Upcoming Irish Talent

GuanYin

Just looking at the situation with Irish talent coming through and there doesn't seem to be as many upcoming Irish youngsters as there have been the past few years.

The names of Partridge & Barrett have been touted as ones to watch without either being given a chance at club level, while Healy has never delivered (or been given a chance to) at club level. While Reid seems to finally have made it to the big time.

Outside that all I know of is the Forest U21 trio who are getting first team football, Andy Reid, Barry Roche and John Thompson.

Andy Reid is a left winger so will probably never get into an Irish side while Barry Roche has only a handful of first team appearances (he's Forests 2nd choice keeper). John Thompson is many pundits "one to watch" in the 1st Div this season after coming in to cover injuries and ending up playing in the play off semi-final.

The only reason I know about them is that I'm a forest supporter, anyone else know any potentials?

Its a far cry from Duff, Keane et al. coming through the ranks...

p.pete

Michael Foley Sheridan is another of the Irish youths at Liverpool. Like Partridge he is yet to dent the first team. He is 20 already and a midfielder. His contract is up at the end of this season so I guess you call it make or brake for him this season.

I won't keep my fingers crossed for him - maybe leaving pool is his best option.

thegills

Liam Miller (Celtic) - Martin seems happy with him
Sean Thornton (Sunderland) - Mick raves about him
Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wed.) - Another good lad

GuanYin

I was going to mention him too (and his brother at Villa) but I figured I'd let you.

Like you said, he has made less progress through the ranks than Partridge and looks like becoming another ignored young talent at 'Pool.

Actually, how many youngsters have come through the academy since Houllier took over?

For that matter, what are the best teams for giving youth (especially Irish youth) a chance?

For getting through Forest and Leeds would be the top 2 and Blackburn has loads of Irish on their youth books (that never seem to make it). Any other teams?

LizardKing

I think a good thing for the Irish Youth side (u - 21's etc.) is that the national league are getting young players called up .. Players such as Wes Hoolihan and many more getting into the U21 team .. I think its important that don givens uses home based talent as well as the youth abroad ... it'll mean young kids who aspire to playing internationally do not have to make the trip over the water... I think irelands team in general is young with many regular players in there early 20's ....

GuanYin

Originally posted by thegills
Liam Miller (Celtic) - Martin seems happy with him

Yeah, saw that, great goal against arenal..he looks a good prospect.

Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wed.) - Another good lad [/B]

Been around ages...gotten nowhere. If he is any good he lacks ambition to stay at Weds (in Div 2)

Originally posted by thegills
Sean Thornton (Sunderland) - Mick raves about him

The kiss of death

ciano

A few more decent young players:

Patrick Kohlmann (Borussia Dortmund)
Paul Tierney (Manchester United)
Thomas Butler (Sunderland)
Michael Keane (Preston North End)
Shaun Byrne (West Ham)
Grahme Stack (Arsenal)

Bannor

John Fitzgerald (Blackburn)
Darren Potter (Liverpool)
Barry Quinn (Coventry)
Richard Sadlier (Millwall)
Jonathan Daly (Stockport)

ella minnow pea

Willo Flood (man city)
he's set to break robbie's scoring record...

GuanYin

Yeah, but few of these are making it to the first team for their clubs....

Ping Chow Chi

I watched the Forest v Ajax match - and Andy was the best player on the pitch (although most the Ajax lads where strolling about it must be said)

He is our little figo :x

p.pete

John Frost at Waterford United, club captain at 22. Left sided full back.

AngelofFire

Paul tierney(man utd) he`ll probably need to join a different club to get a starting line up

Liam miller(celtic)could emerge within the next year

Thomas butler(sunderland)definately needs to get out of there or he could be in division two next season

Colin Healy(unnattached)lets hope to god he doesnt join sunderland for reasons i mentioned above. he is potentially our best central midfielder and a natural successor to roy keane. he needs a premiership outfit or perhaps even a strong nationwide like West ham or notts forest.

Tellox

Originally posted by p.pete
John Frost at Waterford United, club captain at 22. Left sided full back.

Yes,I've seen him in action, very impressive indeed.

GuanYin

Andy Reid played very well for Forest on Saturday, two assists and the pass for the first ball was brilliant.

In contrast, Butler looked to lack ideas and confidence

Was interesting to note that the match (Forest Vs. Sunderland)
had 6 Full and U21 Irish Internationals on the pitch and one more on the bench.

Hairy Homer

Having a good youth team, while a healthy enough indicator of available youtful talent, is no guarantee that the senior side will benefit to the same extent.

Take a look at the Irish under 20 side that came third in the world back in 1997 (or was it 98?). Only two of that side have made it to full international status. One of them was Damien Duff. The other was Glenn Crowe, a solid League of Ireland performer as indeed were most of the other players on that team.

Duff, so far as I can make out, is the only one who is currently playing in the Premiership. Most of the others will be familiar to LoI watchers. Colin Hawkins, Thomas Heary, Dessie Baker, Trevor Molloy etc etc
A lot of the others have disappeared without trace.

As for the English side who went out at the quarter final stage. That included:

Danny Murphy, Michael Owen, Stephen Gerrard, Mathew Upson, Kieron Dyer to name only the ones whose names I recall.

Perhaps the best comment I ever read to put schoolboy football into perspective came from a former Irish international who wrote:

"Of the 22 players who took part in the Ireland England schoolboy international that I played in back in [1960 something or other] only one of them ever made it to full international status, and I think we can all agree, he hardly set the world alight.'

The author was one Eamon Dunphy.