Who's gonna come out of the woodwork?

I can see Wilson getting a chance over the coming months. He's perhaps the most likely to break into the first 11 as he's playing regular first team football for a decent Premiership team and is able to play in a number of positions many of which we're struggling for decent cover in (left back, central defence, central midfield).

Pilkington might get a look in if he continues to impress for Norwich though I'm not sure he or Norwich will be able to maintain their good form throughout the remainder of the season.

Meyler also could come back into the fold but only if he can start getting regular game time at Sunderland again and steer clear of injury both big asks at present.

I can't see Coleman getting into the starting 11 at right back as I don't think Trap trusts him defensively and he plays in a more attacking role for his club. He could, however, provide back up for the right midfield position after McGeady, Duff and Hunt.

McCarthy has done nothing this season thus far for Wigan and would need a major improvement in form to cement a place in the squad.

If Ciaran Clark can get regular football for Villa in either central midfield or central defence he might also be given a chance.

Personally I think Trap will by and large stick with those who played in the qualifiers, I think he has shown he values loyalty
quite highly, and the players he has picked are his type of player, ie those who do as he tells them to do. They have done the job
for him so there is little reason for him to make changes.
However there is long time to go untill the finals and it quite likely one or two will be unable to play due to injury so what changes
he does make are likely to be the ones forced upon him.

It is interesting as Youngirish starts to point out, McCarthy would have been at the front of the pack a short time ago, but one can make a compelling case that he is longer odds than Clark, Wilson, Best, and maybe even Caleb Folan to feature at all in Euro.

There's no way Caleb Folan has a better chance of going to Euro 2012 than James McCarthy.

I think Caleb Folan's decision to turn down a call up after moving to the Colorado Rapids will ensure he has no international future under Trap, especially given the depth we have up front right now.

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Originally Posted by irishfan86

I think Caleb Folan's decision to turn down a call up after moving to the Colorado Rapids will ensure he has no international future under Trap, especially given the depth we have up front right now.

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we have much better options than him now, barring a catastrophic injury crisis he wont wear the shirt again

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Originally Posted by boovidge

There's no way Caleb Folan has a better chance of going to Euro 2012 than James McCarthy.

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I would be surprised if either made it, assuming no injuries. If there is a sever injury crisis and say Keane, Walters and Doyle are out there might be a minimal outside chance of Folan going since he would be able to hold up the ball and act as a better target man than other options. Similarly, although he has a highly vocal contingent of fans and much of the media thinking he should start, I think McCarthy needs to have a spectaular season with Wigan (unlikely on the evidence so far) to displace Whelan, Andrews and Fahey, and I can't see him shifting the wider players (Duff, McGeady, Hunt) an injury to Whelan, Andrews or Fahey might give him a chance, but if we're looking for a creative central midfielder I'd rather Hoolahan goes on current form.

Who came out of the woodwork last times we qualified for major tournaments? Babb and McAteer certainly

McAteer hardly came out of the woodwork seeing as he scored the goal that sent us there!

Phil Babb was forcibly retired in 2000, so hardly counts either (though he did return for a cameo in Russia straight after the World Cup)

Guessing he means at USA 94, you could probably add Gary Kelly to that too.

Stephen Reid was a late replacement for the last squad in Japan, and went on to make a decent contribution. Can't remember who he replaced through injury.

last times...times. not last time.
USA '94 the three Amigos arrived. But in fairness to Kelly he was hardly gonna declare for England now...
Clinton Morrison maybe for World Cup '02?

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Originally Posted by drummerboy

Stephen Reid was a late replacement for the last squad in Japan, and went on to make a decent contribution. Can't remember who he replaced through injury.

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Mark Kennedy

In 1988 Chris Morris was pretty new to the squad. So was David Kelly.

in 1990 alan MclOughlin was uncapped when he was called up late to replace gary Waddock. Think he played one late friendly in Malta before the tournament. Bernie Slaven was fairly new to squad too

In 1994 Babb, McAteer and Gary Kelly came from nowhere to be starters/major contributors

In 2002 Reid was definitely new on the scene. Not too sure but I think Clinton morrison only arrived after we had qualified too

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

Guessing he means at USA 94, you could probably add Gary Kelly to that too.

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Ah right. Possibly fair enough so (though not Kelly obviously). I was just going on the last time we qualified for a major tournament (singular)

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Originally Posted by Dodge

In 2002 Reid was definitely new on the scene. Not too sure but I think Clinton morrison only arrived after we had qualified too

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I remember going to Clint's Ireland debut in Tolka Park - an U-21s game against Portugal. Think that was in November 2001?

Clinton Morrison played in a friendly v Croatia in 2001. Colin Healy would've gone to the WC2002 after Saipan if the registration had gone through in time, Richard Sadlier might have made the squad but for injury. Am I right in thinking that there weren't many injuries just before Japan-Korea, Carr was a long-term injury and Mark Kennedy was the only short-term injury (but Stephen Reid was a better call and should've been in the squad anyway).

McAteer was injured in the training camp, though I suppose that's not what you're looking at.

Was only thinking that Mark Kennedy must be one of the biggest disappointments of an Ireland career ever. Completely ostracised after jumping on the police car, even though he's still playing at a decent level (and as a left-back too...)

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

It seems every time we qualify there's a few lads who miraculously come out of the woodwork with Irish grannies/grandads/dogs.
Who do you predict to nail their tri-colours to the mast after tomorrow?

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To answer the question, I wouldn't be surprised if Jermaine Pennant logged on to his Twitter machine some time soon and declared that after careful consideration and reflection, that he's now ready to "do the Ireland gig". Sure, he owes it to himself.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

In 2002 Reid was definitely new on the scene.

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think reid made his debut august 2001 v croatia at home in a friendly. i thought he was dreadful that night but certainly became a bit of a spark in our wc 2002 finals matches

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

t.
Was only thinking that Mark Kennedy must be one of the biggest disappointments of an Ireland career ever. Completely ostracised after jumping on the police car, even though he's still playing at a decent level (and as a left-back too...)

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He wasn't completely ostracized after that affair, he played a few 2002 WCQ games and afair, he was close to being on the WCF squad.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

In 2002 Reid was definitely new on the scene. Not too sure but I think Clinton morrison only arrived after we had qualified too

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Yeah he scored twice in friendlies prior to the World Cup, Nigeria and Russia (I think Russia) to help get himself on the plane (though the squad may have been final by the time he scored against Nigeria).

Do we still want to give Richard Stearman a run out?

He had declared a good while before we qualified or he was eventually capped though. I remember reading about him and Marlon King of all people trying to come on board back when Reid was at Millwall and king was at Gillingham ( I think)..

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Originally Posted by theworm2345

Yeah he scored twice in friendlies prior to the World Cup, Nigeria and Russia (I think Russia) to help get himself on the plane (though the squad may have been final by the time he scored against Nigeria).

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Do we still want to give Richard Stearman a run out?

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Yes, ahead of Damien Delaney and Paul McShane

I don't have a problem with trying new foreign-born players as long as they declared for Ireland before the Estonia game.

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Originally Posted by MagicMon

Clinton Morrison played in a friendly v Croatia in 2001.

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Scored too, on his debut.

Around that time I had a friend who knew Clinton from way back. He certainly wasn't a full-on mercenary; he'd always had hopes of playing for Ireland, though ultimately if he'd been good enough i assume he'd have preferred england. But it bothers me when people write him off as someone who only cropped up as a glory hunter, because AFAIK that wasn't the case.

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Originally Posted by Tipp Townie

Scored too, on his debut.

Around that time I had a friend who knew Clinton from way back. He certainly wasn't a full-on mercenary; he'd always had hopes of playing for Ireland, though ultimately if he'd been good enough i assume he'd have preferred england. But it bothers me when people write him off as someone who only cropped up as a glory hunter, because AFAIK that wasn't the case.

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Yes - disrespectful to Clinton's efforts in the green.

Straight off the top of the head he scored a cracker against Israel away in 05, scored our first against Cyprus to get us up and running in the same campaign and a few others of note.

Always gave of his best.

Decent strike away to Switzerland in that campaign too. Some potentially very important goals had we not then slacked off.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Decent strike away to Switzerland in that campaign too. Some potentially very important goals had we not then slacked off.

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Yep - the nearest we got to the opposition at the end of that campaign was when Mark Kinsella propelled a water bottle at an arrogant Swiss.

Always quite liked Clinton Morrison, if not the greatest of footballers, has a knack for scoring good goals here and there when they're needed. Always gave plenty of effort and you could see he enjoyed himself with the squad. I recall footage of him playing a bit of the bogball with the squad at the world cup I believe.

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

Yep - the nearest we got to the opposition at the end of that campaign was when Mark Kinsella propelled a water bottle at an arrogant Swiss.

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Different campaign that.

Though it does tend to morph into the one experience.