Albania!
Mon, Jan 18 2010
Well, it's been an eventful enough weekend as we all get back to normal and can feel our toes again.
Latest reports are that Northern Ireland are to play a friendly away in Albania on March 3rd. This is not a joke. Honestly. The IFA have described the proposed friendly a 'moneyspinner' and a good test for the team! Allegedly the IFA have been inundated with requests to play them at home but instead have chosen a date in Tirana instead. Unbelievable. Also proposed are a 'two-match tour' of either North or South America with Chile being mooted as a possibility due to the association we have with them in the Milk Cup. Meanwhile the Republic will play Brazil at the Emirates.
Healy's misery at Sunderland was made all the worse on Saturday, having to sit it out on the subs bench as he watched his narcoleptic teammates thrashed 7-2. There is no news whatsoever from the SoL, but we can certainly expect to hear something before the transfer deadline.
We could still do with seeing something on paper in terms of Nigel Worthington's contract. We are lead to believe a deal is done, but it's his backroom staff that seem to be the reason for any delay. Both Glynn Snodin his assistant and goalkeeping coach Fred Barber are unhappy with what the IFA have offered them. It is unclear whether Worthington would be willing to continue in his post without them but it is expected Northern Ireland supporters will see a signature later this week.
It's been a fairly quiet weekend for our boys but goals from Dean Shiels for Doncaster and Michael O'Connor for Scunthorpe keep the fires burning. North of the border Andy Kirk is knocking them in for fun for Dunfermline. With two last weekend and one again on Saturday in their defeat to Dundee, it will come as no surprise to see him included again in forthcoming selections.
Similarly, there's been little news for Northern Ireland supporters on the transfer market concerning our players. Tony Kane has been released on a free from Darlington and will remain with Carlisle United for the time being. Chris Casement has been released from Ipswich to Dundee while Craig Cathcart returns to Manchester United from Watford.
So it seems we won't be playing Wales afterall in March. The thought that a meaningless friendly could be made slightly bearable by playing a home nation was easing the psychological burden, but the FAW have decided to host Sweden instead. So it looks like the prospect of Albania away. We can only look forward to the Euro 2012 draw on Feb 7 in Warsaw. Laptops and credit cards at the ready.
Back to home page
