Ireland Team named

[James]

from fai website (http://www.fai.ie/FAI/News/Welcome+to+the+FAI%21.htm)

Republic of Ireland manager Don Givens has named Richard Dunne and John O'Shea in the starting XI for Wednesday's friendly international against Greece in Athens (Kick off 7:00 Irish time - live on Sky Sports).

Dunne and O'Shea play in a new-look defence alongside captain Kenny Cunningham and Steve Finnan, with Dunne being selected in a conventional left back role in the absence of Ian Harte. It will be O'Shea's first ever start for Ireland, having made his debut in August 2001 as a substitute against Croatia at Lansdowne Road.

In midfield, Stephen McPhail will start his first game for Ireland since the US Cup in 2000 when he lines out on the left hand side of a midfield that also includes Matt Holland, Lee Carsley and Colin Healy.

As revealed on Monday, Bohemians Glen Crowe and Tottenham Hotspur's Gary Doherty will start in attack.

More to follow

Team: Given (Newcastle United); Finnan (Fulham), O'Shea (Manchester United), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Dunne (Manchester City); Healy (Celtic), Carsley (Everton), Holland (Ipswich Town), McPhail (Leeds United), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Crowe (Bohemians).


look like crowe is the only recognised penalty taker in the team also :)

[Éanna]

Strange team. Why carsley is playing is beyond me. Surely putting Cunningham at right-back and Finann at left-back would seem the way to go if those are the 4 defenders.

[Schumi]

Originally posted by Éanna
Surely putting Cunningham at right-back and Finann at right-back would seem the way to go.
Is the Greek right hand side that weak?!:p

[Éanna]

Originally posted by Schumi
Is the Greek right hand side that weak?!:p
DOH! I meant finnan at left back :o

[pete]

When we have to play the Honey Monster Lite at left back i think it highlights possible the no.1 task for the new manager - find some left backs quickely!

:eek:

I haven't been too impressed by McPhails previous international appearances but will be interesting to see (if i watch it)

[brine2]

That fella Paul Tierney at Man Utd is a left-back. Hopefully the spate of injuries at Old Trafford continue, and he gets a chance.

Edit: They've loaned him out to Crewe.

[patsh]

Maybe it's just me, but Lee f*cking Carsley ????
Surely this guy is not worthy of inclusion in any Irish squad..
No matter how many withdrawals there were, why is this character still here?:rolleyes:

[The Legend]

Probably cause Everton are doing so well at the moment!

[The Money Man]

The team for tonight is disappointing mainly because of the number of withdrawals from the squad. When you consider the players who have actually travelled, there aren't too many altermatives in terms of selection (even for Lee Carsley!!!). Tonight will be a non event. Chances are that at least six of the first eleven selected won't feature in the starting line up against Georgia in March. The only real plus is that John O'Shea will get his first start. On the basis of what we produced defensively against both the Swiss and the Russians, a good performance from John tonight would be a real boost.

[fosterdollar]

In fairness Lee Carsley is playing wel at the moment for Everton

[nelo]

Ha, any team without Gary Breen is a team worth it weight in gold. It will be a relief watching Ireland without that muppets presence on the pitch.

[The Money Man]

Originally posted by The Money Man
Tonight will be a non event.

Sometimes I'm disappointed when my predictions prove to be accurate. In this instance I was bang on.

[patsh]

how did the blackbird get on?
I don't have Sky, (Thank God !! :D )

[pete]

Originally posted by oddboy
how did the blackbird get on?
I don't have Sky, (Thank God !! :D )

If you've seen the brief highlights on any of the tv news reports then that was about it.

I miised the first few minutes but saw that Crowe had 2 chances:
- difficult volley as ball came over his left shoulder which he did well to a shot from but straight at the keeper.
- ball boke to him left hand side of the box but was behiund him & he did well to turn & get show that drifted a few feet wide of the post which keeper would have difficultly with.

I don't think crowe even saw the ball in the 2nd half as the irish midfield so deep in their own half.

[sadloserkid]

Did very well last night to be fair. So all you gits who lamented his inclusion can apologise individually or as a group I don't care which. ;)

[pete]

Originally posted by sadloserkid
...all you gits who lamented his inclusion can apologise individually or as a group I don't care which. ;)


Who?

[The Money Man]

Originally posted by sadloserkid
Did very well last night to be fair. So all you gits who lamented his inclusion can apologise individually or as a group I don't care which. ;)

Carsley was okay last night but that's it. Lets not accept last nights reasonably competent performance as proof positive that Carsley is a feared international midfield maestro.

[Shed End John]

Originally posted by The Money Man

Lets not accept last nights reasonably competent performance as proof positive that Carsley is a feared international midfield maestro.

Exactly. Carsley is an average player, NO MORE. Besides, friendlies are realistically speaking no more than side show distractions. The real business gets back underway in March when the Euro 2004 qualifiers resume.

Murphy Out Now!!!

[patsh]

Originally posted by sadloserkid
Did very well last night to be fair. So all you gits who lamented his inclusion can apologise individually or as a group I don't care which. ;)
I, being the main git who not only lamented his inclusion, but took it as a personal insult to logic and sanity, will say it again:
Lee fcuking Carsley is not an international class player, never was, never will be and should NEVER be picked in an international squad!.....





(unless he declares for Scotland) ;)

[pete]

Oh forgot ye talking about carsley - yeah he too limited ever to complete at international level. Just cos he plays in the Premiership does not mean he international class as the Premiership not full of international class players.

IMO Carsley was always a filler in the McCarthy squads & its time now to give younger player the experience of training 7 travelling with the international squad.

[Shed End John]

Originally posted by pete
IMO Carsley was always a filler in the McCarthy squads & its time now to give younger player the experience of training 7 travelling with the international squad.

Christ, the Irish job is absolutely CRYING OUT for someone with your kind of forward thinking. Did you put in your application yet?:)

Murphy Out Now!!!

[pete]

Originally posted by Shed End John
Christ, the Irish job is absolutely CRYING OUT for someone with your kind of forward thinking. Did you put in your application yet?:)


I don't like to tout myself for jobs but if i was approached... ;)

Besides i'm holding out for the city job when Gunther leaves :D