Squad for Cyprus?

[Stuttgart88]

I think those arguing for McCann over Whelan are missing the point that like-for-like McCann is far more comparable to Andrews. The only thing I see that McCann has over Andrews right now is that he's young and hence is likely to get better. Right now though Andrews deserves his spot.

I like Fahey and think he's a genuine talent but I think people are forgetting that Whelan really finished last season with the bit between his teeth at Stoke. Had he just made the move over the water and not Fahey I suspect a lot of people here would be more behind Whelan.

I think Fahey should be in the squad ahead of Miller but in reality it's all about Whelan, Andrews and Gibson for midfield.

I've a lot of time for Garvan. Quality player, sublime passer and getting more two footed. Makes mistakes and loses possession but is the type of player I personally would watch week in week out ahead of a Mascherano / Lucas etc. Am I bothered he's not in the Cyprus squad? No.

[Jicked]

Don't be so stupid. By your logic we should still be picking the players from Charlton's days. Some absolutely ridiculous comments on here you'd think Kilbane, Miller, Whelan etc were destroying the opposition in matches.

Honestly now, do you really think the players you'd sub in for those guys would 'destroy' Bulgaria and Italy away? Ward, Fahey and Carlsey. You're trying to tell us that those players would destroy Italy?

[tetsujin1979]

He played 19 passes, 17 succesful. That's not a lot but it was backs to the walls against a world class team.
3 interceptions, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, won 1 freekick.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chalkboards/create

I had a look at that, actually I think McCann and Whelan would compliment each other really well in the middle of the park, with McCann on the left and Whelan on the right

[Stuttgart88]

I had a look at that, actually I think McCann and Whelan would compliment each other really well in the middle of the park, with McCann on the left and Whelan on the right

Doesn't that endorse my view though, that McCann and Andrews are the two most similar to each other and that Andrews and Whelen complement each other?

I think even youngirish acknowledged recently that right now at this time Andrews justifies being picked over McCann.

[youngirish]

Doesn't that endorse my view though, that McCann and Andrews are the two most similar to each other and that Andrews and Whelen complement each other?

I think even youngirish acknowledged recently that right now at this time Andrews justifies being picked over McCann.

I would have McCann instead of Miller Stutts and start easing him into the squad now. However, I also believe he's a better player than Whelan and has been for years. Andrews has been better for Ireland than Whelan imo. At least he offers something going forward.

Neither are particularly good though which is why we get dominated by average teams in midfield and offer little creativity from the centre. Central midfield is the weakest part of our team. We could possibly get away with a dodgy left back but a dodgy central midfield means you can't control the game.

[tetsujin1979]

I've been thinking about Trapattoni's comments that Miller is in the squad ahead of McCann, Mccarthy, Fahey, etc because he "knows the system". I don't think he'll start, it's going to be 2 from Whelan, Andrews and Gibson. However, should any of them get injured during the game, he's the ideal player on the bench because he "knows the system" Trapattoni is playing, and can come on and slot right in.
Trapattoni has already lamented the amount of time an international squad spends together before a game and, with a player whom he has not worked with before, more time than is available would be needed to drill in the formation, movement, marking schemes, etc of the team's tactics.
I think it would have been better for us if he had explained this a bit more.

[weldoninhio]

Folan was superb for us in Italy, has just got even more game time with Robbie under his belt, and has started the last two games in the Premier League.
Morisson scored 10 league goals playing up front all season for Coventry.
But since he scored a brace on the telly on opening day you think he'd be a better option Another thing worth considering, imagine what it would do to confidence/squad morale if you were to drop Folan for someone like Morisson. Then in the new year when Morisson has stopped scoring dropping him for Jon Macken who got a goal in a televised FA Cup 3rd round game.

You could argue that you should put Morisson in for Best (though personally I'd much rather Best in the squad), but then people would be whinging about Trap not developing new players. No?

Clinto's work rate is excellent and defenders know they have been in a game with him. His international goals to games ratio is almost identical to Doyles and he's never let his country down while playing for us, but you think he shouldn't be in the squad ahead of:

Shane Long: Only 13 starts (26 sub apps) and 9 goals
Long is going nowhere fast in a Reading side who are a shadow of their former selves.

Caleb Folan: Only 2 starts and 1 goal
Will be back on the bench at Hull since they signed a couple of strikers.

[tetsujin1979]

Cyprus squad announced for Ireland and Montenegro games: http://soccerrepublic.eircom.net/New...pruscoach.aspx
Konstantinou and Makrides will not play against Ireland because of suspension

Goalkeepers
Michalis Morfis (APOEL), Sofronis Avgoustis (Aris Limassol)
Defenders
Marios Elia (APOEL), Elias Charalambous (Omonia), Paraskevas Christou (Omonia), Alexis Garpozis (Anorthosis), Andreas Constantinou (Anorthosis), Marios Nicolaou (Panionios), Stelios Okkarides (Olympiakos Nicosia)
Midfielders
Chrysis Mihail (APOEL), Marinos Satsias (APOEL), Georgios Panagi (Omonia), Andreas Avraam (Apollon), Constantinos Makrides (Metalurh Donetsk), Christos Marangos (Anorthosis), Jason Demetriou (Leyton Orient), Constantinos Charalambides (APOEL)
Forwards
Nektarios Alexandrou (APOEL), Michalis Konstantinou (Omonia), Stathis Aloneftis (Omonia), Yiannis Okkas (Anorthosis), Yiasoumis Yiasoumi (AEK Larnaca)

[tetsujin1979]

Doesn't that endorse my view though, that McCann and Andrews are the two most similar to each other and that Andrews and Whelen complement each other?

Here's a comparison of Andrews and McCann's games so far this season:


seem to take up fairly similar positions alright