Andy Reid(b 1982)

[FarBeag]

Just watched this game and Andy Reid was out of this world. He was by far the best player on the pitch. Capello was there watching and on this display must have hoped that Reid was English. Maybe he could give his mate Trap a call because as usual he was probably sitting in his villa somewhere in Italy. His passing, his vision, his ball retention and overall play was second to none. He ran the show out there.

He is without doubt the outstanding Irish player at the moment. He has being continually consistent. Its madness that he won’t be in the squad for us this day next week against the French.

I just hope that the Trap (can never do any wrong brigade) watch Match of the day to night. Maybe they will change their opinion but I highly doubt it somehow.

[SkStu]

didnt see the game today but saw the highlights (incl. his volley from way out) but ive seen Sunderland lots over the last few months and it sounds like business as usual for Andy.

Cannot understand how some posters just refuse to question his ommission? We have a chance against France - i truly believe that the chance would be greater with Reid in the team or at least coming off the bench in the second half. It disappoints me that so may posters will wilfully stand by and not dare to question ANY Trappatoni decision.

[Emmet7]

Again with Andy Reid? :)

Sorry couldn't resist.

Sunderland lost 2-0 right? There is no point one player playing world class football if your team then loses, probably because of defensive weakness in midfield and at the back.

Give me two defensive midfielders who do nothing other than defend all night and yet the team wins than an attacking midfielder who ends up on the losing team.

Reid does not fit into the current Irish management's plans and probably for the reasons shown today. They guy can attack but Sunderland were still well beaten because going forward he may great, but he could be the weak link defensively.

France are a formiddable attacking team, without doubt. We need as many good defenders and defensive midfielders as possible, and then hope to hit France from set pieces or another way. Sacrificing a defensive midfielder for the luxury of Andy Reid would be madness against the French. They have players who are used to defending against Champions League players, week in week out. So defending against Andy Reid would be a walk in the park for them.

[tommyspurr]

Again with Andy Reid? :)

Sorry couldn't resist.

Sunderland lost 2-0 right? There is no point one player playing world class football if your team then loses, probably because of defensive weakness in midfield and at the back.

Give me two defensive midfielders who do nothing other than defend all night and yet the team wins than an attacking midfielder who ends up on the losing team.

Reid does not fit into the current Irish management's plans and probably for the reasons shown today. They guy can attack but Sunderland were still well beaten because going forward he may great, but he could be the weak link defensively.

France are a formiddable attacking team, without doubt. We need as many good defenders and defensive midfielders as possible, and then hope to hit France from set pieces or another way. Sacrificing a defensive midfielder for the luxury of Andy Reid would be madness against the French. They have players who are used to defending against Champions League players, week in week out. So defending against Andy Reid would be a walk in the park for them.


Whats happens if we are a goal down in Stade de France with 20 minutes to go, what player in our squad gets on the ball and makes a difference. Nobody! Look at the bigger picture. He should be in the SQUAD! He would never start but we need a plan B! And we dont have one under Trap!

[Crosby87]

I wasnt nearly as impressed with Reid today as others on here. I agree he was good for a side that didnt score. He is a good player but people on here watch his every move like it is the second coming of Pele. So he is this years Stephen Ireland. I thought he was OK today.
I agree he should be in the squad of course but Ireland would not be World Cup favoites if he was included.

[Emmet7]

Whats happens if we are a goal down in Stade de France with 20 minutes to go, what player in our squad gets on the ball and makes a difference. Nobody! Look at the bigger picture. He should be in the SQUAD! He would never start but we need a plan B! And we dont have one under Trap!

I had a look back at some player ratings for Irelands game against Italy in Bari.

In those ratings, Keith Andrews was given an 8.

Glenn Whelan has scored two goals and looks much more likely to score than McGeady, Duff, Hunt and so on and probably Andy Reid.

I think some people have been listening to the wrong type of soccer analysts, you know the sort who exagerate the qualities of some players and completely do down the qualities of other players.

Andrews and Whelan are not bad players. Andy Reid is not a world class player.

And for the last time Reid will not be in the squad for the French games. As for Trap knowing what he is doing, he knows better than you, Giles, Dunphy, and so on what he is doing, far better.

He is not a bumbling fool, Andy Reid is not his type of player, he is entitled to that view. I have a strong suspicion if Reid was in the team against Italy for both matches we would have conceded a lot more goals than we did.

If you are talking about replacing McGeady, Lawrence, Duff with Andy Reid, I'm prepared to listen, but replacing two central midfielders with A Reid is pretty much a non runner and would risk us conceding another goal or even two.

Remember, in soccer, if you concede more goals than you score, you lose. And when Reid was in the Irish team I don't remember us scoring lots of goals against the really good teams such as Germany. Yet against an Italian team at a similiar level to Germany we scored 3 without Reid.

I also think Steven Hunt gives us far more than Andy Reid. Hunt runs and runs all night, tracks back, runs at defenders who usually end up pulling him down and giving away frees in dangerous positions as happened in both Italian games. We are dangerous from setpieces and Hunt is proven at getting the frees for those setpieces.

[FarBeag]

Again with Andy Reid? :)

Sorry couldn't resist.

Sunderland lost 2-0 right? There is no point one player playing world class football if your team then loses, probably because of defensive weakness in midfield and at the back.

Give me two defensive midfielders who do nothing other than defend all night and yet the team wins than an attacking midfielder who ends up on the losing team.

Reid does not fit into the current Irish management's plans and probably for the reasons shown today. They guy can attack but Sunderland were still well beaten because going forward he may great, but he could be the weak link defensively.

France are a formiddable attacking team, without doubt. We need as many good defenders and defensive midfielders as possible, and then hope to hit France from set pieces or another way. Sacrificing a defensive midfielder for the luxury of Andy Reid would be madness against the French. They have players who are used to defending against Champions League players, week in week out. So defending against Andy Reid would be a walk in the park for them.

You just seem the type of chap who comments on players without ever seen them play. Out of interest when did you last see Andy Reid play or have you ever seen him?


I was at the game and Sunderland should not have lost . They missed a penalty and Gomez was outstanding in goal for Spurs. The two goals scored today had nothing to do with Andy Reid so to use this in your defensive of Trap as an excuse to leave him out is nothing short of hilarious.

We can’t hold onto the ball in midfield and thats why we concede goals. Andy Reid certainly showed how good he could do this to-day.

I suggest you watch Sky sports 2 at 8 pm, press the red button and watch the whole of Spurs v Sunderland game. Andy Reid will be one showing the rest of them how to play football in case you don’t recognise him!

[noddy102]

You just seem the type of chap who comments on players without ever seen them play. Out of interest when did you last see Andy Reid play or have you ever seen him?


I was at the game and Sunderland should not have lost . They missed a penalty and Gomez was outstanding in goal for Spurs. The two goals scored today had nothing to do with Andy Reid so to use this in your defensive of Trap as an excuse to leave him out is nothing short of hilarious.

We can’t hold onto the ball in midfield and thats why we concede goals. Andy Reid certainly showed how good he could do this to-day.

I suggest you watch Sky sports 2 at 8 pm, press the red button and watch the whole of Spurs v Sunderland game. Andy Reid will be one showing the rest of them how to play football in case you don’t recognise him!

If you knew anything about football, you'd probably realise that trying to beat France at the style of game they excel at, will only lead to defeat for us.
They will control the majority of possession against us, but we will be so tight that they will struggle and hopefully NOT score a goal against us.

Reid does not fit into that system that Trap has adopted. End of story. Should be in the squad but isn't... boohoo.

[FarBeag]

I wasnt nearly as impressed with Reid today as others on here. I agree he was good for a side that didnt score. He is a good player but people on here watch his every move like it is the second coming of Pele. So he is this years Stephen Ireland. I thought he was OK today.
I agree he should be in the squad of course but Ireland would not be World Cup favoites if he was included.


Did you see the whole match or just making your usual judgement on how a player performed by watching a couple of clips from the highlights on your tv?

[Emmet7]

You just seem the type of chap who comments on players without ever seen them play. Out of interest when did you last see Andy Reid play or have you ever seen him?


I was at the game and Sunderland should not have lost . They missed a penalty and Gomez was outstanding in goal for Spurs. The two goals scored today had nothing to do with Andy Reid so to use this in your defensive of Trap as an excuse to leave him out is nothing short of hilarious.

We can’t hold onto the ball in midfield and thats why we concede goals. Andy Reid certainly showed how good he could do this to-day.

I suggest you watch Sky sports 2 at 8 pm, press the red button and watch the whole of Spurs v Sunderland game. Andy Reid will be one showing the rest of them how to play football in case you don’t recognise him!

You'd swear Andy Reid never played for Ireland.

He was a regular in the team from 2004 to 2008, which coincided with one of the worst periods in Irish international soccer.

Against top teams like France under Kerr and Germany under Stan, we were unable to score once in those four games, with the great Andy Reid pulling the strings in midfield.

We were mauled against poor teams like Cyprus and in Croke Park with Reid pulling the strings we managed the grand total of one goal against the Cypriots, scored by a defender if I remember correctly.

So where then is the evidence that when Andy Reid steps up to international level, Ireland play better and score more goals? On the contrary with Andy Reid in the Irish team the evidence is they score much less.

Ah but of course it's going to be different this time with Andy Reid playing. In his 27 previous chances with Ireland, we lost to teams like Cyprus, were unable to score against France or Germany, struggled to beat teams like San Marino. But this time, it's going to be different, right?

[FarBeag]

If you knew anything about football, you'd probably realise that trying to beat France at the style of game they excel at, will only lead to defeat for us.
They will control the majority of possession against us, but we will be so tight that they will struggle and hopefully NOT score a goal against us.

Reid does not fit into that system that Trap has adopted. End of story. Should be in the squad but isn't... boohoo.



I do know something about football but if I didn’t I wouldn’t come to you for advice.

Anyway where did I say that he should be in the first 11? I was at the match today, I commented on his wonderful performance and queried why Trap continues to ignore a player of his ability. I am leaving it at that.

[Crosby87]

Did you see the whole match or just making your usual judgement on how a player performed by watching a couple of clips from the hightlights on your tv?

I dont think we get "hightlights" here really to be honest. I did actually watch today and my opinion is that Andy was good and not great. Again they lost 2-0. Just who would you compare him to today, Ronaldo? Messi? Di Stefano? Maradona?
He is a good player and as I said should be in the squad but he wasnt that great today. He wasnt going up against the 84 Brazilian team either mind you and THEY DIDNT SCORE.

[Razors left peg]

Phil Thompson was raving about him on Soccer Saturday today on Sky. Theres no doubt he should be in the squad and his non inclusion is the only down side to Traps management so far for me.

[Emmet7]

Watching the highlights of Sunderland game now on RTE.

I have just seen the Spurs first goal. Reid bypassed in midfield. When Keane makes a run into the box, Andy Reid the nearest Sunderland player to him, heads out the field, Keane knocks in a sitter with no-one near. Reid at fault for Keane goal

As I suspected, defensively poor.

[FarBeag]

I dont think we get "hightlights" here really to be honest. I did actually watch today and my opinion is that Andy was good and not great. Again they lost 2-0. Just who would you compare him to today, Ronaldo? Messi? Di Stefano? Maradona?
He is a good player and as I said should be in the squad but he wasnt that great today. He wasnt going up against the 84 Brazilian team either mind you and THEY DIDNT SCORE.


Thanks for pointing out the error.:eek: Just spouting more rubbish as usual.

I was at the game so I think I may be in a better position to comment on Andy Reids display don’t you?

As for the rest of your post I suggest you stick to your building job instead of a feeble attempt to be a comedian.

[Emmet7]

Thanks for pointing out the error.:eek: Just spouting more rubbish as usual.

I was at the game so I think I may be in a better position to comment on Andy Reids display don’t you?

As for the rest of your post I suggest you stick to your building job instead of a feeble attempt to be a comedian.

Ray Houghtan pointed out the same error five minutes after I posted on here. I think he is in a better position to comment than you, seeing as he was a top level professoinal soccer player for 20 years, don't you think.

Reid was also pulled out of position for the second goal. He was the central defensive midfielder, that's where he should have stayed. Ball comes across to Huddlestone and Reid is out of position and cannot stop the shot.

Clearly you didn't see how he ran out the field while Crouch was heading the ball towards Robbie Keane.

By the way, I don't work as a builder, what gave you that idea?

2 goals conceded, none scored was Sunderland's lot today. If that happened for Ireland, we won't beat the French.

I like what Andy Reid has to offer going forward. But defensive midfielder he aint.

[geysir]

I only saw the second half, he was great on the offensive but quite a liability defensively.
Trap has been proven quite sound to go with 2 central midfielders for us. Andrews and Whelan are the best available for the starting team, that's the sad truth. Andy would be a great option for our bench or playing in front of the 2 CMs
Did he hit that through ball for the aptly named Bent?
He looked quite knackered in the last 15 - 20 minutes.

[Emmet7]

It was Malbranche who played the ball through to Bent for the penalty. Great ball, if Andy Reid did that, we'd never hear the end of it.

[geysir]

Andy is quite capable of doing that. Malbranque hit it exquisitely.

[Colbert Report]

I'm all for having Andy Reid on the bench but it is quite obvious that he doens't fit into Trap's system as a central midfielder.

He's behind Duff, Hunt, McGeady, Lawrence and possibly Kilbane as a wide midfielder.

[noddy102]

I do know something about football but if I didn’t I wouldn’t come to you for advice.

Anyway where did I say that he should be in the first 11? I was at the match today, I commented on his wonderful performance and queried why Trap continues to ignore a player of his ability. I am leaving it at that.

You were claiming that Andy Reid would be the answer to Ireland's problem of not being able to hold onto the ball in midfield. That is what you said. So you are obviously calling for his inclusion in the squad and for him to be in the first team too.

I don't want you to come to me for advice, because you're obviously not going to take it anyway. If you cannot see that Trap is playing to the system that has worked for him ALL through his career, and you cannot accept that it is the best option for the Irish team, then just go and watch Premiership football and live in your dreamland.

[SkStu]

can i ask another question of the Trapaholics?

If Reid wont fit into the system as a defensive midfielder and is (apparently) 6th choice "wide midfielder", why is Trappatoni still fluttering his eyelashes at Steven Ireland through the media asking him to come back? I dont think he is a defensive midfielder (he's not) nor is he a wide midfielder.

Why? I dont get it.

[noddy102]

can i ask another question of the Trapaholics?

If Reid wont fit into the system as a defensive midfielder and is (apparently) 6th choice "wide midfielder", why is Trappatoni still fluttering his eyelashes at Steven Ireland through the media? I dont think he is a defensive midfielder (he's not) nor is he a wide midfielder.

Why? I dont get it.

Because maybe Trapattoni believes Stephen Ireland is a much more athletic footballer than Reid and perhaps he believes Ireland could fit in on the right as well or play in behind a striker or perhaps because he'd be a good squad player?

Easy one that... try harder next time.

[SkStu]

a good squad player? he'd be willing to play right side for the sake of his team?

haha yeah, nice one.

[noddy102]

a good squad player? he'd be willing to play right side for the sake of his team?

haha yeah, nice one.

Has played on the right before.

You are hypothetically thinking Ireland would join the Irish squad just to be a squad player. Fact is, Ireland doesn't want to play for his country, so who gives a sh*t what you think about him or what I think about him. I'm glad Trap has done his best to try and tempt him to reverse his decision not to play for his country. The c*nt can f*ck off.

[SkStu]

Has played on the right before.

You are hypothetically thinking Ireland would join the Irish squad just to be a squad player. Fact is, Ireland doesn't want to play for his country, so who gives a sh*t what you think about him or what I think about him. I'm glad Trap has done his best to try and tempt him to reverse his decision not to play for his country. The c*nt can f*ck off.

no, im not thinking anything - you missed the point. I asked a question.

Everyone here is saying Reid is not a Trap type player so he doesnt want him in the squad/team. Fair enough? Well for the life of me i dont see how Ireland is a Trap type player either yet Trap is STILL saying he would be welcome Ireland back to the team. Do you not see the inconsistencies there? Its bizarre. If he wasnt so keen to get Ireland back i could see a consistency in his thinking but i dont.

The bolded part is just stream of consciousness i take it?

[noddy102]

no, im not thinking anything - you missed the point. I asked a question.

Everyone here is saying Reid is not a Trap type player so he doesnt want him in the squad/team. Fair enough? Well for the life of me i dont see how Ireland is a Trap type player either yet Trap is STILL saying he would be welcome Ireland back to the team. Do you not see the inconsistencies there? Its bizarre. If he wasnt so keen to get Ireland back i could see a consistency in his thinking but i dont.

The bolded part is just stream of consciousness i take it?

Just because you cannot see something, doesn't mean it is not actually there.

Trap is entitled to have his opinions on players. So are we. He picks the team, we do not. Get over it.

[FarBeag]

You were claiming that Andy Reid would be the answer to Ireland's problem of not being able to hold onto the ball in midfield. That is what you said. So you are obviously calling for his inclusion in the squad and for him to be in the first team too.

I don't want you to come to me for advice, because you're obviously not going to take it anyway. If you cannot see that Trap is playing to the system that has worked for him ALL through his career, and you cannot accept that it is the best option for the Irish team, then just go and watch Premiership football and live in your dreamland.


Read the post again Nobby. I never said that he would be the answer to our problems in midfield. What I said was that our present midfield cannot hold possession in midfield and he showed today how it could be done. I never once said that he should be in the first 11 because of the way Trap has set the team up.

Andy Reid should be in the Irish Squad because of his ability to change a game. He is an excellent player and if Trap was not our present manager he would be the first player on the team sheet. He is though and obviously has personal issues with Reid so let’s move on. It won’t stop me coming on here and commenting on Reids performances good or bad every time I see him play.

Is this clear enough for you?

[SkStu]

Just because you cannot see something, doesn't mean it is not actually there.

Trap is entitled to have his opinions on players. So are we. He picks the team, we do not. Get over it.

yeah and as an Irish fan i have my opinions on the team he picks and i have right to ask who he picks in his squad and who he doesnt and why and anything else i feel like questioning when it comes to the Irish team and their well paid manager.

Get over it.

[noddy102]

Read the post again Nobby. I never said that he would be the answer to our problems in midfield. What I said was that our present midfield cannot hold possession in midfield and he showed today how it could be done. I never once said that he should be in the first 11 because of the way Trap has set the team up.

Andy Reid should be in the Irish Squad because of his ability to change a game. He is an excellent player and if Trap was not our present manager he would be the first player on the team sheet. He is though and obviously has personal issues with Reid so let’s move on. It won’t stop me coming on here and commenting on Reids performances good or bad every time I see him play.

Is this clear enough for you?

I want you to comment on Reid's performances. I want you to adore the player, because he is one of Ireland's most gifted footballers of his generation.

However, he doesn't fit into Trap's plans, is not good enough to play in central midfield because he does not have the required fitness levels or defensive abilities. He would be a great player to have on the bench, to come on either on the right or left side of midfield. We are not going to be able to hold onto the ball better in midfield if he is on the bench though, and surely you understand that too?

I would still have my doubts that he would be in the first team however. You could accomodate him in a 5 man midfield, but nobody is going to get ahead of Lawrence/McGeady/Duff in their current Irish/club form in a 4 man midfield. The question of whether he'd fit into a 4 man midfield is already void, since we'd leak too many goals.

[FarBeag]

Trap has personal issues with Reid. If he got up of his arse and went to watch him play and based his professional opinion on what he sees then I would be happy, but he is not.

Irrespective of what you say, if Steven Ireland came out tomorrow and said he would play for his country Trap would have him in the team straight away and at the moment Reid is the better of the two.

[noddy102]

yeah and as an Irish fan i have my opinions on the team he picks and i have right to ask who he picks in his squad and who he doesnt and why and anything else i feel like questioning when it comes to the Irish team and their well paid manager.

Get over it.

You have come on this thread here and added an absolutely ridiculous point and then have come to the conclusion that you have the right to question his selection choices.

Thank you for wasting a good 20 minutes of your and my life.

[noddy102]

Irrespective of what you say, if Steven Ireland came out tomorrow and said he would play for his country Trap would have him in the team straight away and at the moment Reid is the better of the two.

So then you are saying Reid should be in the starting team? Make your mind up son - and there is no evidence to suggest Trap would have Ireland in the starting team, made especially so by his current form.

[FarBeag]

No i am not.Reid and Ireland are similar players. IMO Reid is the better of the two right now. Trap does not like him.He likes SI so imo he would accomadate him some how in the team if he had the oportunity to do so.

[Colbert Report]

Trap likes Stephen Ireland, and does not like Andy Reid. Simple as that.

[noddy102]

No i am not.Reid and Ireland are similar players. IMO Reid is the better of the two right now. Trap does not like him.He likes SI so imo he would accomadate him some how in the team if he had the oportunity to do so.

Well they are not similar players at all actually.

Andy Reid started out his career as a left midfielder/winger.

Stephen Ireland has started his career as an attacking midfielder.

Stephen Ireland was groomed into football when fitness and strength were two key issues in developing footballers. Andy Reid was not.

Andy Reid is known for whipping in shots and crosses from 20 yards out, while Stephen Ireland is known from scoring the majority of his goals from inside the box.

Both players are footballing players, they like to look for the ball in deep positions and they like to pass the ball; short medium and long. That is perhaps their most obvious similarity.

[Kingdom]

Glad you had a good laugh at the that. Imagine an Irish player miscontrolling a football!!!

If you found that so funny, you must be in hysterics watching some of the Irish players attempts at controlling and passing the ball this campaign.

Well, seeing as you only remarked on that clip, just to let you know it obviously wasn't the only thing that he did all match...

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=451433

I never said he miscontrolled it. Nor did I say I found it funny. Have a pill.

[FarBeag]

Lets agree to disagree on this one shall we. I have my opinion on the whole Andy Reid affair you have yours. I still think that he should be in the squad for next week and the fact he is not makes me angry. There is nothing more I would like than the sight of Andy Reid coming on in France with a half hour to go with us needing a goal and dictating the game as I know he can.

[noddy102]

Lets agree to disagree on this one shall we. I have my opinion on the whole Andy Reid affair you have yours. I still think that he should be in the squad for next week and the fact he is not makes me angry. There is nothing more I would like than the sight of Andy Reid coming on in France with a half hour to go with us needing a goal and dictating the game as I know he can.

Agreed, on all points.

We just have to live with reality though.

[Kingdom]

This thread rambling on is kinda crazy.

Question: Is Andy Reid a talented footballer? Yes

Question: Does Andy Reid deserve to be in the Rep of Ireland squad? Yes

Question: Has Andy Reid shown renewed professionalism to lose a stone and whatever in body fat (that people were certain he didn't need to shed)? Yes

Question: Should Andy Reid have p*ssed off his new national team manager prior to the first game in the qualifying stages of a world cup? No

Question: Has Andy Reid apologised for said incident? No and recently said he's nothing to apologise for.

Thats the simple case for me. Manager laid a rule, one player refused to cooperate.

[Crosby87]

Lets agree to disagree on this one shall we. I have my opinion on the whole Andy Reid affair you have yours. I still think that he should be in the squad for next week and the fact he is not makes me angry. There is nothing more I would like than the sight of Andy Reid coming on in France with a half hour to go with us needing a goal and dictating the game as I know he can.

A lot of people can understand that statement--the fact that you seem to be irrational in taking things personally leads your comments to be dismissed by many of us on here man.
You go after those who dont necessarily hold your opinion.
And also, just b/c you went to the game today does not give you carte blanche. I mean its not the be all end all.
With that said again I think he should be in the squad. Its obvious.
I suspect you had a few at the game and I applaud that. But find a different outlet man, going on the internet is not healthy when you should be with friends.

[FarBeag]

This thread rambling on is kinda crazy.



Question: Has Andy Reid apologised for said incident? No and recently said he's nothing to apologise for.
Thats the simple case for me. Manager laid a rule, one player refused to cooperate.

Didn’t realise that. Fair enough then if true. If this is the situation I can see why Trap won’t include him.Out of interest how do you know this to be the case?

[FarBeag]

A lot of people can understand that statement--the fact that you seem to be irrational in taking things personally leads your comments to be dismissed by many of us on here man.
You go after those who dont necessarily hold your opinion.
And also, just b/c you went to the game today does not give you carte blanche. I mean its not the be all end all.
With that said again I think he should be in the squad. Its obvious.
I suspect you had a few at the game and I applaud that. But find a different outlet man, going on the internet is not healthy when you should be with friends.

And posters on here take you seriously.Will you just stop talking B*llox man! You just spout gipperish constantly.You’re the last one on here I would pay any heed to, trust me.

[Emmet7]

I've nothing against Andy Reid as a person or as a footballer, he seems a sound guy.

When it comes to football, Trap has his idea of a footballer. It is someone who is as good at defending as at attacking. People sometimes forget there are two sides to football, attacking and equally important, defending.

What I saw in today's Sunderland match was a player who can pass well, but I wouldn't say dictate the course of the game, since Sunderland lost 2 - 0 in the end, and if he dictated the game as some claim, then he dictated a loss for his team, hardly something to be cheering about.

I also saw a player who made one or two crucial defensive errors. He was the nearest player to Robbie Keane for the first goal, and instead of tracking Keane's run, he headed in the opposite direction, probably hoping to start an attack. It showed a little defensive naivity to be honest, the kind that would be instantly punished by top international strikers, and it wouldn't matter if we were a goal down with 20 minutes left or a goal up, 10 minutes into the game.

When he becomes as good defensively as attacking, then I'd say the door would be open to the Irish setup. But you cannot play up his attacking abilities and simply ignore his defensive abilities, it wouldn't be balanced. And it's ok for certain RTE pundits to say Reid should be in the team when if the team fails, their job isn't on the line or they won't get fired. If Trap put him in the team and he put in a defensive display like we all saw today which cost his team a crucial goal, Trap would have to bear the consequences of the loss, while Dunphy and Giles would be smirking away smug and content in the commentary box with no consequences for them at all.

So in truth, I think after seeing how Reid messed up today defensively, we probably should be relieved he's not in the team/squad for the French games. And it was clear today that defensive centre midfielder is probably not his best position because he isn't good at tracking back.

Trap's football judgement has once more being vindicated today, while the judgement of others including RTE analysts who would have Reid in the side is again called into question.

[Crosby87]

And posters on here take you seriously.Will you just stop talking B*llox man! You just spout gipperish constantly.You’re the last one on here I would pay any heed to, trust me.

Sigh.
I am loathe to get into this but what you said makes me feel better man.
I wish you well but i fear you have serious issues......

[The Fly]

I was browsing on another forum in the last few days and on a thread dedicated to our forthcoming play-off matches a poster wrote (in relation to Reid's non-selection) -

"Andy Reid won't play for Ireland again while Trap's in charge, or at least that's what I've heard. One of my mate's housemates who works for the FAI said that's an open secret in there. Trap was apparently called in a long time ago to brief the higher ups on the falling out, and made it clear he won't pick him. Reid allegedly made a comment about one of Trap's staff which Trap has blacklisted him for."

Another poster had preceeded this post by saying Reid would never, ever play for Ireland under Trapattoni.

It's another angle on the subject and could simply be more chinese whispers, but it was the finality in the tone of the posts that made me think it was worth mentioning on here.

[Emmet7]

Well whatever the reason he isn't being called up, I still don't think he would be a starter on the team. Fact is he wasn't a starter for a few games before the supposed bust up.

He has issues defensively. He doesn't track back and he seems to have no interest in the defensive end of things from what I saw today. Up until recently he was a couple stone overweight, and that's hardly a good thing against athletic international midfield opponents.

It's only recently he lost the weight, but the team is settled now.

As a wide midfielder, Duff, Lawrence and McGeady offer just as much, while Hunt offers a huge work rate going forward and back and never seems to tire.

Football wise I can't see how or why he should be called back into the setup.

[SuperDave]

Trap has personal issues with Reid. If he got up of his arse and went to watch him play and based his professional opinion on what he sees then I would be happy, but he is not.

Irrespective of what you say, if Steven Ireland came out tomorrow and said he would play for his country Trap would have him in the team straight away and at the moment Reid is the better of the two.

If Trap had personal issues with Reid, why would he have called him up for the Cyprus squad a month after the Mainz incident?


can i ask another question of the Trapaholics?

If Reid wont fit into the system as a defensive midfielder and is (apparently) 6th choice "wide midfielder", why is Trappatoni still fluttering his eyelashes at Steven Ireland through the media asking him to come back? I dont think he is a defensive midfielder (he's not) nor is he a wide midfielder.

Why? I dont get it.

Trap has said on record he would change the system to accommodate Steven Ireland. He was Man City's player of the SEASON last year. Andy Reid has been on form for a couple of months now and is significantly older than Steven Ireland. The old Ian Botham chestnut springs to mind (although I do think Andy Reid is a pretty good player, I don't think he is in Ireland's class)


This thread rambling on is kinda crazy.

Question: Is Andy Reid a talented footballer? Yes

Question: Does Andy Reid deserve to be in the Rep of Ireland squad? Yes

Question: Has Andy Reid shown renewed professionalism to lose a stone and whatever in body fat (that people were certain he didn't need to shed)? Yes

Question: Should Andy Reid have p*ssed off his new national team manager prior to the first game in the qualifying stages of a world cup? No

Question: Has Andy Reid apologised for said incident? No and recently said he's nothing to apologise for.

Thats the simple case for me. Manager laid a rule, one player refused to cooperate.

I don't think the incident has anything to do with it. Like I said, he was called up for the Cyprus squad.

For what it's worth, I think he should be in the squad but I don't think he would make that big a difference and squad morale and discipline is also an important factor to a successful regime. To be honest I don't have a strong opinion on it one way or the other. I think there is a little overreaction on this thread and not enough balance.

[geysir]

I was browsing on another forum in the last few days and on a thread dedicated to our forthcoming play-off matches a poster wrote (in relation to Reid's non-selection) -

"Andy Reid won't play for Ireland again while Trap's in charge, or at least that's what I've heard. One of my mate's housemates who works for the FAI said that's an open secret in there. Trap was apparently called in a long time ago to brief the higher ups on the falling out, and made it clear he won't pick him. Reid allegedly made a comment about one of Trap's staff which Trap has blacklisted him for."

Another poster had preceeded this post by saying Reid would never, ever play for Ireland under Trapattoni.

It's another angle on the subject and could simply be more chinese whispers, but it was the finality in the tone of the posts that made me think it was worth mentioning on here.
That rumour has certainly traveled a long way via many ears:)
While I'd be wary of things that appear to make sense.
The other week, Bruce directly mentioned an apology was needed to break the ice in the impasse and yet we have Andy's word on what lengths he would go to be in the squad. Then we have Brady praising Andy's behavior whilst in the squad.
It sounds like a normal dysfunctional Irish family.

[Stuttgart88]

With regard to Emmet's contention that Reid can't have been that influential at WHL yesterday because Spurs won, every single report I've heard or read about the game says the result was a travesty, only Gomes, the woodwork and Darrent Bent's profligacy keeping Spurs in the game. The opposite to when Spurs lost to Stoke after totally dominating. Stuff happens like that in football.