No doubt the squad will change with three weeks still to run....Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Trap is set to name the squad later today. Little snippet from the Irish Times report:
The Italian is expected to name all of his regulars including Richard Dunne despite the fact the Aston Villa defender’s groin problem appears increasingly likely to rule him out.
Darron Gibson is unavailable but Keith Andrews is in line to be recalled after missing the game in Kazakhstan through suspension.
Marc Wilson and Séamus Coleman are expected to retain their places but there will be some interest in whether David Meyler or Robbie Brady have impressed the manager sufficiently to earn spots amongst the squad.
No doubt the squad will change with three weeks still to run....
Gibson is unavailable through injury or choice is it?
I suppose Brady might make it in, I'd certainly consider him against the Faroe's. But not Germany.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
This is it, this is a fixture in the group where you can look to blood young players, or at least give them squad places and training/set up experience ahead of certain journeymen, without taking the opposition lightly or jeopardizing the result. Whether Trap will do this or not will I reckon have a large bearing on how patient the fans are willing to be with him.
Faroes away will be a tough match, and I'm not kidding. We barely beat them the last time we played them, I think it was a very hard fought 2-0 win for us.
He made himself unavailable (on the day he picked up an injury, as it happened), but I understand the injury will rule him out either way.
For the foreseeable future or was that just for the Kazak game squad?
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
Until he informs Trap otherwise, as far as I know.
Sqaud announced: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status...76338792546304https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status...76470426611713Westwood, Forde, Randolph, Wilson, O’Shea, St Ledger, O’Dea, Ward, Kelly, McShane, Whelan, McCarthy (More to follow)...... (Cont) Andrews, Fahey, Coleman, McGeady, Keogh, McClean, Keane, Doyle, Long, Cox, Walters. Standby: Dunne, Brady. #COYIG
And no space for (insert name here) yet again. Typical FAI, typical Trap. They are a disgrace to the nation.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Shouldn't it be #COYBIG ?
Either way no Duff, presume that means he rejected their invitation to return.
Looking very weak on the wings. Might force him into a change of formation.
Code:Westwood Forde Randolph Kelly O'Shea St Ledger Ward Coleman O'Dea McShane Wilson Keogh Whelan McCarthy McGeady Cox Andrews Fahey McClean Keane Doyle Long Walters
Westwood
Kelly O'Shea Sledge Ward
McGeady Whelan McCarthy McClean
Keane Walters
This is how I see it turning out. I think he'll give McClean his chance against the Germans.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
only player who can feel slightly agrieved is Joey O'Brien IMO. Playing regularly for his club, didn't do anything wrong against Oman, but Kelly and O'Shea are established in the squad.
Fairly straightforward selection, nothing too surprising. I would presume Hunt's international career might be done for the time being.
In regards team selection, I would hope, if he goes with a 4-4-2, that at least Andrews would be put in for Whelan.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Substitute Ward for Wilson, and I'd be reasonably satisfied. I think Pearce, O'Brien and Meyler could have been included on stand-by at least, given the fact that we have two games.
I'm surprised Meyler isn't at least on standby, otherwise as expected.
Did Trap not already state that McClean won't be starting against Germany either?
I'm looking through the squad now and I'm not very optimistic that Trap will even change the team that much from the Kazakhstan game (Andrews aside). On the basis of the absentees from the Oman game, it's clear Trap hasn't placed too much weight in the performances from that win. Otherwise, Brady would be in the squad. Consequently, I don't think he's likely to change the team too dramatically.
Given the reality of Trap's selection framework, I don't think there is a strong enough argument to be made in relation to changing the back four. I don't agree with his selection against Kazakhstan because I think O'Shea is our best centre-half (Dunne aside) and Wilson is a superior left-back to Ward. However, this was Trap's chosen 4 against Kazakhstan and his loyalty to the O'Dea and Sledge as centre-halves and lack of trust in Wilson could ensure the same 4 is maintain. Coleman's recent run at right-back will be ignored, I reckon.
McGeady is nailed on for one wing. I'd like to see Doyle, Long or McClean on the opposite flank with Doyle or Long partnering Robbie up front. It's most likely that Doyle/Walters and Keane will start up front. I think Doyle did enough against Kazakhstan to merit a recall to the starting line-up because Trap has shown plenty faith in this partnership in the past. Also, Trap doesn't fancy Long and Keane up front. Ultimately, I think it comes down to a call between Long and Cox on the wing. However, as we saw at the weekend, Long is a great impact sub. This could stand against him and Trap could start Cox, knowing that Long is in reserve for the final 30 minutes. So Long and Walters could be kept in reserve, alongside McClean.
The middle of the park provides an interesting conundrum. McCarthy was the better of the pair against Kazakhstan and, on that basis, deserves his start. The issue is that I feel Trap likes to have Whelan lying deep and that McCarthy filled the Andrews role against Kazakhstan i.e. the more advance, dynamic of the pair because dynamic isn't Whelan's middle name. Now that Andrews has returned, Trap is likely to again demonstrate his preference for him and put him straight into the side. This would all mean that McCarthy loses out.
Fahey could be a wildcard selection on one wing too, it just dawned on me, in place of Cox. That'd leave a decent bench including McCarthy, Cox, Walters, Long and McClean.
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