Anybody watching RTÉ’s ‘Two Shades of Green’ on Thursday night will have come away with two over-riding thoughts.
Firstly, Seamus Coleman was born to captain Ireland. Secondly, what in the name of Jumping Jehoshophat is Robbie Brady doing still in the Championship?
Wes Hoolahan, alas, is getting to an age where bigger clubs are unlikely to take a risk – even in a number 10 who can make a football do his bidding.
But Brady? Brady is just 24-years-old and coming off the back of a fabulous Euros that saw him score twice and play a huge role in Ireland’s run to the last-16.
He has Premier League experience with Hull and Norwich and can play in a variety of positions – he is currently operating primarily at left full for a Norwich side in the bottom half of the Championship.
Things are looking grim at Carrow Road and, a season that started with much hope of an immediate return to the Premier League, could see Alex Neil sacked before he takes down his Christmas tree.
Another manager who has recently returned to management after the most high-profile sacking of 2016 is poised to offer Brady a route back to the Premier League.
New Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce has identified Brady as the solution to his left-back problems and the Daily Mail are reporting that the erstwhile England boss has made Brady his number one transfer target in January.
However, it is Brady’s versatility that Big Sam is particularly excited about. With Wilfried Zaha set to represent the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations, Palace will need to bolster their attack next month as they look to lift themselves away from the relegation zone.
He has played left-back, left wing, at number 10 and in central midfield during the course of a fantastic 2016 for Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland.
Brady was close to a move to Premier League champions Leicester in the summer only for the Foxes to be spooked by Norwich’s £20 million valuation.
Having splashed £27m on heading-specialist Christian Benteke last summer, Palace have proven they have the chequebook to match their ambition. They may also discover the Canaries a little more open to negotiation as they now find themselves deeper down the Championship coal mine.
