Squad VS Armenia and Andorra

[tetsujin1979]

27 man squad named: http://faireland.posterous.com/trappatoni-names-27-man-squad-to-face-armenia

Shay Given Aston Villa
Kieran Westwood Sunderland AFC
David Forde Millwall AFC
John O'Shea Sunderland AFC
Kevin Foley Wolves
Stephen Kelly Fulham
Stephen Ward Wolves
Richard Dunne Aston Villa
Kevin Kilbane Derby
Sean St. Ledger Leicester
Darren O'Dea Leeds
Damien Delaney Ipswich Town
Glen Whelan Stoke
James McCarthy Wigan
Seamus Coleman Everton
Keith Andrews Ipswich
Keith Fahey Birmingham
Andy Keogh Leeds
Damien Duff Fulham
Aiden McGeady Spartak Moscow
Stephen Hunt Wolves
Liam Lawrence Portsmouth
Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
Kevin Doyle Wolves
Shane Long West Brom
Simon Cox West Brom
Jon Walters StokeGood to see Coleman and Walters return. Slightly surprised Best didn't make it.

[cufc champions]

Are there any injury doubts in that squad???
How is Andy Keogh holding down a spot in the squad?
Great to see Coleman and Walters in, I suspect it was a toss up between Walters and Best and Jon getting the nod as he is a better all round player.

[backstothewall]

No Marc Wilson again.

Regardless of whatever fallings out might have happened the FAI should be instructing Trap to give him a competative cap. Just to be sure.

[TrapAPony]

I'm also very surprised Marc Wilson didn't make it and he playing week in week out at Stoke in the Premiership. Seeing Andy Keogh's name in the squad makes me die a little inside.

[Stuttgart88]

Has Wilson already "changed association", meaning he can't go back?

[French Toasht]

We know two things about Andorra. They are relatively tight at the back (only concede on average 2 goals per game, which is pretty good comparitively for a minnow) but can't score to save their lives. (1 goal in 8 matches; that wonder strike against us).

Surely on assessment of those facts, Trap should release us from the rigid 4-4-2 straight jacket we play every game, for a more attack minded formation?

Surely?

[Sullivinho]

How is Andy Keogh holding down a spot in the squad?

I don't like being negative about such an honest tryer but I've been asking myself the same question. As for the answer...the fact he always turns up? Sentimentality from Trap? I dunno. The guy looks more ineffectual every time I see him. The omissions of Best, Wilson and Treacy don't help in making it look any less daft, even though the former would leave us top heavy with strikers.

Enough there to beat Andorra anyhows.

[Fixer82]

How is Andy Keogh in ahead of Best?
I mean, Keogh is a good lad but Best is scoring in the premiership?

[geysir]

Thread title should read Squad VS Andorra and Armenia.

I'd agree about the need to have somebody like Wilson around the squad. It's good to see some old faces back and the new kids like McCarthy and Coleman.

27 man squad? that means 4 will get the chop.

[zero]

is mcshane injured, or has his time passed? i seem to recall he may be injured...

[TrapAPony]

is mcshane injured, or has his time passed? i seem to recall he may be injured...

Still injured


Thread title should read Squad VS Andorra and Armenia.

27 man squad? that means 4 will get the chop.

Delaney and Keogh anyway....

[bwagner]

the same bums - im shocked . heaven forbid he not Keogh the tool Keogh

[Wolfie]

the same bums - im shocked . heaven forbid he not Keogh the tool Keogh

If you'd have written "9 Across" at the start of that post, I'd have been convinced it was a crossword clue.

[jbyrne]

No Marc Wilson again.

Regardless of whatever fallings out might have happened the FAI should be instructing Trap to give him a competative cap. Just to be sure.

is this a joke??
we should now use our qualifiers as a means to tie players to us?
this lad is unproven and unreliable but sure lets stick him on in a critical qualifier?

and what kind of manager would let himself be "told" by his association to play a certain player for any reason never mind to just to tie him to us?

Irish caps should be special and should be hard earned

[Yard of Pace]

How is Andy Keogh holding down a spot in the squad?
.

I wonder has Keogh ever pulled out of a squad through injury? Always shows up and is a top lad would be my reckoning as to why he's always name. He's not THAT bad anyway. Not international standard probably but he's hardly Ali Dia.

[backstothewall]

is this a joke??
we should now use our qualifiers as a means to tie players to us?
this lad is unproven and unreliable but sure lets stick him on in a critical qualifier?

and what kind of manager would let himself be "told" by his association to play a certain player for any reason never mind to just to tie him to us?

Irish caps should be special and should be hard earned

Not a joke at all. What he is doing at Stoke merits a start in my opinion, but thats another matter.

With less and less friendlies, games against the likes of Andorra are of most benifit by having a look at new players.

And there will be a manager after Trap. Even if Trap doesn't rate him, the FAI have a responsibility to ensure the next manager has the opportunity to pick him.

[micls]

Even if Trap doesn't rate him, the FAI have a responsibility to ensure the next manager has the opportunity to pick him.

If the player really wants to play for us then the next manager will have the chance to pick him regardless. If not, then good riddance.

[jbyrne]

Not a joke at all. What he is doing at Stoke merits a start in my opinion, but thats another matter.

With less and less friendlies, games against the likes of Andorra are of most benifit by having a look at new players.


11 friendlies (incl. carling cup) since February 2010 would say otherwise.
So an Andorran team that has lost narrowly at home to Russia and Slovakia should be treated as fodder for testing potential new players who may / may not actually be very committed to play for us?


And there will be a manager after Trap. Even if Trap doesn't rate him, the FAI have a responsibility to ensure the next manager has the opportunity to pick him.

and this supersedes the right of a manger to field a team that he thinks is capable of winning critical qualifiers here and now?

[Irwin3]

Wilson should be in the squad. He's first choice in a premier league side. Only O'Shea, Dunne and maybe Ward can match this out of our defenders.

[bwagner]

Yawn !!!!!!!!

[back of the net]

How is Andy Keogh in ahead of Best?
I mean, Keogh is a good lad but Best is scoring in the premiership?

Definitely feel for Best as he must be wondering what he has to do to get into the squad.
He just needs to keep his head down and keep working hard at Newcastle ....as I do think he could and will do a good job for us up front if given the chance.


Re: The "Keogh" agenda.......Trap has 5 strikers in the squad....Keane, Doyle, Cox, Long and Walters. I would have Keane , Doyle , Long and Cox in there ahead of Best which leaves Cox....I would have Best in ahead of him but in saying that Cox has done well IMO for Ireland since coming into the side.

Back to keogh , The only conclusion I can come up with is that Trap can also play him as a winger and a striker ....so is versatility the reason.....

I do think Keogh is good a player and had high hopes for him when he came onto the scene...but he hasnt lived up to what I hoped he would become.
Still a good player though

[Kingdom]

Is Keith Treacy injured? I hadn't thought so.
If he's cutting, then it'll be Delaney, Keogh, Lawrence and the last spot between Walters and Cox.

[theworm2345]

Definitely feel for Best as he must be wondering what he has to do to get into the squad.
He just needs to keep his head down and keep working hard at Newcastle ....as I do think he could and will do a good job for us up front if given the chance.


Re: The "Keogh" agenda.......Trap has 5 strikers in the squad....Keane, Doyle, Cox, Long and Walters. I would have Keane , Doyle , Long and Cox in there ahead of Best which leaves Cox....I would have Best in ahead of him but in saying that Cox has done well IMO for Ireland since coming into the side.

Back to keogh , The only conclusion I can come up with is that Trap can also play him as a winger and a striker ....so is versatility the reason.....

I do think Keogh is good a player and had high hopes for him when he came onto the scene...but he hasnt lived up to what I hoped he would become.
Still a good player though
I've long since disregarded form as anything Trap considers for selection. If form had anything to do with it Best and Connolly would both be in there ahead of Cox and Keogh (and maybe Doyle and Long but I don't think they'd be dropped) and Hoolahan and Pilkington would be in there. I too remember when Keogh scored a goal in each of his first three matches under Trap (two against Portuguese lower division sides), but honestly I can't think of any reason other than that as to why he's in the squad. I wonder if Trap has even heard of Pilkington. Similarly, Delaney isn't even first choice at Ipswich right now.

Regardless of all of this though, I don't think is the time to be changing the squad. Hopefully we can qualify directly and get a look at some other players in November friendly matches.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't understand why people are always so surprised that Keogh is in the squad. In four years under Trap, he's played approximately 10 minutes as a striker. He's clearly there to give us a different attacking option when we aren't getting enough bodies in the box.

[Kingdom]

Regardless of all of this though, I don't think is the time to be changing the squad. Hopefully we can qualify directly and get a look at some other players in November friendly matches.

I'd agree with that to a good degree worm. Without trying to open old wounds, surely the players themselves knew that to break into the autumn squads they'd have to have been around for the friendlies (all of them) in the first 6 months of the season?
It'll be the same (if we qualify) either in Nov or Feb, that the potential 10 warm-up games we play will be the time for experimentation.

[SwanVsDalton]

I've long since disregarded form as anything Trap considers for selection. If form had anything to do with it Best and Connolly would both be in there ahead of Cox and Keogh (and maybe Doyle and Long but I don't think they'd be dropped) and Hoolahan and Pilkington would be in there. I too remember when Keogh scored a goal in each of his first three matches under Trap (two against Portuguese lower division sides), but honestly I can't think of any reason other than that as to why he's in the squad. I wonder if Trap has even heard of Pilkington. Similarly, Delaney isn't even first choice at Ipswich right now.

Nearly all of them are the players chosen are there based on form. Only Gibson, Cox and Keogh could be considered guys who are picked despite regularly not getting a game. But Gibson is an option where we're short on talent and Cox was great off the bench in Russia (ie was in decent form). Best's form is great to see but Cox has done more than enough to keep his place.

Connolly, fair play to him, but you couldn't really make a case for him based on anything but he's getting goals in the Championship - and I think all the other players have a far stronger case to make than that.

Delaney was a regular but he's a versatile experienced defender, who can slot in at left back where we're short on cover. Should players simply be dropped if they're out of their club side?

As for Hoolahan's case, it's been said time and time again but he's hardly going to play in Trap's current system. I think he's the one player genuinely unlucky not to get a look in, but I can understand why he's not there.

And is Pilkington really making a case to replace any of our current wingers? Lawrence, maybe, but I'd still rather have Liam for experience and set-piece delivery. He's a decent prospect and all but, again, hardly a no brainer.

[greendeiseboy]

Nearly all of them are the players chosen are there based on form. Only Gibson, Cox and Keogh could be considered guys who are picked despite regularly not getting a game. But Gibson is an option where we're short on talent and Cox was great off the bench in Russia (ie was in decent form). Best's form is great to see but Cox has done more than enough to keep his place.

Connolly, fair play to him, but you couldn't really make a case for him based on anything but he's getting goals in the Championship - and I think all the other players have a far stronger case to make than that.

Delaney was a regular but he's a versatile experienced defender, who can slot in at left back where we're short on cover. Should players simply be dropped if they're out of their club side?

As for Hoolahan's case, it's been said time and time again but he's hardly going to play in Trap's current system. I think he's the one player genuinely unlucky not to get a look in, but I can understand why he's not there.

And is Pilkington really making a case to replace any of our current wingers? Lawrence, maybe, but I'd still rather have Liam for experience and set-piece delivery. He's a decent prospect and all but, again, hardly a no brainer.

In fairness to Keogh he is getting regular football in a crap Leeds side (I support them:() but it dosent take away from the fact that he's a very limited player.

On a more serious note did anyone see how much Manuela has aged at the press conference today. Obviously Trap's failure to grasp the English language has taken its' toll on her

Edit: He's just scored for Leeds and is playing very well

[Crosby87]

It'll be the same (if we qualify) either in Nov or Feb, that the potential 10 warm-up games we play will be the time for experimentation.

They would play 10 friendlies if they Q for Euro? Is that right?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Wilson and Best should both be in the squad. Keogh and 1-2 others probably are dead wood at this stage.

Though Trap would pick 8 central midfielders to play in an eleven if he thought he'd get away with it...
But even if we did qualify, it'd be six friendlies max.before the finals. And not all might be 'full' internationals, eg. v.club sides?

[SkStu]

did Trap have a falling out with Leon Best?

[BonnieShels]

Wasn't there some late night hassle with Leon last year in Dublin?

[SwanVsDalton]

I think he was miffed about his 'can't play a friendly but can play a game three days later attitude', like with others, and Best has been unlucky Trap has since taken a shine to Cox. Don't think it's anything more than that but open to correction.

[Stuttgart88]

Best and Walters are competing for the same spot I reckon.

[IsMiseSean]

Best and Walters are competing for the same spot I reckon.

I agree, its one or the other. Cox offers something different than Best & Walters

[Crosby87]

Best Long Cox up front together could get the ladies in the house to ensure we sellout the Andorra game.

[AlaskaFox]

Best Long Cox up front together could get the ladies in the house to ensure we sellout the Andorra game.

It's already sold out ;)

[Crosby87]

Oh they play Armenia at home? Oops.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Best and Walters are competing for the same spot I reckon.

Well, on current form Best looks better!
Perhaps he's too 'creative' for Trap?
:rolleyes:

[geysir]

Well, on current form Best looks better!
Perhaps he's too 'creative' for Trap?
:rolleyes:
If Trap picked Tweedledee, you would automatically claim he should have picked Tweedledum :)

I think the 2 of them could be in a 27 man squad which has 5 forwards.
Drop one of the lightweights, Long or Doyle? or drop Cox?

Atm, all our usual suspect options are available and one of them will be axed when it is reduced.
As Stutts says, Best & Walters are probably vying for the same spot, no harm though to have Best on close standby.

[Stuttgart88]

Well, on current form Best looks better!
Perhaps he's too 'creative' for Trap?
:rolleyes:By all accounts Walters was excellent against Man U.

I'm a big believer in having positive characters in the camp. If it's hard to choose between 2 players, I'd pick the more outgoing, positive personality. If Best's on-pitch persona is anything to go by, he looks a bit too self-interested and sulky to me.

I think Keogh's personality counts in his favour. So too does Cox's.

[ArdeeBhoy]

If Trap picked Tweedledee, you would automatically claim he should have picked Tweedledum.

Presumably you're being ironic? ;)

My 5 strikers would be Keane, Doyle, Walters, Long, Best, in that order.
And given Trap doesn't play with, er, wingers as forwards!!

[mark12345]

We know two things about Andorra. They are relatively tight at the back (only concede on average 2 goals per game, which is pretty good comparitively for a minnow) but can't score to save their lives. (1 goal in 8 matches; that wonder strike against us).

Surely on assessment of those facts, Trap should release us from the rigid 4-4-2 straight jacket we play every game, for a more attack minded formation?

Surely?

Absolutely right. Trap needs to abandon the 4 4 2 and load up with strikers for this game. Bang the ball long - ok it won't be pretty - and pour the pressure on them.

I would have Walters, Doyle, Long, Keane and Best in the team. Probably play only three at the back too.

[seanfhear]

Absolutely right. Trap needs to abandon the 4 4 2 and load up with strikers for this game. Bang the ball long - ok it won't be pretty - and pour the pressure on them.

I would have Walters, Doyle, Long, Keane and Best in the team. Probably play only three at the back too.

You might as well leave out the goalkeeper too while your at it;)

I believe that there is a story that when Stuart Pearce was caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest that he put up an 11 player team sheet without a goalkeeper (not promising that this is true, particularly if Pearce takes issue with it!)

[Kingdom]

They would play 10 friendlies if they Q for Euro? Is that right?

I could have miscalculated! I'm not sure how the FIFA calendar works, but going on this years available dates:

(Say we qualify automatically )
Nov friendly x2
Feb friendly
Mar friendly x2
May friendly x2

7 friendlys. apologies, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of challenge games against local sides that trap has a grá for.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Only one friendly in November surely?
And possibly just one in March?

[Kingdom]

Only one friendly in November surely?
And possibly just one in March?

Yeah I thought about that, but if there are two dates set aside for the play-offs, then surely friendlies can be used too? The same with March, we had a qualifier and a friendly (didn't we)?
I mean he should be using as much of the available dates as possible to be as fair to a pretty sprawling group of players who haven't seen much game time.
Delaney, O'Dea, Clark, Wilson, Foley, Westwood, Forde, Br Murphy, McCarthy, Treacy, Walters, Best would all benefit from prolonged friendly time.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Maybe, thinking more about clubs not wanting players to bother with what they deem 'pointless' games...

[Morbo]

Presumably you're being ironic? ;)

My 5 strikers would be Keane, Doyle, Walters, Long, Best, in that order.
And given Trap doesn't play with, er, wingers as forwards!!

Doyle has been pretty useless so far this season. I know there is more to his game than goal scoring but he isn't even doing the things that made him so valuable the last couple of seasons. I'd have Long ahead of him in a heartbeat at the moment, probably Cox too, my order would be: Keane, Long, Cox, Doyle, Best/Walters. If he continues to play the way he did against Slovakia and Russia I'd consider moving Best and Walters ahead of him too.

[TrapAPony]

Kevin Foley is out
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/foley-ruled-out-of-euro-qualifiers-168968.html

[weldoninhio]

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!!!