This week, Dessie has a pop at Giovanni Trapattoni for not including any League of Ireland players in the squad for this week’s friendlies.
The Carling Nations Cup matches are an ideal opportunity to give a few Airtricity League players some international experience; it’s such a shame none were included for the Northern Ireland game.
It’s particularly disappointing not to see any of our lads involved given the way things panned out over the last week with some players pulling out and crying off from the squad.
I think after an intense season in England they definitely deserve their break away and this competition doesn’t benefit them in any way.
Fair enough, players like Robbie Keane and Shay Given need game time but there was plenty of room to include a handful of lads from this neck of the woods.
Call-ups?
Being in the environment of an international set-up would do wonders for the likes of Ronan Finn and Eoin Doyle, who could both earn themselves a career across the pond if they were given a run-out in green.
Doyle has been fantastic up front for Sligo this season – top scorer with 10 goals already – and he’s played very well every time I’ve seen him so far this year. Finn deserves a call-up of some sort also, going on what he’s shown us this season.
And, of course, how could I leave out Twiggy? He’s the backbone of Shamrock Rovers and although he’s only back from injury, it would be phenomenal to see him out on the pitch at the Aviva, even if it is in a Scottish jersey!
I saw Gary play on Friday night and he was banging in the goals for fun – a top drawer player who will get his chance in the UK again, I’m sure of it.
Gary Twigg celebrates scoring against Drogheda at the weekend
It will be interesting to see how Conor Murphy gets on with the Under-19s. When you’re playing with lads your own age who are already plying their trade in England it can be tricky to adapt. I hope he gets a good crack at it; he’s a real talent and another player I expect to make a name for himself on the big stage.
Football focus
Heading into the summer it’s exciting that the League of Ireland gets more attention, especially this season as there’s very little going on elsewhere.
There’s been talk of more televised games and I think any kind of deal that could be struck between the FAI and Sky would be brilliant for the game here.
Football fans will be starved of action on TV and this is a genuine opportunity to profile our league and give all of the players a chance to shine on a larger platform.
The televised games this season have been very enjoyable and I don’t see any reason why more coverage wouldn’t help.
Players will raise their game that bit extra when it’s on telly and I can tell you that if it was me, I’d be well tuned up to play with the added bit of attention.
Hopefully we’ll be seeing packed coaches and so on heading to matches every weekend from here on and taking advantage of the situation.
As for the Champions League final this weekend, I was really excited about heading over to Wembley. I actually had two tickets but, unfortunately, the missus has organised the family holiday for the same day! So I’m going to miss it.
But we’re going to Spain, so we’re going up to Barcelona to watch it outdoors on a big screen. Next best thing I guess.
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