Judging the state of the soccer nation
Here, John Fallon assesses the winners and losers of 2014, some that should utilise the looming transfer window and another batch to keep an eye on in 2015.
Put simply, the Waterford striker has been Ireland’s most consistent marksman in 2014.
Six goals for Ipswich Town in the second half of season have been added to with another 16 so far to instigate a promotion charge for Mick McCarthy’s Irish-dominated side.
Murphy attributes his success to being deployed in his preferred central role, something Martin O’Neill could be convinced to do when the qualifiers resume in March.
Craven Cottage in May saw Hendrick come of age in an Ireland shirt as he dominated PSG’s €5m capture Marco Verratti in midfield as Ireland held the World Cup- bound Italians on a balmy London night.
Derby warded off Premier League interest by agreeing a new contract for a player key to their march to the play-off final. He’s maintained that form this season too for the promotion chasers and has been tipped for a big Ireland future by the pair of Keanes, Robbie and Roy.
Few prodigies live up to hype bestowed on them from their mid-teens but Grealish’s ascent has attracted prying eyes in both the club and international spheres.
Fresh from helping Notts County dodge relegation during a loan spell, the winger made his Villa debut in May at champions Manchester City before featuring in eight more of their Premier League games in the current campaign.
Although his international career has been parked in recent months amid approaches from England, the U21 cap is still Ireland’s player to lose.
The Cavan man’s lethargic demeanour belies his professional ambition, as Sheridan’s intrepid search for career satisfaction trekked him from Scotland to Bulgaria and, most productively, Cyprus.
Three goals in four outings for Apoel Nicosia eased their passage into the group stages of the Champions League, where the forward played in all six matches.
Ireland’s sole representative involved at the top table of European club football was both embarrassed and honoured to carry the distinction.
To be voted by his Premier League peers at the best right-back over the last full top-flight season said much for the rise of the Donegal man. Coleman fits the mould of the modern-day full-back, expected to join the attack and pocket their share of goals.
The former Sligo Rovers man will play a vital part as Ireland head into the business segment of the European Championship campaign.
It’s a testament to his demise that Ireland’s name hasn’t warranted a mention in Martin O’Neill’s press conferences since May when the Ireland manager disclosed details of his failed attempts at contacting the exiled playmaker.
A mere four starts for Stoke this season hardly presses his inclusion credentials anyway, yet 2014 could be remembered as the year the 28-year-old ran out of excuses for adopting a warped attitude towards representing his country.
Unlike his former Celtic team-mate Sheridan, O’Dea’s globetrotting exploits went awry halfway through the year in the war-torn territory of Ukraine.
Fearful for the safety of himself and his family, the Ireland defender finally cut loose from Metalurh Donetsk in August but struggled to find a club before Blackpool provided salvation of a kind earlier this month. His new club remained anchored at the bottom of the Championship following his debut, a 6-1 drubbing by Bournemouth.
This was meant to be the season for veteran Andrews to sign off a 17-year professional career with grace but a combination of factors has left him staring into uncertainty.
Unwanted by parent club Bolton Wanderers, the 34-year-old was loaned to fellow Championship outfit Watford only to find himself frozen out by the latest in the inflated list of bosses at Vicarage Road, Slavisa Jokanovic. He’s at present in limbo and seeking a fresh challenge next month.
When Harry Redknapp opted against converting Doyle’s loan into a permanent move to QPR in the summer, Wolves still wanted the striker off their wage bill.
Despite an outlet, in the form of another temporary switch to Crystal Palace, being negotiated, Doyle’s injury problems, allied to the instability at his latest club, conspired against the deal benefiting any party except Wolves. The Wexford native has been stuck in a rut for almost three seasons at this stage.
After Aidan White captained Ireland’s U21s to an historic win in Italy and scored against Everton in the space of a fortnight back in September 2012, a bright future beckoned for the Leeds United wide man.
What has unfolded, instead, is a series of setbacks, mostly down to injury, though some attributable to the chaos that frequently engulfs his club. White will be relieved to see the back of this year.
If Ireland’s captain needed a wake-up call about the level he operates at these days, it came last month by getting dropped for Ireland’s crucial qualifier in Scotland.
While Keane has been good for the MLS, and vice-versa, he can achieve no more stateside and requires a change. Goals are his currency but five on the pedestrian US beat equate to one in the English Premier League.
As is the way sometimes with bright young things, the reigning Ireland U21 player of the year has encountered a lull in his club fortunes with Watford which may only be resolved by seeking solace elsewhere.
It wasn’t that long ago Martin O’Neill faced a clamour to graduate the midfielder to his fold but Murray’s name exited that debate this season.
Still possessing the ability to shine, a loan move might be best for all concerned.
At 24, the Cork man is no rookie, meaning his lack of action in any of Burnley’s 19 games during their Premier League return merits action. After figuring 11 times in their promotion-winning campaign last season, Long had reason to believe more than Capital One Cup minutes would have been amassed by now. The centre-back won’t be short of Championship suitors should he be permitted to depart Turf Moor.
Having one more appearance at international than club level so far this season illustrates Given’s predicament at Aston Villa. Another temporary sojourn like the one he enjoyed at Middlesbrough last season, when he made 16 starts, has the potential to relieve the boredom and increase the pressure on Ireland’s first-choice custodian David Forde, who is currently working behind a porous Millwall defence.
Similar to Keane, Stokes has become far too comfortable within a substandard setting to have any complaints about his international career stagnating. He got lost in the mediocrity of the SPL a long time ago.
If he’s not already done so, Neil Lennon will be alerting his former Celtic boss, O’Neill, to this raw talent currently under his tuition at Bolton.
The 19-year-old has excelled since Lennon’s arrival, starting his first Championship game and providing competition for the elder lemons of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Heskey. Ireland U21 boss Noel King is also an admirer of the Londoner, plucking him from the U19s after Paul Doolin axed the forward.
There’s every signal to be confident that Lenihan’s stellar 2014 will be followed by another year of progress. Between his bulked-up physique and down-to-earth perspective, the full-back carries the tools to prosper in England.
Not a fresh face by any means but Arter’s newness to Irish fans may be explained by his absence from international squads since U19 level.
His revival since being released by Charlton five years ago has shifted from steady mode to spectacular in recent months due to his role in Bournemouth’s elevation in the Championship. The Londoner, brother-in-law of Scott Parker, has placed an Irish call-up high on his list of 2015 targets.
The Waterford defender is proof that one step back can result in two forward. His decision to shun a new contract offer from Paul Lambert at Aston Villa last year was questioned as new club Bristol City initially laboured in League One, yet he’s been vindicated by the progress made by the league leaders this time around. Williams (21) is a contender to cure Ireland’s left-back problem in the long term.
Until the inevitable loan move to a lower league club materialises and the shots rain down on him, judgment on Lawlor’s true potential is reserved, but all the indications point to a stopper capable of enjoying a long and distinguished club and international career ahead.
Although Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has been reluctant to allow the 20-year-old he promoted to his Champions League squad last season leave to date, the situation could change in January.
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