[quote=“Fitzy, post: 634342”]
Whats a “You are now Entering Free Derry” ornament?[/quote]
It is what it is.
It’s a “You are now Entering Free Derry” ornament.
Of course, thanks for clearing that up boys.
Now that is a roaster.
Q What do Ian Harte and KIB Man have in common?
A See below.
IAN HARTE has again lashed out at Giovanni Trapattoni for his exclusion from the Irish squad, with the newly promoted veteran sore that players who weren’t born in the country will go to this summer’s finals ahead of him.
The left-back has enjoyed a career resurgence at Reading, but hasn’t figured in Trapattoni’s plans. He claimed last year that the Italian didn’t know he was Irish and repeated that claim in his latest outburst.
“I played pretty well last year as well,” said Harte. "The manager, Giovanni Trapattoni did not come and get me then.
"I was speaking to a few of the players and they said he did not realise I was Irish, even though I have played 67 times, scored 11 goals and am the second leading scorer in the squad.
“You have just got to laugh about it. It would be nice for a shout, but I don’t think it will happen.”
ASSERTION
Stephen Ward has emerged as Ireland’s first choice option in Harte’s favoured position, with Kevin Kilbane relegated to the periphery. But 34-year-old feels he could offer something and challenged the assertion that his lack of speed is a problem.
“I know what I bring to the team,” he continued. "People have said for the last 10 years that I might have lost my pace, but I have never had the pace.
"It is all about being clever and getting the better of your opponent.
“I am Irish as well and there are a lot of players in the Irish squad that are not even Irish. For me I have played 67 times and I love pulling on the green shirt.”
At least Harte is wanted by Reading manager Brian McDermott, a man who one day has ambitions to manage Ireland. He has spoken to the Drogheda native about extending his contract so he can play a part in the Premier League adventure.
“I spoke to the gaffer last week and he wants me to stay, which I’m delighted about,” continued Harte.
“Hopefully, it will be resolved in the next few days, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
- Daniel McDonnell
Jesus Harte, thats shocking carry on, i wonder did he say absolutely everything as printed.
I’m right footed mate and a proud member of the diaspora.
[font=Verdana][size=3]
[/size][/font]
McClean is caught among Trap’s 90 per centers
[font=Verdana][size=3]
[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
For a brief moment in Mullingar yesterday, a few hours after he had stretched his limbs on the lower reaches of Croagh Patrick,Giovanni Trapattoni appeared to throw garlands at the feet of James McClean.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
Asked about the in-form Sunderland winger’s prospects of making the Ireland[/url]'s [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Euro_2012”]Euro 2012 squad, amid the Italian’s customary babble of faltering English, the phrase “90 to 99 per cent chance of going to Poland” fell like a concrete block. McClean, it seemed, was as good as on the plane. Or was he? As ever with Trap, the precise meaning of his words was Messi-like in its elusiveness and he was soon motoring into reverse gear.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
McClean’s chances, as it happened, may be no more than “90 per cent” and, if that still sounded promising, it merely lumped him into a fringe group that also included James McCarthy[/url] and[url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Darron_Gibson_%28footballer%29”]Darron Gibson. A group henceforth to be known as the “90 per centers”. It is not as good a place to be as it sounds.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
Yet those championing McClean’s cause will have found renewed hope in uncertainty. Trap, as you’d expect, wouldn’t be nailed down on the precise make-up of the 23-man squad he will name tomorrow week, so all you could do was look for clues in the garbled statements he made and perhaps he has never tired of playing this infernal game, but there were definitely one or two to be had.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
He spoke, as he has done often times before, of his faith in the players who had achieved qualification and in the system he had imposed, but with one interesting caveat. “I am sure in this moment we can change also one another,” Trapattoni said. “They know what they can do. Or what he can do too. What he have to do.”[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
Okay, the “he” wasn’t definitively James McClean, but if the cherished system allowed the luxury of incorporating one new presence, then it was easy to speculate that the Sunderland midfielder would be the beneficiary, possibly at the expense of Gibson, so noticeably named among the 90 per centers.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
Trap also acknowledged McClean’s goal against Bolton yesterday and, in contrast to the lukewarm praise of recent weeks, had only nice things to say. “His luck is possible,” Trap said intriguingly.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
“So when he plays not very well but he still has this opportunity. And that is important. Some managers think about these lucky players. But I don’t think about him because he is lucky. But because he wants to make the squad.”[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
Barring injuries, it remains the only remaining mystery and will remain so for the next eight days. Trap spoke of his relief – indeed, surprise – that Richard Dunne[/url] was fit enough to start for [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Aston_Villa”]Aston Villa yesterday, but you could still detect concern in his voice. "I was worried. I said, ‘be careful we need you’. “He will be important for us. All players in the squad are important, but especially Richard Dunne. For us he is one of the strongest.”[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
There were other injuries, but nothing alarming. Keith Fahey[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Stephen_Hunt_%28footballer%29”]Stephen Hunt had knocks. Stephen Kelly had wrist surgery, but all, apparently, would be fine. “They answered me, in 20 days’ time, they can be ready. Our doctor is in touch with their doctor. We wait in this situation. I hope they will be okay.”[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
Along with the 23-man squad, Trapattoni will name a stand-by list of four names next week and he also revealed his hope yesterday of a final warm-up game against an Italian selection at their training camp in Montecatini. The game would be a benefit for the family of Piermario Morosini, the 25-year-old Livorno midfielder, who collapsed and died from cardiac arrest during a Serie B match earlier this month.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana][size=3]
“We have discussed it with the organisers of the camp,” Trapattoni said, “and with the FAI. It’s not done yet but everybody agrees it is a good gesture.”[/size][/font]
[font=Georgia][size=3][i]
- JOHN O’BRIEN[/i][/size][/font]
Does anyone know or care to speculate about who the established squad player is that will not go to Euro 2012, this giving Mclean his chance? It all sounds very Stephen Ireland esque.
Only read the article in The Irish Times a little while ago. It’s all very mysterious. Malone himself speculates about a number of names and I haven’t read or heard anything any way definitive elsewhere either.
Shane Long I’m afraid
Serious, whats up with him?
He’s shit.
Disagree, was rubbish but has improved hugely in my opinion.
Did I read correctly in the Indo that Keane has scored more EPL goals in 2012 than Doyle, Long, Walters or Cox
Just think if it’s a front man battering ram it’s a choice between Walters and Doyle. If we need a player off the front man the choice will be Cox. Trap isn’t convinced by Long anyway and after unfortunately a league campaign that badly fizzled out I fear for his chances now.
Fahey, Hunt, Duff, McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Gibson all certainties. One spot free which I reckon will be Green.
Green is enough to depress any Irish fan. Disagree with you on Long has Trap has said he is bringing 5 strikers so if that is true Long will surely be one of the 5.
Presume Long is just a guess. This sounds more like a player with personal issues but the article was fairly cryptic and there is always eve possibility of misinterpretation with Trap interviews.
Slaven Bilic on Newstalk now.
What did he have to say for himself, Rocko?
While you’re at it, could you give me the background on the whole “Yugoslavia” conflict / break-up? Was it religion based high jinks / genocide? Croatia is predominantly Ben Affleck, isn’t it? Bosnia, Muslim? Serbia, Orthodox?