Simon Cox (F Western Sydney Wanderers b.1987)

[Murfinator]

I know Walters can but Trap has never played him there before, if he doesn't in the friendlies it may not be something he'd be willing to do in a tournament. When has Doyle last played right wing?

[the bear]

watched doyle play RW for wolves for the second half a match a month or 2 ago, can't remember who it was against, but they started with him and fletcher up front as then pulled him out wide.

i'm not saying that doyler should be played on the wing, my main point is that keogh is crap especially on the wing

[backstothewall]

I'd say the striking positions are picked already. Keane Doyle, Long Cox Walters. Can't see anyone else getting in.

[Carrigaline]

I think he'll bring Keogh as a utility backup and leave one of those 5 at home personally. Don't think it'd be Cox though as he sees him as the most like for like replacement for Keane. It'd most likely be either Long or Walters.

Keogh is almost certainly not ahead of Long or Walters. If that was the case, he would have started ahead of Walters against Estonia and he has had far less game time than Long in this campaign.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm always been an advocate of Keogh in the squad but I think Walters has replaced him in Trap's mind, and he is a far better option there. I don't think Keogh will on the plane unless it's as a steward.

[TrapAPony]

Starts today v Norwich. Long on the bench.

[theworm2345]

Very lively start for Cox, but not necessarily strong. Has has two chances that he has got pretty badly wrong, then on a counter attack which was basically 3 on 3 he took it down the right and just gave it away. To top it off took a Glenn Whelan free kick right to the fact a moment ago.

EDIT: Just got put clean through by a look Foster kick (very windy day at the Britannia) but scuffed his shot somewhat...should've scored.

[Carrigaline]

He's starting on right wing for West Brom tonight and having an excellent game so far. Easy to see why Trap would like him, for a forward player, he tracks back and is very mobile and puts himself about. Set up two great chances for Odemwingie and Fortune which they both managed to miss.

[Carrigaline]

Just played another quality ball in behind the Fulham defence to put Odemwingie through. Shame he fell over the ball before he had a chance to shoot.

[tetsujin1979]

Linked with a loan move to Brighton in the morning's papers

[Carrigaline]

Nabbed an assist for the Baggies in their game against Bolton.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos...t-brom-2-motd/

[Stuttgart88]

Quite a decent assist. Not sure if he knew the player was there but it was a dangerous ball regardless of whether he did or not.

[DannyInvincible]

'Plastic Paddy jibe hurt us - Cox (Baggies ace states his passion for Ireland and wants full backing for Euro bid)' : http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/pl...x-3103397.html

Good interview with Aiden Fitzmaurice. I really like Cox's attitude. Rightly rubbishes what Ian Harte said the other day and speaks of his pride of playing for his country.

[Olé Olé]

Nice comments from Cox referring to "my country." Interesting point regarding 17 of the 23 being born in Ireland. Further to that, I'm aware that Foley's first choice was always going to be Ireland and McGeady chose us from a young age too. Walter's connection is less than tenuous with an Irish mother. As regards Westwood, St. Ledger and Cox who rely on grandparents (like McGeady), they have always performed with great commitment.

From the 2002 World Cup squad, 11 out of 23 were English-born.

[DannyInvincible]

A squad of which Ian Harte was part, of course, yet he makes daft and insulting remarks about the current squad featuring too many players born outside of Ireland?

[Stuttgart88]

Did Cox not say ages back, around the time declared, that he didn't feel Irish as such but did feel acutely aware of his Irish roots? Stuff like his granny drinking whiskey and singing rebel songs at family gatherings.

I like Cox and have no issues with 2G Irish playing for us, though I prefer them to be in the minority as they are now, but "playing for my country" is quite a departure from what he said a couple of years ago.

[shakermaker1982]

A squad of which Ian Harte was part, of course, yet he makes daft and insulting remarks about the current squad featuring too many players born outside of Ireland?

Ian Harte went down in my underestimation after those comments.

[paul_oshea]

does anyone remember quinn and townsend during the 1998 world cup on rte when england went out and quinn laughing and loving it on the phone in, and townsend just looking on in shock and disgust at him?

[Murfinator]

Interesting point regarding 17 of the 23 being born in Ireland.

For comparison 28 out of 30 of the Rugby world cup squad were brought up in Ireland, we've still a high rate of "granny rule" players compared to other squads in the same or different sports, its progressive from what we used to have though it's still not anything to trumpet about.

I would have sympathy for Harte although his comments while aimed at different people is obviously going to hurt the likes of Kilbane etc. To dismiss them as irrelevant given the higher rate of earlier retirements and withdrawals we have with foreign raised players would be incredibly naive. For every Kilbane that we're proud to have represent us there's an Andy O'Brien with questionable commitment.

[DannyInvincible]

Ian Harte went down in my underestimation after those comments.

Ha, I'm trying to decipher what that means exactly. Does it mean he went up in your estimation or went down even further than your already low opinion of him?