Tomas O'Leary signs for London Irish

[isola ciarrai]

Joey, TOL has been wonderful for us on many, many occasions. I am not at all 'dissing' him as you young folks say but he has gotten himself into a rut. Remember posting here after the Connacht home match last April that I was shocked by his gaunt, almost haunted look and said that he looked like he wanted to anywhere else doing just about anything else. His injury history in recent years makes me worry for him in France, week in, week out. Perpignan are paying big bucks and will take it out of his hide. A read of Brennans poor book will vouch that clearly. There will be no management schemes to spare his body. Unless he improves his speed and choice of pass, he will not see green again, IMO.
Still believe he should have given himself next season to fight for his place back with both Munster and ireland, but then who knows what he was told by either or both teams?

[michael]

Am I the only one that doesn't fancy Williams at all for Munster? He can only seem to pass the ball off his good side and struggles big time off his bad side. He is very indecisive and slow off the mark.

How much longer has stringer left on his contract with Munster? If it is up at the season who's to say he won't extend his stay in England or move on to France? If Stringer wasn't with us next year we could be looking at Murray and Williams as our only two scum halfs with first team experience. That leaves us very thin in that position.

Stringer will be back with Munster next season to finish his career in Ireland. This will allow him to avail of the tax rebate scheme.

[bazzyg]

Was thinking that as well tbh about Williams. Think Saracens were saying they would like to extend Stringers contract to next season a while back?

Stringer can only go loan,

Injuries took it away from him but he's still young enough for a second coming in 2 years

[<BM>]

Best of luck to him. The post ELVs evolution of the game was happening while he was injured in the run up to the Lions and his subsequent bad run of injuries stymied his catchup. A run of first team games will see him back to his best and even if he doesn't come back to Munster, I'd fully back him if he were to return to any of the other provences.

[Point]

**** **** **** **** ****

I feel we're gonna regret this!! Duncan Williams, step the **** up please

But he isn't a scrumhalf of the standard we require, so there are benefits for us in that there is a resolution, though as I said earlier, I'd have been happy if he had stayed and switched to the back three. As regards Williams, at least he isn't getting injured as much anymore, so he should get a chance to play in the upcoming games. If Stringer isn't kept on then we will need another scrumhalf with experience, maybe two.

[blackwarrior]

This

And that is what exactly?

[isola ciarrai]

From what i've heard in recent weeks, Eddie o'sullivan is in the final stages of being a done deal ..

As Major Kurtz exclaimed in Heart of Darkness - The horror, oh the horror!!

And yes, i did back him as a temporary backs/attack 'consultant' earlier but this.................

[The Word Is Born]

The one thing I will say in TOL's favour (and Strings/Murray), his pack didn't do him any favours at ruck time over the past 4 years.

[isola ciarrai]

But he isn't a scrumhalf of the standard we require, so there are benefits for us in that there is a resolution, though as I said earlier, I'd have been happy if he had stayed and switched to the back three. As regards Williams, at least he isn't getting injured as much anymore, so he should get a chance to play in the upcoming games. If Stringer isn't kept on then we will need another scrumhalf with experience, maybe two.

Frank Murphy, come on down (back home)?

[dropkick]

A fresh start will do him good. The south of France isn't a bad place to end up either!

Cathal Sheridan was wanted by Michael Bradley at the start of the season. Anyone seen him play?

[Point]

Was thinking that as well tbh about Williams. Think Saracens were saying they would like to extend Stringers contract to next season a while back?

Yeah but McGahan was playing silly buggers unfortunately.

[Point]

Joey, TOL has been wonderful for us on many, many occasions. I am not at all 'dissing' him as you young folks say but he has gotten himself into a rut. Remember posting here after the Connacht home match last April that I was shocked by his gaunt, almost haunted look and said that he looked like he wanted to anywhere else doing just about anything else. His injury history in recent years makes me worry for him in France, week in, week out. Perpignan are paying big bucks and will take it out of his hide. A read of Brennans poor book will vouch that clearly. There will be no management schemes to spare his body. Unless he improves his speed and choice of pass, he will not see green again, IMO.
Still believe he should have given himself next season to fight for his place back with both Munster and ireland, but then who knows what he was told by either or both teams?

Re injury, Johnny Wilkinson has been largely injury free in Toulon.

[isola ciarrai]

A fresh start will do him good. The south of France isn't a bad place to end up either!

Cathal Sheridan was wanted by Michael Bradley at the start of the season. Anyone seen him play?

Only once, with UL Bohs. Sligo man, young but looked handy. Immediately after his appointment to Embra, Bradley said he was recruiting Sheridan for Embra (mind you, it was in Indo - I know, I know) but heard nothing more.

[Point]

Stringer can only go loan,

Injuries took it away from him but he's still young enough for a second coming in 2 years

Eh ?

[Point]

Frank Murphy, come on down (back home)?

He'd be a good backup alright.

[McCloud]

Eh ?

Think that's in reference to Williams.

[bazzyg]

Eh ?

Stringer can't take a full time contract abroad.


On TOL, injuries took away his best attributes, he is young enough to get fit and come back in 2 years as the player he once was and have another 2/3 years left in his career.

He needs to get away from the expectation here.


I remember around this time last year hearing himself and TMcG had a complete personality clash, TOL like most players needs to be wanted, the Bosses have backed TMcG and not fought to keep him.

[sewa]

No surprise that point is shouting everyone down on this thread . Sorry to hear this, just when he was starting to look like the Tomas of old he is off. A cracking player lost and while I havent him in a lot of games I dont think Williams will ever hold down our 9 jersey to be honest

[Luimneach]

If TOL comes back in two years time he could join Ross, Cronin and Reddin in Chelsea no guarantees he will come south .

[Lomasney]

Best of luck to Tomas, hopefully he can crack on and develop even further out there, it can only be good from an Ireland point of view.

[sewa]

it can only be irrelevant from an Ireland point of view.

Fixed that for ya

[Dumptruck]

McGahan is going home.

[The Word Is Born]

McGahan is going home.

For tonight or in 2 years time?

[tickettout]

Great move for him.
He'll have his work cut out to start for Perpignon though.
He'll need to pick up French quickly for the calls at 9!

[Dumptruck]

For tonight or in 2 years time?

This summer.

[godisbod]

For tonight or in 2 years time?

Never understood the vitriol aimed at O'Leary by munsterfans. A fine player, good athlete, very very quick. So his pass wasn't as sharp as stringers, but who's is. I think you'll miss him and he may never come back.

[munstershane]

McGahan is going home.

This summer.

and being replaced by Cooder?

[John Cooper Clarke]

This summer.

Their summer or ours?

[The Word Is Born]

This summer.

[Quailman]

Stringer can't take a full time contract abroad.

He can, but he'd be giving up a fairly substantial wad of cash.

I guess he either signs up for another year or retires.