Squad/Team v Russia/Slovakia

Can't see many if any surprises. Not impressed with Walters today but he is now playing in the Premiership and for me is a better player than Keogh but still unlikely to be called into the squad at this time. Ward imploded after an excellent 70 mins for Wolves. Felt sorry for him and thought he had gotten the craziness out of his game this season. He was excellent for the whole game against Everton away but the peno and ball given away for Spurs second goal will probably scupper any chance of a call up. Wilson did not play today so unlikely to feature. McCarthy probably won't be called up either. So the starting eleven for the Russia game barring injuries is probably going to be
Given
O'Shea Dunne St Ledger Kilbane
McGeady/Lawerence Whelan Andrews Duff
Keane Doyle

Good to see Arshavin taken off today after a poor performance. Will still be a very dangerous player against us but not firing on all cyclinders yet and hopefully he stays that way for the next month or so. Of all the irish players available in the premiership I would still have Andy Reid in the Squad. This is going to **** off loads but he changes games and can still play a killer ball. My one and only only critisism of Trap.

I dont expect any changes from the last 2 games barring injuries. And of course duffer coming back. I dont actually think andrews will start, hasnt played at all this year and i don't think he will before that game either. I think Gibson is still a better option personally, we'll see if he starts tomorrow.

Still annoyed about the LB position though. JOSH can play there no trouble at all, and we have 2 decent premier league starters in Foley/Kelly. Makes no sense for me to have Kilbane, who isnt getting his game for a team that could be playing league 1 next season, starting a crucial game like this.

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

I dont expect any changes from the last 2 games barring injuries. And of course duffer coming back. I dont actually think andrews will start, hasnt played at all this year and i don't think he will before that game either. I think Gibson is still a better option personally, we'll see if he starts tomorrow.

Still annoyed about the LB position though. JOSH can play there no trouble at all, and we have 2 decent premier league starters in Foley/Kelly. Makes no sense for me to have Kilbane, who isnt getting his game for a team that could be playing league 1 next season, starting a crucial game like this.

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How Bad is Andrews injury? I thought he would be back in Two weeks? Then Green is going to start against Russia. Scary on many levels. He is simply not good enough for this type of game and will be exposed. I championed him after his first few games but his limitations are really begining to show. Gibson won't get the nod and I'm not convinced he can change or control a game of this magnitude from the bench ie coming on as a sub. I trust Trap's judgement and it will be interesting to see the squad selected.

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

Still annoyed about the LB position though. JOSH can play there no trouble at all,

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I don't know why people think this about John O'Shea. He can't play left back.

McCarthy and Wilson are the newbies I'd most like to see called up, possibly Walters as cover.

Lack of game time or form is a big worry for over half our regulars. Full backs and Whelan's partner in CM are biggest concerns.

"I trust Trap's judgement and it will be interesting to see the squad selected."

Would have agreed with you before the current campaign, but, sad as I am to say it, I think Trap is past his best for Ireland. I think there are mittigating circumstances in him not calling up players - ie. he doesn't get to see players as often as he should and he doesn't have Brady's experience of the English game and help in breaking the language barrier any more. But even so nothing in the world can explain him picking Kilbane and McShane time and again.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I don't know why people think this about John O'Shea. He can't play left back.

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You think Kilbane is a better option there? Really?

I'd still love to see Ward there, he makes the most sense. But yesterday's game would have really damaged his chances.

I'd like to compile all PL starters later and see what team we have based on them. Only player im 100% comfy from the championship is Lawrence. Sledge still hasn't convinced me the his dunne partnership is better than the dunne/o'shea one

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

I'd like to compile all PL starters later and see what team we have based on them.

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From yesterday's games or total starts in the Premiership this season?

This weekend would be interesting to compare - i'll do it this evening after the all ireland (assuming i can find a stream from egypt!)

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Originally Posted by mark12345

"I trust Trap's judgement and it will be interesting to see the squad selected."

Would have agreed with you before the current campaign, but, sad as I am to say it, I think Trap is past his best for Ireland. I think there are mittigating circumstances in him not calling up players - ie. he doesn't get to see players as often as he should and he doesn't have Brady's experience of the English game and help in breaking the language barrier any more. But even so nothing in the world can explain him picking Kilbane and McShane time and again.

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I can see why Trapattoni persists in his selection of Kilbane and McShane. Regardless of their ability, they're both dedicated professionals who have plenty of experience and they both know Trap's system.

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Originally Posted by mark12345

"I trust Trap's judgement and it will be interesting to see the squad selected."

Would have agreed with you before the current campaign, but, sad as I am to say it, I think Trap is past his best for Ireland. I think there are mittigating circumstances in him not calling up players - ie. he doesn't get to see players as often as he should and he doesn't have Brady's experience of the English game and help in breaking the language barrier any more. But even so nothing in the world can explain him picking Kilbane and McShane time and again.

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Would actually agree with this. He is not doing enough to bring new players through (McCarthy, Wilson, Coleman, Stokes, Walters, Ward etc.) and won't look at others ie. Kevin Foley (been in squads but never given a chance), Andy Reid etc. Some of his squad selections are strange to say the least where he continues to pick some very limited players. Trap is untouchable at club level but certainly not at International IMO.

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

. Sledge still hasn't convinced me the his dunne partnership is better than the dunne/o'shea one

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It isn't a question of whether Dunne /St.Ledger is the best partnership, but a competent enough one to allow Josh to play RB.

There's no way Foley is getting anywhere near the Ireland team. Trap will have watched yesterday's game at White Hart Lane and seen him miraculously stay on the pitch after diving in twice on Bale. These are the silly mistakes that Trap always talks about, the ones that have led us to concede goals in the past. Ward was guilty of even worse when he gave away the penalty. Dunne used to have a similar tendency but he's a far more talented player than either and has managed to cut it down considerably. I think if Kelly keeps his starting spot for Fulham he will be a serious option at full back for us - miles ahead of Foley at this stage.

Not expecting any changes or surprises in this squad and fully expect McShane and Kilbane to be named in all Trap's squads in this campaign as long as they are fit regardless of their situation at club level. McShane will get games at Hull and Kilbane has so much international "experience" that Trap's decision to include them will be justified in his opinion.

Hopefully we see some new players get game time in the November friendly and if they continue to get game time at club level, they could find themselves included in the Macedonia squad next March. Coleman, Ward, Wilson, McCarthy, Stokes and possibly Walters to name but a few.

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

This weekend would be interesting to compare - i'll do it this evening after the all ireland (assuming i can find a stream from egypt!)

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done and done
Total starts for Irish Players in the Premier League so far this season

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Player Name    Home Starts Away Starts Total Starts
James McCarthy          4          1            5
Richard Dunne            3          2            5
John O'Shea              3          2            5
Stephen Carr            2          3            5
Kevin Foley              2          3            5
Stephen Ward            2          3            5
Rory Delap              2          2            4
Damien Duff              1          3            4
Stephen Kelly            1          3            4
Kevin Doyle              1          3            4
Jonathan Walters        2          1            3
Stephen Ireland          1          1            2
Robbie Keane            1          0            1
Marc Wilson              1          0            1
Andy O'Brien            0          1            1
Glenn Whelan            0          1            1
Keith Fahey              0          1            1

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So...no keeper, but that spot has never been up for debate

Based on PL starts

----------------Given
Kelly-----Dunne-----O'Shea------Ward

Fahey----Whelan---McCarthy----Duff
---------------Doyle
---------------Keane


Typical Trap team

----------------Given
O'Shea-----Dunne-----Sledge------Kilbane

Lawrence----Whelan---Green----Duff
---------------Doyle
---------------Keane


Same old story, Whelan's partner and left-full. Altho i spose in fairness we are basically shagged for the left-full position. Ward is decent...but he's not amazing either in fairness.

agree overall on your opinion of Ward. He has a tendency to lose concentration on occasion BUT he has done more on form over the last 18 months to warrant a squad place at LB ahead of Cunningham, Nolan and Kilbane (not a slight on Kilbane just that Ward has more form on him at LB over the last year or more) and anyone else Trap has looked at for the LB spot.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I think if Kelly keeps his starting spot for Fulham he will be a serious option at full back for us - miles ahead of Foley at this stage.

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Playing LB at the moment for Fulham as well, which is no bad thing for Ireland as that is our weaker FB position. Interestingly, Pantsil has started the season very poorly for Fulham at RB (World Cup hangover?) so Kelly might get a run there also (They have signed a South American LB I believe but he's not fit or has visa issues or something).

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Originally Posted by Junior

Playing LB at the moment for Fulham as well, which is no bad thing for Ireland as that is our weaker FB position. Interestingly, Pantsil has started the season very poorly for Fulham at RB (World Cup hangover?) so Kelly might get a run there also (They have signed a South American LB I believe but he's not fit or has visa issues or something).

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Carlos Salcido from Mexico is the guy you are talking about I presume? He played left back at the weekend while Stephen Kelly played at right back ahead of Pantsil.

Cheers for that, haven't had chance to check out yesterdays games yet.

Central American / South American / Canadian they're all the same to me ;)