Camp America could be on cards

[TrapAPony]

''GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has hinted he is about to take the search for fresh talent across the Atlantic next year, with the Italian suggesting an end-of-season training camp in the United States could provide the opportunity to weigh up the potential of players born there but with an interest in declaring for Ireland.

As he unveiled his squad for Wednesday week’s game against Norway at the Aviva Stadium, Trapattoni mentioned the possibility of travelling to the US more than once, and he is to be given a list of players there who are eligible to play for Ireland.

“America could be very important for us and the organisation,” he said. “To get 10 days with the group would be good, not the senior players but a young team. It would be better for training and maybe we could have some friendly games.”

Trapattoni’s men are due to play Northern Ireland and Scotland on May 23rd and 27th respectively in the Nations Cup, but the manager believes there would be a window of about 10 days before the first game when a short tour could be fitted in.

Asked about European destinations, Trapattoni said the location wasn’t all that important, but he subsequently returned to the idea of bringing a squad to the US, mentioning New York as a possible venue for the camp.

Ireland’s last venture across the Atlantic was in the summer of 2007 when Steve Staunton brought a group stripped of almost all senior players. A couple of the current squad’s regulars, Stephen Hunt and Andy Keogh, were among the 13 to make their senior debuts on that two-match tour, while Shane Long got his first international goal.

But the majority have failed to make anything like the progress in their careers that would have been hoped for, and the one locally-born player capped – Joe Lapira – ending up in the Norwegian lower leagues.

Candidates for next year’s trip, if it comes to pass, might include Aston Villa’s Ciarán Clark and Barry Maguire of Utrecht, born in England and the Netherlands respectively. Both have declared their desire to represent Ireland, and Trapattoni suggested the pair would have been in his latest squad had their cases been processed by Fifa in time.''

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...282790309.html

It would be great if we could get the new Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan. Great opportunity to see our younger players too.

[CraftyToePoke]

Does anybody have Stauntons 2007 US Cup squad, out of interest please?

[Sullivinho]

Does anybody have Stauntons 2007 US Cup squad, out of interest please?

Here's the squad as it stood a week before the games in the US:

Nicky Colgan - Barnsley
Wayne Henderson - Preston North End
Colin Doyle - Birmingham City
Stephen Kelly - Birmingham City
Alex Bruce - Ipswich Town
Joseph O'Cearuill - Arsenal
Stephen O’Halloran - Aston Villa
John O'Shea - Manchester United
Kevin Kilbane - Wigan Athletic
Darren Potter - Wolves
Joe Gamble - Cork City
Stephen Hunt - Reading
Stephen Gleeson - Wolves
Alan O'Brien - Newcastle United
Kevin Doyle - Reading
Shane Long - Reading
Daryl Murphy - Sunderland
Anthony Stokes - Sunderland
Andrew Keogh – Wolves
Alan Bennett – Reading
Peter Murphy – Carlisle United.

Source: http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=2049

Joe Lapira (Notre Dame) was added after they arrived. For s**ts and giggles presumably. I believe O'Shea pulled out.

[theworm2345]

This better a joke. None of these ****s like Dempsey and Donovan are Irish except for on March 17th and would sully the green jersey. I have no problems with the likes of Ronan O'Gara but what most people don't realize is the majority of US soccer players (and indeed the fans of the US national team) are a bunch of massive douchebags. I've had the misfortune of being around them. May as well just beg (a not as skilled version of) Steven Ireland to come back.

I'm all for playing friendlies here and even having a camp, but playing in the MLS is not good enough to play for Ireland and believe me when I say the vast majority of US-born players who qualify probably think Ireland is still owned by Britain and would not add anything to the team. Holding a camp for LoI players would be far more productive.

This is not just for the Irish diaspora here, same goes for Polish, German, etc., etc., etc.

[Charlie Darwin]

A group of footballers are douchebags? My god, I'd never have guessed.

Conor Doyle might be worth a look, though undeclared and based in the UK.

[theworm2345]

A group of footballers are douchebags? My god, I'd never have guessed.

This is a whole new level of douchebaggery

[Predator]

I'm all for playing friendlies here and even having a camp, but playing in the MLS is not good enough to play for Ireland...

Trap is no fool, so I seriously doubt that we'll see an influx of MLS based players into the squad. If this goes ahead, the squad will more than likely be made up of younger stars and fringe players, as with the one in May. Other than that, I see little harm in extending the reach for eligible players to America. If you find one gem, then it's a success.

[Crosby87]

This better a joke. None of these ****s like Dempsey and Donovan are Irish except for on March 17th and would sully the green jersey. I have no problems with the likes of Ronan O'Gara but what most people don't realize is the majority of US soccer players (and indeed the fans of the US national team) are a bunch of massive douchebags.

I am laughing but that is easily the most offensive thing i have ever read on here, at least to me.
I have to tell you the last time I went to Ireland I went to a game and there were more passed out chavs in the crowd than at a Oasis concert, in the first half. Way to handle the liquor there. I especially like the real fat chicks with the fat hanging out and the snoring and the tramp stamp on top off the fat ass.... But I would never let those few bad clueless apples spoil my opinion of the whole bunch, regardless of how bad and moronic some of their tattoos were. Every country has that element.

I dont think that any player who is in MLS and could play for the US would ever out of the blue play for Ireland, and if they weren't good enough for the US squad I agree Ireland wouldnt want them...So it is a moot point. Bit harsh though man.
Why do you live in Chicago? Maybe you should go back to Ireland, or England and live there. You might get a more educated view point.

[theworm2345]

I'm American, all my grandparents were born in America, and the closest Irish relative I have is a great great grandmother from Belfast who, from what I hear, wasn't exactly keen on Catholics. What I am saying is that my point of view is strictly American. I can't go back to Ireland because I was never from there. Why do I live in Chicago? Because its the greatest city on earth...fortunately most of these people I speak of are from the suburbs. I've been to a game in Ireland and in England. I've been to MLS and USA matches. I've been around American professional and semi-professional soccer players. I supported the US national team up until the point that I had done the latter two things and my eyes were opened to what the bulk of the majority of those people were like.

[Scooby Doo]

I'm American, all my grandparents were born in America, and the closest Irish relative I have is a great great grandmother from Belfast who, from what I hear, wasn't exactly keen on Catholics. What I am saying is that my point of view is strictly American. I can't go back to Ireland because I was never from there. Why do I live in Chicago? Because its the greatest city on earth...fortunately most of these people I speak of are from the suburbs. I've been to a game in Ireland and in England. I've been to MLS and USA matches. I've been around American professional and semi-professional soccer players. I supported the US national team up until the point that I had done the latter two things and my eyes were opened to what the bulk of the majority of those people were like.

I'm confused...then where does your affiliation to the Ireland football team come from? Your frequent posts on this site suggests that you're obviously a fan but why pick Ireland?
My question is out of pure curiousity. Not trying to sound snide at all.

[theworm2345]

I'm confused...then where does your affiliation to the Ireland football team come from? Your frequent posts on this site suggests that you're obviously a fan but why pick Ireland?
My question is out of pure curiousity. Not trying to sound snide at all.

I just fell in love with the team. I think I started playing with them in FIFA 01 or something on PS1. I played with a lot of teams in FIFA 01 though, but my first vivid memory is watching the Spain game and for some reason really caring about Ireland winning and after the penalty shoot out being very upset. I went to a pub to watch the first France qualifying match (the 0-0) and was hooked (despite the bore draw) and have been since. The last match I recall missing was the final qualifier under Stan against Wales. Its just one of those random things, its the same with my favorite footballer who is a Malian guy you've never heard of.

I understand your confusion on why I support the team, just yesterday I had some Trinibagonian and Jamaican guys confused on why I like Caribbean footy as well.

[Scooby Doo]

I just fell in love with the team. I think I started playing with them in FIFA 01 or something on PS1. I played with a lot of teams in FIFA 01 though, but my first vivid memory is watching the Spain game and for some reason really caring about Ireland winning and after the penalty shoot out being very upset. I went to a pub to watch the first France qualifying match (the 0-0) and was hooked (despite the bore draw) and have been since. The last match I recall missing was the final qualifier under Stan against Wales. Its just one of those random things, its the same with my favorite footballer who is a Malian guy you've never heard of.

I understand your confusion on why I support the team, just yesterday I had some Trinibagonian and Jamaican guys confused on why I like Caribbean footy as well.

I admire your enthusiasm and knowledge of Irish football Worm, I have to say. So USA v Ireland in the WC. Which side you coming down on? Silly question maybe!

[mark12345]

This is not just for the Irish diaspora here, same goes for Polish, German, etc., etc., etc.

I say bring it on. There are 40 million of Irish descent, and plenty of kids who would qualify.

[Scooby Doo]

I say bring it on. There are 40 million of Irish descent, and plenty of kids who would qualify.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-2409871.html

Trap speaks of a 'list' of potential Irish-American recruits. Any idea who might be on such a list?

[CraftyToePoke]

Here's the squad as it stood a week before the games in the US.

Thank you.

I may be misinformed here, but do U.S. players sometimes struggle for clearence to play in Europe? Work permit / VISA related stuff maybe, (I could be way off here, apologies if so.)

In these circumstances, an Irish passport, a cap or 2 for an EU nation would make their career paths a lot easier, that might motivate certain players. Wrong reasons clearly, but no more so than rumours of Nobles agent asking for a guarantee of a first team place in order to switch to Ireland.

[theworm2345]

I admire your enthusiasm and knowledge of Irish football Worm, I have to say. So USA v Ireland in the WC. Which side you coming down on? Silly question maybe!

I can't tell if you're serious or not, maybe you have not read any of the rest of the thread, but any side in the world against USA I support any side in the world. Any side in the world against Ireland, I support Ireland. I have no club team so the only football team I truly support is Ireland. I like Caribbean footy as well and support those teams in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the World Cup, but when they play each other I just hope for a good match (I do have a soft spot for Montserrat though, so I guess I support them). To say I support these teams wouldn't really be fair to those who support them no matter what.

There are other teams I tend to like on and off like Wolves, West Ham, Stoke, Aldershot, used to be Sunderland and Barnet, but that tends to be down to how many Irish and Caribbean players they have, and as soon as they leave I kind of stop caring, so, again, to say I support those teams would be a slap in the face to those who actually do.

[Dodge]

The caps aren't neccessary. If they have an Irish passport, they're entitled to play (or work to be correct) anywhere in the EU. Thats all they'd need.

[SkStu]

sorry Worm, i find your posts really strange. You hate your local team (Fire) and your country's national team because the players are "douchebags"? Have you not met some of our own boys in green? Anyway, i just find your thinking a bit strange.

[theworm2345]

sorry Worm, i find your posts really strange. You hate your local team (Fire) and your country's national team because the players are "douchebags"? Have you not met some of our own boys in green? Anyway, i just find your thinking a bit strange.

I can't stand the players or the fans, why would I support the team?

[SkStu]

but why cant you stand them? All of them?

Support your country, no?