Squad for Brazil game

[passinginterest]

Bizarre that Ward has not been included and Cunningham has. I know he has potential and Mancini has probably bigged him up to Trap, but Trap can't have ever even seen him play. Has he ever seen Ward play or who in the Irish set up has. Do they even know that Ward is Irish. I'm a fan of Trap but I'm a bit bemused by this. Delighted for McCarthy and Wilson but feel sorry for Fahey, who by all accounts done well yesterday,, in front of Trap. Does he know Fahey is Irish?

Ward played for Ireland B against Nottingham Forest in the early days of Trap's reign. I just don't think he rates him, and as has been said he's probably getting info on Cunningham from fellow Italian Mancini. Ward is definitely the unlukiest of the players left out I'd say.

[ifk101]

Strange to call Cunningham into the squad but best of luck to the lad and hopefully he can turn into a top player for us in the years to come. Anyways the inclusion of Wilson and Cunningham suggests that Trapattoni has identified left full as a problem position for us and because of this I'm sure Ward will get his chance in the other forthcoming friendlies.

I still feel we are a bit weak in centre midfield so I'm happy that McCarthy will now get a look in.

I wouldn't have included Long in the squad - Stokes is more deserving in my opinion. Long has gone backwards the last season or so and seems to be developing a bit of a disciplinary problem.

[Crosby87]

Miller will 100% be in the squad. He was in our squads when he had no club, so he is obviously going to be in our squad when he is playing consistently well in the SPL

Right on as always Carloz.

[shakermaker1982]

Let's hope Fahey, Coleman, Foley and Ward all get a look in for the May matches.

[Razors left peg]

Trap was at the Fulham against Birmingham game yesterday and by all accounts Fahey was fairly annonomus so that might have gone against him for this squad. As a Galway man I must admit to being total biased about Cunninghams inclusion, there is absolute no way he is there on merit but Im still delighted.Hopefully the experience of being in the squad will develop him. I always thought that where possible we should always call up one young player to every squad just to give him the experience and future incentive that he will want to get back in on merit. It is crazy though that he is in and Ward isnt.
As for anyother players that might have had a chance of a call up I think we can expect a very experimental squad for the end of season friendlies.There is no point in sending out basically a B squad against a full strenght Brazil and watching them get hammered

[dr_peepee]

Bizarre that Ward has not been included and Cunningham has. I know he has potential and Mancini has probably bigged him up to Trap, but Trap can't have ever even seen him play. Has he ever seen Ward play or who in the Irish set up has. Do they even know that Ward is Irish. I'm a fan of Trap but I'm a bit bemused by this. Delighted for McCarthy and Wilson but feel sorry for Fahey, who by all accounts done well yesterday,, in front of Trap. Does he know Fahey is Irish?


Fahey's a pity.. But there's hardly anyone too undeserving in there ahead of him though (The merrits of playing a small bit at a huge club as opposed to playing more but hardly nailed on first choice at a small club could be argued in Gibsons case I suppose)

Agree with you re: Ward though.

[Dodge]

Trap was at the Fulham against Birmingham game yesterday and by all accounts Fahey was fairly annonomus so that might have gone against him for this squad.

Watched a bit of it online. he did OK but missed a decent chance (good block by Hughes I think). McLeish made two subs in midfield and left Fahey on. As has been posted elsewhere, Tap doesn't pick ball playing midfielders so his "exclusion" isn't a surprise. Ward is very unlucky IMO and Coleman and Foley have done more to warrent a call than Cunningham

I think Wilson is a poor full back but he's playing regularly in the EPL so he has to have something going for him.

If the uncapped players get on v Brazil I think only Fahey and Ward would be uncapped nad playing regularly at that level

[Razors left peg]

I think to say that Trap doesnt pick ball playing midfielders is unfair when you see the inclusion of Jamie McCarthy. Dont get me wrong Im a big fan of Keith Faheys talent but he has disappointed me this season. I havent seen him play too many defense splitting passes or test the goal keeper with many shots.I dont just dont think he has been showing the skills that those of us who watched him in the LOI know he has, for me he looks this season more of a workman like player

[Colbert Report]

I can't wait to see what MancIrishWolf has to say about this one. Even I'm surprised that Stephen Ward hasn't been included, and I don't rate any of our players at Wolves not named Kevin Kilbane.

[Razors left peg]

I can't wait to see what MancIrishWolf has to say about this one. Even I'm surprised that Stephen Ward hasn't been included, and I don't rate any of our players at Wolves not named Kevin Kilbane.

Kevin Kilbane is a Hull player. And u dont rate Kevin Doyle????

[Junior]

- Wards exclusion and Cunninghams inclusion is a strange one. As has been mentioned it can only be the Mancini factor.
- Millers exclusion is another strange one for me. Playing the best football of his career since Trap has been on the scene and now he drops him from the squad? Bizarre.
- Long has only just started to bag a few goals in the last month or so, coupled with the discipline issues (a red in recent weeks and one a few months ago that I can recall). - Stokes has been looking good for most of the season. I would have had him in there ahead of Long.
- Does this pretty much write off Finnan for future squads or do you think he still may feature under Trap?

[Brendan 82]

Ward's exclusion is a little strange but I'm glad Wilson is in there rather than Edddie Nolan or O'Dea, who we've seen in the past. Must admit to knowing virtually nothing about Cunningham but I suppose he is at a "big" club and those players seem to be favorited (DG anyone). Delighted McCarthy is in there and hope he gets a cap. Shane Long must have barely made it

[endabob1]

Sorry that the bridges with Andy Reid appear to be well and truely burned. I thought a fresh campaign might mean a clean slate but clearly not.

Makes no sense to risk Steve Reid at this point & I guess this means the end of the line for Finnan although I'm glad to see Wilson get a chance and I'm very surprised along with everyone else about the Cunningham call up, seems an odd one. Great to see McCarthy get the call, should put an end to the Scotland rumours & given his performances recently it's on merit that he is included.
Shane Long is very lucky to be in there & I would suggest that Miller & Stokes are a touch unlucky given that they are both playing well in a decent enough Hibs side.

[Charlie Darwin]

My first thought was perhaps Trap agreed to include Cunningham in exchange for Mancini having a word with Ireland. Otherwise, it might just be that Trap and Tardelli see more potential in Cunningham than they do in Ward, and Wilson is seen as the short-term option.


Sorry that the bridges with Andy Reid appear to be well and truely burned. I thought a fresh campaign might mean a clean slate but clearly not.
He's injured.

[tetsujin1979]

Sorry that the bridges with Andy Reid appear to be well and truely burned. I thought a fresh campaign might mean a clean slate but clearly not.Andy Reid is out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury, there's no way he would have been in the squad.

[endabob1]

I was just about to post that I hadn't realised he was injured........

[carloz]

Right on as always Carloz.

:( Surprised really. The guy is playing much better now than when Trap was selecting him for every squad. Oh well, I have been made to look a fool

[SwanVsDalton]

Don't really have a huge problem with the squad. I'm sure Ward, Fahey, Stokes, Murphy et al have plenty of time to press a more compelling case for the Summer friendlies. For now let's get the squad together and get the ball rolling with a few new faces. The line-up itself will probably be same-old, with maybe McCarthy and Wilson off the bench.

[Serb]

:( Surprised really. The guy is playing much better now than when Trap was selecting him for every squad. Oh well, I have been made to look a fool

In fairness, he has warranted inclusion more now than he ever has. I'm not entirely unhappy with the decision to leave him out, but I'd say there's a good chance he'll be back for the next two friendlies in the RDS.

[Irishwolf]

I cannot believe ward hasn't been included.Yeh Trap musn't rate him at all.I've been to a few wolves games this season and trap has been there scouting,so he defo knows hes Irish.I was sure ward was going to be a natural replacement for Kilbane.I've been watching him very closely this season and hes been doing really well.Great to see McCarthy though,delighted about that.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

I can't wait to see what MancIrishWolf has to say about this one. Even I'm surprised that Stephen Ward hasn't been included, and I don't rate any of our players at Wolves not named Kevin Kilbane.

It's certainly disappointing, however I suppose he's just going to have to wait for his chance which I'm sure he'll get at some stage. To be fair he has been playing with an injury lately which has hampered him in his recent performances against Birmingham, although he played well against Spurs and Chelsea. Back to Walsall made a good point that Trap has nothing to gain from seeing Wardy get ripped by Kaka which in the long term could be more damaging to his confidence. He still has a bit to learn, so maybe just concentrating on learning his trade in a relatively new position will do him good and help ensure that he gets another chance to learn in the top flight next season if we stay up.

My only concern is that this is not another case of the "if your face fits" syndrome which has been slightly endemic of Trap's reign. He seems to have a habit of favouring certain players (Miller, McShane, Kelly etc.) at the expense of testing others (I'm not sure how much Givens might have to do with this who seems to have based his whole managerial career on petty prejudices). Also, Wardy is definitely more of a roving full back, overlapping regularly, which may not be Trap's cup of tea, as he seems to prefer his banks of four.

The only other alternative is that he is planning to play O'Shea at left back when he returns, which if so I hope is to accomodate Foley (or Coleman) as opposed to McShane or Kelly.

With a bit of luck, this will just be a swansong for Kilbane as a fitting tribute to end his career and an opportunity to showcase the next generation (McCarthy/Cunningham) to show young lads of a similar age what can be achieved if they apply themselves.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm going to miss KK :(

[seanfhear]

I am pleased to see McCarthy included. Ward must feel a little unlucky.

[Colbert Report]

Kevin Kilbane? End of a long day for me there fellas. I meant to type Kevin Doyle.

[Razors left peg]

Kevin Kilbane? End of a long day for me there fellas. I meant to type Kevin Doyle.

I kinda thought as much but couldnt help the little dig :)

[Crosby87]

Kevin Kilbane? End of a long day for me there fellas. I meant to type Kevin Doyle.

No doubt depressed all day over the loss last night! Surprised you didnt say "Chris Drury"

[Charlie Darwin]

Emmett Malone has a few quotes from the press conference in today's/tomorrow's Times. Though not backed up with a quote, this part was interesting:


On the face of it, Stephen Ward has vastly more experience and a much stronger claim on a place in the squad, having played regularly for Wolves for some time now, often on the left side of defence, but Trapattoni seemed to suggest the Dubliner had effectively failed his first audition for the role almost a year and a half ago when he was part of the Ireland B squad for the friendly game against Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park and that the former Bohemians player will have to wait his turn before getting to try out again.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0223/1224265037837.html

[sligoman]

Great chance to give Seamie a chance and he doesn't do it, well done Trap!

[tetsujin1979]

Emmett Malone has a few quotes from the press conference in today's/tomorrow's Times. Though not backed up with a quote, this part was interesting:



http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0223/1224265037837.htmlstrange that, I was at that game, and Ward was playing right in front of me in the first half
I thought that, with Hoolahan playing badly on the left wing in front of him, he never really had an out ball, and was under pressure quite a bit. Actually, Andrews dropped deep from midfield to give him an option a few times.

[Charlie Darwin]

From the sounds of some of his other comments, it sounds like Trap may be considering giving McCarthy a start:


"This senior team deserves to play against Brazil," he said. "They come from a very good season. But it’s important also we choose some other new potential, like for example (James) McCarthy. He can play in midfield and not only behind the striker but on the left or right. It’s important when we see on the pitch the qualities he can develop."

http://www.examiner.ie/sport/crying-time-is-over-insists-trap-112869.html#ixzz0gKYMm940

[Reality Bites]

Great chance to give Seamie a chance and he doesn't do it, well done Trap!

Patience my dear child