Read it and weep....Trap stays!

[SkStu]

Wow, what an unmerciful sh!tshow. Is there anything the FAI can't do unprofessionally?

[Noelys Guitar]

Wow, what an unmerciful sh!tshow. Is there anything the FAI can't do unprofessionally?

The Venky's of International football. Mackey in the Examiner is saying Trapatonni will be attending the Norwich game at the weekend. Considering what Agnew is saying I find that hard to believe. And Malone is saying it will be better for all parties concerned if Trap gets employment elsewhere before the end of the campaign.
It’s possible now, however, that Trapattoni might look to move on before the end of the campaign with sections of the media having the potential to grow more hostile in the wake of him having been undermined by the behaviour of his employers over the last few days.

Such a move would most likely suit both camps with the manager getting to walk away from a campaign, and wider situation, which has significant potential to turn sour and the association getting to make their change without the need to find an enormous lump sum.

[elroy]

Current state of play

Positives:

Trap has finally drafted in players that many of us wanted to see in the XI for a number of months now i.e. McCarthy, Wilson, Coleman, Walters.

In the second half against the Faroes, we looked to play the ball both up the wings and through the centre alot more than we have in a long time. McCarthy had alot to do with this. Hopefully McCarthy is now the first CM on the teamsheet.

Trap showing a willingness to try different formations to compensate for our weaknesses.

Qualification still very much in our own hands. 6 points from three games is decent and realistically where we wouldve thought we'd be.

Sweden on paper dont look like the sort of team we should fear.

Despite the concession of 8 goals in three games, hard to fault WW for any really. In fact, he has done reasonably well and the experience will only improve him and give him more confidence.

Negatives:

Arguably there are still some (not many) players not in the XI that deserve to be given a chance/a greater chance - Hoolahan, Long, Pearce, Clark

One of our most skilful players is a liability defensively. Plus we still have not worked out a way to fully utilise his skills and tricky in an offensive manner - Im talking about McGeady.

The centre of defence is a major worry. Outside of Sledge and Dunne, we need to develop good back up (potential candidates may include Duffy, Kelly, Pearce, Clark).

It is likely we will need to beat both Austria and Sweden at home to qualify. Its a long time since we had a significant victory at home.

Public support for Trap is at an all time low and likely to decrease further/turn vicious if we dont pick up four points in March. In fairness if we dont get four points in March, qualification is most likely gonzo.

Persistence with Cox on the wing.

An inept FAI.

[Stuttgart88]

It’s possible now, however, that Trapattoni might look to move on before the end of the campaign with sections of the media having the potential to grow more hostile in the wake of him having been undermined by the behaviour of his employers over the last few days.

That whole Malone article was fascinating and quite frankly I was glad to see TO'D getting put back in his box for a bit, if only for his post-Kazakh interview with Trap which was insulting in tone.

But the quoted extract above - is he saying in a subtle manner that relations between FAI and Trap & Co. are virtually at breaking point?

[SwanVsDalton]

The Venky's of International football. Mackey in the Examiner is saying Trapatonni will be attending the Norwich game at the weekend. Considering what Agnew is saying I find that hard to believe.[/I]

McDonnell and the Independent are reporting the same about the Norwich game. Though I'd be inclined to take Agnew's word over that.

Pretty funny in general for McDonnell trying his best to retain credibility after being led down the path by this 'senior FAI source'.

Also, as a side note, McDonnell wrote here on Ciaran Clark that Trapattoni "observed in September that the English-born defender is not really a natural central defender". Is this true? News to me, unless it wasn't reported at the time. Odd because Trap has said Clark is a natural central defender at least once, probably a couple of times.

[PatJR]

Wow, what an unmerciful sh!tshow. Is there anything the FAI can't do unprofessionally?

Not sure I see what the FAI have done horribly wrong this week. Looks to me that you have a standing position of "the FAI are muppets" and read articles that play on that. The media didn't get their blood letting of the manager this week so may as well have a go at the association.

They've said Trap will remain as manager...why some in Trap's camp are uncertain if they still have a job is beyond me, they have contracts don't they? No ringing endorsement for Trap but what would the reaction be if they came out and said "everything is A OK!!". They are letting the manager know that they are unhappy about certain aspects of his performance which they are totally entitled to do. Now some will interpret that as undermining the manager, probably the same ones who complain about him not attending EPL games......which is one of the FAI main points...oh and stop calling you players idiots in public. How dare the FAI...

[Stuttgart88]

The FAI are perfectly justified in telling Trap to pull his socks up.

Maybe it's even the best outcome, just about. Trap being kept but being under no illusion he's not as popular as he thought he was and that the fans and his employers both think he needs to improve many aspects of his management. This was Liam Brady's position from the summer.

I wouldn't have been unhappy to see him go and I still can't bear to watch an Ireland team standing off opponents, but as Owls Fan always says - be careful what you wish for, you might get Paul Jewell or someone similar.

[geysir]

It is adding to bizarre when RTE sports reports all morning, start out with an apology to John Delaney for wrongly naming him as the source of rumors 'mixed messages had been given to the media about the future of the senior manager’s position'.

I can only conclude that it must have been 'deep throat' Delaney who was the source.

[paul_oshea]

I never knew John Delaney and lynda lovelace had anything in common.

[OwlsFan]

Just reading this mornings Irish Times articles by Emmet Malone and Paddy Agnew. Unbelievable stuff (it is the FAI so in fact very believable). Trapatonni camp want some type of written confirmation from the FAI to confirm that all of Trap's people are still employed. They also want clarification from the FAI about the wording of the last part of the FAI statement "working closely with the manager". That is from Agnew and from Malone we have what most of use already guessed at. The only reason Trap is still in the job is because the FAI could not afford to pay him off. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...325455456.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...325455442.html
This is not going to work out for anybody.

They are guessing as well. It's all "believed", "probably" etc etc Is this the Emmet Malone who previously wrote about the terrible relationship between McCarthy and Trapp and the former said just the other day "the manager has been BRILLIANT to me". Too many people here take what journalists speculate on as gospel.

Just one small point re Trapp attending games.

Regardless of the "should he or not, why doesn't he go himself etc arguments", a huge percentage of matchtime our players are benched on Saturdays, and mostly stay there, for both Prem and Championship matches, every week. Its chronic.So if he gets around to fulfilling the wishes of many in this regard, he's going to spend an awful lot of wasted afternoons. For instance, he is rumoured to be going to Norwich this weekend. Will Hoolahan and Pilkington be playing? The players who are regulars in their sides he knows well and doesn't need to watch them. And all the people who are advocating that the likes of Clarke, Hoolahan etc should be in the side, how many have seen them live but are advocating their inclusion on the basis of what they have seen on tv!!

[paul_oshea]

You learn a lot more from watching a player live than on TV. Positional sense, spacial awareness, general awareness of the opponent and other team members, especially for backs, which is where we have such a problem. You can't guage this on TV. That's why someone like O'dea getting in good blocks or last ditch tackles, would always come across better than someone like Clark who relies less on this aspect of the game - the debate of how good Clark is is for another time, this is just an example.

A fan/supporter watches on TV, or perhaps live and forms an opinion. We have on this forum some members who only see some squad/fringe players and give very good accounts of them, the manager needs to do this for every player.

Our job is not to pick the team. That's the managers job.

[tetsujin1979]

Apologies if this has been posted already, Keith Andrews' column in the Examiner from Tuesday: "Trap has not lost the Irish dressing room" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/c...om-211015.html

[paul_oshea]

I posted this on the other thread but I think its probably more relevant here.

I wouldn't read too much into a lot of the articles the last few days. The meejahideen are going to be looking for any excuse to launch a holy war against Trap and his blessed water. This is more than likely only going to get worse in the future(i refuse to use Stutts term "going forward").

[tetsujin1979]

I posted this on the other thread but I think its probably more relevant here.

I wouldn't read too much into a lot of the articles the last few days. The meejahideen are going to be looking for any excuse to launch a holy war against Trap and his blessed water. This is more than likely only going to get worse in the future(i refuse to use Stutts term "going forward").

like I said, being forced into a late night rewrite of their stories for Wednesday isn't going to improve their feelings towards Trapattoni and the FAI in general. These "sources" are unlikely to be given any credence in future either.

[jbyrne]

I posted this on the other thread but I think its probably more relevant here.

I wouldn't read too much into a lot of the articles the last few days. The meejahideen are going to be looking for any excuse to launch a holy war against Trap and his blessed water. This is more than likely only going to get worse in the future(i refuse to use Stutts term "going forward").

can never understand why the media get so many mentions on this forum. i know a few of them personally and they always have their own agenda and always think they know better. their opinion is no more valid than anyone elses

[Stuttgart88]

Apologies if this has been posted already, Keith Andrews' column in the Examiner from Tuesday: "Trap has not lost the Irish dressing room" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/c...om-211015.html

Thanks Tets.

Andrews seems to be a great guy and I wish we had more like him. However, I find it hard to believe that everyone is as keen to retain Trap as he and Keane seem to be. I just can't think that important players like Long, McClean, Gibson and a few more marginal players like Foley and Clark wouldn't like a change.

Kelly is maybe different. I suspect he's very much a team player and probably behind Trap, but just lost the head a bit last week.

I've always had suspicions that Keane & Doyle don't get on great, just something about their body language on the pitch, but maybe I'm just imagining it.

My guess is that there's a core of starting players and regular subs that support Trap, and a bunch of frustrated outsiders not remotely happy and that the squad itself might be divided on these lines.

I hope not.

[geysir]

Part of this 'lost the dressing room' was extrapolated from KK's comments on RTE radio 'friday night of the long knives', some instances where senior players did most of the talking at half time while Trap observed.

[Real ale Madrid]

Apologies if this has been posted already, Keith Andrews' column in the Examiner from Tuesday: "Trap has not lost the Irish dressing room" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/c...om-211015.html

Translated to "Manager who plays me has not lost the dressingroom"

Can you imagine a player who is constantly supported by a manager, then writing a newspaper article criticising the same manager. Come on ffs!

[ifk101]

Exactly. The players were supporting Staunton right up until the end, lest we forget. Take what they have to publically say with a pinch of salt. It's in their best interests to say they are behind the manager.

[Noelys Guitar]

So Kerr and Dunphy combine to get the FAI to recommend/force the current Irish manager to attend EPL games. What happens if Trapatonni decides to keep doing what he has always done? They can do nothing and Trap knows that. This should be interesting.