ROI v NI

Just about to start a thread on the same subject, poor value, that backline looks dodgy. The North's squad is poor but the first 11 is not too bad well not to bad you compared to our first 11 and they will be up for this big time. I think a lay of Ireland may not be too bad a bet.

Ipswich Town winger Josh Carson will win his first cap for Northern Ireland in Tuesday night's Carling Nations Cup game against the Republic of Ireland.

Carson has been named in manager Nigel Worthington's starting line-up for the match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Alan Blayney will play in goals, with Adam Thompson, Lee Hodson, Craig Cathcart and Gareth McAuley in defence.

Sammy Clingan, Steve Davis and Jonny Gorman play in midfield, with Warren Feeney and Josh McQuoid up front.

Blayney is preferred to Jonathan Tuffey between the posts.

Ryan McGivern pulled out of the squad for the games against the Republic of Ireland and Wales on Sunday.

The Manchester City full-back has a groin injury and Oldham Athletic's Carl Winchester received a first senior call-up as his replacement.

Oldham teenager Winchester is the fourth new face in the senior squad after Stuart Dallas, Jordan Owens and Carson got their first call-ups on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland take on the Republic on Tuesday night at the Aviva Stadium with Wales their opponents three days later.
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    As long as all the big boys are fit and raring to go come the start of August, that's when I want them all back

Nigel Worthington Northern Ireland manager

A host of players are injured or unavailable for the fixtures.

Worthington acknowledged that the timing of the two end-of-season fixtures was "very awkward".

"The Republic have got qualifying games so they will have pretty much all their big players around the squad," added the Northern Ireland boss.

"Wales have been hit quite badly, as have ourselves. I don't know Scotland's situation at the moment.

"We've got players who have played 50-odd games in the season and need a rest, players who are getting married, one or two who have injuries at the end of the season.

"But as long as all the big boys are fit and raring to go come the start of August, that's when I want them all back."

Lack of numbers means the eligibility row has surfaced again, with a Fifa ruling allowing Northern Ireland-born players to opt for the Republic, and youngsters Daniel Devine and Shane Ferguson looking likely to switch allegiance.

Worthington said: "The situation hasn't changed. The door is open at this moment in time until such time as it changes.

"Personally, I want players to represent Northern Ireland, not another country, and that's the Republic, England, Scotland, Wales, wherever.

Northern Ireland team: Blayney, Thompson, Hodson, Cathcart, McAuley, Clingan, Davis, Carson, Gorman, Feeney, McQuoid





No bet now, thats a p1ss poor team!

Has Anthony Stokes not spent the majority of his time on the bench recently?

How exactly can he be suffering from fatigue?

2-1 roi

By fatigue, he means hangover

Stephen Ward starts and makes his debut!
CHING CHING! GTFI!!! 

There was more sitting in the stand to see the Queen in it last week

2 yrs ago that Keane chance would have been a goal.

Sad to see him plodding around now.

marc wilson won't play under trap now.

I knew i'd inspire him

Nice finish, thankfully he didn't have to run for it.

muppetfingers what do ye make of the crowd tonight? i see it's empty. will ya be getting your big boy calculator out now and be comparing this to your gaa games that you're so interested in?

Go on the red card!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

need the north to defend here now, have 2 euro on 4nil with powers

Anyone else at the game see the banner the Northerners unveiled?

'Fai Leave our Players alone

Keep Gibson'

Poor crowd again but good performance by the team.

This Carling Nations has been a disaster crowds wise, anyone with tickets tonight gets in free to  the Scotland v Wales  or Wales v North games on Wednesday and Friday so they are making the effort but they really overestimated demand for such a tournament, without England in it. Also some of the squads sent out have not helped.

Coleman looked composed without doing much, very good first touch, but didn't seem to keen to take on players.

Actually reasonably impressed by Josh Carson. Only 17 and the North's best player by a distance. Very good in the first half.

There is simply too many friendly internationals being played at home, sorry but i am counting these 3 Carling cup matches a friendly games that makes it 12 home friendly matches in the past 2 years, it's crazy. The FAI have got probably one of the best stadiums in Europe if not the best bar Wembley added to the fact the tickets prices are mental in the economic times we live and under Trapp we're a bad side to watch. Can you blame people for not going?

Its a Tuesday night on a work week. People dont have the cash anymore and have to be selective.

Added to that the FAI burnt their bridges with genuine soccer people with their ludicrous block booking schemes in the tiger years. They are reaping their rewards now.

15,000 attendance for a friendly? Is that no use?

The FAI shafted a lot of the fans after 1990 world cup and this continued after the 92 qualifying round. We were on the block booking list and my mate and his father were on it, the FAI had a policy back then of looking after the corporate types and fans very much came second. After 1990 it got more difficult were told not enough space and we lost our block booking place due to the demand and so did many good Irish football fans as the FAI looked after their own 'rich' friends. I think it's finally come back to bite them. Although saying that up until recently i was back on the block booking scheme and i give it up because of the amount for friendly matches you had to pay for, i would not even go and see Argentina or Brazil play, anyway i was able to pick up tickets for any game i wished to attend through contacts i have in the football family.