CARLING NATIONS CUP!

February 2nd, 2011 | by: Schwallacus | Comments(3)

I know it is a month late, but happy new year everybody!! Sorry about not updating as much as I would of liked and I am sure all of you would have liked, but we should be getting back on track.  I hope the new year has started out well for you all, and I believe it will for the FAI and Irish National Team!

The transfer window for club football has just closed, and with it left some familiar Irish boys in new colors!!  Andy Keogh, as you will see, has been named in the squad for the upcoming tournament, as well as moving on from Wolverhampton Wanderers and has gone on to Bristol City.  That news is trumped however by the transfer of Kaptain Keane to West Ham United from Tottenham!!  GREAT NEWS there because instead of being left out of not only the starting eleven but also left off the bench, Keane will now be kicking rump as a starter for West Ham, and hopefully he helps them from becoming relegated…

Now for the big news, THE CARLING NATIONS CUP!!! YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

The Irish will be taking on our neighbors across the sea, Wales, on February 8th at 7:45PM in Ireland (2:45EST for those of us across the pond on the East Coast).  It is the kickoff game for this whole tournament, with the games taking place during international breaks when the teams don’t have EURO 2012 matches going on.

The roster includes many worn in and known faces, but also some new ones in the form of Ciaran Clark (yes, he technically was supposed to play against Norway, but was out injured), Seamus Coleman, and Marc Wilson!! Welcome to the clan boys!  I am especially excited to see Clark and Coleman hopefully get some time since they are both playing well for Aston Villa and Everton and to continue that form for the Eire.

Now, for the whole roster as named by Trapp:

GOALKEEPER: Shay Given, Keiren Westwood

DEFENDERS: John O’Shea, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger, Kevin Foley, Kevin Kilbane, Stephen Kelly, Darren O’Dea, Paul McShane, Marc Wilson,

MIDFIELDERS: Darron Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Paul Green, Liam Lawrence, Stephen Hunt, Aiden McGeady, Keith Treacy, Damien Duff, Keith Fahey,

STRIKERS: Robbie Keane, Jonathan Walters, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Andy Keogh, Leon Best

How do you fellows feel about this roster?!?! Do you agree with Trapp or feel like he has gone mad from surgery?!?!