Egan on what makes Sheffield United unique

[Sothall_Blade]

John Egan: The Corkman who only ever wanted to play for Kerry...

...and ended up in the Premier League with Sheffield United. Ireland defender John Egan on his enduring love of Gaelic games, the influence and legacy of his famous father, and why, after facing Chelsea today, he hopes to see the Kingdom put a stop to the Dubs’ drive for five tomorrow. He talks...

www.irishexaminer.com

GAA values, All-Ireland tickets and Premier League ambition: John Egan on what makes Sheffield United unique

The Cork native aims to be in Croke Park to support the Kingdom this weekend.

www.the42.ie

 

[Berlin Blade]

He does seem like a great lad.

Fantastic value at 4 million. Harry maguire went for 20 times that.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Might sound daft, but I really don’t think I’d swap Egan for big Harry.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

He does seem like a great lad.

Fantastic value at 4 million. Harry maguire went for 20 times that.

I know someone who's met him. She tells me he's a very nice bloke. Mind you, I suspect she fancies him. In fact, I know she does. But apart from that, yes he does come across very well and that's how it should be isn't it? All our players should be great ambassadors for our club and represent us in a positive light. We need some of that positive light shining on us, after being in the shadows for such a long time and having a reputation for employing crooks, vagabonds, wife-beaters and rapists and playing an ugly style of football which involves hoofing it as high and far as possible and physically roughing up the opposition, to atone for our lack of skill.

The problem is, even though today's Sheffield United is a million miles removed from that stereotype, it's still hard to shake that reputation off, in the small mind spaces of some.

Back to Johnny, and like some other observers on here, I thought he didn't look very convincing when he first came here. But he's become pivotal to our defence and was as solid as a rock last season. My only concern about him is a lack of pace. I think he's vulnerable in that respect. But, up to now, it's not been much of an issue because his reading of the game and his positioning is first class. He's also got Basham and Baldock close by, and they are both pretty nifty. For what it's worth, I don't think Harry Maguire impressed many of us with his pace either! But it's not stopped him having a good career eh?

 

[Bill Johnson]

Never realised he played 1 game on loan for us in 2012.

 

[blade67]

Never realised he played 1 game on loan for us in 2012.

I'd never put that together before.

We had a bit of an injury crisis in play and Danny Wilson brought him and Matt Hill in.

When he was asked what qualities the two loan signings would bring his answer was along the lines of "they are all we could afford"

It was the game after the Oldham match when the left back did his knee in and Lowton and Maguire got sent off

 

[Trigger Blade]

Never realised he played 1 game on loan for us in 2012.

Oh good, an I was there moment, though I’d rather forget it. It was in a makeshift back four due to injuries, no Harry, no Lowton, it seemed like no loss when he went back to Sunderland after one game. Jonny Ertl and Matt Hill were involved as well, so to come away with a 3-2 defeat was not bad

Edit: ah, not injuries apparently, red cards, sorry....

 

[BiggerBladeThanThou]

"Sheffield" come on John.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Never realised he played 1 game on loan for us in 2012.

That's because you're not a proper Blade Billy Boy........like me, cos I didn't either

 

[DronnieBlade]

Wilders greatest signing.

IMHO.

UTB

 

[Kanye]

Wilders greatest signing.

IMHO.

UTB

I'd say Duffy, Norwood or O'Connell but I'd agree that Egan is in the conversation too.

 

[Pinchy]

Soccer correspondent. Fucking ‘Soccer’.

 

[Stretch]

Many years from now, when folk look back, I think Egan will be regarded as our best ever CB. He still has a bit to do of course, but he just gets better with every game for me and has that something about him that just screams 'club legend' in the making. The 'allez allez' thing certainly did him no harm on that front.

JOC would have pushed him close long term, but I can see him buggering off in the next couple of seasons, where as I think Egan will stay and become Club Captain.

 

[Paisley Blade]

Never realised he played 1 game on loan for us in 2012.

Yep , away at Walsall on a Tuesday night . I was there and it was bleeding awful.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Yep , away at Walsall on a Tuesday night . I was there and it was bleeding awful.

Me too. Him and Matt Hill at cb. Even Eagan looked small and crap that night!

 

[Guesty]

I've said it before, Lowton's brainless challenge inside the opposition's penalty area against Oldham cost us six points and promotion that season. Stupid prick.

 

[Groucho Blade]

And this from The Guardian

Sheffield United’s John Egan: ‘I wanted to play GAA like my father’

The Sheffield United defender has a special fixture in Ireland after Saturday’s visit to Stamford Bridge

www.theguardian.com

Really good article, really top bloke

 

[Punk Blade]

I've said it before, Lowton's brainless challenge inside the opposition's penalty area against Oldham cost us six points and promotion that season. Stupid prick.

He shouldn’t have done it, but if the referee hadn’t booked him 30 seconds earlier for throwing the ball back to the centre circle it wouldn’t have been a second yellow.

 

[Bill Johnson]

Me too. Him and Matt Hill at cb. Even Eagan looked small and crap that night!

Egan. Fucking Egan.

 

[Bill Johnson]

Many years from now, when folk look back, I think Egan will be regarded as our best ever CB. He still has a bit to do of course, but he just gets better with every game for me and has that something about him that just screams 'club legend' in the making. The 'allez allez' thing certainly did him no harm on that front.

JOC would have pushed him close long term, but I can see him buggering off in the next couple of seasons, where as I think Egan will stay and become Club Captain.

Think you'll find Joe Shaw may still be miles ahead when Egans done playing mate.

 

[Stretch]

Think you'll find Joe Shaw may still be miles ahead when Egans done playing mate.

Well before my time mate, unfortunately, and I dare say many would agree with you...however I did say 'many years from now' by which point Egan will populate more living memory. By the same token, I don't hear too many people say that Harris was a better manager than Basset [for example] yet his top flight record suggests he probably was. If Wilder keeps us in the PL for a few seasons, then he will no doubt get the mantle above everyone else, when the current fanbase is asked.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Gaelic football is a cross between rugby and football. Weve been closer to Egan's parish games in the past!