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In August 2011 spirits were high at the Reebok Stadium. Supporters still believed Owen Coyle was the right man to lead the club, Stu Holden was returning to fitness, and a 19-year-old right back named Joe Riley had just made his debut in the Carling Cup. Bolton Wanderers beat Macclesfield 2-1 that day, and the young fullback pairing of Riley and Spaniard Marcos Alonso had supporters salivating to see the fleet-footed lads storm the flanks in the Premier League.
In November, a few weeks after his 20th birthday, Riley got his chance. Against hated Stoke City, he played an absolutely outstanding game, dominating the right side of the field and helping his club to an emphatic 5-0 victory. This should have led to a good run in the side for the Academy graduate, but alas, injuries took their toll. He was in and out of the squad for the rest of the season, only making seven total appearances, four in cup competitions.
Coming into the 2012-2013 season, Riley looked like he had the inside track to winning the right back job. But more injuries limited his time in preseason training, and allowed Tyrone Mears to snap up the shirt. In fact, Riley only made two appearances this whole season. Once he lasted 90 minutes, the other he had to be taken off after 35 minutes with, you guessed it, another injury. Riley's talent is easy to see, and both managers he has played under have picked him whenever he has been fit. But Wanderers supporters have seen this story before.
Lion of Vienna Suite presents:
The Ballad of Joey O'Brien
It was in the steel town in 2004
when Sheffield Wednesday needed more
More of that metal in the midfield
They called Big Sam and made a deal
It may have only been League One
But the Irish lad had a ton of fun
Bolton supporters couldn't wait
To see the 18-year-old enter the Reebok gate
And enter he did, it was a hell of a show
33 starts set the world aglow
But the next year the injuries start
his lone appearance broke the fans heart
In 07-08 he teased us some more
fifteen starts, then doctors galore
It was his hamstring, it was his thigh
He even seemed to be Megson's guy
In 08-09 it got even worse
When Megson's comments became more terse
The Ginger told Joey that he was his friend
But he rushed him back, and injured again
The year after that, Wanderers gave up
Even though at 24 Joey was still a pup
Once again Sheffield Wednesday gave him a chance
But only four times did he manage to dance
All finally seemed lost for our Irish enchanter
But Big Sam returned, and the man had an answer.
Joey joined him out on London's east side
And Sam resurrected a career that had died
He played twenty-six games, almost half his career
And somewhere Phil Gartside was shedding a tear
Joey played a huge part in West Ham's promotion
Relegated Bolton hated even the notion
And while Wanderers struggled in the lower leagues
Joey was moving at premiership speed
Thirty-three times Big Sam wrote his name
His injuries gone he was running the game
O'Brien's come good now at age 27
He has found at Upton Park his own slice of heaven
And Wanderers have a new Joe with talent and vigor
and a terrible knack for busting his liver
But maybe Bolton are due some good luck
Because if he's another Vaz Te, then that would just suck.