Republic of Ireland V Argentina - Wednesday, 11th August 2010 - Friendly

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.

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Originally Posted by irishfan86

If you mis**** a cross it's not the end of the world, but if you let someone in on goal that is unforgivable.

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We'll be having less of that language round here! :P

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.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

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.

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He had a bad game against Sporting Lisbon in the States, and was replaced at half time, along with most of the starting XI
from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...-Lisbon-v-City

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He (Djalo) collected Saleiro’s sumptuous flick that had bamboozled Cunningham and raced around Hart before slotting into an empty net.

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Had an assist for City's goal in their next game, a 2-1 loss against the NY/NJ Red Bulls
from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...d-Bulls-v-City

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The Brazilian (Jo) atoned for any tardiness in the 55th minute when he flicked home substitute Greg Cunningham’s cross for an equaliser.

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Came on late against Club America and set up Jo after some good work
from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...America-v-City

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Jo had an air shot after good work from Cunningham leaving the result to be decided on penalties.

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Was a half time substitute against Inter, but didn't do much - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-rep...y/Inter-v-City
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.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

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?"

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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?

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

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?

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Simon Cox even said he wanted to play for us.

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.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Thanks, I'd forgotten Keogh was in the squad. I quite like him as a forward, but definitely not out wide.

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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.

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?

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Originally Posted by geysir

Wasn't he just on for a minutes against Serbia?

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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.
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.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

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?

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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.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

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.

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by TrapAPony

IMO players like O'Hara and co. would add to the squad.

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O'Hara, yes. Who is / are "and co." though?

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.