple of times for First team when Newcastle had players out. He said he was thinking about moving but wants to stay at Newcastle. His main attribute is that he is lightning fast. Im fast but I couldnt get near him at sports day

I believe he will be playing for Ireland in a few years because he is a top player. Newcastle rate him highly because they recently gave him a new contract a new jeep, aa new house and all teh rest and they wouldnt do that for a player they dont rate. He will be a very good player, I guarantee it.

eirebhoy

Mark wrote:

Does anyone know anything about Alan O'Brien? He's a young Irish left winger in the Newcastle reserves and was doing so well a few months ago that they sent him out on loan. Hopefully he'll be another N'Zogbia!

By the sounds of it, if he makes it he'll be without doubt the fastest ever Irish player. Apparantly he's faster than Bellamy.

Kingp35 - keep us updated with any info on him.

Lemlin

Kingp35 wrote:

He was in my class in primary school and I still chat to him whenever he is home. Last time I was talking to him he said he was making great progress. Starts every game for the reserves and came on a couple of times for First team when Newcastle had players out. He said he was thinking about moving but wants to stay at Newcastle. His main attribute is that he is lightning fast. Im fast but I couldnt get near him at sports day

I believe he will be playing for Ireland in a few years because he is a top player. Newcastle rate him highly because they recently gave him a new contract a new jeep, aa new house and all teh rest and they wouldnt do that for a player they dont rate. He will be a very good player, I guarantee it.

He played ten minutes or thereabouts against Fulham and Man City, and got nearly a half hour against Birmingham, Souness' last games. He hasn't featured since the new management team of Roeder and Shearer took over. I'd imagine that has more to do with players coming back form injury than the management not rating him though.

Rollo Tamasi

Lemlin wrote:

By the way Rollo Tamasi, Steven Reid can also play right wing. He's not as effective as in the centre IMO but he's still a viable option.

steven reid is a great all round footballer but i hope to god that he settles in a central midfield role. He is more valuable to eire in the centre imo. He did some business against the swedes on wednesday night and crunched Ibramhovic!

Where is he playing for Blackburn at the moment. Hughes seems to be fairly undecided about his best position.

besty

Paul Mc Shane

Lemlin

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

steven reid is a great all round footballer but i hope to god that he settles in a central midfield role. He is more valuable to eire in the centre imo. He did some business against the swedes on wednesday night and crunched Ibramhovic!

Where is he playing for Blackburn at the moment. Hughes seems to be fairly undecided about his best position.

Hughes knows Reid's best position is central midfield IMO. However, Blackburn alraedy have Tugay and Savage for there so Reid is often deployed on the right wing, where Emerton and Bentley have thus far failed to make the position their own. This means that Hughes prefers to move Reid to the right and play Tugay in the centre than chance Bentley/Emerton.

Tugay isn't getting any younger though so I'd imagine Reid is being groomed to take over his central position next season. For now though, Blackburn's main problem area is the right wing and that's why Reid is being switched between the two.

He's still only 25 so he's a great prospect for both club and country.

TonyD79

B.d.w william prunier played just one match vs Spurs and it was a trial game...so u cant count him as a bad signing...eric cantona recommended him to Fergie....as he did with Zidane!!!! No one is perfect..look at Mourinho and kezman.

Hopefully Mcshane is loaned out to a premiership team next year so he can be selected in the Irish Squad.

FrankGrimes

Hadn't had a chance till now to come back to this thread....so basically it looks like Paddy McCarthy and Paul McShane are our two best prospects at centre-half? Like many on the thread I don't think O'Shea can be trusted there unless he gets a decent run in that position at United, which I doubt will happen. Will keep an eye on these two though.

Jazzy

lol
i was in the same class as john fitzgerald in primary school and he was in the same year in secondary
claim to fame : i played in his first ever competitive match with Park Celtic B's aged 10
hes good alright but he needed to breakthrough at blackburn. hopefully he will at bury and then get back into the PL. the more famous he gets the better i can pimp my claim ya c ^^

Rollo Tamasi

TonyD79 wrote:

Hopefully Mcshane is loaned out to a premiership team next year so he can be selected in the Irish Squad.

pl football is not a requirement for irish international caps. If he is good enough he will be in the next squad.

TonyD79

I meant that if he is playing premiership footie he will be able to handle international football against the likes of ballack, baros,koller, giggs etc!!!

Its not a requirment but if he is loaned out again to a 1 st division club i wouldnt select him....paul butler mark II !!!!

Mark

Thanks for the info Kingp35, interesting stuff.