B team game and what can we look forward to this year

Fringe players to get chance


July 18, 2006

For the first time in seven years, the Republic of Ireland ‘B’ side will be in action against unknown opposition in September as fringe players get the chance to impress senior manager Steve Staunton.

The ‘B’ side will play sometime in September and again next January as Staunton looks to use the games to run the rule over a number of potential senior stars.

Former Bray Wanderers manager Pat Devlin will take charge of the ‘B’ squad, which hasn’t been used since 1999 when they took on their Northern Ireland counterparts.

Ireland kick off their Euro 2008 campaign against Germany in Stuttgart next September and will be hoping to get the qualifiers off to a perfect start.



Who would make the cut guys?
And what players can we get excited about this season

Joe Gamble.

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Originally Posted by Risteard

Joe Gamble.

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no point having a b team if players like gamble are going to be included. who really thinks that this man could have a say in qualifying us for the european championships, he has no experience at the highest level and even less talent at it. i would much prefer to see players that could possibly make and impact like paddy mccarthy, shane supple, gavin mahon, terry dixon (if what is read is to be believed) owen garvan, stephen ireland

We can look forward to mediocre players playing in irrelevant games. We play enough meaningless friendlies to experiment with some of the better fringe players as it is. B internationals for a pool of players as small as ours is just a joke.

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Originally Posted by livehead1

no point having a b team if players like gamble are going to be included. who really thinks that this man could have a say in qualifying us for the european championships, he has no experience at the highest level

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Originally Posted by livehead1

paddy mccarthy, shane supple, gavin mahon, terry dixon (if what is read is to be believed) owen garvanstephen ireland

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Ted I'm very confused:confused:

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Originally Posted by gustavo

Ted I'm very confused:confused:

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im guessing he means the guys based in england may go on to play the bigger stages whereas Gamble is currently as good as he will be, therefore less likely to impact, especially if the 'B' squad takes a development potential angle.

not saying i agree with it, just think thats what he was getting at.

True enough but we are talking within the context of the next 18 months and i doubt them guys will all make big impact on the highest level within that timeframe to really help the squad out

i think there are a number of these guys who, if they start the season strongly, will be part of our senior setup well inside 18 months, i would include Ireland, Garvan, McCarthy and O'Brien in that.

not so sure that can be said of Gamble.

Gamble actually derserves a chance to play, not just sit on his arse in meaningless friendlies.

Don't see the point of including players that are eligible for the U21 team.

include everyone we can and play everyone we can within reason, it will be worth it if one decent player who can do a job for the full international team is uncovered, how do we know a player can cut it at a high level unless he gets the chance to perform there??

some names for me would be:
Kenny (just so he gets another game)
Colgan
supple

mc carthy
coulghan
Heary

whelan
A.mahon
gareth o connor
G . mahon
alan o' brien
roy o donavan
gamble
mc phail
mc geady

crowe
bryne
murphy of sunderland

How old is Gamble lads?

Actually I'd be willing to include anyone from any league if I thought they had a chance of progression. If Gamble or Heary are like 26 or 27 then I wouldn't see the point at all. Realisticly I wouldn't like to see anyone over the age of 25 in a B team or better still, use it as a kinda U23 team. If they are older that that they are unlikely to offer us much improvement in the future

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Originally Posted by bwagner

Colgan

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No! No No!

He's in his early 30s and there's nothing more to be learnt about him. Henderson, Supple, Quigley and others are more worthy of a look. Agree on a lot of the other names though and I'd be tempted to add more. Damien Delaney, Trundle, Alan Quinn, Michael Doyle, Stephen Hunt.....

Agree totally with Roger Milla. I can't understand the negativity surrounding B internationals.

I think the B internationals should be used to vet the better U21 players in more testing cirmumstances than an underage game, those players already in the senior squad but who rarely get a run out (e.g., Jonathon Douglas) and those next in line for the senior squad, places 24-33 if you like. Maybe it'll turn out to be a pointless exercise but nothing ventured nothing gained is my view.

It was said above that we've only got a limited pool of players. We've a limited pool of really good players but we've an abundance of mediocre players. I can think of maybe 50 players playing in the top 2 divisions in England alone. B internationals might just show the management team who's worth persisting with & who's not.

yea your rigth stutts on colgan, hendo b better

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Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

If Gamble or Heary are like 26 or 27 t

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I'd say Owen wishes he was still 26 or 27

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Originally Posted by ifk101

Don't see the point of including players that are eligible for the U21 team.

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there is a world of difference between playing at under 21 and senior level. for example, the best players from the under 21s would be better served moving into the senior side or b side and given a chance

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Originally Posted by livehead1

there is a world of difference between playing at under 21 and senior level. for example, the best players from the under 21s would be better served moving into the senior side or b side and given a chance

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But B internationals can hardly be considered senior I think. Playing at U-21 would be better for the younger players as the matches would be more competitive than meaningless B matches. B team matches should be used for senior squad players that rarely get a run out and for players on the fringes of the squad.