We've got a few international matches coming up next week involving the Home Nations. England play Scotland at Wembley, while Wales play the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland are playing their rearranged World Cup qualifier against Russia, which was of course originally postponed amidst the heavy snow in the spring. ---------------------------------------------------------- Northern Ireland announced their squad this morning, with nothing major to report from it... Goalkeepers: Carroll (Olympiacos), Mannus (St Johnstone) Defenders: Hughes (Fulham), McGivern (Hibernian), Cathcart (Blackpool), McAuley (West Brom), D Lafferty (Burnley), J Evans (Manchester United), Bruce (Hull City) Midfielders: Davis (Southampton), Norwood (Huddersfield), McGinn (Aberdeen), Ferguson (Newcastle Utd - on loan at Birmingham City), C Evans (Blackburn), McGrant (Peterborough) Forwards: Grigg (Brentford), McKay (Inverness CT), Paterson (Huddersfield), K Lafferty (Palermo), Ward (Derby) ---------------------------------------------------------- Scotland announced their 29-man squad a couple of weeks ago... Goalkeepers: Matt Gilks (Blackpool) David Marshall (Cardiff City) Allan McGregor (Hull City) Defenders: Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion) Steven Hammell (Motherwell) Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers) Alan Hutton (Aston Villa) Russell Martin (Norwich City) Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) Andy Webster (Unattached) Steven Whittaker (Norwich City) Midfielders: Charlie Adam (Stoke City) Barry Bannan (Aston Villa) George Boyd (Hull City) Liam Bridcutt (Brighton and Hove Albion) Chris Burke (Birmingham City) Scott Brown (Celtic) Craig Conway (Cardiff City) Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion) James Forrest (Celtic) Gary Mackay-Steven (Dundee United) Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic) James McArthur (Wigan Athletic) James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion) Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Steven Naismith (Everton) Kenny Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps) Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) Anyone know of anymore matches being played next week?
Uruguay fly to Japan for a friendly on Wednesday of next week. Maya and Gaston both involved, I'd imagine.
Scotland U21s play England at Brammall Lane. One of the Scottish lads, Clark Robertson, is a pal of my son, and used to play together for the primary school. He plays LB for Aberdeen, CB usually for the U21s. Sunderland and Everton are sniffing around apparently - how chuffed would I be if he signed for Saints.
There's Portugal v Netherlands, hopefully with less than 16 yellow cards. Belgium v France sounds good. Italy v Argentina with the unofficial world championship to play for.
That won't stop them flying him over the other side of the world and back just two days before our season opener!
Flying back from New York just in time to head to Ireland v Wales....looking forward to it!Look out for my flag which says Oh Me Nerves on it!It will no doubt be a dreadful game with lots of withdrawals though. Probably 0-0
Gaston and Maya are just an example of the problems with hiring players from the other side of the world. I know a player is signed primarily for his skill and the needs of the team, but it is a pain.
Saints confirm the following players have been called-up: Artur Boruc Dejan Lovren Steven Davis Gastón RamÃrez Lloyd Isgrove Emmanuel Mayuka
Interestingly, no Maya for Japan. Wonder if we told them he wasn't fit or if they just decided to rest him?
Yeah I spotted that too. Suppose we probably did tell them he wasn't fit, he is a regular starter for them so not sure they would drop him by choice (maybe from the first team but not from the squad entirely). Maybe Uruguay didn't buy it
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/call-ups-for-six-976807.aspx? OS article says Japan haven't selected their squad yet so Yoshida and RamÃrez could still be pitted against each other.