While Green was an improvement on Whelan in the second half in the Poland match, his overall performances for Ireland are not encouragiing. If anything there is merit for a Green and McCarthy midfield.
With that exception and the ridiculous comments on Brady, the team is more or less as you would expect. I dont think McGeady will be a huge loss. Too often his end product for us is well short of the mark.
My faith in Trap is waning but I do still believe. However, I fear and suspect we will have that sinking feeling watching the match tomorrow night - that feeling that comes when you see Ireland fail to maintain possession, hoof the ball clear from defence and generally defend on the edge. Admittedly that has us results from time to time. However, Id prefer to see away performances akin to Armenia or Montenegro or Slovakia rather than Bulgaria (after we scored) or Russia.
I wonder if Keane was not available, would Hoolahan get the nod instead. Unlikely under Trap but would seem to be a natural replacement. Can anyone see Hoolahan seeing any time tomorrow? Perhaps if we take the lead and are trying to hold on?
Good to see Long start, Sweden are far from rock solid defensively and hopefully he will cause them problems. My fear is that the service to Long will just be Long balls, hardly what suits him best.
I was looking for the A-House, here come the good times video and came across this. If this doesn't get the pulse racing and the butterflies going in your stomachs then you're not Irish! COYBIG!
I love Mick McCarthy. I love Robbie Keane. Anyone who doesn't treasure both of these guys has a heart of stone!
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
If we're going to persist with the two-man midfield, I think this is actually the best combination.Originally Posted by elroy
I see this a lot but I don't understand it. McGeady's end product is the best end product we have. He sets up more goals than anybody else in our team.I dont think McGeady will be a huge loss. Too often his end product for us is well short of the mark.
I really can't see why Paul Green has been the target of all this hatred. I'm a Leeds fan and have been lucky enough to see him a few times this season and sometimes on the right wing (You thought Trap was bad)
But he's actually been one of Leeds United's better players this season, his main asset being in dispossessing opposition players and setting up counter attacks which is probably why he's been picked to play tomorrow.
I'm not saying McCarthy is a poorer player or anything like that, in fact he's probably better at most aspects of the game and could probably hold onto the ball better and pick out a pass but we're not going to be given the space for that against a good side (tactics etc)
Great video and what is it about British commentary when watching those clips that somehow seems to make it even better!!!
How good was Duff back then, such a top class player. In fairness, the team had some superb individuals (Given, Duff, Keane, Harte, Stan) but some very ordinary to good players as well (Holland, Kinsella, Breen, Kilbane), but they truly were a team.
If you liked Duff at World Cup 2002, you'll absolutely love this video of Duff at World Cup 2002:
Was he? My memory is not very good so I was not sure so I 'checked' before sticking my neck out and stating he was not there.
Just checked again and it seems he was on standby so I guess it was Keith Fahey? who dropped out.
Can't say I remember much of the midfield only thing I can remember was a misplaced pass by Glenn Whelan.
Seems he only played the last ten minutes v Spain, we only conceded one goal in that period
I guess I had probably lost interest by then!
Last edited by tricky_colour; 21/03/2013 at 11:41 PM.
I was going to analyze the team selection but it won't make any difference will it. It is what it is. COME ON IRELAND! This is one serious game with serious implications both good and bad for Irish football people.
While we're in 2002 mode:
I was thinking about that ad earlier. Whoever Areland are, I hope they enjoyed their big win.
Bang on. Unlike the fallow likes of Gibson and McCarthy, Green has big game, big tournament experience of being walloped by the best. It could be crucial tonight.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Paul Green ahead of James McCarthy.
When I first read it I actually went "JESUS CHRIST FOR ****'S SAKE" very loud and got strange looks from people.
Sometimes I think Trapattoni is trying to annoy me on purpose. This is by far the most disappointing team he has ever named.
Last edited by brine3; 22/03/2013 at 12:35 AM.
Well the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the pudding in this case is a football.
All this pre-match talk counts for nothing really, it's how they perform on the day that matters.
There seems to be mixed feelings towards Green but I am feeling quite positive after his last performance
for Ireland it seemed for once we had a midfield. However every match is different players can go from
good to bad to mediocre from game to game.
Still you can get 7-1 on an Ireland win ( at Will Hill) and with £1 invested I feel the returns of £8 are already in the bank,
albeit probably a Cyprian one.
Would agree! This trying to nullify their strengths to me indicates Trap's lack of confidence in his own team. Whelan and Green will not create anything in midfield and it will be more hoofball. I think we will lose badly and the calls will grow for his dismissal. Not normally so pessimistic, but yet again his team choices worry me.
I think way too much is being read into Trap's comments on Brady, bordering on hysterical.
“There is no injury but I want to be sure.
“I spoke with him. I said: ’Are you sure, are you okay?’ He said: ’Yes’.
“I wish to push him. Brady is creative. He can put the opponents in difficulty.
“He showed (this) against Poland, going inside. He is clever and I told him, ’You must repeat this game’.
“It is my provocation. He will now see in the newspaper tomorrow he is a doubt. It is only psychological"
Interesting that he regards Brady as 'creative'.
Its an insult.
McCarthy must really wonder like. So long as he is reinstated at the home game.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
At least Trap has inserted the final definitive nail in the question of, 'is McCarthy a creative player?'.
Apparently it was Trap's reply on this at the press conference that clearly sent some of the assembled media into a tizzy. it was a surreal moment to listen to Trap explain to the assembled puzzled pundits just what defines a creative player and what he does on the pitch.
I don't think there is any doubt about McCarthy being a better player than Green and current market values will confirm this but as far as Trap is concerned it's 'horses for courses' in the selection of Green. McCarthy has been outstanding for Wigan this season as is really developing into a class player. I've even noticed he has become more confident as he appears to be a lot more vocal (or as some might say a bit of a mouthpiece) on the pitch (maybe in response to Trap's encouragement). I even noticed him in the thick of it mouthing to ref and Newcastle players after that 'horror' tackle last Sunday, don't wtf he was arguing. I don't know what job Trap feels McCarthy can't do for him for Ireland but he obviously has doubts. If truth be told, with the possible exception of the second half of the Faroes game, McCarthy has been distinctly average for Ireland. I think it is naive to think that because someone is playing very well for his club he will automatically be a success for his country. I don't think we will see the best of McCarthy or indeed Houilihan until Traps departs. Fortunately McCarthy has time on his side but maybe not Houlihan.
Andybody who saw Euro 2012 would have noted that Ireland was done in because we had a weak central midfield and no ability to hold on to posession. We badly missed McCarthy and Gibson in midfield than and Robbie Keane dropping back into midfield wasn't working.
More of the same is not the answer. In fact, Whelan-Green is worse than Whelan-Andrews and the player at Euro 2012 who was best at holding onto the ball (Duff) has now retired.
It's like Trap has looked at the tapes of Euro 2012 and said, "wow, we were absolutely brilliant!"
Last edited by brine3; 22/03/2013 at 8:21 AM.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29146990.html
It's the Indo, so the obligatory pinch of salt.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
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