Enda Stevens

[Irish villain]

They're really singing his praises too! They're saying he has the quality to play at a higher level now! Very impressive!

[D.boy]

Why do I keep seeing the name Edna whenever I see the title of this thread?
I know nothing about the lad but would like to wish him all the best for the future.

[ozzjim]

He should be called Edna. From the moment I saw the link I have called him Edna, and I still vision him as the little mad woman from Incredibles.

[eamonn]

If you're going to hope he becoomes our whoever why not set the bar higher than Eamon Deacy and Seamus Coleman?

Cos they're all full backs I suppose.

[eamonn]

That said, I've lost count of the amount of people who've had problems with my name........

Do they give the 'G' a hard sound as opposed to 'J'? That would do my head in. Lauren Laverne went down in my estimation when she was talking to the singer from the Sultans of Ping a few months back on 6 Music and pronounced his bandmate ''Grrr''. The singer had to stifle a laugh.

[SashasGrandad]

Can we split the difference and say the new Steve Staunton?

Rather have the new Paul McGrath

[brontebilly]

the new Keith Fahey perhaps - McLeish brought in Fahey from the relative obscurity of St Pats to be a key player in Bham's promotion a couple of years back. Fahey had got rave reviews from a performance against Hertha Berlin is some Europa League qualifier and Enda Stevens seems to have followed the same path into McLeish's radar.
Fahey is a derided player on here but I've always found him a tidy player though certainly lightweight. Has done well for Ireland too in this campaign with the winner off the bench in Armenia and other tidy appearances in Slovakia where he made the goal for St.Ledger and a decent cameo at home to Macedonia. He is out for the game tomorrow though.

[not3bad]

He should be called Edna. From the moment I saw the link I have called him Edna, and I still vision him as the little mad woman from Incredibles.

I tend to think of the evil television in Willo o' the wisp.

[dave shelley]

''He sounds like he should be Prime Minister of New Zealand'', mate of mine sent me that when I told him who we signed.

He sounds even more like a potential Taoiseach of Ireland.  (Current Irish leader is Enda Kenny).

And a big a twat as his predecessor!  You've upset me now just by mentioning him the lying bastard!

[Ger Regan]

Do they give the 'G' a hard sound as opposed to 'J'? That would do my head in. Lauren Laverne went down in my estimation when she was talking to the singer from the Sultans of Ping a few months back on 6 Music and pronounced his bandmate ''Grrr''. The singer had to stifle a laugh.

Bingo. When I was working in London, my director called me Grrr, and it went on too long that I was too embarrassed to correct him on the pronunciation. I've now started to pre-empt any problems during introductions when I'm abroad by explaining that it's the shortened version of Gerard.
cdvillafan said that he first thought that it was some reference to Rangers!

[Brend'Watkins]

If you're going to hope he becoomes our whoever why not set the bar higher than Eamon Deacy and Seamus Coleman?

Cos they're all full backs I suppose.

Keane has played in every outfield position I think, so, I still live in hope.

Re: the unusual to some first names for Irish footballers.  I think this will continue for the forseeable future as it seems to be the fashion over there now to bestow upon offspring the most authentic hard to pronounce Irish name possible.

[Ger Regan]

If you're going to hope he becoomes our whoever why not set the bar higher than Eamon Deacy and Seamus Coleman?

Cos they're all full backs I suppose.

Keane has played in every outfield position I think, so, I still live in hope.

Re: the unusual to some first names for Irish footballers.  I think this will continue for the forseeable future as it seems to be the fashion over there now to bestow upon offspring the most authentic hard to pronounce Irish name possible.

Have a go at pronouncing the following: Fiachra, Meadhbh, Ailbhe, Conchubhar, Oisin, Proinsias, Beibhinn, Blathnaid, Caoimhe, Orlaith.

[Irish villain]

It's quite a middle class thing here to give your child an authentic Gaelic name. You don't see too many people called Niamh, Ferdia, Stiofán, Ailín or Risteard in working class areas!

[dave shelley]

It's quite a middle class thing here to give your child an authentic Gaelic name. You don't see too many people called Niamh, Ferdia, Stiofán, Ailín or Risteard in working class areas!

As well as sending your kids to the local Gaelscoil (Irish speaking schools) just so they don't have to mix with kids of different ethnic backgrounds.

[brontebilly]

It's quite a middle class thing here to give your child an authentic Gaelic name. You don't see too many people called Niamh, Ferdia, Stiofán, Ailín or Risteard in working class areas!

As well as sending your kids to the local Gaelscoil (Irish speaking schools) just so they don't have to mix with kids of different ethnic backgrounds.

cynic alert and urban myth - the gaelscoileanna also tend to be secular which is a big reason why they are popular. People from places like the Netherlands can easily speak two languages so I dont think the rise of the Irish speaking schools is some middle class conspiracy anyway.

The hardcore gaelic names might be the preserve of the Gaeilge snobs but names like Sean, Enda and Niamh are as common as muck in Ireland.

think thats 5 Irish players at Villa now.