Glenn Whelan

but arent you then throwing them in at the deep end for qualifiers and the like when there defintely is something at stake?

Friendlies really dont matter, winning or losing, and in my opinion they are the best time to get a player accustomed to the differences of the international game (atmosphere, expectation levels, pace, formation, different team-mates, etc). But i absolutely agree that a couple of inexperienced players in a team needs to be supplemented with a lot of experienced players to coach them through the game.

McCarthy lost most of his freindlies by blooding new talent and it stood to the team.

McCarthy had to blood new talent out of necessity due to mass retirements of an aging squad

To be fair to Trap, four of the starting eleven are players he brought in to international football. I'm sure McCarthy's stats after two years were very similar.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

but arent you then throwing them in at the deep end for qualifiers and the like when there defintely is something at stake?

Friendlies really dont matter, winning or losing, and in my opinion they are the best time to get a player accustomed to the differences of the international game (atmosphere, expectation levels, pace, formation, different team-mates, etc). But i absolutely agree that a couple of inexperienced players in a team needs to be supplemented with a lot of experienced players to coach them through the game.

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I know what you're saying, and yes, under this system I'll concede that the odd time you'll end up with someone making their debut in a crucial away qualifier to France or Italy, but I really think that playing your best available XI every time is the most effective way of having a successful squad, long-term.

In my mind, this would have been an ideal time to blood young Stephen Ward, clearly our best available left-full, into the starting team, but with the injuries to O'Shea and Dunne I can see why Trap was loathe to do that. I do realise that Ward was not even in the squad, so maybe Trap doesn't rate him at all, but you get my point. If you want to blood young players, throw them on for the last ten minutes when the game is already won or lost.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Perhaps because he's the best available option for the left full back position?

I'm not a big fan of "blooding young players" in matches like these. I think you should always play the best XI available to you, no matter what the situation. If players are good enough, then they'll break into the team themselves.

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If Trap had given some young players a start from the beginning and it went tits up (as it quiet easily could against Brazil) then "some" of our supporters would be writing off these young players forever. Ireland cannot afford to put out inexperienced players against Brazil even in a friendly.

Looks like Glenn Whelan took on Abdoulaye Faye for not taking the pre-match warm-up vs Chelsea seriously. Faye only managed to last 9 minutes before getting injured in that match, confronted Whelan at the full-time whistle and reacted to the argument by "belting him in the face". Read all about it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...e-glenn-whelan

Glenn takes things seriously and has the balls to challenge the attitude of a flakey captain? sounds good to me.

That's a pretty detailed article, A snitch in the house? not good, that should be the most worrying thing for Stoke.
Something also wrong when the captain is poncing about and the trainer/coach doesn't notice a thing out of place.

Fair dues to Glenn for speaking up. Most would keep their mouth shut and let Faye a**e about.

I believe that Glenn has the attitude that is desirable in a captain.

ive always been a fan of whelan. wonder who did pulis side with on this argument. hope it dosent cause any trouble for him.

No matter the rights and wrongs of the argument (and fair play to Whelan for letting his views been known - in what sounds like a dignified manner) - The mole should be ashamed of himself, running to the press with this sort of detailed account - Expect another Pulis headbutt any day now................

EDIT: errrr unless of course its Glenn?

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Originally Posted by Junior

EDIT: errrr unless of course its Glenn?

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Nope, my understanding is Glenn had nothing to do with the media reports

In the know, are we? pray tell.....

When Whelan went off in Paris our whole mid-field collapsed. He was an enormous loss...

There's just a little bit of Roy Maurice Keane in Glenn Whelan.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

There's just a little bit of Roy Maurice Keane in Glenn Whelan.

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without the stupidity

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Originally Posted by yapster

without the stupidity

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I was talking more about the preparation habits and mindset that he has.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I was talking more about the preparation habits and mindset that he has.

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Keanes mindset ffs

It was Keanes mindset that made him in to one of the worlds great players, whether u like him is a totally different thing, but he had a brilliant winning attitude.More players could do with getting a piece of that

Spot on with that. That's why I had a degree of confidence going in to the second leg of the play-off in Paris. Whatever limitations Andews & Whelan, to a lesser extent, have they're both gutsy characters and that still counts for a lot in the modern game.