Squad For Albania And Georgia Announced

A few changes from the training squad...

Defenders Steve Finnan and Andy O’Brien have not been named in Brian Kerr’s Irish senior squad for the Euro 2004 meetings with Albania and Georgia on June 7th and 11th respectively.

Neither player joined up with Kerr’s squad for a training get-together in Portmarnock last week, but their absence was regarded as precautionary and they had been expected to be named in the party for the crucial forthcoming qualifiers.

Finnan is suffering from a pelvic strain, while O’Brien sustained a broken nose in Newcastle’s clash with neighbours Sunderland four weeks ago and later underwent an operation to repair the damage.

In their absence, Richard Dunne – who could be on the verge of leaving Manchester City during the summer – keeps his place in the squad. Dunne started the friendly international against Norway last month after receiving a late call-up to Kerr’s squad.

Scottish-based pair Nick Colgan (Hibernian) and Colin Healy (Celtic) return to the squad; neither had travelled to Dublin last week as the SPL season did not reach completion until last Sunday.

Steven Reid and Gary Doherty, who both missed the meeting with the Norwegians, are restored to the squad, while Bohemians’ Glenn Crowe, fresh from winning his second cap as a substitute that night, keeps his place in the squad.

West Brom goalkeeper Joe Murphy, who received his first senior squad call-up for the match against Norway following Dean Kiely’s decision to retire from international football, keeps his place in the squad, while Dean Delaney drops out. Delaney trained with the Irish senior panel at Portmarnock last week.

Rep of Ireland squad for Euro 2004 qualifiers v. Albania (June 7th) and Georgia (June 11th):

Goalkeepers: Given (Newcastle United), Colgan (Hibernian), Murphy (WBA)

Defenders: Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Harte (Leeds United), O’Shea (Manchester United), Dunne (Manchester City), Breen (West Ham United), Cunningham (Birmingham City)

Midfielders: Carsley (Everton), Healy (Celtic), Holland (Ipswich Town), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Kilbane (Sunderland), McPhail (Leeds United), Reid (Millwall)

Forwards: Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Crowe (Bohemians), Connolly (Wimbledon), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee (Rotherham), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).

Good to see Reidys back, hopefully fit to start, shouldn't be too many more injuries, touch wood, since the premiership season is over and most of the squads been together for training. With the first 11 you can get out of those players we've enough to win both matches, we just don't need any more injuries like the away ties.

 

I'd say...

Gk - Given
Dl - O'Shea
Dr - Carr
Dc - Cunningham (Captain)
Dc - Breen
Ml - Duff
Mr - Reid
Mc - Holland
Mc - Carsley
Fc - Keane
Sc - Connolly

I doubt he'll play the free role tactic as he'd need to experiment with it more, but if he does it'd be the same line up except push Reid further inside and Keane further up. Most questionable selections would be Carsley or Kinsella, personally I'd favour Carsley but Kerr could go the other way, and the defence. With Finnan and O'Brien out I'd say that's how it will most likely line up. He could also play Duff up front, or even Crowe or Lee, but I'd find that unlikely, espically the latter too.

Of course Doherty started ahead of Connolly in the away ties, so he could also get a start, so Kerr has alot of options really but that's how I see it going.

 

He may play Kinsella, but I hope he just looks at it logically. I mean, Carsley against Georgia and Albania away played better then Kinsellas done all year, Carsleys been getting his game and playing brilliantly for a Everton, who are a harder team to get into then Kinsellas Aston Villa, where he's been in the reserves. As for Harte, I think with Finnan and O'Brien out he'll play O'Shea out left, as we need him there for this match more then at central defence. The only worry is left wing, he may think with Morrison out he has to play Duff up front, I really REALLY hope not but it could happen.

 

I don't rate Kennedy, never have, never will. He's not played one good game for Ireland, aside from one goal (I know he's scored more then the Yugo goal, but none that important) he's done nothing for us and he's failed in the premiership with no less then three different clubs. He's a first division standard player and will look amazing there, but as has been proven, put him in an international or premiership side and he's way way lacking. Pity, because if he had two brain cells to rub together when he was younger, he had a hell of a lot of potential.