I probably wouldn't have him in the squad at the minute, depending on injuries, but he is Irish and i want him to prove me wrong. Its my opinion that the best way for him to do that is to get back to Hull in his club football, play right back for the rest of this season and next and learn his trade.Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Jesus Mary and Joseph, have you actually just linked to a youtube video of a centre half making a few tackles/blocks to justify him being at the heart of our defence? I'm sorry, but i refuse to believe you're anything other than a troll.
Didn't you notice the surging run against Burnley when he brought the ball out his own half and drove forward leaving 6 players in their wake to set up Preston's goal.
Or how about when he runs the whole length of the field to catch the WBA player, and makes a last ditch tackle to prevent a goalscoring attempt.
Don't think McShane or Bruce are capable of that! Neither have the pace or the technical ability.
But if all you have noticed from those clips are blocks and tackles which are part of the game I admit, then you are just as bad as Trapp in assessing players qualities.
St Ledger is a football playing CB, brought up watching Paul McGrath at Villa, we call him the new "Mark Lawrenson" here at Preston.
Totally agree Doc. I have seen St Ledger in the flesh six times and he is an obviously gifted and cultured footballing CB.I just wonder whether this is the problem. In the same way that Trapp doesn't want creative midfield players, maybe he doesn't want footballing centre backs either. It's just about possible that this squad playing in this style will limp through to the World Cup Finals, but they will be badly found out by the top end I think middle rank teams. Lets remember what happened against Poland (not to mention Cyprus) and that Georgia are ranked 122 in the world.
I think you may a have something there, I agree too!
I was told that Paul Merson on Sky, said that St Ledger was outstanding against Norwich today.
So Trapp, the plot thickens..........
If Paul Merson thinks he is good he is never going to get a call up now. Thats his careef finished so.
In Trap we trust
best ever start to a world cup qualifying campaign by any Irish squad so we must not be doing too badly
Its really not that complicated!!!
There is no doubt that he would provide excellent cover for Dunne & O'Shea.
I can't believe anyone would think otherwise. He certainly looks a safer & more competent player than McShane.
No we're not, result wise. There's bigger fish to fry though and that's where the problems may start. Let's hope not but I don't see the sense in ignoring potential problems. Some people seem to have a serious issue with others wanting to analyise the games and team/squad selections, instead of just roaring on the team blindly. I don't get it, this is a football forum after all.
Thanks in large part to Bulgaris's nightmare start. And our toughest games are still to come Italy & Bulgaria home and away and that game that nobody wants to think about Cyprus away...but if we beat Bulgaria in our next game we should hang on to 2nd place. I'll go along with the idea we play better aginst good teams so 3 more pts against Bulragia! And a draw would bo OK as well.
How we fared against the highest ranked seeds in our group post 2002:
Euro 04: Russia 4-2 Ireland
Ireland 1-2 Switzerland
Ireland 1-1 Russia
Switzerland 2-0 Ireland
WC 06: Switzerland 1-1 Ireland
France 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 0-1 France
Ireland 0-0 Switzerland
Euro 08: Germany 1-0 Ireland
Ireland 1-1 Czech Rep
Czech Rep 1-0 Ireland
Ireland 0-0 Germany
Pld 12 W 0 D 6 L 6 F-A 6-14
I agree 100% but fear we may lose him, rumours of NI making approach asking about his availabilty.
Shame on your Trapp! This lad should of been tied to us, why the f..k couldn't you of at least given him a game in the friendlies.
If he wants to go to play for a country that will probably not qualify for a major tournament in his career then let him. If he is good enough and is willing to wait then he will get a call up to the Republic squad. At the moment we are unbeaten in qualification and our first choice central defenders have been fit for each game so I dont see any necessity to change things at the moment
Its really not that complicated!!!
So what does he do, keep playing outstanding for PNE, and keep being overlooked in favour or McShane and Bruce!
Even Eddie Nolan who is seen as cover at PNE, gets picked ahead of him!
I honest think he wants to play for the Republic, but he's not even getting a game in the "B" or friendly matches.
What would you do?
Keep playing well and wait for my chance?
Eddie Nolan was picked as cover for right back not central defense.McShane was playing regularly in a Premiership team for most of this season and is experienced enough at this stage at international level that Trap feels(rightly or wrongly) that he is important to the squad. I have no defense of Bruce being picked because I think that he is a brutal player but I think the Noel Hunt situation applys here.... earlier this season Shane Long was being picked in Ireland squads while Hunt was being left out even though Hunt was ahead of him in the pecking order at Reading. Then for whatever game it was, there were a few injuries to strikers and Hunt got the call up and has been in the squad since. We havent had any injuries to any of out center halfs yet so Im sure when we do have injuries if Trap feels that St Ledger is good enough he will be called up as a replacement in that position.
As for what I would do..... I wouldnt care if it was Brazil that came calling, my country is the Republic of Ireland and I wouldnt want to play for anyone else.... even if that meant waiting a short while to get the chance
Last edited by Razors left peg; 17/02/2009 at 10:17 PM.
Its really not that complicated!!!
The now much-quoted "Best start ever to a WC qualifying campaign" has nothing to do with Bulgaria, we haven't even played them yet. However, I totally agree with your point that the majority of our toughest games are to come.
I don't know if any other WC campaign has started with the easier games first and Ireland failed to take advantage of this in the past or if this indeed was our easiest start? Anyway I think we are blessed that it has worked out like that this time because this team needed to be reworked and I'm happy that we avoided Italy and Bulgaria at the start, aswell as Georgia(Mainz) and Cyprus away. The way things are going for us in this group I wouldn't be surprised if we got the monkey off our backs of not beating a top team away in a competitive game for over 20 years.
At least he's playing football.Poor Darren O'Dea has hardly put a foot wrong at centre half for Celtic and still can't get his game for them.
Don't know whether that's true or not, but I do know that since Worthington took over, his staff have implemented a thorough, professional scouting network throughout the UK, of the kind that was totally lacking previously.
As for St. Ledger's chances were he amenable to any such approach, I'd have to say that with Hughes, Evans, Duff, McAuley and Cathcart all now playing regularly in the top two English Divisions, and Craigan in the SPL (plus Baird on Fulham's bench and McCartney able to play CB), St. Ledger's preferred position is currently our strongest suit.
Mind you, if he can also play Right Back...
Get on the phone, Nigel!
That's interesting EG - what that about a gentleman's agreement between the various British associations?Combined with the waffle and drivel you constantly posted in another thread about NI's selection policies ????
Anyways I'd disregard what "the doc" posts if I was you. He has his own little agenda there.
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