Originally Posted by
Supreme feet
Normally I'd agree, but this Irish team is undergoing a transition, and fresh blood needs to be introduced, as the squad has looked threadbare up to now. Throughout the campaign we've had difficulties at right-back, and in our back-up for the wide midfield and striker positions.
I certainly don't want to see McShane playing at right-back again, so if Foley does well against Nigeria, he should start against Bulgaria. Likewise, I don't want to see Keogh in a wide position again, so it would be a good idea to blood Lawrence while we have the chance. Obviously, Folan will have to start, with St. Ledger perhaps getting a half or more. Trap knows what the O'Shea-Dunne partnership can do, and by bringing another accomplished CB in, it would at least give us options if someone picks up a knock before Sofia. Ideally, I'd like to see us play 10 more friendlies before Bulgaria, just to fill out the squad and settle players in, but we don't have that luxury of course. So - do we stick with the limited squad that scraped through until now; or do we take calculated risks on blooding two or three uncapped players who have had excellent seasons for their clubs?
Trap will put out a strong team against Nigeria anyway, but there's no harm in giving the likes of Lawrence, St. Ledger and Foley a chance, keeping in the spirit of the gradual transition that Trap has presided over.