Ireland squad announced!

[Billsthoughts]

Doherty back in squad for germany game.....wonder what tactic they will use....

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...sk=view&id=983

[NeilMcD]

epublic of Ireland International Manager Stephen Staunton has welcomed back squad members Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland from injury to join his squad for the first of the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Germany on September 2nd next.

All five players missed out on the recent friendly against Holland through injury but are all included in the 23 man squad, which also sees Gary Doherty returning to the International squad. Levante's Ian Harte is out of contention through injury.

At the announcement Staunton said he was happy to have the injured players back. "I'm delighted to have the boys available to me after their recent injuries, they are regular members of the squad and it's vital that we have everyone we can available to us for this tough test", Staunton said.

The squad will depart for Stuttgart on Thursday 31st August and the match will take place in the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart on Saturday 2nd Sept, kick off 2045 local time.

Republic of Ireland Squad to play Germany - September 2nd 2006
Name Date of Birth Caps Goals

Shay Given (Newcastle United)
20/04/1976
76
0
Wayne Henderson (Brighton)
16/09/1983
2
0
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United)
17/05/1978
6
0
Andy O'Brien (Portsmouth)
29/06/1970
24
1
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
21/09/1979
29
4
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United)
29/08/1976
42
0
Steve Finnan (Liverpool)
20/04/1976
39
1
Stephen Kelly (Birmingham)
06/09/1983
2
0
Gary Doherty (Norwich)
31/01/1980
34
4
Kevin Kilbane (Everton)
01/02/1977
71
5
John O'Shea (Manchester United)
30/04/1981
31
1
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
10/03/1981
19
2
Graham Kavanagh (Wigan)
02/12/1973
16
1
Liam Miller (Manchester United)
13/02/1981
13
1
Jonathan Douglas (Blackburn Rovers)
22/11/1981
2
0
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
22/08/1986
1
0
Damien Duff (Newcastle United)
02/03/1979
59
7
Aiden McGeady (Celtic)
04/04/1986
5
0
Stephen Elliott (Sunderland)
06/01/1984
8
1
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
08/07/1980
66
26
Kevin Doyle (Reading)
18/09/1983
3
0
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace)
14/05/1979
35
9
Alan O'Brien (Newcastle United)
20/02/1985
1
0

[NeilMcD]

I would have had carsley in the squad by the way.

[joema]

I wouldnt have O'Brien in there

EDIT: Alan

[pineapple stu]

I would have had carsley in the squad by the way.

Someone corrected me a while back on this - apparently he retired again after coming out of retirement from retiring the first time...

[joema]

Gutted that Andy Reid isnt in the squad. Id have him in our strongest team - in CM - lots of creativity - badly needed for us as we are predictable as it is.
Massive mistake by Staunton IMO

[pineapple stu]

Good spot. Must be injured? He's pretty much a squad regular at this stage.

[eirebhoy]

Good spot. Must be injured? He's pretty much a squad regular at this stage.

He came on for the last half hour on Saturday.

Interesting to see that only 4 players have reached the 50 caps mark. Keane the only play to make it into double figures in the scoring charts.

[NeilMcD]

Only Carr and Joey O Brien and Finnan are in the list of injured players on Physio room it says Carr is very doubtful for their next game. I would be worried if Finnan misses out though. Strange that Reid is not in the squad. Does Staunton not rate him I wonder.

[DeNiro]

Why does Staunton perceive Doherty to be a better option than McCarthy? Could he not include him as an extra man a la Dixon to gain experience? It makes you wonder what Dixon original inclusion was about? What about Alan Quinn, is he injured?

[Dublin12]

This must be one of the weakest squads we've had in a long long time and with the managment to go along with it we won't even be in with a shout in this campaign.Hope I'm wrong but have a funny feeling this is where it all goes badly wrong.

[Dr. Ogba]

Why does Staunton perceive Doherty to be a better option than McCarthy? Could he not include him as an extra man a la Dixon to gain experience? It makes you wonder what Dixon original inclusion was about? What about Alan Quinn, is he injured?

Am delighted Dohertys in the squad to be honest....Think he's a far better more experienced backup for Dunne and O'Brien and supposedly playing very well for Norwich (can't comment on this meself cause haven't seen him play in a while)...Think it would be a bit of a risk to throw McCarthy into the deep end like this, he should really have featured in the previous friendlies.

As for Reid I think this match may be a bit too soon for him maybe?? He has been looking a bit more portly than usual lately

[bwagner]

what a joke bout andy reid , alan o brien has yet to play for newcatle really ,carsley should be there and gavin mahon for a bit of chuck norris style If i see doherty come on up front with 10 mins left im killing myself

[NeilMcD]

I am going to reserve comment on issues like Carsley and Reid etc until I knwo the full facts.

Is Carsley retired

Is Reid not fully fit.

[drinkfeckarse]

WTF is Stan doing not including Andy Reid?? He is most definately fit and we are not that full of talent that we can afford to leave players of his calibre out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's a worldbeater but he can do some serious damage with that left foot of his and is potentially one of our most important players IMO.

[eirebhoy]

Am delighted Dohertys in the squad to be honest....Think he's a far better more experienced backup for Dunne and O'Brien and supposedly playing very well for Norwich (can't comment on this meself cause haven't seen him play in a while)

He was Norwich's player of the year last season. The fans think he deserves his callup anyway.

[DotTV]

Reid came on for the last 20 minutes on Saturday.
There is bound to be a few injuries in the next couple of weeks so I wouldn't be surprised to see him joining the squad at a later date.
We're very weak at centre back and it was a choice between McCarthy and Doc so I suppose Staunton went for Docs experience

[RogerMilla]

I'll put the ranch on the doc coming on as a striker if we are 1 down with 10 to go....

[Over the post]

I agree that Doherty is safer choice than McCarthy for this game. I haven't seen either play in a while but McCarthy would be better off debuting in a friendly or a less important qualifier.

The omission of Reid is surprising if he is fit. I realise we're not exactly spoilt for choice in midfield, but if you consider that Miller and Douglas are in the squad and neither are regulars for their clubs, surely Reid is better option. It might also be a good idea for Stan to use his charms trying to get Carsley out of retirement instead of wasting his time with Carr. The former is a first team regular in a side that will probably finish in the top six/seven in the Premiership.

[John83]

Only Carr and Joey O Brien and Finnan are in the list of injured players on Physio room it says Carr is very doubtful for their next game. I would be worried if Finnan misses out though. Strange that Reid is not in the squad. Does Staunton not rate him I wonder.

Carr was supposed to have hurt his hamstring against Holland. I was surprised to see it, but he played for Newcastle on the weekend. Anyone know what the story is there? Has he aggrivated it? Done something else? Or are physioroom wrong?

As DotTV said, Reid played 20 minutes for Charlton, so I guess he's still building fitness. I'm surprised to see him not selected though. Strange decision.