While Green was an improvement on Whelan in the second half in the Poland match, his overall performances for Ireland are not encouragiing. If anything there is merit for a Green and McCarthy midfield.
With that exception and the ridiculous comments on Brady, the team is more or less as you would expect. I dont think McGeady will be a huge loss. Too often his end product for us is well short of the mark.
My faith in Trap is waning but I do still believe. However, I fear and suspect we will have that sinking feeling watching the match tomorrow night - that feeling that comes when you see Ireland fail to maintain possession, hoof the ball clear from defence and generally defend on the edge. Admittedly that has us results from time to time. However, Id prefer to see away performances akin to Armenia or Montenegro or Slovakia rather than Bulgaria (after we scored) or Russia.
I wonder if Keane was not available, would Hoolahan get the nod instead. Unlikely under Trap but would seem to be a natural replacement. Can anyone see Hoolahan seeing any time tomorrow? Perhaps if we take the lead and are trying to hold on?
Good to see Long start, Sweden are far from rock solid defensively and hopefully he will cause them problems. My fear is that the service to Long will just be Long balls, hardly what suits him best.
