Agree on almost all points Stutts except for his lack of interest in McCarthy. He is are only regular starter in the PL at the moment and he's not even getting called up for the squads to train with them? Seems a bit insane to me personally.
The only fault im really finding is Green. We have much better options for CM.
KK is another issue, we could say Ward but he's not really having a great season so far. Cunningham is too inexperienced in fairness. Only other option is O'Shea goin left full and foley/coleman going right but we know that wont happen :P
First principals - but they'll base their game on a high tempo, moving the ball with pace, repeated use of the wings. They'll have targetted our full backs and will aim to get them turned at every opportunity. A lot of quick one-twos' around our 18 yard box..............you get the picture.
Quoting years at random since 1975
Just seen on Sky Sports News that Pavlechenko is definately out of the Russian squad with injury
Its really not that complicated!!!
Pav out which is good news (even though he only came on as a sub against Slovakia). Stop Arshavin and to a certain extent we stop Russia. Lets hope its the disinterested Arshavin who turns up on Friday.
Good news re Pav, although cant say I know a whole lot about is likely replacement from Zenit.
Re our players not getting much first team action lately. Alot of us will remember that a good number of the 2002 team werent exactly regular first teamers (McAteer, Kilbane, Breen for example) in their respective clubs as well and look how that campaign turned out.
You could copy and paste ShamrockIreland's post into every thread dedicated to discussing Trap's squad announcements. Completely over the top criticism for marginal controversy. The way people talk about McShane, you'd imagine Trap is building the team around him, which is far from the case.
Not a huge fan of Kilbane at left full but unless O'Shea is considered for this position, there aren't many seriously compelling options as Stutts does point out. I think Ward does deserve to be in the squad to at least be given more of a look by Trap though.
It is encouraging that the senior players are setting the standard. The tag of sick note use to be applied to Keith O'Neill but actually the tag is more applicable to players who phone up to say they are not coming and have a compliant club doctor to send in a sick note. Trap is definitely not comfortable with this practice. It might be genuine or it might not and he directly alludes to a game of politics being applied with this type of practice by the clubs. We don't know if it is a case of a gullible young player who is being twisted by his club for the club's benefit or for the player's benefit.
We see that Duff and Andrews turned up willing to play and get checked out by the FAI doctor, Dunne and Gibson lying around the training pitch sidelines with icepacks or getting treatment.
I wonder how Trap would have dealt with Roy Keane? possibly a free pass out of most friendlies but full attendance or else, for competitive games.
With Richard Dunne sitting out training yesterday, it left Ireland with 21 fit players for training, 18 outfielders.
According to this http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...y-2366380.html
I imagine they had to line up like this:
Its not exactly ideal that. Even if Dunne had been fit, we'd still of been short a winger.Code:Given O'Shea Murphy McShane Kilbane Lawrence Whelan Green McGeady Doyle Keane Long Keogh McGeady Gibson Fahey Coleman Cunningham StLedger Wilson Foley Westwood
I agree with most of this - except you say they will target our full backs (plural). They will only target Kilbane (assuming O'Shea starts at right full). Armenia went from left to right time and time again against us so that they would get a one on one with Kilbane. It was almost ridiculous at one stage in the second half - when Armenia's left winger had an excellent chance to run at O'Shea and get a cross in, he turned back, Armenia worked the ball across the midfield, the right winger played a quick one two with the CM and he was past Kilbane.
Kilbane simply isn't a full back - he played left wing for the majority of his career - and he has no concept of how to stop crosses, how to keep the defensive line, how to show the winger onto his weaker foot. I honestly believe playing him is a monumental risk against as good a side as Russia.
Yes - while Kilbane could well be a weak link - Russia will be intent on working their way down both wings IMO.
The point strikes me - if we concede early, will Trapp give the team licence to chase the game?? (within reason). Have we the personnel to chase the game, even if we wanted to??
Plan A is OK if we remain level, what the hell happens if we concede first??
Quoting years at random since 1975
If we go behind, the central midfielders will become "more positive". We've also gone three up front under Trapattoni (home to Poland). He was also quite quick to adapt to Italy's sending off in Bari.
Plan B does exist. I'd imagine a plan C and D also exist.
Beginning to lose faith in Trap. Actually that's not accurate I have lost it a long time since. With Treacy out, Duff out and the half-attacking threat that is Keith Andrews out, the manager doesn't feel the need to bring in at least one more attacker. Daryl Murphy is an option, is he not? I know he's not first choice but if we need to pump the ball long (and God know's we will) then why not have him in the squad for a cameo appearance possibility at least. Jon Walters was another option?
And for the life of me with Andrews withdrawing I can't see why McCarthy wasn't called up. I mean if playing week in week out against the Premier League's best doesn't trump life in the lower reaches of the Championship (Paul Green) then why do we have leagues in the first place?
All these squad calls, with the possible exception of McCarthy, are marginal at best.
I remember the days we waited for the team to start losing before we lost faith in the manager.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Such a license (Trap's team license) does not exist
of course we chase and attempt to dominate the game should we concede first, isn't that how we have played up to now?
But the more dangerous the opponent the greater their ability to go 2 up. But probably only Norway go out in the 2nd half, intent on defending a one goal deficit.
KK hasn't been selected yet, but most will not be surprised if he is. Yet Trap is not under any obligation to pick him. He may feel an obligation to a player like Lawrence or Fahy or any other player who has turned up - demonstrated the required maturity/character and done (as best they could) what they have been told, but there is no such obligation to KK.
We know KK has the character for the squad. That stuff can't be manufactured. If he is picked to play, it is because on the overall balance of the back 4, he is still regarded to be ahead of the incumbents. It is inevitable that one day he will be badly exposed and replaced. So far KK is just about holding off father time.
Hear Hear Swan well said.
Have the upmost faith in Trap. The only game I have ever felt he got it wrong, was in the second half against France at home. The goals in both Bulgaria games were individual errors rather than poor tactics.
Has JOSH ever played left back under Trap? Surely he has. Is JOSH an option left back with Foley or Wilson right back?
The more I think about it, the more sure I am it will be the status quo: JOSH, Sledge, Dunne, Killer.
from http://www.football365.com/story/0,1...431440,00.html
All but guaranteeing O'Shea will start at right back.That could bring him (Lawrence) into direct conflict with Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin as he attempts to provide support for full-back John O'Shea. Asked how he will deal with the hugely-talented Russian, he said with a smile: "I will just leave him to 'Josh' - that's his job.
Against Georgia at home the first change Trap made was to allow the full backs license to get further forward. Everyone complained about no plan B against Georgia but although we stayed 442 it was a more attacking 442. We came back quite strongly in that game, although all the self loathers in our midst felt the need to self-flagellate for a month because we got a lucky penalty.
Any bit of fortune we get, I usually say 'about féckin time' or 'long overdue'.
Depending on how long an arm is, that penalty against Georgia was somewhere between mildly fortunate and stonewall. The ref was looking straight at it.
Are you for real???? You are say i'm trying to create controversy by posting that Trap is lazy picking his squads? I'm sorry if it has gone over your head but he picks the same sterile players in midfield everytime. Andy Reid had ac little to much skill to play in Traps team. Stephen Reid was dropped(I know he was plaughed with injury), but if you cross Trap you never play again EVER. As for the players he has brought through who exactly is the next great player. Lawrence is not bad to be fair, Green = poor, Whelan is at best average and St Ledger is average. He has blooded others like Folan who is terrible along with Best and Andrews who is rubbish. I'm not over the top i'm being realistic. The squad is poor and Trap condems certain players for whatever petty reason he feels is justifiable. We need the strongest squad we can choose and I'd have at least 6 of that one out the door. You all keep believing Trap is the best thing since sliced bread but I for one am not fooled by his lazy approach to the Irish job. We'll see how he copes with the next 2 games![]()
With a squad made up of players like Green, McShocking and Kilbad we are going places. Down the gutter.........
Bookmarks