The squads

**bawn79** · 09/11/2006, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Graham Stack is another who can feel aggrieved but hopefully he'll play well for Leeds and get noticed. John Fitzgerald another maybe, though I couldn't help feel when he left the pitch against the swiss U21s that maybe that was the last time he'd wear the green shirt.

Dont know anything about the guy but curious why you thought this?

**Stuttgart88** · 09/11/2006, 10:00 AM

I suppose if Given's not there, Stan would like at least one experienced keeper travelling, even if he doesn't play.

We have promising young forwards & young keepers in abundance - it's in between I'm worried about!

**tetsujin1979** · 09/11/2006, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Anyone know if Damien Delaney of Hull is back fit again?

played at the weekend, so I presume so: http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=500402

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Where has Marcos Painter been?

I don't know, but he wasn't involved in the League Cup against Liverpool last night.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/11/2006, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by bawn79

Dont know anything about the guy but curious why you thought this?

John Fitzgerald was a regular U21 centre-back for ages. He was McCarthy's partner, and then McShane's. He was let go by Blackburn & is now at Bury. He scored against Sunderland in the Carling Cup. After graduating from the U21s I suppose I just felt that he wouldn't cut it as a senior international, though he seems solid enough. That's why I thought he probably wouldn't play for an Ireland team again. The Swiss U21 match was the last game he was eligible for.

I reckon Fitzgerald might be the type of player Dr. Peepee was talking about. Too old for the U21s but should be given chance to impress at B level.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/11/2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I don't know, but he wasn't involved in the League Cup against Liverpool last night.

He hasn't been involved for ages. Only one appearance this season as far as I can recall, and virtually never even on the bench. Odd.

**tetsujin1979** · 09/11/2006, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

He hasn't been involved for ages. Only one appearance this season as far as I can recall, and virtually never even on the bench. Odd.

2 appearances according to soccerbase: http://www.soccerbase.com/players_de...playerid=41646
He's played a few times for the reserves: http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/pag...,10412,00.html

Although their reserve results page is out of date. Stephen Kelly appears to have taken his place in the starting XI.

**bawn79** · 09/11/2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

John Fitzgerald was a regular U21 centre-back for ages. He was McCarthy's partner, and then McShane's. He was let go by Blackburn & is now at Bury. He scored against Sunderland in the Carling Cup. After graduating from the U21s I suppose I just felt that he wouldn't cut it as a senior international, though he seems solid enough. That's why I thought he probably wouldn't play for an Ireland team again. The Swiss U21 match was the last game he was eligible for.

I reckon Fitzgerald might be the type of player Dr. Peepee was talking about. Too old for the U21s but should be given chance to impress at B level.

Thanks for that, I see what you mean now. Your right this should be exactly what the B team is for. There are always a few players that don't look great at club level but can really do it at international level.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/11/2006, 1:43 PM

Billy Clarke expected to pull out with a knee injury.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/11/2006, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

yeah, i live in this area too and Frecklington was actually on loan at Stamford Town, who are my local Dr. Martens Prem side last season, he excelled here (he would need to to aspire to league football never mind international football,but thats another arguement). ive seen him play several times for Stamford and twice for Linclon City also.

he went back off his loan and kicked on in the Lincoln side and began hitting goals from midfield, he started very well this season also and the word is that Reading are the most recent side tracking him. dont know if he will make the move up the leagues or not, but he is certainly attracting the interest at present.

this inclusion almost certainly stems from Stauntons employing John Deehan as lower league scout, they know each other from their time at villa and Deehan is currently the director of football at Lincoln City.

In response to this, and Livehead's positive comments on Frecklington I saw a Guardian Blog piece today on Lincoln City:

At the moment, 21-year-old Lee Frecklington is the player to watch, a dynamic midfielder in the Steven Gerrard mould; he's scored seven times this season and has just earned a call-up to the Ireland B squad.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/20...o4_lincol.html

**youngirish** · 13/11/2006, 12:06 PM

Looks liked Kenny was dropped due to his dire Irish performances rather than the personal reasons excuse that Staunton gave which sounded like a load of balls anyway. That's according to Neil Warnock.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...+at+Kenny+snub

**eirebhoy** · 13/11/2006, 12:18 PM

And he was supposed to be excellent on Saturday.

**Stuttgart88** · 13/11/2006, 12:31 PM

World Class acc to BBC

**eirebhoy** · 13/11/2006, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

World Class acc to BBC

Warnock and Allerdyce both used the phrase "world class" too.

Warnock: "There were two world class saves from Paddy Kenny, especially the second."

Allerdyce: "We also missed more chances then we scored and Paddy Kenny made two world class saves, but having gone 2-0 up we should not have relinquished the lead."

He's having an excellent season tbh.

**Stuttgart88** · 13/11/2006, 1:00 PM

Didn't the match commentator say "world class" for his last minute save? Maybe it was "Goals on Sunday" on SKY, but one of BBC or SKY said it!

**Jerry The Saint** · 13/11/2006, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Looks liked Kenny was dropped due to his dire Irish performances rather than the personal reasons excuse that Staunton gave which sounded like a load of balls anyway. That's according to Neil Warnock.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...+at+Kenny+snub

That's outrageous! I suspect that Kenny's injury between the Cyprus and Czech games may also have been a convenient excuse for Staunton to drop our only available goalkeeper playing in the EPL.

But drawing attention to his marital difficulties and implying that he wasn't able to travel, when his manager is saying that he was always available and eager to play, is a really low blow. Stan himself has recently gone through a marriage break-up, should we expect him to be incapable of doing his job as well... oh hang on a minute.

**Paddy Garcia** · 13/11/2006, 2:02 PM

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Neil Warnock has slammed Steve Staunton's decision not to select Paddy Kenny for the Irish squad.

Staunton cited 'personal difficulties' as his reason for leaving Kenny out of the squad to face San Marino in a Euro 2008 qualifier at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday.

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stor...=12&si=1723633

After Kenny's display in Saturday's 2-2 Premiership draw with Bolton, Warnock said: "We have seen two world-class saves by somebody who cannot get into the Ireland squad."

In referring to Staunton's explanation, Warnock added: "I don't think the decision was viable. When they told him I think they said things to him about his personal problems that he didn't believe. He would rather be playing. He wants to go, of course he does.

"If anything happens to Shay Given then there is nobody better than Paddy Kenny."

Entirely agree Jerry. It is some feat that Stan has been able to uncur the wrath of both Warnock and Moyes in such a short space of time since his appointment, both for unbelievably poor decision. Must be some kind of record - I can barely remember it happening in the past to this extent with any other manager. Losing credibility with every game.

If this continues, players in their right mind will question the value, or the risk, of playing for Staunton.

One thing is for sure, we will need Kenny before he needs us.

**livehead1** · 13/11/2006, 3:24 PM

If Kenny had declared for England he would be in their squad at the moment, yet he's behind Henderson and Colgan in ours. It simply does not make sense and is the latest in a set of confusing and bewildering decisions by our inexperienced, highly paid manager.

**youngirish** · 13/11/2006, 5:09 PM

Originally Posted by livehead1

If Kenny had declared for England he would be in their squad at the moment, yet he's behind Henderson and Colgan in ours. It simply does not make sense and is the latest in a set of confusing and bewildering decisions by our inexperienced, highly paid manager.

He was absolute sh*t against both the Dutch and the Cypriots so I'm happy for one to see him dropped. Maybe it'll serve as a warning to the other perennial underachievers. Only his form for Ireland should be considered. If Staunton followed the same pattern with all his players we'd long have since seen the back of JOS and KK.

Henderson looked far better against the Czech's than Kenny had looked in the previous two games so he deserves to retain his place in the squad. As for Colgan I'd chuck him out and replace him with Supple or Logan.

**Soper** · 13/11/2006, 5:37 PM

Given would have had a difficult time against Cyprus and Holland with the sh1t that passed for an Ireland team in those matches.

**livehead1** · 13/11/2006, 5:40 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

He was absolute sh*t against both the Dutch and the Cypriots so I'm happy for one to see him dropped. Maybe it'll serve as a warning to the other perennial underachievers. Only his form for Ireland should be considered. If Staunton followed the same pattern with all his players we'd long have since seen the back of JOS and KK.

Henderson looked far better against the Czech's than Kenny had looked in the previous two games so he deserves to retain his place in the squad. As for Colgan I'd chuck him out and replace him with Supple or Logan.

jaysus!!! your post is riddled with contradiction. You cite that you are pleased to see him dropped as he has made errors in previous games. Then you go on to say that its a warning for under achievers. However, you then undo all this good work my mentioning the names of 2 of our many underachievers. Consistant under achievers such as john o'shea.

So what do you want?? Kenny back in, or would as you said this 'warning' to become policy and we get rid of the under achievers. So out goes, O'Brien, Harte, Carr, Ireland, Kilbane, Morrison, O'Shea, Duff, Keane and the countless others who have failed to play to the best of their capabilities over the last 18 months for ireland.

Make your mind up