Euro 2012 Squad Discussion

[DannyInvincible]

A piece on Hunt: http://www.joe.ie/euro-2012/euro-2012-news/at-least-we-know-stephen-hunt-is-not-the-mystery-irish-player-thats-going-to-miss-the-euros-0024381-1

Confirms he's not the "mystery player" but also features this bit of info:


Sean St. Ledger added to the intrigue earlier this week by deviously suggesting that the mystery player was a midfielder, but whoever it is, it’s certainly not Stephen Hunt.

Was this on Twitter or what? i suppose we've kind of assumed it's a midfield player anyway considering it's been implied McClean will be the replacement.

[tricky_colour]

What about Andy Reid? Maybe he's the player who has the personal problems and will miss out?


I think you are confusing personality problems with eating disorders.

[Charlie Darwin]

Have you got the stats to back that up?

[tricky_colour]

No but I have a McDonald's bill.

[geysir]

i suppose we've kind of assumed it's a midfield player anyway considering it's been implied McClean will be the replacement.
There's a deal of support for Walters being the player in question.
However, it doesn't have to be a family health issue. There's an outside bet that some player booked the family holiday for the first weeks of June or it could be a child birth incident, we have had a few examples of players with bad timing re building a family.
I'd guess it's a player taking a delayed decision to have an operation and planning to be fit for the start of the next season.

[paul_oshea]

surely they'd cancel a family holiday....
the Gibson one makes sense too,given previous and the fact that he realises more than likely he will only be a bit part player for euros and wants to be fully right for nxt season.

I know its been posted before but is there a webcast for outside Ireland at 3?!

[ifk101]

I know its been posted before but is there a webcast for outside Ireland at 3?!

Yes. 3:30.

[geysir]

surely they'd cancel a family holiday....

Seriously?

[backstothewall]

I'm not even going to try to guess who the mystery player is, if there is one at all. But excluding that I reckon Trap will pick

Given
Westwood
Forde

Ward
St. Ledger
Dunne
O'Shea
O'Dea
Kelly
Foley

Whelan
Andrews
Gibson
Fahey
McGeady
Duff
McClean
Hunt

Keane
Doyle
Walters
Cox
Long

With Henderson, Coleman, McCarthy and Best placed on standby. Obviously if there is a midfielder going to pull out McCarthy could get picked, or if it is one of the more defensive guys Paul green could get the nod.

[AlaskaFox]

I'd have that same squad, but expect Delaney to make the standby list, with Green, McCarthy, and Keogh.

[DannyInvincible]

Seriously?

Ha, I'm not sure if your initial suggestion was completely serious but the overall tone of your post suggests it may have been. Would an established squad member really book a family holiday for the middle weeks of June? :/

[DannyInvincible]

From Enda Brady on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SkyEnda/status/199471709580038144


Statement imminent from the Ireland player who has to miss the Euros due to family reasons. Some things bigger than football.

Not injury-related then, it seems.

[paul_oshea]

Yes of course i was serious. If you were messing then you didn't put that across clearly. If a player books a holiday before we qualify then its not very professional or committed. If he books one after then he is certainly not committed.

Family reasons as assumed, if history is anything to go by it has to be Gibson or Walters then. If a midfielder, then surely it must be gibson, unless of course its the good news before the bad news and its Paul Green.

[DannyInvincible]

Maybe it's been uncovered Green's grandfather wasn't actually born in Ireland? #whatdreamsaremadeof

[paul_oshea]

carslberg dont do dreams...

[backstothewall]

Yes of course i was serious. If you were messing then you didn't put that across clearly. If a player books a holiday before we qualify then its not very professional or committed. If he books one after then he is certainly not committed.

Family reasons as assumed, if history is anything to go by it has to be Gibson or Walters then. If a midfielder, then surely it must be gibson, unless of course its the good news before the bad news and its Paul Green.

It's not going to be a family holiday. It's a ridiculous suggestion.

Given what we have heard, and the fact that people in their late 20's and early 30's tend to have young children and parent entering their later years, it seems likely a parent/wife/child is ill. History is nothing to go by here either. Unfortunately that fate could have befallen any one of the squad, and if that is what it is then no one should attach any blame to whoever it is. It will be a difficult enough for them whoever it is, and to throw around names of people who have pulled out of a friendly with a less than convincing tight hamstring is completely irrelevant.

[geysir]

Yes of course i was serious. If you were messing then you didn't put that across clearly. If a player books a holiday before we qualify then its not very professional or committed. If he books one after then he is certainly not committed.
Why am I not surprised you took that seriously

A player who books a holiday clashing with the Euro finals and who has a hard time wondering if he should cancel? :D

[ChrisRed]

Sky's Enda Brady confirms its not Duff or Keane, announcement will be made by the player prior to Traps conference, think it will be Walters as its a family matters (assuming its in regards to his daughter)

[Razors left peg]

If its Walters he could be a huge loss I think. Gives us a great option off the bench and with Doyle off form could even have started

[ChrisRed]

http://www.european-championship.com/category/European-Championship-News/Duff-left-out-of-Rep-of-Ireland-squad-201205070003/

Not sure if this is legit??

[Drumcondra 69er]

http://www.european-championship.com/category/European-Championship-News/Duff-left-out-of-Rep-of-Ireland-squad-201205070003/

Not sure if this is legit??

Pretty sure it's not.

[DannyInvincible]

Can't be if Brady's reporting that Duff is OK.

[IsMiseSean]

Why am I getting really nervous?? Please God let it not be Duffer...

[DannyInvincible]

FAI stream has just gone live: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/footballassociationofireland/events/announcement

[Stuttgart88]

This is ridiculous. I'm nervous before a squad announcement. I'm hoping it doesn't give the detractors ammo from the off. Kerr was already spouting his predictable guff in The Irish Times. I want a nice bold statement from this squad announcement.

[Stuttgart88]

They've spelt squad wrongly on that stream. My daughter just pointed that out. Smart girl.

[paul_oshea]

Whose the blonde one?

[DannyInvincible]

From FAI on Twitter:

Given, Westwood, Forde, Dunne, O'Shea, St.Ledger, O'Dea, Ward, Kelly, Foley, Whelan, Gibson, Andrews, Fahey, Duff, McGeady, Hunt, McClean, Keane, Doyle, Cox, Long, Walters.

STANDBY: Randolph, McShane, Green, Coleman, Keogh.

[IsMiseSean]

McCarthy not even on standby...

[tetsujin1979]

squad announced on fai's twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/#!/FAIreland/status/199505437308100608

Given, Westwood, Forde, Dunne, O'Shea, St.Ledger, O'Dea, Ward, Kelly, Foley, Whelan, Gibson, Andrews, Fahey, Duff, McGeady, Hunt...

(https://twitter.com/#)
https://twitter.com/#!/FAIreland/status/199505447181500416

...McClean, Keane, Doyle, Cox, Long, Walters. STANDBY: Randolph, McShane, Green, Coleman, Keogh

[paul_oshea]

is he reading them out in the order they were picked?

[tetsujin1979]

just mentioned something about McCarthy.

[DannyInvincible]

McCarthy's father is ill. Sad to hear.

[Charlie Darwin]

Did RTE have the squad up before Trap read it out?

[paul_oshea]

Aware of the information? Was mccarthy meant to release that statement already or just that we knew it was personal reasons he wouldn't be able travel.

[irishultra]

IMO I think McCarthy would have gone if he was a cert starter so he could honour his dad, but sitting on the bench while he has cancer for 3 weeks I can see why he pulled out.

[tetsujin1979]

statement released by McCarthy, his dad has been diagnosed with cancer and he had to withdraw

[DannyInvincible]

The FAI tweeted it before Trap appeared.

McCarthy's father has been diagnosed with cancer. Here's his statement:

https://p.twimg.com/AsTLLo3CMAAScKu.jpg

[paul_oshea]

positive talk from trap about mccarthy being the future. Good to hear.

[tetsujin1979]

gutted for McCarthy, happy with the squad, and the players on stand by
Trapattoni mentioned speaking to each player on standby. I'd like him to have finished it with "**** you, Brian Kerr"

[SwanVsDalton]

Shame for McCarthy. Hope it works out for him and his father and he's back in the green sooner rather than later.

McClean from LOI to Euro 2012 is an outstanding achievement.

Fairly uncontroversial selection aside from the expected exclusion of Hoolahan. Bring it on.

[DannyInvincible]

I'm pleased with the squad and was impressed by Trap/the whole announcement overall. From a Derry perspective, excited to see McClean named along with Gibson and Forde. The news on McCarthy takes the gloss off the announcement somewhat. Feel for the lad.

[Hibs4Ever]

Heard Sky Sports are making a big deal about McCarthy not being in the squad. Seems they are not as up to date as they like to think they are

[paul_oshea]

Good question about Mccarthy there from Donoghue.

[tetsujin1979]

Good question about Mccarthy there from Donoghue.
no it wasn't, asking him if there was any way around him staying at home with his Dad was almost insulting

[Cuyahoga]

17 out of the 23 born in ireland.

[DannyInvincible]

no it wasn't, asking him if there was any way around him staying at home with his Dad was almost insulting

Thought that myself. Was cringing the further he went with it.

[Stuttgart88]

Without intending to be cold-hearted but the situatution has played out well for Trap. He'd have been crucified if James McCarthy was left out in ordinary circumstances. Instead he gets a diplomatic "out" and the inclusion of McClean is a positive statement and gives the press nothing to moan about.

[gustavo]

6 former League of Ireland player too

[DannyInvincible]

Who the **** is Holenan?! :P