Brady links up with Republic
March 7, 2008
Arsenal legend Liam Brady has agreed to become Giovanni Trapattoni’s assistant as he takes charge with the Republic of Ireland.
Brady formerly played under the Italian during the 1980s at Juventus and is now director of Arsenal’s youth academy. The Gunners however have given one of their famous sons permission to work with Ireland and keep his role at the Emirates.
Brady has a good knowledge of the Republic players who missed out on qualification for Euro 2008, and as their focus shifts to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa the move to appoint him in an official capacity has been well received by the Irish.
Arguably Brady’s most important task, certainly in the short term, is to convince Andy O’Brien and Steve Finnan to repeal their decisions to quit international football and play an integral part in their qualification for South Africa.
The new management team have been drafted in following Steve Staunton’s departure back in October. The former Liverpool defender left his post by mutual consent following a lacklustre draw with Cyprus which ended their Euro 2008 hopes.
Beckham ready to claim 100th cap
March 6, 2008
England Head Coach Fabio Capello has strongly hinted that former Captain David Beckham very much figures in his short term plans.
Capello has suggested that Beckham can be confident of achieving his 100th England cap in the near future despite missing out on the recent friendly with Switzerland due to a lack of match fitness.
The former Real Madrid coach has been quoted as saying that Beckham “is in contention” to play against France later this month and followed this up by stating that “he will get his 100th cap if he is fit and in form”
Beckham is reported to have had a fiery relationship with the Italian during their time together at Real Madrid, yet it seems that Capello is giving the midfielder an olive branch and asking him to prove that he is worth a starting place.
The Pieman applauds this approach – too many times England Managers have played people on the back of who they are rather than what they can deliver. Capello looks to have the balance just right which is very encouraging for the future!
A twist in the road to Euro 2008
February 26, 2008
The overlord organisation Uefa has warned Spain they could be thrown out of this years European championships.
This could mean that Northern Ireland, who finished third in Spain’s group would be handed a place at the finals.
If the Spanish government tries to interfere in the election process of the Spanish FA then Uefa will put their foot down and all hell will break loose.
“Uefa and Fifa deal with these sort of issues very seriously. These are no empty threats – we will back them up,” said Uefa spokesman William Gaillard.
“It is similar to 1992 when Yugoslavia was suspended and Denmark, who finished second in the group, came in,” added Gaillard.
Everyone goes Italian
February 13, 2008
Giovanni Trapattoni will be named Republic of Ireland boss.
This will probably happen at 5pm today apparently. Eire or the Republic of Ireland to these shores felt left out when England has an Italian manager and of course Italy has one too so they thought that they would get their own.
Current reports suggest that it’s a two-year contract starting in May. This is when his current employment at Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg finish their season.
Old boy ‘Trappy’ (as we like to call him) won six Serie A titles with Juventus and one with Inter Milan. He also helmed at Bayern Munich, Benfica and Salzburg taking them to league titles also.
He has European honours including the European Cup, three UEFA Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup triumph during his spells at Juventus and Inter.
Trappy will have to face his old haunt as Italy (whom he also used to manage, boy this guy is a management hoar) will be at home to the Republic on April Fool’s Day in 2009 with the return game taking place at Croke Park six months later on 10 October.
England 2 – 1 Switzerland
February 6, 2008
Fabio Capellos first game in charge as England manager ended in a 2-1 win over Switzerland. Fabio changed things about, leaving out Owen and Hargreaves from the starting line up.
He went with a 4-1-4-1 formation, David James in goal, a back four of A Cole, Upson, Ferdinand, Brown. Gareth Barry played in front of the back four. The 4 in the midfield were J Cole, Gerrard, Jenas, Bentley and Rooney upfront.
The opening moments of the match wasn’t great with both sides packing the midfield, it was hard for England to break, Joe Cole as ever looked lively on the left, feeding Rooney who had a one-on-one saved by Benaglio.
It took a while but after some neat build up play from Joe Cole on the wing Jermaine Jenas was able to tap in from 5 yards for his first international goal. It wasn’t a convincing first half with most of the players still trying to work out the new system.
The second half was better with a relaxed England creating plenty of chances, the best falling to Rooney and Jenas.
The first subs came on the 56 minute, with little and large coming on, Wright-Phillips and Peter Crouch, they replaced the goal scorer Jermaine Jenas and Joe Cole.
But the sub seemed to be the downfall as a minute later on his debut Derdiyok slotted past David James to make it 1-1.
It didn’t stay 1-1 for long, a long ball was flicked on by Crouch, Gerrard crossed for Wright-Phillips to tap in. A classic English long ball goal.
Wayne Bridge replaced Ashley Cole who was rubbish, and Gareth Barry who played well was replaced by Owen Hargreaves. As the game went on it opened up a little with England controlling the game with long periods of possessions.
Man of the match Wayne Rooney was replaced by Ashley Young.
Overall a pleasing first match for Mr Capello, we kept the ball well and created chances but didn’t manage to extend the lead. Some will question the decision not to play Michael Owen who is a proven goal scorer at international level. Rooney, Bentey and Joe Cole the pick of the players.
England U21s beat the Irish again
February 6, 2008
In quite similar circumstances the England Under-21s beat the Republic of Ireland Under-21s 3-0 for the second time this qualifying campaign.
In what turned out to be a fairly even contest, England proved the more clinical of the two sides, with goals from Newcastle winger James Milner (2) and Wenger disappointment Theo Walcott.
The first half was a pretty dull affair with neither team really making a clear cut chance.
After a Stuart Pearce team-talk though at half-time, England came out to play a bit more and got their reward through a deflected James Milner cross/shot which found the right-hand corner of the Irish net.
In a contrast to the first half the game became quite open as the Irish players pushed on, needing victory. These hopes were all but dashed however when Milner shot from 20-yards finding the same corner to make the score 2-0.
Give them credit, those boys in green didn’t give up hope, and pressed forward for any signs of consolation but this in the end was their downfall as England caught them on the break with a cool finish from Walcott on his former home turf, which should hopefully give the boy some confidence.
The Irish did have their chances mainly through Wolves striker Andy Keogh who had at least three chances at close-range.
The win leaves England on 19 points at the head of the group, needing just a single point to guarantee their progression, although it is a near certainty as-is.
Captain Gerrard
February 5, 2008
Liverpool mid-fielder Steven Gerrard has been named our glorious leader for the national side.
At least for the time-being. Capello has stated that he will not name a permanent captain until the Andorra game, which is England’s first World Cup qualifier in September.
Reports suggest that Capello has banned players from using their mobiles, uses last names only and discourages the presence of wives and girlfriends.
Capello confirmed in a press conference today that he has laid down some rules to his squad and expects them not to be broken.
It also seems that Capello is on-the-ball for his news conferences. Speaking through an interpreter at the news conference, Capello made sure that he didn’t say anything that could be mis-interpreted.
Then one reporter, asked his question in Italian, and asked for Capello to answer in English.
Savvy Capello remained un-fazed by the demanding press, saying:
“I will speak English with you when I can be sure that I know all the right words, because you are very good at twisting things and I am very careful.
“I can communicate with the players much more easily – I am happy with my English with them.”
Seems to this “winning is everything” writer that Capello is doing things his way and will not be forced by the media into anything he doesn’t want to do. And that’s a good thing. After a media-obsessed, car-salesman-smile-wearing, umbrella-collector in the England hot-seat, it’s about time someone strong took the helm.
Don’t forget Defoe
February 3, 2008
After missing out on the initial England squad Jermaine Defoe has been called up due to Gabby Agbonlahor picking up an hamstring injury in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham.
Defoe moved to Portsmouth from Spurs with a view to getting back into the England setup and it seems to have worked being called up after he scored on his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Chelsea.
On the hand its a bit disappointment for Agbonlahor who was called into his first England squad after impressing for Aston Villa. It’s thought that ‘Gabby’ will join up with the England squad but is very doubtful to be a part of the match squad for the Switzerland game.
Capello cuts squad
February 3, 2008
After Saturdays matches Fabio Capello announced his revised squad for the England international vs Switzerland.
Emile Heskey and Ledley King drop out through injury. Stewart Downing, Michael Carrick, Curtis Davies, Nicky Shorey and Glenn Johnson were all cut from the squad. For Villa defender Curtis Davies it must of been a bitter pill to swallow after being called up to the international stage for the first time.
Villa team mate Gabby Agbonlahor does remain in the squad looking for his first cap in the senior England squad after 9 starts for the under-21’s
It still remains what formation Capello will play, either a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. It is thought that he will play with a holding midfield player something that he has implemented in his team over the years, so expect a start for either Owen Hargreaves or Gareth Barry in the middle of the park.
Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Liverpool on loan at Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan)
Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
Fabio Capello’s first England Squad
January 31, 2008
New England supremo Fabio Capello has announced his first England squad for the Switzerland friendly with the talking point being David Beckham’s exclusion. Ex -captain Beckham was looking for a place in the sqaud to earn his 100th England cap but it looks like the LA Galaxy star might have to wait longer with Capello sighting a lack of competitive football a problem, thats not a dig at the American a league it’s the Summer break at the moment.
Capello also left out fatty Paul Robinson, again a lack of football but gave call ups for the first time to Aston Villa due Curtis Davis and Gabby Agbonlahor.
With Robinson left out the place in goal will be contested for by James, Carson and Kirkland. Ledley King is back after a lengthly injury and so is Jonathan Woodgate who moved to Spurs recently.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Liverpool on loan at Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan)
Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom on loan at Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards: Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
