Steven Reid retires from international football...

[KR's Post]

Sky Sports just broke the news. He wants to concentrate on Club Football!! Bad news!

[lionelhutz]

Very disappointing. After his performances away to Georgia and Montenegro, I really felt he was going to be the lynchpin of our midfield but it just wasn't to be. Considering his injury record, I don't he would have played much with Ireland in the future anyway.

[Charlie Darwin]

I was half-expecting something like this to happen. I imagine with the kind of injuries he's had, the stress of travelling across Europe for games would be a major injury. I'd like to see him change his mind some day but I think it's the right decision for him and he doesn't owe us anything.

[Brendan 82]

Trapp knew

[John83]

Sad, but understandable.

[Murfinator]

I'd say it was a clause from West Brom on signing him more than anything. Steven always seemed to revel in playing for Ireland, he played for us while half fit for us loads of times and seemed desperate to get fit again to be back for Trap's world cup qualifiers and was crushed when Trap didn't select. The whole declaring himself fit business when he clearly wasn't showed how much he wanted to be included for the French game.

I think since then and given his comments Trap sees him as too fragile and doesn't seem likely to include him again anyway. His career will go down as one of unfulfilled potential. He was overlooked by Kerr and injuries cut promising starts under both Stan and Trap short.

All the best to him, I think we're crying out for a fully fit Steven Reid but him getting back to fitness and focusing on staying fit is whats important now. I'll be hoping quietly that if he does get back to full fitness and playing regularly that he might reconsider down the road. ;)

[irishfan86]

Sad, but probably a smart move on his part given his injury history.

On some level, it might be good for Ireland as it will force us to work with players who are more likely to be healthy...as opposed to say anticipating having Reid and then feeling like we're missing something when he's not available.

That said, I'd have in my starting XI every time. Best of luck to him, I think all of us fully understand the decision. Hope he has a great season with West Brom and can have a few injury-free seasons here.

[DazH]

An awful shame, inevitable I suppose but will be missed in the setup

[SkStu]

Best of luck Steven. Your performances at the WC goes to show the potential you had and how much your injuries curtailed your progress. Could have been a super player for club and country.

[Sullivinho]

More than understandable really and credit to him for not doing it earlier. I hope he can get a couple of more seasons out of the game, emphasis on hope.

Best of luck to Steven.

[DannyInvincible]

Disappointed to hear this but you couldn't hold it against the guy. I always liked Reid and his attitude, despite the fact he represented England at under-age level. To think some would have objected to the presence in the squad of a guy obviously very proud to pull on the green jersey of his heritage because of that... :rolleyes: His willingness was never in doubt and, understandably, he now has to ensure he can make a living playing club football for another few years at least. I also kind of got the impression that Trap was content to overlook him when Reid declared himself fit last year. It wouldn't surprise me if Reid took slight offence to this, and I actually wouldn't blame him either, considering Trap said something along the lines of him being unable to see Reid recover from his injury or have a future with Ireland. This all in spite of Reid being fit at the time according to himself and his club. Anyway, best of luck to him and I know he's 29 now, but maybe, with a bit of long overdue luck, he might get his career back on track sooner rather than later and reconsider this decision if still up to the challenge of international football.

[seanfhear]

I would like to thank Stephen Reid for all that he did for us. Except for injuries he could have been one of best midfielders.

Considering all his injury problems I am grateful that he had kept himself available for as long as he had.

Best of luck with the rest of your football career and with life in general.

Thanks Stephen Reid.

[CraftyToePoke]

Anyone else see him on MOTD 2 on Sunday night? I thought he did well, some interesting comment and insight. None more so than when asked about having had to overcome such injury and the doubts it puts in managers minds when contracts are offered, doubts which regrettably had been shared by his international manager he said. (or something very much to this effect)

It made me think with the debate ongoing on another thread about which selection between Coleman, O'Shea and Kelly brings less weakness to the RB spot at present, he is an option we really could do with having available.

[Stuttgart88]

I think he had a bit of a dig at Trap didn't he? Ironic as his next comment was that he was injured again!

[CraftyToePoke]

I think he had a bit of a dig at Trap didn't he? Ironic as his next comment was that he was injured again!

He had a little nibble at Trap, yeah. Shows he'd rather be involved to me though, or is at least a bit disgruntled at the circumstances of his not being. It does just make me wonder, what in years to come will emerge about the full scale of the communication farce that at present exists in the the Irish set up. How many guys should be available to a limited squad who aren't. And whether you agree with recruiting 2G players well into their careers or not, if we might also have a few more of those under different stewardship.

We are probably better off not knowing, for the sake of all our hearts.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think he knows he won't be picked in any case, and even if he was in contention I don't think Trap would mind a little nibble like that. Shows a bit of spirit.

[CraftyToePoke]

I think he knows he won't be picked in any case, and even if he was in contention I don't think Trap would mind a little nibble like that. Shows a bit of spirit.


Yeah, but, is he willing to play ? Id say yes, he always was anyway. Is he a better overall RB option just now than what we are working with? Again Id say yes. It the communication/language barrier/off hand treatment/poor man management/indifference, of the Trap era the reason he isn't playing. .... Three out of three.

Can you roll that out across the squad to include Foley, Gibson, and possibly Given, maybe even Duff (what went on there like?) Ireland (different entirely I realise but he's there if we want him now again Id say) Mark Noble, again a communication matter never satisfactorily explained, but Trap said something about him wanting a guaranteed starting spot, which knowing what we now about Trap, Id raise an eyebrow to being an accurate account of where that broke down also. We also now have an increasingly baffled Ciaran Clark on the outside looking in.

And these are just the ones we have gained a little insight into. There are probably more, lots more. I just have no confidence this squad and those available to it is being managed in a manner which will avail it of the opportunity of maximizing its potential.

[Murfinator]

I'd rather do without Steven Reid's regular snipes at Trap to be honest, there's quite a few of them around the past few months (he writes for the Indo as well)

Trap had a lot of time for him and teasingly he was part of our most successful Midfield duo in the past 8 years. Those 3 games himself and Whelan played at the start of Trap's reign was the only time we had anything resembling a competent central midfield bar that one game against Germany where Andy Reid shone. I don't doubt that bar for injury he'd be an automatic selection right now.
If he changed his mind on him due to injury, Reid just has to accept it. You can see the logic why Trap would, I think he retired prematurely and may very well have been brought back to the fold had he not.

[elroy]

Is he even playing for WBA at the moment? Still out with ankle injury I think.

I agree with most of Murfinator said. The few games he played, were possibly the strongest performances of our midfield under Trap. Shame the injuries struck again when they did. Would certainly have been first choice CM for us. And exactly the type of player we need there. Hes a decent RB, no more no less, would be in the squad imo if he was available/had not the spat with Trap.

[Diarmo]

Yeah, but, is he willing to play ? Id say yes, he always was anyway. Is he a better overall RB option just now than what we are working with? Again Id say yes. It the communication/language barrier/off hand treatment/poor man management/indifference, of the Trap era the reason he isn't playing. .... Three out of three.

Can you roll that out across the squad to include Foley, Gibson, and possibly Given, maybe even Duff (what went on there like?) Ireland (different entirely I realise but he's there if we want him now again Id say) Mark Noble, again a communication matter never satisfactorily explained, but Trap said something about him wanting a guaranteed starting spot, which knowing what we now about Trap, Id raise an eyebrow to being an accurate account of where that broke down also. We also now have an increasingly baffled Ciaran Clark on the outside looking in.

And these are just the ones we have gained a little insight into. There are probably more, lots more. I just have no confidence this squad and those available to it is being managed in a manner which will avail it of the opportunity of maximizing its potential.

This is up there with that Hack job of an Indo article a few weeks ago.

Given is 36. Injury prone.
Duff gave several interviews explaining his decision at length. If you had paid attention to those you wouldn't be claiming "what went on there like?"
Foley are you honestly calling for Foley's inclusion in the squad now? You're the only one. All in all, I think it was the right decision for the Euros.
Ireland- "different entirely I realise but he's there if we want him now again Id say". Really. Here's a few quotes from your beloved SI


I won’t come back,” Ireland told So Foot magazine. “I feel nothing for the national team. I don’t feel at all guilty when they lose and when they win I never say ‘oh dear, I could have been there’.

“Even if Ireland had qualified for the World Cup I wouldn’t have gone. People are calling for me to return, but I only ever played five games guys!”

“International soccer doesn’t interest me,” he said. “Going away for three days to play in Andorra – I’ve got better things to do.

Seems chomping at the bit to come back. All we've heard is his non-entity girlfriend looking for a bit of cheap publicity by talking about it.

Anyway, why pay attention to any of that when you can write a glib post ignoring facts to suit your own agenda.

[IsMiseSean]

Mark Noble, again a communication matter never satisfactorily explained, but Trap said something about him wanting a guaranteed starting spot, which knowing what we now about Trap, Id raise an eyebrow to being an accurate account of where that broke down also.


The image I have of Mark Noble is him captaining the England U21's belting out GTSQ so loudly that I could hear it outside my front door in Galway....

[Colbert Report]

I think Reid is second only to Shane Long in terms of our best player right now. He was magnificent for West Brom before his current injury. Absolutely no chance he comes back to the international team given his relationship with Trap and his injury problems.

[Charlie Darwin]

I wouldn't have said he was magnificent. He's a good player but he's not a natural full back. Seamus Coleman is a natural full back.

[Colbert Report]

You cannot honestly be comparing Coleman to Reid! Reid is ten times the full back Coleman will ever be. Earlier this season, did you see West Brom play Liverpool, Spurs, and the first half against Everton? Reid was the best player on the park in all three of those matches. Just because he's playing out of position doesn't mean that the natural full back is a better player. I'm a natural right back, and I play in a beer league here in Canada. Does that mean that I'm better than Reid because he's a natural central midfielder? Come on man!

[Charlie Darwin]

No, you're not better than Steven Reid.

Red is a good player but he is frequently shown up at right full because it's not a position he is suited to. Coleman has been exemplary there in the games he's played this season, offering a real attacking threat and creating a goal while being solid in defence. Granted, it's only three games but that's all you're judging Reid on too.

[CraftyToePoke]

The image I have of Mark Noble is him captaining the England U21's belting out GTSQ so loudly that I could hear it outside my front door in Galway....

Yeah, that him, that's the one, a guy I never wanted in a green jersey but my point holds. Namely, he wanted to declare, met/had a conversation with our manager and was no more.

[Colbert Report]

No, you're not better than Steven Reid.

Red is a good player but he is frequently shown up at right full because it's not a position he is suited to. Coleman has been exemplary there in the games he's played this season, offering a real attacking threat and creating a goal while being solid in defence. Granted, it's only three games but that's all you're judging Reid on too.

The three games thing is fair but I really rate Reid quite highly. I think that if he didn't have the injury problems he'd be playing for a top top club no problem. Coleman I don't rate as a right back at all, I think he's better on the wing. What I can't understand is how Trap can justify not playing him at right back and bringing O'Shea into his natural centre back position alongside St. Ledger given Dunne's status.

[Charlie Darwin]

There would have been an argument for playing Reid there a year ago, but Trap doesn't like injury-prone players because they are too unreliable. Dunne, Duff and Given were the exceptions and I think we'll find out in the coming months if O'Shea is too because he is starting to pick up more injuries as he gets older.

[CraftyToePoke]

This is up there with that Hack job of an Indo article a few weeks ago.

Given is 36. Injury prone.
Duff gave several interviews explaining his decision at length. If you had paid attention to those you wouldn't be claiming "what went on there like?"
Foley are you honestly calling for Foley's inclusion in the squad now? You're the only one. All in all, I think it was the right decision for the Euros.
Ireland- "different entirely I realise but he's there if we want him now again Id say". Really. Here's a few quotes from your beloved SI



Seems chomping at the bit to come back. All we've heard is his non-entity girlfriend looking for a bit of cheap publicity by talking about it.

Anyway, why pay attention to any of that when you can write a glib post ignoring facts to suit your own agenda.


You are doing a nice line in righteous indignation there Diarmo, but can you tell me any young keeper in our squads wouldn't be better for working with Given? Or any player generally benefit from having his experience around? Of course they would and he should be and would I believe if things were handled better.

I never called for Foley's inclusion at all, where did you get that from? I said if communication/player relations were better, he would be available for selection. He isn't, and not because of what happened I think (and I agree, football wise it was the right call, if only marginally), but how it was done/handled.

When I asked 'what went on with Duff' I was asking after the on/off/on/off nonsense of his possible return for the Germany game, which was offered and then retracted, Tardelli this time if I remember.

The Ireland quotes are old, and I realise he hasn't spoken himself on the matter of late, but neither has he been spouting the tripe of old either. I dont really want Ireland back in the set up but I think he would come back if it were broached, and is better than what we have.

So, all in all I don't feel your attack on my post as a glib agenda is warranted, its my opinion, to which I am entitled and this is after all a forum for such matters, Diarmo. I supported Trap right up to the finals, despite reservations, the nature of the performances there, I found unacceptable despite the exalted company we were in. I believe that cycle will at best repeat under him and there's no point in that. Its nothing more than that.