Should McCarthy, Walters, Wilson and Gibson be given a future callup or ignored?

**DannyInvincible** · 08/08/2011, 2:54 PM

Oh, I forgot Anthony Stokes. I think he was just ignored.

**Murfinator** · 08/08/2011, 8:26 PM

I'd heard about the doctor but would still question it, it seems beyond suspicious the same group of players yet again are ruled out. Just waiting for that news on Gibsons groin acting up again.

Not as if it'd be in Traps interest to cause another furore about thse issues if they were suspect when there are more important things to focus on, the paranoid side of me says the "doctor" announcement could be a PR spin. If some of them mysteriously aren't picked for the qualifiers as a result it'd be even more suspicious.

**magicman** · 08/08/2011, 11:02 PM

Yeah, I can't believe the extreme lengths McCarthy goes to so he doesn't have to play for us. He must have saw how Coleman was taken out by Villarreal and then organised before kick off to have the same thing happen to him so he wouldn't have to turn up.

Murf, I don't post here often. Very rarely in fact, but I've been reading this site since it was set up but I think your argument is like something you would read in the Independent. Four players mentioned, two were ruled out by the FAI doctors, McCarthy's injury was caught on camera and Gibson is in the squad. Suspicion in a situation like this is rubbish. It's just unlucky for the players involved. McCarthy said the day before he would be there, until he got injured and the two Stoke players turned up to be checked out. What more could you ask of them?

It's a pre season friendly. We've had what? Something like 11 players pull out? It's the same every year at this time. We now know the 3 above are injured. Maybe they'll be fit for the weekend. But if you want to be suspicious about it, how many of the other withdrawls will be fit for the weekend?

**DannyInvincible** · 09/08/2011, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

I'd heard about the doctor but would still question it, it seems beyond suspicious the same group of players yet again are ruled out.

Maybe they're just injury-prone?

**Murfinator** · 09/08/2011, 5:11 PM

Walters made 46 appearances for Stoke last year, Wilson 37. Having a hard time believing both players who have relatively high fitness have such bad luck when it comes to being fit for international games. Walters in fact has played over 40 games each year for the past 4, thats how high and consistent his fitness levels are.

I'd be interested to know if anyone has the data how many times those two in particular have pulled out of squads, it seems very frequently.

**seanfhear** · 09/08/2011, 5:23 PM

If the usual suspects are usually missing squads (all be it some times genuinely injured) they will remain the usual suspects.

The Keyser S�ze's know who they are ! ! !

**SwanVsDalton** · 09/08/2011, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

I'd be interested to know if anyone has the data how many times those two in particular have pulled out of squads, it seems very frequently.

I think they've pulled out of the last three. Don't think it's a big deal, they have affirmed commitment, both travelled over to be assessed this week before being sent home. Think Walters' daughter was sick for one squad pull-out and it was well recorded he carrying a lot of niggling injuries towards the end of the season. But was Stoke's cup run and smallish squad, he was pushed into service.

**BonnieShels** · 10/08/2011, 12:18 AM

Walters is one who's commitment I couldn't question.

Wilson however...

In fairness though they both travelled. Good enough for me.

**Murfinator** · 13/08/2011, 1:37 PM

James starts today for Wigan. 3 days after being injured and unable to play any part, supposedly. Whats the chances on Wilson and Walters playing tomorrow too?

**Charlie Darwin** · 13/08/2011, 1:43 PM

Damien Delaney playing for Ipswich too. Clearly these people all hate their country.

**Murfinator** · 14/08/2011, 12:30 PM

Shocker, both Wilson and Walters make a miracle recovery to be fit and well enough to start today for Stoke.

**BonnieShels** · 14/08/2011, 12:58 PM

I think we can let them away now. But if there's a raft of withdrawals from the squad for Slovakia and Russia then we can accept and make sure they realise they aren't wanted.

**TrapAPony** · 14/08/2011, 1:11 PM

Don't see the problem here. They traveled over and were assessed by the FAI medical staff for the Croatia match and weren't deemed fit enough.

**Murfinator** · 23/08/2011, 5:21 PM

Trap is obviously fed up of them as well. Right decision.

**paul_oshea** · 23/08/2011, 5:51 PM

Hopefully Traps luck works in his favour again.

ALthough he cant be castigated by the media for leaving any of those out, as they are not 1st teamers anyway, he sends out a clear message.

If Ireland win, he is completely vindicated and he sets a precedent, all whilst improving competition and dedication to the cause - or at least should be.

**mark12345** · 23/08/2011, 7:40 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Hopefully Traps luck works in his favour again.

ALthough he cant be castigated by the media for leaving any of those out, as they are not 1st teamers anyway, he sends out a clear message.

If Ireland win, he is completely vindicated and he sets a precedent, all whilst improving competition and dedication to the cause - or at least should be.

Yeah, and what if they don't?

For my money the whole McCarthy, Walters and Wilson thing has been played out. Ok the trio raised a few eyebrows by not showing up for the end of season games although Walters appears to have done the required thing in contacting those in the FAI/ Trap. McCarthy's story has been played out and Wilson's to a lesser extent.

I thought the whole thing was cleared up and even when they cried off against Croatia they did the right thing as far as making contact, did they not?

If Trap wanted to stoke up the fires again he clearly succeeded by omitting this trio. Maybe Wilson deserved to be cut, but we need both Walters and McCarthy. Trap has come up short by leaving out this pair. And the question which must now be asked (and I'm sure the two boys are asking themselves) is will they play at all in this campaign?

**DannyInvincible** · 23/08/2011, 7:51 PM

Didn't Walters and Wilson actually come over for FAI examination before the Croatia game?

And I think McCarthy e-mailed his X-ray through to the FAI, but it appeared inconclusive again:

**Kingdom** · 23/08/2011, 8:11 PM

Is it a big do over nothing - yes really.
Had Trap left out three players who have been Ireland XI regulars since he took over? No. He's left out three fellas who realistically were not going to have any involvement against Slovakia, and even less against Russia - regardless of how feted they are by us fans.

As it stands Ward and Kilbane are fit, therefore there's no need for Wilson in the squad.
As it stands Doyle and Long are both able to play the aerial foil to Robbie, with Cox doing the Keane understudy role, so there's no need for Walters in the squad.
McCarthy can have a bone of contention for not being picked in the squad, but when you've found that you can't rely on someone when they're under little or no pressure, how can you believe you'll be able to rely on that same someone for a game that is largely going to decide whether or not you get a new contract? Whelan and Andrews are the incumbents, with Gibson and Fahey relatively decent foils.
It's not the disaster everyone makes it out to be.

The end of the day, if we come a cropper after this series of games, it won't be because James McCarthy or marc Wilson wasn't integrated into this squad - it will be because they weren't integrated into various squads last year.

**Murfinator** · 24/08/2011, 11:59 AM

I suppose the only real question to ask is if this trio along with Stokes have been black-listed like Andy Reid or have they simply been omitted because they haven't staked the claim for squad positions that others have? It'll be interesting if there's any squad injuries will any of these guys be called on as replacements.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/08/2011, 1:43 PM

I would say it's the latter. Gibson is in after all, and so is Treacy.

We all know by now that Trap's modus operandi is to try players in friendlies first. Ward was on the outside for ages and is now very much on the inside. Cox also passed his test. SSL was a relatively rare example of being fast-tracked into the starting XI, after only one friendly.

Of those omitted I think only Walters has done anything in a friendly, and he'd be my back up for doyle in a heartbeat.