Euro 2012 Squad Discussion

[Stuttgart88]

Is there already a thread on this? Feel free to move if there is, but I thought it'd be useful to consolidate "who will and who won't make it" discussion.

Here is who I think is a firm favourite:

1. Given
2. Westwood
3. Forde
-------
4. Dunne
5. O'Shea
6. Kelly
7. Ward
8. Sledge
9. O'Dea
10. Foley
------
11. Duff
12. McGeady
13. Whelan
14. Andrews
15. Gibson
16. Fahey
17. Hunt
-------
18. Keane
19. Doyle
20. Walters
21. Long
22. Cox

So, that leaves one more. The debating points are:

- McClean's form probably justifies a place.
- McCarthy's form probably justifies a place.
- Coleman has dropped down the order based on form. I would not take him.
- Paul Green is a Trap favourite, but I think he won't make it.
- Foley should not be a certainty but only taking 6 defenders is a big risk. He'll make it.
- Fahey's form places him behind McCarthy, but tenure is in his favour.
- Hunt's form places him behind McClean, but tenure is in his favour
- Cox might have to make way if both McCarthy and McClean make it.
- Might Trap risk only taking 2 keepers?
- Clark, Wilson, Duffy, McShane and Lawrence can only hope for an injury at this stage.
- Hoolahan's absence has already been explained by Trap.

I think that covers all bases. Anything else?

[SwanVsDalton]

Might Trap risk only taking 2 keepers?

Gotta take three goalies. Tis the rules.

On the rest I think you're pretty much spot on in your thinking.

Personally I'd like to see McCarthy take the last spot and McClean instead of Hunt. Sorry Stephen but the form's against you.

If Hunt is retained, I'd still like to see McClean go. Simply put I can't see McCarthy getting much of a game whereas McClean is a realistic option if we're chasing a goal or even if Trap simply wants a workhorse/out ball if we're under pressure.

[paul_oshea]

I think the Derry bias is coming in here.

You certainly are one of the protaganist about adding new players usually, and going with the tried and trusted. Loyalties come first though it seems...:P

[SwanVsDalton]

I think the Derry bias is coming in here.

You certainly are one of the protaganist about adding new players usually, and going with the tried and trusted. Loyalties come first though it seems...:P

I'd dispute but you're not far off! It isn't bias though. When people were clamoring for McClean initially I was quite vocal in defending Trap for not just calling him up immediately.

But he's convinced me - bar a few to-be-expected anonymous outings, he's been very good.

However I'm just stating my opinion. If Trap was to stick with Hunt I'd see the logic, and wouldn't complain. Like I said on the McClean thread - loyalty and consistency is a bedrock of this team. I just think McClean's made an exceptional case.

With ten minutes to go in a group game who do people think would make more impact - Hunt or McClean?

James would be my shout and I think that's the basis for picking him, added to the fact one wild card in a squad, when warranted, can be of good benefit overall (young, enthusiastic, in-form, confident player boosting everyone around them).

[ifk101]

Would Paul McShane not be ahead of Kevin Foley in the reckoning?

[Stuttgart88]

I wouldn't have thought so. McShane hasn't been called up in a while, Foley has been a squad regular as far as I can recall.

[DannyInvincible]

Gotta take three goalies. Tis the rules.

Was there something about Niall Quinn being designated as our third goalie for Euro '88 and/or Italia '90? Of course, he was also able to play outfield then. Such an outlet is no longer open as goalies and outfield players now have to be distinguished and registered separately.

[elroy]

Looking around for the deadline for submitting the squad, I came across this website.

Not sure its origin, perhaps Polish but interesting to read the piece on Ireland and how the rest of Europe sees us - ie happy to be there, making up the numbers.
hopefully the lads can show them otherwise.


http://www.poland2012.net/teams/ireland-team/

[DannyInvincible]

Looking around for the deadline for submitting the squad, I came across this website.

Not sure its origin, perhaps Polish but interesting to read the piece on Ireland and how the rest of Europe sees us - ie happy to be there, making up the numbers.
hopefully the lads can show them otherwise.


http://www.poland2012.net/teams/ireland-team/

Riddled with an impressive tally of inaccuracies and rash statements for a piece of a mere four paragraphs.

[Crosby87]

We wouldnt even be here if not for Fahey and Trap is going to leave him home?

[DannyInvincible]

We wouldnt even be here if not for Fahey and Trap is going to leave him home?

Where'd you hear this?

[Junior]

Is the consensus that Keogh is definitely out of the reckoning at this stage? He has actually hit a bit of form now it seems, though many of the squads he featured in he was not playing much at club level or cetainly not doing anything out of the ordinary. Just throwing it out there like.......

[Junior]

For me,

McCarthy to take last spot.
McClean to take Hunts spot. Im 50/50 on this would be very harsh on Hunt and despite his club situation/form he would also still be an impact substitution. Experience or Youthful enthusiasm - This is a real toughy.......

Foley - Im not comfortable with his place in the squad as you have also outlined. Just not sure what other options.....Harte? (I never in my wildest dreams thought I would say that) or Clark. Foley will probably get the nod but more by good fortune and lack of other options than anything else.

[Stuttgart88]

For me Keogh has been overtaken by Cox. Walters has also claimed a spot since Keogh's hey day in green. Even Leon Best probbaly won't make it. I think Keogh is arguably 7th in the forward pecking order, and that ignores Stokes.

[ifk101]

Keogh has mainly been used as a wide midfielder and Cox has been used up front so it's arguable they are not competing for the same place in the squad. Trapattoni seems to favour Cox when it comes to performing the Robbie Keane role in the team with Walters increasingly favoured as the replacement for Doyle. Long seems to fall in the middle between the Keane and Doyle roles.

[Stuttgart88]

Well, if he's only in contention for a wide midfield role he's got no chance. I always felt taht Keogh's main asset for trap was that he was a good guy to have around. Hard working on the pitch, good fun off it.

[geysir]

He scored Trap's first goal, didn't he?
First impressions.

[Stuttgart88]

Paul McShane gave away Trap's first goal conceded. He stayed in for long enough.

[shakermaker1982]

I reckon McClean and McCarthy will both make it. Hunt to miss out. Harsh but McClean would make a great impact sub.

O'Shea at LB, Kelly at RB and Ward just there to make the numbers up.

Could Clark overtake Foley if he keeps getting game time for Villa?

[Closed Account]

Pos	Name	Caps	Goals
GK	Shay Given	121	0
GK	Keiren Westwood	8	0
GK	David Forde	2	0
GK	Stephen Henderson	0	0
GK	Brian Murphy	0	0
DF	John O'Shea	75	1
DF	Richard Dunne	71	8
DF	Stephen Kelly	29	0
DF	Sean St Ledger	25	2
DF	Darren O'Dea	13	0
DF	Stephen Ward	10	2
DF	Kevin Foley	8	0
DF	Shane Duffy	0	0
DF	Damien Delaney	5	0
DF	Kevin Kilbane	110	8
DF	Paul McShane	26	0
DF	Marc Wilson	1	0
DF	Ciaran Clark	2	0
MF	Damien Duff	95	8
MF	Aiden McGeady	47	2
MF	Stephen Hunt	38	1
MF	Glenn Whelan	37	2
MF	Keith Andrews	27	3
MF	Darron Gibson	17	1
MF	Keith Fahey	15	3
MF	James McCarthy	3	0
MF	Paul Green	10	1
MF	Séamus Coleman	4	0
MF	James McClean	1	0
MF	Keith Treacy	6	0
FW	Robbie Keane (C)	115	53
FW	Kevin Doyle	46	10
FW	Shane Long	24	6
FW	Simon Cox	11	3
FW	Jonathan Walters	5	1
FW	Andy Keogh	22	1
FW	Leon Best	7	0
FW	Anthony Stokes	4	0

I'd be very suprised, injuries aside, if the lads in bold weren't the final 23. McCarthy is the only one, in my mind not sure of his position. McClean/Hunt argument is all well and good speaking about impact subs etc., but that's not how Trap operates.
Simply, if Duff or McGeady pick up suspension/injury in first or second game, Hunt is the natural replacement, because he knows the defensive system, something Trap won't gamble on teaching McClean in the build up to a big tournament. He simply doesn't have time to focus on 1 player. Fahey/Walters/Foley can all play wide in a pinch should both our 1st choice wingers get injured.

We won't be out there playing attacking football. In my opinion, we'll definitely need to, but if we are losing 2-0 in the last game, our plan B won't involve any McClean type players, it'll involve a Walters type player.