Martin Rowlands

**robbie_B** · 04/10/2009, 7:53 PM

Originally Posted by gufct

he is a class player who has been very unlucky with injury. Trap was very impressed with him in thr Training camp in Portugal and was expected to start against Georgia but he picked up a knock and had to go back to QPR. He can play right back,right or central midfield and chips in with his fair share of goals.

When I last spoke to him about Ireland he was very positive about getting a chance. He said injuries are part of the game and he just gets on with it. For those of you who might be interested he qualifies through his grandparents who are from Wexford.

**paul_oshea** · 04/10/2009, 8:00 PM

I remember reading something in the paper, i thought it was to do with a grandparent from Mayo or something? Is his brother not the fella who played for england?

**gufct** · 04/10/2009, 8:04 PM

Your mixing him up with Kevin Gallen who Gerry Francis got to declare for England while his two brothers played with Ireland up to u21 level.Both his parents are Irish i have met them all and they are really nice people.

**robbie_B** · 04/10/2009, 8:07 PM

Damien Delaney said Rowlands was often over in Mayo but his roots are Wexford. Delaney also said Rowlands ipod was full of Irish songs but he best not start a sing song when Trap is around.

**paul_oshea** · 04/10/2009, 8:08 PM

sorry i realised as soon as i posted it.

Ya thats him. cheers gufc, one was from tip i think and one from mayo.

**FarBeag** · 04/10/2009, 8:28 PM

This is just not fair on Andy Reid, a premiership player who not only played out of his skin for the last few months but was excellent against Man u yesterday.

I like Martin Rowland�s, always have and he has being very unfortunate not to be a regular in the Irish team by now. Normally I would be delighted with his call up but at the expense of Reid it overshadows it a lot.

**tricky_colour** · 05/10/2009, 1:57 AM

Andy Reid is the 56th best player in the Premiership on current form, that excludes his last match, according to Actim anyway. Rowlands is not in the top 100 in the championship. But whatever he may be a good player but he literally is in a different league to Andy Reid.
Robbie Keane is third in the index

**Deckydee** · 05/10/2009, 8:05 AM

Originally Posted by Deckydee

Hi,

Nice to see that someone started a thread on this player. If there is one player that can ever be called �the most unluckiest Irish international player� the one name will almost certainly be Martin Rowlands. Someone said above that he was supposed to be ahead of Whelan for the Serbia game and that is bang on. On the last training session before the match he twisted his knee and was sent back to England for tests. What I found, well, not to say amusing, but trying to find another word here, was the reaction of the other QPR fans on the message boards. They were itching to say it, you know what it is, but they never did. Probably a fear of getting kicked off the message board, God love them

)

Anywho, months passed before he got back to full fitness. I went to see QPR against Wolves in December and on that day he scored with a beautiful dipping shot. Not one of his best games by any means but Tardelli and Trapattoni were in the crowd that night watching. He then was told that he was going to be selected in the squad for the match against Georgia and but bad luck struck again at the weekend. Whilst playing against Derby he twisted under minimal contact and tore his anterior crucial ligament and by all accounts he is out for 9 months. I am broken hearted for him; he could have been the answer to our prayers. I think that he won�t play again.

I guess its not always easy being a professional footballer. He wanted so much to play for his country unlike some guys from Man City. A terrible terrible shame, and again I am broken hearted for him.

Indeed quoting myself

I am delighted that he has been called up, his performances for us this year have been nothing short of magnificent and yes barring an injury he should have been starting against Georgia

**Stuttgart88** · 05/10/2009, 9:50 AM

Originally Posted by FarBeag

This is just not fair on Andy Reid, a premiership player who not only played out of his skin for the last few months but was excellent against Man u yesterday.

I like Martin Rowland’s, always have and he has being very unfortunate not to be a regular in the Irish team by now. Normally I would be delighted with his call up but at the expense of Reid it overshadows it a lot.

Absolutely. If Rowlands is called up and Reid isn't then it's just ridiculous. Who Is Rowlands coming in to replace anyway? I can't find a mention of this in any Irish newspaper.

**Arnold Layne** · 05/10/2009, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

thats a bit of a kick in the teeth for reidie..

Yep, it is indeed.

Say goodbye to playing for Ireland again while Trapattoni is in charge.

**shakermaker1982** · 05/10/2009, 11:38 AM

I think it's because of doubts over Steven Reid's fitness Stutt's.

Reidy has been playing well of late, knuckled down, lost a bit of weight and still cannot get into the squad. I'd have Reid on the left over Hunt and McGeady every day of the week.

**Duggie** · 05/10/2009, 3:20 PM

this isnt right. ok i love trap and everything but andy's international career is been ruined. hes missing out on his best years when hes dying to play for his country. trap has signed for another 2 years, and must be so frustrated. i feel sorry for the guy.

**Noelys Guitar** · 05/10/2009, 3:32 PM

Terrible snub of Andy Reid. And it is a snub. Reid is playing better than any of our wingers at present. Its a fact and I don't buy the disruptive infleunce in the squad crap either. Reid does not come across like that at all. It is a bad footballing decision.

**paul_oshea** · 05/10/2009, 4:26 PM

WHy with every manager we have there is always a problem with picking hte best available playres, and yes it is always a case of this, and its a case with andy reid. At any given time he has been better than rowlands with or without weight!

**bishbash** · 05/10/2009, 8:09 PM

its a joke to be honest. he has no justification over this one. andy reid is fitter than he was, is playing regularly in the prem and playing well. there is no place for personal grudges. the lad is clearly desperate to play for his country and most importantly is good enough. trapatoni is a legend in the game and his achievements to date speak for themselves. but on this occassion his attitude is pathetic and in my opinion is a slight on the mans charachter. maybe he shouldnt havt spend time kissin a fellahs arse who doesnt want to play for his country and be a man and let bygones be bygones with players that do.

**LFCSixty/Eighty** · 05/10/2009, 8:13 PM

While I wouldn't want to begrudge someone like Martin Rowlands a call up, this is a shocking decision considering we have a player that is currently buzzing in the premier league.

I just hope Reid doesn't lose the head after this snub and call a day to his international career under trap and make it easy for him, cos I have a suspicion this is what trap wants him to do.

Better to keep up his current form and keep proving how wrong this decision is.

**robbie_B** · 05/10/2009, 8:16 PM

Originally Posted by bishbash

its a joke to be honest. he has no justification over this one. andy reid is fitter than he was, is playing regularly in the prem and playing well. there is no place for personal grudges. the lad is clearly desperate to play for his country and most importantly is good enough. trapatoni is a legend in the game and his achievements to date speak for themselves. but on this occassion his attitude is pathetic and in my opinion is a slight on the mans charachter. maybe he shouldnt havt spend time kissin a fellahs arse who doesnt want to play for his country and be a man and let bygones be bygones with players that do.

I see you point but Rowlands is a very different player to Reid. While Reid has been in fantastic form of late he wouldn't be able to do the role of sitting deep and protecting the back four. He isn't exactly known for tracking back and putting in tackles. Rowlands is well able to do that, his main problem is he can lose the head and make late tackles as he did against Swansea.

If Reid had been fit to take his place in Trap's first squad that went out to Portugal then he would have been given his chance. Rowlands clearly impressed during that training camp and has remained in his thoughts. We might not like it but I can't see a man of Trap's experience changing his mind.

**bishbash** · 05/10/2009, 8:58 PM

my point is that this is 100% not a football decision its a personal decision based on a disagreement that swhould be put to bed. absolutely nothin against rowlands delighted for the lad. however i dont think reid should be replacing anyone i think he should be in the original squad. he hasnt had the option of picking steven reid for almost the whole campaign so its not a case of tactics that he hasn't called andy reid up. for a man in his 70's its childish.

**robbie_B** · 05/10/2009, 9:10 PM

Shane Long's ankle injury might rule him out of the match so another player might be called up. Clinton Morrison or Reid could yet be on a plane to Dublin but with Trap it's hard to know what he will do.