Ireland squad vs Holland

**eirebhoy** · 08/08/2006, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by DeNiro

Breen's retirement seems strange because only a few months ago Staunton was saying how important he was going to be. I wonder if this morning's squad precipitated that decision. I think we're beginning to see Staunton for his true worth - a rookie in making key decisions.

Come on now.

I doubt Breen seen the squad and as soon as it was announced he phoned Sky Sports News with his decision to retire.

Breen obviously decided this beforehand and he would no doubt have been in the squad otherwise.

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

Graham Coughlan (eventhough he's 31) was Sheff Wed's player of the season last season. He only got 1 yellow card and no red cards in neary 40 games last season. Which shows he's not prone to making dangerous fouls like McCarthy. He should have been checked out in the last few games considering our shortages. He's not one for the long term future but he could have filled a gap for a year or two until the younger lads come through.

Couldn't agree more and I keep forgetting about him. He's unproven at the highest level but he is exactly the type of player we're looking for, someone that can lead the line at the back. He spent 2 seasons at Livingston and got Player of the year in both seasons. He got promoted twice with Plymouth and again won 2 player of the year awards with them. One season with Sheffield Wednesday and he gets player of the year with them too. He also scores his fair share of goals. He can certainly be regarded as a succesful ex-LOI player. Wasn't he Brays record transfer?

He's certainly worth a spot in this squad but unfortunately I can't see him ever getting a cap unless the media get his name mentioned a bit more. Most fans probably wouldn't have even heard of him.

**DotTV** · 08/08/2006, 1:46 PM

We look a bit light at centre back.If O'brien or Dunne get injured we'll be in trouble.
On the upside Mceady had started the season well for Celtic, Ireland is included and on of those two may partner Steven Reid in the middle.
There is a few to choose from up front but I'd guess Lee was put in there because of his height.

**NeilMcD** · 08/08/2006, 1:54 PM

Mc Geady wont be in the centre. I reckon it will be O shea and Reid, but possibly Kavanagh and Reid.

**sligoman** · 08/08/2006, 2:00 PM

No token gestures this month anyway.

**drinkfeckarse** · 08/08/2006, 2:06 PM

Originally Posted by gally

If i remember correctly, didn't Kevin Kilbane move from left back to centre half in our last game, and i also think Stan mentioned how well he played there....

i have a feeling this is where Stan might play zinedine, you heard it here first...

We're fcuked if this is Stan's masterplan...anyone know when there is a press conference on to explain the squad decisions? Seems to me he's got a lot of answers to come up with.

**Soper** · 08/08/2006, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by sligoman

No token gestures this month anyway.

Terry Dixon?Alan O'Brien?Alan Lee?

**BrayUnknowns** · 08/08/2006, 2:11 PM

So Roddy was right, No Jason Byrne in the squad......

Which makes you wonder why he was inthe squad to play Chilie whenhe was bang out of from yet now he's playing superb and banging them in very regularly but isn't ni the squad. IMO he deserves to be in there ahead of Lee and probably Elliott as he's just back from injury.

Alan O'Brien and Terry Dixon are just silly decisions.

**sligoman** · 08/08/2006, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by Soper

Terry Dixon?Alan O'Brien?Alan Lee?

Eircom league ones.

Originally Posted by BrayUnknowns

Which makes you wonder why he was inthe squad to play Chilie whenhe was bang out of from yet now he's playing superb and banging them in very regularly but isn't ni the squad.

That's exactly why it was a token gesture in the first place. Stan doesn't have a clue about the EL obviously!

**geysir** · 08/08/2006, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by totalfootball

How anyone can justify including Dixon?

Maybee SGE could.

I read it as a 23 man squad plus Dixon is invited along, I see no problem with that.

**Don Vito** · 08/08/2006, 2:17 PM

Love to see us start with this line up:

Given GK
Finnan DR
Dunne DC
O'Brien DC
Kilbane DL
McGeady MR
Ireland MC
Reid MC
Duff ML
Keane FC
Doyle FC

Quite inexperienced and all that but that's the team I'd pick.

Jesus just looking at the date's of birth of some of the players on fai.ie, starting to feel old! Dixon's is 15/01/90

- that looks weird!!!

**sligoman** · 08/08/2006, 2:23 PM

Originally Posted by Don Vito

Jesus just looking at the date's of birth of some of the players on fai.ie, starting to feel old! Dixon's is 15/01/90

- that looks weird!!!

I'm only 18 and that's making me feel old. Ridiculous decision to have put him in the squad.

**jjppc** · 08/08/2006, 2:24 PM

[QUOTE]McGeady MR Ireland MC Reid MC Duff ML[QUOTE]

Midfield a bit lightweight, ok for a friendly, but looking towards Germany ??

BaZmO* · 08/08/2006, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...s+Dutch+option

How does his Great Grandfather being Dutch make him qualify for Holland?

Anyway, this has been done to death. Dodge was merely takin the p1ss with his comment.

**Metrostars** · 08/08/2006, 2:26 PM

Has Dixon played at underage level for Ireland? He should start out there instead of training with the big boys. Makes no sense imo.

**eirebhoy** · 08/08/2006, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

We're fcuked if this is Stan's masterplan...anyone know when there is a press conference on to explain the squad decisions? Seems to me he's got a lot of answers to come up with.

Interview here:
http://www.fai.ie/audio/fai_august_2006_2.mp3

**youngirish** · 08/08/2006, 2:40 PM

Staunton worries me more and more with every passing day. He must have picked the squad in a blind panic when Bobby Robson was admitted to hospital. Surely Joey O'Brien should be in there instead of his namesake Alan. He was our most impressive young player last season by a distance.

Also I dont think Kelly is good enough (he's a kid no longer). I'd also have Long instead of both Dixon and Lee. Lawrence should be given a chance as he had a decent season in a s*ite premiership team last year. Supple should be in instead of Henderson. I could go on and on but there's so much wrong with that squad I'd just end up boring everyone more so.

PS Please Bobby get well soon and hit that ginger tosser a slap when you next see him for picking the squad without you.

PPS Come back Brian all is forgiven (almost).

**eirebhoy** · 08/08/2006, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by Metrostars

Has Dixon played at underage level for Ireland? He should start out there instead of training with the big boys. Makes no sense imo.

He has played at U-17 and earlier age levels. I believe he started his U17 career in the Nordic cup over a year ago. It was a 4 game tournament and Spurs restricted him to 90 minutes football. He still managed to score 3 goals and apparantly had a great game against England but failed to score.

In the U17 qualifiers he was again restricted to a certain amount of minutes but still scored against Italy and Latvia as Ireland topped the group. It was a bit strange that the even though he came off the bench in all 3 games, his latest substitution was against Latvia in the 49th minute (others 32nd and 41st - maybe Spurs said he should only come off the bench).

In the Elite phase he took part in 2 games. He came off the bench to score the only goal against Israel and started the 3-0 defeat to Serbia. I think that's his only ever start for the U17s but I'm sure he'd have started every game if Spurs weren't so protective (he missed a large chunk of his earlier career through injury).

He's had a good pre-season scoring 3 goals in 2 games for a Spurs XI and scoring for the reserves in a friendly. Staunton must have seen something in him in Portugal as he had to slim that squad down quite a bit.

**Dr. Ogba** · 08/08/2006, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

He has played at U-17 and earlier age levels. I believe he started his U17 career in the Nordic cup over a year ago. It was a 4 game tournament and Spurs restricted him to 90 minutes football. He still managed to score 3 goals and apparantly had a great game against England but failed to score.

In the U17 qualifiers he was again restricted to a certain amount of minutes but still scored against Italy and Latvia as Ireland topped the group. It was a bit strange that the even though he came off the bench in all 3 games, his latest substitution was against Latvia in the 49th minute (others 32nd and 41st - maybe Spurs said he should only come off the bench).

In the Elite phase he took part in 2 games. He came off the bench to score the only goal against Israel and started the 3-0 defeat to Serbia. I think that's his only ever start for the U17s but I'm sure he'd have started every game if Spurs weren't so protective (he missed a large chunk of his earlier career through injury).

He's had a good pre-season scoring 3 goals in 2 games for a Spurs XI and scoring for the reserves in a friendly.

It all smacks of just trying to tie him down to us at this stage. From what I've read/heard he defo seems to be one for the future but lets face it, if he was born in Ireland he wouldn't be anywhere near the squad (is he that much better than Stokes who is the same age??). I would be quite surprised/confused if he didn't get a couple of minutes towards the end of the match as it would mean that his call-up was pointless for all intents and purposes...

**eirebhoy** · 08/08/2006, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

It all smacks of just trying to tie him down to us at this stage. From what I've read/heard he defo seems to be one for the future but lets face it, if he was born in Ireland he wouldn't be anywhere near the squad (is he that much better than Stokes who is the same age??). I would be quite surprised/confused if he didn't get a couple of minutes towards the end of the match as it would mean that his call-up was pointless for all intents and purposes...

I still don't buy this at all considering it was McCaffrey who decided which U17 player deserved the callup. There's not a chance Dixon will play for England now, Stan knows that.

**Dr. Ogba** · 08/08/2006, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I still don't buy this at all considering it was McCaffrey who decided which U17 player deserved the callup. There's not a chance Dixon will play for England now, Stan knows that.

But can you justify him being called up to the squad on merit as opposed to, say, Shane Long or (dare I say it!) Jason Byrne?

Is there any chance he'll be playing any type of senior football this year? A loan move perhaps?