Squad: Shay Given (Newcastle United), Nick Colgan (Barnsley), Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United) Defenders: Alan Maybury (Hearts), Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham City), Stephen Carr (Newcastle United), Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United), Gary Doherty (Norwich City), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Gary Breen (Sunderland), John O'Shea (Manchester Utd) Midfielders: Matt Holland (Charlton Athletic), Liam Miller (Manchester Utd), Kevin Kilbane (Everton), Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest), Graham Kavangah (Cardiff City), Alan Quinn (Sheffield United), Graham Barrett (Coventry City), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Chelsea). Forwards: Alan Lee (Cardiff City), Jon Macken (Manchester City), Stephen Elliott (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur). Even though I am a big fan of Brian Kerr, at least Harte, Delap, and Stack have got to be in that squad. Note no Roy Keane. Deserves a rest, I suppose.
Stack should definately be in there ahead of Colgan. Experience is the only reason I can think of for the preference, but Stack is playing regularly (and well) at a higher level than Colgan - who isn't really a long-term option for us anyway. Time to get him in. Delap deserves a place at least as much, and probably more than Kavanagh and Quinn, and Harte's Levante are 3rd in the Primera Liga, level on points with Real Madrid - surely he can get a look back into the squad? Good to see Elliott included though, I hope he gets a shot. How long has Steven Reid been back playing for Blackburn for? Apparently he's been fairly impressive in the last couple of games...
Well, O'Shea and Macken are injured anyway, and I don't think they are on the verge of coming back like Morrison is (O'Shea needs an operation and should be out for at least two months). Nick Colgan is currently warming the bench for League One's Barnsley, so even Murphy at Walsall is doing better than he is. Sure he has experience, but isn't this about blooding players for the future? You could at least have Stack training with the squad. In the defence, apart from O'Shea's injury, Doherty can't even get on the bench for Norwich - one of the Premiership's worst teams. He shouldn't be near the squad. Harte should be in for one of those two. In midfield, Barrett hasn't been playing for Coventry of late, and though Alan Quinn has been doing well for Sheffield United, we have players at higher levels (Delap, S. Reid) who should be ahead of him. In attack, Macken is injured. I would hope that, if Morrison plays next weekend, he will get called up. If not, why not give Willo Flood a run. To sum up: Out should go Colgan, O'Shea (injury), Doherty, Barrett, possibly Quinn, and Macken (injury). In should come Stack, Harte, Delap and Reid.
Stephen Elliott will not be available due to a foot injury. The inclusion of Colgan is a joke that is not even funny anymore seeing as he can't make the Barnsley team. Stephen Reid, Delap, Harte and Roy Keane should have been included unlike Macken, Barrett, Colgan and Maybury none of whom will ever be good enough.
From SKY SPORTS : Levante defender Ian Harte has stated he is bewildered as to why he is currently out of the international picture with Republic of Ireland. The former Leeds United stopper, who has over 50 caps and almost 10 international goals to his name, has been out of the frame since Euro 2004. Harte's last appearance came against Poland back in April and the set-piece expert scored in the prior game against Czech Republic. The 27-year-old is currently behind John O'Shea and Alan Maybury in the Ireland set-up despite an impressive start to life in La Liga. "I have no idea why I'm not in the squad," explained Harte. "When I have been involved with Ireland recently, I've done well. "I played against the Czech Republic and we won 2-1, and I scored from a free-kick. "I do believe I should be in the squad. I've just got to keep playing well for my club as I have been doing."
Andy Reid, Carr and Holland are all out. Macken will face a late fitness test. So how about: Given Finnan O'Brien (or Dunne?) Cunningham O'Shea Miller Kavanagh Kilbane Duff Robbie Keane Macken or Elliott. Apart from them, I expect to see Kenny, Maybury, McGeady and Quinn get some playing time.
It's not. Or at least, it could look a lot better. There are several lads who play regularly in the Premiership (plus Ian Harte who plays in La Liga) who have been left out. O'Brien is out injured. Dunne will almost certainly start.
Republic of Ireland Team: Paddy Kenny, Steve Finnan, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Gary Breen, Liam Miller, Graham Kavanagh, Kevin Kilbane, Stephen Elliott, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff This is as experimental a lineup as we've seen from Kerr. Good to see Elliott get the start. Cunningham and Given have been rested, which is fair enough as they've nothing to prove. I suppose Miller will play on the right, Duff left and Kav and Kilbane in the middle? Match kicks off today at 7:30PM in Dublin (4:00 in Newfoundland, 2:30 Eastern). It will be interesting to see how these lads fare, and I look forward to it, though I have class and won't be around for the first half. If someone could post the odd score update I'd appreciate it. For online coverage, www.rte.ie (radio 1) MIGHT have a broadcast, but it's unlikely as the game is not on FM in Ireland. www.newstalk106.ie will no doubt be providing regular updates, and www.sportinglife.com will likely have text commentary.
In the Irish Times today Emmet Malone says thats Kerr has already confirmed that Miller will play in central midfield. That would put Kilbane on the left and Duff on the right...unless Kerr's planning to start Miller on the right and move him infield in the second half - perhaps with McGeady or Barrett coming onto the wing. Good to see Kenny and Elliott getting starts, as well as giving Dunne another chance to assert his claims.
Full Time. A good exercise, and a good win though we really have to finish our chances. Robbie Keane with the goal after brilliant work from Duff, who was man of the match.
I only saw the first half, but it looked like they were starving Srna on the right a bit. Looked a bit poor in the centre IMO. Its no suprise to see the golden boy Kranjcar playing ( ). But he had a good chance to score right after Ireland but his header from Babic went wide.