Shane Lowry - Switches to Oz

The_B_Man

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12010_5597995,00.html
Is this a first for Irish Soccer?

Halfway down the above article is this:

Coach Pim Verbeek has also called up former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Shane Lowry, who is set to make his senior debut.
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Lowry was born in Western Australia to Irish parents and despite representing the Republic at Under-17 and Under-21 level, he has decided to switch his allegiance to Australia.

The 20-year-old defender was signed by Aston Villa in 2005 and has gone on loan to English Championship side Plymouth having yet to make a first-team appearance for Villa.

"For all of us it's a good opportunity to have him for a week in training and to see him," said Verbeek.

"And for him it's a great opportunity to be back in Australia and to meet the rest of the players."

Obviously he feels he won't get in the squad and has a better chance with the socceroos.
Can't say I ever heard of him though.

MagicMarker

Maybe he wants to play in a World Cup?

Leixlip_Red

He must have really got himself in shape after winning the Irish Open !
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/irish-open-champion-lowry-is-ready-to-turn-pro-14306416.html

ADTR

MagicMarker wrote: »

Maybe he wants to play in a World Cup?

This.

dubmick

I would have thought that Australia would have more quality in their side i.e. not need to call up a Villa reserve team player

Tomthepost

The_B_Man wrote: »

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12010_5597995,00.html
Is this a first for Irish Soccer?

Halfway down the above article is this:



Obviously he feels he won't get in the squad and has a better chance with the socceroos.
Can't say I ever heard of him though.

He is a good prospect at Villa. Played a few games in the pre-season Peace Cup where Villa beat the mighty Juve in the final with a bunch of kids.
Also made 2 sub appearances for Curtis Davies in the UEFA Cup.
Was handy being based in England to play underage for Ireland but this was always going to happen im afraid.

Xavi6

dubmick wrote: »

I would have thought that Australia would have more quality in their side i.e. not need to call up a Villa reserve team player

Right now yes, but there is very little young talent coming through.

When the core of the current squad retires after this World Cup, there won't be a lot of quality left. The likes of Neill, Kewell, Viduka (gone already), Grella, Cahill, Bresciano, Schwarzer etc won't be around for 2014.

Bounty Hunter

this was announced quite a while back iirc, atleast i remember us discussing it in the Villa thread. Lowry seems a decent prospect but he see's himself as Australian moreso than Irish despite playing underage with us. Now that he has been called up by the Australians he had to make a choice and he picked them. Maybe he only played underage with Ireland as he didnt have the opportunity with Australia partially due to the amount of travel involved for just underage games (just speculating).

_blank_

Xavi6 wrote: »

Right now yes, but there is very little young talent coming through.

When the core of the current squad retires after this World Cup, there won't be a lot of quality left. The likes of Neill, Kewell, Viduka (gone already), Grella, Cahill, Bresciano, Schwarzer etc won't be around for 2014.

Any chance of Viduka coming back for the WC?

And Vince Grella quality? Srsly?

Xavi6

Des wrote: »

Any chance of Viduka coming back for the WC?

Pretty much zero chance. Verbeek said today that Viduka has no interest in playing football in any capacity at the moment and that seems to be the end of that.

And Vince Grella quality? Srsly?

He's been first choice holding midfielder for years, and there's no one to take over from him. He's 'quality' in terms of having the ability to do a good job for a team that's qualified for consecutive World Cups.

CHD

Meh, He's Australian tbh.