For Whom Bell Tolls

The gulf between football’s haves and have-nots couldn’t have been more pronounced last week when Liverpool journeyed to Luton Town for their F.A. Cup third round encounter.

While Rafael Benitez’s men picked up a minimum of £25,000 for their week’s work, it was the third month of not being paid for their League One opponents.
Worse was to come three days later when Town, who were docked 10 points in November for going into administration, announced the departure next month of manager Kevin Blackwell and the fire sale of five players.
You’d expect morale at the club to be at rock bottom as a consequence, but according to Irish midfielder David Bell the mood among the lads couldn’t be more positive.
“You can’t control things off the pitch, but you can on it, which is why everyone’s been working extra hard these past few months,” the 23-year-old reflects. “You saw that against Liverpool when we went 1-0 down, but got an equaliser in the 77th minute and were unlucky then I thought not to nick it.”
With Luton earning £500,000 from last Tuesday’s Anfield replay, it wasn’t perhaps quite as unlucky as Bell makes out.
“Yeah, it’ll pay a few bills as well as being the first time most of us have played in front of 45,000 people. The big thing for me in the first game was being up against the likes of Carragher, Alonso and Kuyt and not feeling outclassed.”
It isn’t the first time this season that the number 8 has looked comfortable against top-flight opposition, with his running at pace causing Everton all sorts of problems in a League Cup encounter that Luton were desperately unlucky to lose. Add in an eye for a goal – Bell is joint second highest scorer this season at Kenilworth Road – and it’s no wonder that he’s been linked with a £1 million move to West Bromwich Albion.
“I’d love to get a senior Irish cap and realistically that’s not going to happen unless I’m playing at a higher level,” he acknowledges.
Although born in the very English town of Kettering, both of Bell’s parents are from Buncrana where growing up he spent a goodly part of his summer holidays.
“My first Ireland call-up was for the Under-19s against Italy in Dublin,” he recalls fondly. “I got one of the goals in a 2-0 victory and, after a couple more games, went off to the United Arab Emirates for the Under-20 World Championships. We were in with a real shout of winning it, but Colombia got a golden goal against us in the quarter-final. There were some amazing players in the tournament like Spain’s Iniesta who’s gone on to become a big star at Barcelona.”
Knowing the lower leagues like he does, who are the Irish lads (besides himself) that David would recommend to Stan’s successor?
“I’m not just saying it ‘cause he’s a good mate of mine, but Kevin Foley who went from Luton to Wolves definitely deserves a call-up,” he proffers. “He’s a right-back who never gives the ball away, and loves getting forward.
“Another player who’s been really consistent is Mark Yeates at Colchester. He’s a winger who’s comfortable on both sides of the pitch, is able to get past defenders and scores goals.
“I’ve also been hearing great reports about Wes Hoolahan at Blackpool. He’s their main playmaker and destined for the Premiership.”
There you go Kenny/Terry/Big Sam/A. Nother, four young Irish guns to cast your eye over when the FAI stop fannying around and give you the job.