Keith Andrews

[Colbert Report]

I thought we were going to go with three in the middle and Shane Long by himself up front? Cox is a big Trap favourite but he's not a midfielder.

[Charlie Darwin]

He'll presumably be playing the Robbie role between midfield and attack, and Hoolahan will move in there when he comes on. Knowing Trap it'll be Brady in there though.

[paul_oshea]

Because McCarthy is starting instead.

[Kingdom]

I've heard the past few days the line that Trap is shifting the goalposts slightly in order to rule Hoolahan out of it for the future and when I thought of it first, I kinda dismissed it, but I'm not so sure about it now.

He's starting Cox instead of Hoolahan with Robbie omitted. He knows what Cox is about, and is obviously comfortable with him and his abilities. Why then doesn't he start Wes? Starting him in front of the "holding" two in the middle would have made sense to me., because we all know how gash the 2nd halves of international friendlies are - the first half is usually the performance indicator.

I'm disappointed, a little frustrated, but then again I don't have any faith in the manager so I'm probably biased.

[elroy]

Cox is an honest hard working lad who probably is at his level in the Championship and nothing wrong with that. I struggle to see what he offers us really and ignoring the odd goal in a friendly Im struggling to see what he has delivered. A willingness to play anywhere, yes - and perhaps to his detriment Trap has employed him on the wing more times than not. However, for me, if Walters is in the squad, then Cox is not needed. Anything Cox can give us up front, Walters is more than capable of doing and more.

[geysir]

Cox is our handyman, (electrical jobs, plumbing, carpentry etc) no problem at all to ask him to perform any job on the pitch. He may not bring top class skills but he has an inspirational professional attitude which is priceless to have in the squad.

[paul_oshea]

Yep, just like Paul McShane.

[SwanVsDalton]

I think Cox is a little underrated, partly because he gets handed thankless tasks by Trap (water carrying for Robbie/playing out of position) and partly because people beat him with the Long stick.

He appears to be quite skilful, has a nice touch and is a very good finisher from what I've seen in green and at club level. He's looks an all-round potent threat, and keeps defenders busy - more so than say a Daryl Murphy or Caleb Folan. He's better than he tends to get credit for.

[paul_oshea]

I actually agree with a lot of that SvD, against Germany in the first half and in other games like oman, his touch and awareness is quite good. I think he is better than he has been able to show, but I don't think he is better than shane long, if it was a like for like on the wing then I'd still go with long.

[Fixer82]

He's a very good striker.
he is not a winger!

[paul_oshea]

is he, then he would have easily put that header away? Remember that miss as well against slovakia as well when he should have passed!

[tetsujin1979]

is he, then he would have easily put that header away? Remember that miss as well against slovakia as well when he should have passed!
put the one against Estonia away handily enough

[Fixer82]

is he, then he would have easily put that header away? Remember that miss as well against slovakia as well when he should have passed!

true, poor header but i still think he's a good striker. glad he was played up there and thought he did ok tonight

[Fixer82]

put the one against Estonia away handily enough

i think you're thinking of Walters

[Fixer82]

put the one against Estonia away handily enough

ah no, i get ya, you're talking about Andrews. This thread went a bit off topic to talking about Simon Cox

[tetsujin1979]

i think you're thinking of Walters
No, I'm thinking of Andrews. Missed the part where Cox was the player being discussed

[Charlie Darwin]

I can't believe I'm watching this but Keith Andrews and his hair are on the Brendan O'Connor show now on RTE.

[Grafter]

I can't believe I'm watching this but Keith Andrews and his hair are on the Brendan O'Connor show now on RTE.
Fairly extreme alright, maybe the Cascarino logic that good hair makes you appear younger come contract negotiations?
Not a fan of such interviews though...

[Sullivinho]

Keith looks like he went into a hair salon and asked for a Tom Barry.

[drummerboy]

Comes across as a very articulate young man, who has made plans for life after football. With the hair, he looks like Lyle Lovett.

[Crosby87]

some rare good injury news:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/good-news-for-trapattoni-as-andrews-set-to-return-29096903.html

[Grafter]

33 later this summer. In light of the midfield "discoveries" of the summer of 2013 is it fair to say he's unlikely to feature in a meaningful game again for Ireland.
Just as Hunt and Kilbane were promptly shedded from squads?

[Yard of Pace]

33 later this summer. In light of the midfield "discoveries" of the summer of 2013 is it fair to say he's unlikely to feature in a meaningful game again for Ireland.
Just as Hunt and Kilbane were promptly shedded from squads?

Whelan is slower than a spider crawling through treacle so I can't see why Andrews would be discarded, particularly as he showed very well in the Euros and built himself up enormous credit.

Depending on how fit he is (and he always looked like a VERY fit player (I mean that in a non-homoerotic way)), I'd say he'll remain around the squad. I'd certainly discard Whelan before him, despite the couple of years of age difference.

[Charlie Darwin]

Joined Brighton on a season-long loan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23638778

[CraftyToePoke]

Looks like no love lost with someone at Bolton

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23667034

[Closed Account 2]

KJ's on sky sports news now summarising the Wigan Rubin match. He was talking a bit about playing for Brighton and he enjoyed playing for Ireland, no mention of new manager.

[Charlie Darwin]

KJ? Keith Jandrews?

[Closed Account 2]

I guess they don't do middle names on the Beagle.

[Charlie Darwin]

Charles R Darwin begs to differ.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Andrews reminds O'Neill that he exists; makes a few unhelpful and unnecessary remarks about the Stephen Ireland saga in his bluster.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/andrews-keen-to-catch-eye-of-oneill-and-get-back-with-unlikely-lads-30318557.html

"My status is fairly simple," said Andrews. "I have not retired and will never retire once there is an opportunity to play for my country. If that opportunity came around again, then I would jump at it.

"I have not played purely because I have not been picked. You can only affect your club form. That's what I focused on with Brighton last year and I played fairly well there.

"If you're not getting picked there's not a lot you can do about it. That said, I certainly won't be coming out and saying I'm retiring. There is no chance of that.

"I'm sure Martin O'Neill knows I'm available. I'm not one of those people who says 'I'll think about it after the summer' or 'I'm not ready for this game yet'. I won't come out with that type of crap."

[Yard of Pace]

Helpful remarks in helping us gauge how a SI return might go down with the rest/some of the squad, I would have thought.

[BonnieShels]

Andrews reminds O'Neill that he exists; makes a few unhelpful and unnecessary remarks about the Stephen Ireland saga in his bluster.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/andrews-keen-to-catch-eye-of-oneill-and-get-back-with-unlikely-lads-30318557.html

"My status is fairly simple," said Andrews. "I have not retired and will never retire once there is an opportunity to play for my country. If that opportunity came around again, then I would jump at it.

"I have not played purely because I have not been picked. You can only affect your club form. That's what I focused on with Brighton last year and I played fairly well there.

"If you're not getting picked there's not a lot you can do about it. That said, I certainly won't be coming out and saying I'm retiring. There is no chance of that.

"I'm sure Martin O'Neill knows I'm available. I'm not one of those people who says 'I'll think about it after the summer' or 'I'm not ready for this game yet'. I won't come out with that type of crap."

Ah yes. Bluster.

Keith Andrews always was a snake. Never gave 100%. Never showed passion or pride in Green.

The gormless one shouldn't be a discussion point, however, if one of our most consistent and passionate performers wishes to have a pop at him then so be it.

[Charlie Darwin]

Typical Andrews, always moaning about not getting picked in his syndicated newspaper column.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It isn't Keith's place to make comments like that. He's entitled to his opinion and I fundamentally agree with it but it is stupid nonetheless. Wait till your retired to come out with crap like that - at least.

[BonnieShels]

Why isn't it his place?

Who is he going to offend? Stephen Ireland? You? Come on lad.

[CraftyToePoke]

Andrews reminds O'Neill that he exists; makes a few unhelpful and unnecessary remarks about the Stephen Ireland saga in his bluster

You are the gift that keeps on giving aren't you ?

Where exactly was there any bluster ? He was asked, he answered, honestly & fair play to him.

Are you advocating some campaign of public pandering to SI instead ?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

There was absolutely no need to explicitly refer to Stephen Ireland at all. He could have easily said what he needed to say without going there. I really don't see any point in it.

I am sure some French Internationals have some choice words to say about Samir Nasri's behaviour but they mind their own business.

Keith could/should really do the same thing.

Don't be silly. I am not suggesting a campaign of public pandering to Stephen Ireland. I am merely expecting a professional footballer and current International to behave like a professional footballer and not like a fan on an internet football forum.

[Charlie Darwin]

He didn't explicitly refer to Stephen Ireland, he implicitly referred to him.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Keith left no doubt about the meaning of his words, Charlie.

[CraftyToePoke]

There was absolutely no need to explicitly refer to Stephen Ireland at all.

Except he actually didn't.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Who is he referring to then?

[CraftyToePoke]

Who is he referring to then?

It's not an explicit reference, these were your terms of description, your phrase, and it's inaccurate.

[BonnieShels]

Who is he referring to then?

Even if the inference is in fact to SI, what does it matter? What is being affected by these utterances?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It's not an explicit reference, these were your terms of description, your phrase, and it's inaccurate.

You need to look up the definition of explicitly then.

[Charlie Darwin]

You need to look up the definition of explicitly then.
Oh dear. Pride comes before a fall.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Even if the inference is in fact to SI, what does it matter? What is being affected by these utterances?

It would make Stephen Ireland's reticence about coming back somewhat understandable.

Just like Stephen Hunt's performance on Tubridy Tonight several years ago when he openly mocked him on live TV and made a joke out of bullying.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Oh dear. Pride comes before a fall.

Yeah. You're right Charlie. He was probably referring to Kathy Ireland. How would anyone come to the conclusion that Keith was talking about Stephen?

Again. Look up the definition of the word I used.

[CraftyToePoke]

You need to look up the definition of explicitly then.

Oh dear.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Oh dear.

I know. I'm thinking the same thing.

[Charlie Darwin]

Oh dear.
He's explicatin' that we can't read words so good.