Trapattoni names his first Ireland squad of 28

**pateen** · 13/05/2008, 2:19 PM

Taken From RTE.ie

Trapattoni names his first Republic squad
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:09
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his first Irish squad when he announced a panel of 28 players for a training camp in Portugal, followed by friendlies with Serbia and Columbia.

Not one of the trio of Stephen Ireland, Steve Finnan and Andy O'Brien have been named in the panel after Trapattoni held talks with them about returning to the fold, but goalkeeper Dean Kiely returns to the Republic squad after previously retiring from international football in 2003.

Trapattoni insists the door is still open for Ireland, Finnan and O'Brien and said: 'It is now up to them to decide what to do.'

John O'Shea, Aiden McGeady, Darren O'Dea, Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane were all left out of the training squad due to their late season exertions, but will link up with the squad for the friendlies on 24 and 29 May.

Shay Given, Lee Carsley, Kevin Kilbane, Steven Reid, Darron Gibson and Joey O'Brien all miss out through injury.

Trapattoni told the official FAI website: 'Any player who is not in this squad is still in my thoughts. Some players who were not in the preliminary squad are in this squad because they have impressed and are playing in positions where we had vacancies.

'We will continue to monitor every Irish player from the start of next season and if they impress they will be brought into the squad.

'The next two weeks are important. It is my first opportunity to work with the players and I am looking forward to it. We will have two training games in Portugal and the games against Serbia and Colombia so I will get to see all the players playing.'

The kick-off time for the Serbian clash has been moved from 7.30 to 7.45pm.

Republic of Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle, Dean Kiely, Joe Murphu
Defenders: Alex Bruce, Damien Delaney, Richard Dunne, Kevin Foley, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Darren O'Dea, John O'Shea
Midfielders: Damien Duff, Owen Garvan, Darron Gibson, Wes Hoolahan, Stephen Hunt, Aiden McGeady, Stephen McPhail, Liam Miller, Darren Potter, Andy Reid, Martin Rowlands, Sean Scannell, Glenn Whelan
Forwards: Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane, Andy Keogh, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy

**Block G Raptor** · 13/05/2008, 2:51 PM

No Ireland, O'Brien or Finnan

**seanog2001** · 13/05/2008, 2:53 PM

good to see Wes Hoolahan in the squad deserves it after a great season with blackpool fair play mate

**blobbyblob** · 13/05/2008, 3:20 PM

Gibson misses through injury but named in the squad?

**the doc** · 13/05/2008, 3:20 PM

Alex Bruce in ahead of St Ledger, total joke!

**blobbyblob** · 13/05/2008, 3:26 PM

Still no Lawrence. Weird.

**zenokelly** · 13/05/2008, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by pateen

Taken From RTE.ie

Trapattoni names his first Republic squad
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 15:09
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his first Irish squad when he announced a panel of 28 players for a training camp in Portugal, followed by friendlies with Serbia and Columbia.

Not one of the trio of Stephen Ireland, Steve Finnan and Andy O'Brien have been named in the panel after Trapattoni held talks with them about returning to the fold, but goalkeeper Dean Kiely returns to the Republic squad after previously retiring from international football in 2003.

Trapattoni insists the door is still open for Ireland, Finnan and O'Brien and said: 'It is now up to them to decide what to do.'

John O'Shea, Aiden McGeady, Darren O'Dea, Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane were all left out of the training squad due to their late season exertions, but will link up with the squad for the friendlies on 24 and 29 May.

Shay Given, Lee Carsley, Kevin Kilbane, Steven Reid, Darron Gibson and Joey O'Brien all miss out through injury.

Trapattoni told the official FAI website: 'Any player who is not in this squad is still in my thoughts. Some players who were not in the preliminary squad are in this squad because they have impressed and are playing in positions where we had vacancies.

'We will continue to monitor every Irish player from the start of next season and if they impress they will be brought into the squad.

'The next two weeks are important. It is my first opportunity to work with the players and I am looking forward to it. We will have two training games in Portugal and the games against Serbia and Colombia so I will get to see all the players playing.'

The kick-off time for the Serbian clash has been moved from 7.30 to 7.45pm.

Republic of Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle, Dean Kiely, Joe Murphu
Defenders: Alex Bruce, Damien Delaney, Richard Dunne, Kevin Foley, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Darren O'Dea, John O'Shea
Midfielders: Damien Duff, Owen Garvan, Darron Gibson, Wes Hoolahan, Stephen Hunt, Aiden McGeady, Stephen McPhail, Liam Miller, Darren Potter, Andy Reid, Martin Rowlands, Sean Scannell, Glenn Whelan
Forwards: Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane, Andy Keogh, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy

Ya it's a pity Liam Lawrence wasn't one of them. Does he know he qualifies for us, I do wonder!

Who were these players he was talking about anyway? Bruce and who else?

**pateen** · 13/05/2008, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by blobbyblob

Still no Lawrence. Weird.

Agreed.

Congrats to Damien Delaney......another ex Cork City star.

**rambler14** · 13/05/2008, 3:37 PM

Originally Posted by blobbyblob

Gibson misses through injury but named in the squad?

I noticed that too but if you count the amount in the squad it adds up to 29. So obviously Gibson is out.

**rambler14** · 13/05/2008, 3:38 PM

It's great to see so many new names in the squad. It's nice to see Kiely and McPhail back as well.

**Speakthetruth** · 13/05/2008, 3:51 PM

Disapointed not to see a slot for the Clint, obviously more of viable present striking option than the Longs of the world. Feel that from hearing him interviewed re: wanting to get back into squad, having Trap watch him at Stoke etc. that he would have definitely took his chance and performed if he was selected. Palace have a slight chance of th e play-off final but seeing as Scannell has been named, I'm at a loss...

**colster** · 13/05/2008, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by Speakthetruth

Disapointed not to see a slot for the Clint, obviously more of viable present striking option than the Longs of the world. Feel that from hearing him interviewed re: wanting to get back into squad, having Trap watch him at Stoke etc. that he would have definitely took his chance and performed if he was selected. Palace have a slight chance of th e play-off final but seeing as Scannell has been named, I'm at a loss...

Long has scored 3 goals in 5 games for Ireland.

**cavan_fan** · 13/05/2008, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

I noticed that too but if you count the amount in the squad it adds up to 29. So obviously Gibson is out.

I think we're allowed to have 28 normal players and one wind up the northerners token player!

**Speakthetruth** · 13/05/2008, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by colster

Long has scored 3 goals in 5 games for Ireland.

granted, but hardly important goals eh? Bolivia in the US (I seem to remember Dominic Foley scoring all round him there a few years ago for us and he never materialised as an International player), could have managed a double against Denmark myself, they were woeful. Morrison, unlike most of our striking options include keane, has scored important goals in COMPETITIVE away games. Long looks decent but not a reliable current option at this level IMO, Im not saying Morrison is world class but in competitive games, he has more experience, has scored goals and would get my shout..

**Dr. Ogba** · 13/05/2008, 4:09 PM

omission of Clint, St. Ledger, Lawrence and Kenny are disappointments but it is great to see him cast the net wider than his illustrious predecessor...

**boovidge** · 13/05/2008, 4:27 PM

Originally Posted by cavan_fan

I think we're allowed to have 28 normal players and one wind up the northerners token player!

alex bruce has already filled that position

**ChrisRed** · 13/05/2008, 4:46 PM

Is Ste Reid injured? RTE website said 'Trapattoni's choices were further limited by injuries to Shay Given, Lee Carsley, Kevin Kilbane, Darron Gibson and Joey O'Brien' no mention of Reid.
Martin Rowlands has had a good season with QPR picked up player of the year awards. Good to see him and Hoolahan get in.

**gaiscíoch** · 13/05/2008, 5:23 PM

Seen both Delaney and Rowlands over at QPR this year. I must say I was very impressed with Rowlands he was excellent. Delaney was good also but I think he just lacks a yard of pace. Great news for QPR...