Ireland to play Ecuador and Bolivia in May

[RogerMilla]

those few posters who dived in to "have a pop" might be better employed looking at their own prejudices, before pointing to mine. :mad:


ah where's the fun in that ? :p ;)

[Billsthoughts]

I'm getting the impresssion that Ealing's main agenda is to write 500 words in order to throw in those few lines on the sly.

If this is the case than surely he is to be admired even more?????:D

[cheifo]

TBH I cant see anything wrong with Ealing Greens post.
Meditation is good for relaxing.:)

[geysir]

Calm down. The point I was making was that the whole tour was unpromising from the start (hastily arranged, manager ambivalent, player withdrawals, superior opposition etc) and to cap it all, there was even a political demonstration when we got there! Yet despite all that, it proved a useful exercise. That's all.
I am so convinced.
If a story goes on long enough you might be able to throw in a reference to the American Civil War and justify it.
An event hardly the size of a insects backside, just happened to be an essential part of the story, by an irrelevant but polite bunch of archaic placard holders compared to the unmentioned fantastic 5***** reception laid on for the squad by the ever hospitable Chicago finest.

[Torn-Ado]

Is there a chance that the Ecuador and Bolivia games will be live on the net?

livefooty.doctor-serv.com this is a good site but they might not have international matches.

[theworm2345]

Is there a chance that the Ecuador and Bolivia games will be live on the net?

livefooty.doctor-serv.com this is a good site but they might not have international matches.
I wouldn't waste 2 hours of your life if I was you

...in for the squad by the ever hospitable Chicago finest.
You got a problem with us?

[Noelys Guitar]

Just bought a $25 ticket for the Ireland end. With "extra" charges coming to another $13! What a rip off. By the way who was at the last Ireland game at Giants Stadium v South Africa. I can remember one Benni McCarthy running amok for the first 15 mins. Incredible stuff. Matt Hollands first game I think for Ireland and he played well. Kilbane was dire in that game. 2-1 to Ireland

[tetsujin1979]

Friend of mine living in Boston told me less than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the Bolivia game, could be a half empty stadium awaiting the boys in green in beantown

[theworm2345]

Friend of mine living in Boston told me less than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the Bolivia game, could be a half empty stadium awaiting the boys in green in beantown
Would you pay to see this u21/B Team? I was going to fly out for this one but I'm not flushing $250 down the ****ter for that joke of a team...especially when with that money I'd be only $50 short of flying to Dublin to watch a (somewhat) better team play.

[Billsthoughts]

????????????:confused:

[theworm2345]

O'Shea dropped out, Kilbane is in as captain

[danonion]

O'Shea dropped out, Kilbane is in as captain

source?

[eirebhoy]

http://news.google.ie/news/url?sa=t&ct=en_ie/0-0&fp=4650fc57362e63e5&ei=BNxQRqHYIIfmoAOZmPC_Aw&url=http%3A//www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg%3Dsport-qqqm%3Dsport-qqqa%3Dsport-qqqid%3D33237-qqqx%3D1.asp&cid=0

[Qwerty]

Entirely predictable given the squad, smart move JOSH.

[tetsujin1979]

Confirmed: http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2058

[greendeiseboy]

FAI website have stated that joey lapira, the notre dame player who was subject of a previous post trained with the squad yesterday

[eirebhoy]

Ecuador are currently 10/11 to win on Betfair. I don't think I can turn that down. At the same time it'd be impossible for me to cheer on the opposition. I think I'll back Ecuador, record the game, check the score on Thursday morning and that's where my betting interest ends so I can watch the match. :)

[drummerboy]

Yes, O’Shea is injured, presumably has to have some splinters removed from his arse. United physio told him he needs to rest niggling injuries, why didn't he have the decency to drop out when the squad was announced, at least he would have given Stan time to get someone useful in.

[tetsujin1979]

FAI website have stated that joey lapira, the notre dame player who was subject of a previous post trained with the squad yesterday

No mention of any of the other US-based players? Byrne was supposed to be called in to train with the squad as well

[pete]

US College player gets a call up. Is that like Leinster Senior League level? :eek:

Its can be hard sometimes to find new ways to criticise Staunton but he certainly tries his best.

Any chance O'Shea could have told Staunton he was carrying an "injury" given he was named as squad captain?

I know Staunton more or less created this situation himself but anyone else think the senior players don't care about playing for their country anymore? There are plenty of players who have pulled out who have not played that many games this season...

:rolleyes:

[eirebhoy]

As I said in the other thread, he hasn't called him up. He asked a few American based players to train with the squad.

[Stuttgart88]

anyone else think the senior players don't care about playing for their country anymore? There are plenty of players who have pulled out who have not played that many games this season...

There's certainly a disappointing number citing "personal of family commitments".

I'd love to know exactly what these are.

I think some of those who pulled out have failed to recognise two blindingly obvious things:

(1) their place is by no means safe so this is a chance to impress and at least, when there's any doubt, to benefit from the Kilbane-like "he deserves his place because of his attitude" effect, and

(2) it'll actually be to their benefit if players like Keogh, Murphy, Doyle or whoever emerge with credit from this tour, and by not being there they're minimising the chances of the rookies performing to their best. It's a very short term approach in my mind.

Would they have been so quick to pull out if it was a boozy session in La Manga?

Emmet Malone commented over the weekend on Mick McCarthy turning down being best man at his brother's wedding to play in a similar tournament.

[Burnsie]

(1) their place is by no means safe so this is a chance to impress and at least, when there's any doubt, to benefit from the Kilbane-like "he deserves his place because of his attitude" effect, and


you don't really believe this do you?

it is absolutely inconceivable that the next squad to be announced, and indeed the next starting xi, won't include given, finnan, dunne, keane etc. even the less established players who have chosen not to travel, like miller, ireland will be in the next squad. staunton patently wouldn't have the guts to drop them, and it would be sheer lunacy to do so anyway. his own lackadaisical attitude to the tour means he cannot read the riot act to anyone who, knowing their place is secure, couldn't be arsed travelling.

[eirebhoy]

it is absolutely inconceivable that the next squad to be announced, and indeed the next starting xi, won't include given, finnan, dunne, keane etc.
Those players didn't pull out of the squad though.

The 2 Quinn's, Miller, Ireland and Elliott are players that have pulled out but could have went. I'm sure there are others who wouldn't be "injured" if this was the world cup aswell.

[tetsujin1979]

even the less established players who have chosen not to travel, like miller, ireland will be in the next squad. staunton patently wouldn't have the guts to drop them
He hasn't had any qualms about dropping Miller before


his own lackadaisical attitude to the tour
Why is Staunton's attitude to the tour lackadaisical?

[Stuttgart88]

you don't really believe this do you?

it is absolutely inconceivable that the next squad to be announced, and indeed the next starting xi, won't include given, finnan, dunne, keane etc. even the less established players who have chosen not to travel, like miller, ireland will be in the next squad. staunton patently wouldn't have the guts to drop them, and it would be sheer lunacy to do so anyway. his own lackadaisical attitude to the tour means he cannot read the riot act to anyone who, knowing their place is secure, couldn't be arsed travelling.


Why will Miller be in the next squad? He wasn't in the last one.

As for the rest of the post, eirebhoy answered it perfectly for me.

[gustavo]

Obviously those going out wont get straight into the team for next qualifier but a good performance can help them move up the ranking and defintely those that arent guaranteed a place in the team that passed up the chance to go on the tour arent doing their place in the squad any favours.

[eirebhoy]

Yeah it's only really the squad places up for grabs but I don't see why they're not important. We're never going to have 11 fit first team players. The only player that can really earn a first team place from this is Hunt and he would have probably started the qualifiers anyway.

[geysir]

I forget the details but wasn't there a story when Mick McCarthy was called up to the team to play in China, he had no second thoughts, missed his own wedding :) or something.

[Jerry The Saint]

I think we need to get T-shirts made up:

I PULLED OUT OF THE US TOUR

wear them to the games in the Autumn. :D

[geysir]

Ecuador are currently 10/11 to win on Betfair. I don't think I can turn that down. At the same time it'd be impossible for me to cheer on the opposition. I think I'll back Ecuador, record the game, check the score on Thursday morning and that's where my betting interest ends so I can watch the match. :)
I don't get it Eirebhoy. Sure you can do the dastardly deed and back Ecuador:)
But in watching the game live how could your (modest) betting investment interfere with the might of national pride?

[Risteard]

Is Ronnie O'Brien actually part of the squad?
Can he play?

[eirebhoy]

I don't get it Eirebhoy. Sure you can do the dastardly deed and back Ecuador:)
But in watching the game live how could your (modest) betting investment interfere with the might of national pride?
Because I'm talking about putting a decent amount on it. Obviously I'll want to win my bet more than Ireland to win a friendly but I just couldn't watch Ireland play and hope they'll concede. :) I'd prefer to tape it considering the time it's at.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Yes, O’Shea is injured, presumably has to have some splinters removed from his arse. United physio told him he needs to rest niggling injuries, why didn't he have the decency to drop out when the squad was announced, at least he would have given Stan time to get someone useful in.
If he had done that we would have received an unreal amount of abuse for playing for Man Utd afterwards.

[NY Hoop]

Just bought a $25 ticket for the Ireland end. With "extra" charges coming to another $13! What a rip off. By the way who was at the last Ireland game at Giants Stadium v South Africa. I can remember one Benni McCarthy running amok for the first 15 mins. Incredible stuff. Matt Hollands first game I think for Ireland and he played well. Kilbane was dire in that game. 2-1 to Ireland

Yeah what was memorable in that game was so some tosser spending the whole game shouting abuse at the bench and McCarthy jumping up the wall to try and grab him at the final whistle.

KOH

[eirebhoy]

Ecuador team if anyone cares:
Marcelo Elizaga; Jairo Montaño, Carlos Castro, Jairo Campos, Óscar Bagui; Luis Caicedo, Patricio Urrutia, David Quiroz, Walter Ayoví; Jaime Iván Kaviedes, Cristian Benítez.

[tetsujin1979]

According to the news bulletin on RTE 2, Kilbane and Potter will start in central midfield, and Colin Doyle will definitely earn his first cap, but didn't say if he'll start or not

[theworm2345]

Ecuador team if anyone cares:
Marcelo Elizaga; Jairo Montaño, Carlos Castro, Jairo Campos, Óscar Bagui; Luis Caicedo, Patricio Urrutia, David Quiroz, Walter Ayoví; Jaime Iván Kaviedes, Cristian Benítez.

No Edison Mendez? That should be a relief for the 12 year olds playing defense for us. Kaviedes is one to watch out for though.

[Stuttgart88]

Kilbane will start in central midfieldGood to see Stan thinking ahead. I suppose it frees up Hunt on LHS but I'd like to see KK have a game at LB.

[youngirish]

According to the news bulletin on RTE 2, Kilbane and Potter will start in central midfield, and Colin Doyle will definitely earn his first cap, but didn't say if he'll start or not
Don't rate Potter. That midfield looks exceptionally dodgy though I suppose Stan has the excuse of having a serious lack of resources so we'll let it go this time (he should have brought and played Garvan though who is a far, far better player than Potter so again he's not entirely blameless).

[Four Eyes]

Kaviedes is one to watch out for though.

Especially in Championship manager 02/03 :D

[tetsujin1979]

Don't rate Potter. That midfield looks exceptionally dodgy though I suppose Stan has the excuse of having a serious lack of resources so we'll let it go this time (he should have brought and played Garvan though who is a far, far better player than Potter so again he's not entirely blameless).
Potter seemed quite assured on the ball in the games I saw him play for Wolves, and he's certainly happier there than on the right wing.
I said before that the Kilbane-as-central-midfielder experiment had to end after the Cyprus debacle, following the Wales and Slovakia games, he showed he could play there, as long as he had a dedicated defensive midfield partner, which Potter is. Given the squad that's there, and the mysterious lack of players like Garvan and Whelan, Potter and Kilbane isn't too bad.
According to Stan, he did approach McPhail to come on the tour, but he had already committed to an operation after the season ended and had to to turn it down.

[eirebhoy]

I'm happy with Kilbane in the centre to the dirty work and keep things simple but that won't be his role tonight.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Young Irish, Have you seen Potter play recently? He's only 22, was rated highly by Benitez and is improving with every game. Admit that Garvan is a good prospect and should be in the squad, however that's no reason to dismiss Potter - he's a good option as a holding midfielder, handy if we revert to a 4-3-3 and is certainly a better option than other Irish Squad regulars such as Liam Miller in the middle. With Garvan, McCann & O'Brien coming through in that position, it can only be healthy.

Hope he plays a young 4-3-3 team with:

Doyle

Kelly, O' Cearuill, Bennett, Kilbane

Potter, Gamble, Hunt

Doyle, Long, Stokes

[Wolfie]

Young Irish, Have you seen Potter play recently? He's only 22, was rated highly by Benitez and is improving with every game. Admit that Garvan is a good prospect and should be in the squad, however that's no reason to dismiss Potter - he's a good option as a holding midfielder, handy if we revert to a 4-3-3 and is certainly a better option than other Irish Squad regulars such as Liam Miller in the middle. With Garvan, McCann & O'Brien coming through in that position, it can only be healthy.

Hope he plays a young 4-3-3 team with:

Doyle

Kelly, O' Cearuill, Bennett, Kilbane

Potter, Gamble, Hunt

Doyle, Long, Stokes


Given what's available - that's about the most viable team you could pick.

Coverage starts at 1am - best get the matchsticks for the eyes.

[theworm2345]

Given what's available - that's about the most viable team you could pick.

Stokes and Long over Murphy? :confused:

[Wolfie]

Stokes and Long over Murphy? :confused:

Hands up on that one, Worm. :o

To be fair, Murphy's recent form should have in ahead of Stokes.

[Metrostars]

Strange that my ticket for tonight's game says 7:30pm but other places I read 8pm. I am very much looking forward to having a look at our young prospects. I dont expect a very big crowd, maybe 20K and mostly Ecuadorians. Keep an eye out for my flag, first row, about half way between the half way line and the end line on the right on the far side as you look at the TV.

[youngirish]

Young Irish, Have you seen Potter play recently? He's only 22, was rated highly by Benitez and is improving with every game. Admit that Garvan is a good prospect and should be in the squad, however that's no reason to dismiss Potter - he's a good option as a holding midfielder, handy if we revert to a 4-3-3 and is certainly a better option than other Irish Squad regulars such as Liam Miller in the middle. With Garvan, McCann & O'Brien coming through in that position, it can only be healthy.

Indeed I have Manc Irish Wolf. I just don't think he's much cop. Very limited player IMO. Hopefully J O'Brien will be fit next season or Garvan gets a call up because I really fear for our future if Potter becomes a mainstay of the Irish midfield.

For the record I wouldn't have Liam Miller near the squad either, he's rubbish. Our best central midfielders available when fit are (in no particular order):

A Reid
S Reid
Carsley
Garvan
Ireland
J O'Brien
Kavanagh

[geysir]

Nah, they're all limited rubbish as well.