There's a Seamus Coleman rumour every other week these days but the one that emerged today was the most intriguing of all. He is being seriously linked with a certain German machine.
In light of this news, we have created the ultimate Irish players who played on the continent XI.
The team is picked principally on the basis of how good they were generally rather than how well they did abroad. Thus, Cascarino would have made the side on the latter basis while Frank Stapleton would have been nowhere near it.
The side is top heavy with forwards and so we have had to plump for a 4-3-3 formation.
Goalkeeper: Graham Stack
Right Back: Steve Finnan
Centre Back: Kevin Moran
Centre Back: Phil Babb
Left Back: Ian Harte
Right-Midfield: John Devine
Note:
Devine was more usually a right back but he has had to slot into right midfield to fill a gap.
Central Midfield: Liam Brady
Centre Midfield - (Inside Forward for retro types): Frank Stapleton
Note:
Only left for Europe at the tail end of his career and failed badly in Holland. Regarded as one of Johan Cryuff's biggest failures.
Left Midfield: Ashley Grimes
Centre Forward: John Aldridge
Centre Forward: Robbie Keane
Close shaves:
Tony Cascarino: One of Ireland's best performing players on the continent, he scored freely for Marseilles and Nancy between 1994 and 2000.
Mick McCarthy: Played 10 games and scored 1 goal in a bright start in Lyon (1989-90) before injury struck and he returned to Milwall in the new year.
Read Also: Balls Remembers: The Night Scotland Went Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty To Help Out Ireland
