Republic of Ireland V Croatia - Wednesday, 10th August 2011 - Friendly

**Sullivinho** · 15/07/2011, 1:00 PM

It was an up-hill task for him before the "I'm too tired" business anyway considering the competition he had for a place.

Not sure what the 'pleasant surprise' is there. The inclusion of the previous absentees I s'pose?

**tetsujin1979** · 15/07/2011, 1:06 PM

squad confirmed: http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...tid=1&Itemid=8

Goalkeepers:
Shay Given
Keiren Westwood
David Forde

Defenders:
John O’Shea
Paul McShane
Kevin Foley
Seamus Coleman
Stephen Kelly
Stephen Ward
Richard Dunne
Sean St. Ledger
Darren O’Dea
Damien Delaney
Ciaran Clark
Kevin Kilbane

Midfielders:
Glenn Whelan
Darron Gibson
Keith Andrews
Keith Fahey
Andy Keogh
Aiden McGeady
Damien Duff
Stephen Hunt
Liam Lawrence
James McCarthy
Keith Treacy
Marc Wilson

Strikers:
Robbie Keane
Kevin Doyle
Jon Walters
Shane Long
Simon Cox

not sure if Keogh is a striker or not, that's the list straight from the page above

not sure about any pleasant surprise, unless it's the inclusion any one of Wilson, McCarthy, Walters, and Clark?

**geysir** · 15/07/2011, 1:24 PM

I'd say the squad lacks unpleasant surprises.

.

**Fixer82** · 15/07/2011, 1:27 PM

pleasant surprise is that Duff is not injured

**SwanVsDalton** · 15/07/2011, 1:28 PM

Isn't McGeady injured? Suppose it's a big squad to compensate for injuries/pull-outs anyway.

**cornflakes** · 15/07/2011, 1:55 PM

Any bets on who'll be the first to pull out with a dodgy excuse?

**Fixer82** · 15/07/2011, 3:42 PM

Originally Posted by cornflakes

Any bets on who'll be the first to pull out with a dodgy excuse?

James McCarthy?

No I think Jamie Mc knows at this stage if he pulls out his international career could be over. Certainly under Trap anyway.

I predict some of the more senior players may pull out. The ones who have earned a rest if needed

**CraftyToePoke** · 15/07/2011, 3:57 PM

Im happy with this squad, the most that could be hoped for was that this announcement would not cause a load more controversy, Trap has let bygones be bygones and hopefully the players in question will not let him down again. Perhaps Stokes being punished for being honest, as someone said, is the strange bit, but he needs a big season anyway, regularly starting key fixtures and scoring in them, if he does that, and I have a feeling he wont, maybe look at him again.

**Sullivinho** · 15/07/2011, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by cornflakes

Any bets on who'll be the first to pull out with a dodgy excuse?

James McCarthy: Pre-season anxiety
Keith Treacy: Dislocated appendix
Liam Lawrence: Movie commitments
Darren O'Dea: Thought it was all a dream

**The Legend** · 15/07/2011, 4:46 PM

Stokes is a cretin, he'll need to stop being one and have an amazing season to ever get capped again imo

**Murfinator** · 15/07/2011, 4:48 PM

McCarthy, Wilson, Walters and Gibson are in the last chance saloon here. Any messing from them in this squad and I think they'll be cast aside for good and rightfully so.

**DannyInvincible** · 15/07/2011, 6:13 PM

I thought Shane Ferguson might have been this "surprise".

What was the surprise then? The inclusion of McCarthy et al? Were they expected to be dropped or something?

It is my understanding that the FAI eventually accepted all claimed injuries as valid, at least for the public record anyway.

**Paddy Garcia** · 15/07/2011, 6:27 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I'd say the squad lacks unpleasant surprises.

.

Can it be more unpleasant than Paul McShane.

**AlaskaFox** · 15/07/2011, 6:27 PM

There were no surprises. It was just lies.

**geysir** · 15/07/2011, 6:44 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

Can it be more unpleasant than Paul McShane.

Unpleasant or otherwise, captain McShane's inclusion is not a surprise.

**tommy_c12000** · 15/07/2011, 6:53 PM

Happy with the squad. Sensible approach taken by Trap, I commend him on that. Would have been nice to see Luke Chambers (who I think is in for a huge season under McClaren), Shane Ferguson and possibly Anthony Gerrard included. It beggars belief that Andy Keogh is still in the squad, he brings nothing to the table.

**Stuttgart88** · 15/07/2011, 8:22 PM

No sympathy for Stokes whatsoever.

The rest is sensible and pragmatic management.

McShane deserves better than cheap shots after his efforts in May.

**Yard of Pace** · 15/07/2011, 8:34 PM

Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

Happy with the squad. Sensible approach taken by Trap, I commend him on that. Would have been nice to see Luke Chambers (who I think is in for a huge season under McClaren), Shane Ferguson and possibly Anthony Gerrard included. It beggars belief that Andy Keogh is still in the squad, he brings nothing to the table.

I wonder has Keogh ever missed a squad he's been called up for. I don't recall him ever having to pull out through injury. That's something he brings to the table.

**tommy_c12000** · 15/07/2011, 8:51 PM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

I wonder has Keogh ever missed a squad he's been called up for. I don't recall him ever having to pull out through injury. That's something he brings to the table.

Bringing something to the table implies that he contributes positively in some way to the Irish performances. He certainly has not. He is simply no where near good enough for international football

**Yard of Pace** · 15/07/2011, 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

Bringing something to the table implies that he contributes positively in some way to the Irish performances. He certainly has not. He is simply no where near good enough for international football

He's a decent striker, imo. He should never be played on the right wing. I don't mind him being in the squad, he never whinges and he's reliable.

(Disclaimer: He also used to be in my school)