Serbia V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 15th August 2012 - Friendly

We do need a strong, athletic player in midfield. Pity Meyler hit a wall like he did at Sunderland.

Actually he hit a patch of hard ground and caught his studs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PatJR

The problem with the formation last night is that we are short on players to play as that central midfielder who is furthest forward. Someone who can link the play as well as get in the box. Fahy, Gibson, McCarthy, Whelan all suited to play a bit deeper, a bit more action with Andrews but technically weaker. Converting a winger or a striker to that role may work, maybe Robbie or Duff. I don't think McGeady or McClean are up to it. The one proven Irish player for whom the role is made for is Stephen Ireland!!

---

Duff is the guy with the attributes for it, I think McGeady could but would be better deployed out wide. Duff having the better ball control and his age lowering his pace moving him inside would make the most sense. I don't think McLean has the skillset for it, or any of the strikers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PatJR

The problem with the formation last night is that we are short on players to play as that central midfielder who is furthest forward. Someone who can link the play as well as get in the box. Fahy, Gibson, McCarthy, Whelan all suited to play a bit deeper, a bit more action with Andrews but technically weaker. Converting a winger or a striker to that role may work, maybe Robbie or Duff. I don't think McGeady or McClean are up to it. The one proven Irish player for whom the role is made for is Stephen Ireland!!

---

Wes Hoolahan?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PatJR

The problem with the formation last night is that we are short on players to play as that central midfielder who is furthest forward. Someone who can link the play as well as get in the box. Fahy, Gibson, McCarthy, Whelan all suited to play a bit deeper, a bit more action with Andrews but technically weaker. Converting a winger or a striker to that role may work, maybe Robbie or Duff. I don't think McGeady or McClean are up to it. The one proven Irish player for whom the role is made for is Stephen Ireland!!

---

Stephen Ireland could play it.

I know, I know.

But he could.

duff would be ideal in that position at this stage of his career

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

Worrying communication issues again - Shane Long claims he was fit to start tonight and doesn't seem too happy. Trap says he left him out as a "precaution" http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...322258936.html

---

More bridges burnt?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19291354

"Giovanni Trapattoni describes Shane Long's behaviour as 'idiotic'"

Someone's telling a fib.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Someone's telling a fib.

---

When is one communication issue going to be the one too many....

It's not the 80's anymore.

For once I agree with you Manblue. His level of English is terrible. His press conferences need subtitles at the best of times and this continuous stream of issues with players is very very worrying.

He's correct, if Shane Long is deemed unfit by the Irish physios then he's being childish to go against their expertise and declare himself fit. It goes into the realms of disciplinary action to go one step further and actually complain about your managers decision to the press. Shane is in the wrong here although it's ironic in a week of a lot of Irish players faking injury that we have someone faking fitness, hopefully it can be put behind them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Murfinator

He's correct, if Shane Long is deemed unfit by the Irish physios then he's being childish to go against their expertise and declare himself fit. It goes into the realms of disciplinary action to go one step further and actually complain about your managers decision to the press. Shane is in the wrong here although it's ironic in a week of a lot of Irish players faking injury that we have someone faking fitness, hopefully it can be put behind them.

---

Its pure bull**** from Trapatonni. And no Irish physio said Long was unfit. The scan came back clear. Trapatonni changed his mind and decided (once more) to play Cox instead of Shane Long. Long is fit to play for Weat Brom against Liverpool tomorrow which says it all. To say Long is in the wrong is laughable. Long turns up to play (even though he has a new manager at West Brom to win over) and is treated shabbily by the Irish manager.

Sounds a lot like the Foley business all over again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Sounds a lot like the Foley business all over again.

---

And never forget Steven Reid who was also treated badly by the current Irish manager. And these are not trouble makers or fruitcakes like Stephen Ireland. Traps exact quote yesterday was Cox is a better tactical player than Shane Long? Cox is blameless in all this but I have yet to see him contribute in any meaningful way in any competitive game he has played in. He never looks like scoring in the serious games. Long scores against Russia at home and has never been given a proper chance by this manager.

Not my best work, but...
http://i50.tinypic.com/of7c7b.png

The writing seems to be on the wall here. It's going to get messy and disappointing, imo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Its pure bull**** from Trapatonni. And no Irish physio said Long was unfit. The scan came back clear. Trapatonni changed his mind and decided (once more) to play Cox instead of Shane Long. Long is fit to play for Weat Brom against Liverpool tomorrow which says it all. To say Long is in the wrong is laughable. Long turns up to play (even though he has a new manager at West Brom to win over) and is treated shabbily by the Irish manager.

---

Just curious, but where does it say the scan came back clear? (EDIT: Never mind, just saw it in the IT.)

TBH though I think it's an impossible situation, particularly if the player decides to go to the press. Trap plays him and he gets a knock, he'd get it in the neck from West Brom/media. Apparently Long told him he was hurt so Trap decided not to risk it - no big deal, until the player decides to throw his toys. I find the 'Cox over Long' talk a bit tin-hatted.

However while I do think the manager should retain the right to get annoyed at his players, but he shouldn't have called him an idiot.

It'd be funnier if it wasn't so troubling (his Robbie impressions sounds like a keeper though).

maybe after the grief the management team got over the treatment of the latest dunne injury they played it cautious on this one.
its a fact long initially said he was injured and its also a fact that he needed a scan. so if long subsequently gets injured in the match even though the scan comes back clear how does that leave the management when they have to answer to west brom?

I'm delighted to see Shane is passionate and frustrated about not playing but he's in the wrong here as Murfinator pointed out.

I can't help but feel this is the type of minor aside that gets stoked and picked at by a somewhat mischievous media element.

Incidently I believe Trap described Longs behaviour as idiotic - not quite the same as calling Long an idiot.

Long is wrong to run his mouth in the press like that - clearly.

Trap is still wrong for calling his behaviour idiotic in public. Deal with it directly with the player - not via the press and don't slate a player or his behaviour for something like this in public.

I hate to say this because I've backed him up to now but there are too many incidents of this nature happening. While Trap isn't the cause of some - he is the common denominator.