Training camp / Chile squad announced

[cavan_fan]

Look he's just being brought along to a training session, I'm surprised more players arent to bed in some new guys. Going on a hunch at this stage is no bad thing.

Now if they were to be bringing him to the world cup without any premiership experience alongside 2 injured players and a giraffe I'd be worried, but what sensible country would do that!

Any chance it's the other Gary Breen that he picked?

[CraftyToePoke]

the inclusion of Dixon must be purely to strengthen his ties to us just in case he fulfills the potential he is currently showing, still a very strange and unexpected move by Staunton, i know in the past england have capped guys who also qualified for us to tie them, but i dont recall any being queue-jumped into a senior squad like this, theres almost an air of desperation to it. lets hope Dixon turns out to be worth it.

As for Paddy McCarthys exclusion in favour of Breen, it must be in relation to his continuing discilpinary issues as that aside he has done really well in his first full season in a first team, even still, he or McShane or even the Doc must be more in keeping with the current transitional approach.

[Docboy]

its unbelievable. a joke. i cant believe he aint getting hardly any stick for this. since when has a player, aged 16/17, never made a debut at their club, never even made a reserve team appearance, been chosen for a SENIOR international training camp/friendly game, of a nation with the footballing history and ability of ireland. truly shocking stuff.

See Theo Walcott has made the England squad along pretty much the same lines.

[NeilMcD]

I dont know why Dixon has been called up other than the fact that Staunton thinks he is good enough. Everything else is just speculation and I dont like to make judgements based on speculation.

[beautifulrock]

healty debate on the inclusion of Dixon but from what I hear from the Spurs fans in the office (4 season ticket holders) he has been higly regarded as a "wunderkid" for the last couple of years. As it happens most of these guys also thought him to be english. So if he is keen then I think it should be well done Stan. Lets see what happens. Pity about Long but other than that I have no complaints.

[eirebhoy]

Yes, but he has played 1st team football for Southampton. Dixon hasn't even played reserve team football, as far as I am aware. Also, Walcott is being selected on footballing merits alone. I very much doubt Dixon is.

Walcott has started 13 first team matches in his career. There's a difference between making the England squad for the World cup and a 29 man Ireland squad for training camp. Walcott has not proved anything yet and it was Leon Best before him that was a star in Southampton's reserves.

The reason Dixon isn't a regular in the Spurs reserves is because of his age. If a 16 year old pushes a 20/21 year old out of the reserves than you might aswell write the 20 year old off. Barnard is 5 years older than Dixon so this season was always make or break for him. Dixon has played a few reserve games and should be a regular next season.

Spurs definitely rate him very highly. Every time he's away with Ireland Spurs only allow him to play a certain amount of minutes. This means that he usually starts on the bench and more often than not scores when he comes on. He must have the best goals/games ratio at Ireland U17 level in a long time and he has probably started about 3 games. Apparantly Man Utd, Liverpool, Spurs, PSG and Lyon were after him and he chose Spurs.

I think it's an excellent idea by Staunton to reward players at underage level with a callup. Celtic have a rule that every match they have to have a reserve/U19 on the bench and it is a good incentive for the players to do better.

[gustavo]

. Celtic have a rule that every match they have to have a reserve/U19 on the bench and it is a good incentive for the players to do better.

Isnt that an SPL Rule rather than a Celtic rule whereby you need 2 U-21 players in the match day squad?

[pineapple stu]

I think it's an excellent idea by Staunton to reward players at underage level with a callup.

I agree actually. Stan explained it well - good to see he's taking an active interest in the underage set-up. Though it looks like it's for this occasion only - maybe extending to friendlies - and not competitive games. Which is correct, obviously.

SPL sides are required to have a certain number of U-21 players in the squad alright.

[eirebhoy]

Isnt that an SPL Rule rather than a Celtic rule whereby you need 2 U-21 players in the match day squad?

I stand corrected.

[SeanieBoy]

This is only a training camp, this type of camp as often been used by international teams to allow younger players to get used to training with the senior members of the squad. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Yes, but he has played 1st team football for Southampton. Dixon hasn't even played reserve team football, as far as I am aware. Also, Walcott is being selected on footballing merits alone. I very much doubt Dixon is.

[geysir]

As for Paddy McCarthys exclusion in favour of Breen, it must be in relation to his continuing discilpinary issues as that aside he has done really well in his first full season in a first team, even still, he or McShane or even the Doc must be more in keeping with the current transitional approach.

i would more see it that Breen is there for maturity, to complete the blend of the training camp squad.
Anything to read into that O'Shea is listed as a defender?

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

From http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news...ngetscall.html


Academy boy Terry Dixon has been called up into the Republic of Ireland squad for a training camp and friendly international against Chile.


The 16-year-old, yet to start full-time in our Academy, is one of 29 players named by manager Steve Staunton - Stephen Kelly, Andy Reid and Robbie Keane are also included.

Dixon has made ten starts and one substitute appearance for our Under-18 side this season.

__________________________________________________ _____

He's not full-time yet. The plot thickens...

[$Leon$]

He's not full-time yet. The plot thickens...

What age is he exactly? He probably still legally has to go to school or isn't old enough to legally work.
I'm sure one of the major reasons he's travelling to this training camp (not World Cup as some people seem to be forgetting) is to deter his from switching allegiances to England. This squad announcement today doesn't mean he will be playing. Saw him play for the U17's a couple of months ago and was impressed.

[eirebhoy]

I'm sure one of the major reasons he's travelling to this training camp (not World Cup as some people seem to be forgetting) is to deter his from switching allegiances to England

Looking at Staunton's quotes it seems he asked McCaffrey to pick one player and he picked Dixon.

[cavan_fan]

According to the FAI he was born on 15 January 1990, which makes him 16, see http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...sk=view&id=482 . That doesn't prevent the FAI homepage from describing him as '17 years old Terry Dixon'...

Which would obviously make him the first 1990's guy on the squad. I'd be really impressed if somoeone could tell me who the first 1980's born player to appear for Ireland was.

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

I'd be really impressed if somoeone could tell me who the first 1980's born player to appear for Ireland was.

Robbie Keane against the Czech Republic in Olomouc in March 1998.

[Forever Dreamin]

Robbie Keane against the Czech Republic in Olomouc in March 1998.

And if I remember right Robbie was 17 and won a man of the match award in his 2nd game as a 17 yr old, lets see what happens over the next 12 months before jumping to conclusions!

[cavan_fan]

Robbie Keane against the Czech Republic in Olomouc in March 1998.

you see, I am impressed! What if i asked for the first 1970's born player!

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

you see, I am impressed! What if i asked for the first 1970's born player!

That's a bit tougher. My guess would be Roy Keane who was born in August 1971 but I might be wrong. Keane made his debut against Chile at Lansdowne Road. I wonder will Terry Dixon follow in his footsteps.

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

And if I remember right Robbie was 17 and won a man of the match award in his 2nd game as a 17 yr old, lets see what happens over the next 12 months before jumping to conclusions!

That was against Argentina when he was marking the no-nonsense Nestor Sensini. The official man of the match award was given to Ariel Ortega that night but most people in the ground agreed that Robbie was the best player on the park that night.