Stephen Carr

from rte.ie

Newcastle United's Stephen Carr is to return to the Republic of Ireland squad, despite having announced his retirement last October following Ireland's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

However, an invitation from new manager Steve Staunton, and a meeting with Ireland international football consultant Bobby Robson, has tempted Carr to change his mind and is set to return to the Republic of Ireland Squad.

Carr announced his retirement from international football last October. He has not figured for Newcastle in over four months due to a persistent groin injury

the only good news out of our failure to qualify was his retirement

theres no way he should keep finan from right back!! and it goes against what he said about looking to the future!! he wont be around for 2010!

will we get to see kelly - o brien etc getting a chance now? Only thing is his experience - but hes never even played in a big tournament!

CRIPPLE - dont need him

Whether we need him or not, it does suggest good things about the current set-up that they could tempt him back.

isnt that what we all thought about kerr and keane? carr retired too early for my liking - although i think we can do ok without him.

i just hope to god that senior mediocracy doesnt gets a game ahead of young talent

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Originally Posted by oconghc2

isnt that what we all thought about kerr and keane? carr retired too early for my liking - although i think we can do ok without him.

i just hope to god that senior mediocracy doesnt gets a game ahead of young talent

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post of the month

carr hasn't been good for years and i can't remember the last time he did anything positive in an irish game. and his sullen, surly attitude is hard to take. must be the biggest pr*ck to wear an irish jersey ever.

given that fullback is one of the few positions in which we seem relatively healthy, why is staunton going to so much trouble to bring him back?

yeah terrible news. i'd have gary kelly back before that fat moany goit who kept a european champ from his rightful place on the team-though its kerrs fault for picking the turnip.

Can someone write calmly and clearly why Carr is so unliked? I'm not being smart here, it's a genuine question.

His footballing ability is obviously up for debate but he didn't play any worse over the campaign than Robbie Keane, Damien Duff or Kevin Kilbane - I thought we were let down by a lot of players.

Why is Carr so unpopular?

I'd be along the same lines as Donal, I dont think hes a better full back than Finnan but he's playing in the premiership and if he gets injury free can be a fine player. Would rather have him available for selection than not.

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Originally Posted by Donal81

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Why is Carr so unpopular?

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he is universally considered to be a thoroughly unpleasant man. walks around in a huff all the time, doesnt do autographs, the press etc. not liked by players, media or any fan unlucky enough to cross him.

can any body tell me why we need three right backs in the squad, finnan has bein class all season and kelly has looked good every time he has come on for spurs. carr is a w*****r who thinks he to good for the team!!!!!

He played well in the 2 French games, but that's all. He made some really sloppy mistakes in Basle & Tel Aviv. Silly yellow cards got him suspended for Israel at home which made a difference I think. His attitude was crap throughout the campaign, probably due to a bad relationship with Kerr.

Finnan is streets ahead of him & I agree that O'Brien and Kelly are due a shot. But if we had a competitive game next month I'd prefer to see Carr there than Kelly, and probably O'Brien just because of his experience.

Kerr tried Carr at left-back in the Jackie McNamara game in June but he didn't look too comfortable so I'm not sure he's the answer there. I actually felt for a long time that Carr would be a good RHM option, not Finnan.

Anyway, just because he has "unretired" doesn't mean he has to be picked. The more players we have available the better, even if they aren't popular. Staunton should be telling him he has to earn his place & not just assume he'll be a fixture just because he's got a reputation.

Could it be possible that stan is trying to get him back to give him the captaincy??

Finnan obviously deserves his place at RF, I never understood how Carr got his game ahead of him.

I've read a couple of hacks' stories about Carr or rather stories about stories. It just seems unusual - how many Irish players get called w*nker by Irish supporters? With the exception of those involved in Saipan, he seems the only one.

Would he come back as cover to Finnan, though?

He'll be back-up for Finnan; nothing more than that. Finnan is a stronger player in every department and hopefully Staunton won't repeat Kerr's madcap right-back selection.

I have to say I find some of the comments made about Stephen Carr here very harsh. Can only speak from personnal experience but he's always been a nice guy whenever I've seen him with fellow fans. He's from an area right beside where I'm from in Dublin and he can regualry be seen with his wife during the summer months doing his shopping in the local shops and chatting to the kids etc.

In my opinion, he has always given his all while playing for us. Sad to hear this level of abuse thrown at a proud Irishman but maybe many of you have valid reasons for it. However I don't find it particulary nice to read (as hard as it is for me to say that about a former Spurs player!). :( :)

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Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

There are two reasons Carr has come crawling back: first of all, Sir Bobby Robson knows him from Newcastle and will have had a word with him. Secondly, he is cover in case Finnan, Kelly, O'Brien or JOS get abducted by aliens.
Carr's attitude is disgraceful. He is the biggest pr!ck to ever wear the green. I hope someone points this thread out to him. I know some of the lads log in from time to time ... . . .

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and what lads would they be exactly?!

Met the chap in Crete back in the summer of 1997 on holiday with his pal and I have to say he was good crack back then that was the year he broke into the spurs first-team, I knew of him as I'm a spurs man myself. Can even remember mocking him half-heartedly on the day he was going home as I was there for the summer. Never really looks like he's enjoying himself on the pitch when seeing as he's on those wages he should be. However it can't hurt to have proven premiership player in the squad even if he has never attained the heights he did in those early years at the yids.