Matt Holland

[macdermesser]

wouldnt add anything to the team, not one for the future, I wouldnt bother having him back... unless he wanted to be manager.

brilliant!

He can string two coherent sentences free from cliches so he gets me vote over the present incumbent

[Den Perry]

Best fans in the world ....................NOT

Agreed PG, some of these comments are shameful to say the least. I think there's some growing up to be done by one or two posters here.

:ball: PP
whats the problem?

[richieos]

Still bossing the midfield for charlton in the championship, hes younger than lee carsley and is EXACTLY the type of player trap wants, always gave his all for ireland and was excellent in the world cup 2002, does anyone else think that attempts should be made to get him to play for ireland at least untill reidy gets back?

[irishfan86]

Would have him over players playing in the reserves like we saw on Wednesday.

Personal preference is a Carsley-Andrews combination, but I wouldn't be averse to Holland returning.

[tetsujin1979]

Still bossing the midfield for charlton in the championship, hes younger than lee carsley and is EXACTLY the type of player trap wants, always gave his all for ireland and was excellent in the world cup 2002, does anyone else think that attempts should be made to get him to play for ireland at least untill reidy gets back?

Not a lot younger, not even 2 months (28 February 1974 vs 11 April 1974)
By the time the next qualifier rolls around, Holland will have been retired from international football for 3 years, and appears to be settling into a career in the media.
It wouldn't be a bad idea, and I think he would have an effective partnership with Carsley (although I'd worry about the lack of pace) but I don't see it happening

[seanfhear]

Still bossing the midfield for charlton in the championship, hes younger than lee carsley and is EXACTLY the type of player trap wants, always gave his all for ireland and was excellent in the world cup 2002, does anyone else think that attempts should be made to get him to play for ireland at least untill reidy gets back?

Certainly a good suggestion if he was up for it and a good challenge to the younger guys to prove that the are better than him.

I have always thought that older Irish players should not outright retire but be willing to serve in emergency or short term situations if needed.
Countries with small player pools need as many options as possible.

[third policeman]

Wonder whether Roy Keane is keeping himself fit. Defo Trap type player.

[third policeman]

Wonder whether Roy Keane is keeping himself fit? Defo a Trap type player.

[Irish_Praha]

I would have laughed that suggestion off a few months ago but now that we have seen what Trap is trying to do Holland would probably fit well into his system. He had his obvious weak points but was defensively sound and popped up with a few long-range goals. As has been mentioned on here before he and Whelan are not too dissimilar but at his peak I would rate Holland higher. If he continues to get his game and is fit enough to do a job for 90 mins i would also rather have him plaing instead of someone younger player who is only getting reserve team football.

Saying that I would much prefer if some of the young players who are actually getting games would be given a chance. Garvan, O'Brien and McCann for example. All the same age or older than Gibson and regularly playing in CMF.

It's a real shame that Reid is badly injured again but at least our next competitive game is not for another 5 months. Maybe in January a team like Everton will come in for Garvan or McCann in January and they will have a few months to impress Trap. If he picked Gibson on the B game alone then they should have every chance. Especially Garvan if he keeps playing like he is for the U-21s.
Knowing so far in advance that we don't have Reid for March also gives Trap the chance to try some new things in the friendly next month and who knows maybe he will be able to arrange some kind of B game or get-together between this and then.
So here's hoping that one of the young lads really comes into his own in the next five months be that in League Football, friendlies, U-21s or B games.

A few questions remain for me; would O'Tool be too attack-minded for Trap or is he just a defensive midfielder that happens to score a lot? Is McCarthy still too young to be considered for the senior team?

[eirebhoy]

A few questions remain for me; would O'Tool be too attack-minded for Trap or is he just a defensive midfielder that happens to score a lot?
I think he's a combative player given more freedom in midfield because he's young with tons of energy. I wouldn't describe him as an attacking player from what I've seen anyway. Similar to Scott Brown at Hibs and he's now winning man of the match awards playing holding midfield for Scotland.

I don't think McCarthy's too young but I'd rather a player in midfield that'll grab the game by the scruff of the neck as they say.

[danonion]

Matt's still a really good player, not a legend but I wish people would realize age is just a number, with our playing pool we need everything we can get. Realistically if asked, I reckon he would play. He made his services available to Staunton but he declined.

[richieos]

maybe we should start a 'bring back holland' petition and send it to the fai :o

[gaiscíoch]

Seen matty Holland play vs QPR in April and he was fairly poor his legs were gone. Having seen both Whelan and Holland and be able to compare then its Whelan all day for me. Gavin Mahon literally walked all over him along with Rowlands. Now Rolands is a fairly handy player and exactly the type of player Trap wants to play. Covers the FBs very well and is good passer of the ball and great ability to cover the space in front of the back four.

[Irish_Praha]

Seen matty Holland play vs QPR in April and he was fairly poor his legs were gone. Having seen both Whelan and Holland and be able to compare then its Whelan all day for me. Gavin Mahon literally walked all over him along with Rowlands. Now Rolands is a fairly handy player and exactly the type of player Trap wants to play. Covers the FBs very well and is good passer of the ball and great ability to cover the space in front of the back four.

Yeah Rowlands is a good call. I forgot about him, worth a try while we wait for the younger lads to develop. It's a real shame that there's only the Poland game between now and the next qualifier.

[Carrigaline]

Some of you are actually serious about getting Holland back into the fold? :eek:

Be realistic here lads.

[richieos]

Some of you are actually serious about getting Holland back into the fold? :eek:

Be realistic here lads.

whats so unrealistic? hes a good short term option and has always been a better player than carsley

[gally]

being a season ticket holder at Charlton, i have seen Matty close up, still always gives his all, but realistically we need new blood, although he would never let the boys down, not quite good enough...

[livehead1]

whats so unrealistic? hes a good short term option and has always been a better player than carsley

Yeh, that would explain why Holland wasn't good enough for Charlton when they were last in the premiership whilst Carsley was outstanding for Everton for the last 3 seasons, so much so that he is seen as the main reason they have struggled this season. :rolleyes:

[maxwellsmart]

Still bossing the midfield for charlton in the championship, hes younger than lee carsley and is EXACTLY the type of player trap wants, always gave his all for ireland and was excellent in the world cup 2002, does anyone else think that attempts should be made to get him to play for ireland at least untill reidy gets back?

Excellant in the World Cup in 2002? Are you joking? He scored against Camaroon and that was it. He was rubbish in all the other games and only seemed to play well when Roy Keane partnered him. Jesus, if we have to resort to bringing Holland back we're in trouble

[mark12345]

It's obvious for me. Move Robbie to midfield. He played there most of the time for Spurs (making his runs and passes from deep to complement Berbatov) and is better suited there. One other plus of having him there is his ability to hold the ball up and pick out a pass, something that was sadly lacking against Cyprus. Now we have to find a partner for Doyle.

[gustavo]

No Way would Trap play with 2 up front and Robbie off the strikers

[Duggie]

It's obvious for me. Move Robbie to midfield. He played there most of the time for Spurs (making his runs and passes from deep to complement Berbatov) and is better suited there. One other plus of having him there is his ability to hold the ball up and pick out a pass, something that was sadly lacking against Cyprus. Now we have to find a partner for Doyle.

not a chance. robbie never played in midfield for spurs either. it was always 4-4-2. he may have come deep but he does that for ireland anyway. that would be the same as playing andy reid there and trap aint going to do that.

[seanfhear]

It will be interesting to see if Trap plays a five man midfield with one up front against the Italians.
I think that if we are honest we would be conceding too much in midfield to a team like Italy especially with our present midfielders.

[Stuttgart88]

They'll probably be playing for a draw themsleves. Midfield might get a bit crowded!

[seanfhear]

They'll probably be playing for a draw themsleves. Midfield might get a bit crowded!
It would not be a huge shock if the Italians did that in Croke park.

[irishfan86]

not a chance. robbie never played in midfield for spurs either. it was always 4-4-2.

Ramos played 4-1-2-1-2 a few games last season, with Robbie playing in behind Bent and Berbatov.

They did play 4-4-2 the majority of the time, but there was a 3 or 4 game spell where they went 4-1-2-1-2

[Irish_Praha]

Ramos played 4-1-2-1-2 a few games last season, with Robbie playing in behind Bent and Berbatov.

They did play 4-4-2 the majority of the time, but there was a 3 or 4 game spell where they went 4-1-2-1-2

Did Jol not play Robbie at RMF a few times to accomodate Bent and Defoe?

[irishfan86]

Did Jol not play Robbie at RMF a few times to accomodate Bent and Defoe?

Under Ramos he definitely played through the middle behind Bent and Berbatov.

He may have played on the wing a couple of times as well, as you suggest.

Under Santini I remember him being used on the left a few times as well.

[mark12345]

not a chance. robbie never played in midfield for spurs either. it was always 4-4-2. he may have come deep but he does that for ireland anyway. that would be the same as playing andy reid there and trap aint going to do that.

Robbie never played in midfield for Spurs?? He spent most of his time there taking passes with back to goal, touching the ball off and running on for the return. His expertise in centre midfield are better than anyone in the Irish squad at present IMO. He and Reid would make the perfect partnership and without Reid there is an even more pressing need for him to be there. It's all about holding possession in the international game and Robbie's short passes and turns would be invaluable should he be posted there.

Admittedly you would need a hard man in the quartet to compliment the three ball players, Duff, Keane, McGeady. I think RK in the middle is the way of the future.

[irishfan86]

His expertise in centre midfield are better than anyone in the Irish squad at present IMO.

I tried to defend your viewpoint because Robbie has done a job in midfield before, but this statement is ridiculous.

Even if he was an "expert" central midfielder (which he isn't), it's not worth discussing because Trap doesn't play attacking players in the heart of his midfield.

All I was saying is that he's played as a winger or an attacking central midfielder for short periods of time and has done a job there in the past at club level.

[tetsujin1979]

Holland is an inductee for this year's Hall of Fame at Charlton
1784678498923143654

[seanfhear]

Holland is an inductee for this year's Hall of Fame at Charlton
1784678498923143654 I thought that he had played most of his football at Ipswich ! Certainly his best football.

[John83]

I thought that he had played most of his football at Ipswich ! Certainly his best football.
I had the same impression, so I had a quick look at his stats. He was 29 joining Charlton from Ipswich, and gave them the rest of his career. He spent a similar amount of time at both clubs.

(An aside, of niche interest: the etymology of Ipswich (https://xefer.com/2009/05/ipswich), which seemed an odd-looking name to me.)