Ireland v Brazil Pre-match thread

[jmurphyc]

More proof...if proof were needed....that Don Givens is a pleb....Have to admit I'm not Clint's biggest fan either but, on current form, he surely merits a place ahead of Long or Murphy...also think that given the SFA have apparently upped their efforts to recruit James McCarthy that this would of been a good chance to get him called up & capped...I think we hold players back too long sometimes, I'm not saying fling McCarthy into the 1st team now but he should at least be considered for the U21's, same as Scannell at Palace

Scannell is in the U19 squad and McCarthy has been getting games for us at under age level. We do hold some players back too long (Garvan, McCann, etc) but during Staunton's reign far too many people were getting caps. I'm hoping for some continuity in future squads.

[tetsujin1979]

also think that given the SFA have apparently upped their efforts to recruit James McCarthy that this would of been a good chance to get him called up & capped...I think we hold players back too long sometimes, I'm not saying fling McCarthy into the 1st team now but he should at least be considered for the U21's, same as Scannell at Palace

McCarthy told the SFA he wasn't going to change his mind, and is going to stick with playing for Ireland
Scannell and McCarthy are in the U-19 squad VS Czech Republic: http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=2788

[Wangball]

I seen that both were in the U19's but if you look across to England Walcott is still U19 elligible but has featured at U21's & senior level....presumably because its exposure to a better level of football and better preperation for international football...maybe we should adopt a similar approach...don't Brazilian Squads always feature 1 younger promising player who doesn't actually expect to play but is taken along for the experience of travelling & training with the National Squad?

[zenokelly]

In fairness it's not Givens job to do this, it is just temporary, it was only probably in the last week confirmed to him that he was picking this squad. He was hardly going to go around scouting or anything. And it's not as if he left out someone who would be starting (YES all you Morrison fans)

And anyway poor Givens is so busy with his other job of appointing our manager!

[Paddy Garcia]

In fairness he may not know that Morrison is Irish.

[Bondvillain]

And it's not as if he left out someone who would be starting (YES all you Morrison fans)

Dont see why Morrison, if included, wouldn't be in contention to start, after all, one of these three seemingly will :

Kevin Doyle (Reading)
Shane Long (Reading)
Daryl Murphy (Sunderland)

All strikers with decent qualities, but none of them setting the world on fire by burning up any leading scorers charts at the mo.

[Stuttgart88]

In fairness it's not Givens job to do this, it is just temporary. And it's not as if he left out someone who would be starting (YES all you Morrison fans)

I was actually thinking the same. The likely first XI and any subs are all there, though I do think Morrisson could expect a second half sub appearance. Any of the more imaginative options are for squad places.

For once we'll have a strong U21 team available.

[DeNiro]

It's a safe squad. Givens wasn't going to rock the boat. The U21's look ok, but not mind blowing. In relation to the senior squad and game itself I think we have to start blooding another keeper properly and no better game than Brazil. Given doesn't really need to come over, but he seems ill at ease whenever he's not in the picture.

The inclusion of Miller is madness. He's now featuring but he wasn't considered good enough to play in San Marino, etc. I think his day has come and gone. This, for me, would have been an ideal game for Stokes, but alas Givens is messing around with him in the U21s. What's to be gained there? We're out of the group. Another thrashing could delude those players further. Equally Darron Gibson. What's he doing back there. It's only when we look back we see how truly farcical Stan was. Gibson has a competitive cap for us, got in a crucial game, but now can't make friendly squads. I'm coming to the conclusion Givens may be as guilty as Staunton in some of this stuff. If this guy wasn't / isn't ready, why didn't Givens say so. Ditto Stokes, Andy Keogh. It's playing a dangerous game to do this to young players.
This game was taylor made for Gibson in having a chance to mark Kaka, he won't meet much tougher than that, but he'll be tired from dealing with Tom Huddlestone 24 hours earlier.

[Wangball]

I was actually thinking the same. The likely first XI and any subs are all there, though I do think Morrisson could expect a second half sub appearance. Any of the more imaginative options are for squad places.

For once we'll have a strong U21 team available.

The fact remains that the likely first XI & subs really haven't delivered very much at all recently and now is the time for changes...maybe not the slashing wholesale changes some people might demand but gradual positive changes, if that means re-visiting players previously cast aside (Clinton Morrison, Alan Lee, Alan Quinn) or the gradual introduction of fresh faces (David Norris, Owen Garvan, Stephen O'Halloran, Kevin Foley) then now has never been a better time for it.

Peter Taylor was caretaker manager of England and he made some of the most significant changes of any England Manager in recent years...he made David Beckham captain & he called up a half dozen or so players for their 1st crack at the senior squad (including Gareth Barry, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher & Emile Heskey)...For the second time Don Givens was given the chance to play a positive role in the future of our national team (apart from the 3 wise men fiasco) and he bottled it and picked what is essentially the very same faltering squad that stuttered its way through the last sequence of qualifiers....he's a clown

[tetsujin1979]

The inclusion of Miller is madness. He's now featuring but he wasn't considered good enough to play in San Marino, etc. I think his day has come and gone.

He's playing regularly in the Premiership. not setting the world on fire, but not playing badly either. We're not in a position to refuse someone like that. On the other hand it could be to placate Roy Keane in case of another rant against Cork players in the squad.

This, for me, would have been an ideal game for Stokes, but alas Givens is messing around with him in the U21s. What's to be gained there? We're out of the group. Another thrashing could delude those players further. Equally Darron Gibson. What's he doing back there.

If Stokes was in place of Long, we'd be making the same complaints that he's keeping Morrison out of the squad. The U-19's are preparing for their qualifiers with a double header against the Czechs, so we can't promote any of that side for one of Don Givens' never-ending rebuilding phases at U-21 level. Stokes, Gibson, etc will get more game time and experience in a competitive game against England than in a friendly against Brazil.

[bellavistaman]

i reckon clinton at the mo has far more credentials for starting place at this moment in time

[tetsujin1979]

and no jamie o hara in this or u21 squad, has he been called up for england?

According to the BBC, he's inelgible for the North. So I would assume he's definitely ineligible for us.
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ls/7208162.stm

O'Hara could have qualified to play for Northern Ireland but because he is aged over 21, he is now ineligible as he has represented England Under-17s

[Wangball]

Is O'Hara any better than the midfielders available to us rignt now anyhow??

I don't reckon so.....would rather see JJ O'Toole, McCann or Garvan given a crack ahead of him in any case

[dr_peepee]

In fairness it's not Givens job to do this, it is just temporary, it was only probably in the last week confirmed to him that he was picking this squad. He was hardly going to go around scouting or anything. And it's not as if he left out someone who would be starting (YES all you Morrison fans)

Ah man!! I'm sorry (and drunk) but i have to disagree with you there.. Scouting?? The man has been an excellent servant to ireland. No scouting involved. Any banana that looks beyond the back page of any paper would note his form.

Givens role?.. Think about it... It's Brazil..It's essentially a meaningless friendly..But How many players get to play against Brazil.. .. So what's the next best level?.. Build a feel good factor.. NOt just for fans.. but the squad.. How can we turn this to our advantage.. Exclude a COMMITED servant that's one of THE in form players available to us?.. Include Daryl Murhpy (Admittedly on SOME form but) playing at left wing (more or less) and competing with Hunt & Duff... It's sh!te.. It's about being inclusive.. Letting everyone know they're involved in some cappacity, wether or not their in the squad.. I'm sick of the rubbish over the last few years where people like Dunne, S Reid, even Harte were excluded under Kerr and Stan without so much as a text as to why.. It's b0llix.. This authoritarian attitude.. It's about accountability.. Account for good form, account for bad forn, account for omission with communication... Sick of the hole lot I am..

[livehead1]

Keane and Morrison should be upfront but instead the latter hasn't even made the squad. don't need to say too much about it as we have a new man coming in (hopefully) but maybe it onlines Given's ignorance!!!!

[Stuttgart88]

I think we can build a good U21 side by playing our best players there until they're ready. Picking weakened sides and getting whipped is what'll demoralise them.

Playing the young lads when they're not ready and in Keogh's case out of position, is a dangerous game, one that was played by Staunton.

I do indeed hope a new manager will show more imagination with the squad but I hope he will look at in form seasoned players rather than taking outright punts on kids. If the kids show signs that they're ready then maybe. Stoke, Long and Garvan probably stand out. The delay in appointing the new man has cost us the chance of doing this in this one game but if they go for the right guy the cost won't be too great in due course.

I too dislike Miller and would have maybe gone for Garvan in his place.

He should have picked a 23 man squad, added Morrisson and Walters.

It's an "auto pilot" squad selection.

[geysir]

A squad of 25 then Stutts. Goalkeepers are men too
Given that you can make 5 subs in a friendly he could have added at least 2 more.

[Ireland4ever]

Ah man!! I'm sorry (and drunk) but i have to disagree with you there.. Scouting?? The man has been an excellent servant to ireland. No scouting involved. Any banana that looks beyond the back page of any paper would note his form.

Givens role?.. Think about it... It's Brazil..It's essentially a meaningless friendly..But How many players get to play against Brazil.. .. So what's the next best level?.. Build a feel good factor.. NOt just for fans.. but the squad.. How can we turn this to our advantage.. Exclude a COMMITED servant that's one of THE in form players available to us?.. Include Daryl Murhpy (Admittedly on SOME form but) playing at left wing (more or less) and competing with Hunt & Duff... It's sh!te.. It's about being inclusive.. Letting everyone know they're involved in some cappacity, wether or not their in the squad.. I'm sick of the rubbish over the last few years where people like Dunne, S Reid, even Harte were excluded under Kerr and Stan without so much as a text as to why.. It's b0llix.. This authoritarian attitude.. It's about accountability.. Account for good form, account for bad forn, account for omission with communication... Sick of the hole lot I am..

The phrase 'Tired and Emotional' springs to mind!!

[dr_peepee]

The phrase 'Tired and Emotional' springs to mind!!

Just a little bit...

[eirebhoy]

A squad of 25 then Stutts. Goalkeepers are men too

It's only a 21 man squad atm. 20 when Reid pulls out.