FAI...New Manager Hunt continues

[lynchbhoy]

So, his own club manager also does not fully appreciate Stokes' amazing talent?

That's a powerful argument for the inclusion of Stokes into the squad which is already chock full of available, tireless and adequately talented forwards 

I hear that hooper is in the shop window and why they are playing him.
Celtic have bought his replacements already - bangura and the prlish lad.
with 18 year old portugese starlet possibly signed at the end of the week after impressing on trial.
stokes so far this season has been Celtics best striker.
cant understand why he isnt getting his game ALL the time- apart from maybe Celtic trying to offload hooper !

Stokes most def should be robbie keane's successor for Ireland. imo

[Main Street]

Still doesn't hold water, the transfer window is closed or can there be a long protracted 'putting Hooper in the shop window'?
And if Lennon has bought replacements already for Hooper, what does that say about what he has in the squad?
I like Stokes, but he is about 7th in line for an Irish squad place and that would be if he was busting a gut to turn up when called.

[lynchbhoy]

Still doesn't hold water, the transfer window is closed or can there be a long protracted 'putting Hooper in the shop window'?
And if Lennon has bought replacements already for Hooper, what does that say about what he has in the squad?
I like Stokes, but he is about 7th in line for an Irish squad place and that would be if he was busting a gut to turn up when called.

russian window still open afaik

stokes dirtied his bib prev by not joining up with the Irish team and I can understand why trap wont call he, stephen Ireland or any other with prev in this.

Still- he is a great striker/goal poacher - diff to most of the rest of them apart from keane

[Geoff Tipps]

Meanwhile back to F.A.I. news, Duffy has been called into the squad for the Czech game.

[AFS]

Jon Daly. Trap probably has a grudge against him too.

Some of these posters probably never heard of Daly who is one of a number of players appearing regularly for Dundee United, but none of whom is remotely international class. So yes, that helps put the Stokes nonesense in context.

In related news, Paul Heffernan's goal for Kilmarnock at the weekend places him joint second Irishman with Stokes in the SPL's goal scoring charts. Prior to moving to Kilmarnock last summer, Heffernan spent half dozen years warming subs benchs for a variety of League 1 clubs. That a player like this can then head up to the SPL at the age of 30 and start banging in the goals speaks volumes about the quality of that league and, by extention, the real value of Stokes' exploits.

[Leo]

Jon Daly. Trap probably has a grudge against him too.

Some of these posters probably never heard of Daly who is one of a number of players appearing regularly for Dundee United, but none of whom is remotely international class. So yes, that helps put the Stokes nonesense in context.

In related news, Paul Heffernan's goal for Kilmarnock at the weekend places him joint second Irishman with Stokes in the SPL's goal scoring charts. Prior to moving to Kilmarnock last summer, Heffernan spent half dozen years warming subs benchs for a variety of League 1 clubs. That a player like this can then head up to the SPL at the age of 30 and start banging in the goals speaks volumes about the quality of that league and, by extention, the real value of Stokes' exploits.

Exactly, AFS, exactly. That's the standard we are talking about.

[Main Street]

It doesn't matter so much what standard the SPL is relative to other leagues, a class player is still a class player.

You would hear similar nonsense about Larsson, that he was great player in a crap league but how would he do with a franchised brand in the EPL?
MLS players, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, can easily hold their own in the EPL. Just because they play in a lower league doesn't diminish their class.

Whether Stokes is a class player, is another question altogether.

[Geoff Tipps]

It doesn't matter so much what standard the SPL is relative to other leagues, a class player is still a class player.

You would hear similar nonsense about Larsson, that he was great player in a crap league but how would he do with a franchised brand in the EPL?
MLS players, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, can easily hold their own in the EPL. Just because they play in a lower league doesn't diminish their class.

Whether Stokes is a class player, is another question altogether.

WTF??

[Main Street]

Well, that's what I kept hearing these last few days, how the brand of Liverpool was being adversely affected by the antics of the club.  The brand won 

[Capt Pat]

Heffernan is able to go from the english third division to being one of the top scorers in the SPL. Henrik Larson is able to go from being one of the top scorers in the SPL to being the difference maker in a champions league final when he was past his peak.

What does that all mean for Stokes? I think he is a main man centre forward.  He is the type you build yiur game plan around for scoring goals or he is nothing. Can he be that with Ireland. Probably not with Robbie Keane there. So hiw useful can he be to the team? I think he is good  for the national team, but maybe only in the absence of Robbie Keane.

[muppet]

Stokes could be the next Lee Chapman, if he applies himself.

[Billys Boots]

McClean just called up to Irish squad for Czech friendly ......... and Paul Green.

[Gazzler]

Trap calls up Sunderland's James McClean for Republic's Czech clash


Sunderland winger James McClean has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly clash with the Czech Republic later this month.

The 22-year-old former Derry City player, who has been in fine form for the Black Cats since being given his chance by manager Martin O'Neill, has been drafted in along with Derby midfielder Paul Green.

McClean had been expected to be included in Giovanni Trapattoni's initial squad when it was announced earlier this month, but will now take his place along with Green in a 26-man party for the friendly at the Aviva Stadium on February 29.

The Londonderry-born midfielder was signed from his home-town club for £350,000 last summer by O'Neill's predecessor Steve Bruce, but it was not until his compatriot's arrival at the Stadium of Light that he was given the opportunity to make an impact on the senior stage.

McClean made an eye-catching first-team debut as a substitute in the new manager's opening game, a 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory over Blackburn, and after a further two appearances from the bench, was handed a start against Manchester City on New Year's Day.

He has remained in the team ever since and has contributed four goals as well as some fine wing play to Sunderland's impressive run of form, which saw them beat Arsenal 2-0 on Saturday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and extend their record under O'Neill to 10 victories in 15 games.

Asked recently about McClean's international potential ahead of this summer's Euro 2012 finals, O'Neill said: "He is more than worth having a look at. I think he can force his way into the squad.

"Of course, the players who have got the Republic of Ireland there would deserve great credit for that, but there is always room for an emerging talent."

Trapattoni indicated in the wake of qualification for Poland and Ukraine that he would be keeping faith with the men who had taken Ireland to the finals.

In announcing his squad on February 10 after weeks of speculation that McClean would be included, he stuck to his guns.

However, he later revealed he had spoke to the Sunderland 22-year-old, who had earlier been granted clearance to represent the Republic rather than his native Northern Ireland by FIFA after exercising his right to do so, and told him his time would come.

Trapattoni said: "I think all the squad deserve to come with us. They believe us and they know us.

"We have four or five other names because we have no time to change. One is McClean.

"I spoke with him and I said, 'Congratulations, James, I wish you to come with us.' We now have insurance that he can play with us, and this is important.

"He said, 'When you decide, call me up'. I told him 100 per cent he will be with us for the future. Now, I'm looking to consolidate."

However, McClean's chance may now come earlier than he initially thought having been presented with the opportunity to impress the Italian in training at the Republic's Malahide base ahead of the clash with the Czechs.

McClean expressed his delight via Twitter.

He tweeted: "Absolutely buzzin [sic] and honoured to be called up to represent my country... best feeling there is."


This guy isn't too happy about it all though 

cori norwood @CoriNorwood
@JMcC_23 Your from Londonderry you dirty wee twat NI is your country and your a dirty rebel **** go f**k yourself break a leg!!
Retweeted by James Mc Clean
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[camanchero]

the 'are we a country' delusion strikes again !!!

[Doogie Browser]

You would wonder why some people choose not to play for them with sections of support like that.