KK I can understand but not McShane. Jesus H.
KK I can understand but not McShane. Jesus H.
Aye why not use Kelly? McShane isn't getting his game for a championship side team...
Trap really baffles me. One wonders why the continued selection of Paul McShane? He is lucky to be in the squad never mind being near the team especially now that he's only a sub for Hull City. Surely to God Stephen Kelly, Kevin Foley or Seamus Coleman (I know he's not in the squad) are streets ahead of him. Messi must be licking his lips. Kilbane should step aside too and let Cunningham and Ward have a go. Also if we are a team supposed to be going places then Paul Green is not the answer.
I hate to single any individual player out....but McShane has shown on more than one occasion that he's a liability. Disappointing selection. The other 10 were predictable enough.
Nah im pretty dissapointed about KK aswell. Like, obviously cunningham will be subbed on at some point, but to really see him would have been in the opening 25 mins. If Argentina run away with it and then he comes in, it wont really matter how he performs.
Personally think Gibson should start in midfield too. We know exactly what we'll get off Andrews.
If Kevin Kilbane starts this game it is beyond disgraceful. Hes been a great servant over the years but the man should do the decent thing now and retire from International football
Seeing that starting line up has really taken away the buzz about the game for me now, Raging!!!!
I don't mind having Kilbane in the squad (as cover for wide left) but he isn't a left back and he never will be. He's caught out of position time and time again. It's pointless playing him.
McShane? Titus Bramble X 50.
I really thought the Trap would have figured out by now that we need a new set of full backs.
Kilbane and McShane at full back against Andorra would be dodgy but against arguably the best forward line in international football it just beggars belief
Keith Fahey has joined yer squad. Not sure for who though, thought I heard Lawernce??
Think Lawrence has pulled out, will be good to see Fahey
I'm assuming Trap selected the starting line-up despite having been hospitalised(?), but his conservative selection policy for friendlies does worry me somewhat at this point. With all due respect to Kevin Kilbane for being such a fantastic servant over the years, there is absolutely no way we can rely on him for this campaign. I think everyone is well aware of that. He was directly to blame for a significant proportion of the goals we conceded during the last campaign. We have to be experimenting with potential long-term replacements now before having to throw someone in at the deep-end a few games into the campaign.
McShane's place in the squad alone warrants serious questioning, never mind a place in the starting line-up. He's constantly being referred to as an "accident waiting to happen", but the fact is he's already a proven liability. Double hand-ball or not, his poor positional sense cost us big-time in Paris with allowing Henry to get in behind him. I hate to sound overly harsh and I know that consistency can often be an important element in building a solid outfit, but, simply put, we really should be experimenting more in friendly games.
Whilst Green's potential ability and usefulness at this level might be debatable, I can't really complain from the perspective of him being a relative newcomer. He therefore offers the option of something different. This could well be the type of game where we'll see if he's worth the inclusion or not.
Cant agree with that. I believe KK is on public record as saying he will always be making himself available for the international team. Trap has already stated more or less that his role will be of 'mentor' in this campaign.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
In a time when players are retiring from international football at what seems to be younger and younger ages (Did I hear that Davies has retired from Wales today at 29?) or on a whim because of non selection or personality clashes or whatever token reasons they come up with - We should admire KK's continued commitment for the cause.
We are all aware of KK's deficiencies as I am sure he himself is, as is Trap - The transition to a new full back will happen in this campaign, it might take a few games though........
I do agree that too may players retire from international football way too early but I just think in this case that Kilbane has become a massive liability and its time for him to step asideQuote:
Originally Posted by Junior
That is Trapattoni's decision to make and KK will accept that decision when it comes. I think it is unfair to put the onus on Kilbane when the manager is the man who has to make the decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Bar JOS, I don't think we have any LB candidate who wouldn't be shaky at best. RB is a totally different story though.
Maybe the team will line up with JOS at RB and McShane alongside Dunne, but McShane sends shivers down my spine I'm afraid, regardless of where he plays.
I agree. If i was KK and the manager wanted to play me, I'm afraid there is no way I'd be asking to be droppedQuote:
Originally Posted by EastTerracer
Ah you're right to be fair, Im just very frustrated that hes picked againQuote:
Originally Posted by EastTerracer
Fahey was in the original squad as far as I remember. Stokes has been promoted due to the injuries to Long/Doyle/McGeady.Quote:
Originally Posted by poster
Selection of full-backs is a regression. McShane's a centre half and nothing else and KK will always be adequate cover but nothing more. Match was perfect for Kelly and Cunningham.
I think it's still too early for Cunningham. He's hardly played any first team matches and going up against some of the best attackers in the world is not the right move at this point. If he comes on later in the game, O.K., but starting him against the best at this point I don't think would be the right option.
McShane I can't really defend at this point, but at this point I think O'Shea is seen more and more as a specialist fullback and not a centre-half (though I still think he can play there).
With this in mind, I think Trap is giving McShane an audition at centre-half against the best to see how he fares. Personally I'd move O'Shea inside and bring in the likes of Kelly or Coleman, but if McShane has a nightmare, maybe it will convince Trap to leave him out of the mix in the future. If he plays well, maybe its an indicator that he's progressing. Remember that he is still only 24 and most centre halves don't show their best until the second half of their 20s and beyond.
It's interesting to see that many still feel that the likes of McGeady will come good (myself included), but feel that McShane will never make it. I guess that's the life of a young centre-half. If you mis**** a cross it's not the end of the world, but if you let someone in on goal that is unforgivable.
Very tough to break into sides at centrehalf and as a goalkeeper.
Knowing our luck McShane will score a hat-trick and never be dislodged from the full-back slot.
Is Cunningham expected to make Manchester City's 25-man squad for the new season? I'm pretty sure I read a report on here the other day mentioning how he had a poor game during a pre-season friendly and appeared to be off the pace completely.
We'll be having less of that language round here! :PQuote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
In seriousness though, having a liability at the back poses a greater overall risk than a guy who'll take a while to get a cross in, so it's only natural that people will worry more about this, justifiably or not. When an error-prone individual makes a costly mistake, it's what people will focus on as the proximate cause for losing a game.
Cunningham's under 21 so he's exempt from the 25-man squad. He had one poor game in pre-season but came back with 3 decent showings as a sub including setting up a goal. We should be blooding him the same way Slovakia blooded Vladimir Weiss.
He had a bad game against Sporting Lisbon in the States, and was replaced at half time, along with most of the starting XIQuote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...-Lisbon-v-City
Had an assist for City's goal in their next game, a 2-1 loss against the NY/NJ Red BullsQuote:
He (Djalo) collected Saleiro’s sumptuous flick that had bamboozled Cunningham and raced around Hart before slotting into an empty net.
from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...d-Bulls-v-City
Came on late against Club America and set up Jo after some good workQuote:
The Brazilian (Jo) atoned for any tardiness in the 55th minute when he flicked home substitute Greg Cunningham’s cross for an equaliser.
from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...America-v-City
Was a half time substitute against Inter, but didn't do much - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...y/Inter-v-CityQuote:
Jo had an air shot after good work from Cunningham leaving the result to be decided on penalties.
didn't play against Dortmund - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...ortmund-v-City
Came on late against Valencia, again a quiet end to the game for him - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...ity-v-Valencia
I think he'll be in and around the first team picture for City this season, but the first choice left full will be the signing from Lazio, Kolarov, with Bridge as back up.
Mancini has started to trim the squad, but seems to want to keep Cunningham at Eastlands. He may go on loan in the second half of the season if he's not getting first team action though
There was a quote from Trap (or Tradelli) during the week - in context of strikers like Long & Folan dropping out, Doyle being a doubt and Sheridan (and now Stokes) hopping over from the U21s - fliipantly asking "do you know of any others?".
I'm still surprised that Best & Murphy weren't called up. I wonder did Best show a bad reaction to Sheridan being preferred in May? Or is he injured? Murphy is fit.
Anyway, great to see Stokes hitting form. His post-match quotes last night were a guarded pop at Givens.
What were thew comments? Is there a link??
http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/la...i-2291044.html
There you go. Apparently Best is injured. Surprised that Murphy isn't on the radar, and I'd like to see Keogh tried up front for a change - he's definitely not a winger.
Thanks, I'd forgotten Keogh was in the squad. I quite like him as a forward, but definitely not out wide.
What about that Simon Cox chap who we all thought was one of "three or four" English-born players to be having their documents sorted in order to play for us? Was Paul Green it then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Simon Cox even said he wanted to play for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spor...AND-DREAM.html
What's stopping him from being picked?? Tbh I hope Paul Green isn't just it.
i always liked keogh and a pity he was never used to good effect. id like to see him upfront or used in some attaxking role. needs a move from wolves at this stage it looks like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I always thought it was odd that Trapattoni played Keogh out wide when his best performances under Trapattoni came playing through the middle, scoring against Serbia, and finding the back of the net again against Nottingham Forest
Wasn't he just on for a minutes against Serbia?
yeah, but he played through the middle and scored. Against Forest he was pretty ineffective on the right, and got moved up front and scored.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
My point was that his best performances have come when he's been played as a central striker, so why is he being played on the wing?
The obvious game in question was Italy away?
I don't think he was played out wide then because Trap sees that as his best position. Has he been played since?
Has he not been injured for ages?
How do you think he could fit into a starting line up? or are you thinking of him being used as a sub?
He's very like Keane so it may not make sense to have the two play together. However, Doyle just failed a fitness test for tonight so unless Trap goes for one of last night's U21s (Sheridan most likely) it may be a chance for Keogh. I hope so as I like watching him.
What's the latest on Noel Hunt?
wrt Italy away, I do actually think Trap thought Keogh was a viable option RHM. He had played there before under Trap - Nigeria in Fulham for example. Lawrence wasn't in the fold at that point. I think Duff was injured so Stephen Hunt started on the left. Was McGeady available?
Anyway, I think Trap now knows that Keogh can only be deployed in the centre. It's a pity it took a shabbily conceded goal and a general inability to play RHM in Italy for Trap to figure it out.
Maybe Trap & co didn't like the noises coming from people like O'Hara. Anyway, I don't see the point in filling places just for the sake of it. We should only "recruit" if it actually provides a useful option. I think Green is an interesting one - by all accounts he was very influential in the recent Leeds game, though he missed a couple of chances.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Regarding Paul Green, that was only at Championship level. It remains to be seen how good or bad he is. I agree that we should only recruit if they are better than what we have but IMO players like O'Hara and co. would add to the squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Trap wouldn't have played Keogh out wide if he didn't think he was a viable option to fill in there for somebody injured but I think Trap knew then that it wasn't his best position.
He was used as sub out wide in the Montenegro game but with a more defensive role.
Argentina Starting XI:
Sergio Romero
Nicolás Burdisso
Gabriel Heinze
Martín Demichelis
Walter Samuel
Éver Banega
Javier Mascherano (C)
Fernando Gago
Angel Di María
Lionel Messi
Gonzalo Higuaín
O'Hara, yes. Who is / are "and co." though?Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
Bear in mind that we have some good U21s nearly ready and good players who were unavailable through injury like Wilson. There were complaints here that McCarthy, Coleman, Stokes etc. weren't in the senior squad. I think we have a panel of about 30-35 people identified and there aren't many (I'm not saying any) "recruits" that'd add much to that.