LaticsPete

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Where Have All the Irish Gone? Kevin O’Neill Pitch Publishing, 2017 Softback, 222pp, £12.99 The impact of players like Brady, Quinn, Irwin, Keane, Giles, McGrath, or Whelan upon English football, and indeed upon the international scene was undoubtedly significant. Star players for leading clubs, components of a national side that repeatedly punched above its weight, they were prime examples of the quality of Eire born footballers who crossed the Irish Sea in the 80s and 90s. Yet, in 2013/4 three English Premier League clubs had no Irish players – including at youth/academy level. And the top five clubs at the end of 2012/13 had no Irishmen in their first team squads at the start of the next season. Are there less talented players being born Irish? Or is it a result of other factors that the country is no longer a prime source of players for the top flight of England? Kevin O’Neill has looked at a range of contributory circumstances, from the structure of coaching and development in his native country, to finance, and, most tellingly surely, the vast influx of players from around the globe into the Premier League, and Championship. Indeed the “Irish” in the book’s title could just as easily been replaced with “English” or “Scottish”. As clubs seek instant success it is easier to buy a readymade and proven player with experience of playing in a good league rather than nurturing and developing a youngster. It’s an analysis that is generally accepted, and one that on its own would not necessarily justify a book focusing on Irish players. O’Neill, however, looks wider and suggests that even if his countrymen are not impacting at the very top, there are still plenty plying their trade in other arenas. The increased professionalism of English youth set ups, children from the age of eight being associated with big clubs, training and coaching several times a week, means that the equivalent Irish child is already behind in football development even if they were to come to England as teenagers. It is such disadvantage that has contributed to the release of players who have been part of Premiership set ups. Jack Byrne, tipped to make it at Manchester City, has just signed for Oldham, one of the many Irish players operating, and earning a decent living, in the EFL and Scottish leagues. Enda Stevens was with Aston Villa but moved on around cubs till he got to Portsmouth in League 2, and most weekends there are around 20 Irish players in that fourth tier. Others impact in Scotland: Adam Rooney has been a leading scorer with Aberdeen. Some are choosing to stay in Ireland, or return there. The League of Ireland has seen signs of increasing in quality and Dundalk have shown it’s possible to progress in the Champions League. So maybe it’s a question of realignment of aspirations. Just as many players from the British mainland can no longer expect to star at the top so it is for those from Ireland too. The Irish haven’t stopped playing football it’s just that they are contributing on different stages.

Let’s not completely rewrite history just yet - Rotherham broke their club record to buy JCH, Danny Philiskirk was over £200k to Chelsea, similar money for Scott Spencer both unproven youngsters.Baxter had buy out clause as part of deal signing for us....And Micah Richards would have made us smile if he hadn’t run down his contract Yes we could have done better on several but it’s not been 100% giveaways as the owtb fact factory has it

Ten in 25 games...mind you his replacement had something about him . The great Jim Fryatt

Entertaining from Dougie Hodgson!

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Ryan McLaughlin tweeting “#announceKeanBryan”

If he didn’t sign till yesterday pm then couldn’t play today

So ? Get on down but don't let your excitement show if your dressing gown pops open

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A decent away following expected. Had sold 550 by yesterday morning.

In danger if not bailed out by Jan 25th. A decent club, proper ground, good fans - and for years we kept them company near the bottom of the old 4th Division. If you can, and want to, help: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/savehartlepoolunitedfootballclub

I gave him up about 40 days ago.

Mike Keegan reply to being asked if he could update on takeover. His last few words suggest new players would be impressive ( or, for the doom merchants, are burned out). “Wish I could. Told it’s not far off, but that’s not a new position... Players lined up are ?!”

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And Tandle Hills

In 2017 we played 48 league matches and averaged 1.31 points per game I expect that to increase to 1.5 for rest of season , giving us 60 pts

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It’s Not All About The Old Firm Scott Burns Pitch Publishing, updated edition 2017, Softback, 449pp, £12.99 How many successful clubs are there in Scotland? Presently there is just one that dominates football there and in a manner that is probably not matched in any other European country, certainly not over a period of years. For decades, however, the pre-eminence was shared between Celtic and Rangers, the Old Firm. Located in the most populous city, with an historic reach that’s rooted in cultural and religious loyalties, they have accrued more silverware, supporters and publicity than, probably, the rest of Scottish clubs put together. But there is much more to Scottish football and every so often the giants’ stranglehold has been loosened. Scott Burns has produced an impressive volume that chronicles the “uprisings” of the past 30 years or so by teams from other parts of the country and gives hope that they can continue. The first Scottish league championship was shared; between Dumbarton and Rangers in 1891. Indeed, it was Dumbarton who won it outright the following season and it wasn’t until the next year that Celtic first lifted the trophy. Similarly with Scottish FA Cup. In its first 18 seasons (starting 1874) neither of the Old Firm won it. Honours went to Queens Park, Third Lanark, Vale of Leven, Dumbarton, Renton, Hibs and Hearts. So it was from the 1890s that the Glasgow big two began their rise to pre-eminence and, to many outsiders, it has generally appeared to have been the case ever since (Rangers’ recent troubles set aside). Closer inspection obviously shows that it hasn’t always been a shoo in for them and the great Hibs team of the 1940s and 50s almost rocked the boat, with isolated success for other clubs perforating the litany of Old Firm success. This book is really about the last 30 years or so. The author describes the winning achievements of Aberdeen and Dundee United. The “New Firm” he calls the teams of Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean with their feats both domestically and in Europe, and nearly half the chapters are concerned with these two clubs. There’s much more however and the glories, albeit temporary in many cases, of Hearts, St Mirren, Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Motherwell, Raith, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Hibs and St Johnstone are all chronicled. Based on over 100 interviews, the vast majority with ex-players, it is vibrant with passionate memories and there’s an ever-present sense of pride and affection that not only has the duopoly been breached but that each individual club has achieved something, regardless of the Old Firm having their noses put out of joint. For supporters of any club outside the elite in whatever country the ambition for glory is a driving force. There must be the hope, if not the expectation, that their day will come. Even if it’s not your club that wins, the fact that another that is in similar circumstances does do so usually provides some satisfaction. So, this book, whilst of specific relevance to those following the clubs that are highlighted, is of value and interest to supporters anywhere who still dream of knocking the big guns off their perch.

Oldham 2 Bristol R 0 ht 1-0 Holloway 3796

Home club gets all the money

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With respect BP that’s tosh.

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