August 07, 2003
Sunderland duo (trio?) picked for Ireland squad
Sunderland players Gary Breen and Kevin Kilbane have been included in Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland squad to face Australia in a friendly at Lansdowne Road on 19th August - but there's no room for new SAFC skipper, Jason McAteer.
Perversely, although Mick McCarthy has said he won't risk Breen for this weekend's opener against Nottingham Forest because of his lack of match fitness, Kerr has left McAteer out of the RoI squad for the same reason - despite McAteer having taken an active part in Sunderland's pre-season programme.
Kerr said today, "Jason hasn't played that many games in the last season. I think I saw his last game which was against Fulham but he's been struggling with injuries. But Jason is a good player and we all know he's scored some vital goals and he's certainly not out of my plans."
Also included in the RoI squad is Colin Healy who passed a medical and agreed personal terms with Sunderland this week, the final transfer only being held up by the need for clarification of whether or not his current club, Celtic, will be due for compensation.
"Colin needs to find a club soon and I'm sure it will be sorted out shortly", said Kerr. "But like Gary, he did well for us last season despite not playing much first team football. They've both kept themselves fit."
Squad for Ireland v Australia on 19.8.03: Given (Newcastle United), Colgan (Hibernian), Murphy (West Bromwich Albion), O'Shea (Manchester United), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Breen (Sunderland), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Harte (Leeds United), Dunne (Manchester City), Finnan (Liverpool), Carsley (Everton), Healy (Unattached), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Kilbane (Sunderland), Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Duff (Chelsea), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Morrison (Birmingham City), Connolly (West Ham United).
Australia squad: Aloisi (Osasuna), Bresciano (Parma), Cahill (Millwall), Chipperfield (Basel), Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Foxe (Portsmouth), Grella (Empoli), Kalac (Perugia), Kewell (Liverpool), Lazaridis (Birmingham City), Moore (Rangers), Muscat (Rangers), Neill (Blackburn Rovers), Okon (Leeds United), Popovic (Crystal Palace), Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Skoko (Genclerbirligi), Tiatto (Manchester City), Vidmar (Cardiff City), Viduka (Leeds United).
Southampton star wants to partner Phillips
Established Southampton striker James Beattie has said he's looking forward to the prospective signing of Kevin Phillips.
Sunderland announced this week that they have agreed a fee of £3m for Phillips with Southampton FC, and have given permission for negotiations to open.
Beattie said "Phillips would be a great acquisition for the club. I don’t mind the pressure and he will take some of it off me. He’s a big-name player and I hope that working with him will make me a better player.
However it emerged today that Phillips is not planning to meet with Saints manager Gordon Strachan until the end of this week at the earliest.
And Phillips' agent Phil Smith has already warned Southampton that they shouldn't expect to sign his client on the cheap, saying "They've just got £7million from Wayne Bridge which they weren't expecting - we'll take some of that thank you."
McCarthy thanks fans for their support
Press release from Sunderland AFC:
Sunderland AFC today thanked over 16,000 fans for showing their support in securing their season tickets for the forthcoming campaign.
Manager Mick McCarthy said: " It's really great that so many supporters have got behind us. I've said on lots of occasions now that I'm up for
it, and our aim this season has to be to challenge for promotion, so I'm
delighted that so many fans have given the players and I their backing.
In return, I can promise that I'll be trying to give our fans a season
that they can look back on and be proud of."
Chairman Bob Murray added: " It's tremendous to see so many fans backing the club before the new season has even got underway. Their support and loyalty is greatly appreciated and not taken for granted.
" Tickets are still selling daily and I know some supporters are waiting
until our player movements are complete before they commit, and I can
fully understand this. I'm sure there will also be a good number of
fans who also give us their support on a match-to-match basis, and again
this is appreciated by all.
" Everyone at the club is really looking forward to the start of the new
season, there is a noticeable air of anticipation around the training
ground and the club as a whole, and we all just want to get started now
and to try and win games."
Sorensen's agent defends his man
The agent of outgoing SAFC keeper Thomas Sorensen has hit back at the criticism of his client as negotiations to take him to Aston Villa continue.
The Danish international is holding out for a loyalty payment in the region of £500,000 from Sunderland.
Paul Stretford told the Sunderland Echo "It is a disgrace what has been said.
"This is something which is in his contract in black and white. He holds the record at Sunderland Football Club for most clean sheets in a season and was offered a contract which reflected that.
"Taking that into consideration, I don't see how anyone could argue he is now holding the club to ransom."
Villa, for their part, have said nothing since their statement of 30th July confirming that negotiations were still in progress.
McAteer confirmed skipper, misses RoI selection
Press release from Sunderland AFC:
Jason McAteer accepted the captain's armband from Mick McCarthy today and said: "I'm desperate to help him succeed."
The Republic of Ireland midfielder will lead out Sunderland at Nottingham Forest on Saturday admitting that it will be a proud moment.
McAteer has captained Sunderland during most of their pre-season campaign, but it was not until this morning that he was told he would get the job on a permanent basis.
"It's a job I will enjoy and I count it as an honour to captain Sunderland," said the 32-year-old.
"I class Mick [McCarthy] as a friend as well as my manager and I want to see him succeed. As one of the more experienced players here and as captain, it's my job to help the manager.
"I don't see the job heaping more pressure on me. In fact, it's the opposite - it means I will worry about other players more than myself."
It is not the first time McCarthy has asked McAteer to do the skipper's job for his team. For the former Liverpool man took control of the armband with Ireland at the start of last season.
And McAteer reckons Sunderland could do a lot worse than follow the "never say die" example set by Ireland over the years.
"We've always had a great camaraderie with Ireland," he said. "We realised that we weren't world-class and we got into winning ways through hard work and honesty. No-one let anyone down.
"I can see that being installed here. All successful managers have been great man-managers and Mick has got that. He also knows how to win."
McAteer says Sunderland have just one thing on their mind on the eve of the new season. "Promotion," he said. "You don't start a season aiming for mid-table. We are aiming for promotion.
"The fans have got to stick with us, that's important. As much as it's a cliche, the fans are a goal head start here."
Jason McAteer will be writing an exclusive column on safc.com this season.
McAteer has not, however, been seleted to represent his country to play against Australia on 19th August, with manager Brian Kerr citing the player's lack of fitness: "Jason hasn't played that many games in the last season. I think I saw his last game which was against Fulham but he's been struggling with injuries. But Jason is a good player and we all know he's scored some vital goals and he's certainly not out of my plans."
