Well said. It's not as if Wilson released the story himself. Most likely a hack in Stoke City dropped him a line and asked him where he stood. Had Wilson released the statement via twitter it would have been a clear indication of his intention to release the story.Originally Posted by geysir
In fairness to McClean, as someone else probably said, with his name being specifically referenced in interviews with O'Neill and his switch being far more recent than Marc Wilson's, it was a good idea for him to emphatically put the NI matter to bed.
Indeed, should have known. I think we may have had this conversation before with Geysir clarifying matters, plus Barry Maguire played for us at under-16 level but subsequently playing for Holland wasn't considered to have amounted to a switch of association.
A poster on OWC is reporting that O'Neill approached Wilson.
Completely missing the point.
You're making an incorrect assumption that the issue is national loyalty, Northern Ireland have absolutely nothing to do with this. The issue is very much club versus internationals and you're a gullible fool if you think he hadn't wavering interest during the last campaign when twice he pulled out of a midweek tie and played 90 minutes 3 days later for Stoke. Trap certainly wasn't impressed with him since he was pushed out of the frame entirely after the 2nd time he did this.
Just because you were fit 3 days later does not mean you were fit before.
It might look bad but a lot of healing can take place in 24 hours.
No point in coming back too soon and then being out for weeks because you aggravate the injury.
Wasn't Wilson actually named in the team to play in the Nations Cup. Anyway I think this lad has a future with us, whether its begins this summer remains to be seen.
Always look on the bright side of life
I was compiling my own list yesterday of definites (if fit), possibles and totally unlikelies / definite nos. I did a nice colour-coded spreadsheet (green, amber and red - I was very happy with it!).
Wilson is amber, as is McCarthy. However, I have only 21 greens and I have Foley, Coleman and McCarthy as amber - 2 of those 3 will make it I'm sure. I have 5 forwards.
Gibson is a green in my mind, but he could very easily slip into the amber zone in next 3 weeks.
Piffle!
Wilson was named in the squad for the Croatia friendly last August, he turned up, was deemed unfit to play by the FAI doctor and sent back to Stoke (not Coventry).
He must have an incredible midweek regenerative process that lad. Himself, Stokes and McCarthy must have witch doctors for physios.
Both Walters and Wilson were deemed unfit to play by the FAI doctor 3 days before the Croatia game. Deemed unfit as in they were unlikely to recover in time for the Wednesday game. Both players recovered in time for the game against Chelsea, some 4 days after the Croatia game.
I don't know why people have such a hard time understanding this. If a footballer sustains a niggle on Saturday with a league game the following week, he can spent the week resting up to get fit. If a player sustains a niggle on Saturday with an international on Tuesday...
Even if there is a longer gap, players get injured. It happens several times a season to every player. The more games you play, the more you're likely to miss.
Considering he failed to report for Ireland duty at the end of the season last May he's got form in that department so it will naturally draw suspicion on his unusually high "niggle" rate. Also since he was left out of the squad entirely for the Russia game and beyond at a time when Trap was raising the point about commitment I'm assuming the bossman wasn't impressed by his attitude.
I can see that point of view alright, but what position should he be in the squad for?
Left-back? Ward is the man now, right or wrong and Trap sees Kelly and maybe even O'Shea as cover.
Right back? Kelly, O'Shea, Foley and Coleman (maybe less so) can claim to be ahead of him there.
Centre back? Dunne, SSL, O'Dea, O'Shea and Kelly have all played there under Trap - and dare I say it - McShane
Centre-mid (defensive minded): Whelan, is the main man who might require cover that wilson could provide. But if Whelan is out Andrews would work well alongside some of our more technical central midfielders (Gibson, Fahey, McCarthy etc.)
My point is that yes, Wilson's perceived attitude may be an issue and it has certainly not helped him (nor have injuries) but right now we actually are quite well placed for where he can play. He may be better than Ward but we don't have long to find out.
There may be one or possibly two questionable no shows by Marc Wilson but I am not sure if the lad has had a fair crack of the whip before that. He had been playing in the premiership with Portsmouth and then with Stoke so he may have been a bit miffed that he had not been given a chance to impress( or more of a chance if anyone is going to be pedantic) in friendlies. I am not normally a critic of Trap but I think he could have given Wilson more of a chance. Wilson can play in a number of positions and possibly midfield (not a great deal of evidence for this mind ?)
There was a time - WC 2010 Campaign - where Trap stuck only with those he knew. Since then there has been more flexibility and more new caps. In that time, Wilson has generally been unavailable I think.
Wilson was called up to the Croatia game, an event which succeeded all what happened before, he turned up, was declared unfit and sent home.
There is nothing to read into him not being picked for subsequent competitive squads, he was not in contention as per Trap's strict methodical approach. Also he is not an outstanding full back. There is not a damn thing now to indicate that Wilson has any less commitment to playing for Ireland than Walters or McCarthy.
Last edited by geysir; 12/01/2012 at 5:47 PM.
The plot thickens.........
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...10245185.html?
So what did he do? Turned up for the squad but wasn't prepared to do some sort of training? Or did he go out on the lash? To be continued....Trapattoni made it clear he would not lose any sleep over the loss of Wilson just now and said the player would, at the very least, have to apologise for what he implied was a significant breach of discipline on international duty before he would be called upon again.
“There are certain situations where a player betrays the spirit of the group and there has to be discipline,” he said. “When he sees us he must say: ‘I’m sorry, I made a great mistake.’ Because when you come you work.”
Trapattoni suggested another player was involved in the breach of discipline but refused to say who.
Trapattoni's press-conference English can be dressed up in many different ways. For all we know, he might have said that he owes Wilson an apology.
End Apartheid Now! One Team in Ireland!
Still believing that after Trap's comments? He's taking the right approach with players like him but what amazes me is the reaction from you guys. People here who'd crucify Stephen Ireland all day long but despite repeated damning evidence are happy to have the back of Wilson, why? He's even gone one step further than Ireland and had the nerve to claim to the media about his Euro 2012 ambition, a tournament in which he played no part in qualifying for presumably by his own choosing.
He mentioned loyalty in his interview and letting teammates down so I presume there's more to what Wilson did than just breaking a curfew or discipline ruling given that Trap never took that severity with Andy Reid. It's strong words to tell him that he wouldn't care if he declared for Northern Ireland, it makes it appear that his career with us is probably over.
That was more how Malone worded the article- Trap's quote didn't say that at all.
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