Ireland's 23 man squad for Euro 2012

Walters can play on the wing, he did that in the FA Cup semi final vs Bolton, was mainly out wide running at the Bolton full backs, but would also drift inside and take on a more central role. There is no reason why he couldnt be in the squad as a back up striker (although I'd start him ahead of Doyle at the moment) and a back up winger for Duff. He also takes a decent penalty so again could be an option to throw on in the 118th min (if he wasnt already on). I think Long could also play on the wing (even if he's better as a striker), so he could say take Walters and Long, plus 4 other strikers.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

He was fit enough to not be sent home anyway, if not 100% sharp. But it's kind of a red herring anyway, as we'd played 4-5-1 in three of our five friendlies that year, even with Cas fit. So rather than being forced into the formation as you suggest, Charlton was experimenting with both it and 4-4-2 in the lead-up to the World Cup.

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Jack's experimenting with 451 in the friendlies, was more inspired by the serious injury to Quinn which had ruled him out. Jack was inflexible but not stupidly so.
His use of 451 at US94 was pragmatic given the players (and fit players) available to him. It was not evidence of a flexibility with tactics. Charlton was marked by his inflexibility.

The point I was making was in reference the use of 451 by Charlton at US94 was offered as evidence of his flexibility with tactics. I disagree and Jack reverted to 442 quick enough when Quinn was available.

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

But if he does, Keogh is guaranteed to be one of them for his perceived versatility by Trap.

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Feck, that makes a horrible kind of sense too...

GK Shay Given
GK Keiran Westwood
GK David Forde

D Stephen Ward
D Stephen Kelly
D Kevin Foley/Marc Wilson
D John O'Shea
D Richard Dunne
D Sean St.Ledger
D Darren O'Dea

M Glenn Whelan
M Keith Andrews
M Keith Fahey
M James McCarthy/David Meyler
M Damien Duff
M Aidean McGeady
M Stephen Hunt
M Seamus Coleman

F Robbie Keane
F Kevin Doyle
F Shane Long
F Jon Walters
F Simon Cox/Leon Best

Best Wildcard Chances:

D Marc Wilson
M David Meyler
M Wes Hoolahan
F Leon Best

Just on the LB cover issue, it may be that Trap may not take any specific cover at all. John O'Shea can play both FB roles, as can Stephen Kelly. St. Ledger has played FB before and Coleman can also play RB. I expect Dunne-St Ledger to be the first choice CB pairing which means O'Shea is free to play a FB role. So there isn't really a need for specific LB cover. In that case the one change I'd make above is Foley/Wilson missing out and an extra midfielder being drafted in, which would allow Trap to take both McCarthy and Meyler or perhaps include Liam Lawerence.

But based on the above squad I think Liam Lawerence, Darron Gibson, Paul McShane and Andy Keogh will miss out and will probably find themselves on the standby list. Kevin Kilbane to miss out which is unfortunate for him but his age and level are against him. Delaney and Treacy to miss out as well.

I think Trap will take five forwards, and more so because Keane, Doyle and Long are always picking up knocks and getting injured. Simon Cox is most at risk here as he is not starting for WBA, if Best continues his form with Newcastle he may well get in ahead. Although you have to factor in that Trap sees Cox as a like-for-like replacement for Keane, which is why he started ahead of Long against Armenia. Walters and Best are similar and I think Walters will win that battle. Stokes, Noel Hunt or Pilkington haven't a hope really barring catastrophic injuries.

David Meyler is probably the best bet for a wildcard - if he can stay injury free for Sunderland he'll be hard to ignore as he's a top player. Stephen Reid might be a very outside bet for a full back slot, but he'd have to come out of retirement so unlikely at the moment. Couldn't see it happening unless O'Shea or Kelly got injured. Would love to see Wes Hoolahan in the squad but he's not a Trap style midfielder so don't see it happening until the next qualifiers at least.

I think the tournament is too soon for Robbie Brady, Ciaran Clarke, Greg Cunningham and other leftfield options such as Tierney, McCann etc. Stephen Ireland? - no chance!

Excellent overview 4tothefloor. Reckon that will be close to the squad. Surprised nothing more has happened with Paddy Kenny.

On the radio this afternoon that Kilbane won't be going bar an injury crisis. So it seems his international career is finished (bar a testimonial, I assume)

A testimonial? Who gets an International testimonial these days?

Are they gone? Last one (and the last controversy over one) was in 2000. Not that long ago. I think only Niall Quinn has since retired having reached the 75-cap limit.

Suppose Trap isn't one for a Liam Brady-style testimonial/token appearance.

Edit - actually, Quinn did have a testimonial (a joint club/country one, as he retired from both around the same time)

Trap called up Roberto Baggio for a farewell against Spain before Euro 2004 after saying he wouldn't make the squad for the finals. Slightly different as Baggio was a different type of legend and he hadn't been selected for years. Trap should've brought Baggio to the finals in my opinion. He was still class and it's almost a crime that one of the world's greats never played at a European Championships.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...307706690.html

Based on the above article, and barring injuries, the squad picks itself.

Given,
Westwood,
Forde;

O'Shea,
Kelly,
Dunne,
St Ledger,
O'Dea,
Ward,
McShane;

McGeady,
Duff,
Hunt,
Andrews,
Whelan,
McCarthy,
Coleman,
Fahey;

Keane,
Doyle,
Walters,
Long,
Cox.

It might be ominous for Keogh that McCarthy replaced him on the bench for the home leg. Too early to say for definite.

How do these squads work out for the Finals, do countries usually go for a
3 goalies, 8 backs, 8 midfielders and 4 forwards, in their 23 man panel?

Said last night on OTB that he was only going to bring 4 forwards...

Plus there's 8 months to go... Ward wasn't on the scene 8 months ago. (There's less games between now and then admittedly.)

How would they know?

Trap said it himself. They played the interview on off the ball.

Said something along the lines of Midfielders and defenders and more likely to pick up cards so he'll bring only four forwards.

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Originally Posted by geysir

How do these squads work out for the Finals, do countries usually go for a
3 goalies, 8 backs, 8 midfielders and 4 forwards, in their 23 man panel?

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I always pick my speculative squads like that. Even for England. Probably because it offers cover in every position for the 4 4 2 formation. But it's seldom ever that in the actual squads. 4thefloor may be right though. He may not bring direct cover for left back. I can't rememer Josh ever playing left full for Trap though.

Jack only brought 2 keepers back in the day too.

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Originally Posted by geysir

It might be ominous for Keogh that McCarthy replaced him on the bench for the home leg. Too early to say for definite.

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I never got to see the full squad list and the two matchday squads for the play offs. Can someone reprint it here? Would be interested to see; didnt realise McCarthy replaced Keogh for Leg 2.

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Originally Posted by geysir

How do these squads work out for the Finals, do countries usually go for a
3 goalies, 8 backs, 8 midfielders and 4 forwards, in their 23 man panel?

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Completely depends on the options available. As has been mentioned earlier in this thread, even the uber-cautious Trap selected 6 'strikers' in Italy's WC 2002 squad.

I guess the basic rule is to make sure you have every position covered twice over.

I dont like it when squads only take 4 strikers, but i could see why Trap would do it with us. If he only takes 4 then you'd also want to see one of the midfielders as a potential striker too. Which brings us back to Andy Keogh....

A good (albeit extreme) example of the 4-strikers option backfiring is england at WC 2006. Owen, Rooney, Crouch and Walcott. Rooney not fit, Owen got crocked, and Walcotts inclusion was a joke. A mixture of bad luck and bad planning. They definitely should have taken a 5th striker.

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Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Jack only brought 2 keepers back in the day too.

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Yeah I just had a look at Jack's selection for the USA 94 squad, only 22 were allowed in the squad then.
There were a few fillers, we were short on depth then.
Maybe one day we will look back on this squad and wonder how the hell did we manage to get so far.

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Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Jack only brought 2 keepers back in the day too.

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Three was the norm though (only us and Colombia brought two for Italia 90). I think in 98, the rules changed so you got an extra player in your squad (i.e. up to 23), but you had to bring three keepers.

We should bring Kilbane as our third keeper actually. :p

Didnt the North Koreans try to do that at the last world cup? I think they brought two actual keepers and then a 3rd "keeper" who was in fact a left winger - FIFA rumbled them and said if he was included he couldnt play outfield.

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Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Trap said it himself. They played the interview on off the ball.

Said something along the lines of Midfielders and defenders and more likely to pick up cards so he'll bring only four forwards.

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The Irish Times article has the quote (I think) or at least something similar.

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Originally Posted by Irish Times

Pressed on how he sees his squad for the finals breaking down, aside from the required three goalkeepers, the manager observed: “We usually need four strikers but,” he continued in a reference to Shane Long and Simon Cox, both of whom he named, “some strikers can play wide on the right or the left too. Midfielders and defenders are important because they commit more fouls and after two yellow cards you can be without a player.”

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Suggests he'd take five with one or two of them offering wing cover.