Tardelli happy to stay put
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli has claimed he is open to staying with the Irish national side until 2016, beyond even the optimistic plans of Giovanni Trapattoni.
Recently, Trap has said he would like to stay with Ireland for the Brazil World Cup in 2014 but, asked today at the launch of the Irish Sun 5’s tournament, the Italian’s assistant said he is open to staying on these shores until “even 2016. I would like to stay here.”
Tardelli also insisted the fitness of John O’Shea is key to Irish Euro 2012 qualification hopes, with the Manchester United man’s performance against Chelsea in the recent Champions League quarter final second leg a prime example of the Waterford man’s talent.
Against Macedonia, the Ireland squad included three competitive debutants in the starting eleven, with Keiren Westwood, Kevin Foley and Darren O’Dea lining up in a make-shift defence. 20-year-old James McCarthy also came on that day for his first competitive game, showing the lack of international experience available to Tardelli and Trap in such a crunch tie. And it is international experience that Tardelli points to, with regards O’Shea’s availability to the national side.
“We are very happy with John O’Shea. We need John. I saw him play against Chelsea and he played very well. We would be happy if he played against Macedonia. We need a man with experience. We played Macedonia with young players,” said Tardelli.
Fitness issues over first team regulars like O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Shay Given, Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane are obviously something to concern the national side. “We know that Kevin [Doyle] is a good boy who wants to play for the Irish team,” said Tardelli of the Wolves striker, originally from Wexford.
“We have a new opportunity to bring in new players – Shane Long, [Jon] Walters and maybe [Caleb] Folan; now that he plays in the US. I saw the game that he scored two goals in,” added the Italian, in reference to Folan’s brace against DC United following his move across the foam to play for the Colarado Rapids.
“I hope for Shay Given, that he gets back. We need Shay Given, we need Westwood, we need everyone else – and then we pick who to play. With the Carling Cup we will try new players, players who didn’t play too much.”
Recently, Trap has said he would like to stay with Ireland for the Brazil World Cup in 2014 but, asked today at the launch of the Irish Sun 5’s tournament, the Italian’s assistant said he is open to staying on these shores until “even 2016. I would like to stay here.”
Tardelli also insisted the fitness of John O’Shea is key to Irish Euro 2012 qualification hopes, with the Manchester United man’s performance against Chelsea in the recent Champions League quarter final second leg a prime example of the Waterford man’s talent.
Against Macedonia, the Ireland squad included three competitive debutants in the starting eleven, with Keiren Westwood, Kevin Foley and Darren O’Dea lining up in a make-shift defence. 20-year-old James McCarthy also came on that day for his first competitive game, showing the lack of international experience available to Tardelli and Trap in such a crunch tie. And it is international experience that Tardelli points to, with regards O’Shea’s availability to the national side.
“We are very happy with John O’Shea. We need John. I saw him play against Chelsea and he played very well. We would be happy if he played against Macedonia. We need a man with experience. We played Macedonia with young players,” said Tardelli.
Fitness issues over first team regulars like O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Shay Given, Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane are obviously something to concern the national side. “We know that Kevin [Doyle] is a good boy who wants to play for the Irish team,” said Tardelli of the Wolves striker, originally from Wexford.
“We have a new opportunity to bring in new players – Shane Long, [Jon] Walters and maybe [Caleb] Folan; now that he plays in the US. I saw the game that he scored two goals in,” added the Italian, in reference to Folan’s brace against DC United following his move across the foam to play for the Colarado Rapids.
“I hope for Shay Given, that he gets back. We need Shay Given, we need Westwood, we need everyone else – and then we pick who to play. With the Carling Cup we will try new players, players who didn’t play too much.”
About Gordon Hunt
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