Squad VS Armenia and Andorra

[Paddy Garcia]

Was there an "unrelated" picture of a player training next to this article in the paper?

[weldoninhio]

Not sure who the player in the picture was, but the player involved in the fracas was Andy Keogh.

[theworm2345]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fai-stays-silent-over-irish-player-punched-in-face-claim-2673005.html

Good to see Crappatoni show his double standards. Get caught playing your guitar after curfew and your banished forever. Bring 2 girls back to the hotel after curfew, argue with one of the back room staff who tell you to get rid of them and then get decked by the backroom staffmember and nothing happens over it!!!
If what you're saying is true (and seeing as it is you I would highly doubt it) and it was Keogh, one of the girls must've been for Trap.

[tommy_c12000]

If what you're saying is true (and seeing as it is you I would highly doubt it) and it was Keogh, one of the girls must've been for Trap.

Trap defies his age yet again?

[paul_oshea]

Ya and yer man clobbered him because he didnt bring one back for tardelli too.

[tetsujin1979]

Am I the only one bothered that this has been brought up three months after the article was published?

[Charlie Darwin]

Kevin Foley is out
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/foley-ruled-out-of-euro-qualifiers-168968.html
Never fear. Paul McShane is back to full fitness (http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/HULL-CITY-McShane-Pusic-close-making-return/story-13382805-detail/story.html).

[Sullivinho]

Am I the only one bothered that this has been brought up three months after the article was published?

I did struggle to locate the relevance but my sense of agreement with your post has convinced me to call off the search.

[BonnieShels]

Sure where's the surprise?

What would it be without the Indo heading into an international week without trying to stir the s**t?

[AlaskaFox]

Am I the only one bothered that this has been brought up three months after the article was published?

I just skipped the post when I saw the poster's username.

[AlaskaFox]

Sure where's the surprise?

What would it be without the Indo heading into an international week without trying to stir the s**t?

The article is from June. The blame lies not with the newspaper this time...

[BonnieShels]

I didn't note that.

I remember the initial story and thought it was coming out now.

Eh, but shouldn't we be able to blame the Indo on all the ills of the world?

[weldoninhio]

My point was that it contradicts everyone here calling Keogh "Mr Reliable", saying he always turns up, always toes the line. And to show the hypocrisy of Crappatoni.

[boovidge]

Crappatoni.

Did you make that up by yourself?

[AlaskaFox]

It was never said that Keogh was the player. People said it on ybig as a joke to get him out of the squad. Show me proof for your stupid argument.

[tetsujin1979]

weren't those comments removed by mods?

[geysir]

David Kelly is an honest, up-front, brave journalist whose articles have a timeless quality, mainly because of their truth and accuracy content and it's quite unfair to question the motives of a poster here for digging up one of his articles from the archives.
The ending to that article is just a superb example of Kelly's brilliance, I would be the first to admit that I never would have thought to make this connection.
'High emotions between players and staff have been a feature of Irish football in recent years.
During the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Roy Keane famously walked out following a spat with manager Mick McCarthy in Saipan over training conditions'

[Stuttgart88]

Yes. great example of a journalist shedding light on something that the general public would otherwise fail to see.

[weldoninhio]

It was never said that Keogh was the player. People said it on ybig as a joke to get him out of the squad. Show me proof for your stupid argument.

I've never been on YBIG, what sort of proof would you like?? Its a forum, not a court of law. I know it was him because the 2 girls are from my locality.

[Stuttgart88]

Were they on day release?

[theworm2345]

I've never been on YBIG, what sort of proof would you like?? Its a forum, not a court of law. I know it was him because the 2 girls are from my locality.
Too bad, you'd fit in well with the new crowd there.

[Kingdom]

The player bringing the girls round and the player put on the deck aren't the same player.

[Supreme feet]

It seems that even if we qualify next week, we'll still have people calling for Trap to be sacked, Keane put out to grass, Whelan to be beheaded, Andrews to be crucified, and Keogh to be flayed.

To try and put things in perspective, I've tallied our points-per-game record since UEFA brought in the three-points-for-a-win rule. It's a pretty fair and objective way, in my opinion, to assess the performance in each campaign.

1996 - Charlton: 17 points from 10 games. (2nd in the table, 1.7 points per game)
1998 - McCarthy: 18 points from 10 games. (2nd, 1.8)
2000 - McCarthy: 16 points from 8 games. (2nd, 2.0)
2002 - McCarthy: 24 points from 10 games. (2nd, 2.4)
2004 - McCarthy/Kerr: 11 points from 8 games. (3rd, 1.375)
2006 - Kerr: 17 points from 10 games. (4th, 1.7)
2008 - Staunton: 17 points from 12 games. (3rd, 1.42)
2010 - Trapattoni: 18 points from 10 games. (2nd, 1.8)

If, as is expected, we beat Andorra and Armenia next week, we will stand at 21 points,or 2.1 points per game for this campaign, which would be statistically our best performance since the 2002 qualifiers, and our second-best performance going back to the Charlton era. It would also show significant improvement from the last campaign. Whether or not it's enough to qualify depends on things currently outside our control - the Slovakia-Russia result, and the draw for any possible playoff.

The football may not be pretty, and the home games against the two top seeds were disappointing; but the away wins against Armenia and Macedonia were the kind of results that have evaded Irish managers in the past - think of Kerr in Israel and McCarthy in Skopje. Trap deserves credit for that, as much as he may deserve some criticism for the midfield. Then again, who can we put in there that can make space in a crowded midfield, receive the ball and play it quickly and inventively under pressure, as well as doing the solid defensive job that's helped us to all these clean sheets?

I would also concede that, at different times, there have been bizarre choices. Keogh for Andy Reid when Reid was playing well, McShane for Foley, Paul Green for McCarthy (though that's partly McCarthy's fault for not turning up for the May '10 friendlies and subsequent games), and now Delaney for Clark. However, I don't think any of these decisions have affected our points tally in this campaign or the last. We're talking about fringe players here.

Overall, there's no need for any hysterical anti-Trap rubbish, but if we don't beat Armenia, or if we go out feebly in a playoff against an average side, then Trap would have to accept a lot of valid criticism. If we make it to Euro 2012, the critics will have to shut up. Let's see what happens.

[cornflakes]

Kilbane out injured (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1003/1224305143501.html)

[ArdeeBhoy]

Some good news then?
But thanks for the memories, KK.

[zero]

ward hasn't exactly covered himself in glory in kilbane's absence but i expect he would have got the nod anyway. certainly against the andorrans he'll be playing as a wide midfielder you would expect.

i'm excited about these games now.

i share many of supreme's sentiments re the anti-trap feeling; even if we qualify i expect this will only be put on the backburner, ready to be unleashed again for the championships proper.

let's just wait and see (though the waiting is painful).

[Crosby87]

If we qualify all will be forgiven and the discussion will go to finding the nice hotels in the Ukraine, which is something that is hard to keep a straight face about.

[p2011]

Overall, there's no need for any hysterical anti-Trap rubbish, but if we don't beat Armenia, or if we go out feebly in a playoff against an average side, then Trap would have to accept a lot of valid criticism.

Agree 100%.

Qualify or lose a close play-off to a decent team: Acceptable stuff from Trap
3rd place or a feeble defeat to an average team in the play-off (and there are a few of them there for the taking): Time for a new approach

[TrapAPony]

Paul McShane called up to the Irish squad according to the FAI on twitter. Fabulous news. Jon Walters is being treated for an ankle injury &is expected to join up tomorrow.

[Sullivinho]

O'Shea to partner St. Ledger in the center according to RTE. (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1003/ireland_euro2012.html) That'l be Kelly and Ward at FB then with Kilbane unavailable?

[jbyrne]

O'Shea to partner St. Ledger in the center according to RTE. (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1003/ireland_euro2012.html) That'l be Kelly and Ward at FB then with Kilbane unavailable?

surely odea deserves to be picked after his good recent performances, especially russia?

[Sullivinho]

surely odea deserves to be picked after his good recent performances, especially russia?

A bit harsh alright, assuming Trap's indications are being interpreted correctly. O'Dea hasn't done anything wrong since coming in. Much to my own surprise if I'm honest.

[SwanVsDalton]

Certainly can feel unlucky, but O'Shea will be expected to lead the defence with his experience and Kelly will be more of a threat from right back (him and Ward really should be told to play as extra wingers almost).

[BonnieShels]

Now the butterflies are kicking in.

[Predator]

Is St Ledger not injured? He hasn't been making Leicester squads recently.

[Irwin3]

Certainly can feel unlucky, but O'Shea will be expected to lead the defence with his experience and Kelly will be more of a threat from right back (him and Ward really should be told to play as extra wingers almost).


Don't get your hopes up.

[SwanVsDalton]

Don't get your hopes up.

They're not. But in terms of really attacking a minnow team, I'd rather have Kelly at right back than O'Shea.

[the bear]

They're not. But in terms of really attacking a minnow team, I'd rather have Kelly at right back than O'Shea.

id rather have coleman or foley

[Predator]

They're not. But in terms of really attacking a minnow team, I'd rather have Kelly at right back than O'Shea.You think we're really going to attack that much? :) I just hope Andorra don't score. They'll be confident of bagging one since we're the only team they've scored against.

[SwanVsDalton]

id rather have coleman or foley

Fair enough though I think Kelly gets a tough deal. He's been very reliable since Georgia a few years ago, and was excellent in Russia. Think he can bring an attacking game, too, if he's allowed. Foley hasn't looked comfortable at international level. Coleman, sure, think we could see him off the bench at least.


You think we're really going to attack that much? :) I just hope Andorra don't score. They'll be confident of bagging one since we're the only team they've scored against.

Yes I think our intention will be to attack more, so play the more mobile, more natural right back no? We should take a cold, hard look at ourselves if Andorra grab anything other than a screamer like they did last time.

[Predator]

Yes I think our intention will be to attack more, so play the more mobile, more natural right back no? We should take a cold, hard look at ourselves if Andorra grab anything other than a screamer like they did last time.Kelly is my favoured right back too. Andorra's goal was a screamer, admittedly, and while my comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, they've scored against us in the past too. I remember when they took the lead at the old Lansdowne in 2001...

[SwanVsDalton]

Seven clean sheets in a row though! We really should be making it eight though, of course, it wouldn't surprise me if they grabbed a goal from nothing.

[Sullivinho]

Seven clean sheets in a row though! We really should be making it eight though, of course, it wouldn't surprise me if they grabbed a goal from nothing.

It'd almost be worth it to hear Trap proclaim himself 'pi$$ed off' at ending the streak, ala Mick in Tehran. :D

[tetsujin1979]

Records like that start to add pressure on players the longer they go on. I'm convinced Ferguson wasn't that bothered about losing to Wolves last season but if they had continued unbeaten and lost to Chelsea, for example, it a would have done far more damage. Losing it meant no more stories in the less about how long it could go on, would they match Arsenal's achievement, etc. Compare that to how Arsenal list their unbeaten run to United, and arguably still haven't recovered.
Similarly, if we concede against Andorra, I'm still convinced we'll score more then them and win. If we concede against Armenia, especially the opener, then it's a case of "we've lost the record and now have to come from behind to win".

[Kingdom]

Kelly is my favoured right back too. Andorra's goal was a screamer, admittedly, and while my comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, they've scored against us in the past too. I remember when they took the lead at the old Lansdowne in 2001...

Ildefons Lima. I'll never forget that name. Thankfully we equalised immediately.

[BonnieShels]

The excitement is kicking in. Watching that rugby match in Saturday will be tough going.

[Kingdom]

surely odea deserves to be picked after his good recent performances, especially russia?

On the face of it, I'd be surprised if O'Dea was dropped. He's done relatively well at centre back. and with all due respect to Josh, he's not a leader at centre back, he's never been a leader in the sense of Richard Dunne or Paul McGrath or Roy Keane have been in the past. O'Dea has featured in quite a few of the run too - Mace in Skopje, Scotland, Italy, Russia, not too shabby at all.
I'd imagine if he plays the doc and Josh it's to give Ledger some game time ahead of Armenia, when Dunne will be back, considering he hasn't been playing for Leicester. Ledger is a big threat in the opposition box too, which stands to him. Still given how they shouldn't threaten us, why make two changes to the team (Josh -> Kelly; Dunne-> O'Dea) against Armenia (at least) when the team against Andorra could necessitate only one straight change (Dunne->O'Dea)

I'd have no qualms either with him going for Coleman at rb.

Nerves are jingle-jangling. This is what I miss most about the drinking, the calm one midweek to ponder the game.

[theworm2345]

Ildefons Lima. I'll never forget that name. Thankfully we equalised immediately.
Up there with Manuel Marani and Michalis Konstantinou.

[Supreme feet]

Up there with Manuel Marani and Michalis Konstantinou.

'Shudder'. And Goran Stavrevski, Toni Polster and Abas Suan.

[jbyrne]

A bit harsh alright, assuming Trap's indications are being interpreted correctly.

could actually be a wrong interpretation. i heard it reported last evening that it was between oshea and st ledger to replace dunne. no mention of anyone replacing odea so he must be considered likely to start