Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Irish Abroad Premier League 2016/17 review

Following the final whistle of the 2016/17 season, we've begun compiling the appearances statistics for Irish players around the world, and will publish the results after the Championship Play Off Final on Monday, 29th April

Before then, we have the appearance table for the just completed Premier League season, and it's not good news for fans of the Boys in Green
  • Total appearances by Irish players dropped from 424 to 400
  • Goals scored dropped from 31 to 19, with no player reaching double figures
  • Only one player under the age of 25 played during the season, Declan Rice, and that was only a few minutes at the end of West Ham's last game - although both Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick turned 25 during the season
Positives from the season (and we admit to grasping at straws here) include
  • Sean Dyche named four Irish players in the Burnley starting XI in their final game of the season against West Ham, the most to start for a team in the Premier League since May 2015
  • Five Irish players started for their respective sides when Burnley faced West Brom on May 6th, the most to start a Premier League game since March 2015
  • Jonathan Walters' goals this season took him 62, joint twentieth on the Stoke City all time scorers list with club legends Stanley Matthews and William Smith
Players who appeared in the Premier League in 2015/16, but not 2016/17
  • Eunan O'Kane - transferred to Leeds from Bournemouth
  • Josh Cullen - season on loan at Bradford, although he was an unused substitute for West Ham in the Europa League third qualifying round fixture against NK Domzale of Slovenia
  • Kevin Toner, Ciaran Clark - relegated with Aston Villa
  • Robert Elliot - relegated with Newcastle
  • Stephen Ireland - injury
  • Wes Hoolahan - relegated with Norwich 
Players who appeared in the Premier League in 2016/17, but not 2015/16
  • Stephen Ward, Kevin Long - promoted with Burnley
  • Jeff Hendrick - signed by Burnley
  • Declan Rice - senior debut with West Ham
  • David Meyler - promoted with Hull City

PlayerStartsSubsTotalGoals
Stephen Ward370371
Harry Arter332351
James McClean1321341
Shane Long1022323
Jeff Hendrick311322
Damien Delaney219300
Glenn Whelan264300
John O'Shea262280
Seamus Coleman260264
Jonathan Walters1310234
Darren Randolph220220
David Meyler911201
Robbie Brady77141
James McCarthy75121
Darron Gibson75120
Shay Given5050
Marc Wilson3140
Kevin Long3030
Declan Rice0110
29910140019

With the relegation of Sunderland, Hull City and Middlesbrough, it will mean a first season outside the Premier League for John O'Shea and Darron Gibson since loans to Royal Antwerp and Bournrmouth(O'Shea) and Wolves(Gibson), as well as David Meyler and Brian Lenihan's return to the Championship. On the other hand it could see the likes of James Talbot and Jean-Yves Poamé getting their chance at senior club level.

On the other hand, the promotion of Newcastle and Brighton will mean a return for Ciaran Clark, Daryl Murphy and Shane Duffy. Hopefully Richie Towell can overcome his injury issues at Brighton, but it has already been indicated by manager Chris Hughton that he will be sent out on loan in the new season

A Reading victory in the play off final on Monday would see a return for Paul McShane (suspended for the final) and Stephen Quinn as well as a Premier League debut for Liam Kelly, whereas a Huddersfield win would see Joe Murphy and Sean Scannell promoted to England's top division - however neither are regular starters for the Terriers

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