http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1009/ireland.html
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Only one position was up for grabs... Lawrence or Hunt. I glad Lawrence is being given a chance in a big game, lets see what his made off.
One thing I dont understand is why the team is made public this early, surely this gives an advantage to the Italians?? Knowing Lawrence is starting on the right gives there LB a chance to do some research on him and get to know his strengths and weakness...
Why not wait to announce the team an hour before kick-off... Like pretty much every other nation do!
Probably because notwithstanding the inclusion of Lawrence, Ireland's teams have been fairly predictable. We're not losing anything by withholding the teamsheetQuote:
Originally Posted by JGKyne
Good move...i like!
I think we could have kept it close to our chest. Im not sure the Italians would have done much research on Lawrence, the clear assumption in my mind would have been that Hunt would have played. It benefits no one other than nosey fans like ourselves :D and the media to announce the team this early........unless......another twist awaits us prior to kick off......Quote:
Originally Posted by amaccann
Either way, I'm sure the world champions will have done their homework on any of hunt, mcgeady or lawrence starting either left or right for us - if they feel they need to...Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
I suspect that there is method in this madness. Trapp should know the way these boys work (what with being one of them), and will likely be playing the old psyche-out game. Italy will be preparing for the way we play, and after a fashion forcing Italy to design their team around ours, rather than the other way around.
And then he'll fool everyone by playing Lawrence at left back and Killer on the wing, with O'Shea up front and Robbie Keane and Glen Whelan in central defence, and playing tango football like Argentina on their good days. And the Italians think they have the advantage...
Statement of confidence too though. Trap knows the Italian mindset. They are afraid of us.
8 posts into a Lawrence thread and not a mention of him "roasting" the full back or being good in the box.
Could someone do the honours, please?
Maybe someone should tell Reidy that Trap obviously prefers his players participating in the late night 'sessions' that Lawrence gets involved in! Won't be that much different really, he'll still be 'strumming' away into the small hours....
It was roasting in Nicosia. T-shirts and shorts.
Without dwelling on the negative, but i'd fancy our chances better with Ireland, S Reid, A Reid and Duff. Ah well, (please don't start debate!)
If Bulgaria fail to win, we should know right before kick-off. If there was ever a reason (not that we should need one but ...) to go gun-hoe, then that would be it
strumming the plek
lol brilliantQuote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
I don't think you'll get much argument that Ireland, Steven Reid and Duffer would walk on the team if fit and available.Quote:
Originally Posted by Donegalcelt
There is a different thread for the Andy Reid scenario.
Dunno. Andy Reid has always been proud to fill his shirt for Ireland....Quote:
Originally Posted by gspain
and then some :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Bluebeard
No pace, no fighting spirit. Expect him to get a schooling off Grosso. He has good technical ability and expert dead ball skills on his side though. Yet another bad call out of an ever increasingly stubborn Trappatoni
Oh for god sake. Our biggest weakness in this campaign has been from set pieces, which is a big pity when we have players like Dunne, O'Shea and Doyle who are very good in the air. Lawrence is excellent from set pieces, and lets be honest we wont create much against Italy so set pieces could decide the game. I hope you are not one of those people who use any stick to attack Trap. The time to decide if its a bad call is after the game. This is probably the biggest game of lawrences life, im sure he will geta fighting spirit from somewhereQuote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
He looked motivated against South Africa, and he's talked about playing for Ireland for a couple of years now. He'll need no motivation to up his game against Italy (easiest team talk of Trap's life I'd imagine in terms of motivating the players).Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
But the last sentence really gets me. Giving a competitive debut to a player is stubborn?
So if he named the same starting XI as we all predicted, he's stubborn, and if he gives a player a competitive debut he's stubborn?
Is the only way he'll be considered non-stubborn if he makes Andy Reid captain?
I was at university with Lawrence's first cousin; he doesn't consider himself Irish, any thoughts?
Liam or the cousin?
the cousin? good for him, i dont consider myself English either.
Liam? Its hearsay either way and he has always stated his desire to play for Ireland. Clinton Morrison probably doesnt consider himself Irish either but it doesnt seem to bother most of us...
Lawrence looked sluggish and disinterested against South Africa. His excellent free kick apart, he contributed very little to the team's performance. It is crazy not having Andy Reid in the squad. It is Trap's sheer ego that is keeping him from calling him back into the squad. Calling up Rowlands in front of him was an absolute disgrace. Leaving your pride and ego dictate decisions like giving a competitive debut to an average winger against the World Champions when a rejuvenated Andy Reid is waiting in the wings, is stubborness to meQuote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.
Liam has always blown hot and cold (obligatory sex pun!) for Stoke, he'll have maybe 7 or 8 good games, and then a complete dog of a match! Unfortunately he had a bad one against SA, but he is not in any way lacking in committment or drive, and he has the potential to really add something to the team.
While on the subject of Stoke players, I rate Delap far higher than I rate Whelan, and would love to see him in the side, and not just for his throws!
Its funny how trap wouldn't even consider Lawrence at all last season, not even good enough to be included in the squad. Now that he has seen him in the flesh a few times he decides he worth throwing in. While I'm in agreement at the decision, i wish he had a bit more international experience behind him. I can think of a good few friendlies where trap didn't even put on substitutes and its now that we are having to throw these guys in (Sean St ledger being another example)
Shame he doesn't spend a bit more time away from that 'poor' wife of his, and a bit more time in a few Premier Hotels around England checking out players who are on the fringes. Instead, he only gets to see them on trips to portugal/training sessions and crunch qualifying ties.
Thats the spirit. You always seem to predict a negative outcome for us (which invariably prove incorrect) Have you an ounce of belief in our team at all?Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Have you got a clue about the way Italian sides play? The italians need a draw to qualify, if they score, they'll shut up shop. They're not gonna stick four past us and they'll have no interest in doing so.
I honestly dont get predictions like that. Even in our darkest days under Staunton we didnt lose games by that high a score in compeditive games at home. I dont remember it ever happening in my life time to be honest. I think we tend to play to the standard of the opposition most times and we always raise our game when playing against the better teams. So while we may lose 1 or even 2 nil(which I dont think we will), I cant see any possiblity of losing 4 nil at home.... but have a little bet on it if u are confident in that score and u will make urself a nice bit of cashQuote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Stans second game (a friendly) was a 4-0 drubbing from the Dutch wasnt it? Though i agree that it certainly wont happen tomorrow, Italy arent the sort of side to do that, despite having the ability to do so..
Third game I think. Second game was a 1-0 defeat by Chile. Dutch game was a friendly - I think razor was quite calculated in saying "competitive", realising immediately everyone would bring up the Dutch thrashing!
I was talking about compeditive games. The only game I remember us getting a real hammering at home was when we were 3 nil down to Spain after a half hour and the game finished 3-1 in the qualifiers for the USA world cup. Im open to correction but I think u would have to go a long way back to find us beaten 4 nil at home in any qualifiersQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
It's hardly worth the effort to engage in a sensible retort to an attention starved wum like CR
Unsure if you're a wum or just a nob. Think it's probably the latter.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
were u bullied in school or something?????Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
FFS
u could sell that story to the Sun......Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
it is that worthless
His cousin or him?
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...6/traphope.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Lawerence lacks pace and can sometimes dive in. But he is strong. Has an excellent first touch and can score goals. He had a very good game against SA (for those wearing blinkers). Look at the quality of his corner kicks. Every one of them went just beyond the keeper and just beyond the far post. Ala Johnny Giles in his heyday. He just edges Hunt and I agree with Trap's decision to play him in this particular game.
Both I'd sayQuote:
Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er
yeah, i knew you were talking competitive, i was just generating some discussion -Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Denmark (with the Laudrups) won in Dublin 4-2 in qualifying for 86 i think - i think thats a fact i learnt off as a young lad back in the day. We also got smashed 3-0 away in Portugal a while back (cant remember the year). And there was the 4-2 in Moscow under Mick Mack. We dont generally get hammered though.
Pretty hard to get hammered when you've got Given between the sticks.