It never used to be academic
By Andy Sway
June 17 2024
Watching the Euros brings back memories as to when you could see international tournaments and catch Rovers players on the world stage. Those days seem long gone. Now we revel in the fact that a fringe player at Blackpool his a snowflake in hell's chance of coming back on loan next season. It never used to be this way.
Back in our glory days in the 90s it was possible to become blasé about the number of international players we had. Foremost of those was John Aldridge who regularly appeared as the target man for Ireland and, as a result, attracted a huge number of Irish supporters to following us. I remember being in a taxi in Dublin and the driver asking me who I supported. 'Tranmere' I said. He was full of praise for 'your man Aldo' and kept me talking for 15 minutes at the airport. I made the flight by the skin of my teeth. However, this not being long after the touchline incident versus Mexico at the 94 World Cup. It was a moment of passion and comedy, where big Jack Charlton and Aldo went into meltdown due to the officials not letting Aldo on quick enough. Aldridge scored 19 goals for the Republic, his best period was arguably during his time at Tranmere.
If Aldo was one end of the spectrum he wasn't alone. I remember catching Gareth Robert's some time around about 2002 playing for Wales away in a game in Latvia. It was, I think, a World Cup qualifier and can't remember much about the game other than being the only supporter in a Tranmere top. Gareth started his career at Anfiekd but was always a cultured and skilled wing back.
If it's culture you're after then you can't ignore Pat Nevin, his international career for Scotland covered his period at Tranmere and included appearing for Scotland in Euro 92. He had been on loan at Rovers that season and signed for us permanently in the Summer, He was a regular member of the Scotland squad, but didn't appear in the Euro finals in 1996.
We were spoilt back then. Half of our squad seemed to get called up on international duty, albeit I am sure it wasn't that many. However, our teams always seeemd to have players with an international pedigree, mostly for home nations teams, rarely for England. Yes, we had Joe Hart on loan for a few games, but that was long before he made his England debut. And of course we he Ian Goodison, a stamdout defender for Jamaica who made 25 appearances for Jamaica during his time with us. However, none was at the World Cup finals.
It would be great if we could have a squad of the quality we used to. Who knows, maybe the reason why things are quiet on the transfer window is because Nigel Adkins knows how much Jude Bellingham loves playing in white. Perhaps he is coming to Prenton Park on 15th July. We can but dream.
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Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
It will take more years than I have left for a possible return to the Championship. And for Tranmere to be able to afford a player who regular plays for a national side.
Quote:ALOTBSOL
It will take more years than I have left for a possible return to the Championship. And for Tranmere to be able to afford a player who regular plays for a national side.
Not really. If Tranmere signed a player who plays for a Carribean nation, it could be sooner than that.
None of the Carribean nations have a sqaud as good as Ireland or Scotland and some of the players in the bigger ones are league 1 and 2 standard and then some chamiponship and occasionally big league talent.
The smaller ones are probably a blend of non-league quality players.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Quote:Matt34Quote:ALOTBSOL
It will take more years than I have left for a possible return to the Championship. And for Tranmere to be able to afford a player who regular plays for a national side.
Not really. If Tranmere signed a player who plays for a Carribean nation, it could be sooner than that.
None of the Carribean nations have a sqaud as good as Ireland or Scotland and some of the players in the bigger ones are league 1 and 2 standard and then some chamiponship and occasionally big league talent.
The smaller ones are probably a blend of non-league quality players.
Ok, to remove all misunderstanding , I meant a decent national side that does reasonably well at major cups such as Euros and World Cups. .
And at present RoI are not what they were when Tranmere had players representing them.
I doubt we will ever see a player who represents France, Belgium, Italy , England or Italy. Etc.
Unless by some miracle Tranmere are promoted to the Premier League.
Maybe Scotland or Wales 😜
Cyprus and Armena would be a better shout for trying to get a player in.
In reality any team that can qualify for a tournament or two will have players too good for league 2, at the time of qualification.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.