TOP 50 IRISH SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE LAST 50 YEARS I

Steve Finnan 11 places ahead of Gary Kelly is an interesting one.

Finnan was a great right back, but the fact he won a champions league with Liverpool must have some bearing on him being so far ahead of Kelly. I reckon Kelly had a greater impact in an Ireland jersey than Finnan. He certainly had a longer international career. And Kelly played in two World Cups, the second of which (if im not mistaken) he was the first choice right back ahead of Finnan.


O'Shea ahead of Dunne can only have been made with club form (or medals mainly) in mind so if anyone has the magazine there can you check what the criteria for selection were so we dont go down a dead end arguing over nothing.

brady was number one for me , he was the most skilful irish player i ever saw or am likely to see ,  a real one off

irishmufc wrote: The auld boy was always going on about how class Brady was and I was too young to remember him.For him he was the most skillful player. was brady that good? who could you compare him to nowadays for anyone old rnough to have remembered him ?

Brady was a genius, only Giles could touch him ability wise but Brady had a slighly more laid back style.  His left foot was like a wand, he could do anything with it.  Supremely intelligent player.  Was a revalation when he went to Italy and won 2 scudettos with Juventus.  Scored the winner to clinch the second title despite bing told he was about to be sold to make way for Platini as Italain clubs had a 2 foriegner rule in place back then.  Cool as you like.

Although he started his Ireland career well it dipped in the middle of it under Hand, Dunphy used to regulalry slate Brady on tv for not transfering his club form onto the international stage

Funilly enough, although Jack's style didn't really suit Brady he had an indian summer during the Euro 88 campaign which was one of his best campaigns in green.  He'd definitely have played a part in Euro 88 had he not been injured although he had a two match ban after getting sent off in the final qulaifer v Bulgaria for kicking out in retaliation, was a shame as he'd been immense that day.

A real shame he missed Euro 88 though, even to have had him available to close out the game v Holland would have been a help.

There's been some revisionism about how his career finished since and a suggestion that he should have gone to Italia 90.  THat's nonsense, his time was done by then, he's struggled big time that season with injury and had retired from club football before the finals in any case.  He signed off his club career with this goal for West Ham, absolute class.



   


Edited by Drumcondra 69er - 03 Dec 2012 at 12:36pm

Drumcondra 69er wrote: irishmufc wrote: The auld boy was always going on about how class Brady was and I was too young to remember him.For him he was the most skillful player. was brady that good? who could you compare him to nowadays for anyone old rnough to have remembered him ? Brady was a genius, only Giles could touch him ability wise but Brady had a slighly more laid back style.  His left foot was like a wand, he could do anything with it.  Supremely intelligent player.  Was a revalation when he went to Italy and won 2 scudettos with Juventus.  Scored the winner to clinch the second title despite bing told he was about to be sold to make way for Platini as Italain clubs had a 2 foriegner rule in place back then.  Cool as you like. Although he started his Ireland career well it dipped in the middle of it under Hand, Dunphy used to regulalry slate Brady on tv for not transfering his club form onto the international stage Funilly enough, although Jack's style didn't really suit Brady he had an indian summer during the Euro 88 campaign which was one of his best campaigns in green.  He'd definitely have played a part in Euro 88 had he not been injured although he had a two match ban after getting sent off in the final qulaifer v Bulgaria for kicking out in retaliation, was a shame as he'd been immense that day. A real shame he missed Euro 88 though, even to have had him available to close out the game v Holland would have been a help. There's been some revisionism about how his career finished since and a suggestion that he should have gone to Italia 90.  THat's nonsense, his time was done by then, he's struggled big time that season with injury and had retired from club football before the finals in any case.  He signed off his club career with this goal for West Ham, absolute class.

Thanks for that. The auld boy went to Ireland games from the late 50s to the mid 80s and found that giles played brady deeper whereas for people that like slating charltons style of play at least jack pushed him further up where he could do damage.Brady said it himself one night how he played his best under jack.your last paragraph on him being injured not going to italia 90 is exactly what the auld fella said.

iMOGUE wrote: irishmufc wrote: The auld boy was always going on about how class Brady was and I was too young to remember him.For him he was the most skillful player. was brady that good? who could you compare him to nowadays for anyone old rnough to have remembered him ? Can't find the source but Jack Wilshere has been compared to Brady so he must have been a great player.

Wilshere is nowhere near as talented as Brady and I doubt he'll ever get to that level.  Brady was a one off, once in a lifetime type player, he's still reverred as one of Arsenal's finest ever and his image is splashed across the front of the ground along with their other greats.

Drumcondra 69er wrote: irishmufc wrote: The auld boy was always going on about how class Brady was and I was too young to remember him.For him he was the most skillful player. was brady that good? who could you compare him to nowadays for anyone old rnough to have remembered him ? Brady was a genius, only Giles could touch him ability wise but Brady had a slighly more laid back style.  His left foot was like a wand, he could do anything with it.  Supremely intelligent player.  Was a revalation when he went to Italy and won 2 scudettos with Juventus.  Scored the winner to clinch the second title despite bing told he was about to be sold to make way for Platini as Italain clubs had a 2 foriegner rule in place back then.  Cool as you like. Although he started his Ireland career well it dipped in the middle of it under Hand, Dunphy used to regulalry slate Brady on tv for not transfering his club form onto the international stage Funilly enough, although Jack's style didn't really suit Brady he had an indian summer during the Euro 88 campaign which was one of his best campaigns in green.  He'd definitely have played a part in Euro 88 had he not been injured although he had a two match ban after getting sent off in the final qulaifer v Bulgaria for kicking out in retaliation, was a shame as he'd been immense that day. A real shame he missed Euro 88 though, even to have had him available to close out the game v Holland would have been a help. There's been some revisionism about how his career finished since and a suggestion that he should have gone to Italia 90.  THat's nonsense, his time was done by then, he's struggled big time that season with injury and had retired from club football before the finals in any case.  He signed off his club career with this goal for West Ham, absolute class.

Well said

I know ye cant really compare him to any one pkayer but would brady have been a box to box player or play in the hole behind the strikers?

Edited by irishmufc - 03 Dec 2012 at 1:19pm

irishmufc wrote: I know ye cant really compare him to any one pkayer but would brady have been a box to box player or play in the hole behind the strikers?

 

FREEWHEELER wrote: RogerMilla wrote: irishmufc wrote: I know ye cant really compare him to any one pkayer but would brady have been a box to box player or play in the hole behind the strikers?     he wasnt box to box, he was a playmaker , great passing , great shot , great crosses , great free kicks   Exactly, there was none of this "playing in the hole" or "holding midfielder" pony in Brady's era.  He had a languid, effortless style, football came easy to him.   The fact that he lasted 7 seasons in Serie A when it was an exceptionally strong League was testament to his ability and he had the cop-on to learn the lingo as well.  He is adored in Italy.