Blink And You Missed Him

Last updated : 28 September 2008 By Thetashkentterror
Stephen Maher
20-year old Maher, who only linked up with the Blues on Monday featured at right-back, where as we know Carlisle are short of options, last night in a second-string game at Manchester City. You can't blame one player for the scoreline but with United being hammered 5-2 at the Regional Athletics Arena you can hazard a guess that Maher didn't make much of an impression.

The Dubliner, who made his Republic of Ireland under-21 debut in the Intercontinental Cup against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in May 2008, started off in the infamous Home Farm youth system. Maher then signing for Yeovil Town in the summer of 2006 where he made four starts and four substitute appearances for the Glovers, including 10 minutes against United at Brunton Park in April 2008.

The fact that he only featured in that number of games for Yeovil before being released this summer, one of which saw him red-carded after just four minutes, over his two-year contract and that he spent a period on loan with Shamrock Rovers in March 2007 tells you pretty much all you need to know about his level of play. Maher even spending a one-month loan spell at Conference South outfit Dorchester Town where he failed to make a first-team appearance.

Maher, apart from at Carlisle, has also trialled with AFC Bournemouth in January this year and then Wycombe Wanderers last month. To me it's obvious we need a second right-back, it's obvious that you lose nothing by bringing in a trialist but it's also pretty obvious to me that if we are serious about pushing for the Championship then we need to be looking at better players than this.