He says in the piece that the Wednesday or Thursday before hand could see us play a friendly to be better prepared, He mentions the delay with the Portugal and Costa Rica games is on going and close to official
He says in the piece that the Wednesday or Thursday before hand could see us play a friendly to be better prepared, He mentions the delay with the Portugal and Costa Rica games is on going and close to official
Possible friendly being looked at for early September date.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...wn-265675.html
“We bid for Euro 2008 with Scotland but that wasn’t realistic because we had no stadiums,” he recalled. “They the (Uefa inspectors) were brought out to Abbotstown and shown an empty field and brought to Croke Park who hadn’t made a decision to open it to soccer. This realistically is our best opportunity. To play four games here, three group games and a last 16, would be brilliant. It would raise the profile of the game. To be in it, would be the dream.”
Only in Ireland.
As part of my coursework for a postgrad degree a few years back I profiled the FAI's successful bid for the 2011 Europa League final. I rang the FAI for help. They said they were busy with staging the home leg of the France game at Croker but once that was out of the way they said I could come over to Abbotstown and they'd show me all the paperwork and talk me through everything. Say what you like about the FAI but in this instance they were hugely cooperative and very impressive. The bid 10 years earlier was a shambles but the second bid was very thorough. Larry Mullen and George Hamilton played big roles, funnily enough.
exactly how many countries bid for these things with all / even most stadiums ready?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
sure qatar just showed FIFA an empty desert and won the 2022 wc
Only in Ireland. And Qatar. And Brazil. And...
In fairness, the Brendan Menton era FAI bid was utterly shambolic.
an empty desert and a dumptruck full of unmarked non-sequential small billsQuote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
allegedly
I'd say there's a wild difference between a FIFA bid inspectorate and a UEFA bid inspectorate.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Who do folk here think are likely fringe candidates to be called up for the May / June games? Or, put another way, who should be called up?
Is Alan Judge seriously under consideration? Rob Kiernan?
Discuss...
Eunan O'Kane, Shane Duffy, Joe Mason and maybe Leon Best.
Can't think of anyone else realistically as Chris McCann is injured.
Jack Grealish - all day long and Ronin Murray (is he worth a look ?) - Notts county
Sean Murray Watford - Lewis Shay Mcgugan Watford ( he is eligible ) having a great season by all accounts
thoughts on a post card TOWK
Richie Ryan from Tipperary has been appointed first ever Captain of Ottawa Fury, which is SKStu's new favorite team in Canada. Sources tell me he may be in the squad as rabid Fury fans will make their way down here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Selcuk Tidim has an absolutely enormous following in Queens for some reason and I think you could see him.
Ger Crossley is doing a book signing outside Met Life Stadium if anyone is interested. "Gentleman Ger: My Years in Green." ($29.95, Knopf)
Youngsters I would like to see more of are Jack Grealish, Shane Duffy, Samir Carruthers, Tommie Hoban, Sean Murray, Eunan O'Kane, Joe Mason, Rob Kiernan & Jeff Hendrick. Shane O'Neill, Mike Magee, Ryan Meara should get a chance on the US Tour. Hope to see some granny rulers there.
Darron Gibson, if he can prove his fitness
Owen Garvan, or Callum Reilly maybe?
Shaun Williams has settled in well at Millwall
Liam Lawrence?
Stokes is on a scoring streak - five goals in his last five games
Could look at Aaron Doran or Willo Flood too.
Carruthers is still out with a knee injury, one for next season I thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
You mean the aforementioned or other ones? Because I'm not sure if they are many others out there. McGoldrick would probably have been the one knocking on doors but he is out of contention. Then there is Richard Stearman. Maybe Luke Chambers. There were rumours about Scott Hogan recently but he's still playing in L2. Then there are the Gerrard's and McGugan's. Nobody knows if they are eligible (even themselves). There were apocryphal stories about McGugan declaring for Scotland as well that had little basis in fact.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
I don't understand the desire to call up Granny Rulers for the sake of it. If there is someone like Pilkington playing at a good level who may be an improvement on what we already have then go for it. If they aren't an improvement on what we have, then what's the point?
On the other hand, if you are on about young lads who've played at underage level like Grealish, Murray, Carruthers, Kiernan and Hoban getting some experience that's different but two of them have played a dozen games between them this season, Murray has flitted in and out of the team at Watford without making much of an impact, Carruthers has been inconsistent at MK Dons and Grealish still only has 30 games worth of experience in a L1 relegation battle. Current reports indicate that he is destined for the Championship next season. If he adjusts to that level of football, then he has the majority of the Qualifying campaign to be in contention for.
Thats a good callQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Of Tets' suggestions I'd be inclined only to look at Stokes and Gibson, though I admit I haven't seen Flood this season.
TOWK's 4 plus Grealish and Sean Murray as suggested by Dunners all have a realistic claim I'd say. I also think Kiernan may be worth a look.
Would Chris Forrester be a useful call up for the Turkey game? Not because of his wonder goal but because he's playing well and although there'd be an element of tokenism about it, it wouldn't be unwarranted and it'd be a good message to send out. I saw him against Bohs on Good Friday and he definitely has an assuredness and bit of style about him.
Is Westwood back fit I wonder? Randolph's club form fills me with dread.
This is from April 3rd:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/we...-30152714.html
The problem with thinking about fringe players right now is that we have a lot of players who would be expected to play a significant role in the upcoming qualifiers who for various reasons (injury, managerial falling-outs, being a late bloomer, etc) but don't have a lot of caps under their belts and need the game time. All these players have fewer than 20 caps: Forde (17 caps), Westwood (19), Wilson (15), Clark (10), Delaney (8), McClean (19), Hoolahan (10), Meyler (5), Murphy (9), Stokes (8), O'Brien (5), Brady (6), Hendrick (4), Ireland (6).
On top of that, Andy Reid could do with more games to get re-accustomed to the international scene, perhaps Shane Long could do with more time leading the line and Kevin Doyle might be back in contention.
And then we have to judge which of the rising young stars (Duffy, Grealish and Murray) may have a breakthrough next season
Where did Keith Treacy go to? I thought he was great in the few friendlies he played for us during Trap's reign.
Then he disappeared
He's usually a sub for promoted Burnley. I thought he had a great delivery with his left, but lacks finesse otherwise. Quite a strong, direct wide player. I think TOWK said his contract is up and is unlikely to be renewed?
He has always had talent and this was obvious even when he was at Blackburn. However, he is inconsistent and has never played regular first team football. Am I right too in saying he has had attitude problems in the past or is this just my imagination at work?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Isn't he mad for pints ?
Realistically, Forrester struggled to make the Ireland U21 team last year and has been told he needs to bulk up to move to England. Of the players in the LOI, I'd say Richie Towell is the one with the talent and physique to make the step up, but it won't happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Shame with Burnley now all but promoted.
I really thought he was a good player. Hopefully he'll get back into the squad with some eye-catching Premiership displays in the 2014/15 season
Charlie, out of interest, why do think Towell wouldn't make it in England? Weren't Barnsley interested in signing him?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
I meant get called up for the Ireland team. I'm sure he will make it in England. Barnsley and Charlton interested apparently, and you'd assume clubs below them too.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
Squad to be announced tomorrow (Friday) at 10.00am.
Nothing on Ian Harte's twitter yet but I'll keep you posted.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Do you blokes think that Turkish players ever eat Turkey as their pre game meal or that it would be thought of as taboo?
Who knows what delights they chow down on Crosby.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
I doubt it, the tryptophan would make them groggy and unfit to perform at 100%Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
Does anyone know if Richard Keogh was interviewed after tonight's game? If he complained about not being picked for the national team, we can cross one name off the list.
Because he failed in Scotland would the biggest indicator to me. Terrific LOI player. Maybe the spell here has helped him. On Forrester, he has the talent. A full time training regime with nutritionist etc would help him develop the physique needed. He couldn't play full international football yetQuote:
Originally Posted by gastric
David Forde Millwall FC 20/12/1979 16 0 Darren Randolph Birmingham City FC 12/05/1987 2 0 Rob Elliot Newcastle United FC 30/04/1986 0 0 Richard Keogh Derby County FC 11/08/1986 3 1 Marc Wilson Stoke City FC 17/09/1987 15 1 Seamus Coleman Everton FC 11/10/1988 21 0 John O’Shea Sunderland AFC 30/04/1981 94 2 Alex Pearce Reading FC 09/11/1988 2 1 Stephen Kelly Reading FC 06/09/1983 37 0 Damien Delaney Crystal Palace FC 20/07/1981 8 0 Joey O’Brien West Ham FC 17/02/1986 5 0 Shane Duffy Everton FC 01/01/1992 0 0 James McCarthy Everton FC 12/11/1990 23 0 Jeff Hendrick Derby County FC 31/01/1992 4 0 Ciaran Clark Aston Villa FC 26/09/1989 10 1 Stephen Ward Brighton Hove Albion 20/08/1985 20 2 Glenn Whelan Stoke City FC 13/01/1984 55 2 Paul Green Leeds United FC 10/04/1983 20 1 Aiden McGeady Everton FC 04/04/1986 64 3 Anthony Pilkington Norwich City FC 06/06/1988 3 0 James McClean Wigan Athletic FC 22/04/1989 19 0 Stephen Quinn Hull City FC 04/04/1986 3 0 David Meyler Hull City FC 29/05/1989 5 0 Wes Hoolahan Norwich City FC 20/05/1982 10 1 Robbie Keane LA Galaxy FC 08/07/1980 131 62 Shane Long Hull City FC 22/01/1987 44 11 Daryl Murphy Ipswich Town FC 15/03/1983 9 0 Jon Walters Stoke City FC 20/09/1983 25 4 Kevin Doyle QPR FC 18/09/1983 57 12 Anthony Stokes Celtic FC 25/07/1988 8 0 Simon Cox Nottingham Forrest FC 28/04/1987 27 4 Connor Sammon Derby County FC 06/11/1986 9 0
Quite a conservative selection, and Cox is a surprise.
"The U21s can wait" is the clearest message.
Gibson, Reid, Westwood and maybe Dunne would be expected to be in next autumn's squads and they would definitely strengthen things.
Apart from Wes and McGeady there is little creativity in midfield.
The Hull City lads will more than likely miss the Turkey game and there's a few there who will be involved with the play offs.
No Stephen Ireland, despite recent reports, no Grealish, no guarantees Pilkington and Joey O'Brien will be fit.
Duffy apart, there's little in the selection that indicates progress over the last seven months
It's been talked about for about two years now how Forrester needs to develop his physique. I know little about such matters but I can't understand how this hasn't been a priority for him. To me he has a lot of great attributes but he can be out muscled in games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Another player who might have made the grade I always thought if he was stronger was John Dillon (I know he's English but just pointing out the similarity) but again, despite all the talk about him needing to bulk up, he never did for whatever reason. Beautiful footballer though.
On RTE O'Neill says that the squad will be reduced before 22nd May and that Stephen Ireland may yet figure but he hadn't had a chance to discuss it with him yet, or something like that. I'm saying nothing...!
Are any of these games live on rte/setanta? Thanks.
Setanta definitely showing the US games.
Does anyone know if Premier Sports in the UK does a PPV option? They show the big Setanta games but I think a permanent subscription is required.