Squad for Cyprus?

Like I said, I don't think it's a great choice by any means. Still though, if it came down to it I'd rather a Miller without match fitness play instead of a debutant who's never been involved before. Either way, its unlikely that he'll be needed, thankfully.
My guess is that Miller has a club lined up, will sign in the next couple of weeks, and then go back to being 5th choice CM and not in the squad (once S Reid returns). Obviously if he doesn't find a club then it's a different story and we'll need a new 5th choice as back-up.

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Originally Posted by Jicked

Like I said, I don't think it's a great choice by any means. Still though, if it came down to it I'd rather a Miller without match fitness play instead of a debutant who's never been involved before. Either way, its unlikely that he'll be needed, thankfully.
My guess is that Miller has a club lined up, will sign in the next couple of weeks, and then go back to being 5th choice CM and not in the squad (once S Reid returns). Obviously if he doesn't find a club then it's a different story and we'll need a new 5th choice as back-up.

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The question of who to throw on against Cyprus - Miller or a debutant is not the issue I have the most problems with it's that Miller will still be in the squad for the friendly against South Africa a perfect opportunity to try some new midfielders and look for solutions to solve undoubtedly our weakest position.

Well I'd rather the squad was built around the Cyprus game that could all but guarantee a play-off place for the first time in eight years.

Clinton Morrison should be considered, always gave a hundred per cent and is more experienced than say Folan. He's also in great form.
Have to agree with youngirish:

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Originally Posted by youngirish

He's listening to the likes of Brady and Givens too much I believe, 2 clueless mongs.

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I don't think Trap is doing his homework as far as picking the right players for the right job and is getting bad advice.
I wouldn't be one to disrupt a settle squad so late into the campaign but to persist with Miller is a mystery.:confused:

Folan was superb for us in Italy, has just got even more game time with Robbie under his belt, and has started the last two games in the Premier League.
Morisson scored 10 league goals playing up front all season for Coventry.
But since he scored a brace on the telly on opening day you think he'd be a better option :confused: Another thing worth considering, imagine what it would do to confidence/squad morale if you were to drop Folan for someone like Morisson. Then in the new year when Morisson has stopped scoring dropping him for Jon Macken who got a goal in a televised FA Cup 3rd round game.

You could argue that you should put Morisson in for Best (though personally I'd much rather Best in the squad), but then people would be whinging about Trap not developing new players. No?

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Originally Posted by Jicked

Folan was superb for us in Italy,

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I agree that he has to be picked but superb? Come on. He was OK.

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Originally Posted by Crosby87

I agree that he has to be picked but superb? Come on. He was OK.

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He won every ball in the air and absolutely bullied Italy's centre-halfs. His hold up play was excellent as well, and helped us hold possession in the final third.

Before he came on, we never looked like threatening, and if you're going to point at one player who changed the game in our favour that night in Bari, it was big Caleb.

I have a bad feeling that the pendulum is going to turn against Trappatoni after the Cyprus game.

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

I have a bad feeling that the pendulum is going to turn against Trappatoni after the Cyprus game.

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I've a good feeling we'll go to Cyprus, scrap out a dour 1-0 or 2-1 win and have people bemoan that result, style of football and the fact Shane Lowry made his first team debut for Aston Villa recently and what the hell is Trap doing not building around him, he's probably brilliant.
Meanwhile we'll be three points closer to the play-offs.

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Originally Posted by Jicked

I've a good feeling we'll go to Cyprus, scrap out a dour 1-0 or 2-1 win and have people bemoan that result, style of football and the fact Shane Lowry made his first team debut for Aston Villa recently and what the hell is Trap doing not building around him, he's probably brilliant.
Meanwhile we'll be three points closer to the play-offs.

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I'm not so sure. I'd love to be though. The Australia game was a massive shock to me. I know it was a meaningless friendly and all that, but that doesn't mean that basics have to go ot the window.


3 points against Cyprus is a must. However we do it. I just feel that Trap isn't helping himself with his squad selections.

We're too defensive and boring, yet Miller should be dropped for flamboyant players like Lee Carsley.
Trap never takes a risk on young players, yet Morisson should be in ahead of Best.
We need more experience, get Stephen Carr in for Foley.
Whoever's not in the squad is the answer, St Ledger out, O'Dea in.
etc. etc. etc.

When listening to Irish fans talk about squad selection I'm always reminded of the immortal words of Roger Myers Jr: "So, you want a realistic, down-to-earth show... that's completely off-the-wall and swarming with magic robots?

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

I'm not so sure. I'd love to be though. The Australia game was a massive shock to me. I know it was a meaningless friendly and all that, but that doesn't mean that basics have to go ot the window.


3 points against Cyprus is a must. However we do it. I just feel that Trap isn't helping himself with his squad selections.

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I think the Australian friendly was a little closer to Staunton's Sweden friendly then the friendly against Netherlands.

Our whole style of play at the moment is not going to suit a friendly like that where half fit players don't really have any reason to bust a gut in midfield like they would, and have done, in places like Sofia, Bari and Podgorica.

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Originally Posted by Jicked

I think the Australian friendly was a little closer to Staunton's Sweden friendly then the friendly against Netherlands.

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How exactly? We beat Sweden and got played off the field by the Netherlands

From the point of view of Sweden being completely unrepresentative of where that team was, whilst the Netherlands game was a little more like what would have happened if we had to play Netherlands in a competitive game/an ominous glimpse of what would ultimately happen under Staunton.

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Originally Posted by Crosby87

I agree that he has to be picked but superb? Come on. He was OK.

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Come on he was more than okay in fairness. He changed the game when he came on resulting on.

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Originally Posted by Jicked

I think the Australian friendly was a little closer to Staunton's Sweden friendly then the friendly against Netherlands.

Our whole style of play at the moment is not going to suit a friendly like that where half fit players don't really have any reason to bust a gut in midfield like they would, and have done, in places like Sofia, Bari and Podgorica.

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True, but it is important to remember that we are actually in a very poor group, proably the easiest one we've ever been in. I would expect us to be challenging for 1st, no matter who the manager is (Ok, maybe with the exception of Stan). Trappatoni's reign seems conveniently timed.

anyone else think we should be looking for a replacement for kilbane he has been brutal in the last 3games and no one can deny that..nolans natural position is centre back and has been played on the right for club?? so technically we have no decent replacement for lb other than o shea..i know all the people on this site love him but kilbane is a liability at this stage and has shown as much in his recent games so we should seriously look into dropping him as every team is going to target him

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Originally Posted by Wexford Delboy

anyone else think we should be looking for a replacement for kilbane he has been brutal in the last 3games and no one can deny that..nolans natural position is centre back and has been played on the right for club?? so technically we have no decent replacement for lb other than o shea..i know all the people on this site love him but kilbane is a liability at this stage and has shown as much in his recent games so we should seriously look into dropping him as every team is going to target him

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Nolan was the starting left-full for Preston during the second-half of last season, so while he is right-footed (as John O'Shea is), he does have experience in that position.

I think Ward at Wolves is the logical choice to try out at some stage, and the South Africa friendly would have been an ideal time to test him out.

We simply don't have a left back available. Kilbane is a better option than O'Shea because we don't have anyone to cover for O'Shea at right back with McShane out for three months.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

We simply don't have a left back available. Kilbane is a better option than O'Shea because we don't have anyone to cover for O'Shea at right back with McShane out for three months.

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Ward is a left-back for Wolves, and could be an option.

At right-full we do have options worth considering (all of which are superior players to McShane at right-full in any event): Nolan, Kelly, Wilson, Foley (possibly will miss Cyprus through injury), Carr (retired, but if he felt he had another shot to get into a World Cup Squad I think he'd answer the call), Delap (plays midfield for Stoke but played a good chunk of his career at right-full).