Lack of friendies/b game

[bwagner]

Why is there so few friendly dates in this years calender?
I really think we arrange at least two B games:

Here are some players i would like to see involved

Henderson
Randolph
Doyle


Duffy
Wilsonn
Chambers
Sterman
Mc Carthy
Cunningham
Pearce



Hoolihan
Mc Cann
Brady
Mc lean
Clifford
Piklington

Heffernan
Daly
Scannell
Mason

[Stuttgart88]

Agreed, but remember that there are only certain dates allocated to international football when the clubs are obliged to release players. Those dates will also include competitive U21 internationals. On any other dates the clubs will say feck off, and in the latter stages of a season will be slow to release players even when they have to. C'est la vie.

My guess (hope) is that the FAI & Trap are fully aware of the usefulness of such games, but opportunities are limited.

I do also believe that there is a genuine chain of information from Doolin / King up to the senior squad. I've seen some quotes to that effect.

[bwagner]

I taugh fifa , uefa would be milking a tournanment year and throwing in plenty of friendly dates.. I think we just have 1 game Feb and 2 in May

[Predator]

Trap and the crew are well clued in, despite criticism. They receive regular updates on all players that have been involved, in the form of a portfolio, as well as possibilities for the future. As you say, Doolin and King make recommendations also.

[Charlie Darwin]

I taugh fifa , uefa would be milking a tournanment year and throwing in plenty of friendly dates.. I think we just have 1 game Feb and 2 in May
Well the league season has to end early to accommodate the championship, plus there are usually more internationals in the latter part of the year than the start. We used up two of our friendly opportunities with the playoff.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Why is there so few friendly dates in this years calender?
I really think we arrange at least two B games

Does anyone even play 'B' games still?
Not that am against them, just don't seem to be a popular concept generally these days?

And agree with most of those names being given a chance, but given the fuss on here over the potential inclusion of eg. McClean over Duff, an old hand like Trap is unlikely to embrace change rapidly either, so unless he retires or expires, don't expect it! Sadly.

Rather than a pointless Czech game, maybe play 'A' v. 'B' as an, er, 'final eliminator'...

[jbyrne]

And agree with most of those names being given a chance, but given the fuss on here over the potential inclusion of eg. McClean over Duff, an old hand like Trap is unlikely to embrace change rapidly either, so unless he retires or expires, don't expect it! Sadly.


has introduced many more new players to his team than the likes of you give him credit for. no point in change for the sake of it

[Murfinator]

Would rather:

Westwood
Foley O'Dea Kelly Kilbane
Coleman Gibson Fahey Hunt
Long Walters

Y'know an actual B side of people pushing for starting places and not a D or E side of no hopers.

[backstothewall]

Would rather:

Westwood
Foley O'Dea Kelly Kilbane
Coleman Gibson Fahey Hunt
Long Walters

Y'know an actual B side of people pushing for starting places and not a D or E side of no hopers.

I would do something like

Randolph
Coleman Duffy Clark Stevens
Walters Wilson McCarthy McClean
Keane Stokes

With the wrong injuries almost any of them could end up in the squad and they all have less than 5 caps each (apart from Keane obviously). E.g. At the minute if we lose 2 keepers for the championship we don't really have a viable option who has made his international debut. Whether we play something like that in a B game, on in a full friendly doesn't really matter to my eyes as long as we get a look at them, but B games seem to be looked upon as being a bit 20th century.

[Charlie Darwin]

Stevens ahead of Cunningham?

[backstothewall]

Could easily be the other way round. Went with Stevens as he has never made his debut and we could end up taking him if Ward & Kilbane were both injured. But the point is really about giving guys like Stevens and Cunningham another cap. There is nothing more to learn about Kilbane, Hunt of Fahey even if they don't usually start, but we really don't want someone making his debut against Spain.

[ArdeeBhoy]

has introduced many more new players to his team than the likes of you give him credit for. no point in change for the sake of it

Unsure what you mean by 'the likes of you', but I'm telling you know, unless we do embrace change pretty quickly we'll be struggling when the current crop retire.
There's every reason for change, though accept that's not Trap's style.
He should however make more efforts to pick players 'in form', rather than rely on the same old, same old...

[Closed Account]

There's every reason for change, though accept that's not Trap's style.
He should however make more efforts to pick players 'in form', rather than rely on the same old, same old...
This is the crux of the matter.

In my opinion, and I'm sure many others, including Trapattoni possibly, international football is a different animal to Club Football(obviously). Continuity is a far stronger aspect when working with players intermittently.
Keeping a core group of players together for long periods is crucial to foster international success. A side effect of this of course is that is there isn't a lot of scope to try out new players. In my opinion, Trap has found a good balance, he has regularly introduced new players to the squad, granted not quick enough to everyones liking, but that's his prerogative, no one elses.

In his eyes, I'm sure he is picking players 'in form'. I'd hate if we went down the route of England, whose team seems to be picked by the tabloids calling for the flavour of the months inclusion because he's had a few good performances against Swansea and QPR.

All that being said, major tournaments don't come around that often for us, and if a bolter should come along, i.e McClean, I hope Trap has the pragmatism to explore the option, as no stone should be left unturned, but not to the detriment of the squad dynamic.

[Carrigaline]

I would do something like

Randolph
Coleman Duffy Clark Stevens
Walters Wilson McCarthy McClean
Keane Stokes
That team simply won't happen.

Firstly, it's Westwood and not Randolph that needs to get a game to get him comfortable playing in the team should Given get himself crocked. Duffy, Clark and Stephens are obviously players for the future and I think it would be suicidal to throw such young and experienced players up against the likes of Spain and Italy. McClean is a little different, given he has made a fairly big breakthrough, I would consider giving him game time.

If I was picking a team, it would be as follows.

Westwood (GK)
Wilson (RB)
St Ledger (CB)
O'Dea (CB)
O'Shea (LB)
Coleman (RM)
Gibson (CM)
McCarthy (CM)
Hunt (LM)
Long (ST)
Cox (ST)

I would also give Walters a half.

[Murfinator]

It's a good point with our opposition in mind, we need wily old hands who won't be intimidated playing world champions rather than young upstarts who've never tasted the game at this level before. Particularly in defence where our back 4 will be under immense pressure all game, they need to have 100% concentration and focus, no room for even one error. Very rare you get those kind of games from young defenders as they'll have not walked that tightrope before.

[backstothewall]

I think it would be suicidal to throw such young and experienced players up against the likes of Spain and Italy.

I agree, but in the real world if we suffer a spate of injuries in one position those are the players we are looking at falling back on. For example you are quite right to say that if Given picks up an injury Westwood is next in line, but what if we also lose him?

The same thing applies in a couple of positions. If we lose Duff and Hunt we will be looking at people like McClean or Hoolahan. If we lose Ward and Kilbane, the likes of Cunningham, Stevens and Tierney come into contention.

It's not that unlikely that something like this could happen, especially in the goalkeeping position. Taking an uncapped goalie, who has never played at a level higher than SPL/English 2nd Division, even as a 3rd choice, is madness.

[ArdeeBhoy]

This is the crux of the matter.

In my opinion, and I'm sure many others, including Trapattoni possibly, international football is a different animal to Club Football(obviously). Continuity is a far stronger aspect when working with players intermittently.
Keeping a core group of players together for long periods is crucial to foster international success. A side effect of this of course is that is there isn't a lot of scope to try out new players. In my opinion, Trap has found a good balance, he has regularly introduced new players to the squad, granted not quick enough to everyones liking, but that's his prerogative, no one elses.

In his eyes, I'm sure he is picking players 'in form'. I'd hate if we went down the route of England, whose team seems to be picked by the tabloids calling for the flavour of the months inclusion because he's had a few good performances against Swansea and QPR.

All that being said, major tournaments don't come around that often for us, and if a bolter should come along, i.e McClean, I hope Trap has the pragmatism to explore the option, as no stone should be left unturned, but not to the detriment of the squad dynamic.
Much of what you say makes sense and you say it well, but besides the 'new blood element, btw makes a good point re.the lack of experience we have in terms of cover.
Which is precious little with many of the players we mention.

If we have to face the likes of Spain with people like Kilbane or Green we'll take the beatings everyone expects. We have to have some sort of relative 'surprise' element in reserve...
It's not as if we're not already the most predictable team tactically in the whole tournament.
I respect Trap's 'Plan A', but are we even half way towards any 'Plan B'?
Would be interested to see this...If it exists.

[SkStu]

its a nice sentiment from Trappatoni and creates the right type of motivational headline but i hope beyond hope that he will not limit our options if there are viable alternatives out there. Charlton blooded the three amigos before USA94 and we were rewarded in spades at that tournament. I believe McCarthy did the same with Steven Reid before 2002 and he didnt disappoint. Its really short-sighted from Trap if true.