Great news, every game he plays is a bonus, of the three, Duff and Given, he will be hardest to replace, and the more time we have the better.
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Great news, every game he plays is a bonus, of the three, Duff and Given, he will be hardest to replace, and the more time we have the better.
Aston Villa apologise for slandering FAI medical staff.
Was fairly evident they were spouting guff.
What a bizarre statement. And why did it take a month to make it?
full statement on Villa's site: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetai...906292,00.html
pretty much the same as above, but I'll be damned if I contribute to the mail's pagecount
Nothing to do with Dunne and Villa, I know. But I couldn't help looking at the name of one Michael Parkhurst who was selected in the US team to play Jamaica (World Cup qualifier) this weekend. Parkhurst's father is from Monaghan. He is a fine defender (positionally better than Sledge I would say, if not as strong in the air) and is obviously regarded highly by US coach Jurgen Klinsman. He has a few to choose from mind you.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I interviewed Michael a few years back and he indicated that he would love to play for Ireland. I contacted the FAI, but what followed was what I have typically found..........a long silence followed by nothing.
In any event, at a time when we are looking around for defenders, Parkhurst would have been a nice option to have.
I think the ambition was always to make it with the US first for Parkhurst: http://www.boston.com/sports/article...future_is_now/
Quote:
The Parkhursts might have left their Irish roots behind them, but not their European Union passports. Ireland citizenship could allow Michael to perform for a European club as an EU citizen and, possibly, have a chance with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), which has gone to such great lengths to pursue talent it was nicknamed Find Any Irishman.
"It is good to have [dual citizenship] if I want to pursue something overseas," Parkhurst said. "I want to play for the US in the future, but if it doesn't work out, I would look at playing for the Republic."
Actually, he was well up for playing for us a few years ago, before the US call came. That article doesn't tell half the story.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Staunton was interested in bringing him into the squad according to reports, but he was injured at the time, and went on to be capped by the States
What a crippling loss :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Am now worried. He is so needed and we are vulnerable if he doesn't play. I can't imagine Lambert releasing Dunne unless he is 100% fit and time is certainly running out before the Germany game.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...324263590.html
Also Dunne's birthday today, happy 33rd lad!
There were a ton of famous birthdays today. I noticed that when i did the crossword during a meeting. Larry Hagman from Dallas, for example. And Ricky Lake. And Rob Morrow, from Tets's favorite movie, Quiz Show. I could go on. Cheryl Hines, from Curb Your Enthusiasm. There were a lot more, that I forget.
Cheryl Hines is the only one that matters though. My favourite comedy show, but it loses credibility when it infers that Larry David was sleeping with that goddess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
Goddess!? A horse-faced one perhaps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Any time I've seen her I've thought of carrots and lumps of sugar.
never seen Quiz Show actuallyQuote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
She's great! But a total guilty pleasure...Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fly
She's old.
Tets thats a great film. Martin Scorsese even acts in it!
Larry's wife is smoking hot. If Dunne is out, we're in big trouble. O'Dea is terrible, I can see McShane making an appearance in the middle and we all know that is a recipe for disaster.
O'Dea is not terrible and McShane is not going to play unless there are a few more injuries. He is way down the queue.
Colbert told me a few weeks ago that I "would be dead wrong" to think there was going to be an NHL lockout.
You are dead wrong. They won't miss a single regular season game.
Do you watch him play at club level? I don't miss a game he plays in and let me tell you something. He's the worst player on the worst team in the league, and by a wide margin too. I've no idea how he keeps his place in the Toronto team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Probably because the manager knows better than you.
Fair point, but the guy is really really poor from what I've seen, and I've seen most of his matches since he's moved here from England. McShane would be a definite upgrade in my opinion, and that's saying something.
Why have the likes of Ovechkin and Malkin gone to the KHL so?Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Never thought I'd be debating NHL with a Wexford man. Check out a guy named Bob McKenzie on tsn.ca, he's the most well informed and universally respected ice hockey journalist around. There's simply too much money at stake, the owners aren't losing any money save maybe for the franchise in Phoenix, and they are having their losses subsidized by the city of Glendale to the tune of $25 a year. The seven Canadian teams are major money makers and they are all against the lockout, as are the franchises in all the major US cities. Bettman is a greedy guy who fits the stereotype of a Jewish lawyer like a glove, but he's dealing with Donald Fehr this time.
If the owners really were losing the kind of money they claim, they'd be settling in for a year long lockout like they did back in September 2004. The players shouldn't have to give up anything this time in my opinion, and they won't have to, Fehr will make sure of that. Just look at the contracts being handed out by "small market" Minnesota this past summer.
To answer your question, many of the Russians have signed temporary contracts in the KHL that will allow them to return to the NHL as soon the lockout is over because they don't want to be a step behind when the season starts up without a pre-season to get in shape. Smart move on their opinion. When established Canadian players like Iginla, Spezza, Brodeur start going across to Europe then we'll have something to worry about.
You think Aiden McGeady's current form for Ireland is as good as Duff in his prime. I think I'll take your player analysis with a pinch of salt, if that's ok with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
That's not what I wrote at all. What I typed was that McGeady's trickery in the Kazakh match reminded me of Duff in his prime, the way he used to dance around full backs.
Seems the same to me. Either way, it's casts doubt on your player analysis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
To be fair Duff was doing the Hokey-cokey* past a slightly better grade of dancer!!
(insert your own choice of dance here!!)
Well, I think the lack of a final ball from McGeady would be the major difference. Duff's crossing was always pretty good. McGeady is hit and miss, mostly miss unfortunately.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I used to describe Duff's final ball as impeccable. Even as recently as Slovakia at home Duff set up a late gilt-edged chance for Keane with such little effort that it was a thing of beauty. Unfortunately the finish was a beast.
My pessimism of getting a result of any sort grows with our defensive problems.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...a-3241261.html
I'd be nervous about playing a non-match-fit Dunne even if he was ready.
Sledge & O'Shea in the middle for me.
Would agree with this, but I feel Dunne's situation diminishes our chances of getting any type of result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
We weren't and aren't going to get a result v. Germany.
Concentrate on beating the Faroes...
If Dunne isn't going to have a club match under his belt I'd prefer him not to play. As much of a fan of his that I am, he is not the type of player who plays well when lacking fitness, and I'm very concerned by his total lack of a pre-season.
Alot of negative comments at the end of that article. Look Im no major fan of the way Trap plays, but the facts are he got us very close to a WC, qualified for a Euros with a relatively average set of players. We dont like the way he plays and many disagree with his selections. But central defence is one of those areas where we really dont have many other options.
Moves JOSH to play in there - yes. With someone like Wilson, Kelly, Foley or Coleman taking the RB position. But we are far from blessed with replacements at CB. It amazes me people calling for Trap to get rid of the likes of "gone past it" Dunne and bring on the youth. But who exactly?!?
Although I do fear an unfit Dunne playing against Germany. When carrying an injury into games for us, he hasnt playing all that well.
Colbert unlike alot of our colleagues on Foot.ie , I unfortunately for my sins in another life have seen the catastrophy of a team that is Toronto FC quite regulary, yes they are the worst team in the league by a country mile but to conclude O'Dea is their worst player is ridiculous.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Although I will admit, him playing with the calibre of players in that team is not doing Darren any favours
He's not coming back any time soon. Hopefully, if he does return at Xmas he'll get a couple of months in before the next qualifiers. Reminds a bit too much of the Given situation though.
http://www.birminghammail.net/sport/...d-dunne-270633