Paul McShane

[ifk101]

Trap will go for Paul McShane.

Why? "the little things" - Trap will not make any widespread changes to the team, any changes made will be kept to a minimum. McShane is a player he is familiar with and that has been around since Trap's appointment.

It was interesting to see that he chose to use McShane as a sub in the Georgian game. I thought that substitution was unnecessary but I think it was Trap's way of saying to McShane you're outside the starting 11 now but you're still in my plans and I trust in your abilities.

[Wolfie]

I'd leave Dunne / O'Shea at centre half in order to allow that partnership every chance of developing to its full potential.

I'd be more comfortable with O'Brien filling in at right full for the Cyprus game.

I think O'Brien is more composed on the ball in comparison to McShanes "Braveheart" footballing style.

[tetsujin1979]

Joey O'Brien has been playing centre midfield for Bolton this season, and has been ever since Megson took over. I don't think he's ever played right full for Ireland, and putting him in there for the Cyprus game is a bigger risk than playing Foley IMO.
O'Shea and Dunne have been solid so far, with O'Shea playing better than he has ever done for Ireland. I know I've harped on about this before, but Kerr's first big mistake was making unforced changes against Israel at home when 2-0 up, moving Duff up front, Kilbane to the left, and introducing Kavanagh. With Trapattoni's experience, I can't see him making the same mistake.
Trapattoni clearly rates McShane ahead of the injured Kelly, so I think it'll be him who starts. If Foley excels in training in the run to the game, he may come on as a late subsitute. As ifk101 pointed out above, this would be the same confidence booster for him, as the late introduction for McShane was against Georgia.
Foley may get a run in the Poland game in November, but not beforehand, and I'd still start with Kelly, if he's available. Finnan can have the night off, he will be needed for bigger games in the new year

[dr_peepee]

If Foley excels in training in the run to the game...

Or the game against Forest!!

I also see Trapp going with McShane despite what I believe...

[OwlsFan]

Or the game against Forest!!

I also see Trapp going with McShane despite what I believe...

Good to see McShane part of a defence which again didn't concede a goal.

[irishultra]

mcshane hasnt given young a sniff.

[eirebhoy]

mcshane hasnt given young a sniff.

Haven't watched the match but 2 comments from a neutral thread of Celtic fans:

"McShane is garbage."

"McShane is brutal. "


Any reason for those comments on today's performance or is a case of people exaggerating a McShane mistake as usual?

[irishultra]

few rash tackles but he was solid, well to my eyes anyway,

[tricky_colour]

For what it is worth Paul is in the Actim top 100 at no 67.
I don't know how it is compiled, but it is based upon every match he play and
I doubt the compilers have any particular bias towards him.
Andy O Brien is also in there.

[irishfan86]

Just watched the game there.

Struggled in the first half a bit, but settled as the game went on.

Was solid defensively, but very poor on the ball. Poor crossing and passing in general.

[eirebhoy]

Pretty much why he's a centre half tbh. He's a defender and nothing more. Full backs these days are more about attacking than defending.

[WexCar]

sunderland have recalled him from his loan spell at hull

[dr_peepee]

He played centre half last night for Hull. I only literally caught the last few minutes but the commentater said he was "Solid All Night"..... I still don't know how anyone sees him at right full.

Surprised to hear he was recalled. Will be interesting.

[tricky_colour]

I bet he won't be too pleased if he is recalled and ends up sitting on the bench
Mind you, he is Sunderland's second best player according to Actim to 100, and Hull's 5th best, and Irelands 4th for that matter (excludes Championship players)

[Wolfie]

I think people should make a judgement with their own eyes as opposed to the Actim 100.

[tricky_colour]

I think people should make a judgement with their own eyes as opposed to the Actim 100.

Unfortunately it is not possible to watch every player in every match with your own eyes thats why they use many people to do it.
It's easy to have one bad (or good) match cloud your judgement.
It does seem to reflect most peoples opinons quite accurately though and people who are generally beleived to be playing well tend to be at the top.
I actually think it is a very good form guide.

[eirebhoy]

As I said in the Irish abroad thread. Hull's only 2 clean sheets since October have been McShane's 2 games at centre half against Newcastle. And Newcastle have very rarely been kept scoreless this season.

[Wolfie]

Unfortunately it is not possible to watch every player in every match with your own eyes thats why they use many people to do it.
It's easy to have one bad (or good) match cloud your judgement.
It does seem to reflect most peoples opinons quite accurately though and people who are generally beleived to be playing well tend to be at the top.
I actually think it is a very good form guide.

As a form guide - fair enough.

I have to admit, I know next to nothing about the actim 100 - does it have any pretentions above being anything but a form guide?

I just think such stat gathering doesn't provide a true practical worth (or lack of) of a player and what he can contribute to a team ethic.

[irishfan86]

I think the Actim and other statistical databases can be useful, but need to be used in tandem with common sense.

I heard that Roy was becoming very reliant on technology such as this: http://www.soccerperformance.org/spe...nalsystems.htm

This sort of thing can lead to the exclusion of players like Andy Reid, who will be shown on the tracking system to be doing less tracking back, tackling, etc.

Systems like those don't really detect guile and creativity too well. Instead of a penetrating ball that the defender just managed to get to, it's counted as a giveaway, for example.

[Wolfie]

I think the Actim and other statistical databases can be useful, but need to be used in tandem with common sense.

I heard that Roy was becoming very reliant on technology such as this: http://www.soccerperformance.org/spe...nalsystems.htm

This sort of thing can lead to the exclusion of players like Andy Reid, who will be shown on the tracking system to be doing less tracking back, tackling, etc.

Systems like those don't really detect guile and creativity too well. Instead of a penetrating ball that the defender just managed to get to, it's counted as a giveaway, for example.

Yes - that expands on part of the point I was trying to make.

Again, to reiterate. As a form guide - I can accept and understand that.

I'm sure the statistical accuracy captured is sound, with certain methodologies applied - but would you make a practical selection of a particular player for a particular game based on the data?

Consider this scenario:

Steven Finnan crosses the ball across the bows of the Dutch defence. Jason McAteer, unmarked, shapes up to strike the ball.

Freeze the frame.

What was Jason McAteers Actim 100 score at that moment?

Did we really care or did it make a difference?

Was it really going to make a difference statistically what his score was when what was required was composure under pressure and various chains of events that led him to be right there, at that moment?