Squad Announced

[Karlos]

The squad is too small. It's Stauntons first game and its a friendly. Why not name a 30 man panel. A few of the players he has named are injured at the moment like O'Shea and Elliot so I don't expect them to play and another 2 or 3 at least will drop out before the game as always happens. This makes the squad even smaller and more than likely he will have no more than 18 players to work with when they meet up.

I thought it would make most sense to call up as many players as possible, within reason(we don't have much more than 30 realistic options anyway), for the first international so he could outline his plans for the next 4 years and everyone could feel they were in on this new beginning from the start. I don't see the sense in leaving out someone like Gary Doherty. He'll probably end up calling him into the squad anyway because of withdrawals, but now Doherty knows that Staunton doesn't really fancy him as a player.

It's a mistake excluding willing players like Doherty, who has previous experience, at this early stage of his tenure.

Firstly you can't say for certain that Stan hasn't already spoken to all the players outlining his plans for the future, & secondly you can't say for certain that he hasn't spoken to Doherty about his situation either (there could be a number of reasons why Doherty was left out).

I'm also not so sure calling 30 players up is a good way to start your career - at least 10 of them won't get a game and return downheartended after arriving in the hope they might play - new UEFA rules restirct the number of subs allowed in Friendlies these days. Besides all that Staunton being unable to choose a normal size squad would have been seen as a weekness by some and that he's unable to make tough descisions - the media & the anti-Staunton brigade would have had a field day with that one. It was always going to be a lose lose situation for Staunton as far as certain facets of the Irish Media & Support were concerned.

Players who aren't selected have the right to be downheartened but they need to work harder to get back into the bosses reckonening. I don't believe in massageing their ego's by calling them up just for the sake of it. Replacement players will get called up after someone pulls out & then those players will have their chance to show the boss he was wrong about leaving them out - that's football. :)

[colster]

Firstly you can't say for certain that Stan hasn't already spoken to all the players outlining his plans for the future, & secondly you can't say for certain that he hasn't spoken to Doherty about his situation either (there could be a number of reasons why Doherty was left out).

I'm also not so sure calling 30 players up is a good way to start your career - at least 10 of them won't get a game and return downheartended after arriving in the hope they might play - new UEFA rules restirct the number of subs allowed in Friendlies these days. Besides all that Staunton being unable to choose a normal size squad would have been seen as a weekness by some and that he's unable to make tough descisions - the media & the anti-Staunton brigade would have had a field day with that one. It was always going to be a lose lose situation for Staunton as far as certain facets of the Irish Media & Support were concerned.

Players who aren't selected have the right to be downheartened but they need to work harder to get back into the bosses reckonening. I don't believe in massageing their ego's by calling them up just for the sake of it. Replacement players will get called up after someone pulls out & then those players will have their chance to show the boss he was wrong about leaving them out - that's football. :)

Very good points there. I'd have the 4 center halves named ahead of Doherty and McCarthy anyway.

[bawn79]

Very good points there. I'd have the 4 center halves named ahead of Doherty and McCarthy anyway.
Ya but Breen represents the past, surely mccarthy represents the future.

[Armando]

I didn't mean to come down hard on Staunton. I just feel there is nothing to lose in calling up players like Mark Kennedy, Ronnie O'Brien and Paddy McCarthy if they are fit, especially when it's just a friendly. I obviously don't expect everyone to play against Sweden, that wasn't my point. I thought it would be better to call up all those in his thoughts to keep everyone on their toes and get off to a fresh new start with everyone available involved from the get go. I obviously don't know if he has or has not spoken to ommited players, but I still feel the squad is too small for his first game and if he has left out players because he was working to a set squad size of 23 then that is a mistake.

I didn't realise Doherty was injured. He played a full game on Tuesday and I hadn't heard that he picked up any injury.

[Karlos]

I didn't mean to come down hard on Staunton. I just feel there is nothing to lose in calling up players like Mark Kennedy, Ronnie O'Brien and Paddy McCarthy if they are fit, especially when it's just a friendly.

That's a valid point and I'm all for trying new things in friendlies. I imagine it's been a balancing act by Stan. He could have named far more new players in the squad but if we got a hiding he would have been slaughtered for being naiive. I think he's mixed it up with youth and experience in an attempt to mould the team but also win the game to silence some critics! The players you mention I'm sure will all get a run in future friendlies I'd imagine if their good form continues. I understand Stan not wanting to overload the team with newbies for his first game though

[klein4]

silence what critics???
he is gettin the easiest ride imaginable...(outside of coppers on a mon nite...)
Paul Hyland had an article today basically sayin how well he looks in a suit!and how by lookin well he is doin the FAI a lot of favours...!!:eek:

[NeilMcD]

i agree there Klein he has got an easy enough ride but I would not take anythign that muppet Hyland has to say to be honesst.

[Karlos]

silence what critics???
we must not be reading some of the same articles/commentaries I have or you must have missed some of the posts on foot.ie promclaiming the end of our national team and the mass exodus of fans as a result of the appointment! :rolleyes:


he is gettin the easiest ride imaginable...(outside of coppers on a mon nite...)
Paul Hyland had an article today basically sayin how well he looks in a suit!and how by lookin well he is doin the FAI a lot of favours...!!:eek:

Using anything Paul Hyland says as the basis for fact, is seriously dodgy ground. :D

[Karlos]

i agree there Klein he has got an easy enough ride but I would not take anythign that muppet Hyland has to say to be honesst.

No easier than Mr. Kerr or Mr. McCarthy

[klein4]

i need something cheap and easy to read on me lunch!

[NeilMcD]

No easier than Mr. Kerr or Mr. McCarthy
Thats true karlos, I think the Irish media are pretty easy at the start and then slaughter as time goes on.

The Herald is rubbish and anybody that buys it should take a good look at themselves as they are only funding muppets like Hyland. The Times is far better coverage of the Irish football team.

[klein4]

1) foot.ie is not really representative of what most irish fans think.
2) I have not seen one article giving out about staunton and what he has done as manager.

[Karlos]

i need something cheap and easy to read on me lunch!

Speaking of cheap and easy, seems you and Neill have kissed and made up! ;) :D

Aplogies, off topic I know but the civil unrest upsets me! :)

[klein4]

I wouldnt go kissing him until we hear what the doctor has to say about stuttgart88!

[NeilMcD]

I have not had sexual relations with Stuttgart 88, Althought I would not mind having sexual relations in Stuttgart the German city in September.

One Nil to Neil has a good ring about it.

[Karlos]

1) foot.ie is not really representative of what most irish fans think.. I've actually been surpirsed how well foot.ie often reflects the thoughts of Irish Fans accurately but that's just my personal experience of it



2) I have not seen one article giving out about staunton and what he has done as manager. I've seen plently of articles critiscing the appointment of Staunton but none critising what he has done so far and that was my point. THe same people critiscing the appointment of Staunton would have been out in force critiscing his desicion making skills had he been unable to select a squad out of 30 players. I think he's also gone for a squad that has a new look to it but enough expoerince to help him cover every angle. It's a very sensible squad. A bad defeat by Sweden with a team of underage kids would not have been taken lightly by the media and the balme would have been put on Staunton's management skills.

[Greenbod]

1)2) I have not seen one article giving out about staunton and what he has done as manager.

FFS! "easy ride" "tough ride", We haven't even had a match under Staunton yet!!!

[dr_peepee]

Disapointed not to see any surpise additions..

Douglas raised an eyebrow.... As did Alan Quinn absence.

Elliot, JO'S and Duff arent' fit at the minute so maybe there's replacements in line.

I would've prefered to see a large squad for this particular Freindly. Not so much for just the Sweden game, but for an "All hands on deck" scenario inclusive of players that are potential assets over the next campaign.

Sort of....New regime, this is what I expect, this is what you should expect, line in the sand, bada bing bada boom... Then stick to the regualar 23 man squad there after.

I didn't lke the undercurrent coming from the Sqaud and Kerrs omisions during the last campaign.

But all in all not too bad a squad...

[tetsujin1979]

2) I have not seen one article giving out about staunton and what he has done as manager.
he hasn't done anything bar name a squad!! Nobody is going to criticise him until there's something to criticise him for!!

[jimbob117]

Thought Supple would be ahead of Henderson in terms of keeper selection.... maybe even Stack too.

[A face]

Five new faces in Staunton's maiden squad


Steve Staunton has opted for a combination of experience and youth for his maiden squad as manager of the Republic of Ireland. Sweden provide the opposition in Staunton's first run-out as manager of the international side at Lansdowne Road on March 1 and the former Walsall player/coach has called upon five new faces for the friendly.

The new additions in a 23-man squad include Manchester City youngster Stephen Ireland, Bolton Wanderers midfielder Joey O'Brien, Tottenham Hotspur full-back Stephen Kelly, Sunderland winger Liam Lawrence and Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.


Read more at www.rte.ie (http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0216/ireland.html)

[eirebhoy]

Thought Supple would be ahead of Henderson in terms of keeper selection.... maybe even Stack too.
I don't see why. Henderson is a lot more deserving of a place than Supple.

[eirebhoy]

Henderson is pulling off some excellent saves against Watford atm.

[dr_peepee]

I wouldn't have raised an eyebrow if any one of Stack, Murphy or Henderson got that third spot... But Hendersen has played more games than the others.

[jimbob117]

I don't see why. Henderson is a lot more deserving of a place than Supple.


Thats fair enough, tbh i havent seen much if either of them, but ive only heard a lot more about supple and stack than of henderson.But obviously if you have seen Henderson, and rate him then give him his deserved chance.

[BobbySands]

At least with Croke Park opened Stephanie Ireland will have a good forum for her undoubted skills. Don't they have a good family section ? Maybe they could get a coach up from Cork after some sort of appearance guarantee has been negotiated. Every match in croker would be like a Madonna concert.