Mark O'Brien

[Stuartsays]

Sunday People Sport p. 59 (could not find online)

Derby's young centre-half Mark O'Brien, who was dogged by a knee injury last season, is wanted by Barnsley on loan.

Nigel Clough's Sheffield United are also keen on the 21-year old.

[Ram79]

I would rather he stay as I think on his day he is awesome and could become our best defender but if he has to go out for a short loan then sheff utd would be the best option.

[yamyamram]

I would rather he stay as I think on his day he is awesome and could become our best defender but if he has to go out for a short loan then sheff utd would be the best option.

I agree. I rate the lad from what I've seen of him. Without the injuries I think he'd been in 1st team by now. As we don't seem to have much cover at CB I'd hang on to him. Loan maybe with recall option.

[Toggles]

It'd be great if he could get a loan abroad to a club that are still in their domestic season, and get some game time under his belt before start of the season. Is League of Ireland a summer league now?

[RamFromCornwall]

It'd be great if he could get a loan abroad to a club that are still in their domestic season, and get some game time under his belt before start of the season. Is League of Ireland a summer league now?

Maybe but that league is absolutely terrible, would be no point sending him there, he'd have no real test & you don't want to wear him out by making him play league games in the summer break and then straight back here for pre-season training.

Plus, I don't think it could happen anyway, the transfer window is currently closed and won't open until start of July, so loan players would not be able to move until then.

[Rapid]

it doesn't really matter how good he is if he can never get himself fit. I know this probably isn't his fault but I can't remember him ever being fit for a sustained period of time.

send him out on loan to get some match fitness and see if he comes back in one piece.

[Toggles]

It'd be great if he could get a loan abroad to a club that are still in their domestic season, and get some game time under his belt before start of the season. Is League of Ireland a summer league now?

Maybe but that league is absolutely terrible, would be no point sending him there, he'd have no real test & you don't want to wear him out by making him play league games in the summer break and then straight back here for pre-season training.

Plus, I don't think it could happen anyway, the transfer window is currently closed and won't open until start of July, so loan players would not be able to move until then.[/quote]

He really needs some game time though, especially if he is to be in the frame for a first team squad place, asap. If he gets injured again, then surely it's time to find a new living?

Standard of football wouldn't matter too much, competitive football would s

[Manofpride]

I think O'Brien should go to Sheff Utd with Harry Maguire coming this way. A straight swap would be a great deal!

[Ramstein]

Would make sense. Use OB as part of the deal, loan for the season with an option to purchase.

We do need further strength in our back four, we need a RB and LB and another quality Shackellesque/ Barkeresque CB.

Going forward we are great, I'm note sure what else we need here as it's bit really a priority.

[RamFromCornwall]

I think O'Brien should go to Sheff Utd with Harry Maguire coming this way. A straight swap would be a great deal!

Would love it if that happened because although I haven't seen an awful lot of Maguire I do rate what I have seen. Give them a bit of money and O'Brien on loan with first refusal on a purchase. That way we get a very good centre back, loan out a potentially very good centre back to get fitness & if he stays fit and turns out to be even better, then we don't actually have to sell him