Trap excludes Steven Reid, Andy Reid, Finnan and Morrison for play-off squad.

[mjpcc]

Trap will bring back Finnan, S.Reid and A.Reid after the French Games - win or lose - he has been proved right to leave S.Reid and Finnan out of the squad. They are not ready to come back yet, Steven Reid is not match fit and Finnan is injured again.

I fully expect Andy Reid - to me his only contentious ommission - to be back in after these games when their is time to experiment and develop a different system.

Given that we made the playoffs and the fine display against Italy it's hard to argue with Trap.

[Brendan 82]

Go back more than 14 months and Finnan was rarely injured. Before that he was one of the most reliable full backs in the Premiership.

The defense rests.

[irishfan86]

I think there are two different arguments going on here.

Brendan is saying that Finnan is unreliable because of his health, not because of his level of performance, which really can't even be judged because he's only played a handful of matches over the last year or so.

[Razors left peg]

Neither Finnan or Steven Reid even on bench for their clubs today.Trap definately knew what he was doing when picking the squad

[FarBeag]

Not when it comes to leaving Andy Reid out he doesnt.

[irishfan86]

Not when it comes to leaving Andy Reid out he doesnt.

I don't think there's ever been a manager in history that has always picked "the best XI" or "best squad" according to the supporters. As long as there are alternatives with positive attributes, there will be an argument for that player's inclusion made by somebody.

At the end of the day, I only have one major disagreement with Trap, and it is over a player that I feel should be on the bench (A. Reid). All of my other gripes are minor in comparison (I'm not going to get upset about Trap picking Shane Long over Morrison, although I'd consider Clint myself).

I'm with Trap on 90% of issues, and although I'm willing to criticize decisions at times, and listen to alternative viewpoints, I have to respect what he's done with our team so far.

At the beginning of the campaign I was hoping for a central midfield of the two Reids, as I think they'd complement each other very well, but when S. Reid got injured, I wasn't sure that a midfield of say Andy Reid and Carsley would have the legs to keep up with the athletes in international football.

None of us were putting forward Whelan as an option, and Andrews was playing in League 2 at that point.

Now many of you may say that you have been proved right by Whelan and Andrews and their "basic" midfield performances, but I think they have fulfilled their role to the best of their abilities, and that they have been the correct choice for Ireland's midfield given the injury situation and our opposition.

Bottom line, Trap has worked wonders with a limited bunch of players, and I can live with one big omission from the squad if it means we are more functional and effective as a result.

[Razors left peg]

Irishfan that post pretty much summed up own thoughts exactly

[Stuttgart88]

I agree with Irishfan86 except for the having "worked wonders". I think he's done very well.

Am I right in thinking that in 7 of the 10 games we've been ahead at some point in the game? Ok, we only won 4 of them but it shows that with a bit of improvement there's more out there for us.

[elroy]

Trap will bring back Finnan, S.Reid and A.Reid after the French Games

Unfortunately unless we make the WC, I dont see Finnan in an Irish shirt again. Considering his difficulties with injuries the last couple of years and as he is in the twilight of his career, i think he will call it a day after this campaign.

[Emmet7]

Trap has made a valid point about including players prone to injury such as Finnan and S. Reid.

He says he needs options and doesn't want to have enforced substitutions.

Can we depend on S. Reid and Finnan for 90 minutes? If not it would limit tactical substitutions. I am willing to go with Trap's experience on this one. I am sure he has been in games before where players had to come off injured in less important positions and it may have cost him the game.

Fact we need everyone 100% fit and playing at 110% of their ability against the French.

[Murfinator]

What frustrates me is Finnan playing for a month and Reid having 3 games under his belt isn't enough but Henry getting 9 minutes sees him called into the french side where he'll likely do very well.

[Razors left peg]

What frustrates me is Finnan playing for a month and Reid having 3 games under his belt isn't enough but Henry getting 9 minutes sees him called into the french side where he'll likely do very well.

Henry was only out for a month or so. Finnan and Reid much longer term injuries and that makes a big diffference. Reid only had one game under his belt and is injured again and hasnt even been on bench for last 2 games. Finnan went off injured for Pompy again last week and missed this weeks game. Trap was 100% right with his decision to leave the 2 of them out

[elroy]

Good article in the Tribune today, which summarises well the level of progress made under Trap, but also captures the likely reaction we will have from certain quarters (e.g. Dunphy and co) if we dont qualify re our style of play, S Manchester and A Reid.

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/article/2009/nov/08/comment-malachy-clerkin-you-better-be-right-trap-o/

[the-blue-harp]

neither reid or finnan is thierry henry... not by a longshot.:confused:

[Emmet7]

Good article in the Tribune today, which summarises well the level of progress made under Trap, but also captures the likely reaction we will have from certain quarters (e.g. Dunphy and co) if we dont qualify re our style of play, S Manchester and A Reid.

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/article/2009/nov/08/comment-malachy-clerkin-you-better-be-right-trap-o/

I don't think Trap has to justify anything to anyone or if we fail to qualify.

Fact is, this campaign has been a quantum leap from the two or three previous ones. We now have a team in with a chance of beating the best teams in the world. In previous campaigns, we were worried about Cyprus and even San Marino made it difficult for us.

[dr_peepee]

Is that an indictment of how bad things were before or how well Trapp has done... It has to be both really.

Trapp has definately improved things. But there's very few things Trapp has done that isn't common sense in managerial terms though, I think anyway.

Consistency, Discipline. Purpose. Regardless with whether anyone agrees with the tactics or not there's a sense of purpose that wasn't present before.

I feel though that that's the least any manager should bring to the table when employed, especially on that contract.

It's like any walk of life. You get paid for doing your job, you get commendations and bonuses for exceeding expectations, or excelling. I think some are giving him too much credit too soon for doing his job. I've seen only bits of him truly excelling or showing the fruits of his experience.

He had the vision to throw in and stick with Glenn Whelan in the face of innitial opposition from fans and media. It could be argued he's committed to a relatively effective formation. That's where Trapp ticks the box I'd expect from someone of Trapp experience, stature and wages. I've yet to see truly inspired substitution or tactical change (was italy inspired or dictated/influenced by the sending off?). If there are no more diamonds in the rough like Whelan, maybe making a square peg fit and excel in a round hole (I think McCarthy may have been the first to throw Right Full Kenny Cunningham in at Ctre Half. Could be wrong, but you get my point). Something that says "That's why I'm on the big bucks". Maybe despite all his experience he knows we simply don't have the players so he's committed to his lot rigidly as it is now. Hindsight will show all. But at the moment, when it comes to having a small nation punch above it's weight is Trapp in the Roy Hodgson/Otto Rahegel zone? I don't want Trapps head, but I'd be reluctant to over congratulate him too yet.

I hope this gets rammed down my throat next Thursday...

[paul_oshea]

Ya, either way your point is going to have a lot more or a lot less validity next week from some, but its a very reasoned and valid post, unless of course we win comfortably over two legs then all hail trap.

I feel the diamond in the rough remark is way over the top. Whelan is definitely not a diamond in the rough like duff breaking in in the late 90s or reid playing in midfield as oppossed to right wing where he was very ineffective. He has used whelan to do a very simple job, effectively. I would say he goes about his business, bar the two goals, as "satisfactory", he certainly doesn't exceed expectations.

[geysir]

Is that an indictment of how bad things were before or how well Trapp has done... It has to be both really.

Trapp has definately improved things. But there's very few things Trapp has done that isn't common sense in managerial terms though, I think anyway.

Consistency, Discipline. Purpose. Regardless with whether anyone agrees with the tactics or not there's a sense of purpose that wasn't present before.

I feel though that that's the least any manager should bring to the table when employed, especially on that contract.

Whether you agree with the tactics or not, Trap has definitely brought that one to the table and imo that would be his most identifiable aspect as the the other 3 elements mentioned are what you would expect a coach with his experience and price tag to bring to effect his game plan.

[Emmet7]

Is that an indictment of how bad things were before or how well Trapp has done... It has to be both really.

Trapp has definately improved things. But there's very few things Trapp has done that isn't common sense in managerial terms though, I think anyway.

Consistency, Discipline. Purpose. Regardless with whether anyone agrees with the tactics or not there's a sense of purpose that wasn't present before.

I feel though that that's the least any manager should bring to the table when employed, especially on that contract.

It's like any walk of life. You get paid for doing your job, you get commendations and bonuses for exceeding expectations, or excelling. I think some are giving him too much credit too soon for doing his job. I've seen only bits of him truly excelling or showing the fruits of his experience.

He had the vision to throw in and stick with Glenn Whelan in the face of innitial opposition from fans and media. It could be argued he's committed to a relatively effective formation. That's where Trapp ticks the box I'd expect from someone of Trapp experience, stature and wages. I've yet to see truly inspired substitution or tactical change (was italy inspired or dictated/influenced by the sending off?). If there are no more diamonds in the rough like Whelan, maybe making a square peg fit and excel in a round hole (I think McCarthy may have been the first to throw Right Full Kenny Cunningham in at Ctre Half. Could be wrong, but you get my point). Something that says "That's why I'm on the big bucks". Maybe despite all his experience he knows we simply don't have the players so he's committed to his lot rigidly as it is now. Hindsight will show all. But at the moment, when it comes to having a small nation punch above it's weight is Trapp in the Roy Hodgson/Otto Rahegel zone? I don't want Trapps head, but I'd be reluctant to over congratulate him too yet.

I hope this gets rammed down my throat next Thursday...


You make fair points.

I wouldn't say I'm Trap's biggest fan. Some of the games in the campaign were truely dire. Bulgaria at home was torture to watch, and much of the Italian game in Bari wasn't great to watch either, the goal being about the only highlight.

However he has us on the right track, that's the important thing, and there's been more variety and a willingness to let players stretch the system a little in more recent games.

The ideal Trap match would appear to be 89 minutes of defensive football with a goal scored from a setpiece in the last minute, or a variation of that.

I have no doubt while the rest of us have good memories of open exciting attacking high scoring football matches in the past such as at world cups featuring Brazil, Holland, etc, Trap has fond memories of 0-0 draws or 1-0 wins.

He is ultra conservative in his preparation and tactics. That's not to say he is bad in his tactics or management, he has been very successful. And he appears to be a tactical genius I don't think anyone could dispute that. And capable now and again of doing the unexpected which catches the opposing team off gaurd.

Where everyone else might think a flashy player would do great and an average player do bad, Trap often sees the opposite, seeing the limitations of the flashy player and ability of the less flashy player. It's an admirable trait, not to be swayed by hype or the journos about players as he knows that when it comes to judging a player he trusts his own judgement most of all, not some tabloid hack.