Marc Wilson

[Supreme feet]

I'd like to see him get a chance for Ireland.

He's been included in a few squads now, like Coleman, and will get a chance sooner or later. It's hard to know who Trap will pick as his four/five central midfielders in February. The default incumbents (from last year's squads) are Whelan, Andrews, Gibson, Fahey and Green. Whelan is a Trap favourite and will keep getting picked regardless of regular football, and Fahey is playing regularly, so it would be baffling to see him dropped. If Andrews plays even one game for Blackburn in the next few weeks, Trap will pick him too.

The most vulnerable, you would think, are Gibson and Green - the former because of his lack of game time, and the latter for his incurable terribleness. For those possible two places, you have McCarthy, Meyler and Wilson competing. And I'd take the first two, as they have really strong attributes - McCarthy's passing, technique and footballing brain, and Meyler's energy and abrasiveness. Wilson, I think, falls somewhere in the middle. He's tidy and defensively sound, but not, in my opinion, a huge improvement on Whelan/Andrews in terms of our ability to win/keep possession in midfield. However, given the choice, I think Trap would choose Wilson for his versatility - which leaves McCarthy or Meyler in the cold.

[TrapAPony]

Stoke playing Man Utd tonight. Wilson starting with Whelan on the bench. With Wilson, McCarthy, Meyler, Gibson etc. coming through there really should be no reason why the likes of Green should get picked again.

[irishfan86]

The reason Trap would give if a match was played today is that Green is the only one out of those mentioned who has been playing regular first team football regularly.

McCarthy has been injured, Wilson and Gibson are in and out of their teams, and Meyler is just back from injury.

Not a big Green fan and want one of the young bucks to stake a claim, but they'll need to lock down a place and stay healthy to usurp the man in possession.

[liamoo11]

thought wilson played well tonight is well suited to defensive midfield role.I think he has far more about him than Whelan except the occasional long range goal.I think he would allow gibson to play as an attacking midfielder if we ever played five in the midfield and added maybe mccarthy to that central area.Gibson did good job as part of a two in the middle for utd today.Some nice passing and good tackling.He does look like he needs to lose a few pounds and work on his mobility though which a run of games away from united would hopefully give him.I think its fair to say on the evidence tonight gibson would play every week for stoke.Although im sure someone on here wil still maintain he would be lucky to get a game in the championship

[Alf Honn]

thought wilson played well tonight is well suited to defensive midfield role.I think he has far more about him than Whelan except the occasional long range goal.I think he would allow gibson to play as an attacking midfielder if we ever played five in the midfield and added maybe mccarthy to that central area.Gibson did good job as part of a two in the middle for utd today.Some nice passing and good tackling.He does look like he needs to lose a few pounds and work on his mobility though which a run of games away from united would hopefully give him.I think its fair to say on the evidence tonight gibson would play every week for stoke.Although im sure someone on here wil still maintain he would be lucky to get a game in the championship

Ireland's central midfield partnership v Northern Ireland, Aviva Stadium, May 2011 - Wilson and Gibson. Enough to bring tears to Nigel Worthington's eyes.

[Charlie Darwin]

Is Trap mischievous enough? He could go for the hat trick and play Shane Duffy.

[gastric]

If he is feeling really, really mischievous, in fact possibly malicious, he might throw in Daniel Kearns just to really p##s some people off!

[Sullivinho]

Is Trap mischievous enough?

[Deckydee]

Where is he? Is he the no show that trap was talking about?

[BonnieShels]

Just thinking the same.

[DannyInvincible]

It's possible it might have been Wilson and not McCarthy after all considering Enda Brady reported that the FAI were contacted by Wigan on Sunday regarding McCarthy's knock and scan. Could well be another case of the media getting way ahead of themselves with McCarthy. There hasn't appeared to have been any explanation forthcoming for Wilson's absence from the match commentators unless I missed it.

[Deckydee]

Indeed nothing. I have been glued to this laptop looking for something but I cannot find it.

[backstothewall]

Has anyone checked the other dugout? Worthington hasn't got him tied up in a kit bag has he?

[Deckydee]

Nothing on OWC..........

[Deckydee]

As seen on YBIG:

he only arrived over this evening so was dropped,think it was he didnt have enough time to prepare.should start V Scots.Whelan and Walters came over aswel.

[DannyInvincible]

Any idea did Wilson come over with the rest of the Stoke players or did he make his own way and arrive after them, meaning he could have been the player who Trap was referring to when he said someone had been a no-show and failed to get in contact?

[Stuttgart88]

Lads, I've only just logged on and have dozens of posts to trawl through.

Is there a definitive story yet about Wilson's absence? Are he and the other Stoke players in Dublin yet?

[SwanVsDalton]

Just put this in the NI match thread

Tardelli downplaying the whole thing, seems Wilson, Walters, Whelan and Fahey all didn't travel but claims Wilson and Walters are injured while Whelan and Fahey are coming over.

[Stuttgart88]

NI and us appear to have one thing in common - a hard core of committed players and some flakes who we could do without. Very surprised at Walters as he'd have a big role to play.

[an_ceannaire]

Trap and the whole set up have let it be known to anyone who will listen, that Anthony Stokes wasnt arsed playing (but i think there is a bigger reason than what Trap seems to infer for this), Wilson didnt bother to reply to his texts/calls and just didnt show, and more or less the same for Walters and McCarthy.
In fairness, Traps communicatino skills are legendary at this stage........