Poland post-match: Trapattoni – Sammon remains good option for Sweden match

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has said that Conor Sammon remains a good option for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Sweden next month.

The former League of Ireland striker was handed his debut by Trapattoni last night and played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win.

“I think he’s a good option for Sweden because, like Poland, there is technical football and also strong football. For example in the past you saw Walters, physically in football is also important. So Sammon is a good option for this next game.”

Trapattoni was also fielded question about Wes Hoolahan, who came on as a substitute and got Ireland’s second goal. Hoolahan may continue to miss out on a starting place as the Italian looks to continue with two strikers.

“[He did well], not only the goal.  In the past with many questions about Hoolahan I said we know very well about Hoolahan. We need two strikers with our team because with one striker all of the team play for the one striker.

“Hoolahan we know many times. With Marco I repeat, maybe we have overlooked him because in this club he play well in this position but his club is no Manchester or Arsenal but he is a good tactical option. In the future we will consider it.

“Two strikers with one (dropping) in midfield is not easy. In his club he play with one in this position. International football is not the club football.”

Trapattoni spoke about the three objectives that he had for his side and that he was please at how his side had played.

“We had three objective for this match – Evaluate the performance of the new players. We wanted to see their quality, personality, their attitude and also their commitment for the 90 minutes. And the last, which is usually the first objective; the end result. It was very important.

“In life, not only in football, it gives trust and confidence. Particularly with the new players we need confidence because we can grow more with the players, new and the ones coming back, McCarthy continue to grow.

“We won but in the first half Poland were superior. We were a little bit tense and missing many easy passes. After the goal, we were more confident and in the second half we played better and we deserved to win.”

 

 

College Assignment – Trapattoni puts faith in Sammon – Pre-match press conference

Giovanni Trapattoni believes that Conor Sammon can spearhead his sides attach as he hands the striker his international debut tonight against Poland.

Trapattoni believes that the former League of Ireland striker has the attributes to be successful at international level.

“We have seen him so many times, he’s big and quick, and big men are not usually as agile or as sensible. He can defend the ball well and also attack very quickly.”

Trapattoni was naming his squad ahead of friendly match with Poland at the Aviva stadium on Wednesday. The match will act as preparation for the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria next month.

“I am optimistic and I have faith. This will show us what we can do with a new team,” Trapattoni said. “They can show us they’re enthusiastic, that they are technical players. This is their opportunity, not just for the friendly but to stay in the squad.”

Fresh from a disappointing Europe an Championship last summer, pressure is on Trapattoni to get his side playing well and getting results. Trapattoni believes that despite the relatively new squad, creativity isn’t a problem.

“We are a team, we have no Messi, we have no Ronaldo but we have character, we look for the youth and for energy. Our team is always positive and disciplined.”

John O’Shea will captain the team in Robbie Keane’s absence, and believes that a result of the friendly match is important. “Without a doubt we want to get a positive result. Poland are not going to give us anything easy. A positive performance should lead us to a positive result.”

First Division in review: Limerick end a long wait

By Brendan White and Andrew Cunneen.
[As published: Extratime.ie on 13 November 2012]

The season Limerick dreamed about for almost two decades finally arrived in 2012 as the Shannonsiders topped the First Division and in turn, secured promotion to the top flight. Despite losing to second-placed Waterford United on all four meetings, Pat Scully’s team  finished four points ahead of their Munster rivals.

The video interview

Paul O’Flynn from RTE visited DCU this week to speak about being a video journalist. Video interviews are not something I ever thought about. Written work is all I ever wanted to do. There is something about video that makes it a specialist area.

Paul spoke about how he films and edits all his own work, a fascinating job. Paul did a journalism degree in DCU in 1999 and has been working in RTE for the past eight years. He showed us some examples of his work and it was great to get a taste of what can be done working as a one-man team.

Video work can be interesting and can create some good opportunities. I’ve had the opportunity to interview some star footballers over the last few years, thanks to Extratime.ie that has really helped me become more comfortable with video work. Here is one of my first video interviews from the Aviva Stadium after Norway beat the Republic of Ireland

Alan Cawley – Footballer to pundit

Alan Cawley is something of a League of Ireland legend. Every club he has gone to he has become something of a fans’ favourite. A hard working midfield player who has seen a career go from Leeds United, to Sheffield United and even to Waterford United.

His combative box-to-box play makes him the player that fans like to see in their team. Add in years of experience and a dead-ball expertise that would outdo most in the league.

Alan’s playing career finished up in 2011 after a stint in the Irish Premiership with Portadown.

Alan’s move from playing to being a pundit has seen him with a regular commentary spot on radio and now a weekly blog for RTE.ie. Here’s my interview with Alan when he was with Dundalk after coming from behind to win a match against Waterford United in 2010 in the FAI Cup.

Irish need to get over it….

Patrice Evra has offerered Ireland a replay…..but only on a playstation and said that they “should be erecting a statue” of Thierry Henry in France.

Henry has said yes to a replay, but the FFF have said NO, FIFA have said NO, maybe its time we Irish get over the idea of a replay……

We should have been well on our way to South Africa before Thierry Henry’s hand ball. Doyle, Duff and Keane all should have scored as we wasted chance after chance…so really we only have ourselve to blame…we missed the chances, no-one else.

John Delaney and the FAI have done what every Irish fan would have expected and appealed for a replay to be played, knowing very well how unlikely a replay would be.

If the boot was on the other foot, would we be offering France a replay if it was one of our players who had handled it?? We all know the simple answer is …NO. No way in hell would we offer them a replay, not in any circumstances.

We need to move on, realise we’re not getting a replay and GET OVER IT….