Given, Westwood ,
O'Shea , Clark, Coleman, Dunne, St Ledger, Kelly, O'Dea.
Wilson, Gibson, Whelan, Green, McCarthy, Fahy, Duff.
Keane, Walters, Doyle, Long, Keogh.
Best and Lawrence have pulled out, Andy Keogh has been called up.
I think, as Stokes was on standby and a better player, he should have been given the nod ahead of Keogh.
How do you feel about the eligibility of Northern Irish born players playing for the Republic in this competition? Do you feel its our territory? Lets just get it out of the way.
Again, no logic in this decision to bring in Keogh ahead of Stokes. Keogh scored yesterday but his career has stagnated. Stokes has been a regular starter (although sub today)and scorer for Celtic and looks an improved player. Tuesdays game would be ideal time to have another look at Stokes to see if he has improved enough to earn a place in the squad. Keane and Fahey are playing today and in the squad so the playing on Sunday thing can't be used as an excuse.
Bizarre alright. Stokes is the man in form and was the original standby choice.
From the revised squad I'd pick
Shay or KW
Kelly-Dunne-JOS-Clark
Coleman-McCarthy-AN Other-Duff
Keane - Long
and get them to play enterprising high tempo football.
AN Other: I'd probablt go with Whelan, but I'm underwhelmed by all our CM options.
Don't speak too soon lads, 22 man squad has to be named for the tournament, 2 people pulled out and only Keogh has been called up. Now, my A1 in honours maths tells me that 22-2=20+1=21. I'd assume Stokes is in the squad but it hardly needs a press release.
If I'm wrong, you can vilify me.
Absolutely ridiculous.
What's the point in having someone on standby if you're gonna call someone else up to leapfrog them?? Keogh hasn't been lighting the world up and Stokes deserves more of a chance. We've seen Andy Keogh and what he can do on the international stage. He'll be a fringe player at best. Give someone else a go il Trap
I can't understand how people think Stokes is a better player than Keogh. Stokes has been a huge failure in both levels of English football while at the very least, Keogh is a proven Championship player. Stokes scores in the SPL which is a very small step up from LOI. Stokes couldn't score, or even hold down a regular place with any of the many English clubs he was with in England. Actually I don't see Stokes starting today, has he been dropped by Celtic?
It's possible that Stokes will yet be called up.
We all know he has difficulties with his phone communications.
Robbie Keane and James McCarthy have apparently pulled out of the squad, that'll be Stokes recalled so.
That's a real shame about McCarthy.
Very disappointed that McCarthy has pulled out of the squad. I thought that he'd make the starting lineup for this game.
Fuppin raging over this. My hopes of seeing McCarthy in the green permanently are rapidly waning. As mentioned in the McCarthy thread, its likely that there is more to this than meets the eye. This is the second time he's pulled out because of 'tiredness' FFS. I'm really starting to wonder if young James has had his head turned....
Feel free to put my mind at ease!
I very much doubt that he's considering playing for Scotland, although of course it's not impossible. Perhaps modern footballers are taking playing for the national team less seriously.
If he's had his head turned he'd be in the Scotland squad. I'm concerned myself, but it's not beyond reason that after a long absence he's not fully ready to play twice in a few days. He may well be feeling stiff and sore, especially after a heavy pitch. That's the naive, optimistic scenario anyway.
What date is our next fixture, friendly or otherwise, anybody? We have Macedonia next month and that will be the test of McCarthy's commitment. Pulling out due to tiredness or whatever should not be tolerated. I mean fair enough if he is feeling the effects of yesterday's game but what is stopping him joining up with the squad and becoming familiar with the setup. I see nothing wrong with Wigan and Ireland coming to some kind of verbal agreement where he plays the last 20 mins or something.
OK, the reasons might be genuine but I'm afraid I'm starting to get a whiff of bullsh!t.
I'm trying hard to find an angle here to blame Trap, any ideas? :)
Looks like Trap initial thoughts were sound, over a player needing time to fully recover from a bad injury into being match fit.
Hopefully that's all it is.
According to Sky Sports' Enda Brady, it's a problem with his ankle: http://twitter.com/#!/endabrady/stat...08449978417152
Quote:
James McCarthy took a knock on his ankle yesterday and won't be joining up with his Ireland team-mates for Tuesday's match.
I feel much better now knowing there's a real reason behind it.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Other comments from Enda
"Irish sports reporters stagger me sometimes. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story eh lads?"
"People going on radio claiming players are 'tired'. He took an ankle knock yday and is gutted."
I'm as disappointed as anyone that McCarthy won't be involved on tuesday but to me, this screams club pressure rather than international second thoughts. This is the guy who had the FAI release a statement on his behalf when these kind of rumours/speculations first surfaced a while back. Zero chance of him playing for Scotland. All four teams are suffering pull outs. I'd put it down to the inconsequential nature of the tournament and the fact it's taking place at a time when club games are very much of consequence. Wigan know the importance of McCarthy to their survvial hopes, he gave them an ample demonstration yesterday.
Happy enough with that news tbh :)Quote:
Originally Posted by FAI
Ah Tuff Paddy - how I miss him so.
I must have missed it when it was broadcast but it appears Trap confirmed Clark and Coleman will both play in their club positions, so left back for Clark and right wing for Coleman.
I'll guess the lineup as Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St.Ledger, Clark, Coleman, Green, Whelan, Duff, Doyle, Long. Would much prefer Wilson play instead of Green though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
left back for John O'Shea surely!?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
;)
Wouldn't mind seeing Fahey in the middle alongside Whelan again. They linked up well at times against Norway and are worth another go. I think Whelan always plays to the level of his CM partner; very good alongside Steven Reid, solid enough alongside Andrews, terrible alongside Gibson and Green. There was some nice interplay between him and Fahey against Norway, and I remember them playing well together during the World Youth Cup in 2003.
Buzzing about Coleman playing. Injuries have forced the Trap's hand but I think Coleman can cement a RM spot if he impresses. Pace is something we are crying out for.
I think he'll now line up with this:
Given
O'Shea Dunne St Ledger Clark
Coleman Whelan Green Duff
Doyle Long
Only two weak links now with that team IMO. Such a shame about McCarthy but I was kind of expecting it. Wigan need him fit if they want to stay up.
Team announced for Wales game:
Given
O'Shea Dunne St Ledger Clark
Coleman Whelan Green/Gibson Duff
Doyle Walters
Long should start ahead of Walters, but apart from that, it's fairly spot on. I'd rather Green over Gibson based on club form, amazingly.
i know hes out but i reckon lawerence could do a job in central midfield. good on the ball, good engine and his tackling wouldnt be to shabby. mcgeady gets the right side midfield spot for me right now.
I'd have liked a look at LL in midfield at some point but I don't think our management team has that type of imagination even if he was fit.
Walters is an interesting one. I think Best when fit and interested is an absolute handful and a more dangerous player. Maybe Walters will allow Doyle more freedom than Robbie does. Walters can do more of the holding up play and winning the ball in the air than any of Robbie, Long or Stokes.
Interesting comment on Walters starting up front from Trapattoni: http://twitter.com/#!/kenearlys/stat...26978933903360
Quote:
trap says the idea to pair walters with doyle up front did not come to him in a dream, but after long hours of study.
Wilson and Fahey are much better than Green. Really don't know what Trap sees in Green.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaFox
Hear hear.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Very true, but of the two he named on the teamsheet, I'd plump for Green.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
Wales team:
Hennessey
Eardley
Danny Collins
James Collins
Ricketts
Crofts
King
Vaughan
Church
Earnshaw
Robson-Kanu
You're probably thinking, 'Who the hell are they?' We've had a few pull-outs and our strikers are rubbish with the exception of Bellamy. No Bale or Ramsey either (which rounds off the well-known players in our squad) although watch out for Andy King who is an excellent young player.
Edit: if you're in the UK, take a look at King's first goal on Saturday:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot..._1/9389152.stm
I predict a 2-0 'home' win. Earnshaw is the only one of our strikers with any pedigree and he hasn't done anything on the international stage for years.
eardley is the Blackpool lad yeah? He's having a good season. Simon Church has done well at underage level for Wales I think.
Once Earnshaw doesn't score I won't mind. Can't stand him.
Didn't Any King win goal of the season in 1977? :)
can you tell me anything about this young cardiff lad called sullivan? Looks like a very good player. Only young still, have you (wales) big hopes for him?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cymro
I don't think there was any royalty playing that season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88