Squad/Team v Russia/Slovakia

[The Fly]

Any thoughts on Russia's potential tactics??

Would "All out Blitzkrieg from the first minute" sound a bit melodramatic??

.....no, just a little misleading.

Those tactics are favoured by the Germans!

[rebelmusic]

Agree on almost all points Stutts except for his lack of interest in McCarthy. He is are only regular starter in the PL at the moment and he's not even getting called up for the squads to train with them? Seems a bit insane to me personally.
The only fault im really finding is Green. We have much better options for CM.

KK is another issue, we could say Ward but he's not really having a great season so far. Cunningham is too inexperienced in fairness. Only other option is O'Shea goin left full and foley/coleman going right but we know that wont happen :P

[Wolfie]

Bring it on -it's an excellent way to lose a football match. Blitzkrieg relies on excellent communications, well supported supply lines with back up second to none. If it goes even slightly off balance it falls through it's own @rse faster than a LIDL garden furniture set. If Russia try to chuck the kitchen sink -we'll take 'em.

First principals - but they'll base their game on a high tempo, moving the ball with pace, repeated use of the wings. They'll have targetted our full backs and will aim to get them turned at every opportunity. A lot of quick one-twos' around our 18 yard box..............you get the picture.

[Razors left peg]

Just seen on Sky Sports News that Pavlechenko is definately out of the Russian squad with injury

[Noelys Guitar]

Pav out which is good news (even though he only came on as a sub against Slovakia). Stop Arshavin and to a certain extent we stop Russia. Lets hope its the disinterested Arshavin who turns up on Friday.

[elroy]

Good news re Pav, although cant say I know a whole lot about is likely replacement from Zenit.

Re our players not getting much first team action lately. Alot of us will remember that a good number of the 2002 team werent exactly regular first teamers (McAteer, Kilbane, Breen for example) in their respective clubs as well and look how that campaign turned out.

[irishfan86]

You could copy and paste ShamrockIreland's post into every thread dedicated to discussing Trap's squad announcements. Completely over the top criticism for marginal controversy. The way people talk about McShane, you'd imagine Trap is building the team around him, which is far from the case.

Not a huge fan of Kilbane at left full but unless O'Shea is considered for this position, there aren't many seriously compelling options as Stutts does point out. I think Ward does deserve to be in the squad to at least be given more of a look by Trap though.

[geysir]

It is encouraging that the senior players are setting the standard. The tag of sick note use to be applied to Keith O'Neill but actually the tag is more applicable to players who phone up to say they are not coming and have a compliant club doctor to send in a sick note. Trap is definitely not comfortable with this practice. It might be genuine or it might not and he directly alludes to a game of politics being applied with this type of practice by the clubs. We don't know if it is a case of a gullible young player who is being twisted by his club for the club's benefit or for the player's benefit.
We see that Duff and Andrews turned up willing to play and get checked out by the FAI doctor, Dunne and Gibson lying around the training pitch sidelines with icepacks or getting treatment.

I wonder how Trap would have dealt with Roy Keane? possibly a free pass out of most friendlies but full attendance or else, for competitive games.

[Closed Account]

With Richard Dunne sitting out training yesterday, it left Ireland with 21 fit players for training, 18 outfielders.
According to this http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2012-diary-2366380.html
I imagine they had to line up like this:

Given
O'Shea Murphy McShane Kilbane
Lawrence Whelan Green McGeady
Doyle Keane

Long Keogh
McGeady Gibson Fahey Coleman
Cunningham StLedger Wilson Foley
Westwood
Its not exactly ideal that. Even if Dunne had been fit, we'd still of been short a winger.

[lionelhutz]

First principals - but they'll base their game on a high tempo, moving the ball with pace, repeated use of the wings. They'll have targetted our full backs and will aim to get them turned at every opportunity. A lot of quick one-twos' around our 18 yard box..............you get the picture.

I agree with most of this - except you say they will target our full backs (plural). They will only target Kilbane (assuming O'Shea starts at right full). Armenia went from left to right time and time again against us so that they would get a one on one with Kilbane. It was almost ridiculous at one stage in the second half - when Armenia's left winger had an excellent chance to run at O'Shea and get a cross in, he turned back, Armenia worked the ball across the midfield, the right winger played a quick one two with the CM and he was past Kilbane.

Kilbane simply isn't a full back - he played left wing for the majority of his career - and he has no concept of how to stop crosses, how to keep the defensive line, how to show the winger onto his weaker foot. I honestly believe playing him is a monumental risk against as good a side as Russia.

[Wolfie]

I agree with most of this - except you say they will target our full backs (plural). They will only target Kilbane (assuming O'Shea starts at right full). Armenia went from left to right time and time again against us so that they would get a one on one with Kilbane. It was almost ridiculous at one stage in the second half - when Armenia's left winger had an excellent chance to run at O'Shea and get a cross in, he turned back, Armenia worked the ball across the midfield, the right winger played a quick one two with the CM and he was past Kilbane.

Kilbane simply isn't a full back - he played left wing for the majority of his career - and he has no concept of how to stop crosses, how to keep the defensive line, how to show the winger onto his weaker foot. I honestly believe playing him is a monumental risk against as good a side as Russia.

Yes - while Kilbane could well be a weak link - Russia will be intent on working their way down both wings IMO.

The point strikes me - if we concede early, will Trapp give the team licence to chase the game?? (within reason). Have we the personnel to chase the game, even if we wanted to??

Plan A is OK if we remain level, what the hell happens if we concede first??

[ifk101]

If we go behind, the central midfielders will become "more positive". We've also gone three up front under Trapattoni (home to Poland). He was also quite quick to adapt to Italy's sending off in Bari.

Plan B does exist. I'd imagine a plan C and D also exist.

[mark12345]

Beginning to lose faith in Trap. Actually that's not accurate I have lost it a long time since. With Treacy out, Duff out and the half-attacking threat that is Keith Andrews out, the manager doesn't feel the need to bring in at least one more attacker. Daryl Murphy is an option, is he not? I know he's not first choice but if we need to pump the ball long (and God know's we will) then why not have him in the squad for a cameo appearance possibility at least. Jon Walters was another option?

And for the life of me with Andrews withdrawing I can't see why McCarthy wasn't called up. I mean if playing week in week out against the Premier League's best doesn't trump life in the lower reaches of the Championship (Paul Green) then why do we have leagues in the first place?

[SwanVsDalton]

All these squad calls, with the possible exception of McCarthy, are marginal at best.

I remember the days we waited for the team to start losing before we lost faith in the manager.

[geysir]

Yes - while Kilbane could well be a weak link - Russia will be intent on working their way down both wings IMO.

The point strikes me - if we concede early, will Trapp give the team licence to chase the game?? (within reason). Have we the personnel to chase the game, even if we wanted to??

Plan A is OK if we remain level, what the hell happens if we concede first??
Such a license (Trap's team license) does not exist :)
of course we chase and attempt to dominate the game should we concede first, isn't that how we have played up to now?
But the more dangerous the opponent the greater their ability to go 2 up. But probably only Norway go out in the 2nd half, intent on defending a one goal deficit.

KK hasn't been selected yet, but most will not be surprised if he is. Yet Trap is not under any obligation to pick him. He may feel an obligation to a player like Lawrence or Fahy or any other player who has turned up - demonstrated the required maturity/character and done (as best they could) what they have been told, but there is no such obligation to KK.
We know KK has the character for the squad. That stuff can't be manufactured. If he is picked to play, it is because on the overall balance of the back 4, he is still regarded to be ahead of the incumbents. It is inevitable that one day he will be badly exposed and replaced. So far KK is just about holding off father time.

[elroy]

Hear Hear Swan well said.

Have the upmost faith in Trap. The only game I have ever felt he got it wrong, was in the second half against France at home. The goals in both Bulgaria games were individual errors rather than poor tactics.

Has JOSH ever played left back under Trap? Surely he has. Is JOSH an option left back with Foley or Wilson right back?

The more I think about it, the more sure I am it will be the status quo: JOSH, Sledge, Dunne, Killer.

[tetsujin1979]

from http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6431440,00.html

That could bring him (Lawrence) into direct conflict with Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin as he attempts to provide support for full-back John O'Shea. Asked how he will deal with the hugely-talented Russian, he said with a smile: "I will just leave him to 'Josh' - that's his job.
All but guaranteeing O'Shea will start at right back.

[Stuttgart88]

If we go behind, the central midfielders will become "more positive". We've also gone three up front under Trapattoni (home to Poland). He was also quite quick to adapt to Italy's sending off in Bari.

Plan B does exist. I'd imagine a plan C and D also exist.Against Georgia at home the first change Trap made was to allow the full backs license to get further forward. Everyone complained about no plan B against Georgia but although we stayed 442 it was a more attacking 442. We came back quite strongly in that game, although all the self loathers in our midst felt the need to self-flagellate for a month because we got a lucky penalty.

[geysir]

Any bit of fortune we get, I usually say 'about féckin time' or 'long overdue'.

Depending on how long an arm is, that penalty against Georgia was somewhere between mildly fortunate and stonewall. The ref was looking straight at it.

[ShamrockIreland]

You could copy and paste ShamrockIreland's post into every thread dedicated to discussing Trap's squad announcements. Completely over the top criticism for marginal controversy. The way people talk about McShane, you'd imagine Trap is building the team around him, which is far from the case.

Not a huge fan of Kilbane at left full but unless O'Shea is considered for this position, there aren't many seriously compelling options as Stutts does point out. I think Ward does deserve to be in the squad to at least be given more of a look by Trap though.

Are you for real???? You are say i'm trying to create controversy by posting that Trap is lazy picking his squads? I'm sorry if it has gone over your head but he picks the same sterile players in midfield everytime. Andy Reid had ac little to much skill to play in Traps team. Stephen Reid was dropped(I know he was plaughed with injury), but if you cross Trap you never play again EVER. As for the players he has brought through who exactly is the next great player. Lawrence is not bad to be fair, Green = poor, Whelan is at best average and St Ledger is average. He has blooded others like Folan who is terrible along with Best and Andrews who is rubbish. I'm not over the top i'm being realistic. The squad is poor and Trap condems certain players for whatever petty reason he feels is justifiable. We need the strongest squad we can choose and I'd have at least 6 of that one out the door. You all keep believing Trap is the best thing since sliced bread but I for one am not fooled by his lazy approach to the Irish job. We'll see how he copes with the next 2 games ;)

[SwanVsDalton]

Andy Reid had ac little to much skill to play in Traps team.

Dropped, also been injured for the last six months and hasn't made a compelling case to be included over anyone else. Next.


Stephen Reid was dropped(I know he was plaughed with injury)

Never dropped, constantly injured and retired from international duty because of them. Next.


but if you cross Trap you never play again EVER.

Who? Marc Wilson maybe? Or Darron Gibson? Or McCarthy who Trap has already indicated will likely be in the Norway squad? Next.


As for the players he has brought through who exactly is the next great player. Lawrence is not bad to be fair,

Agreed. Next.


Green = poor, Whelan is at best average and St Ledger is average.

Green's only just started. I remember a midfielder who started unconvincingly and became our most consistent midfielder - Glenn Whelan. Same Glenn Whelan who was immense vs Italy home and away, and France home and away and who is missed whenever he's not in the team. St Ledger has slotted in beside Dunne and being almost faultless in competitive games, an extremely impressive feat for a fairly young guy. Next.


He has blooded others like Folan who is terrible along with Best and Andrews who is rubbish.

Folan was extremely effective against Italy. But regardless, be realistic about what Folan and Best are there to do - hustle and bustle beside Keane/Doyle. They've done fairly well at it when called upon. As for Andrews, MOTM against France in Paris. Next


The squad is poor and Trap condems certain players for whatever petty reason he feels is justifiable.

At this stage there is possibly only one player (Andy Reid) the above could apply to. One player - that Trappatoni has a real vindictive streak alright...


I'm not over the top i'm being realistic.

No you're not - this is pure melodrama. Slamming Trap for being lazy - a manager who has taken this so called 'average' bunch of players, as you describe them, to one competitive defeat and the brink of the World Cup - is nonsense.


You all keep believing Trap is the best thing since sliced bread but I for one am not fooled by his lazy approach to the Irish job. We'll see how he copes with the next 2 games

We'll keep believing it since a lot of us base our opinions on, you know, actual results as opposed to WUMing Mystic Meg-asism's.

[ShamrockIreland]

QUOTE=SwanVsDalton;1408905]Dropped, also been injured for the last six months and hasn't made a compelling case to be included over anyone else. Next.

Very arrogant Next what are you a schoolteacher. He was playing out of his skin before he was injured and deserved a starting place but was dropped in such a undeserving manner. Still he'll be back when Trap finished his holiday here.



Never dropped, constantly injured and retired from international duty because of them. Next.

He was never selected again after Allardyce criticised Trap. I agree he was plaughed with injury guess who he was playing with both times. He was the best choice in midfield when fit.




Agreed. Next.



Green's only just started. I remember a midfielder who started unconvincingly and became our most consistent midfielder - Glenn Whelan. Same Glenn Whelan who was immense vs Italy home and away, and France home and away and who is missed whenever he's not in the team. St Ledger has slotted in beside Dunne and being almost faultless in competitive games, an extremely impressive feat for a fairly young guy. Next.


Green from looking at Derby is not up to the job and never will be. Whelan had to improve he couldn't have become any worse. He has the name of a really great midfielder but he is not even half the player. The midfield is constantly under pressure. Do you not see this happening during every Ireland game even against weaker teams. St Ledger is OK, but O'Shea is better there.


Folan was extremely effective against Italy. But regardless, be realistic about what Folan and Best are there to do - hustle and bustle beside Keane/Doyle. They've done fairly well at it when called upon. As for Andrews, MOTM against France in Paris. Next

Cascarino and Quinn were very effective International target men. Folan had a good moment in that game against Italy. Seen nothing much else from him. Not International standard. Best there may be hope for though I feel he should have stayed with Coventry City. Andrews MOTM thats a chuckle he was nowhere near it. He is not at it he is another Green slightly better

.At this stage there is possibly only one player (Andy Reid) the above could apply to. One player - that Trappatoni has a real vindictive streak alright...

No Stephen Reid would have got the same treatment so he quit. We'll see if McCarthy and Stokes are also on the list. He reluctantly called up Wilson as a cover for defence. Anybody with half an eye could see he's better than Whelan,Andrews and Green.



No you're not - this is pure melodrama. Slamming Trap for being lazy - a manager who has taken this so called 'average' bunch of players, as you describe them, to one competitive defeat and the brink of the World Cup - is nonsense.

So we dominate games like we did under Jack or even Mick? The midfield give away too much ball. The brink is right thats all it was. We never seem to speak about the first match which we should've won therefore not using the handball as an excuse. Why didn't we win more matches and go through the normal route. We lost the ball a bit too much at home against Italy threw it away. 4 wins and 6 draws in the last qualification group. One of those wins came courtesy of a dodgy penalty against Georgia at home.

We'll keep believing it since a lot of us base our opinions on, you know, actual results as opposed to WUMing Mystic Meg-asism's.[/QUOTE]

Thats good you do that and tell me how excited you are about the quality midfield we have. I'm looking forward to seeing us dominate Russia who are in decline.

[BonnieShels]

Dominate games? Really? Consistently?
Even if that were true we had the likes of Ronnie Whelan, Liam Brady, Roy Keane... then elsewhere in the team, Aldridge, McCarthy, Moran.

Apples and bleedin oranges!

[Supreme feet]

Is 'ShamrockIreland' actually Weldoninho under a different login?

[BonnieShels]

I've no idea but its best not to hazard a guess for fear of retribution from logical argument.

[AlaskaFox]

Anyone who thinks Andrews is rubbish should have their match tickets taken away from them.

[paul_oshea]

Lads although somewhat extreme in his views, he does raise some valid points, especially around 4 wins and 6 draws, remember we were lucky to have played georgia in germany, and we won that 2 - 1 too. We also did get what some would describe a lucky penalty, or at least a 50:50 sometimes you get them sometimes you dont.....we also should have beaten france in normal time, and should definitely altered our game when we went 1 - 0 down in dublin.

At the end of the day 6 draws and 4 wins is not any great feat, it just means we are hard to beat. God knows cyprus are hard to beat too.

I think the henry incident masked the fact that a combination of individual errors, poor tactics and not being able to kill off a game cost us.

I think sometimes we can be clouded by our optimism when coming close to qualifying matches on here. I'd be interested to see the pattern over a 7 day period before, during and after the qualifier(s)...im sure one would emerge.

[Supreme feet]

If we're talking about luck in the last campaign, how about the stonewall penalty we should have had in Montenegro, or McGeady's miss? The very fortuitous own goal we conceded at home to Bulgaria? The game at home to Georgia when we were denied a clear penalty? Henry? Overall, the 'luck' we had/didn't have broke relatively even.

The two things that undermined our last campaign were the few brainfarts in defence (Kilbane against Bulgaria, O'Shea out of position against Italy) and the standard of our finishing. We had clear chances to beat Montenegro away and Bulgaria at home (McGeady's effort in Podgorica, Doyle's last-minute header in Croker), and of course, we missed a fair few chances against the French. Marginal things can make the difference between a great campaign and a forgettable one.

The naysayers and anti-Trappites would do well to remember where we were three years ago - preparing for a dead rubber home game against Germany, out of contention with three games to go. Suffering through a 1-1 home draw with Cyprus, salvaged only with a last minute Finnan goal. Andy Reid and Joey O'Brien in central midfield, as I recall. For those of you who say Trap is lazy, look at the job he was faced with when he took over. I can guarantee you that the team that lines up against Russia will be far more competitive and compelling to watch than that rabble under Staunton. Or what could have been under Paul Jewell, Terry Venables or Billy Davies.

[Stuttgart88]

You beat me to it Supreme Feet.

shamrock wasn't saying what you said paul. All any of us "clouded by optimism" have been saying is that the last campaign was a good foundation but needs polishing up at both ends in order to be bettered. Doing so isn't that big an ask, or shouldn't be. Your luck comments are straight out of David Kelly's columns. Biased to suit one side only. I'm surprised you didn't find a way to drop in the phrase "lily livered".

The last campaaign had good and bad fortune in equal measure.

[paul_oshea]

It depends how you see things, depending on results, you don't even think about luck....more importantly you dont need to think about luck and what ifs etc. I think thats pretty clear cut to be honest(im not just on about inidividual incidents etc, but as a whole, for example if we had been all over montenegro i think the ref would have given that but we weren't, and if we were all over them i think we would have scored too if you catch my drift). Too many teams go ah we were unlucky we were this we were that, in rugby it happened for years but when you are actually doing the business or at a level capable of doing so, you seem to forget luck and the arguments that follow. So you say we are unlucky, I say we aren't good enough or clinical enough, not consistent enough too many error prones in one position, is that down to management, or just lack of cover? I'd say in our case its a bit of both.

The thing around individual errors follows on from the end of the last point, Trap insists on playing certain players that are weaker than those for the overall balance of the team, however one person can make the team extremely unbalanced, lets just take the kilbane example here, kilbane has been a great servant to ireland and we all love him, its not his fault he keeps getting picked( unless he really was a true servant he would force it by retiring from international football ;) ), kilbanes finish against bulgaria at home was top drawer, except he would never be able do it down the other end. He was clearly at fault for bulgarias goal away as well, along with a few other bloomers that we got away with. IN the last few games, everyone has targeted that side continuously, his positional sense is terrible and so must his communication skills be(everyone says he is there for experience, but he doesn't find the right positions, thats experience really even if its not your preferred position it should be natural/obvious enough), because he is always dragged too far in and balls are easily placed over in behind him or gives the winger too much space to attack with and he doesnt have the speed anymore to keep up with them. Now if we had absolutely no cover there or no one who could do a makeshift job there then I would say Trap is justified in his argument. But i honestly think we couldn't do any worse with the other options we have there. Kilbane was solely responsible for the loss of 4 points in my opinion last campaign, yet trap continues to pick him.

At the end of the day, i think its fair to say that Trap has made us hard to beat. That is as far as I would go far now. Can he bring us to the next level? I don't know, but we will find out and if he cant then we will not qualify for Euro 2012. Trap has done a decent job to date, but it doesn't mean he hasn't made mistakes or isn't still making mistakes along the way. Perhaps if some of those mistakes that he is still making weren't made we might have enjoyed a holiday in SA last summer.

[Kingdom]

There are a few reasons Killer keeps getting picked to start, but the two main ones are experience, and height. The guy is a beast in the air, and along with the other 3, give a back 4 that are not only excellent in their own box, but a significant threat in the oppositions box. This needs to be highlighted due to the slightness of our two wingers, one of our central midfielders and Robbie of course.

I've a feeling that Trap had the training camp to get players through to the end of these competitive 2010 games, and that he'll be using the Norway friendly and the Celtic cup to develop the likes of Ward, Cunningham, Foley, McCarthy, Clark, Duffy, Emphraim, Meyler, Barry Maguire and possibly Andy Reid, as well as another look at Folan and Cillian Sheridan.
And if it does work out that way, I can understand it to an extent. When the meet ups for internationals are relatively short, it must be troublesome to try and hammer into the heads of players the system or formation that you want and expect. Whereas when you have a training camp, you're setting your stall out and you've a week or so where the important goal is to press upon the players what they've got to do, so that when the important weeks come around you can focus solely on the opponent and what to do, rather than trying to teach your system to newcomers.

[paul_oshea]

So do you think that its like a jigsaw and with one piece missing the whole thing falls apart? I don't and I don't think playing one piece, one player playing instead of another is going to have the whole thing fall apart. Obviously he has to go with a tried and tested 10 or possibly even 9, that doesn't mean he cant change one particular player if there are others in his position doing far better than he is.

The training camps are great and all that, but don't tell me one player cant be accommodated and thought in 5 days. thats 5 days. a week is a long day in a normal job to get up to speed, a week is a long time in politics. A week in professional football is certainly a long time when changes aren't that drastic.

[Kingdom]

Of course it doesn't fall or fail with one player missing. I don't think I even came close to saying that?

The 5 day thing. Sure it is a long time. But you're not going to have the whole squad for every single one of those days, thats been seen time and time again.
Say this week Trappatoni decides he was going to go ahead with Cunningham. Fair enough, that's one player who he has to try and impress his ideas upon, to make sure he's in no doubt what his job is in itself, and then what his job is in relation to the other members of the back 4, how they go about that as a group, then how he has to interact with his winger in front of him, etc etc. Grand no problem. Then Dunney has to sit out 3 of the 5days training planning and interacting. So then Josh goes in at centre half, Stephen Kelly steps in at right full, and now you've two players to make sure they know exactly what the sceal is, while trying to make sure the two new centre halves are au fait with each other.

[Wolfie]

There's no direct quotes from Advocaat but there's a lot of newspaper talk this morning of Kilbane being "targetted". Ths could simply be a statement of the obvious passed off as fact.

Anyway, I think this speculation that Kilbane has been singled out as the man to expose should hopefully serve as Kilbane's added motivation (although never needed in Kilbane's case anyway) to perform solidly.

[paul_oshea]

You didn't kingdom, but im implying by what others have said that he wont change things because he has his system and the system cant change and its impossible to even make one slight change because of the system, the little details etc etc.

Cunningham has been around for a while now in the squad, im sure he hears as much as everyone else. i doubt trap hides the first 11 away from the rest.

Bring in players to the squad at least to make up the numbers so that they are given a chance to learn the system. Even if just to make it 11 v 11 they would still be learning the system etc.

[tetsujin1979]

I don't see how anyone can think Meyler will be part of the November friendlies,
physioroom (http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php ) don't have him down as being back until the 27th of November, and that's just healthy, it'll take at least 6 weeks before he can play at any level again.

[Kingdom]

I don't see how anyone can think Meyler will be part of the November friendlies,
physioroom (http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php ) don't have him down as being back until the 27th of November, and that's just healthy, it'll take at least 6 weeks before he can play at any level again.

I was thinking of him for the celtic cup matches in feb and may.

[tetsujin1979]

unchanged team named: http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101317:trap-names-unchanged-team-for-russia-qualifier&catid=1:senior-men&Itemid=8


Republic of Ireland:
Shay Given
(Manchester City)

John O'Shea Sean St Ledger Richard Dunne Kevin Kilbane
(Manchester United) (Preston NE) (Aston Villa) (Hull City)

Liam Lawrence Glenn Whelan Paul Green Aiden McGeady
(Portsmouth) (Stoke City) (Derby County) (Spartak Moscow)

Robbie Keane Kevin Doyle
(Tottenham) (Wolves)

[tetsujin1979]

I was thinking of him for the celtic cup matches in feb and may.
To be honest, I don't see him playing in February either, May is more likely

[geysir]

You didn't kingdom, but im implying by what others have said that he wont change things because he has his system and the system cant change and its impossible to even make one slight change because of the system, the little details etc etc.
Cunningham has been around for a while now in the squad, im sure he hears as much as everyone else. i doubt trap hides the first 11 away from the rest.
You have to make a case to drop a player.
There is not a strong enough case to be made to replace KK yet, by a rookie like Cunningham. Neither is there a strong enough case to replace KK by shuffling around players from other positions. That is how it stands before these 2 games.

[ifk101]

Pretty much expected we would start unchanged. Barring injuries we'll probably start with the same line-up away to Slovakia as well.

[Kingdom]

The only viable solution would be for Steo Kelly to go left full, and tbh I'd prefer him at right full if anywhere. Pity full back is bogey at the moment, cause I'd love to see O'Shea and DUnne at centre half, the best partnership we have, and one of the best in Europe I believe.

[Fixer82]

McShane can't keep in this squad.
Delap in right back and O'Shea in left back!

[Supreme feet]

Just did a quick count, and it seems that in the last two-and-a-half years, Trapattoni has called 55 different players into Ireland squads - not counting those tried out in 'B' friendlies under his reign. It's some job to whittle that number down and come up with a settled team. Staunton used around the same number during his reign, and we never had anything close to a settled squad, let alone first eleven. Looking down through my list, there are a lot of players who Trap has dropped, which shows he's not afraid to drop those who aren't up to it, or who don't fit the system, and try out new players.

The squad has changed an awful lot since Trap took over, but the change has been so gradual that most people don't notice, instead choosing to believe that there's a whole wealth of talent out there which Trap is choosing to ignore, and has chosen to ignore since the beginning. It's not true. The only reputable (non-retired) Irish players to never receive a call-up under Trap are Rory Delap and at a stretch Jon Walters, and the latter will be in the Norway squad, it seems. So basically, Trap and his coaching team have worked with pretty much every viable option at some stage of their tenure so far, and are in a good position to judge what's best for the team. Which debunks the claim that Trap's scouting network is anything less than comprehensive.

[IsMiseSean]

Barring injuries we'll probably start with the same line-up away to Slovakia as well.

Am I right in thinking Whelan picked up a yellow against Andorra? He will be a strong candidate to pick up another against Russia.

[Charlie Darwin]

From the games I've seen Cunningham play for Ireland and City, Killer looks like an objectively better player. Which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone given his superior physical condition and experience.

[tetsujin1979]

Am I right in thinking Whelan picked up a yellow against Andorra? He will be a strong candidate to pick up another against Russia.
think it was Armenia? he's definitely on a yellow anyway, which was why he was substituted against Andorra, to keep him available for Russia

[ShamrockIreland]

I've no idea but its best not to hazard a guess for fear of retribution from logical argument.

Whats not logical Shels? Are you afraid to speak up like most yes men on here. Anybody with a different point of view and doesn't go back slapping about how great the squad and Trap are is not considered here. I've been going to Irish matches for 23 years sure what would I know. The only reason I'm posting this stuff is because I feel Green was fastracked into the squad and team over the likes of Gibson, and McCarthy. Gibbo might see 10 minutes thats it. Green and Kilbane will be exposed over the next 2 games. I'm hoping for 2 great wins lets wait and see but we are more likely to see 2 points.

[Charlie Darwin]

Whats not logical Shels? Are you afraid to speak up like most yes men on here. Anybody with a different point of view and doesn't go back slapping about how great the squad and Trap are is not considered here.
You haven't been paying enough attention. There are lots of views on both sides of the Trap issue.

[AlaskaFox]

Just did a quick count, and it seems that in the last two-and-a-half years, Trapattoni has called 55 different players into Ireland squads - not counting those tried out in 'B' friendlies under his reign.

Any chance you've saved the list? It'd be interesting to see.