FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Denn Forever]

Ian Harte s doing well for Reading.  How old is he and could he still do the job fr Ireland?

[Tony Baloney]

Ian Harte s doing well for Reading.  How old is he and could he still do the job fr Ireland?

A long road back to the big time for Harte.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/29/ian-harte-premier-league-reading-leeds?cat=football&type=article

[GalwayBayBoy]

The Duffer has retired from international football.

[AZOffaly]

Another great servant. I saw that tweet on Newstalk alright. I do think he was struggling to beat people in the last few years, but he still offered a lot in terms of experience and dedication to the cause. I'd say scoring for Fulham in their great win helped him make up his mind.

[Denn Forever]

Will Keane be the next to go? 

What are the options now?  McClean?  Trap will have to earn his money now.

[AZOffaly]

Maybe Trap knows this, and by falling out with his players he might get fired and paid off?

[sammymaguire]

The Duffer has retired from international football.

great servant but thank god he has decided to hang up his boots!!

[Declan]

Thanks for the memories Duffer - one of the good lads

[From the Bunker]

Many thanks to the Duffer, a good one in his day! At 33 it was going to be beyond him to have a go at another campaign, where he would be 35 if we qualified.

Keane and Dunne are 31, I'd think there's one more campaign in them yet.

On Harte, It was reported in many papers before the Euros that Harte was disappointed not to get any sort of acknowledgement by Trap. As with any Blow-in Manager like Trap, maybe he did not know of Harte!

The (end of the) last campaign proved there is need for change.

[Main Street]

Duff's ability to skin a player had diminished but he was still our best player in receiving the ball, holding possession, getting fouled/winning free kicks
Though these days there's not that much competition for those skills in the team.
I don't know about McClean yet, he's not in same league as Duff.

There will some change in personnel, McCarthy is sure to start in the next game, his first competitive start and he should cement his place in the team. Personally I think he's an outstanding midfield talent. I wouldn't mind a midfield with Whelan in a holding role with Gibson and McCarthy ahead of him and McGeady out wide.
But you'd need 2 solid full backs, Wilson is just okay there afaics. There is no defined new shape yet, what roles the front players are going to play and who is best for dropping deep into midfield and what the best partnership is. There are signs that we will see some football being played through midfield.

[laoislad]

Thanks for the memories Duffer - one of the good lads

Robbie still looks like he could live in Jobstown.
You can take a man out of Tallaght.........

[Main Street]

Here's a few clips of Duff v Spain  WC2002, at one stage there were 4 trying to close him down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGnw0rh58Us&feature=related

[Captain Obvious]

Borat's crowd 1 - 0 up 

[Shamrock Shore]

ROI being ripped a new one here.

Should have been 2-0

Same old basterding same old 

[sammymaguire]

another Cyprus on the cards?