Weakest Irish Squad in 30 years!

[christo]

If you're compare us to someone, use Scotland. And we'd get a few in that team laddie.

I'd hope so 1-0 down against Macedonia at half time

[irishultra]

I would take Hutton, McMannus and at a push McFadden into our starting line up, even though I prefer Doyle's attributes.

They can't pass the ball at all. Robson is a player I do have time for, he is a good solid player.

[SuperDave]

it doesn't matter that we have players who wouldn't get into the england squad... lest i remind you that in 94 we had plenty of english born players, some who decided to play for us because they weren't going to get selected for england.... and we qualified and they didn't.... its a team game and from what i've seen of ireland under trap we are finally playing as a team again after the staunton and to a lesser extent kerr eras.

[boovidge]

god i'd love it if the scots got beaten

[irishultra]

yeah me too boovide. I'm not a fan of them tbh.

[eirebhoy]

The common denominator between the poor football with Celtic and poor football with Scotland is Paul Hartley. Some difference in Scotland's play as soon as Hartley went off and Brown took up his position.

[boovidge]

none of those were penalties either.

[niallsparky]

In an Ireland/Scotland team I'd have:

Given

Hutton Dunne McManus O'Shea

McGeady Reid Reid McFadden

Keane Doyle


We have much better players than them and I'm confident we'll qualify under Trap.

[boovidge]

right so Scotland are as good as out. Let's hope the boys in green don't make the same mistake!

[eirebhoy]

right so Scotland are as good as out. Let's hope the boys in green don't make the same mistake!

Of course they're not out. Their competition for 2nd spot is Macedonia, Norway and Iceland...

[boovidge]

yeah just saw that actually.

[Cymro]

Norway drew with Iceland today. To be honest I could see Scotland or Norway being the side to finish second in their group and miss out on the play-offs. Unless that team comes from your group.

In any case Scotland aren't out of it yet and I think if you picked a joint XI it would be hard to choose in many of the positions because the players are pretty close in terms of level of ability.

[finnpark]

We were in the pup and talking about making it to SA in 2010, all very positive and running down the opposition, when it finally dawned on us that this Irish squad of players is rubbish.

This is not just negativity but realism. If you strip Given, Dunne and Keane out of the team they are a bunch of
past-its,
maybe's and
never-will-be's.

Finnan totally unfit, past-it. --- replacement Steve Kelly never-will-be
O'Shea midfielder ? never-will-be --- replacement Bruce scarey! never-will-be
Kilbane winger past-it ---replacement Delaney never-will-be
Hunt super-sub never-will-be --- Duff injured Past-it
Whealan honest never-will-be --- Miller never-will-be
Reid 30 mins in Norway! maybe --- Reid still over-weight maybe
McGeady chang club maybe --- Keogh out-of-position never-will-be
Doyle pity about Spurs move maybe --- Long needs to play for his club maybe

Given good --- replacement Kieley unlucky to be with Given past-it
Dunne good --- replacement Mcshane champioship player never-will-be
Keane fustrating good ---Murphy champioship player never-will-be

Think realisticaly, how many of this squad would make the england squad? Would any make the team.

I will still believe before every match that we can win because all realism fades in the hour before kick-off. I am not sure I like the way Trap is going about the business of qualifying but if he makes it, then it will be thgreatest qualification of any manager based on the players available.

I think that you have been firmly put in your place. Ok, the defensive subs really are rubbish but its not the worst squad in last 30 years surely. Staunton's squads were worse.

Also, trap's system is very good so that he doesn't have to over rely on any one player. I am expecting a good campaign!