278 Spain tickets go on sale on Saturday

“278 tickets have been returned belatedly by the Spanish FA for the Northern Ireland v Spain game on Wednesday September 6, kick-off 8.15pm.
These are all priced at £35.
These tickets will go on sale on Saturday September 2 at 11am from the Irish FA at 20 Windsor Avenue, Belfast on the basis of a maximum of two tickets per person.
Tickets can only be purchased by attendance at the Irish FA’s headquarters.
Telephone or email bookings will not be accepted.”
IFA

Build Up: Lawrie video interview

Despite the reporter’s desire to hear that Laffs was replacing Quinn, Lawrie assures us that Quinner is younger than he looks, knows the game, and will be around for a long time yet!
HE’S TALL, HE’S THIN, HE LOOKS LIKE JIMMY QUINN, HE’S JIMMY QUINN!

“The spirit in the camp at the moment is fantastic” – Elliott

Northern Ireland’s Stuart Olyott speaks ahead of Saturday’s game with Iceland:

“We showed real improvement in the World Cup campaign and the plan is to do the same again this time,” said Elliott.
“Obviously we are in a tough group with the likes of Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Latvia and of course Iceland are no mugs, but we go into Saturday’s match in positive mood.
“The spirit in the camp at the moment is fantastic – as good as I’ve known it in my time as an international and everyone is ready to go. All the boys in the squad are playing for the shirt and are desperate to do well.
“We got a taste of the reaction of the fans to big results when we beat Azerbaijan and England back to back and we are hungry for more. We believe we can do something in this campaign – certainly with our fans there is nothing to fear at Windsor Park. The Iceland match is going to be a test but there is no reason why we can’t collect maximum points.”
While Elliott has been a regular for Sanchez since the former Wimbledon midfielder took up the international post, he has surprisingly been left out of the Hull side this season. That has increased the speculation that Elliott may be on the move with Crystal Palace constantly linked to the winger.
“I know I haven’t been playing recently at Hull but I will bide my time, keep working hard and hopefully take my chance when it comes,” says Elliott. “I have done well for Hull over the years and am settled at the club. I want to stay there get back in the team and help us achieve some success. Being over here with the Northern Ireland squad is a good lift. Hopefully if I am selected for the Iceland game on Saturday that will in turn help me at club level. All my concentration though is on delivering for Northern Ireland at present.
“This is a big period for us. We are training well and the plan is to take that into the next two games against Iceland and Spain.”

Sanchez interview & Saturday Round Up

LS interviewed by the League Managers Association
Weekend action:
David Healy is brought down in Leeds’ match with Sheff Wed, but gets up to put away the penalty and hand them a 1-0 win.

Grant McCann also scored from the spot in Cheltenham’s 3-2 win over Millwall.

Steve Jones got both assists for Burnley in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. His second assist was for young Kyle Lafferty.
Andy Kirk scored and hit the post in Northampton’s 3-2 defeat at QPR:
Here’s an extract from an interview the week before:
‘Has Andy thought about the possibility of winning a recall for Northern Ireland?
“I haven’t even thought about international football. My mind is totally focussed on doing well for Northampton Town.” ‘

Squad for Iceland & Spain

Goalkeepers – Maik Taylor (Birmingham City), Roy Carroll (West Ham United), Michael Ingham (Wrexham)
Defenders – Tony Capaldi (Plymouth Argyle), Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Chris Baird (Southampton), Aaron Hughes (Aston Villa), Michael Duff (Burnley), Gareth McAuley (Leicester City)
Midfielders – Steve Davis (Aston Villa), Stuart Elliott (Hull City), Ivan Sproule (Hibernian), Keith Gillespie (Sheffield Utd), Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Grant McCann (Cheltenham Town) (Nottingham Forest), Chris Brunt (Sheffield Wednesday), Steve Jones (Burnley)
Strikers – David Healy (Leeds Utd), James Quinn (Northampton Town), , Kyle Lafferty (Burnley), Warren Feeney (Luton Town)
First time LS has selected 3 keepers apparently. Strikers Andy Kirk, Dean Shiels & Peter Thompson aren’t included.
Other news:
– Didn’t get time for a Saturday Round Up on Saturday. Steve Davis got the first ever assist at Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium in a 1-1 draw.
– Limited amount of Spain tickets on sale tomorrow from 9am.

Finland highlights

Courtesy of Dr Wa on YouTube: (from yesterday’s Newsline, who put the goals in the wrong order to focus on Lafferty)

Keith Gillespie on the match:
“I’m not surprised David scored on a night when he won his 50th cap – he always does that sort of thing.
“Kyle I thought did really well and he looks as though he’s going to be an excellent target man for us. He’s going to cause teams problems. It’s good that the boss now has two options to pick from when he wants to put a big man up front.”
While Gillespie enjoyed the fact Northern Ireland had recorded a solid win, he urged caution ahead of next month’s qualifying game against Iceland at Windsor Park.
Gillespie adds: “We’ve got to believe we can win the match but Iceland aren’t going to be a team we are going to roll over easily. They are a decent side and will be a difficult match – they drew with Spain on Tuesday night so that gives you an indication of what we are up against.
“We’ve been on a high for the last year and no-one was thinking about not having an away win in two years. That didn’t come into any our minds. It was just a case of keeping our momentum going. We gave away a soft goal and apart from that I thought we coped pretty well.
“We without Steve Davis and Damien Johnson, two big players for us, but I thought those players (Sammy Clingan and Grant McCann) who came in for them did really well.”
Gillespie along with goalscorer Healy and keeper Maik Taylor was substituted at half time. Sanchez decided with games club coming up this weekend it was best to give some other players their opportunity. “I wasn’t injured and nor was David or Maik. It was just a case of trying to give everybody a game. Lawrie might also have taken into consideration that I have a game against Liverpool on Saturday and my club will want me back training so it was best to give me 45 minutes.”
In other news, Jeff Whitley has signed for Stoke until December.

Finland highlights

Courtesy of Dr Wa on YouTube: (from yesterday’s Newsline, who put the goals in the wrong order to focus on Lafferty)

Keith Gillespie on the match:
“I’m not surprised David scored on a night when he won his 50th cap – he always does that sort of thing.
“Kyle I thought did really well and he looks as though he’s going to be an excellent target man for us. He’s going to cause teams problems. It’s good that the boss now has two options to pick from when he wants to put a big man up front.”
While Gillespie enjoyed the fact Northern Ireland had recorded a solid win, he urged caution ahead of next month’s qualifying game against Iceland at Windsor Park.
Gillespie adds: “We’ve got to believe we can win the match but Iceland aren’t going to be a team we are going to roll over easily. They are a decent side and will be a difficult match – they drew with Spain on Tuesday night so that gives you an indication of what we are up against.
“We’ve been on a high for the last year and no-one was thinking about not having an away win in two years. That didn’t come into any our minds. It was just a case of keeping our momentum going. We gave away a soft goal and apart from that I thought we coped pretty well.
“We without Steve Davis and Damien Johnson, two big players for us, but I thought those players (Sammy Clingan and Grant McCann) who came in for them did really well.”
Gillespie along with goalscorer Healy and keeper Maik Taylor was substituted at half time. Sanchez decided with games club coming up this weekend it was best to give some other players their opportunity. “I wasn’t injured and nor was David or Maik. It was just a case of trying to give everybody a game. Lawrie might also have taken into consideration that I have a game against Liverpool on Saturday and my club will want me back training so it was best to give me 45 minutes.”
In other news, Jeff Whitley has signed for Stoke until December.

Yesterday’s U21 Goals

0-1 (Not much you can do about that):

0-2:

0-3 (Didn’t look like a pen to me):

Good article in the Times about the Finland match: “IF THIS is a sign of things to come, maybe Northern Ireland are right to believe that they can qualify for their first international finals since the 1986 World Cup.”
Also, our 2-1 friendly victory made the front page of the News Letter! The only time I can remember us making the front page apart from the England game!

Yesterday’s U21 Goals

0-1 (Not much you can do about that):

0-2:

0-3 (Didn’t look like a pen to me):

Good article in the Times about the Finland match: “IF THIS is a sign of things to come, maybe Northern Ireland are right to believe that they can qualify for their first international finals since the 1986 World Cup.”
Also, our 2-1 friendly victory made the front page of the News Letter! The only time I can remember us making the front page apart from the England game!

12-match unbeaten run ends for U21s

Romania 3 – NI 0 (European Championship qualifier)
Roy Millar: “It was a disappointing performance and a disappointing result. We started the game reasonably well and created a couple of half chances in the opening ten minutes or so. Their first goal was a great volley which gave the keeper no chance but, unfortunately, it was their second goal just before half-time which was the killer. We picked things up a little in the second half. Jonathan Evans came close with a great header and Dean Shiels also had a chance. Quite simply we didn’t play to our potential although to give Romania credit they are a very good side.”
McGovern, Ward, Hughes, McArdle, McChrystal, Evans, Gilfillan, Brunt, Thompson, Shiels, Scullion subs Tuffey (not used), McCaffrey (not used), Friars (not used), Clarke (replaced Gifillan), Smylie (not used), Stewart (replaced Thompson), Turner (replaced Scullion)