He's put just about every disclaimer possible in there short of "if there was a massive plane crash and the whole team died." If Reid wants to be picked he's going to have to come out and say it. We've had enough players offer vague maybes about playing for their country in the past.
Reid played for ireland in the last campaign even when he was not 100% and he ended up being out for months. He owes us nothing. Even if he did announce a comeback there is every chance Trap would still not pick him. That would be pretty humiliating for him, surely then it needs Trap to make the move and ask him to come back.
“I’d always play Pirlo but Trapatoni says his first concern is to avoid losing goals. The truth is that we didn’t know what we were doing out there" Gennaro Gattuso, June 2004.
Charlie, lets assume SR is an honest lad and is as good as his word. If you were Trap would you call him up on it, for the duration of the campaign or would you think we have enough coming through to cover all bases?
Also, I wouldn't be too quick to call up a man begging him to recall me after he'd called me a crock!
“I’d always play Pirlo but Trapatoni says his first concern is to avoid losing goals. The truth is that we didn’t know what we were doing out there" Gennaro Gattuso, June 2004.
If I was Trap I'd say he hadn't shown enough desire. But then again I don't know what private conversations he and Reid have had.Originally Posted by geysir
Well, I know what conversation Reid had with Brady after he heard what Trap said about him...and lets just say Brady got an earful!
“I’d always play Pirlo but Trapatoni says his first concern is to avoid losing goals. The truth is that we didn’t know what we were doing out there" Gennaro Gattuso, June 2004.
There's two sides to this argument. Firstly - has he made himself available for selection? Ultimately the answer has to be no - he's indicated a willingness to play in case of an emergency, but nothing more than that. It's not the words of a player with real desire to play. In that case, unless there is an emergency (an injury based one), then he isn't in contention.
The other side is - does he warrant Trap asking him to come back? Or in another way, does his current form deserve a place in our current squad? Personally, again, I don't think so. If Reid's to come back to play for us, it would have to be at centre midfield, his best position and the position we have the clearest need for players. But he hasn't played centre midfield consistently for over two years.
If he was fit and playing well at centre mid for West Brom for a run of games (not that many even, 10 say), then I'd certainly be in favour of Trap bending and giving him the call. But, as it currently stands, if Trap is to make him a special case, Reid is going to have to warrant it.
This is no reflection on his past commitment and performance for Ireland, which was generally good and often excellent.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Bang on, and a November friendly versus Norway does not constitute an emergency. Fahey deserves his chance.
The Norway game does not count for a player in SR's situation.
We have already had our emergency at CM.
But if the squad was going into the same emergency scenario for the next couple of qualifiers, I would not like to depend on a Stoke benched Whelan to be the experienced head at CM that the others could play off. I would have little hesitation calling Steven Reid in as a valuable experienced back up.
Whelan's come out and said that if he's not getting football for Stoke by Christmas he'll have to do a Liam Lawrence and look elsewhere.
Links?
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
Great to read, fair play to Whelan.
Meanwhile, Delap is starting every game for Stoke in central midfield
Cue the 'Whelan to Celtic' rumours.
What would his likely destination/s be though..
Stephen Reid sustained his last two major injuries playing for Ireland, once against Germany and the second at the start of Traps first campaign. He is an injury away from retirement so you can't blame the guy.
As regards Whelan, I don't mind where he goes as long as its not Ipswich.
Always look on the bright side of life
only started 9 of the 15 games this season, and 2 of the last 5: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/ClubDetails?clubID=2477
Started right back for WBA against United, on Sky now.
Gone off with what looks like a minor injury just after 60 mins.
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