can't replacements be called up if players are injured? or is that only if they get injured post call up?Originally Posted by Kingdom
can't replacements be called up if players are injured? or is that only if they get injured post call up?
Far as I can tell from the Utd website he hasn't played any football, reserves or otherwise, so he must not be ready. Presumably he's been included because he's expected to be fit but he'd surely at least need 90 minutes in the reserves to prove his fitness after a three month lay-off.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
I know we crib about the composition of the squad a lot of the time, but one thing that is impressive is the degree of versatility in the squad. All grievances aside, no matter what 23 are picked, across midfield and defence, so many player are interchangable.
From the available pool of players we have,
Kelly, O'Shea, Wilson, Foley, Coleman, Clark, Hunt, McGeady, Duff, Fahey all can cover at least one other position reliably. Without tempting fate, that should go a long way if we get to the stage of picking a squad for a tournie!
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
They can be called up anytime. But if Long is going to be out for six weeks, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth for Best that Long still gets the call up.
The sentimental in me was sparing a thought for one Zinedine Kilbane until my inner pragmatist appeared and frowned him into submission. Anyway, I boldly predict there's enough there to overcome Estonia. Not precisely the squad I'd have picked but then I was one of those guys who'd occasionally reload Championship Manager if a result didn't go my way.
He's gone months without 'releasing a thunderbolt'. Long shot chastity. If I was Estonia I'd pack four keepers and call it 'The Gibson contingency'.
According to Dan McDonnell Trap did mention them in the same breath, suggesting Best as an option should Long not make it:
"However, Trap suggests that if Shane Long is ruled out, we have 'the other options'...with Leon Best the one player he names."
Some comments from Trap:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/975825/trapattoni-takes-punt-on-ireland's-shane-long?cc=5901
The guy we need to watch out for is... Martin Vunk.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
It's didn't look like a Long injury.
we need to slam dunk da vunk.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
I wonder does Trap do pre match interviews without mentioning "mentality"
"These games will be a huge challenge for us, and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.''
I see Dan McDonnell and Trapattoni press conference quotes are often hand in hand. Would it be hard to record these press conferences on video and put them up on the public domain? I hate trying to decipher what was actually said from all the vested reports.
It's always the last to reach my feed, but generally the best and most comprehensive. From the examiner:
LinkTrap looks on the bright side
By Liam Mackey
Saturday, October 29, 2011
THERE was plenty of forward thinking from Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday as his press conference to announce his European Championship play-off squad was dominated by the injury concerns ahead of next month’s games against Estonia.
The good news from the manager is that he is optimistic Robbie Keane will be fit for duty and he has not yet ruled out Shane Long’s chance of making an unexpectedly speedy recovery from his recent knee injury.
Keane informed Trapattoni he is back in training and expects to be able to answer his country’s call, even if he fails to play in LA Galaxy’s games between now and the first leg of the play off against Estonia. "He answered me that he’s very optimistic," said the manager of his captain. He said the injury has improved. He said he started training and played a friendly game in training.. If he is fit he will play with his country. He told me. That’s important."
Trapattoni made similarly encouraging noises about Shane Long, though his knee injury would appear to pose a much bigger problem.
"I was in touch with him. He said to me: ‘I think it’s not bad’. My friend [Roy] Hodgson said six weeks but I think in the next few days we can know more. But if he is not fit for the first game then three days might mean it’s impossible for him to play in the second."
Of course, the silver lining for Trapattoni is that Kevin Doyle will be back from suspension for that second leg but, in the meantime, the manager was happy to talk up the quality of his other options, like Simon Cox, Jon Walters and Andy Keogh. As for Leon Best, Trapattoni indicated there could yet be a call-up for the in-form Newcastle man if the injury problems deepen into a crisis.
It also seems like it will take something of that magnitude to trigger a recall for Kevin Kilbane, a very familiar name absent from a very familiar squad. Trapattoni said he’d informed the veteran before the Armenia game that, henceforth, he would be concentrating on other options at full-back but added that Kilbane will still be available if required.
"We keep him in our heart," said the manager.
Right now, the signs all point to a likely starting duo of Robbie Keane and Simon Cox in Estonia but Trapattoni will happily settle for a goal from anyone on the road.
Clearly, short of a defeat, the last thing he wants is to come back to Dublin with the scoreless draw which would mean only Estonia could benefit from a goal which could count double.
"It is important that we look to score an away goal," he said.
"But we have to start with a high tempo. Of course, our supporters can be the 12th player on the pitch at home but I am confident that we can score a goal in Estonia. We did that away to Armenia, Italy, Andorra and others so why shouldn’t we look to score in Estonia?"
But, again, Trapattoni was at pains to stress no-one should underestimate Ireland’s opponents. Noting that FAI Chief Executive John Delaney had been seen smiling on television after Estonia had come out of the pot in the draw in Krakow, the manager conceded that, yes, there could have been tougher opponents but when he spoke soon after to Cesare Prandelli – whose Italy side came up against Estonia in the qualifiers – his fellow countryman had a stark warning: "Be careful".
And Trapattoni expressed his appreciation Brian Kerr, whose former charges the Faroe Islands also played Estonia in that group, has also been helpful in the run-up to the play-offs.
"He sent me his observations," said the manager. "And from watching the DVD, I agree with what he said about this team. Their mentality is strong. Estonia are compact, support each other, have a good attitude and a good system, a bit like us. Sometimes when we make analysis we speak only about whether there are technical players or not.
"But managers think about what is strong. I have respect for all managers. Our job is a beautiful job but it’s a difficult job."
Trapattoni wants everyone, including and especially his players, to realise that overcoming Estonia will be a difficult job too.
"Favourite is a word that is not in my vocabulary," he said yesterday, the turn of the discussion reminding him that when Ireland faced Italy in the World Cup qualifiers, he’d likened the contest to David versus Goliath. Inevitably, he was asked if that analogy still held.
"No, now we are the same," he said, adding with a grin, "now it’s David v David."
1st Bold: Warms the heart doesn't it...
2nd Bold: At first I thought, "don't tell them we're trying to score! But then I grew up and realised, who'd expect us not to attack.
3rd BoLd: MENTALITY............
Trap mentioned mentality when he was saying he felt sorry for the rugby team going out. Everyone picked up that maybe he was questioning their mentality. He wasn't. He just always says mentality, no matter what the context!
Mentality!
M-mentality?
Except of course, when he refers to personality.
Which of the following # applies to you?
1. The closer we get to match time the less confident I get.
2. The closer we get to match time the more confident I get.
3. I have been confident since the draw.
4. I have been worried since the draw.
5. I am completely in the middle (50/50 chance) as if we move on or not. Convinced it could go either way.
6. None of the above.
For some reason I am a #1. I am very curious to see what you all think.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
Always no. 1.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Could be playing Spain or San Marino, and I still get less and less confident the closer a game gets. Oddly enough, on the day of a game itself, I'm relatively calm. I think it's the build up that kills me.
Would be very like you Tets. Once I'm walking to Lansdowne I'm okay.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
All of the above, at varying times.
I would say 3. Not overly confident or arrogant, but I feel the same way I did the day the draw was made, that I think we will qualify for the Euros.
On this occasion, #3. Not underestimating Estonia or overestimating ourselves but...a solid 3 so far. Most other times I tend to veer between lanes 1 & 2, inebriated on the permutations. I'd also add that I feel more 'comfortable' watching games live than on the box. For some reason it feels like less can go wrong. Also, I haven't been able to watch a corner taken against us since Skopje '99. I'll observe the placing of the ball and the run-up but that's enough. Because, like, if Ireland concede from a corner and I'm not around to see it...does it make a difference to the scoreline?
Ditto. The uncertainty is the killer. Lookin' at a long 13 days or so right now..
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