Squad for Poland game

[Dr. Ogba]

Trying to be Devils Advocate on the squad choice - I'd imagine Trapp's response would be that he is employed to achieve qualification for 2010 and not to overly experiment and "build for the future" on a continuous basis.

Trapp is dealing with the here and now and this dictates that he uses the majority of his favoured team at every given opportunity. This fosters a familiarity with formations and a team spirit.

He may well not be using this game to experiment - but as match practice for the established players.

This squad suggests that the friendly will be used to maintain the momentum that this specific group of players have contributed to since the campaign began.

I'd like to have seen the likes of McCarthy, Delap, St Ledger etc etc but I think the wholesale changes could be introduced at a more staggered pace to what we are used to.

hmm sounds very familiar that one...has Brian Kerr been drafted into the backroom staff on the sly?

oh, and another point - what the hell has Tardelli been doing with his time if he hasn't been watching Championship matches??? :confused:

[Closed Account]

been left out for what reason?!
With Reid and O'Brien making intimations in various outlets that they don't want to be part of the Ireland squad if not getting gametime, maybe Trapattonis feels other players are more worthy of a place in the squad.
Pure speculation on my part and now that I've written it down, I don't really
believe it either.

There was talk of a provisional squad last week which had players like Delap/Rowlands/McCarthy in line for a call up. Is this usual? Do players know before a weekend round of fixtures whether they are in line for a call up or not? They're probably be a few withdrawals.

[theworm2345]

Bloody ****ing hell Long in there over Hunt? No McCarthy (I'm not a big fan, but at least to tie him up)? No Delap?

[third policeman]

Dude, he has a settled side. I think you'll find very few people questioning Trapps first 11. It's the fact that he clearly thinks Miller and Bruce are the next best options. The fact he didn't know who Delap was on the radio a few weeks ago. The last 10 minutes against Cyprus with no subs... Eh... And all the other stuff typed by people too... He's not as committed to this Job as I'd like, and as his pay would warrant, in my opinion.
.
There is one key area where we dont have a settled team and that's centre mid. S.Reid is out injured and Whelan, Gibson, Miller have all looked unimpressive playing there. It's also the area where we have a crop of young players who are showing outstanding form in the Championship. I simply cannot understand the argument that says "No let's not bother looking at these guys we're fine, if we need another option there's always Keith Andrews. He's not playing regular first team football either so hell be fresh and up for it." Its bloody obvious what's happening with our selection - If you weren't in the squad when Trap took over and your not at a premiership club then you are totally off the radar!

On the Delap front there's no way he was going to get picked, because it would have made it obvious that Trap, Tardelli and Brady didn't even know he was Irish. By leaving him out now they can get away with arguing that he's been considered, but wasn't good enough.

[paul_oshea]

joe: but where has reid said anything about not starting?

[Billy-Green]

Very happy with the defenders but Gibson, Miller, Stokes, Folan and Long is taking the p*ss. What more does Noel Hunt have to do?

[boovidge]

Bloody ****ing hell Long in there over Hunt? No McCarthy (I'm not a big fan, but at least to tie him up)? No Delap?

He's no David Connolly, that's for sure!

[Closed Account]

joe: but where has reid said anything about not starting?
He hasn't, not publically anyway, but I imagined this is what the supposed bustup in Germany was about. Again speculation. An article on Setanta sports suggests the ommission is merely Trap flexing his managerial muscle and that hopefully the lads will be back in the next squad. Hopefully Trapattoni will explain his selections.

[paul_oshea]

ya id reckon that reid will be in the next one actually, he knows what reid can do already.

[dr_peepee]

Hence the need to play 2 holding midfielders. We don't have one player that is "strong" enough to effectively protect the back four on his own. Personally I like us to have one holding midfielder and one attacking midfielder but playing that way leaves us exposed with the players we have at our disposal.



I don't see any inconsistency here at all.

I have to ask you... Do you consider Miller, Andrews and Gibson "Holding Midfeilders"??

I like Steven Hunt but in no way is he an advocate for patience and ball retention. That's were at least one of Trapps inconsistency lies.

[Stuttgart88]

I've no problem with Folan's inclusion. Long over Hunt is bizarre alright. Here you are absolutely comparing like with like. They play for the same club in the same position. One gets picked and scores regularly. The other doesn't. Guess which one gets picked for Ireland?

I'm glad Andrews is picked as CM is where we need to be looking at our options. I hope he impresses.

I'll be charitable and say that maybe it's still too early for Garvan and O'Toole though I'd love to see them involved. I don't know McCann's game as well. They have as much justification for inclusion as Gibson - at least they're playing.

[geysir]

Maybe one *unt is enough.

[amaccann]

A tame & utterly unimaginative squad. "Whatever gets us to South Africa" is fine by me, but I would have expected some fringe players to come along during the friendlies.

Is there a touch of the Eddie O'Sullivan going on here? IE, Trap picking a "super-squad" come what may & persisting with it without any plan 'B'? It's probably too early to tell.

[Noelys Guitar]

Is Brady just a water carrier? I can understand Trap not listening to anything Givens tells him. But Brady seems to have no infleunce whatsover. As for Stapo and Mick Martin. What are their roles other than watching matches for free. How much respect does Trap have for his "assistants"? I am guessing very little in a football sense. This could spell the end of Andy Reid's Ireland career and that to me is very wrong. Reid is not world class. He can't run. But he is the best passer of the ball we have. He wants to play for Ireland. And he should have been allowed to show his talents in this upcoming friendly.

[ArdeeBhoy]

A.Reid, Ireland, McCarthy(James) & Delap should all have been called up and played!

And put Naughton in the squad, as a statement of intent.

[theworm2345]

He's no David Connolly, that's for sure!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the light ;)

[livehead1]

F*ck knows what is going on with this squad. There are a good few players that should be in there. The one glaring issue I have is Shane Long over Noel Hunt. Why? Surely some journo has to bring this to the attention of the masses who perhaps aren't aware that we have two strikers at one club. One banging them in and keeping the other out the side. It might have even been the time to look at Doyle and Noel Hunt leading the line for Ireland. If Keane got injured who do we fall back to? Long? Stokes? Folan? None of whom play regularly for their clubs. I really do not get it; I wish someone would explain it to me!

[amaccann]

He's not picking on form, that much is certain.

[third policeman]

He's not picking on form, that much is certain.

Nor ability, nor potential, nor any other rational criteria.

[Kingdom]

Is Brady just a water carrier? I can understand Trap not listening to anything Givens tells him. But Brady seems to have no infleunce whatsover. As for Stapo and Mick Martin. What are their roles other than watching matches for free. How much respect does Trap have for his "assistants"? I am guessing very little in a football sense. This could spell the end of Andy Reid's Ireland career and that to me is very wrong. Reid is not world class. He can't run. But he is the best passer of the ball we have. He wants to play for Ireland. And he should have been allowed to show his talents in this upcoming friendly.


Hard to second guess a lot of whats going on Noely.

Lads, when stevie reid got injured, and given he started Gibson against Cyprus, could yis not see Trapper starting with the same two again to build up some sort of partnership? I certainly expect him to start with Whelan and Gibson. if he's going to persist with them, they need game time to find a rappor. He did it with Reid and Whelan, so he probably will do it again. I wouldn't mind seeing him experiment with the full backs - I'd like to see Delaney given more time, we know Killer is first choice and we know he's going to start.
I'm not saying I believe its right, I just feel its what he's going to do.

Also would it be an idea to hold a B International this week. I'm sure an alternative 22 could be picked fairly handy.

[tricky_colour]

Very disappointing, it seems the main reason for selection is to have done nothing to impress recently, I was rather surprised not to have seen my name on the teamsheet.

[jmurphyc]

:eek:

Just saw the squad now. Wow! I support Trap and am happy with the start we have but if things start going badly then he's going to get massacred (not that he'll care). If he manages to get us to a world cup with the kind of players he keeps on selecting though, then he's nothing short of a genius. Perhaps this is his plan?

[SkStu]

He's not even going to the games. So obviously he's not totally committed to the job.

Its all about to go pete tong. We simply won't get the results we need against Italy or Bulgaria, home or away, playing the rubbish football he's had us playing so far. And with the players he's selected, i think what we've seen so far is as good as it gets for us i'm afraid.

People can defend him all they like, i'm yet to find anyone to make some sense of his selections. Even Tardelli and Brady it seems.

much as I want him to succeed i have to agree with this opinion. The friendly squad is shocking, our qualifier squads are shocking and the footie we're playing is shocking. Im constantly shocked :eek:

[the doc]

Can someone please tell me how Bruce keeps getting picked a head of St Ledger?

http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/St-Ledger-bemused-by-Eire.4606160.jp

http://www.lep.co.uk/national-football/Ledger-voted-best-player.4039323.jp

[Carrigaline]

Can't say I would be pleased with this squad.

But, as long as Trap is getting the results, we can't argue.

[Razors left peg]

Im definately not surprised that he wants to stick with Whelan and Gibson to start this game but some of the omissions from the squad are staggering.Results so far have been good so dont want to critisise Trap too much, but his overall knowledge of Irish players is awful it seems. Up to now I was happy enough with him not attending matches ever week in England but really this squad selection isnt good enough from our highest paid manager ever and it is proof that he is not seeing enough of the fringe players. Someone made a very good point on this thread that he is here to get us to the next world cup and not to build for the future, thats far enough but the likes Stokes and Long ahead of Noel Hunt is a farce.And Liam Miller continuing selection when he cant even get on the bench for Sunderland is astonishing.
I really feel sorry for Andy Reid, admitidly he my favorite Irish player at the moment, but I think his treatment by this management has been nothing short of disgraceful.I was really looking forward to this friendly and I was hoping that Reidy would at least get a half hour on the pitch to prove that he can do a job for the manager, but now after seeing this squad its not making the drive up and down to Dublin from Galway for this friendly look too enticing.Will still go but without any excitement about the game

[Rambling Along]

I know were all complaining but in fairness it's only for a friendly vs Poland.
My worry is if we qualify for the World Cup and the type of omissions Trap would have from his World Cup squad because to be honest it would petrify me to see Alex Bruce, Shane Long, Glenn Whelan and Anthony Stokes lining up for Ireland at the World Cup.

[Cloggs]

just looking at the squad now and am incredibly disappointed and disillusioned with traps choice of squad!some of the glaring omissions are nothing short of scandalous.i was really looking forward to seeing andy reid get some time on the pitch and show what he can do but now we're being left with dumb and dumber in the centre of the pitch with as much creativity between them as reids little toe.i'm appaled:mad:.i won't even start on noel hunt not being in the squad ahead of shane long:eek:

[Diarmo]

Quite disappointing. Was hoping to see a bit more experimentation around central midfield.

I'd suggest this starting line-up:

Kiely
Foley Dunne O'Shea Delaney
Duff Whelan Andrews McGeady
Folan Keane


With Bruce, Gibson, Hunt and Doyle getting game time. Bruce especially needs it if he's our back up centre half! :eek:

[DmanDmythDledge]

Dunphy on Radio 1 now. Bang on the money in everything he's saying.

[geysir]

Looks like Andy Reid and Joey O'Brien have been put on ice for a while.

The worst about it is that on any sports program, I have to listen to Dunphy.
Throughout my following Ireland that pr*ck has haunted my every turn. The joy disappears from my life when I hear his voice.

Trap has his reasons, probably very mature reasons.

[carloz]

First time i have ever been a little angry with Trap. This strikes me as a very lazy lazy squad selection. Joe Murphy, Alex Bruce, Darren gibson(at this times, one for the future), Liam Miller and Shane Long simply should not be in the squad. Form players like Westwood, St. Ledger, Garvan, N.Hunt, O'Toole, McCarthy, McCann and Delap have been overlooked for a friendly match which would be an excellent opportunity to see what they can add to the team. Really think this squad shows how little Trap is actually watching player. The players that i mentioned that shouldn't be in the squad are getting very little play time for their team. Im not even going to get into whatever logic was involved in dropping Reid. Think Trap has to forget about the Portuguesse training camp from last summer, stop just picking the players that were at that, and realise that we are overlooking some of the Irish players who are bang in form at the moment.

[zenokelly]

Dunphy on Radio 1 now. Bang on the money in everything he's saying.

You thought he was talking sense until he said Joey O Brien is playing every week for Bolton and Reid has only started 2 games for Sunderland this season......

Its a disgrace what Trap is let do. The squad he picked today is worse than any picked by Stan or Kerr.

If he's so adamant about playing 2 holding midfielders, pick at least 2 that are playing week in week out and doing well for their clubs i.e. Delap, Carsley instead of the likes of Miller and Whelan that aren't getting a look in at their clubs.

McShane wouldn't be starting for any other Prem team,(don't be blinded by Hull's league position) his performances have been muck in the 3 games I've seen him this season. His only positive attribute is his work-rate which is not solely good enough at this level.

He must be taking the P*** by picking Long ahead of Noel Hunt. I wouldn't normally have too much concern about the striking back-up chosen but Hunt should be 3rd choice after Keane and Doyle.

The exlusion of Reid is sickening, but I'll reserve judgement until Trap speaks about the situation as it would not be a big surprise if Reid told him "don't pick me or play me" which is fair enough as he's already been treated like **** by Trap, but I don't think that it's the sort of thing that Reid would do.

He announced the squad through press release today to avoid the hard questions which is again unacceptable as is his refusal to to attend premiership & Championship matches.

Trap needs to give the fans answers:mad:

[Billy-Green]

Kiely
Foley Dunne O'Shea Delaney
Duff Whelan Andrews McGeady
Folan Keane



Are you mental, you'd start Folan ahead of Doyle? The more game time Keane and Doyle get together the better

[shakermaker1982]

The more I see of this squad (as it flashes up on SS news) the more bewildered I get.

Joey O'Brien I can understand. He spoke out and needs to be kept in line but Miller, Shane Long, Bruce and Stokes? Noel Hunt must be livid. I'm so disappointed that we've stuck with the same old options. I respect the Trap and would give his reign an 8 out of 10 so far but I think he's dropped a clanger here which could come back to haunt us down the line. New players needed to be assessed by the management team to see whether they could fit into the Trap's plans.

[DotTV]

I don't know why people are getting so fired up! Bruce instead of St Ledger!!?? Who gives a ****! Hopefully neither of them ever make the first 11. Trap won't change much and international teams don't get together enough to waste a game by calling in loads of new players. He'll use the B games for that. Expect a similar starting 11 to before. One more game together improves the shape, organisation and direction of the team

[tommy_c12000]

Awful squad selection. All my previous excitement at the upcoming friendly has been quashed. The whole thing makes me sick. Not going to bother going to the friendly now

[DmanDmythDledge]

Joey O'Brien I can understand. He spoke out and needs to be kept in line
I think there was a bit of an over reaction to what Joey said. Sure, he shouldn't have gone through the media, was out of line and showed a bit of disprespect to being selected for your national side but I don't think it warrants being frozen out. If Givens did this everyone would be up in arms...

"I love playing for my country, love meeting up and I have great friends.

"But I don't like walking around in a track suit saying, 'I play for Ireland'. I'm like a fan in a tracksuit.

"I'm gutted about the whole thing. The manager is the manager and he's a great manager, but I'm not in his plans.

"I'm used to playing in the Premier League and the UEFA Cup, so to go over and train under a management where it seems they don't know your name, I'm going to have to look at the situation.

"It's a bit away from walking out completely, but I'm not going to keep going if I'm sitting in the stand. When you look at the team that played against Cyprus, it proved how far down the list I was.

Look at the right-back or centre midfield positions where I play- we were missing the first and second-choice right-backs in Steve Finnan and Stephen Kelly, and there was even a lad on the bench ahead of me. In the middle, I must be about fifth choice.

"From a personal point of view, I am looking at the manager and I don't know if he comes to watch the games I play or what. You don't know how far you are down the list, and that makes it hard.

"Of course I'm having a look at myself. There's no point in going over there, training twice a day for a few days just to sit in the stand like a fan.

"Apart from the last couple of weeks with Bolton, I've never been dropped unless I had injuries.

"I'm used to playing in the Premiership and the UEFA Cup, so to go over and play and train under a management where it seems they don't know your name...I'm definitely going to have to look at the situation.

"It's a problem here (at Bolton) too. When I report back on Thursday having missed a whole week training, the lads in my position are training day in, day out."

Did Trap speak to him about his comments/his plans for O'Brien. I think what was needed here was for the two of them to sit down, talk things through and resolve the matter one way or another, whether that be O'Brien staying with the squad or decide he doesn't want to be a part of it.

[amaccann]

I don't know why people are getting so fired up! Bruce instead of St Ledger!!?? Who gives a ****! Hopefully neither of them ever make the first 11. Trap won't change much and international teams don't get together enough to waste a game by calling in loads of new players. He'll use the B games for that. Expect a similar starting 11 to before. One more game together improves the shape, organisation and direction of the team
I think most people are more bewildered at the preference of two do-nothing strikers in Long and Stokes (3! forgot Folan) instead of an in-form Hunt.

[Billy-Green]

Will this selection make all the trap arse lickers change their opinion of him?

[noddy102]

Knowing Trap, he won't make many substitutions anyway.
He'll go with his strongest 11. What will be interesting to see is who he will choose in central midfield. Hopefully Andrews gets a game and I predict he'll start.

[tricky_colour]

Will this selection make all the trap arse lickers change their opinion of him?

That depends on the results, there are plenty you are 'quietly disgruntled' at
moment, one bad performance and those opinions will be expressed somewhat
louder. Trap is putting his head on the chopping block with this selection.
I wonder what the other team members think about it?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Perhaps, he really is just an Italian 'double agent' ??

[Billy-Green]

I wonder what the other team members think about it?

I'd say there all prity confused. Stephen Hunt will prob be very p*ssed off knowing his bro should be there.

[Diarmo]

Are you mental, you'd start Folan ahead of Doyle? The more game time Keane and Doyle get together the better

I think we need to experiment a bit more, and Robbie does well with a target-man type player. I'm not saying Folan should be ahead of Doyle, he shouldn't, but I think it might be useful for Robbie (who, let's face it, as captain will never be dropped and rarely subbed) to get used to another strike partner who will offer something a little different. I'd like Doyle to still get some game time though.

[weldoninhio]

He doesn't go to matches.
He doesn't pick players on form.
He has frozen out our most creative player.
He doesn't even know some of the players names.


How can people say they are happy with results so far, we beat a poor georgian team, a cypriot team with lots of injuries and drew with a team who had played a total of 11 games together in their history.

He was hounded out of the Italy job because of his boring negative tactics. He had a great career and maybe 10 years ago he would have been a good choice, but if he was such a great coach he would have been coaching at a higher level than Red Bull Salzburg.

[Guidedbyvoices]

He doesn't go to matches. agree
He doesn't pick players on form. agree
He has frozen out our most creative player. agree
He doesn't even know some of the players names. Cant comment


How can people say they are happy with results so far, we beat a poor georgian team, a cypriot team with lots of injuries and drew with a team who had played a total of 11 games together in their history.agree

He was hounded out of the Italy job because of his boring negative tactics. He had a great career and maybe 10 years ago he would have been a good choice, but if he was such a great coach he would have been coaching at a higher level than Red Bull Salzburg. agree

At least you are not afraid to let rip with you opinion unlike half the sheep on this board. Sad to say but you are correct. I don’t think that Staunton would have done any worse to be honest and certainly Kerr and McCarthy could have done better,

[Guidedbyvoices]

[quote=Ciaran;1056036]More people calling for Fahey than Carsley to be in the squad is a typical example of why Foot.ie don't have respected opinions in soccer circles.




Its because people like you who post on it know sod all about the game, no other reason.

[tommy_c12000]

He doesn't go to matches.
He doesn't pick players on form.
He has frozen out our most creative player.
He doesn't even know some of the players names.


How can people say they are happy with results so far, we beat a poor georgian team, a cypriot team with lots of injuries and drew with a team who had played a total of 11 games together in their history.

He was hounded out of the Italy job because of his boring negative tactics. He had a great career and maybe 10 years ago he would have been a good choice, but if he was such a great coach he would have been coaching at a higher level than Red Bull Salzburg.

The fundamental thing that was missing in the Staunton and Kerr eras was organisation. At least with Trap we have that. Each player seems to know exactly what there job is. Even though the 2nd half against Cyprus was fairly shambolic. Would agree with most the points ur making though

[NeilMcD]

More people calling for Fahey than Carsley to be in the squad is a typical example of why Foot.ie don't have respected opinions in soccer circles.

My view on the squad? meh. People need to narrow their view, who he calls into a 24 man squad to make up the numbers doesn't matter at all, they're never going to get off the bench or have any impact so I think it's a non issue of who he hands the filler roles to.

It's disapointing that he hasn't recalled Carsley and dropping Reid and Murphy totally is perplexing but I think those 3 are the only real issues here. It's certainly no "shambles" or anything near as dramatic, it's a friendly squad where we'll probably get little more out of it than seeing if Keith Andrews is better than Gibson which he probably is.

What soccer circles are these, centre circle or what.