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Wouldn't agree with the first bit, no way we would have done so well without Trap. He built us a solid foundation based on a well organised defensive unit. Contrast this to where we were in the Stan days. This has developed throughout the campaign and now we seem to be able to attack teams without exposing ourselves at the back. If we had went gung ho from the beginning of the campaign we would have lost a few for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scram
no time for this now lads. the lads did it for us that were on the pitch. debate for another day IMO.
I must say I'm gutted to see this thread near the top of the Ireland forum (and yes I see the irony of me posting here and bumping it up again).
But after last night, I thought I'd come on here and see nothing but praise for the team and how they played cause they deserve nothing less. Lets just commend the lads for a magnificent performance and be proud to be Irish.
The "lads" were let down by the management, pure and simple. A lack of respect for their abilities, their spirit and their determination.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duggie
The lads certainly did do it on the pitch, the question has to be where SOME of them the right lads to have on the pitch, and why where the right lads not ALLOWED to play to their abilities throughout qualification.
"Better than Stan" is not a yardstick on whch to measure managerial performance, surely?
Madness, if we went out to play some attacking free flowing football we'd have been murdered, the last 10 minutes in Dublin are a good indication of this, we went after a goal and France hit us with pace on the break and could and possibly should have burried the tie there and then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scram
We were controled & measured in Paris attacked when we could and stopped them playing at pace.
To question the manager after a performance like that is very odd indeed.
Look. Trapp deserves alot of credit ALOT OF CREDIT for the performance last night and the leaps since he was appointed.
However I've said numerous time that his lack of efforts in a plan B and, specifically, insulating his own plan from the effects of change, would cost us.
We lost two players through injury last night. I don't believe anyone in the country, on this board or anywhere else believes that Gibson was the next best Irish midfielder or like wise McShane at right full. I believe Gibson was the next best midfielder on the bench, Yes. I don't believe McShane was the next best right full on the bench though, so that's Trapps call. He obviously sees something I don't and that's his perogative.
The issue lies with the use of friendlies and exposure to irish players and options. Delap, Carsley, Andy Reid, a half fit Steven Reid (given there was no intention to start him anyway). What had Trapp seen of these since the start of the season to decide Gibson (not played since September) was the better option.
People have cited marginal decisions. The decision of McShane over Kelly would have been marginal at the time. Neither have truly convinced, but McShane has been prone for a long time and I can't have been the only one that looked back at the bench when he was warming up. If a limited selection don't convince surley you equal the exposure to both to find the best of a bad bunch. Maybe Trapp saw enough in Training. Maybe Kelly's worse in training than McShane. I do think though that Trapp ers too much on the side of consistency and that that was the deciding factor in McShane over Kelly.
That's my gripe with Trapp. Has been for a while. I thought we we excellent last night though. His plan A is beyond sound. I think he alone has allot to do with the emergence of Whelan and Andrews in that role and they both will finish their careers as better players having played under him. Didi Hamman reckoned he was a huge influence on his playing career after playing under him at Munich. I'm not knocking anything else he has brought to the table.
Andy Reid had nothing to do with last nights game and his name should not be used in the same breath as last nights match. Eleven boys went out onto that pitch and by christ they walked off men.
:D:D Comical.Quote:
Originally Posted by rambler14
I'm sure Duffer, Dunne and Keane would be thrilled with being told they walked on to the pitch as boys.
Andy Reid instead of Gibson and ANYONE instead of Paul McShane…and it’s not being wise after the event, as soon as I saw McShane I buried my head in my hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
I’m not criticizing any player here for their effort (before another Muppet starts talking about “heroes” etc.), I am criticising the ridiculous position that left us with Gibson and McShane as our options!
could the word "muppet" be starred? I'm sick of seeing it. That's my contribution. gutted
gibson did ok but mcshane isint good enough i wish finnan had been on the berch......... :(
Has anyone ever seen Andy Reid outjump a tall midfielder to win a header?
Andrews was immense last night, probably the best of a top notch Irish team. He won every header around the middle of the park, whether it was from a bounce or not and this created a platform for the Irish team.
He had one very vital interception in our own box and was up the other end in attack as well, a real box to box performance.
Andy Reid would not have had the physical strengths to compete like Andrews did last night, we would have been blown away in the centre of the park if Reid was playing instead of Andrews.
Gibson equally is able to tackle and win headers.
I'm sorry but Andy Reid is too small to compete in the centre of the park. Plus he's not good enough as a box to box player and defensive midfielder.
Andrews performance rivalled anything Roy Keane ever done.
My belief has been the same throughout the campaign. If Andy Reid was in the team we would not have finished second or first in our qualifying group. He's just too inconsistant.
Lets forget andy as a central midfielder. He's already come out and said he prefers the left wing. He should be ahead of mcgeady in the pecking order for that spot and have to fight it out with duffer. Simple as that, and i think we'll see him back for the euros
Gibson did nothing wrong. He was the only viable alternative in the position. McShane, I would not have minding a box of puppies and that is a fact.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scram
I was surprised Trap didn't bring Kelly on. He came on against Bulgaria and did very well.
Trap's words today. Wonder if he was thinking about Reid here?
"When you think about changing the system, you must find the right players for the positions. I believe in this system. Ireland has a system which is ordered on the pitch. We think that we have given this team order on the pitch. But we can change in a moment and maybe we have the possibility to play with a little bit of fantasy and creativity. I would like to try this."
I think he is refering to the current squad, possibly Liam Lawrence.
Has anyone else noticed we play our best football when chasing a game?
I know Trap has a philosophy of not conceding and he's right in that, because if you concede in the 85th minute you probably will lose the game.
The key seems to be to concede early or concede in the first leg of a tie. This leads us to play good football.
Get your facts straight - Brady told a journalist in a press conference to "respect your county" when he asked a particular question about Reid. He never said anything about respect to Andy Reid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scram
That question was actually about Stephen Ireland, and that we should go down on our knees and ask Stephen Ireland to play. Brady said, show some respect to your country to the journalist and he was dead right to say it. Nothing to do with Andy Reid at all.
All though there is a rumour out there that Reid showed a lack of respect to Brady in the build up to the Cyprus game.