Trappatoni Selection Issues [article]

[Stuttgart88]

elroy, not only do they continue to devote column inches to this total-and-utter red herrring but the Indo scurrilously & shamefully inserts headlines like "Trap bans Ireland From World Cup Bandwagon" (or whatever it was exactly). I know the effect: I know many people who glance at the stories & who'll come away with the wrong impression. The headline writers know this too.

On the Stephen Ireland theme:

(a) to the trained & interested eye there are so many other stories surrounding the national theme to report on
(b) what bandwagon? The hypothetical bandwagon that would happen if we were to qualify? That's all the story said - if we qualify it'll be too late for him. Funnily enough, the Indo is so critical that qualification seems a remote prospect anyway so can't they get their editorial stance straight? And,
(c) despite his pants, he's not superman. He has been involved in many of City's best moments this season and oozes class at times but he hasn't been able to drag them up a level when they're struggling. It's total nonsense to suggest all would be rosy with Stephen Ireland on board.

Anyway, you say you'd be happy for him to continue. For me the jury is out to a certain extent. Not because of results or even performances, but because I'm not convinced that he has explored enough alternatives to his Plan A. That said, maybe he HAS assessed the young fringe lads we harp on about. It's one thing to say he hasn't been imaginative enough but I'd prefer his pragmatic conservatism to the almost indiscriminate way in which Stan fielded young players. Judging by remarks on foot.ie today his judgment on young Gibson seems on the money. We complain about St. Ledger not being selected over Bruce or McShane but Foley and Damien Delaney (LB & CB) are selected, as is Kieren Westwood.

He didn't drive Stephen Ireland out & he didn't injure Steven Reid. My only real complaint is that I'm sure Andy Reid has something to offer even if only as part of a Plan B or C. On the plus side he has instilled on-pitch discipline and organisation and he has taken the pressure off the players by assuming sole responsibility. He said to them (and us) right at the start to trust him. It's too early IMHO to blindly say keep him on as the real test is how we fare from here, but so far so satisfactory.