Matt Holland

[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]

Robbie in midfield

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

[seanfhear]

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

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, which seemed an odd-looking name to me.)