Ireland may come to regret Reid freeze-out

November 14, 2009

Giovanni Trapattoni may have cause to regret his decision to leave Sunderland playmaker Andy Reid out in the cold when Ireland face France on Saturday and next Wednesday in their two-legged World Cup play-off.

Reid has been in sparkling form for his club this season in the Premier League, notching some fantastic goals, notably from free-kicks — an area Ireland need to improve on with the exception of Glenn Whelan’s thunderbolts from long range.

He has a range of passing that can unlock the best defences in the world and Ireland will need somebody with that capability against the more-fancied French at Croke Park and Stade de France over the next week.

But the Dubliner has been overlooked by Trapattoni ever since he fell out with the wily, no-nonsense Italian a year ago in the team’s hotel bar in the German city of Wiesbaden after Ireland’s qualifier with Georgia.

Reid has apologised profusely for failing to go to bed before a 2am curfew and, unlike, say, Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland, he has reiterated on many occasions his commitment to play for his country.

But while Trapattoni and his backroom team continue to court Ireland, Reid remains in exile. Of course with a lack of creativity in Ireland’s central midfield, Ireland would be a welcome addition, but surely his absence only reinforces the need for Reid’s recall?

The former Tottenham player has knuckled down since his move to the north east of England, lost lots of weight, looks fitter than ever, and has become one of the most improved players in the best league in the world.

Is it time Trapattoni swallowed his pride?

PHOTO: Fans of Ireland’s soccer team attend France national soccer team’s training session at Clairefontaine south of Paris on November 11, 2009. France will face Ireland in Dublin on November 14, 2009 in a World Cup 2010 play off qualifying soccer match . REUTERS/Charles Platiau

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Tags: andy reid, central midfield, Charles Platiau, clairefontaine, Croke Park, defences, dubliner, face france, France, free kicks, Georgia, german city, giovanni trapattoni, hotel bar, manchester city, national soccer team, north east of england, PARIS, Reid, s central, Stade, stade de france, Stephen Ireland, thunderbolts, whelan

Dublin pub owner is possible Newcastle buyer

July 12, 2009

Dublin publican Charlie Chawke has emerged as being the man behind a new syndicate interested in buying troubled Championship club Newcastle, the Irishman said in a radio interview on Sunday.

Chawke is working with colleagues to put together a group with the financial means to buy Newcastle, up for sale by owner Mike Ashley following relegation from the Premiership.

The Dubliner previously had an interest in Sunderland with the Drumaville syndicate, however he is no longer involved at the Stadium of Light after American Ellis Short completed his buy-out in May.

Several consortia have matched owner Mike Ashley’s 100million pounds asking price for the Magpies, with groups from Malaysia and America understood to be leading the way.

However, no deal has yet been done, and Chawke – who in 2003 lost a leg in a hold-up in one of his pubs – views the prospect of buying the St James’ Park outfit as “a very viable option.”

Fellow publican Louis Fitzgerald, another member of the Drumaville Consortium, is also in favour of the deal. Speaking on Irish broadcaster RTE, he said: “We’re putting a syndicate hopefully together to do just that (bid for Newcastle).

“We had a great time in Sunderland. We have to look at options other than Sunderland and Newcastle would fit very nicely into our portfolio.”

Asked how many people he was looking to have in the syndicate, Chawke said: “We’re thinking about possibly the same as we had in Sunderland, about eight people maybe, depending on what money we can get.”

He added: “It’s a great club, it houses 52,000 people. It’s a great city, Newcastle.

“It’s a bit like Dublin – vibrant, full of fun… all the best things in life are there. It makes perfect sense if I could just swing it.”

DUBLIN (AFP)