Championship v Premier League.
Hiccup v rotting.
Long term v short term.
Rafa Benitez v David Moyes.
Newcastle v Sunderland.
Reports suggest that Daryl Horgan isn’t just the subject of the Toon’s interest, but their bitter rivals Sunderland are also chasing mad after the Dundalk winger.
There’s no reason why Horgan, even at 24, can’t go on and star in the Premier League.
His countryman James McClean spoke on Newstalk during the week about his own rapid rise. It’s easy to forget it but the Derry native only featured in England for the first time five years ago next month. He’s just been on this incredible expedited journey and, already, he’s played in two major international tournaments with his country.
But McClean says he’s still learning and still improving as a footballer. At 27, his knowledge of the game and his maturity far exceed where they were when he was leaving Derry City and now he’s talking about wanting the world to recognise what he can do as a footballer, not as an athlete.
If Horgan and Dundalk have proved anything this season it is that the gap is not that big. It isn’t.
There’s no reason why a good Irish side filled with good Irish players can’t play football and take on the rest of Europe with it.
There’s no reason why a Dundalk man can’t make the national squad and impress amongst all these other top players.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMkA9N3Bp8k/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie
And there’s certainly no reason why another man from the League of Ireland can’t make the journey across the Irish Sea and break through at the top level. Horgan, for one, seems to have the pick of them.
According to the Telegraph, there’s a battle brewing in the north east between Newcastle and Sunderland as clubs line up to nab the Irish man in January.
“Horgan has been watched by a host of Premier League and Championship scouts this season and has been integral to Dundalk’s success, but Sunderland have held an interest in him for several months and are thought to be leading the race to sign the 24-year-old,” the Telegraph report.
“Newcastle have also sent scouts over to watch Horgan – who has scored 10 goals in his last 22 appearances and could rival Sunderland if they make a bid in January.”
Horgan’s not really the type of fella that gets easily fazed by a big stage or a bit of pressure. He was born for the spotlight and he was made to handle all the glare that comes with it.
52: GOAAAAL!
Zenit 1-1 Dundalk.
Daryl Horgan draws the LOI champions level! #LOIinEurope https://t.co/YnczdOIXq3— eir Sport (@eirSport) November 3, 2016
There were clubs from all over the continent with an interest in Ireland’s game with Austria in Vienna last week but Horgan never got onto the pitch to showcase his talent.
He’ll still no doubt be looked at as a potential bargain by a host of English clubs who are well used to these guys being plucked from this small island and going on to repay their tiny transfer fees and then some.
But Horgan shouldn’t be lured by the talk of Sunderland.
Yes, they’re a Premier League club and they’re a big club but they’re a mess and they have been for a long time. They’ve had seven different permanent managers in the last five years alone – good managers too – and every one of them that goes through the gates at the Stadium of Light can’t get to the bottom of the problem in the club, a problem that is seemingly festering in its core.
Sunderland have been asking to be relegated for too bloody long and, because of that, they’ve fallen into a short term mindset where the next game is all that only and ever matters. Even then it doesn’t help them.
Newcastle are on the up again. They’re building from the bottom, Horgan could get five months in the Championship under his belt to get a chance, dip in his toe and then ready for a surefire Premier League campaign next season.
Rafa Benitez is there for the long haul, he proved that by staying on when they were relegated – this, the same man who left Real Madrid that same season. David Moyes is fumbling around from mishap to mishap and he might not even be there for too long.
Sunderland is a gamble – a real, frightening gamble. Newcastle is exciting. Horgan could bloody thrive there. And wouldn’t they just love him for it.
Benitez wants to work his magic on Horgan https://t.co/GNZW7JMfNI
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 10, 2016
Aaron Kernan joins Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour to explain the work he’s doing for the Club Players Association. Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue talks Slaughtneil and a Dublin club advertising for hurlers gets a sore touch. Subscribe here on iTunes.
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