Crowe in new Ireland Squad
Crowe called into squad - 17 April 2003
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has called up Bohemians' striker Glen Crowe for the friendly international against Norway on April 30 at Lansdowne Road.
Crowe - the eircom League top goal scorer for the last three seasons - wins a recall after recovering from a knee injury that he picked up just before Christmas which kept him out of the last month of the eircom League season. Having regained his fitness during pre-season training with Bohemians, and scoring in the Gypsies' League opener against UCD last Friday, he now returns to the squad after an impressive debut against Greece in November.
The 25-year-old is well known to Kerr having been involved in Kerr's underage teams and was a member of the Republic of Ireland Youth squad that finished third in the World Youth Championships in Malaysia in 1997.
"Difficulties have emerged with regard to players' fitness and match sharpness for international fixtures outside the new eircom League season. I am hoping that Glen has kept himself in good condition during his enforced absence to be in almost top shape against UCD when he scored the only goal of the game," Kerr said.
Also included in the 24-man panel are Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday) and Alan Lee (Rotherham), both of whom earned late call-ups to the squad for the games in Tbilisi and Tirana. The pair are the only uncapped players in the squad as Kerr largely sticks to the same players he has selected for his three previous games.
Missing are injured trio, Clinton Morrison (Birmingham City), Steven Reid (Millwall) and Jason McAteer (Sunderland) while Steve Finnan (Fulham), Gary Kelly (Leeds United) and Ian Harte (Leeds United) are all back in the squad after being forced to withdraw from the panel for the last two games.
The game will be Kerr's first home game as senior international manager and he believes that Norway will provide a stern test ahead of the restart of the Euro 2004 qualifiers in June.
"Norway have started very well in the Group Two Qualifiers, heading the group above Denmark. They have players who are familiar to us from British football like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) as well as John Carew of Valencia. They will provide a stiff test for us but with it being my first home game I will be hoping for a good performance and a win.
"It's a great game for us to have in the build-up to our vital home games in June with Albania and Georgia. I hope we will have a big crowd at the game to really get behind the team after three successive away games."
Squad:
Colgan (Hibernian), Given (Newcastle United), Kiely (Charlton Athletic), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Harte (Leeds United), O'Shea (Manchester United), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Breen (West Ham United), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Kelly (Leeds United), Finnan (Fulham), Carsley (Everton), Healy (Celtic), Holland (Ipswich Town), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Kilbane (Sunderland), McPhail (Leeds United), Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Crowe (Bohemians), Connolly (Wimbledon), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee (Rotherham), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).
While congratulating Glenn.....
...am I the only one who thinks this whole thing is a wee bit patronising to the eL fans. Pick him for meaningless friendlies as a sop to the NL brigade, but don't pick him for competive matches, when there's a lot at stake.
Was McCarthy's stance not a lot more honest?
Re: While congratulating Glenn.....
Quote:
Originally posted by The Sheliban
...am I the only one who thinks this whole thing is a wee bit patronising to the eL fans. Pick him for meaningless friendlies as a sop to the NL brigade, but don't pick him for competive matches, when there's a lot at stake.
Was McCarthy's stance not a lot more honest?
I know ... pride is hurting an'all
But lads .... think about it ...... it has to start somewhere, i dont like tokenism as much as the next fella but it needs to start from somewhere. And to be honest .... i dont care where .... it is where it finishes that i am worried about, I would like to see at least 4-5 eL players making the squad on merit, thus raising the standard of the domestic league.
Think about it .... If you have got Glen Crowe thinking that he is in with a shout if his game is of good enough standard then that is one player playing his guts out on the park to ensure his place, that is where it is sucessful and this is what we need.
The nuts and bolts of the system is players playing out of their skins and deserving a game. If the domestic league can then become good enough to sustain this standard and keep these players at home (unless they get an honest price for them) AND the very least to have made it through the system here unlike John O'Shea who didn't even see the inside of the RSG in Waterford. Thats where it makes a difference.
Squad for Norway game announced
Squad for Norway game announced
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has revealed his squad for the forthcoming friendly match with Norway on April 30 with the return of Glen Crowe being the biggest surprise.
The Bohemians striker made his international debut against Greece in November, when Don Givens was in temporary charge, but a knee injury ruled him out of the more recent squads.
Crowe returned to action for the league champions last weekend, and promptly scored the winner against UCD in the opening round of matches of the eircom League’s first summer season.
Steve Finnan, Ian Harte and Gary Kelly all return following injury while Jason McAteer, Steve Reid and Clinton Morrison have still not recovered from their respective injuries.
The panel of 24 is:
Goalkeepers: Nick Colgan, Shay Given, Dean Kiely.
Defenders: Stephen Carr, Ian Harte, John O’Shea, Andy O’Brien, Gary Breen, Gary Kelly, Kenny Cunningham, Steve Finnan.
Midfielders: Lee Carsley, Colin Healy, Matt Holland, Mark Kinsella, Alan Quinn, Kevin Kilbane, Stephen McPhail.
Forwards: Damien Duff, Glen Crowe, David Connolly, Gary Doherty, Alan Lee, Robbie Keane.
www.eleven-a-side.com
Re: Squad for Norway game announced
Quote:
Originally posted by A face
Forwards: Damien Duff, Glen Crowe, David Connolly, Gary Doherty, Alan Lee, Robbie Keane.
www.eleven-a-side.com
:mad: Duff isn't a forward :mad:
