Andy Reid(b 1982)

[gspain]

He played Miller in CM against Nigeria and he was both combative and accurate with his use of the ball. His performance surprised me, not least because I thought his type of player wasn't consistent with his strategy.

In the last few games it's been obvious to me that the CMers receiving the ball do so almost in a state of panic and their distribution has generally been crap.

All Trap's system requires is discipline without the ball. It can't be that hard to learn. With the ball Reid is probably better than any of the others.

Despite what he said Trap can't have been happy with what he saw from CM in Thomond.

I thought Miller did well v Nigeria too but given he was without a club he shouldn't have been in recent squads.

However our CM players come into their own when we don't have the ball. Trap likes 2 holding defensive midfield players. Any Reid cannot play that role. He doesn't tackle or close down well enough. He is better with the ball than our current options.

I would have him in the squad but not in the team. I'd use him as a sub if a chasing a game.

[Murfinator]

He played Miller in CM against Nigeria and he was both combative and accurate with his use of the ball. His performance surprised me, not least because I thought his type of player wasn't consistent with his strategy.

In the last few games it's been obvious to me that the CMers receiving the ball do so almost in a state of panic and their distribution has generally been crap.

All Trap's system requires is discipline without the ball. It can't be that hard to learn. With the ball Reid is probably better than any of the others.

Despite what he said Trap can't have been happy with what he saw from CM in Thomond.

Refreshing to see truths like that spoken, this forum seems to have a personal vendetta against Liam Miller for whatever reason. I've always thought he's a better player on the ball than both Whelan and Andrews, which isn't hard admittedly but still.

[dr_peepee]

He played Miller in CM against Nigeria and he was both combative and accurate with his use of the ball. His performance surprised me, not least because I thought his type of player wasn't consistent with his strategy.

Dude... Why don't you just marry Millers performance against Nigeria

Yeah though... Not all of the things we're seeing from the CMs are down to strict tactical obedience on their part. They're clearly not comfortable in alot of cases.

[dr_peepee]

Refreshing to see truths like that spoken, this forum seems to have a personal vendetta against Liam Miller for whatever reason. I've always thought he's a better player on the ball than both Whelan and Andrews, which isn't hard admittedly but still.

Millers problem is that he's too comfortable on the ball sometimes. At least once a game he'll have his foot on the ball with head in the air and someone will nip in behinds him and take it from under him. Happens way too often. Gives away alot of frees too.

[Stuttgart88]

However our CM players come into their own when we don't have the ball. Trap likes 2 holding defensive midfield players. Any Reid cannot play that role. He doesn't tackle or close down well enough.

The thing is though, that the 2 CMs we use don't chase down the ball either. Instead they take up good positions behind the ball and, like Gilberto Silva made a career doing, put themselves in between the ball and the defence. The attacking team must play around them, not through them. This is in stark contrast to, say, man United, who chase the ball down ewhen they don't have it.

I'm not sure whether it's true Reid couldn't play this role. In my opinion it's discipline and awareness that's required, rather than tenacious tackling ability.


That said, I'm not sure I'd start him either (not centrally anyway) but for me CM just did not work against SA or Cyprus in any sense other than keeping SA at bay for most of the game. If there's a way we can continue this discipline with better use of the ball I'd love to see it.

[Stuttgart88]

Dude... Why don't you just marry Millers performance against Nigeria

Because apparently I'm already married to Plastic Paddy.

Was just trying to point out that maybe Trap isn't as hung up on the attributes of the two CMs as we thought.

[geysir]

Would it be that difficult for a pro like Andy to adopt a semi aggressive sentry position outside our box?

One of our regular problems is we get snookered playing the ball out from the back, against a team that is anxious to close us down.

[Razors left peg]

Said it before on this thread. Reid does not fit into Traps system of 2 fast wingers advanced up the pitch and two sitting central midfielders who can tackle and are physical in the midfield. He has tried having Reid in the squad as a non starter and obviously was not happy with his attitdue and demeanour around the camp and as a result he dropped him from the squad also. So no matter how much Reid plays well etc he will not fit into Traps game plan.

He should fit into the wingers category ahead of Keogh every time. I cant argue with Traps policy of his 2 sitting midfielders coz that system is getting us results and maybe last season Reid didnt do enough to get himself back into the squad. But it looks like he has had a long hard look in the mirror and decided he is going to do his best to make the world cup squad. I just hope Trap is open to his return if his form is good as much as he is open to Steven Ireland, who would be more of a danger of being a disruption(although personally I dont believe either would be disruptive if brought back)

[Stuttgart88]

he is going to do his best to make the world cup squad.

Sorry to rain on the parade a bit but:

i'd say we have an 80% chance of making the play-offs. I'd say we have at best a 50% chance of winning a play off. So at best we have a 40% chance of making the finals.

It's the same on a few other threads: feet on the ground time lads.

[youngirish]

Sorry to rain on the parade a bit but:

i'd say we have an 80% chance of making the play-offs. I'd say we have at best a 50% chance of winning a play off. So at best we have a 40% chance of making the finals.

It's the same on a few other threads: feet on the ground time lads.

I'd put it more like 80% getting to the play-off, 40% winning it overall 32% possibility of qualification but I agree with the overall point.

[Stuttgart88]

I did say "at best" a 50% chance! I agree - I really think we're considerably odds against quualifying and that's not really got anything to do with Reid, no-Reid etc.

Hopefully the mnanager's experience of winning big games / ties will be of benefit.

[dr_peepee]

I did say "at best" a 50% chance! I agree - I really think we're considerably odds against quualifying and that's not really got anything to do with Reid, no-Reid etc.

Hopefully the mnanager's experience of winning big games / ties will be of benefit.

The Reid-No Reid factor becomes relavent regarding our lack of tactical options beyond Trapps preffered starting stance. The only plan B we have is Folan.

[NeilMcD]

Brady was very critical of Reids weight in his tribune articles for a long time under Kerr and Staunton.

[Scram]

I'd put it more like 80% getting to the play-off, 40% winning it overall 32% possibility of qualification but I agree with the overall point.

Overall, I'd agree. Shouldn't be thinking about more than a 30-40% chance of being in SA. Therefore, travel agents should be charging 30-40% of Market price for packages!

[Noelys Guitar]

Brady was very critical of Reids weight in his tribune articles for a long time under Kerr and Staunton.

I can remember reading those articles and I am convinced Reids absence from the squads relates to Brady's opinions as much as Trap's and rolled up newspapers.

[Wolfie]

I can remember reading those articles and I am convinced Reids absence from the squads relates to Brady's opinions as much as Trap's and rolled up newspapers.

Apparently Brady feels that Reid has a lot to offer the Irish Midfield - but its Reids over-reliance on beginning sing songs in A Minor that are letting him down currently.

Hopefully Reid can work on this part of his game, possibly incorporating songs in the key of C and D alongside the Am standards.

There's no easy sing songs at International level and the lad certainly has the ability - its up to him to go and prove it now.

[geysir]

Brady has spoken well about Andy. Brady appeared to flatly contradict the perception that Trap had an issue with Reid's overall attitude while with the squad.
Brady said his exclusion was a system issue but the door was always open.


It's hard for me to stray too far away from the significance of Trap's response to the Irish team partying in Mainz. Even allowing for his natural Italian sense for drama, so much slipped out in the conference the day after the defeat to Poland.
Part of that conference was Trap 'stoutly' responding to the perception that he abandoned discipline by allowing the team to party. A large part of it of it was that there is no stretching the boundaries of his authority, that he expects a self motivated disciplined player. An attempt to stretch boundaries is a challenge to his authority.
Trap saw Andy as the slowest to move.

[eirebhoy]

Trap saw Andy as the slowest to move.

I'd say it was Reid had the guitar and Trap vented his anger in his direction. Reid felt he was being picked on and had a word back.

[Razors left peg]

Sorry to rain on the parade a bit but:

i'd say we have an 80% chance of making the play-offs. I'd say we have at best a 50% chance of winning a play off. So at best we have a 40% chance of making the finals.

It's the same on a few other threads: feet on the ground time lads.

Fair enough but I meant from Reids point of view he looked at himself this summer and decided that he would try make the squad for next summer if we got there, I wasnt presuming we would definately be there

[geysir]

Reid felt he was being picked on and had a word back.

That was not enough on it's own, I'd hazard a guess that Trap continued to observe Andy in the subsequent squad.