Newcastle seem to be interested in Dundalk winger Daryl Horgan and the news is we will try to sign the winger next month.
But his former team-mate Richie Towell made the move to England late last year, when he signed for Brighton and he has struggled on the south coast playing only twice for Chris Hughton’s side.
Former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United captain Roy Keane is pointing out today it doesn’t always work out when a top Irish player makes the big move into English football.
Daryl Horgan in action against Legia Warsaw in Europa League
This is what Roy has said today about Newcastle target Daryl Horgan:
“I bumped into people at the FAI Cup final working for English and Scottish clubs,” “They asked, ‘Can he step up?’ That’s the million-dollar question.”
“You don’t know. Sometimes there’s a big gap and it’s a big ask.” “The benefits of playing in Europe and the fitness levels will certainly help if they go across.”
“But who’s to say they’re not happy and settled in Dundalk?” “Obviously Richie Towell went over last year and he’s had one or two injuries and it’s not quite happened for him.”
“So it’s not all this fantasy that you go over and everything falls into place. But I’m sure he’ll have good options.”
Horgan has seen his share of headlines in the League of Ireland this season.
He’s put in some outstanding performances and he’s played very well in the Europa League too, but of course it’s always a risk when you take a step up in class.
And we will have to rely on Rafa Benitez’ skill and vast experience as to whether he thinks Daryl is a player who can not only make it in the Championship, but also in the Premier League for Newcastle.
Newcastle are expected to try to sign Daryl next month when his contract ends at Dundalk.
The FAI Cup final was last week when Cork City beat Dundalk 1-0 after extra time and Newcastle had scouts at the game watching Horgan.
The winner came in stoppage time of extra time – you cannot score much later than that before it would have gone to penalties.
Comments welcome.
13 comments so far
WWSBRD
Nov 15, 2016 at 2:03 PM
Comment #1Why try and warn off one of ur players from trying to play in a top league? He should be backing the lad to make an impact and grow as a player surely?
jayphoto
Nov 15, 2016 at 2:21 PM
Comment #2@WWSBRD – think Keane is just giving an honest answer. Being straight to the point and brutally honest has probably been his strength and weakness throughout his career.
Think it’s hard to go from such a level to championship/premier level! Some do it, coleman for example but Horgan is slightly older.
Most Irish players are in English youth academys by age 16 so Horgans path is a little different.
Looks a player to me though
bettyswallocks
Nov 15, 2016 at 2:34 PM
Comment #3Keane has a reputation for being controversial and tends to live up to it at every opportunity. He’s too aggressive to make it as a manager in his own right but ok as an assistant. By all accounts he doesn’t command much respect within the game so has to go out on a limb to get noticed.
Jib
Nov 15, 2016 at 2:35 PM
Comment #4Jay
Quite right
The comments by Keane were given in an interview on the 12th when he also gave Koeman and Everton both barrels.
http://www.dublinlive.ie/sport/soccer/roy-keane-heaps-praise-dundalk-12147671
WWSBRD
Nov 15, 2016 at 2:45 PM
Comment #5jay
Might be his opinion but it helps no one, the lad now thinks his national team don’t think he can cut it at a high level despite his performances
I’d be furious if I were Horgan
bettyswallocks
Nov 15, 2016 at 2:56 PM
Comment #6I don’t think Rafa will be influenced by Roy Keanes opinion on anything. A great player he was but since his playing days he has achieved nothing other than create aggravation.
Tsunki
Nov 15, 2016 at 3:01 PM
Comment #7Best you can muster about Keannnn-ohhh is that he’s Captain Haddocks evil twin. A bitter and sour faced pugilist with a legendary command of disdain. I can see how as a manager he was the perfect demotivationist. I wish he was still at mackemland.
jayphoto
Nov 15, 2016 at 3:10 PM
Comment #8@wwsbrd – yea get the feeling roy keane has never helped anyone in his career but himself…
Apparantely he only turned up on match days when he was sunderland manager.
Personally I like the idea of few irish players, Clark has been great, and they always seem to have a decent attitude when it comes to giving 100%
Actually quite like McLean as a player . Horgan is a freebie, a trial or 1 year contract with options wouldn’t hurt anyone, very little outlay on the clubs part
bettyswallocks
Nov 15, 2016 at 3:13 PM
Comment #9Very eloquently put Tsunki.
I think managers have to command respect from the players and it’s a very emotive issue. Without a successful managerial track record at their disposal managers have to balance between being one of the lads and everyone’s mate to ruling with a rod of iron. Not an easy task and the successful ones do find the right balance.
Tsunki
Nov 15, 2016 at 3:13 PM
Comment #10I did make that word up BTW 🙂
hibbit
Nov 15, 2016 at 3:19 PM
Comment #11our top transfer target ?????
bettyswallocks
Nov 15, 2016 at 3:20 PM
Comment #12Tsunki…….. You must be motivated today on the literary front. I wish I had such a good command of the English language like what you’ve got.
robertsleftfoot
Nov 16, 2016 at 7:24 AM
Comment #13The lad wont be on any big wages and he wont command a huge fee, although it has probably risen considerably for playing in the Europa League.
What harm is a £2mill purchase and £5k a week to a club like Newcastle United on a 3 year deal gives him about £750k in wages and add that to his fee less than £3mill for a punt at someone.
If he is good then its a bargain and he will get an improved contract, if he is ok a lower league team may well take him off our hands for a small fee, if he is sh*te then he sees his 3 years out with a few quid in his pocket and returns to dundalk to tear up the irish league.
Seems like a very small risk with such small losses on the scale of things but with a slight possibility of high reward