If you get a chance to talk to St. Ledger doc, let him know that even though he hasn't been selected, that he enjoys the support of many Irish fans.
Tell him to hold out for a place with us over going to the North.
Can't believe this guy hasn't been capped yet.
I'd run with that also... He's doing well at centre half, but for me it's like Gary Breen... No matter how well he's playing.... somewhere, in places you don't talk about at parties, you're waiting on soft pass or lapse in concentration or something. Stuff that's kind of less destructive when played at full back.Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
That's not to say I'd move him out from beside Dunne now. The position is defo his to loose.... Best form of his career for club and country????
But keep your hands to yourself doc, your love may not be returned, and I'd hate to see you disappointed
There are few things more painful in this world than unrequited love.But keep your hands to yourself doc, your love may not be returned, and I'd hate to see you disappointed
But doc, it is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.
Keep on trucking.
Thats cool! I will let him know when I go to th game on Sat, The Saint always has time to speak to the fans.
As regards the North, well it looks like it's his only option,as Trapp just keeps picking Bruce and the selection of Nolan who is seen as defensive back up at PNE, was a real kick in the teeth.
The annoying thing about all this is, that St Ledger is still improving will go on and play in the Premiership, everyone at PNE says it.
I really think this lad is ideal to play alongside Dunne, perhaps we will never know.
THe one advantage of Bruce, Nolan, & Kelly and previously Andrews is that they have played (despite how infrequently or poorly) with a premiership club which seems to elevate them to a guaranteed first team status at the moment.
Is St Ledger seriously considering the North?
The fact that one of the league's best performing centre-backs and the championship's leading fullbacks (Foley & Ward -incidently two of the strongest candidates for our player of the season so far) have been superceded by that trio is nothing short of a disgrace. The narrow-minded short-sightedness of the chief staff's current selection policy is seriously in danger of derailing the current campaign, along with the progression of future campaigns. Although, I hope I am wrong.
Trap might not care about future campaigns, however if Yes-Man Givens or Tough-Guy Brady had any balls about them they might want to advise otherwise - for all our sakes.
Trap might get lucky and not have to rely on a 3rd or 4th choice CB at any time in the campaign, but it's hard to see how St. Ledger isn't worth a squad place given his excellent club form.
However, though my preference is always to have the best youth challenging established players for their spot, I find it hard to complain about Foley & Ward's treatment. Foley is far closer to the Irish first XI but I'd be in no hurry to play either given that I think Kelly is a capable deputy for Finnan and Delaney is a capable deputy for Kilbane. In fact I'm pretty sure Delaney can be considered a respectable CB option given he played several seasons there for Hull. In any event Foley is in the squad so at least he's being recognised. Delaney was actually one of the successes of Trap's first 2 games and had made a good case to start in Germany vs. Georgia.
Overall though, I can't help feeling that Teflon Don has his own little notions and agendas, to the detriment of the future success of Irish international football.
Traps tenure is going to be a short one, 1 campaign. Therefore if a player hasnt broken into the squad by now, its highly unlikely they will unless there are a lot of injuries in their position. Its a pity because St Ledger should have go a chance before now. So barring injury can't see him getting in any time soon. Hope the lad persevers. I think Paul McGrath was 24 before he got his first cap and look at what he achieved in a green shirt.
Always look on the bright side of life
Agree regards Teflon, think he "alledgely" holds grudges against players, who in their younger careers (usually down to their clubs) are unable to play or link up with the U19's/U21's Squads.
It's enough to test the patience of a Saint!
Yes, I have a bit of a Benitez feeling about him and hope I'm wrong.
Although I love a good conspiracy, I just don't get the sense of how Don can manage to influence the thinking of Trap re the young players.
Don't you think that Trap has the nous to cop onto any cóck and bull story about someone and not hold it against a player who he sees can play well with his own eyes?
The Don conspiracy would mean than Don has the evil eye over Brady, Tardelli, as well as Trap.
There is enough "real" evidence to cast Don in the FAI hall of horrors for an eternity without actually fabricating stuff out of thin air to imply that we have a dark genius in our midst and make him the scapegoat of much of our misfortunes.
Any updates on the Andy Reid conspiracy?
I don't think it's a conspiracy, more that Trap has placed a lot of trust in Don and that Don's judgment isn't necessarily best relied upon. By "notions and agendas" I'm really just saying that I think he prefers to pick certain players over others not based so much on ability but maybe on character or on past incidents, also on a wrong premise of building players for the senior team, and not to mention outright poor judgment. I think his outbursts re-Ireland, McCann and others were probably well intentioned and founded on decency, but they also betrayed a lack of political or man-management savvy.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Kelly isn't a capable substitute, just that because of Foley's lack of involvement in previous friendlies we are now forced with a situation where we are having to rely upon a right back who, as someone mentions on another thread, has only played two games this season and couldn't even get into the Birmingham Squad. At the expense of a player who is without shadow of a doubt the best full back in the league and the 2nd best right back we have got (behind Finnan). Like we all do, we want to see the best players available in the team and this isn't possible due to a lack of foresight. The current squad selection is hardly a meritocracy.
I'm with Mancs on this one, I've seen Foley a few times and he should be ahead of Kelly who has been poor when he's played this season.
You have to pick players in form, players like Foley should of been given lots of opportunities in friendlies/training camps etc with a view to play him, should someone drop out or not be playing regularly for their club.
Successful teams are built on competition for places, what we have here with Trapp are too many players in the comfort zone knowing that their place in the squad/team are secure regardless of their club form or lack regular 1st team football.
This just leads to mediocrity, and we deserve better than that!
100% agree with this and with Manc. Furthermore, in my opinion, Trap has taken the lazy approach to this job (in particular to the scouting and player assessment) and we will suffer the consequences in the next 2-4 years.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
I don't think there is anything outstanding with our right full options after Finnan, definitely not enough to hang your hat on and claim Trap to be inept over.
It is not a lazy approach for a national team manager to go with competent experience in a defensive position.
agreed in the context of a starting berth in a qualifier. However, you cannot ignore the outstanding full back performer in the top team of the championship in preference to a dodgy centre-back and a player who has not played much all season. But that is my opnion.
My posts elsewhere outline where else Trap has been lazy and too reliant on second hand information regarding other players, which i wont go into now.
I have posted on Trap before and the long term impact of his approach. Mark my words.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
so:
........................Given..................... .......
McShane/Kelly.... Dunne.... O'Shea.... Kilbane
McGeady.....Andrews...Whelan......Duff
.........Keane.........Doyle..................
A limited side but could produce, they wil have to work their @rses off, especially just outside the box, can't see any long balls working*
I nearly rather Kelly to McShane at Right back. McShane is a loose cannon.
O'Shea at center is a worry too.
* Probably guarantees a long ball from Given to Duff crossed in high to Doyle for a headed winner!
Last edited by Scram; 10/02/2009 at 6:19 PM. Reason: I had Damien Duff playing with himself.
have u even seen Ireland play under Trappatoni??
O Shea has been one of most consistant performers and has been excellent for United recently
Its really not that complicated!!!
This is the best team he could have put out apart from McShane. He is bad enough when fit but if he could not play on Saturday there is no way he is 100%..It’s hard for me to understand why he plays someone who is clearly not a right back or even a football player for that matter instead of a natural right back in Foley who will be a premiership player next year.
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