The 10 musts if we're to qualify for the World Cup

[disabledrog]

i agreed with you up until the last point which borders madness

[Saint_Charlie]

7) No nonsense call ups. We need a sense of team spirit so token call ups for players far below the standard like McCarthy or Fahey would be exactly the type of thing Stan would do and exactly the kind of thing Trap should avoid..

Token, me bolox. He's a quality player who should be given at least a chance in a friendly to prove it. It's Irelands loss otherwise...

[Saint_Charlie]

I'm sure you would.

We should call up Delap for his throw in instead...

[SkStu]

to be fair Ciaran, i thought your post was actually well thought out even though i disagreed with you regarding a few matters (your SI obsession and Carsley/Delap) but you have got to see past the blinding lights of the Premiership/English footie and realise that there are Irish born players playing at a lower level who may be good enough to get in the squad. Fahey is one of these players. From what i have seen of him he is a class act and deserves his chance.

Take the blinkers off man.

[Diarmo]

[QUOTE=Ciaran;1062724]
9) As the season ticks on players not playing regularly will start to suffer and theres an alarming number of those at the moment. Whelan, Folan, Long, McGeady, Kilbane, Gibson and O Shea are all lining their clubs benches week after week and are good shots at starting for us. They need to secure a regular club place.

As far as I can remember, he's first choice for Celtic....

Otherwise, some good points. Especially about centre midfield. I don't expect Ireland to be back for this qualifying campaign. However, I'd like to consider Carsely, Rowlands, Delap, Andrews and Whelan at the moment as our CM choices. Maybe add in McCann or Garvan pretty soon.

[Fergie's Son]

Reid can't play with two wingers. If we have Reid then we drop either Duff or McGeady.

Ireland does not want to play for us. End of story. Enough. I don't care how good he is he is not bigger than the team or what the team represents. Go away Stephen Manchester until you want to play for your country.

[Saint_Charlie]

I've seen Fahey and he's great but so was Roy O D, Byrne, Murphy and to a lesser extent Hoolahan who were all exposed to be average or worse in a better league. Fahey might be the real deal but until he proves otherwise at a higher level I'd be sceptical that he's just another average fish in a small pond.

Fair enough but it's all if's and but's until he's given a chance. I honestly can't see what harm it would be to call him up for a friendly. Isn't that what there for?

I'd like to see Scannell given a shot too. Hows Ward getting on with Wolves? Maybe give him a chance at left back aswell.

[elroy]

Despite Bulgaria being awful yesterday and looking increasingly trash, reality is that despite them we still have a playoff match to win against a likely much better team. Either that or conquer Italy. Neither will be an easy task or likely at that.
But I think we've got a solid grounding under trap so unlike with Stan its minor things that need to be changed rather than pigs requiring wings.


1) Bring Carsley back. Neither Whelan nor Andrews can do a single thing as well as Carsley, this is a proven player on great form who desperately wants to be a part of things and he's not even making the squad. Pure nonsense.

2) Given and Dunne to stay fit. Say what you like, if either of these guys croak before a big game we're done before we set foot on the pitch. They're too important with too little cover to lose.

3) A midfielder who can pass the ball. Gibson shouldn't be on the squad, let alone the first team. I wouldn't play him on the B side even, likewise with Whelan. What they're doing on the team god only knows. Steven's gone and thats a crying shame but we still have the man to replace him.

4) Andy Reid needs to be brought on side. Disruptive or not, if I was in his shoes and two scrubs were playing in midfield I'd feel the same. Wether Trap wants him or not having him as a bench option is invaluable if we go behind.

5) Finnan or Kelly need to get back into action. McShane is a disaster waiting to happen all too often, the less we see of him for the rest of the campaign the better.

6) Stephen Ireland. Last season he was considered our alternative to Andy Reid, this season? Kaka. Given that the man he's keeping on the bench for Man City is a starter for Brazil this is no stretch of the imagination whatsoever. Ireland has been magnificent this season, carving teams open week in week out bagging 7 goals already and not only being the best Man City player but also one of the leagues best. He's quickly becoming world class and right now is unquestionably the best Irish soccer player. With him increasingly becoming more and more confident stating that his troubles are behind him a return in my view is getting more and more likely. I don't think we could top the group without him.

7) No nonsense call ups. We need a sense of team spirit so token call ups for players far below the standard like McCarthy or Fahey would be exactly the type of thing Stan would do and exactly the kind of thing Trap should avoid.

8) Return to form of our attacking players. Duff, McGeady and Keane have been on mixed (awful in McGeady's case) form in recent months scoring only 4 league goals between them in 3 months. They need to fix that and hit form.
Doyle needs to move to a higher level.

9) As the season ticks on players not playing regularly will start to suffer and theres an alarming number of those at the moment. Whelan, Folan, Long, McGeady, Kilbane, Gibson and O Shea are all lining their clubs benches week after week and are good shots at starting for us. They need to secure a regular club place.

10) Delap. An average midfielder but with an awesome weapon that can be used greatly to our aid. Given that Whelan and Gibson are mere stop gaps anyway why not give Delap one of those roles and benefit on the side from it as well? At the very least he gives us a different option which is something we need on a bench consisting of tryhards like Keogh or Bruce.

1] Unlikely to happen now, this game was the ideal opportunity to draft Carsley in. Bit harsh to write off Andrews after 20 mins in an Irish shirt. Whelan is been asked to play a role that he isnt really cut out for. He needs someone strong beside him like Reid. The loss of Reid is the biggest issue here.

2] I would add Keane, Finnan, Duff and S Reid to that list. We've already lost one of them, cant afford another.

3 & 4] I dont really understand this obsession that A Reid is going to solve all our problems, he isnt. There is a reason why Jol and Keane didnt/dont have him as a first team regular. He doesnt fit into Traps system, like it or not, im willing to respect Traps decisions for now, 7 points from 9 is pretty good.
Reid has never really dominated a game for us so dont understand the growing group in the media that think hes the answer to all our problems.

5] See point 2 re Finnan

6] Irrelevant. Doesnt want to play for us. Build a bridge people

7] Who has trap called up that were token call ups? He had a summer camp and a b international to have a look at all our options.

8] Obvious enough point. I would argue that a player playing well and regularly in the championship is better than a token sub in the premiership. Doyle is banging in the goals for reading and full of confidence.

9] Same point as 8 really. We need our players playing regularly, obvious enough.

10] He may be worth a look, but would you really have him starting for us?? He has come to the fore because of his throw ins but does his all round game merit a call up.......

[back of the net]

I've seen Fahey and he's great but so was Roy O D, Byrne, Murphy and to a lesser extent Hoolahan who were all exposed to be average or worse in a better league. Fahey might be the real deal but until he proves otherwise at a higher level I'd be sceptical that he's just another average fish in a small pond.

BINGO!


as fine a player as Fahey is - he needs to make the move to a more competitive league b4 he can be considered for an international call up

its nothing against the eircom league or the players abilities ...its just an unfortunate fact

[gaiscíoch]

1) Bring Carsley back. Neither Whelan nor Andrews can do a single thing as well as Carsley, this is a proven player on great form who desperately wants to be a part of things and he's not even making the squad. Pure nonsense..

No point bringing Carsley back at this stage. He will probably only play until next year at least playing Gibson now will give him the experience for later in the qualifying. Gibson should ask to go out on loan when Scholes gets back. Stoke, Hull maybe even Sunderland would aid his developement.

2) Given and Dunne to stay fit. Say what you like, if either of these guys croak before a big game we're done before we set foot on the pitch. They're too important with too little cover to lose..

I'm seriously worried about Dunnes form of late he has been completely off the boil I think he was at fault for the third goal last night got caught in no mans land. Joey & Andy O Brien need to be brought back.

3) A midfielder who can pass the ball. Gibson shouldn't be on the squad, let alone the first team. I wouldn't play him on the B side even, likewise with Whelan. What they're doing on the team god only knows. Steven's gone and thats a crying shame but we still have the man to replace him..

Hold on a minute name our gifted midfielders willing to play for us. Whatever about Whelan Gibson has genuine talent. He needs to be used correctly.

4) Andy Reid needs to be brought on side. Disruptive or not, if I was in his shoes and two scrubs were playing in midfield I'd feel the same. Wether Trap wants him or not having him as a bench option is invaluable if we go behind. ..

I agree totally but Trap doesn't want to play that way its worked so far and long may it last.

5) Finnan or Kelly need to get back into action. McShane is a disaster waiting to happen all too often, the less we see of him for the rest of the campaign the better..

Joey O Brien needs to be brought back, CM,RB and center CB vital to any squad.

6) Stephen Ireland. Last season he was considered our alternative to Andy Reid, this season? Kaka. Given that the man he's keeping on the bench for Man City is a starter for Brazil this is no stretch of the imagination whatsoever. Ireland has been magnificent this season, carving teams open week in week out bagging 7 goals already and not only being the best Man City player but also one of the leagues best. He's quickly becoming world class and right now is unquestionably the best Irish soccer player. With him increasingly becoming more and more confident stating that his troubles are behind him a return in my view is getting more and more likely. I don't think we could top the group without him..

Coincidently his best form has come while out of the Ireland picture. He doesn't want to be back end of story.

7) No nonsense call ups. We need a sense of team spirit so token call ups for players far below the standard like McCarthy or Fahey would be exactly the type of thing Stan would do and exactly the kind of thing Trap should avoid..

No nonsense call ups? Trap is his own man and if his men think a fella is good enough then I'd trust his judgement over your my friend.

8) Return to form of our attacking players. Duff, McGeady and Keane have been on mixed (awful in McGeady's case) form in recent months scoring only 4 league goals between them in 3 months. They need to fix that and hit form.
Doyle needs to move to a higher level..

Duff has been playing well for Newcastle and Ireland. Still coming back from injury another few games and he will be flying it.
Mc Geady has played his best stuff in an Ireland shirt since Trap came along. He too has had a stop start season with injury come back to me in May and tell me has been "awful".
As for Keane he ain't no "Big 4" player I think he is out of his depth. He has lost something from his game. He isn't as involved as he was at Spurs. Big fish in a small pond suits him down to the ground IMO.

9) As the season ticks on players not playing regularly will start to suffer and theres an alarming number of those at the moment. Whelan, Folan, Long, McGeady, Kilbane, Gibson and O Shea are all lining their clubs benches week after week and are good shots at starting for us. They need to secure a regular club place..

O shea will get enough games to keep him ticking over. Long may only ever be a "super sub". Mc Geady will be back in the Celtic 11 when he is fully fit. Kilbane will move down a division at least. Gibson needs to go out on loan. Folan is middle tier in the Championship at best. Whelan also falls into that catagory.

10) Delap. An average midfielder but with an awesome weapon that can be used greatly to our aid. Given that Whelan and Gibson are mere stop gaps anyway why not give Delap one of those roles and benefit on the side from it as well? At the very least he gives us a different option which is something we need on a bench consisting of tryhards like Keogh or Bruce.

Thats a joke about Delap? Your a comedian. Did you see him against United Saturday he was awful completely out of his depth. Only reason he is starting for Stoke is his throws and mark my words he will be on the bench very soon once teams get used to his throw ins. We should have capped Dave Challinor and changed our name to Tranmere.

[Crosby87]

6) Stephen Ireland. Last season he was considered our alternative to Andy Reid, this season? Kaka. Given that the man he's keeping on the bench for Man City is a starter for Brazil this is no stretch of the imagination whatsoever. Ireland has been magnificent this season, carving teams open week in week out bagging 7 goals already and not only being the best Man City player but also one of the leagues best. He's quickly becoming world class and right now is unquestionably the best Irish soccer player. With him increasingly becoming more and more confident stating that his troubles are behind him a return in my view is getting more and more likely. I don't think we could top the group without him.

Good lord, HE DOESNT WANT TO PLAY!! People need to get over this. I can say:
6.) We need Totti. We need to get Totti on the team.
But he isnt playing for Ireland either! How can we have to have something that isnt going to happen? By definition should they just stop playing games b/c everyone's favorite pink range rover driving Man City man says in plain English that he does not want to play for Eire?
Yeeesh.
The only other addition I would make would be:
11.) A partridge in a pear tree.

[eirebhoy]

Reid has never really dominated a game for us so dont understand the growing group in the media that think hes the answer to all our problems.

He's probably been our most influential player in close to 10 of his games so far. Some people don't understand the Reid obsession, I don't understand the people forgetting how good he has been for us in a lot of games.

Just one example of the forgotten Reid performances. A game that I've mentioned a few times since it was played, the Holland away game in 2004. Holland were up for it. It was their last game before Euro 2004. After the match they were loudly booed off the pitch when it should have been a celebratory mood. A few players were dropped after the defeat. Only their 2nd defeat in the Amsterdam arena since it was built in '95. Just putting it into perspective for those that will say friendlies don't count. Anyway, we played fantastic football without about 15 players missing.

I have a few highlights of the match on my PC.

Presenter (in Dutch - got it translated a few years ago ): The best player is Keane, a formidable goal don't you think?
Louis van Gaal: Well, I think the best player was number 11, Mr. Reid. Keane is a good striker! But I think number 11 is a very good player.

[dr_peepee]

Maybe some more B internationals....

[jbyrne]

11. the home crowd to create a great atmosphere with plenty of colour and noise at each match. i suppose s ireland coming back to play is more likely though

[paul_oshea]

I'll gladly endure that "loss"

Ciaran I don't generally beleive the hype from the EL Brigade, but this lad is class. He really controlled the away game against Hertha, away not at home where it really takes class. He was probably the best player on the pitch that night. Also saw the sweden game from online and he looked very good.

[elroy]

He's probably been our most influential player in close to 10 of his games so far. Some people don't understand the Reid obsession, I don't understand the people forgetting how good he has been for us in a lot of games.

Just one example of the forgotten Reid performances. A game that I've mentioned a few times since it was played, the Holland away game in 2004. Holland were up for it. It was their last game before Euro 2004. After the match they were loudly booed off the pitch when it should have been a celebratory mood. A few players were dropped after the defeat. Only their 2nd defeat in the Amsterdam arena since it was built in '95. Just putting it into perspective for those that will say friendlies don't count. Anyway, we played fantastic football without about 15 players missing.

I have a few highlights of the match on my PC.

Presenter (in Dutch - got it translated a few years ago ): The best player is Keane, a formidable goal don't you think?
Louis van Gaal: Well, I think the best player was number 11, Mr. Reid. Keane is a good striker! But I think number 11 is a very good player.

Im not trying to be smart, maybe i just cant remember but can you outline a few competitive games where Reid was our best player. He had a good game and scored a good goal in the Cyrpus home game a few years back but i honestly dont remember any games where Reid was head and shoulders above the rest and our best player. Certainly not in the last campaign but that campaign was an out and out disaster.

[L37Ultra]

I've seen Fahey and he's great but so was Roy O D, Byrne, Murphy and to a lesser extent Hoolahan who were all exposed to be average or worse in a better league. Fahey might be the real deal but until he proves otherwise at a higher level I'd be sceptical that he's just another average fish in a small pond.

And so was Doyle and Shane Long and Noel Hunt amoung a few more so whats your point?

[Splurge]

Reid can't play with two wingers. If we have Reid then we drop either Duff or McGeady.

I agree wholeheartidly with this, with 2 out and out wingers like we have we need two midfielders on the cautios side.
The 1 "must" we need is a manager who has the brains and experience to get the best from us and the balls to stick to it, not one that will pander to the sympaties of those that reckon an overweight unfit Spurs reject and presently 5th from last sunderland reserve is the player we should be building a side around.

[irishfan86]

And so was Doyle and Shane Long and Noel Hunt amoung a few more so whats your point?

I get very little exposure to the LOI, so I'm by no means an expert, but I was always under the impression that Long had hardly broken through with Cork when Reading signed him...as for Doyle, while he was good for Cork, I was never under the impression he was considered the best player in the league, as O'Donovan and Fahey have been labeled.

I find it interesting that players who are isolated by the best scouts often come from places where they are considered decent but nothing special.

[Razors left peg]

Im not trying to be smart, maybe i just cant remember but can you outline a few competitive games where Reid was our best player. He had a good game and scored a good goal in the Cyrpus home game a few years back but i honestly dont remember any games where Reid was head and shoulders above the rest and our best player. Certainly not in the last campaign but that campaign was an out and out disaster.

He was brilliant in the Germany game in Croker. To me that is his best performance in a green shirt.