I doubt if he'll be there on Sep 1st, but who knows...Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
"A silent mouth is sweet to hear"
Man City have released their squad numbers for the season: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pa...&newsid=461915
I don't see Daly, Breen, Moore or Marshall getting many games, but the fact that they've gotten squad numbers is encouraging from a progress point of view.7 Stephen IRELAND
22 Richard DUNNE
35 Michael DALY
40 Garry BREEN
42 Karl MOORE
46 Paul MARSHALL
Daly most likely to get a nod this term
http://pix.ie/widgets/generate/accou...000-F5F5FF.jpg
"It's time for the FAI to grow up." John O'Donoghue, Minister for Sport, RTE , Sunday 7 Nov 2004
Latest on James Simmonds: http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/conten...A53%3A05%3A540
Left-sided midfielder James Simmonds, who has been on trial at Loftus Road during pre-season, may also feature at Ashton Gate as Rangers consider his future.
The 19-year-old former England youth international who came through Chelsea's youth team and ended last season on loan at Cardiff City, is available on a free transfer.
Gregory added: "He's going to continue with us over the next couple of weeks and then we'll get the opportunity of possibly taking him on full-time."
villas team from bbc:no o halloran :O( :O( :O( but Bevan makes the cut
Aston Villa (from): Taylor, Bevan, Gardner, Cahill, Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma, Reo-Coker, Young, Petrov, Barry, Berger, Maloney, Osbourne, Carew, Agbonlahor, Moore, Harewood.
Bolton preview VS Newcastle: http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...088654,00.html
oey O'Brien is also set to miss out having returned to training in the summer after sitting all of last season with a knee injury. The Irish international is short of match fitness having not played in any of Wanderers pre-season matches.
BBCs Championship Preview
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot..._1/default.stm
Barnsley v Coventry
Leon Best, Kevin Thornton and Donovan Simmons all picked up injuries in pre-season and are rated as doubtful for the season opener.
Leicester v Blackpool
Blackpool could be without Wes Hoolahan as they wait for a Fifa ruling on whether he is available to play.
Bristol City v QPR
But fellow new arrivals Stephen Henderson, Michael McIndoe, Tamas Vasko, Lee Trundle and Marvin Elliott could all make their debuts.
Charlton v Scúnthorpe
Charlton duo Luke Varney (ankle) and Matt Holland (Cartilage) miss the opener at home to Scunthorpe.
Southampton v Crystal Palace
But with Claus Lundekvam injured, Pele joining West Brom and Darren Powell suspended, Chris Makin and Alan Bennett will play in the centre of defence.
Crystal Palace trio Paul Ifill (hamstring), Mark Kennedy (groin) and Carl Fletcher (hamstring) are doubtful.
From skysports.com:
Bolton full-back Joey O'Brien is closing on his comeback from injury after over a year out.
O'Brien missed all of the last campaign with a serious knee injury but is now nearly back to full fitness and ready to return to first-team action.
Sammy Lee is delighted to see the 21-year-old returning to the fold after a nightmare last 12 months on the sidelines.
"It is great to see Joey back after such a lengthy lay-off. It is like having a new signing," Lee said.
O'Brien is still lacking match practice and will not be involved in Bolton's Premier League opener against Newcastle on Saturday.
Gary Breen has been named Wolves' captain.
Roy O'Donovan gets squad number 23 at sunderland: http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=12871
I'll let the numerologists handle that one...
McShane, Stokes and Murphy start for sunderland. Interestingly Stokes looks like he will be played up top where he belongs!
Miller and Connolly on the bench.
Robbie Keane starts for Spurs.
Certainly doesn't look like he belongs so far, I watched South Park then fast-fowarded through most of what has happened so far so I'm likely not 100% correct, but it appears Sunderland can't really do much aside from 1 or 2 corners. Tottenham seem to be doing decently and I'd expect maybe Berbatov to get a head to a cross soon for the first goal of the season.
EDIT: The TV feed died, I'm following it on Sunderland's live commentary, and Sunderland are playing better I guess
Last edited by theworm2345; 11/08/2007 at 12:31 PM.
My Guarantee
Am looking for old Irish matches on VHS, PM me if you have some and I'll upload them here
For me McShane was the best Irish player on show. He won loads of headers , kept Berbatov very quite and only made one mistake the whole game when Bent got in behind him but he did recover well to make a half clearance. Anyway Bent's pace got the better of many an experienced Premiership defender last season.
Stokes and Murphy looked a bit flat up front. It might be first game nerves or instructions from Keane but there was a few times when Stokes had the ball in an advanced position and instead of trying to pull off anything special he played the ball backwards. When Chopra came on for Stokes Murphy seemed to improve. Miller didn't do much in his 30-40 mins on the pitch apart from give the ball away cheaply and a poor free kick near the end of the game. Although he wasn't any worse than Yorke, who he replaced. It will be interesting to see which of the Irish players play against Birmingham. I reckon McShane for sure , Miller on the bench and if he's lucky Stokes might be given another punt on the right even though it's not his preferred position. However, if last season is anything to go by Keane likes to change it around up front even if a player has scored it doesn't mean they will start the next game. So maybe Connolly has a chance.
BTW if they are relying on Miller and Yorke in CMF there could yet be a future for Kav at Sunderland this season. He is a much better option than these two IMO, although not international class. What's the story with his injury or transfer talks?
McShane was my man of the match, thought he just shaded it from nosworthy.
Your talking crap about miller, he was the one player on the pitch who showed a bit of invention during the game. Eventhough he gave the ball away a couple of times, Andy Gray praised him for being the only player who was looking to create something, always trying forward passes. It was his free kick that created the chance for Etuhu that should have been scored and his ball that set Wallace free to cross for the goal. Very good performance by Liamo as far as im concerned.
Yorke had a good first half, he more than held his own against the younger Spurs midfield. 60 mins is all you'll get outa Yorkie at his age, his substitution was no reflection on his performance IMO.
Stokes was crap, Murphy was better, but then again Berbatov, Keane, Bent and Defoe were were all ****e today aswell so it's a bit early to judge anyone yet. Edwards will be first choice on the right, cant see stokes playing there at all.
Didnt see game.
How was Stokes crap. What was he doing wrong or what was he not doing. Or is he just not up to it. Remember he is still only 19. Can he learn?
At least we agree on McShane and Stokes
I won't deny that Miller put a lot of effort in but from what I saw he made a lot of wayward passes forward. Especially his free kick against the wall and that attempted header into the box that went 10 yards wide. I must admit that I was watching it on a poor resolution internet feed so maybe i missed some of his better moments when the commentator didn't mention his name but he must have had a wonderful game if Andy Gray says so
As for Stokes Stojkovic I wouldn't worry too much about him just yet. Sunderland played pretty cautiously throughout and he was probably under instructions from Keane not to try anything fancy as the main aim was to secure at least a point in their first game. As i said there was a few times when he was in possession where he hesitated too long and the move broke down as a result. This could be because usually in this situation he would run at the defence but wanted to look for other options because of the occasion. Hopefully he can learn to read the situation more quickly in future or has the balls to run with the ball. Time will tell if he has the skill to beat a good defence.
Last edited by Irish_Praha; 11/08/2007 at 2:55 PM.
Scorers:
Alan Lee (Ipswich) (2 - 1 was a penalty)
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace)
Sean Thornton (Leyton Orient)
Keith Andrews (MK Dons)
My Guarantee
Am looking for old Irish matches on VHS, PM me if you have some and I'll upload them here
He tried hard but not much of what he did came off. Murphy was winning headers all through the first half but stokes was sluggish reacting. Also, he kept getting himself offside. Just wasnt up to much all around. Hopefully keane persists with him up front, he's obviously better then he played today
McShane was awesome today. If his first name was John and surname Terry Andy Gray would have devoted a whole hour post match analysis on the lad. He had Berbatov in his pocket.
Stokes and Murphy seemed a little nervous today and it was understandable but I'm sure they will do fine at this level.
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
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