Joseph Lapira

**Pablo** · 22/05/2007, 10:38 AM

If he gets in the squad proper its conclusive proof that Staunton is an incompetent idiot

**Paddy Garcia** · 22/05/2007, 6:43 PM

Why, if he is a genuine hot prospect. Playing him in a meaningless friendly is nothing compared to calling a youth team player into a world cup finals squad i.e. Walcott.

If he has the same potential it makes sense. In fact just inviting him to "train" makes little sense.

**R�iteoir** · 22/05/2007, 9:10 PM

Stan is truly unbelievable, we are going to give a cap to a player that can't get into the US underage set-up, isn't professional, and hasn't played football in 2 months?

**eirebhoy** · 22/05/2007, 9:27 PM

Ronnie O'Brien (Toronto), Bryan Byrne (New England), Michael Parkhurst (New England) and Joe Lapira (Notre Dame) were all invited to train with the squad.

**kev mcq** · 22/05/2007, 10:53 PM

He hasn't got an irish passport so he can't play on this tour. Waste of time calling him in to train. Why doesn't stan call up a few eircom division 1 players as well while he's at it.

**The Legend** · 22/05/2007, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by kev mcq

He hasn't got an irish passport so he can't play on this tour. Waste of time calling him in to train. Why doesn't stan call up a few eircom division 1 players as well while he's at it.

He should call me up, I am fat and can't run, but I can "do a job"!

**Kivlehan** · 23/05/2007, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by kev mcq

He hasn't got an irish passport so he can't play on this tour. Waste of time calling him in to train. Why doesn't stan call up a few eircom division 1 players as well while he's at it.

He hasn't been called up, just invited to training. No harm done. No one's spot stolen.

**Paddy Garcia** · 23/05/2007, 6:04 AM

Originally Posted by Kivlehan

He hasn't been called up, just invited to training. No harm done. No one's spot stolen.

I sooner involve a bright prospect than an established player from the lower English leagues. Also it seems many of our home born players could not give a toss about their spot.

**Paddy Garcia** · 23/05/2007, 6:05 AM

Originally Posted by kev mcq

He hasn't got an irish passport so he can't play on this tour. Waste of time calling him in to train. Why doesn't stan call up a few eircom division 1 players as well while he's at it.

Not according to Stan.

"And several more of the 11 uncapped players in the Ireland squad will also start or enter the match as substitutes.

That could include 20 year old striker Joe Lapira who plays for Notre Dame college and who qualifies for Ireland through his Dublin-born mother Catherine Lynam whose brother Michael is the FAI national children�s officer.

Joe is eligible to play and he is part of the squad. He has come along and done very well in training, considering he has not had any football for two months. "

**youngirish** · 23/05/2007, 9:34 AM

Lapira will be capped tonight I believe. I had a vision last night. He sounds like a decent prospect so by all means give him a cap if (and only if) he has his heart set on playing for us. He's certainly a better prospect than 50% of the players in the poorest squad we've ever had at International level.

If only he was a left back or central midfield player. As mentioned earlier do we really need another forward?

Bad news confirmed about Duff also. Who will replace him for the qualifiers? I reckon A Reid is our best option if he's fit.

**Dodge** · 23/05/2007, 9:50 AM

Well Lapira has an Irish parent. Apparently according to Bobby Clark ex-Aberdeen goalie and his coach at Notre Dame, interviewed on Newstalk106 last night, a lot of US born soccer players at College level who have reasonable ability want to ply their trade in Europe. As US citizens they need to have played in 80% of their country's senior internationals in the previous year before they can get a work permit to play in Europe

That�s the situation in England but its definitely not the case everywhere (Ireland or Belgium for example). The other way they can get a Work Permit to play in England is if they've played 2 years in an EU country (I think its 2 it could be 3)

I love the way people are saying he's a great prospect with absolutely nobody having seen the lad. BTW Brian Byrne wasn't a stand out player when he was with Kildare. If he gets to play, that will be an even bigger disgrace

**Cav** · 23/05/2007, 10:24 AM

saw Brian Byrne playing club football at UCSB once, their team is made up entirely of Paddy's, Africans and Mexicans. Byrne's kinda small, right winger, Eircom league standard i reckon.

**Cav** · 23/05/2007, 10:25 AM

also Lapira hasnt got his passport in time, so he wont play.

**Dodge** · 23/05/2007, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Cav

saw Brian Byrne playing club football at UCSB once, their team is made up entirely of Paddy's, Africans and Mexicans. Byrne's kinda small, right winger, Eircom league standard i reckon.

He wasn't premier division standard when he was here...

**Metrostars** · 23/05/2007, 12:33 PM

He cant be all that bad if he won ther Hermann trophy for best college player last year. The likes of Brad Friedel and Claudio Reyna have won that in the past.

**Four Eyes** · 23/05/2007, 1:02 PM

Just checked out the website there for the past winners of the Mac Hermann trophy. Fair play to him getting the award but apart from Friedal, Reyna and Lalas, has anyone heard of anyone else? Researched a few of them to see how their careers are going or went and the majority are playing in the MLS and a few of them went abroad. One fella notably to a second division Swedish team.

**Pablo** · 23/05/2007, 1:33 PM

This is a downright farce. A college kid who hasnt kicked a football for 2 months may get his debut for Ireland.

i've heard it all now. We're a laughing stock.