Lawrence starts - team for Italy game named

Liam or the cousin?

the cousin? good for him, i dont consider myself English either.

Liam? Its hearsay either way and he has always stated his desire to play for Ireland. Clinton Morrison probably doesnt consider himself Irish either but it doesnt seem to bother most of us...

Originally Posted by irishfan86

He looked motivated against South Africa, and he's talked about playing for Ireland for a couple of years now. He'll need no motivation to up his game against Italy (easiest team talk of Trap's life I'd imagine in terms of motivating the players).

But the last sentence really gets me. Giving a competitive debut to a player is stubborn?

So if he named the same starting XI as we all predicted, he's stubborn, and if he gives a player a competitive debut he's stubborn?

Is the only way he'll be considered non-stubborn if he makes Andy Reid captain?

Lawrence looked sluggish and disinterested against South Africa. His excellent free kick apart, he contributed very little to the team's performance. It is crazy not having Andy Reid in the squad. It is Trap's sheer ego that is keeping him from calling him back into the squad. Calling up Rowlands in front of him was an absolute disgrace. Leaving your pride and ego dictate decisions like giving a competitive debut to an average winger against the World Champions when a rejuvenated Andy Reid is waiting in the wings, is stubborness to me

I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.

Liam has always blown hot and cold (obligatory sex pun!) for Stoke, he'll have maybe 7 or 8 good games, and then a complete dog of a match! Unfortunately he had a bad one against SA, but he is not in any way lacking in committment or drive, and he has the potential to really add something to the team.

While on the subject of Stoke players, I rate Delap far higher than I rate Whelan, and would love to see him in the side, and not just for his throws!

Its funny how trap wouldn't even consider Lawrence at all last season, not even good enough to be included in the squad. Now that he has seen him in the flesh a few times he decides he worth throwing in. While I'm in agreement at the decision, i wish he had a bit more international experience behind him. I can think of a good few friendlies where trap didn't even put on substitutes and its now that we are having to throw these guys in (Sean St ledger being another example)

Shame he doesn't spend a bit more time away from that 'poor' wife of his, and a bit more time in a few Premier Hotels around England checking out players who are on the fringes. Instead, he only gets to see them on trips to portugal/training sessions and crunch qualifying ties.

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.

Thats the spirit. You always seem to predict a negative outcome for us (which invariably prove incorrect) Have you an ounce of belief in our team at all?
Have you got a clue about the way Italian sides play? The italians need a draw to qualify, if they score, they'll shut up shop. They're not gonna stick four past us and they'll have no interest in doing so.

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.

I honestly dont get predictions like that. Even in our darkest days under Staunton we didnt lose games by that high a score in compeditive games at home. I dont remember it ever happening in my life time to be honest. I think we tend to play to the standard of the opposition most times and we always raise our game when playing against the better teams. So while we may lose 1 or even 2 nil(which I dont think we will), I cant see any possiblity of losing 4 nil at home.... but have a little bet on it if u are confident in that score and u will make urself a nice bit of cash

Stans second game (a friendly) was a 4-0 drubbing from the Dutch wasnt it? Though i agree that it certainly wont happen tomorrow, Italy arent the sort of side to do that, despite having the ability to do so..

Third game I think. Second game was a 1-0 defeat by Chile. Dutch game was a friendly - I think razor was quite calculated in saying "competitive", realising immediately everyone would bring up the Dutch thrashing!

Originally Posted by SkStu

Stans second game (a friendly) was a 4-0 drubbing from the Dutch wasnt it? Though i agree that it certainly wont happen tomorrow, Italy arent the sort of side to do that, despite having the ability to do so..

I was talking about compeditive games. The only game I remember us getting a real hammering at home was when we were 3 nil down to Spain after a half hour and the game finished 3-1 in the qualifiers for the USA world cup. Im open to correction but I think u would have to go a long way back to find us beaten 4 nil at home in any qualifiers

It's hardly worth the effort to engage in a sensible retort to an attention starved wum like CR

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.

Unsure if you're a wum or just a nob. Think it's probably the latter.....

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.

were u bullied in school or something?????

FFS

Originally Posted by livehead1

I was at university with Lawrence's first cousin; he doesn't consider himself Irish, any thoughts?

u could sell that story to the Sun......


it is that worthless

His cousin or him?

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I think we're in for a hiding. 4-0 Italy.

Lawerence lacks pace and can sometimes dive in. But he is strong. Has an excellent first touch and can score goals. He had a very good game against SA (for those wearing blinkers). Look at the quality of his corner kicks. Every one of them went just beyond the keeper and just beyond the far post. Ala Johnny Giles in his heyday. He just edges Hunt and I agree with Trap's decision to play him in this particular game.

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Unsure if you're a wum or just a nob. Think it's probably the latter.....

Both I'd say

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I was talking about compeditive games. The only game I remember us getting a real hammering at home was when we were 3 nil down to Spain after a half hour and the game finished 3-1 in the qualifiers for the USA world cup. Im open to correction but I think u would have to go a long way back to find us beaten 4 nil at home in any qualifiers

yeah, i knew you were talking competitive, i was just generating some discussion -

Denmark (with the Laudrups) won in Dublin 4-2 in qualifying for 86 i think - i think thats a fact i learnt off as a young lad back in the day. We also got smashed 3-0 away in Portugal a while back (cant remember the year). And there was the 4-2 in Moscow under Mick Mack. We dont generally get hammered though.

Pretty hard to get hammered when you've got Given between the sticks.