Squad to face Norn Iron, Scotland and Macedonia

**ifk101** · 06/05/2011, 6:03 AM

Westwood and Duff out.

Randolph and Simon Cox in.

Paul Green out for the rest of 2011.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...296280066.html

**Deckydee** · 06/05/2011, 7:31 AM

Looking forward now to seeing Simon Cox

**gastric** · 06/05/2011, 9:50 AM

Considering the size of the initial squad, surprised that Connor Sammon wasn't called up before Caleb Folan. Is he injured or is this a case of Trap just sticking with the tried and tested.

**SwanVsDalton** · 06/05/2011, 10:13 AM

Tried and tested I think. MLS ain't really the place to be, but Folan is a very blunt forward and offers more physicality than others which presumably still makes him an option. Think that's fair enough for now though there's plenty of opportunity for the likes of Sammon to overtake him. Have to say, though, the striking competition below Keane, Doyle and Long is quite fierce, a lot of players of a vaguely similar level looking for squad places - Walters, Best, Stokes, Keogh, Hunt, Folan, Sammon, Cox and, at a stretch, Ward.

**geysir** · 06/05/2011, 11:47 AM

From the IT
'Darren O’Dea, according to his club manager Paul Jewell, is set for surgery on what the Englishman suggested was a very serious ankle problem'

**TrapAPony** · 06/05/2011, 11:59 AM

Trapattoni should really have drafted in Luke Chambers. We have very little central defenders to choose from for the Macedonia match with Dunne, O'Dea & St Ledger (seemingly) out.

**SwanVsDalton** · 06/05/2011, 12:03 PM

Has Chambers actually declared for us?

**TrapAPony** · 06/05/2011, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Has Chambers actually declared for us?

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/no...l/article.html

**Sullivinho** · 06/05/2011, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Has Chambers actually declared for us?

"Chambers on verge of Ireland call up after impressive season at Forest" (11/3/2011)

"There has been some contact. They have asked me to become a Republic of Ireland citizen. We had been trying to keep things quiet but I am going through the process. Hopefully, I can get the passport through and I can be involved."

**SwanVsDalton** · 06/05/2011, 12:25 PM

Fair enough guys. Extra points to Sullivinho for neat hyperlinking...

Maybe with withdrawals he'll end up included. Though management would probably argue we already have four CB options (after O'Shea and Sledge) to play in Macedonia. Even if some of them are very unpalatable...

**Sullivinho** · 06/05/2011, 12:34 PM

I was half expecting him to make this squad since that article spoke about him possibly having things sorted for the Macedonia/Uruguay games.

**Yard of Pace** · 06/05/2011, 1:50 PM

Just thinking about it...when was the last time we had our first choice 11 to choose from?
We seem to be cursed with injuries, and always have been in the 20 or so years I've been watching.

**SkStu** · 06/05/2011, 5:33 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

There hasn't been much activity in Folan's thread, after some early promise with the Rapids.

he's been doing well when selected. Got an assist in their win over Houston on Wednesday night.

**AlaskaFox** · 06/05/2011, 7:33 PM

The lack of Conor Sammon should be the thing people are complaining about rather than Wes Hoolahan. Sammon should be ahead of Cox and Folan in the striking pecking order.

**Irwin3** · 06/05/2011, 7:54 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

The lack of Conor Sammon should be the thing people are complaining about rather than Wes Hoolahan. Sammon should be ahead of Cox and Folan in the striking pecking order.

Sammon's only played 96 minutes for Wigan in the last 3 months.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/05/2011, 7:59 PM

Folan's had the most football out of all of them. Not sure Sammon or Cox have really earned their way into the squad, but obviously Cox gets a bonus for having his passport in order.

**Irwin3** · 06/05/2011, 8:06 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Folan's had the most football out of all of them. Not sure Sammon or Cox have really earned their way into the squad, but obviously Cox gets a bonus for having his passport in order.

The passport helps but at least in the last month or so he's been starting games in the premier league after forcing his way into the team.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/05/2011, 9:04 PM

Fair enough. I didn't know he'd been starting games, and he did score a very good goal.

Originally Posted by geysir

The Celtic Cup games are official friendlies. If the friendlies are fixed for the designated international dates then afaiaa clubs are mandated to release the player.
The question is, is a MLS club required to comply, if they don't want to release a player?
I assume if Folan is in thoe 23 man squad for Macedonia then he would have to be released.
The Rapids are playing 4 games right through this period.
I see the USA are playing a few friendlies at the start of June

Spartak have refused permission for McGeady to join the squad for the Celtic Cup games, so I guess that settles it. Can't imagine Colorado will be more accommodating considering the distances involved.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...296370774.html

**gastric** · 06/05/2011, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

The lack of Conor Sammon should be the thing people are complaining about rather than Wes Hoolahan. Sammon should be ahead of Cox and Folan in the striking pecking order.

I agree Alaska. Sammon's lack of game time should not take away from the opportunites he has created when he has played. He is big, quite fast and surprisingly creative. He would bring more to the squad than Folan in particular.

**geysir** · 06/05/2011, 11:00 PM

The injured squad members could fill a hospital ward.

Ciaran Clark - 'pulled up in training today with a hamstring strain that is likely to rule him out of tomorrow's game against Wigan'