Andy Reid(b 1982)

**Morbo** · 25/10/2009, 7:56 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Kilbane has given his all for the whole campaign, it would be unfair to drop him at this stage.

I'm a big fan of Kilbane but Trap has gotta do whatever gives us the best chance of qualifying for SA. Whether or not Finnan would improve the team is debatable, I think his best days are behind him but he would probably be an improvement on Kilbane.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/10/2009, 1:40 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Whether or not Finnan comes into the team really depends on whether Trap thinks he'll be a better left back than Kilbane. I can't see him dropping St. Ledger at this point.

Kilbane has given his all for the whole campaign, it would be unfair to drop him at this stage.

think it has more to do with whether or not Trapattoni thinks a back four including Finnan is better than one without him VS France
Right now, it's four players from five (Dunne, St Ledger, O'Shea, Finnan, Kilbane) to populate the defence, and the whoever fills the left full back position is still going to be a round peg in a square hole

**Colbert Report** · 26/10/2009, 4:53 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

think it has more to do with whether or not Trapattoni thinks a back four including Finnan is better than one without him VS France
Right now, it's four players from five (Dunne, St Ledger, O'Shea, Finnan, Kilbane) to populate the defence, and the whoever fills the left full back position is still going to be a round peg in a square hole

I couldn't agree more. I think we'd all agree that Finnan is most likely a better player than Kilbane. The question is, is it worth disrupting the team chemistry for what is likely only a small upgrade over Kilbane? I don't think so. Trapattoni has shown already (with his constant selection of Liam Miller) that he is a loyal manager.

Barring injury, the starting team for both legs against the French will be:

Given
O'Shea-St.Ledger-Dunne-Kilbane
Duff-Whelan-Andrews-Hunt
Doyle-Keane

**drummerboy** · 26/10/2009, 8:32 AM

I reckon he will play Hunt away and McGeady at home

**seanfhear** · 26/10/2009, 8:39 AM

Utmost respect for Kevin Kilbane but If I was sure (and I am pretty sure) that a fit Finnan at right back and J O'Shea at left back would give us a better chance of qualifiying then I would go for it. Kevin would be a sub and would be most likely to come on in the event of injury for almost any of the back four with Kevin coming on at left fullback and the rest of the defence playing in the best variation possible under the circumstances.

**Morbo** · 27/10/2009, 3:40 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I couldn't agree more. I think we'd all agree that Finnan is most likely a better player than Kilbane. The question is, is it worth disrupting the team chemistry for what is likely only a small upgrade over Kilbane? I don't think so. Trapattoni has shown already (with his constant selection of Liam Miller) that he is a loyal manager.

Barring injury, the starting team for both legs against the French will be:

Given
O'Shea-St.Ledger-Dunne-Kilbane
Duff-Whelan-Andrews-Hunt
Doyle-Keane

I think he will probably go with Lawrence instead of Hunt, Lawrence had a good game against Italy and tracked back well which I think will impress Trap, he is also more likely to be able to exploit Evra's lack of height.

**Junior** · 27/10/2009, 9:04 AM

Originally Posted by Morbo

I think he will probably go with Lawrence instead of Hunt, Lawrence had a good game against Italy and tracked back well which I think will impress Trap, he is also more likely to be able to exploit Evra's lack of height.

You're probably right with this one. Id still say McGeady would be ahead of Hunt in Traps mind regardless of the Lawrence decision.

**macdermesser** · 27/10/2009, 9:06 AM

I wonder has the thought crossed Traps mind to play Kilbane on the left of a five man midfield for the game in Paris .. with Finnan slotting in at right back and O Shea on the left. Keane playing deep. It would be an ultra defensive move .. I guess it would hinge on us getting a result in Dublin. It would be a bit of a similar move as to when Mc Carthy used to slot in Finnan onto the right of midfield. Or Charlton sticking Staunton and Mc Grath into the middle.

**foureyes** · 27/10/2009, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by macdermesser

I wonder has the thought crossed Traps mind to play Kilbane on the left of a five man midfield for the game in Paris .. with Finnan slotting in at right back and O Shea on the left. Keane playing deep. It would be an ultra defensive move .. I guess it would hinge on us getting a result in Dublin. It would be a bit of a similar move as to when Mc Carthy used to slot in Finnan onto the right of midfield. Or Charlton sticking Staunton and Mc Grath into the middle.

i can't imagine anything other than a 4-4-2 in both legs, unless we won maybe 2-0 at home. even then in the away game i think it would still be a nominal 4-4-2 with keane dropping back or doyle going wide. i just don't see him tinkering with the system now.

**Den Perry** · 27/10/2009, 9:32 AM

Originally Posted by Emmet7

Who picks the team, Trap or Andy Reid?

Like I said, if he wants to play for Ireland bad enough, whether he was in the right or wrong, just say sorry, if that's what needs to be done, even if he did no wrong.

Otherwise it seems clear Trap won't pick him.

If he says sorry and Trap still doesn't pick him, it's clear Reid doesn't fit into Trap's plans.

There can be only one manager.

Why is it people who haven't managed an U10 soccer team think they know more about football than Trap who has 23 major trophies under his belt?

Trap is not a fool, I wish people would get that through their heads.

I agree, Trap is not a fool.However you are one

**Crosby87** · 27/10/2009, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Kilbane has given his all for the whole campaign, it would be unfair to drop him at this stage.

And there is no chance Trap would drop him.

**lionelhutz** · 27/10/2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Morbo

I'm a big fan of Kilbane but Trap has gotta do whatever gives us the best chance of qualifying for SA. Whether or not Finnan would improve the team is debatable, I think his best days are behind him but he would probably be an improvement on Kilbane.

Probably an improvement on Kilbane??!! Are you serious? Liam Miller at left full would be an improvement on Kilbane. Lets be honest here, Kilbane is a nice guy and all but he's an awful footballer. Steve Finnan was, and still is, a class act at full back. There's no question in my mind that Finnan should start at RB and O'Shea at LB.

Finnan has been back for three games for Portsmouth and they've kept two clansheets and have got their only 4 points this season. Thats no coincidence.

**Junior** · 27/10/2009, 11:50 AM

out of interest has anyone got Finnans player marks in those 3 games?

**Scram** · 27/10/2009, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Probably an improvement on Kilbane??!! Are you serious? Liam Miller at left full would be an improvement on Kilbane. Lets be honest here, Kilbane is a nice guy and all but he's an awful footballer. Steve Finnan was, and still is, a class act at full back. There's no question in my mind that Finnan should start at RB and O'Shea at LB.

Finnan has been back for three games for Portsmouth and they've kept two clansheets and have got their only 4 points this season. Thats no coincidence.

Agree that.

**Morbo** · 27/10/2009, 1:39 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Probably an improvement on Kilbane??!! Are you serious? Liam Miller at left full would be an improvement on Kilbane. Lets be honest here, Kilbane is a nice guy and all but he's an awful footballer. Steve Finnan was, and still is, a class act at full back. There's no question in my mind that Finnan should start at RB and O'Shea at LB.

Finnan has been back for three games for Portsmouth and they've kept two clansheets and have got their only 4 points this season. Thats no coincidence.

Yes I'm serious, I think you are exaggerating how bad Kilbane is, yes he has made a couple of blunders this campaign but in fairness to him LB isn't his natural position. I think O'Shea is competent at LB but he is better at RB or CB so you are losing something from O'Shea by moving him, Trap also has to take into account the effect of breaking up a settled back four would have at this stage. I personally probably would start Finnan but I don't think its as clear cut as you make out.

**Colbert Report** · 27/10/2009, 2:14 PM

Finnan used to get stuck playing LB to accomodate O'Shea at RB.

**irishfan86** · 27/10/2009, 6:40 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Finnan used to get stuck playing LB to accomodate O'Shea at RB.

Not trying to be pedantic, but Finnan played left-back or right-mid to accommodate Carr playing at right-back, not O'Shea. When O'Shea emerged as an Irish international, he played for us predominantly at left-full, and then in centre-midfield.

**Colbert Report** · 27/10/2009, 7:07 PM

No, I'm sorry, you're mistaken. I'll get the match reports up on here. Finnan definitely had to play left back to make room for O'Shea at RB one many occasions, I'm sure of it.

**irishfan86** · 27/10/2009, 7:11 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

No, I'm sorry, you're mistaken. I'll get the match reports up on here. Finnan definitely had to play left back to make room for O'Shea at RB one many occasions, I'm sure of it.

O'Shea broke through at Man United as a left-full during the Kerr era, and that's where he played for us primarily as well. He played central midfield, centre-half, and left-full during Stan's reign.

As far as I'm aware, Trap is the first Ireland manager to use O'Shea as a right-full.

You're right that Finnan had to play left-full, but that was so Carr could play at right-full (during Mick/Kerr era), not O'Shea.

**richieos** · 27/10/2009, 7:15 PM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

O'Shea broke through at Man United as a left-full during the Kerr era, and that's where he played for us primarily as well. He played central midfield, centre-half, and left-full during Stan's reign.

As far as I'm aware, Trap is the first Ireland manager to use O'Shea as a right-full.

You're right that Finnan had to play left-full, but that was so Carr could play at right-full (during Mick/Kerr era), not O'Shea.

It happened with O'Shea at right full under stan as well.