The Irish Football Team Thread

A team Trap would put out:

Given

McShane, St Ledger, Dunne, Kilbane

Duff, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady

Doyle, Keane

A team any other manager would put out:

Given

Coleman, Dunne, Clarke, Ward

McGeady, McCarthy, Gibson, McClean

Keane, Stokes

And it's not just those 6 players. There's other guys like Kelly, Wilson, Ireland, Fahey, etc. who would improve our current starting line-up.

 

We both know the first team is not Traps starting 11 Ward and O'Shea are his full backs. I dont think Duff should be dropped, he has a lot of experience and can still provide a threat. I agree with Stokes though, probably a bit biased being Celtic fans but I cant stand Doyle, he has gotten worse over the years imo, he would be my 5th choice striker.

My eleven would probably be

Given
O'Shea Dunne St.Ledger/O'Dea Clark
McGeady Whelan Andrews Duff
Keane Walters/Stokes​

 

If Kilbane hadn't picked up that injury, he'd still be in the team. Trapattoni thinks he's immortal. He loves McShane, as well.

Totally forgot about O'Shea altogether, though, to be honest. Really offers very little to the team...could've been a new Dunne for us, too.

 

Is that aimed at O'Shea?

 

Yes. Steady enough player, but nothing more.

 

Yeah I agree, I would prefer him to Ward though defensively.

 

But what style of play is it that he demands of the midfielders? Work tirelessly? Surely the more talented McCarthy, Gibson, Fahy or Meyler could do that? seriousley every single game Andrews and Whelan get dominated. When they get the ball they are told to pass it back to defence or out to the wingers, which is fair enough if they are doing well defensively but they arent. They get dominated everytime. I mean surely McCarthy could do a better job at holding midfield than Paul Green?

And I dont think Andrews or Whelan are *. I just think they are * for Ireland. Glen Whelan is first name on the team sheet but why? he plays * 90 percent of the time. Why was he the first name on the team sheet when he wasnt even getting a game at Stoke yet Andy and Steven Reid were playing reguler EPL football. Andy Reid was in the form of his life with Sunderland but didnt get a look in, instead Whelan who was benchwarming was starting every game. Its because he is buddies with trap, and trap doesnt realise we have better options because he cant be arsed to go to the stadiums and watch our players. He is getting enough money to do so. Instead he sits in hid mansion in Milan watching video taps. Also to be fair to Andrews he is improving and is always better when he is attacking and play making than he is defending.

A for the treatment of our players, sure he can pick who ever he wants. Just dont treat them like *. Lets look at one of our most talented players in years, S.Irelands situation. Ireland was ready to comeback and was willing to meet with Trap and get the issue sorted, But when Trap rings him and starts screaming at him in Italian, Ireland see's it as a lack of respect and closes the door on a comeback.

Marc Wilson a guy who commits himself to us ahead of N.Ireland, gets injured and cant play in a friendly. Hasnt been called up since and wont get a call up anytime soon unless he apologises to trap for being injured. And Trap said he could go back to NI if he wants as he isnt bothered. Some manager eh.

Andy Reid in the form of his life, gets ignored because he was playing the guitar one night in a hotel after a game, a stupid mistake you might say. Trap doesnt like this and says he will never play for Ireland again and he hasnt since.

Joey O Brien, a decent young player who got man of the match in his last game for Ireland before Trap took over, was called up for a couple of games but retired because Trap was ignoring him and still didnt know his name after almost a year.

Steven Reid played immense in Traps first two games and was totally suited to traps style. Got a big injury and was ruled out for a year. When he came back Trap told us he will never play for Ireland again as he will never be fit enough to play international footie. He plays every week for West Brom but hasnt played for Ireland again since Trap said he wouldnt.

Tony Stokes has been scoring and playing alot for Celtic over the last two years but has only had 10 minutes of international footie under trap who doesnt seem to rate the SPL. Instead we got Andy Keogh who plays in the championship. Stokes has scored more goals in the last two seasons than Keogh has in his whole carreer. Hasnt been called up since he pulled out of a game with an injury.

Seamus Coleman playing loads for Everton, gets called up and travels across the world with the team for friendly matches and euro qualifiers, has to warm the bench every game knowing he won get a chance as Stephen Hunt will be coming on. Has only had five caps, most of them as subs.

Same goes for McCarthy, was told last year by trap he can go play for Scotland if he wants instead of convincing him to stay. Commits to us and shows up for every game knowing the likes of Paul Green will get on ahead of him. Only has three caps with two of them as a sub.

Kevin Foley and been called up everytime for the last two years for very rarely gets a chance. Only has 8 caps in three years despite playing almost every game for Wolves in the EPL last year.

Ciaran Clark commits to us and plays in two games for us. Makes an error in a friendly game and hasnt been called up since despite playing regulery for Villa.

Steve Finnan came out of retirement after trap asked him yet he only called him up once and never played him.

Liam Lawrence told the media the last day his international carrer is over after he texted trap to ask why he was droipped and got a reply from trap saying 'thank you for your time with us'

There has probably been more that I forgot about. The man is a disgrace and the sooner he leaves the better. Anyway rant over.

 

Did Joey O'Brien retire? Just thought he was being ignored by Trap.

Still, better than Paul Green. But then, I'd rather have O'Shea in midfield than that fella.

 

I feel like crying, I had wrote about 5 paragraphs of a reply to this post and i clicked x by mistake

Ill try to sum up what i wrote as short as possible.

I dont think the players you've mentioned would be any better than Whelan or Andrews in Trap's system because they would be limited in terms of getting forward or creating, which is some of their strong points.

Plus why drop Whelan and Andrews when we are getting results and they are doing their jobs correctly. They might look like they are playing *, but they are only doing what the manager is telling them. You even said Whelan isnt *, only for Ireland, why do you think thats the case? Do you not think the same would apply to McCarthy etc ?

Andy Reid wouldnt suit Ireland's system, even if he was in the form of his life.
Steven Reid is plagued by injuries and that probably puts Trapatonni off because if he gets injured in the middle of a campaign that means making a change which would affect the cm partnership, something Trap evidently is against, seeing as he hardly ever changes the team.

Steven Ireland doesnt want to play for Ireland, end of. If any one of us were shouted at by Trap down the phone, would we still refuse to play for our country? * no.

Marc Wilson choosing rep of ireland over NI is irrelevant really. Never heard of Trap asking for an apology? is that true?

I agree about Stokes, but he clearly done himself no favours by not turning up last summer, that was stupid on his part.

I dont watch everton play ever, so ill admit ive seen coleman play only about five times, i cant really say whether he's better than hunt or not. Judging by hype id say he is though.

Joey O'Brien is no world beater, wouldnt get into the team.

Kevin Foley, no world beater either, some of the players you are mentioning are by no means actually better than who plays.

I highly doubt Trap told McCarthy he can play for Scotland if he wants? Sounds like bullshit.

Clark is a player ive liked when ive seen, id play him ahead of ward.

Finnan was too old, like 34 and wasnt needed when he came back, and again, how true is that text to Liam Lawrence?

 

More or less but I think he would come back if he was called up. He is playing regularly for West Ham again so its always a possibility.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/1026/obrienj.html

I think it was a knee * reation to not getting any games tbh but I do remember him saying that Trap still didnt know his name despite being at the training camp in portugal before traps first game. Disgrace if true.

 

Hate reading that kind of thing. Really hope we install an Irish manager in our next appointment. Someone who is good at motivating players and not making them feel like dirt, like Trap.

 

after all ive said about trap, how good would MON be ?

 

* one. Done it a few times myself.

What im saying is how do we not know McCarthy or Meyler might not do a better job at holding midfield than Whelan is doing? we wont know because trap doesnt give anybody a chance. Not even in a friendly which means nothing. Its always Whelan Whelan Whelan. If they were given a fair chance and did * then fair enough stick with Whelan but they arent being given a chance which is cracking me up. He keeps talking about expierience but what expiereince did Whelan and Andrews have when he took over? not a cap between them so he is obviously using that as an excuse not give players a chance. They will never get the expierience required if they arent given a chance here and there.

Ill take your point on Steven Reid but I would have had im in there in a heartbeat once he was fit again. Very underated player.

Ireland tried to make contact with trap a couple of times before the whole phone incident apparently. He wants to play for Ireland again, his fiancee said on some talk show last week but he wants to wait untill after the euros. He is in great form for Villa these days so id have him back.

It was in the papers about Wilson needing to apologise or he wont get called up ever again. Marc said he will apologise if thats what it takes but he hasnt a clue what he did wrong. They were quotes from Marc himself so I doubt it would be lies.

Joey O Brien was brillant in his few games for Ireland. Glen Whelan is no world beater but that doesnt mean he should be treated like a piece of dirt.

Kevin Foley is quality. Plays nearly every game for Wolves and can play in loads of positions. Saying he is no world beater is stupid when we dont really have no world beaters in or squad.

When the whole debate about McCarthy switching back to Scotland was happening, Trap said to the media 'James can go if he likes' and I seen that one myself. It was one of his media conferences before a game. I was shocked to say the least. By saying that he showed he doesnt give a * about the future of our national team as long as he gets the squad he wants, he can * off at the end of his contract and not give a * about us anymore.

Clark is a better player than St Ledger and O Dea and is playing regular EPL football whilst they are struggling in the championship. That should be enough for him to be ahead of them in the pecking order for me.O Dea has only started playing regularly this year ffs.

If Finnan was too old then why did trap ring him and ask him to come out of retirement? and he was only like 31 at the time same age as big Richie Dunne.

The Lawrence text thing was in the news last week. Dont know how accurate it is but it wouldnt suprise me if true.

 

They probably should be given a chance, I agree with that. Im not saying any Irish players are world beaters im just saying the likes of Foley and O'Brien wont really improve the starting eleven. I agree about Clark, but I would play him left back instead of Ward.

 

My mind went immediately to him, reading that article. His man management skills are the best around, and he'd have us not only qualifying for tournaments, but giving our all at challenging for them.

Wonder if he'd like the job part-time. :icon_mrgreen:

 

* that. I know MON is a great manager but we want someone committed to the cause. Managing my country shouldnt be a hobby. Its a full time job!

 

Trap treats it like a part-time job. How is it even possible to have an international job full-time, anyway? There's only so many games you can watch...

 

It would be near impossible to drag him away from Swansea but I think Brendan Rodgers should be our next national team manager. Would have us playing the football that we want.

I have a lot of respect for Trap for getting us to Euro 2012 but it reminds me so much of the WGS era with Celtic. We are successful but the football is dire and he isn`t picking the right players imo. There is absolutely no doubting that the man is a brilliant manager. He needs to be bringing these young players through. We have a lot of talent but it isn`t being used. I dread to think what Spain will do to this very slow team in the summer. There is going to be a lot of pressure on McGeady to bring us through some of these games by himself

 

We can have a gaffer that watches a game with potential players every week or one that has to watch his club every week, I know which I would favour.

 

This timelapse video taken at the Aviva before the game against the Czechs is quite cool;

[ame]http://youtu.be/qEwvxVQQ08E[/ame]