Irish Strikers

**FootballsKing** · 15/10/2008, 10:57 AM

Obviously Doyle and Keane would appear to pick themselves up front at the moment.

But aside from this there doesnt seem to be too much and out of what we do have, what does Trap favour. Initially it would appear he seemed to take a shining to Keogh. Now it seems that both Stokes and Folan impressed in the game last week enough so to warrent a callup. I have heard suggestings that Folan is now third in line and god knows what Trap has seen in training this week from some of the players (stokes is supposed to be the best player in the world in training isnt he???

)

Thats not to mention Murphy (who personally I consider a bottler and a very limited player) and Shane Long who seems to score goals when given the chance but I have seen little of to comment, and seems to be struggling to get games ahead of the non-present Noel Hunt. Does this say anything about his future. Is there a player in this current squad who could oust Keane or more likely Doyle over the course of the next campaing or two, or perhaps more importantly act as a capable replacement in the case of long term injury.

Where does Trap rank his strikers and what do you see the pecking order being in the near future??

**seanfhear** · 15/10/2008, 11:00 AM

However good they are have we ever had this many strikers to choose from even as possibles.

**Duggie** · 15/10/2008, 11:23 AM

i was thinking about this earlier. God forbid keane and doyle got injured at the same time for a game like italy / bulgaria away. possible replacements duff or andy reid to play off another striker maybe. i think keogh is a better striker than winger anyway. murphy is big but dont know if hes good enough. hard to know.

**donalmcdonagh** · 15/10/2008, 11:45 AM

I get the feeeling Folan is next in line for the Doyle role, ahead of Murphy and Long....I agree with you about the Keane role, Duff and Reid would be the next in line if Robbie ever got injured.....

**Noelys Guitar** · 15/10/2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by donalmcdonagh

I get the feeeling Folan is next in line for the Doyle role, ahead of Murphy and Long....I agree with you about the Keane role, Duff and Reid would be the next in line if Robbie ever got injured.....

I agree. Trap's comments on Folan last week suggest he is the number 3 choice.

**tetsujin1979** · 15/10/2008, 12:06 PM

I wouldn't say Folan is number 3, more that he's number 2 behind Doyle for the target man/holding the ball up role, and maybe ahead of Murphy and Keogh?
Can't say what the order would be behind Keane for the out and out striker role, probably Stokes, then Long

**dr_peepee** · 15/10/2008, 2:34 PM

I Think Andy Reid is competing with Keane and the rest are competing with Doyle...

**donalmcdonagh** · 15/10/2008, 2:49 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

I Think Andy Reid is competing with Keane and the rest are competing with Doyle...

I was afraid to say that earlier but I think your bang on correct. Unless he has to change the system that is the reality of the striker situation. So essentially he has Long, Murphy, Folan, Doyle, Keogh (maybe) for one position.

**Duggie** · 15/10/2008, 3:00 PM

id add neol hunt to that list aswell, he might overtake long from now on seen as hes taken his place at reading and formed a good partnership with doyle.

**dr_peepee** · 15/10/2008, 3:20 PM

It'll be interesting to see the squad for the Poland friendly..

I think his squads are evolving based on levels of exposure and loyalty, and this time next year we will have a much better squad. I think the like of Keogh and/or long (unless gets going) will be phased out over the next few squads...

I think we forget just how little exposure Trapp has had to our players (not just the squads, I mean the entire selection base). He commented this week on not being aware and being pleasently surprised of some of the players in the B squad (or something to that effect), hence the promoted 5.

I would say if a couple of us here on this board were each given a couple of pages, along with Trapp, and asked to list available Irish players in each position, any one of us would win hands down in terms of Quantity.

I reckon if at a press conference he was asked about St Ledger or Painter he wouldn't have a clue who they are (despite the fact they play in positions we have little or no depth in). I got the impression he didn't know who Rory Delap was during an interview I heard a few weeks ago.

From the B game and the portugal camp we have seen evidence, that he is loyal to those who take the chance when given it, despite the status with their club, media or fans.

Over the next year with the Friendlies in Nov and March I think we'll see some of the players like St Ledger given a chance. And trapp'll retain them if he sees fit.

( a bit of a drift from the strikers I know but it was the presence of Long, Keogh, Murphy, Folan and Stokes in one squad along with Keane and Doyle got me thinking)

**Duggie** · 15/10/2008, 3:22 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

It'll be interesting to see the squad for the Poland friendly..

I think his squads are evolving based on levels of exposure and loyalty, and this time next year we will have a much better squad. I think the like of Keogh and/or long (unless gets going) will be phased out over the next few squads...

I think we forget just how little exposure Trapp has had to our players (not just the squads, I mean the entire selection base). He commented this week on not being aware and being pleasently surprised of some of the players in the B squad (or something to that effect), hence the promoted 5.

I would say if a couple of us here on this board were each given a couple of pages, along with Trapp, and asked to list available Irish players in each position, any one of us would win hands down in terms of Quantity.

I reckon if at a press conference he was asked about St Ledger or Painter he wouldn't have a clue who they are (despite the fact they play in positions we have little or no depth in). I got the impression he didn't know who Rory Delap was during an interview I heard a few weeks ago.

From the B game and the portugal camp we have seen evidence, that he is loyal to those who take the chance when given it, despite the status with their club, media or fans.

Over the next year with the Friendlies in Nov and March I think we'll see some players given a chance. And trapp'll retain them if he sees fit.

( a bit of a drift from the strikers I know but it was the presence of Long, Keogh, Murphy, Folan and Stokes in one squad along with Keane and Doyle got me thinking)

keogh deserves his place in the squad, i like him and i think hes here to stay.

**dr_peepee** · 15/10/2008, 3:26 PM

He's OK.... A poor mans Kuyt.

**jmurphyc** · 15/10/2008, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

He's OK.... A poor mans Kuyt.

That's an oxymoron if ever I saw one. How someone can be okay and a poor man's kuyt at the same time is beyond me.

**tetsujin1979** · 15/10/2008, 4:01 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

He's OK.... A poor mans Kuyt.

He's scored for Trap when given the chance against Serbia, and last week against Forest. Can't really ask for more from a striker.

**third policeman** · 15/10/2008, 4:38 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

It'll be interesting to see the squad for the Poland friendly..

I think his squads are evolving based on levels of exposure and loyalty, and this time next year we will have a much better squad. I think the like of Keogh and/or long (unless gets going) will be phased out over the next few squads...

I think we forget just how little exposure Trapp has had to our players (not just the squads, I mean the entire selection base). He commented this week on not being aware and being pleasently surprised of some of the players in the B squad (or something to that effect), hence the promoted 5.

I would say if a couple of us here on this board were each given a couple of pages, along with Trapp, and asked to list available Irish players in each position, any one of us would win hands down in terms of Quantity.

I reckon if at a press conference he was asked about St Ledger or Painter he wouldn't have a clue who they are (despite the fact they play in positions we have little or no depth in). I got the impression he didn't know who Rory Delap was during an interview I heard a few weeks ago.

From the B game and the portugal camp we have seen evidence, that he is loyal to those who take the chance when given it, despite the status with their club, media or fans.

Over the next year with the Friendlies in Nov and March I think we'll see some of the players like St Ledger given a chance. And trapp'll retain them if he sees fit.

( a bit of a drift from the strikers I know but it was the presence of Long, Keogh, Murphy, Folan and Stokes in one squad along with Keane and Doyle got me thinking)

Think this is a spot analysis. The worry is who is advising Trapp about the wider playing pool and do they (Givens, Brady) no very much than he does. I suspect they dont because many of the players selected for the B squad seemed to be there because they have some recent Premiership exposure (Folan, Andrews, Treacy). Not sure that they deserve recognition ahead of the likes of McCann, O'Toole or Walters.

**dr_peepee** · 16/10/2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

He's scored for Trap when given the chance against Serbia, and last week against Forest. Can't really ask for more from a striker.

Fair point...

Keogh is industrious, can do a job wide and contributes. Keoghs International record is O.K much like Kuyts record in the Champions leage but all in doesn't score enough for his position. Thats the Kuyt comparison (And I like Kuyt, so it's not a dig)

My point is assuming Keane and Doyle a definates, and I believe that Andy Reid is now actually compteting with Keane for a role rather than anyone else. Is there really room for Keogh, Stokes, Folan, Murphy and Long on top of that? ( Also Baring in mind Folan offers something different to anything else we have in terms of physique, if not quality).

I think Keoghs ability to pay wide right is stands to him more than any forward playing comparisons with say Stokes, Long or N Hunt, Murphy. However over the next two friendlies players are going to get chances such as Lawrence and Trapp is not afraid to show loyalty to players who take chances. I think some of Long Murphy and Keogh, regular squad members thus far, are going to be phased out...

**galwayhoop** · 16/10/2008, 11:36 AM

what evr happened to stephen elliott???? he really drifted off the radar in recent times after arriving on the scene as the next great white hope...

**tetsujin1979** · 16/10/2008, 12:27 PM

Wolves sold him to Preston earlier this season. Considering Mick McCarthy signed him for Sunderland from Man City as a youngster, and took a chance on him again at Wolves, it says a lot that he was willing to let him go.