News from the past 2 weeks

While I’ve been away:

- It has been announced that Brazil have agreed to play us at the opening of the new stadium! Yeah!!!!
- FIFA have backed down on the passport issue, so players will not need a British Passport to play for Norn Iron.
- Pete tells me that the BBC are loving LS:
“Lawrie has become the darling of the BBC! The World Cup Match of the Day
highlights show has done outside broadcasts with him a couple of times.
They seem to love the fact that he’s just there like any other Joe Public
enjoying the matches, then shares his profound insight with them. And when
the media got hold of the fact that he is half-Ecuadorean (his dad was born
there, and he was asked to play for them) they had a field day in the run-up
to the England v Ecuador match.
In one interview tonight for BBC Newsline, Lawrie said he had two ideal
scenarios for the World Cup:
- That England win it … then NI can say they were the last team to beat
the team the World Champions
- Or that Spain win it … then we play them in the qualifiers, beat them,
and can say we were the first team to beat the World Champions!!!”
- Wrexham’s out-of-contract striker Lee McEvilly looks set to join Bradford.

“Sweden are nothing to worry about” – Lawrie

After watching Sweden fail to beat either Trinidad or Tobago on Saturday, Lawrie Sanchez is considerably happier about the prospect of facing them in our EURO 2008 Qualifiers:
“Sweden ran out of ideas. Trinidad had a player sent off at the start of the second half and Sweden simply failed to come to grips with the efforts of their 10 men.” And Sanchez jets home today no doubt still mystified as to why Sweden struggled so badly. “They had all the possession in the world yet failed to make it pay.” And Sanchez was also puzzled as to why boss Lars Lagerback persevered with the same game plan. He said: “There was an obvious reluctance to change things even though their tactics were not working. “Was it a case of the coach thinking his replacements were no better than what he had on the field? “Whatever the reason we certainly have nothing to worry about on the evidence of that performance.”
And with Henrik Larsson retiring at the end of this World Cup final series Sweden will be even less potent up front. They will still have the likes of golden boy Zlatan Abrahimovic of Juventus but Sanchez says: “More than Larsson might call it a day. It’s usually the case that after a major championship like the World Cup players decide they have had enough.”
Sanchez however will be back to run the eye over the Swedes one more time and also Spain.

Kenny thinks McCourt deserves NI call

After Pat McCourt was named eircom/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for May, Derry City manager Stephen Kenny believes his winger should be called into the Northern Ireland squad. McCourt has one cap for Northern Ireland already, which came in April 2002 when he came on during a 5-0 friendly defeat to Spain as an 18 year old. Kenny did lose some credibility however by claiming that McCourt is better than any of our current right wingers (Gillespie, Sproule & Jones). McCourt was at Rochdale before coming back across the water to play for Shamrock Rovers, who Derry signed him from last July. Kenny said:

“I wouldn’t just say Paddy’s worth a look, what I would say is that he’s better than anyone they have playing in that right wing position at the minute. Certainly he’s good enough, especially when you consider some of the players selected for the recent tour to North America. When you look at some of the young players who went on that trip then, based on performances, Paddy should certainly have been considered.
“He deserves huge credit, his attitude has been exceptional. For one so young some of his performances have been inspirational, the mental courage he has shown has been outstanding. People mightn’t associate Paddy with being a leader but he has shown great application. Not only is he an influential player but he is someone who really stands up and is counted when the chips are down,” said the Derry boss.
With his ability to ghost past defenders – seemingly at will – McCourt has become a firm favourite with the Brandywell faithful since his arrival from Shamrock Rovers last season.
“He’s a fantastic individual talent as I’m sure most supporters would agree. And it’s particularly satisfying to see someone born with the talent that Paddy has fulfil his potential.”

Davis to United rumours back on

Was in the Sunday World a week and a half ago apparently that Alex Ferguson is set to follow up his interest with a bid (of just over £5M) for Northern Ireland’s youngest ever captain. The thoughts of Villa fans in a subsequent poll:
55%: Keep him at all costs
3%: He should be sold if Villa get over £5 Million for him
12%: He should be sold if Villa get over £8 Million
14%: Predicted he will be an outstanding Premiership midfielder (I didn’t make the poll!)
5%: Predicted he will be an average Premiership midfielder.
11%: Davis is ‘all hype’
However, Davis, also believed to be a transfer target for Bolton, recently stated:
“I’m more than happy here at Villa Park. Someone told me about me being linked with Bolton in the paper but I don’t really take much notice of it. I’m happy here so it doesn’t mean anything. I signed my contract, I’m getting the chance to play so I’m more than happy at Villa.”

Big G signs 3-year Leicester deal

Big G:

“I had other Championship clubs interested in my services but the gaffer’s thoughts and ambition sealed it for me. You just get a gut feeling some times and after a chat with him I had no hesitation in signing. I was very impressed with his thoughts, ideas, drive and determination. He is a top man and made me feel very comfortable and welcome. Leicester have Premier League facilities and I want to help them get back up into the top flight and have a crack at that level of football. This was the only place I wanted to come to after I had spoken to the gaffer. I know a lot of players back at home that worked with him when he was at Blackburn and they were all quick to praise him.”

“I have always been involved with successful teams and hopefully that will also be the case at Leicester. It is a step up for me but I am hungry, have got that drive and want to go places. I know that I will have to fight for my place because there are a lot of quality players at this football club but I have every confidence in my own ability and want to do well in pre-season, get a shirt on my back and keep it.

“I like playing football in the right areas, getting the ball down while also going forward for set-pieces and scoring the odd goal. But if I need to get rid of the ball then I will do!”
And McAuley is also hoping his move to the East Midlands will boost his international prospects. He currently has three caps to his name after figuring in the defeats against Uruguay and Romania during his country’s recent tour to the United States.
“International football is a totally different style of football but I feel as though I have acquitted myself well at that level and hopefully if I can make an impression here then more opportunities will follow.”

Leicister boss Rob Kelly:
“He is an intelligent player and I don’t think things phase him – he is very level-headed. I have always thought that players who come into the game late have a slightly different appreciation of not just football but life in general. His presence is obvious; he is a lovely size and also has a good profile and culture. He is an emerging and developing player who is coming into an emerging and developing squad. The rest of the players should be excited that we have signed someone who can help improve us,” added Kelly.

But Kelly insists that McAuley is far from the finished article and cannot wait to begin work with him on the training ground. There is definitely more to come from him. If he works hard then he will get better. We are now moving in a different direction and Gareth is part of this club’s future. McAuley is set to return for the start of pre-season training on Monday, July 3 and Kelly is pleased that there will be another defender amongst the ranks to boost competition for places.
“Gareth knows that he will have to fight for his place but Patrick Kisnorbo is suspended for our first league game so there might be an opportunity for him there,” Kelly said. “But competition is good for everyone; it takes people out of the comfort zone. Gareth is a good addition to our squad and hopefully one or two more will follow in due course.”

Sammy Beckham

Sammy Clingan = David Beckham, apparently. Interesting quote from Lawrie about 40% of international goals being from set-pieces!

“David Beckham is a player I have taken a lot of interest in and I’ve taken note of his dedication to working on set-piece play,” said Clingan.
“He was born with a great talent but his skill with a dead-ball is something he has worked on over and over again.
“When I first discovered I could create goals and score them from free-kicks, I knew it was a talent I could improve on. I stay behind at training to work on set-plays because it’s a very important part of my game and I want to be successful with it.
“Lawrie Sanchez told us in America that over 40 per cent of international goals are scored from set-pieces, so that is something I want to improve upon for Northern Ireland.
“If people think I’m in a position to be Northern Ireland’s answer to David Beckham that won’t frighten me, it will only make me work harder to do what he has done for England.”

Armstrong signs 5-year Hearts deal

NI U19 defender David Armstrong has signed a 5-year deal with Champions League bound Hearts. He was expecting to be let go, and had discussed terms with Crusaders and Linfield, but club chairman Roman Romanov had other ideas and instructed Academy Director John Murray to offer him the new deal and Armstrong is over the moon.

Magilton appointed Ipswich boss

Jim Magilton unveiled as Ipswich boss – becoming the youngest boss in the Championship:
“The Premiership is the goal, it has to be the goal and when you look around the place, it is a Premiership club in all but status. It’s our job to provide that status.
“It’s obviously a very proud day for me, to be announced as manager of such a wonderful club and I’m fired up for the job. I and can’t wait to get going with the players. Bryan’s the same. We will hit the ground running come the first day of pre-season, you can be sure of that.”

McCann Man of the Match in Play-Off Final

Matthew emailed me to say that Grant McCann was man of the match for Cheltenham last weekend as they were promoted for the fourth time in ten years, this time to League One. He won himself a penalty, but the keeper pulled off a great save. He also hit the bar with a deft chip late on. The match at the Millennium Stadium ended Cheltenham 1-0 Grimsby. Michael Duff’s brother Shane had a solid game at centre back.