leon McSweeney

[Rebel]

Hello hednesford fans, just a quick query, when did Leon McSweeney leave your Club? Whats he been doing since?

Is he any good?

[Glyn]

close season 05-06 after our relegation from Conf North, spent last season at Ilkeston and yes!

He will do well for you.

I see Gareth Farrelly has found his way to your place too...?

[Rebel]

close season 05-06 after our relegation from Conf North, spent last season at Ilkeston and yes!

He will do well for you.

I see Gareth Farrelly has found his way to your place too...?

No offence, but will he make the step up in standard?


he left us as a kid, never played first team. Was he only part time with you?

[Glyn]

Probably and yes

:p

[Markeg]

Make the step up in standard? Whos he signing for? Man utd?

[dave jarvu, mystery man]

Cork City.

[Glyn]

... would be interesting, if Rebel is still with us, to hear his views on how the Irish League compares in standard, ie would it be League 1/2/Blue Sq Prem or what (bearing in mind Alexei Lalas reckons the MLS is better than the Premiership.... :eek:)

[Rebel]

... would be interesting, if Rebel is still with us, to hear his views on how the Irish League compares in standard, ie would it be League 1/2/Blue Sq Prem or what (bearing in mind Alexei Lalas reckons the MLS is better than the Premiership.... :eek:)

Well out top half of the Premier Division would compete very well at the Top of League 1 or Bottom of The chapionship. After that you are talking League 2 Standard and Our Firts Division would be Conference standard at best.

The Eircom League is seen as an up and coming league with around 20 players going to Premiership/Championship/SPL teams in recent times.

The most common comparison made is that its the SPL without the Old Firm.

[Glyn]

Thanks Rebel.

In that case Leon's got no chance!!

:D

[Markeg]

I dont know. Leon was very skillful. I think he could have made the step up to conference football when you look at players like Constable going on to play for Walsall.

[MikeM]

I think that when teamed up with more of an out and out goalscorer, as he briefly was with us (Bell) he looked quite impressive. He was by far the more creative of the two and as such was possibly better suited for a higher level of the game than the dire league we're in at the moment. I particularly remember a sort of controlled volley from about 30 yards that beat the keeper who was on the edge of the 6-yard box and dipped under the bar.
He'd be told under our current regime that he doesn't cover enough ground or tackle back or whatever was said about Mario.
Sounds like a good signinmg for a progressive club that wants to play football.

[SteveW]

He'd be told under our current regime that he doesn't cover enough ground or tackle back or whatever was said about Mario.


What did our 'current regime' say about Mario? I must have missed that one.

[Rebel]

Leon had an impressive debut the other night in our shadow side away in the League Cup. Seems when he was released by Leicester City he decided to concentrate on his Studies and just finished a 3 year degree.

Decent Interview with him in an Irish Paper yesterday saying how he felt disillusioned with football after being released and now he has something to fall back on he wants to give Full Time football a try again.

We play a passing and attacking 4-3-3 formation and he look decent on the right hand side of our front line. A good option from the bench anyway.

[MikeM]

Good to see a classy lad doing well.
What was said about Mario was 'he was really disappointing last season and never got even close to fulfilling the potential he showed in pre-season. I'm afraid there's no way I could describe him as a "star player" last season when he seemed to just go missing for most of it.' by someone called Steve a few days ago.

[Glyn]

Thanks Rebel.

In that case Leon's got no chance!!

:D

seems I may have to point out for those who don't yet know my style that in writing the above post my tongue was so far up my cheek it was coming out of my ear....

:doh:

[SteveW]

Good to see a classy lad doing well.
What was said about Mario was 'he was really disappointing last season and never got even close to fulfilling the potential he showed in pre-season. I'm afraid there's no way I could describe him as a "star player" last season when he seemed to just go missing for most of it.' by someone called Steve a few days ago.

Oh I see. When you said "current regime" I presumed you meant the manager or someone that actually has something to do with the playing side of the club. I just couldn't remember Phil or anyone saying that Mario doesn't cover enough ground or that he doesn't tackle back, that's the only reason I queried your post.

I'm not a part of any 'regime', I'm not even a club official. It's just my opinion having watched the same games as evereyone else that he went missing for a large part of the season. I have no idea why that is.

[Rebel]

Oh I see. When you said "current regime" I presumed you meant the manager or someone that actually has something to do with the playing side of the club. I just couldn't remember Phil or anyone saying that Mario doesn't cover enough ground or that he doesn't tackle back, that's the only reason I queried your post.

I'm not a part of any 'regime', I'm not even a club official. It's just my opinion having watched the same games as evereyone else that he went missing for a large part of the season. I have no idea why that is.

If you read my post above, and having read that interview with him it looks as though his heart wasnt in at after he was released by leicester City.

He seems to have a renewed appetite now though. I'll keep you all updated.

[SteveW]

Your thread got hijacked and we were talking abouit a different player Rebel, sorry about that.

Leon did well for us when he was here, ran his socks off and always put 100% effort in. He'll always be fondly remembered for a last minute equaliser at our rivals Stafford Rangers in March last year. Not sure how he got on at Ilkeston last season but their fans seemed disappointed to lose him. I'm sure he will do well for you over there in Ireland.

[Rebel]

Well he scored an unbelievable goal the other night. He cam on as a sub and hit a half volley-on the run- into the top corner.

He seems a bit over enthusiastic in the tackle though very nearly got sent off!

[Keith H]

Hi Rebel,

Leon is a good player but I'm afraid 'enthusiastic' is his normal game be prepared for quite a few yellows and the occasional red;)

[Rebel]

Hi Rebel,

Leon is a good player but I'm afraid 'enthusiastic' is his normal game be prepared for quite a few yellows and the occasional red;)

Looks that way alright! Nothing wrong with a bit of passion though considering the over paid primma donnas in our first XI at the moment!

[Glyn]

Heard the very eloquent manager of Cork City on the radio yesterday reflecting on their excellent 1-1 draw with a strong Sunderland side

- and I see Leon got 89 minutes on the pitch....


http://corkcityfc.ie/home.htm

if Rebel is still with us, would be interested to hear how he's doing...

[Cockney Winker]

I wonder if Sunderland are playing Cobh Ramblers(?) while they are in Cork?! A certain young Irish manager certainly has/had links (think he actually owned them at one point). Give me Cork over Dublin anytime!

[Glyn]

looks like no Gary, moving onto lesser opposition from tomorrow onwards...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/fixtures/default.stm

and I've just checked but no, no game v Cobh Ramblers while they were over there...

but two promising mentions for Leon on the SAFC match report

http://www.safc.com/match/?page_id=12780&page=1&t=1