Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 24-man squad for the upcoming international
friendly against the Czech Republic in Dublin on February 29th.
Speaking after the squad announcement, the Irish boss said, "This game is the beginning of our Euro
2012 preparations.
"As we face this fixture, it is important for our players to remember the attitude and performance
that brought us qualification.
Their Words "The Premier League is always the main priority, I think every club will tell you that.
We're out of the cup competitions now, so it is obvious where our focus now is and we're determined
to finish the season as strong as possible." Fulham's Stephen Kelly. Other Sources Remembering
Harry Keough - from Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney: But Harry's spirit, forged by decades playing
and coaching and working and raising three children, captivated.
Bah. Just as the Odense fiasco represented more than just another defeat, so too did last
night's pathetic exit from the FA Cup. Nobody's pretending it's easy to go to Everton and get a
result if it was we'd manage to get points there once in a while but there's something horribly
wrong about these disjointed farces.
Bah. Just as the Odense fiasco represented more than just another defeat, so too did last
night's pathetic exit from the FA Cup. Nobody's pretending it's easy to go to Everton and get a
result if it was we'd manage to get points there once in a while but there's something horribly
wrong about these disjointed farces.
Following the International break, we are back in the full swing of club football with Arsenal
playing their third game in a week; what with City on Tues, Wigan on Saturday and Olympiakos the
following Tues, we are busy. Long may it remain thus because it means we are in all
competitions.
Today brings Martin Jol's Fulham to the Emirates.
While Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky look to have been confirmed as available for the Gunners, Fulham
Arsenal's opponents on Saturday evening have far more significant injury concerns. Republic of
Ireland international Damien Duff is out of the clash at the Emirates with a calf problem and
countryman Stephen Kelly's groin injury keeps [.
Ireland confirmed their place at next summer's European Championships with a 1-1 draw against
Estonia in the second leg of their Euro 2012 play-off.
Already four up from the first leg, Ireland looked to be coasting when Stephen Ward fired home the
opener after keeper Pavel Londak failed to hold Kevin Doyle's header.
John O'Shea and Kevin Doyle are back in the Ireland team for tomorrow night's Euro 2012 play-off
second leg against Estonia in Lansdowne Road.
Stephen Kelly at right back and Jon Walters in attack are the players that make way for the
returning duo.
O'Shea comes back into the side following a hamstring injury, while Doyle returns from suspension
to partner Robbie Keane in the Irish attack.
Stephen Kelly is out of Ireland's Euro 2012 play-off decider against Estonia on Tuesday night at
Landsowne Road.
The Fulham defender has been ruled out with a groin injury, although John O'Shea has recovered from
a hamstring problem and is likely to slot into the right-back position.
Other things:
Mark Schwarzer seems to be back to something like top form very impressed
Nice how Stephen Kelly has won people over another good game from him. It's a shame about
Zdenek Grygera though. He's looked a fine defender and this doesn't look like a minor injury, so
our thoughts are with him.
Other things:
Mark Schwarzer seems to be back to something like top form very impressed
Nice how Stephen Kelly has won people over another good game from him. It's a shame about
Zdenek Grygera though. He's looked a fine defender and this doesn't look like a minor injury, so
our thoughts are with him.
Giovanni Trapattoni has included Shane Long in his 26-man Ireland squad to face Estonia in the Euro
2012 play-offs next month.
West Brom ruled Long out for 'up to six weeks' after he was injured by Alan Hutton's two-footed
lunge during the first half of their 2-1 Premier League win at Villa Park.
The International break means there's little Fulham news to talk about. England did what they
needed to do and qualified for Euro 2012 but the press had a field day over Rooney's sending off.
How perfect for the British media that the man most in the spotlight should rise to the bait and
give them something to write about.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his team for Friday's Euro 2012 Group 2 qualifier
with Andorra.
John O'Shea replaces Stephen Kelly with Sean St Ledger coming in for the suspended Richard Dunne
from Ireland's last game in Russia.
Trapattoni has resisted the temptation to bring Keith Fahey into the midfield after he hinted at
using the Birmingham midfielder in training earlier this week.
This seems to have flown under the radar a bit with all the hand-wringing about Sunday, but our
squad for the Europa League group stages has been announced. Not too many surprises, except
one.
Goalies
1 Mark Schwarzer
22 Csaba Somogyi
38 Neil Etheridge*
41 Marcus Bettinelli*
44 Jesse Joronen*
Defenders
2 Stephen Kelly
3 John Arne Riise
5 Brede Hangeland
6 Chris Baird
14 Philippe Senderos
18 Aaron Hughes
26 Zdenek Grygera
28 Matthew Briggs*
39 Stephen Arthurworrey*
40 Alex Smith*
Midfielders
4 Steve Sidwell
10 Pajtim Kasami
13 Danny Murphy
15 Marcel Gecov
16 Damien Duff
20 Dickson Etuhu
21 Kerim Frei
23 Clint Dempsey
37 Courtney Harris*
43 Josh Pritchard*
Forwards
8 Andrew Johnson
9 Orlando Sá
25 Bobby Zamora
30 Moussa Dembélé
35 Richard Peniket*
42 Marcello Trotta*
No, the surprise is not Ruiz.
The new 2011/12 Premier League season is finally here! It's the battle of the new managers at
Craven Cottage today, although Martin Jol does have several competitive games under his belt in the
Europa League.
Here are the confirmed line-ups for both sides:
Fulham Aston Villa 1 Mark Schwarzer 1 Shay Given 18 Aaron Hughes 2 Luke Young 14 Philippe Senderos
6 James Collins 5 Brede Hangeland 5 Richard Dunne 7 John Arne Riise 3 Stephen Warnock 16 Damien
Duff 10 Charles N'Zogbia 20 Dickson Etuhu 16 Fabian Delph 13 Danny Murphy 19 Stiliyan Petrov 23
Clint Dempsey 18 Emile Heskey 8 Andrew Johnson 11 Gabriel Agbonlahor 25 Bobby Zamora 9 Darren Bent
Subs Subs 38 Neil Etheridge 22 Brad Guzan 2 Stephen Kelly 21 Ciaran Clark 6 Chris Baird 7 Stephen
Ireland 28 Matthew Briggs 17 Jean II Makoun 4 Steve Sidwell 12 Marc Albrighton 10 Pajtim Kasami 25
Barry Bannan 30 Moussa Dembele 14 Nathan Delfouneso Probable Formation: Castrol Football Prediction
Today's other Premier League fixtures:
- Blackburn vs Wolves
- Liverpool vs Sunderland
- QPR vs Bolton
- Wigan vs Norwich
- Newcastle vs Arsenal (1730)
There was an interesting comment on Twitter today from Tor-Kristian Karlsen, a football scout.
Karlsen noted that while Premiership clubs do have an overview for the world's footballers, most
are, I quote:
Tor-Kristian Karlsen
karlsentk Tor-Kristian Karlsen
many people (justifiably) puzzled that few premier league clubs were seriously in for arturo vidal
(no idea if arsenal interest was genuine)
personally i think the reason is lack of contacts and connections.
Stevenage 1-0 Fulham | Shroot 80
Pre-Season Friendly | Broadhall Way | 786
Pre-season is well underway now and Boro secured their second successive victory with a 1-0 win
over a Fulham XI this afternoon. A late strike from trialist Robin Shroot was enough to give Graham
Westley's side the win after a solid performance in the Sunday showers.
Liverpool have been told they will need to look elsewhere for a new central defender after Neven
Subotic confirmed he has no intention of leaving Borussia Dortmund.
Kenny Dalglish is eager to improve his options in central defence this summer and Birmingham City
defender Scott Dann is also a target.
Ireland captain Robbie Keane has been passed fit for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia in
Skopje on Saturday night.
Keane, who suffered a groin injury during a training session on Thursday, will partner Simon Cox in
attack.
Darren O'Dea starts in defence along with Stephen Kelly, John O'Shea and Kevin Kilbane.
