Liam Lawrence

**elroy** · 20/02/2012, 9:11 AM

Interview in the Times yday with Liam. Written by Paul Rowan however, who very rarely has anything positive to say about the FAI or the Irish team.

Basically how Portsmouth is a shambles, hasnt been paid in weeks. How he got no notificiation from Trap & co that he was been dropped for the Czech game. That he texted Trap afterwards and got back something likes "Thanks for all your efforts". So he assumes his international days are over. Another episode of poor communication from the management team by the sounds of it. Really seems to have taken the heat for the Russian home game, apparently he was openly critical about Traps tactics that day as well.

**Scooby Doo** · 20/02/2012, 9:56 AM

Originally Posted by elroy

Interview in the Times yday with Liam. Written by Paul Rowan however, who very rarely has anything positive to say about the FAI or the Irish team.

Basically how Portsmouth is a shambles, hasnt been paid in weeks. How he got no notificiation from Trap & co that he was been dropped for the Czech game. That he texted Trap afterwards and got back something likes "Thanks for all your efforts". So he assumes his international days are over. Another episode of poor communication from the management team by the sounds of it. Really seems to have taken the heat for the Russian home game, apparently he was openly critical about Traps tactics that day as well.

I've always liked Lawrence and would love to have seen him him have more of a chance with Ireland. But why he took the decision to move to Portsmouth at the time is a head-scratcher. Fine, you could say he wanted guaranteed first team football but at that point he was at his peak arguably and would have gotten plenty of games for a lower EPL side. I thought at the time that it was a strange move, especially if he harboured serious international ambitions.

Anyway, I don't think he has much of a reason to feel resentment that he isn't going to the Euros. We have plenty of wingers playing at a higher level than Liam. Fahey is the only one who it could be argued is playing at the same standard, yet Fahey played a more important role in the qualifying campaign just gone.

Unfortunately, like one or two others, it seems that Lawrence's main chance to play at a major tournament was ended by Henry's hand.

**Colbert Report** · 20/02/2012, 3:35 PM

Lawrence is crocked an is very immobile these days. He hasn't played on the wing in a long, long time. He just sits in front of the back four and breaks up the play at club level, Makelele-style. He'll never play for us again, especially not in a wide role where pace is important under our system of play.

**tetsujin1979** · 20/02/2012, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Lawrence is crocked an is very immobile these days. He hasn't played on the wing in a long, long time. He just sits in front of the back four and breaks up the play at club level, Makelele-style. He'll never play for us again, especially not in a wide role where pace is important under our system of play.

According to football lineups he last played on the wing on January 21st: http://www.football-lineups.com/foot...02/?t=741&s=28

**backstothewall** · 20/02/2012, 5:56 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

He just sits in front of the back four and breaks up the play at club level, Makelele-style. He'll never play for us again, especially not in a wide role where pace is important under our system of play.

So he is a good passer of the ball who does week-in-week-out at club level exactly what Trap wants his central midfielders to do, and offers a genuine threat at set pieces.

But Paul Green gets called up. Go figure...

**tetsujin1979** · 20/02/2012, 6:00 PM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

So he is a good passer of the ball who does week-in-week-out at club level exactly what Trap wants his central midfielders to do, and offers a genuine threat at set pieces.

But Paul Green gets called up. Go figure...

He's injured.

**backstothewall** · 20/02/2012, 6:03 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

He's injured.

Fair enough so.

Well not really, but I'll do that moaning in the Marc Wilson thread.

**Colbert Report** · 20/02/2012, 6:56 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to football lineups he last played on the wing on January 21st: http://www.football-lineups.com/foot...02/?t=741&s=28

That website has him playing out on the wing in almost every match, which is most certainly not the case.

**Fixer82** · 20/02/2012, 7:49 PM

Think he's been treated a bit unfairly to be honest.
Trap can be very cut-throat like this. If he no longer wants a player they're just not contacted and left in the lurch.
He joined Portsmouth on Trap's recommendation to get first team football, he deserves a little more respect I think

**geysir** · 20/02/2012, 9:14 PM

Lawrence is not near the same player he was for us in the WC 2010 qualifiers. Whether it was injuries took their toll or something else, I think it's a no brainer to move on and bring younger players like Coleman and McClean in to the squad.
Just send him a nicer sms next time.

**the bear** · 20/02/2012, 9:43 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Lawrence is not near the same player he was for us in the WC 2010 qualifiers. Whether it was injuries took their toll or something else, I think it's a no brainer to move on and bring younger players like Coleman and McClean in to the squad.
Just send him a nicer sms next time.

hi liam, soz u not in squad atm. gud luk wit pompy ROFL. trap xxx

**SwanVsDalton** · 20/02/2012, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

Think he's been treated a bit unfairly to be honest.
Trap can be very cut-throat like this. If he no longer wants a player they're just not contacted and left in the lurch.
He joined Portsmouth on Trap's recommendation to get first team football, he deserves a little more respect I think

I think he's got plenty of respect. He's unlucky, and feel for him, but can't say he really deserves a place at this stage.

As for the communication - do Del Bosque, Blanc or most international managers get in touch with players if they fall out of the squad? Not sure but either way there's no good way of telling someone they're out.

**BonnieShels** · 21/02/2012, 8:33 AM

This notion that there's no room for sentimentality in international soccer is worrying and directly against the raison d'�tre of the world game. International soccer's and even moreso than the club game, USP is based entirely on sentimentality and pride.
If a player who established himself as such a stalwart over the last few years like Liam and is how no longer part of your plans, then you treat him a bit nicer than most.

Lawrence busted a gut for this team and I've nothing but good things to say about him when he was with us. Like Coxy he seemed to become a positive influence within the team.

Also lest we forget how Trap dumped Killer.

**Fixer82** · 21/02/2012, 1:12 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

I think he's got plenty of respect. He's unlucky, and feel for him, but can't say he really deserves a place at this stage.

As for the communication - do Del Bosque, Blanc or most international managers get in touch with players if they fall out of the squad? Not sure but either way there's no good way of telling someone they're out.

For a manager who spends so much time on the 'little details' I think it is remiss of him to overlook being gentler ith a player that was once an ever-present in the squad. Three injuries could lead to him being needed again and then it's just awkward. Diplomacy seems to be something Trap is not great at at times. Steven Reid comes to mind...

**Sullivinho** · 21/02/2012, 6:05 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

This notion that there's no room for sentimentality in international soccer is worrying and directly against the raison d'�tre of the world game. International soccer's and even moreso than the club game, USP is based entirely on sentimentality and pride.
If a player who established himself as such a stalwart over the last few years like Liam and is how no longer part of your plans, then you treat him a bit nicer than most.

Lawrence busted a gut for this team and I've nothing but good things to say about him when he was with us. Like Coxy he seemed to become a positive influence within the team.

Also lest we forget how Trap dumped Killer.

Completely agree with all of that, well said.

I think someone else mentioned that Liam has pretty much been overtaken in the reckoning, which I think is also correct.

**SwanVsDalton** · 21/02/2012, 9:15 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

For a manager who spends so much time on the 'little details' I think it is remiss of him to overlook being gentler ith a player that was once an ever-present in the squad. Three injuries could lead to him being needed again and then it's just awkward. Diplomacy seems to be something Trap is not great at at times. Steven Reid comes to mind...

I don't think he was ungentle. He just doesn't go in for false platitudes. If Lawrence did throw a wobbler because of it, I think that would be questionable.

**gastric** · 22/02/2012, 1:05 AM

I haven't watched Lawrence play in quite a while, but I will always be proud and appreciative of his performance in Paris on that infamous night. He never stopped supporting the defence, got forward as often as possible and basically burst a gut for us. He is an example of what is best in Irish football and he showed a commitment and a passion in his performance. Hopefully he can get his career back on track and get a call up in the future.