Read it and weep....Trap stays!

[TrapAPony]

I wouldn't be to sure about that. Have you seen Reading defend this season?
Have you seen Toronto in the MLS?

Hopefully Shane Duffy can make the breakthrough soon also

[Charlie Darwin]

If people were annoyed about O'Dea's clumsy performance and penalty concession against Germany, the last person they should be advocating is Ciaran Clark.

[paul_oshea]

But Kerr had that group, and he blew it. Switzerland were there to be beaten in 04/05, particularly at home, and the less said about the Israel games the better.

We'd have drawn at least twice in the four games against Armenia and Macedonia with Kerr at the helm.

Israel are and were a cut above Macedonia and Armenia. They held france iirc out in israel and had lost at home only once in 10 years or something like around the time we played them. I like the way people compare apples and oranges and use different rating instruments for their arguments when it suits them.

Btw kerr is more than just bitter with what happened him, I think he feels the way he was treated by the media, means he takes the mantle and uses it to bash every other manager after him - if they treated me like that then i'm going to treat them just like that and worse.

[Spudulika]

POS - you're right regarding Brian Kerr. He nurtured alot of the journo's who were amongst the ones who turned on him, that hurts. They were his friends, friends of his fmaily and even though they never got dirty, you could see as his time came to an end he started to get stroppy with them. He felt protected by JD but how can you feel protected by the same man who slaughtered the man who was keeping his seat warm (the man who is now a barrister).

[geysir]

I wouldn't be to sure about that. Have you seen Reading defend this season?
I haven't seen Reading defend this season but I'd imagine they have a lot of defending to do against better teams than Toronto face :)
If Pearce is able to hold a first team place for Reading, it would be worth it to give him 45 minutes against Greece, same goes for Clark.
The needs of the future comes hurtling twice as fast than Trap usually plans for.

[Noelys Guitar]

Can't understand why people are expecting Trap to change his ways. In this mornings interview on RTE Paddy Agnew suggested that if the FAI put any conditions on Trap he will be off.

[paul_oshea]

they are in there because we dont have too many options. yes, some will say clark should be in before O'Dea, for example, but clark didnt always show the committment that O'Dea did over the last few seasons and in fairness to O'Dea last Friday was the first time he didnt play well for us imo. are loyalty and committment not the kind of attributes we want our players to have?

by the way, and to ruin some illusions, clarke is not any great saviour. in fact he had a stinker v spurs when i last saw him play, badly at fault for a spurs goal.

who else was to play ctre back last Friday given dunne and st ledger were out?

He was never really tested on his own bar having dunne beside him against any decent opposition. Just because he has performed ok in a friendly or in a couple of games against lower seeds, this shouldn't be the caveat to getting into the first team automatically, just because a couple of injuries. He is at toronto for a reason. I don't care how bad Clark is, and he could well end up in toronto, but for the hear and now, Clark is playing against far better opposition week in week out in a far better team. You shouldn't even need to question this.

Stephen kelly has far more experience at a higher level than o'dea. I would definitely have played him before o'dea. I would also have played Clark before O'dea. Neither clark or o'dea were used to playing with O'shea. Simply for the reasons outlined above I would have chosen him for that game.

[paul_oshea]

Well I think you should seriously consider your evaluation of our players then. We have one champions league player and two top class players in Keane and Dunne that are coming near the end of their career. The rest of the squad makes grim reading between guys who aren't playing for their clubs, guys playing for hoofball teams like Stoke or Wolves, guys playing for decent clubs but are literally considered the worst players at their club and whose fans can't wait to have replaced (see: McClean, Clark), guys with major attitude problems or suspect commitment to the green jersey or guys who are good players but only in a particular system. i.e. strikers who can't play alone upfront or centre mids who can't play in a 2.

We're in a dark place for the quality of our playing pool and it's getting darker, we've had to deal without having a single world class player in the team for the past few years, we'll soon have to deal without having a single top class player in the team which is a situation we've never been in before since the pre-Jack days.

Compare that post with IFKs post in the other thread about the players available to Sweden. YOu really only do see things in black and white.

[paul_oshea]

Only because of Trap? Strange that he was a regular at under 19 and under 21 level as well under different managers. The people criticising the selection of O'Dea are the worst class of fool because it's for no other reason than his league. He's had one bad game for us against Germany where he was at least no worse than our perennial underachiever JOS but he's safe in his position from the detractors because he plays in a league favourable to them apparently. Otherwise he's ranged from solid to strong when he's had to fill in for us and was very good against the Faroes, as he was throughout the last campaign. He was also another of those stuck on the bench during the Euro's without a minute of gametime despite his contributions during the campaign that got him there, but apparently you must think he's thrilled with that bench sitting situation.

He has had more clubs and failed than he the village bicycle has been ridden. Open your eyes and don't be so naive. Ill trust the judgement of 4 or 5 managers and copious amounts of scouts/agents over you anyday.


guys playing for decent clubs but are literally considered the worst players at their club and whose fans can't wait to have replaced (see: McClean, Clark), guys with major attitude problems or suspect commitment

You really are the biggest hypocrite on this site. The exact same was said about O'dea at his clubs,but yet you choose to ignore that in the context above....:rolleyes:

[paul_oshea]

Can't understand why people are expecting Trap to change his ways. In this mornings interview on RTE Paddy Agnew suggested that if the FAI put any conditions on Trap he will be off.

that should not be a reason for not doing so. If it is they save a whole lot of money and get someone else in - if financial motives were behind the decision to keep him on.

[Stuttgart88]

I reckon the board meeting went like this:

JD: so that's it, we'll fire him
Board: yep.
JD: so who tells him?
Board: you do
JD: no bloody way, I'm afraid of him. Milo, you do it.
Milo: holy jaysus, no way. I'll be sleeping with the fishes before I'm off the phone
JD: come on then, someone must do it
[collective shake of heads]
JD: OK, he stays

[SwanVsDalton]

Israel are and were a cut above Macedonia and Armenia. They held france iirc out in israel and had lost at home only once in 10 years or something like around the time we played them.

Never said otherwise about Israel (although they'd still struggle to beat Macedonia and Armenia at the same time...). We still should've beaten them twice under Kerr.

Main point I was making Kerr had a group as handy as our Euro 2012 group. Do you disagree?


I like the way people compare apples and oranges and use different rating instruments for their arguments when it suits them.

Go on, don't be shy and elaborate - how have I done this? That's the snide suggestion after all.


Btw kerr is more than just bitter with what happened him, I think he feels the way he was treated by the media, means he takes the mantle and uses it to bash every other manager after him - if they treated me like that then i'm going to treat them just like that and worse.

Agree. Even think he was a little hard done by the way it went down but he'd need to take a look in the mirror over some of his Trap criticisms.

[SkStu]

a couple of things

1) the days of Kerr and Staunton were crap. No rose tinted spectacles here.
2) Trappatoni is not the worst thing to happen to Irish football. He had some great achievements with this team even if he never had a great performance.

My hope and belief after Staunton was that we needed a fresh approach in terms of tactics, formation and youth progression. We got that in the first year even though he focussed on continuity instead of revamping the squad and bringing through fresh players. I have had huge reservations about his approach to management of players, his tactical awareness and his commitment level from Squad #1. From my perspective he was the wrong choice for us at the time (though i was so excited at the time). He is not the man for the future. His faults are glaring and he makes no attempt to acknowledge or address them.

1) Tactically limited.
2) Doesnt care about communication problems.
3) Man management is atrocious.
4) Doesnt care to watch games involving Irish players.
5) Is reluctant to play form premiership players and favours players one or sometimes two divisions lower than premiership where there are other, better options.
6) Is reluctant to give youth a chance. His hand has been forced in many changes he has made.
7) The areas he did improve when he was hired have become bigger weaknesses than they were before (when was the last time we conceded 9 goals in 3 consecutive games? When was the last time we conceded 6 at home in one game?).
8) Ignores the inherent strengths of our psyche - fighting spirit, never say die, we always have a chance attitude.
9) He unreasonably and detrimentally belittles the ability of our players and our player pool. How will this help us believe that we should even be on the same park as Spain, Germany, Croatia etc...?
10) His approach to the areas i had hoped to see improvements in post-Staunton are archaic. He is not the progressive thinker I had thought he was.

Despite what we did achieve with Trappatoni and notwithstanding that i had serious reservations about him from very early on, he is NOT the man for the present and he is certainly NOT the man for the future.

[Murfinator]

If people were annoyed about O'Dea's clumsy performance and penalty concession against Germany, the last person they should be advocating is Ciaran Clark.

It's hilarious, I'm not sure if the people advocating him have ever even seen Ciaran Clark. Spend some time with a villa fan and see what they think about his reliability at centre back.

[boovidge]

But what do Celtic, Ipswich and Leeds fans think of O'Dea? At least Clark's playing in a top league, something O'Dea is yet to do.

[Charlie Darwin]

Who cares what fans of clubs think? O'Dea is a slow, fairly cumbersome defender who until Friday had performed well for us. Clark isn't particularly slow but he's very clumsy, indisciplined and gives away lots of fouls due to his poor positioning. Maybe he would rise to international football but in his appearances to date he hasn't.

[geysir]

Fortunately O'Dea was sharp enough to save Wilson's áss once or twice on Tuesday night.

[DannyInvincible]

I think O'Dea has a very good reading of the game. He's good at intercepting balls. His obvious drawback, however, is his lack of pace.

[Murfinator]

But what do Celtic, Ipswich and Leeds fans think of O'Dea? At least Clark's playing in a top league, something O'Dea is yet to do.

Does it matter? Ask Bayern fans what they thought of Podolski and Klose, they wouldn't have especially kind words and yet were and are incredible players for Germany surpassing the level of players they benched behind at club level. Different teams and different systems. It's a bit redundant pointing out a players troublesome club situation when he's playing well for us because frankly that's all that matters.

[Noelys Guitar]

Just reading this mornings Irish Times articles by Emmet Malone and Paddy Agnew. Unbelievable stuff (it is the FAI so in fact very believable). Trapatonni camp want some type of written confirmation from the FAI to confirm that all of Trap's people are still employed. They also want clarification from the FAI about the wording of the last part of the FAI statement "working closely with the manager". That is from Agnew and from Malone we have what most of use already guessed at. The only reason Trap is still in the job is because the FAI could not afford to pay him off. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1019/1224325455456.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1019/1224325455442.html
This is not going to work out for anybody.

[SkStu]

Wow, what an unmerciful sh!tshow. Is there anything the FAI can't do unprofessionally?

[Noelys Guitar]

Wow, what an unmerciful sh!tshow. Is there anything the FAI can't do unprofessionally?
The Venky's of International football. Mackey in the Examiner is saying Trapatonni will be attending the Norwich game at the weekend. Considering what Agnew is saying I find that hard to believe. And Malone is saying it will be better for all parties concerned if Trap gets employment elsewhere before the end of the campaign.
It’s possible now, however, that Trapattoni might look to move on before the end of the campaign with sections of the media having the potential to grow more hostile in the wake of him having been undermined by the behaviour of his employers over the last few days.

Such a move would most likely suit both camps with the manager getting to walk away from a campaign, and wider situation, which has significant potential to turn sour and the association getting to make their change without the need to find an enormous lump sum.

[elroy]

Current state of play

Positives:

Trap has finally drafted in players that many of us wanted to see in the XI for a number of months now i.e. McCarthy, Wilson, Coleman, Walters.

In the second half against the Faroes, we looked to play the ball both up the wings and through the centre alot more than we have in a long time. McCarthy had alot to do with this. Hopefully McCarthy is now the first CM on the teamsheet.

Trap showing a willingness to try different formations to compensate for our weaknesses.

Qualification still very much in our own hands. 6 points from three games is decent and realistically where we wouldve thought we'd be.

Sweden on paper dont look like the sort of team we should fear.

Despite the concession of 8 goals in three games, hard to fault WW for any really. In fact, he has done reasonably well and the experience will only improve him and give him more confidence.

Negatives:

Arguably there are still some (not many) players not in the XI that deserve to be given a chance/a greater chance - Hoolahan, Long, Pearce, Clark

One of our most skilful players is a liability defensively. Plus we still have not worked out a way to fully utilise his skills and tricky in an offensive manner - Im talking about McGeady.

The centre of defence is a major worry. Outside of Sledge and Dunne, we need to develop good back up (potential candidates may include Duffy, Kelly, Pearce, Clark).

It is likely we will need to beat both Austria and Sweden at home to qualify. Its a long time since we had a significant victory at home.

Public support for Trap is at an all time low and likely to decrease further/turn vicious if we dont pick up four points in March. In fairness if we dont get four points in March, qualification is most likely gonzo.

Persistence with Cox on the wing.

An inept FAI.

[Stuttgart88]

It’s possible now, however, that Trapattoni might look to move on before the end of the campaign with sections of the media having the potential to grow more hostile in the wake of him having been undermined by the behaviour of his employers over the last few days.

That whole Malone article was fascinating and quite frankly I was glad to see TO'D getting put back in his box for a bit, if only for his post-Kazakh interview with Trap which was insulting in tone.

But the quoted extract above - is he saying in a subtle manner that relations between FAI and Trap & Co. are virtually at breaking point?

[SwanVsDalton]

The Venky's of International football. Mackey in the Examiner is saying Trapatonni will be attending the Norwich game at the weekend. Considering what Agnew is saying I find that hard to believe.[/I]

McDonnell and the Independent (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/trapattoni-poised-for-trip-to-see-hoolahan-3264691.html) are reporting the same about the Norwich game. Though I'd be inclined to take Agnew's word over that.

Pretty funny in general for McDonnell trying his best to retain credibility after being led down the path by this 'senior FAI source'.

Also, as a side note, McDonnell wrote here (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/is-this-the-wakeup-call-trap-needed-3264695.html) on Ciaran Clark that Trapattoni "observed in September that the English-born defender is not really a natural central defender". Is this true? News to me, unless it wasn't reported at the time. Odd because Trap has said Clark is a natural central defender at least once, probably a couple of times.

[PatJR]

Wow, what an unmerciful sh!tshow. Is there anything the FAI can't do unprofessionally?

Not sure I see what the FAI have done horribly wrong this week. Looks to me that you have a standing position of "the FAI are muppets" and read articles that play on that. The media didn't get their blood letting of the manager this week so may as well have a go at the association.

They've said Trap will remain as manager...why some in Trap's camp are uncertain if they still have a job is beyond me, they have contracts don't they? No ringing endorsement for Trap but what would the reaction be if they came out and said "everything is A OK!!". They are letting the manager know that they are unhappy about certain aspects of his performance which they are totally entitled to do. Now some will interpret that as undermining the manager, probably the same ones who complain about him not attending EPL games......which is one of the FAI main points...oh and stop calling you players idiots in public. How dare the FAI...

[Stuttgart88]

The FAI are perfectly justified in telling Trap to pull his socks up.

Maybe it's even the best outcome, just about. Trap being kept but being under no illusion he's not as popular as he thought he was and that the fans and his employers both think he needs to improve many aspects of his management. This was Liam Brady's position from the summer.

I wouldn't have been unhappy to see him go and I still can't bear to watch an Ireland team standing off opponents, but as Owls Fan always says - be careful what you wish for, you might get Paul Jewell or someone similar.

[geysir]

It is adding to bizarre when RTE sports reports all morning, start out with an apology to John Delaney for wrongly naming him as the source of rumors 'mixed messages had been given to the media about the future of the senior manager’s position'.

I can only conclude that it must have been 'deep throat' Delaney who was the source.

[paul_oshea]

I never knew John Delaney and lynda lovelace had anything in common.

[OwlsFan]

Just reading this mornings Irish Times articles by Emmet Malone and Paddy Agnew. Unbelievable stuff (it is the FAI so in fact very believable). Trapatonni camp want some type of written confirmation from the FAI to confirm that all of Trap's people are still employed. They also want clarification from the FAI about the wording of the last part of the FAI statement "working closely with the manager". That is from Agnew and from Malone we have what most of use already guessed at. The only reason Trap is still in the job is because the FAI could not afford to pay him off. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1019/1224325455456.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1019/1224325455442.html
This is not going to work out for anybody.

They are guessing as well. It's all "believed", "probably" etc etc Is this the Emmet Malone who previously wrote about the terrible relationship between McCarthy and Trapp and the former said just the other day "the manager has been BRILLIANT to me". Too many people here take what journalists speculate on as gospel.

Just one small point re Trapp attending games.

Regardless of the "should he or not, why doesn't he go himself etc arguments", a huge percentage of matchtime our players are benched on Saturdays, and mostly stay there, for both Prem and Championship matches, every week. Its chronic.So if he gets around to fulfilling the wishes of many in this regard, he's going to spend an awful lot of wasted afternoons. For instance, he is rumoured to be going to Norwich this weekend. Will Hoolahan and Pilkington be playing? The players who are regulars in their sides he knows well and doesn't need to watch them. And all the people who are advocating that the likes of Clarke, Hoolahan etc should be in the side, how many have seen them live but are advocating their inclusion on the basis of what they have seen on tv!!

[paul_oshea]

You learn a lot more from watching a player live than on TV. Positional sense, spacial awareness, general awareness of the opponent and other team members, especially for backs, which is where we have such a problem. You can't guage this on TV. That's why someone like O'dea getting in good blocks or last ditch tackles, would always come across better than someone like Clark who relies less on this aspect of the game - the debate of how good Clark is is for another time, this is just an example.

A fan/supporter watches on TV, or perhaps live and forms an opinion. We have on this forum some members who only see some squad/fringe players and give very good accounts of them, the manager needs to do this for every player.

Our job is not to pick the team. That's the managers job.

[tetsujin1979]

Apologies if this has been posted already, Keith Andrews' column in the Examiner from Tuesday: "Trap has not lost the Irish dressing room" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/keith-andrews/trap-has-not-lost-the-irish-dressing-room-211015.html

[paul_oshea]

I posted this on the other thread but I think its probably more relevant here.

I wouldn't read too much into a lot of the articles the last few days. The meejahideen are going to be looking for any excuse to launch a holy war against Trap and his blessed water. This is more than likely only going to get worse in the future(i refuse to use Stutts term "going forward").

[tetsujin1979]

I posted this on the other thread but I think its probably more relevant here.

I wouldn't read too much into a lot of the articles the last few days. The meejahideen are going to be looking for any excuse to launch a holy war against Trap and his blessed water. This is more than likely only going to get worse in the future(i refuse to use Stutts term "going forward").
like I said, being forced into a late night rewrite of their stories for Wednesday isn't going to improve their feelings towards Trapattoni and the FAI in general. These "sources" are unlikely to be given any credence in future either.

[jbyrne]

I posted this on the other thread but I think its probably more relevant here.

I wouldn't read too much into a lot of the articles the last few days. The meejahideen are going to be looking for any excuse to launch a holy war against Trap and his blessed water. This is more than likely only going to get worse in the future(i refuse to use Stutts term "going forward").

can never understand why the media get so many mentions on this forum. i know a few of them personally and they always have their own agenda and always think they know better. their opinion is no more valid than anyone elses

[Stuttgart88]

Apologies if this has been posted already, Keith Andrews' column in the Examiner from Tuesday: "Trap has not lost the Irish dressing room" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/keith-andrews/trap-has-not-lost-the-irish-dressing-room-211015.html
Thanks Tets.

Andrews seems to be a great guy and I wish we had more like him. However, I find it hard to believe that everyone is as keen to retain Trap as he and Keane seem to be. I just can't think that important players like Long, McClean, Gibson and a few more marginal players like Foley and Clark wouldn't like a change.

Kelly is maybe different. I suspect he's very much a team player and probably behind Trap, but just lost the head a bit last week.

I've always had suspicions that Keane & Doyle don't get on great, just something about their body language on the pitch, but maybe I'm just imagining it.

My guess is that there's a core of starting players and regular subs that support Trap, and a bunch of frustrated outsiders not remotely happy and that the squad itself might be divided on these lines.

I hope not.

[geysir]

Part of this 'lost the dressing room' was extrapolated from KK's comments on RTE radio 'friday night of the long knives', some instances where senior players did most of the talking at half time while Trap observed.

[Real ale Madrid]

Apologies if this has been posted already, Keith Andrews' column in the Examiner from Tuesday: "Trap has not lost the Irish dressing room" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/keith-andrews/trap-has-not-lost-the-irish-dressing-room-211015.html

Translated to "Manager who plays me has not lost the dressingroom"

Can you imagine a player who is constantly supported by a manager, then writing a newspaper article criticising the same manager. Come on ffs!

[ifk101]

Exactly. The players were supporting Staunton right up until the end, lest we forget. Take what they have to publically say with a pinch of salt. It's in their best interests to say they are behind the manager.

[Noelys Guitar]

So Kerr and Dunphy combine to get the FAI to recommend/force the current Irish manager to attend EPL games. What happens if Trapatonni decides to keep doing what he has always done? They can do nothing and Trap knows that. This should be interesting.

[tetsujin1979]

Translated to "Manager who plays me has not lost the dressingroom"

Can you imagine a player who is constantly supported by a manager, then writing a newspaper article criticising the same manager. Come on ffs!
I'm taking the direct quotes from players as more valid than third party information from unnamed sources, who've been proven to be wrong as recently as last Wednesday night.

[paul_oshea]

Ah tets come on, you have been using players quotes for your pro-trap stance for a long time.

Its somewhat akin to quoting Saddam Husseins right hand men during the Iraq war. Its all vested interests and what not.

I mean none of the other players are getting any air time, and probably don't want to worsen their chances further by speaking out, I'm sure between themselves, their friends and their families its well known how they feel about Trap.

[paul_oshea]

Thanks Tets.

Andrews seems to be a great guy and I wish we had more like him. However, I find it hard to believe that everyone is as keen to retain Trap as he and Keane seem to be. I just can't think that important players like Long, McClean, Gibson and a few more marginal players like Foley and Clark wouldn't like a change.

Kelly is maybe different. I suspect he's very much a team player and probably behind Trap, but just lost the head a bit last week.

I've always had suspicions that Keane & Doyle don't get on great, just something about their body language on the pitch, but maybe I'm just imagining it.

My guess is that there's a core of starting players and regular subs that support Trap, and a bunch of frustrated outsiders not remotely happy and that the squad itself might be divided on these lines.

I hope not.

I'd say its a bit more country v the big smoke. You'd be surprised in amateur sides how often that happens.

[Junior]

Thanks Tets.

Andrews seems to be a great guy and I wish we had more like him. However, I find it hard to believe that everyone is as keen to retain Trap as he and Keane seem to be. I just can't think that important players like Long, McClean, Gibson and a few more marginal players like Foley and Clark wouldn't like a change.

Kelly is maybe different. I suspect he's very much a team player and probably behind Trap, but just lost the head a bit last week.

I've always had suspicions that Keane & Doyle don't get on great, just something about their body language on the pitch, but maybe I'm just imagining it.

My guess is that there's a core of starting players and regular subs that support Trap, and a bunch of frustrated outsiders not remotely happy and that the squad itself might be divided on these lines.

I hope not.

Of course that would not be a great situation but if Trap started walking on eggshells because the likes of McCLean or Clark or Foley are upset with him, we might as well just give up - They are barely standing in the doorway of the dressing room ffs. Whether they should be or not is another debate but Trap picks the team, its what we pay him for.

Shane Long is the only guy in that list that I think deserves a little bit extra. Either selecting (my preference) or at least ensuring proper communication with him, so that he is fully aware of where he is in Traps plans (and that may have happened, Longs quote from a few games ago was a little out of context from what I have heard and was not a dig at the manager per se). Long may not be happy with that but it does not give reason for dressing room disharmony.

Gibson - Fcuk knows what goes on in his head to be honest.

Someone else posted Andrews comments may as well be translated as "Im in the first 11, therefore I back the Manager". Ditto could be said of those he has 'lost' in the dressing room, "I'm not in the team, therefore Im not behind the manager"......

Its probably not a popular view on here but there you have it.

[Junior]

I mean none of the other players are getting any air time, and probably don't want to worsen their chances further by speaking out, I'm sure between themselves, their friends and their families its well known how they feel about Trap.

Ah ffs. We cant believe anything we read from players that is Pro-Trap and the poor little culchies who are Anti-Trap well.... no one will listen? Will you please think of the children.....Give me a break will ya

[tetsujin1979]

Ah tets come on, you have been using players quotes for your pro-trap stance for a long time. anything else that's available is hearsay, conjecture and opinion.


Its somewhat akin to quoting Saddam Husseins right hand men during the Iraq war. Its all vested interests and what not.It really, really isn't.


I mean none of the other players are getting any air time, and probably don't want to worsen their chances further by speaking out, I'm sure between themselves, their friends and their families its well known how they feel about Trap.
Tipperary's Shane Long: "My spat with Trap is forgotten" - http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/my-spat-with-trap-is-long-forgotten-insists-shane-3217547.html
A text from Waterford's Stephen Hunt was shown to the press that he had no problem with being left out of the squad VS Serbia, and his brother posted this on twitter: https://twitter.com/boyhunt/status/244128633059414016

A lot of tweets to me about Stephen and Trapitoni honestly nothing happened there they still talk! Just wasn't named in the squad!???

[Real ale Madrid]

I'm taking the direct quotes from players as more valid than third party information from unnamed sources, who've been proven to be wrong as recently as last Wednesday night.

I have no idea how valid 3rd party information from unnamed sources are ( to be honest I don't read much of the print media ) - but are you seriously telling me you give even the slightest bit of weight to a player who is currently in favour writing an article in favour of the current set-up, knowing that, if that set up were to change, there is a possibility that he could fall out of favour ?

That is laughable and that article is not worth the paper its written on.

[Stuttgart88]

For what it's worth I'd tend to trust Andrews even despite his obvious reasons to support Trap. He could endorse Trap in other ways and he actually goes out of his way to negate any talk of a lost dressing room, when he could easily just come out with stuff like the players let the gaffer down.

But not losing the dressing room isn't the same thing as having the backing of all the dressing room. I'd be surprised if he does.

Also, let's not forget that the "dressing room" includes people like Green when fit and doesn't include Gibson right now.

[paul_oshea]

Ah ffs. We cant believe anything we read from players that is Pro-Trap and the poor little culchies who are Anti-Trap well.... no one will listen? Will you please think of the children.....Give me a break will ya

I was referring to his thing about keane and doyle. I just take it that the english lads probably get on better with the dubs and the country lads would stick together!! I wasn't on about Trap! Doyler comes across as your typical unassuming country lad, the complete opposite of Keane really. long the same and i'm sure o'shea and the rest are too. I reckon dunnes parents are from the country :D joking!

[geysir]

The dressing room is a packed deck.
It's a moot point speculating whether Trap has the backing of the players he picks. The evidence of the whole package is there to be seen on the pitch. Trap is like a tragic Don Quixote figure out to revive a redundant type of football and bound tight by the rules of that game. Tardelli in the Sancho role of course.