what about Alex Bruce. Has he not played that DM position before???Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
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what about Alex Bruce. Has he not played that DM position before???Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I would have liked to see Garvin, S Quinn & Lawrence given an opportunity. He really need to be exploring solutions in the midfield - urgently - , otherwise he will go into the autumn internationals none the wiser.
Also why did he not pick Best seeing as he has been playing so well. Also how come Gibson is out if he was good enough for the last full squad?
As for Alan O’Brien!
On the FAI website John O'Shea nominated as captain for the tour to USA. :o
Why not call up 30 players for this trip anyway? Stan says he can get a look at each player up close (i.e., in training) so why not call up everyone in contention? He was happy to call up 30 players for a booze up in Portugal last year.
I presume he's made a judgment on Potter being ahead of Whelan or Garvan so it'll be interesting to see who he calls up if Wolves reach the final.
Colgan needs to phased out... Joe Murphy deverves a recall.
anyone got a phaser gun?
John O’Shea will captain Ireland for first time in the USA
Date: Tuesday, 08 May 2007
Section: International
Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Staunton believes that the upcoming pair of friendly matches in America will help blood some emerging talent ahead of the resumption of Ireland’s the EURO 2008 qualifying campaign this September.
Staunton today named nine uncapped players in his 23-man provisional squad, which will be finalised once the English Championship play-off semi-final between West Bromwich Albion and Wolves is decided tomorrow week, May 16.
Ireland will play Luis Súarez’s Ecuador side at the Giants Stadium in New York on Wednesday, May 23 (1am, Irish time) and face Bolivia three days later, on Saturday, May 26, at the Gillette Stadium in Boston (9pm, Irish time).
Staunton confirmed at Tuesday’s squad announcement that the Irish side will be captained in the States by John O’Shea, fresh from winning the Premiership title with Manchester United last Sunday.
Sunderland’s Anthony Stokes has been included in the travelling party but will be available for the first two of Ireland’s Under-19 UEFA Elite qualifiers against Bulgaria on May 14 and Germany two days later before joining up with the senior panel.
Ecuador and Bolivia will see the fixtures as vital preparation for the Copa América 2007 which takes place in Venezuela during July while Staunton sees it the perfect opportunity to afford new players the platform to shine and improve their prospects of inclusion in the squad for the competitive fixtures.
Ireland will play one more friendly, against Denmark on August 22 in Aarhus, before recommencing their Euro 2008 campaign away to Slovakia and the Czech Republic on September 8 and 16 respectively.
Staunton gave his views on various matters today upon unveiling his squad and the following is a selection of those.
On the purpose of the double-fixture against Ecuador and Bolivia in the United States:
“This is not a tour - we’re going out there to work. I’ve arranged it that there’s not too much time waiting around for the players before we get out to America. They’ll also have a lot of time when they get back to recuperate before they start their pre-season with their clubs.
“The two games are a chance for our younger players to show what they can do. Hopefully we’ll learn a bit more about them and they’ll learn a bit more about us.
“This is an opportunity for players to stake a claim to be in the squad when the Euro 2008 campaign resumes in the Autumn. It will give me and the management team a chance to look at these players up close and it will also give them valuable international experience”.
“I’d like to think that everybody coming away with us will get a run at some stage over the two matches. If there are injuries to squad members, that will mean longer playing time for others. The whole point of the exercise is to give the newer lads as much football as possible.
“I’ll be able to have a look at what is underneath with these younger players but I’ve selected one or two lads experienced lads to keep things right within the camp.
“We’ll be away in America for ten days. Our next competitive games which are away from home will also involve us being away for ten days.
On the absence of Ireland captain Robbie Keane for the trip:
“Robbie’s got a back problem and the rest will do him the world of good. Spurs are just nursing him along at the moment because they’re looking to qualify for the UEFA Cup.
“Himself and (Dimitar) Berbatov have got a great relationship going up front for Spurs but from my point of view, I know what Robbie can do as a centre-forward.”
On the promotion of Sunderland and Birmingham to the Premiership:
“It’s good news for us. As well as the Sunderland players, Colin Doyle and Stephen Kelly have gone up with Birmingham. The more players we have in the Premiership, the easier my job is to assess them. It’s great for both clubs.”
On the selection of uncapped Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy in the squad:
“Daryl has been in our squad before (against Holland) but over the last six weeks, he’s improved a lot. He’s been a big reason as to why Sunderland have gone up (to the Premiership) as champions. He’s a bit of a handful for defenders and has matured this season.
“He’s one of seven strikers in there that I’m looking forward to seeing them properly in training and the games.”
On the debut call-up of Sheffield United full-back Derek Geary at the age of 26:
“Derek is a very good man-marker in a Sheffield United team that are still fighting to stay in the Premiership. We’ll have a good look at him in and around the training ground and take it from there. I’m sure he’ll play some part in the games.”
On the clash of fixtures with the English Championship play-off final:
“I’ve included two players from Wolves, Andy Keogh and Darren Potter, as well as Paul McShane of West Bromwich Albion.
“Depending on who wins their play-off semi-final, the players on the losing team will be available for our trip. Hopefully, that will help them get over the disappointment of getting beaten in the semi-final.”
On the participation of the USA-based Irish players in the training schedule of the squad in New York and Boston:
“Ronnie O’Brien has a knee brace on at the moment and wouldn’t be up to playing a friendly international. We’ll be looking at bringing in three or four of the lads in to train with us and assess them that way.”
O'Shea named as captain:rolleyes: so what's wrong with Kilbane then? Can we expect him to pull out? Although to be fair, the above list isn't exactly blessed with natural leaders. Looks very lightweight.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
At least Roy should be happy with the abundance of Sunderland players in the squad (sits back and waits for Keane to have a moan about dragging his tired players 3,000 miles for a mickey-mouse tournament :D )
“We’ll be away in America for ten days. Our next competitive games which are away from home will also involve us being away for ten days."
It all begins to make sense now.
:D Laughed out loud there.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Thank Christ Stan has no managerial ability or general intelligence so that O'Donovan and Gamble weren't called up. Its a sad day when you have to witness muck like Folan and O'Brien playing for Ireland.
not too sure cork city would be too happy losing two quality players for such an extended periodQuote:
Originally Posted by adamcarr
Very true. If I was Rico i wouldn't let them go even if their names were on list.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Goalkeepers: Nick Colgan (Barnsley FC), Wayne Henderson (Preston North End FC), Colin Doyle (Birmingham City FC).
Defenders: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City FC), Paul McShane (West Bromwich Albion FC), Sean St Ledger (Preston North End FC), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town FC), Derek Geary (Sheffield United FC), Joseph O'Cearuill (Arsenal FC), John O'Shea (Manchester United FC).
Midfielders: Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic FC), Darren Potter (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Stephen Ireland (Manchester City FC), Stephen Hunt (Reading FC), Alan O'Brien (Newcastle United FC), Tommy Miller (Sunderland AFC).
Forwards: Kevin Doyle (Reading FC), Shane Long (Reading FC), Caleb Folan (Wigan Athletic FC), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland AFC), Stephen Elliott (Sunderland AFC), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland AFC), Andy Keogh (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC).
A few new faces in the squad...any thoughts ?
Tommy Miller. :D
I saw this squad announced on chatsoccer first and the first thing I thought was "The boys on foot.ie will have a good old moan about this"
Again its blatantly obvious that we have no strength in depth in CMF. Whelan and Garvan would have deffo beefed up the squad a bit more than bringing along 7 strikers. However 2 or 3 of the strikers will not make the trip. I have no complaints about the defence and it was obvious that no EL players would be included because they are in the middle of their season. Pity Stan didn't mention that in his interview (maybe he did but I have only read what has been posted on here).
So not exactly the squad i would have picked but his hands were tied to a certain extent. It will be interesting to see what replacements he'll call up when it is known which players will not be available but more options for CMF would have been better. The likes of Ledger could be badly exposed in his international début if we have a weak pairing in front of him but who knows, maybe Ireland and Potter will make an excellent partnership, i doubt it though.
Here is Stan discussing the squad with Dathi Blood
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/in...e0c5003493c7da
I agree with Murphy and Keogh, but Elliott hasn't scored for 6 months, Stokes has 2 goals in 5 months, Long hasnt scored for 4+, Folan for 2, even Doyle only has 2 League goals in the last 4 months (though you couldn't justify dropping him I suppose). Those are not good stats for strikers. Joe O'Cearuill and Wayne Henderson couldn't get a game at League 1 Brighton, O'Brien played once for Newcastle in the league this season, either Potter or McShane will be involved in a playoff final, and our captain (John O'Shea) has an FA Cup Final 4 days before the first match. Normally, as this is a friendly, I wouldn't be too worried, but Staunton says he would bring the strongest squad available for these matches. If, without Keane, Finnan, McGeady, Duff, and Given this is our strongest squad, we shouldn't bother getting our hopes up for Euro 2008 (if Cyprus didn't already kill them off)
No point in getting too worked up about this squad or these games lads. Fair enough maybe he should have brought everyone out to hell, but performances here are going to count for very little when the real stuff starts up again a couple of months down the line. The only benefit I can think of is getting a few uncapped players who might MIGHT make a difference for us in future a debut out of the way, an introduction to the set-up etc. Can't see any sort of tactics or midfield shape being sorted out at all. You can't even expect these young, untested players to be out their bursting their bolix in them conditions at this time of season. It'll be training game stuff.
Pure Stanglish, like this is the squad he will be taking with him for the competitive games :rolleyes: He is the George Bush of Irish football.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir