Wes Hoolahan leads the applause at the end of the game in Swansea. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Wes Hoolahan ‘too good’ for the Republic of Ireland
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
11:11 PM
Wes Hoolahan is too good to play for the Republic of Ireland – according to one of his former team-mates in his homeland.
Owen Heary, Bohemians captain and assistant manager, said it was sad that the Norwich City forward had been consistently overlooked by national team boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Hoolahan has just one cap for his country, but defender Heary, who played with Hoolahan at Shelbourne, reckons he deserves many more.
“Wes Hoolahan, to me, was the best player ever to play in this league,” said Heary. “He went the long way round, he went to Scotland and Blackpool and so on, but now he’s playing in the Premier League and I’m delighted for him because I think he deserves it.
“I also think he deserved a call-up. Unfortunately he’s been overlooked by Ireland many times.”
In an interview with Irish radio station Newstalk, Heary said players like Kevin Doyle and Stephen Ward had proved that the League of Ireland was “not a bad league”.
But asked why he felt Hoolahan had not been picked, he said: “Because he’s too good, to be honest. I think the system that Ireland play is probably a more defensive system, and players like Wes, he’s more creative and he’d be a luxury player for the Ireland team.
“He’d create stuff but he wouldn’t be as defensive-minded as most managers would want. So I think that’s probably why he’s been overlooked, because he wants defensive midfielders rather than attacking all the time.
“But I think it’s sad one of our best players ever to come out of this country hasn’t got the call-up.”
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12 comments
Wes keeps his own counsel. Lets his football do the talking. Good man. Honorary Naaaridger now!
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, February 18, 2012
jmm You talk total and utter s**t
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yellows9blues2
Thursday, February 16, 2012
he is not good enough for premiership or international football.. he is 29 or 30, not going to get any better, his level is championship football, if mc clean at sunderland is not in the ireland squad then why should wes?
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jmm
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Youre speling beetraes yer Archent Routes, Sterru. Back to Ipswich goo.
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Owen Heary? Owen Who-ry??? I think Mr Trapottoni knows slightly more about footballers than the assistant manager of a bunch of Irish part timers. Get a grip Archant. You're turning this club into a laughing stock.
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Ged Steroo
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Must be frustrating when you Get Wolves players picked ahead of you, Doyle and co are all out of form and destined for the championship
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dave123
Thursday, February 16, 2012
As Road Warrior has commented and most of the Irish fans that I know say, the Irish are delighted to have got to the finals but are not happy with the way in which it is going to be done and would really like to see more of that Irish flair and creativity that Wes shows. Strange that they have ended up playing old-style defensive Italian football, how did that happen?
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Swiss Canary
Thursday, February 16, 2012
hear!hear! cutty.
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Owen Heary, you are quite right - Wes is simply a BRILLIANT player. Too bad Ireland hasn`t found the need for him. (good for Norwich, though?)
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Rob (Serinus Canaria Norvegicus)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
It's a sad day when an international squad can't have an attacking midfielder in their line up. Never mind Wes you'll get your chance in Europe with City
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cutty
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Condemned to the International Wilderness for ...being too good! Surely Trapattoni can find a place in the squad for Wes? Doesn`t he want a "Plan B"?
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wes for Republic!!!
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Mongol Canary
Thursday, February 16, 2012