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‘I said, are you sure?’ – Trap throws doubt over Brady ‘psychological’ fitness

The Italian suggested placing ‘TBC’ on the team-sheet is an effort to motivate the midfielder.

A NEW IRELAND but same old Giovanni Trapattoni. In an otherwise assured pre-match press conference, the Irish manager added his usual element of uncertainty by suggesting Robbie Brady would only be in the team depending on his performance in training.

On first naming his team, Trapattoni put the young Hull winger in the XI but with a significant caveat.

“I spoke with him,” the Italian explained. “I said are you sure, you are OK? He said ‘I am sure, I am OK.’ I wish to see. I liked him against Poland. He must repeat this game and he promised me.”

Trapattoni also insisted that the issue with Brady was not physical or anything to do with an injury but “only psychological”. And, although it seems clear that Trapattoni’s words were no more than a technique to motivate the 22-year-old and that he will eventually start the game, the Irish boss said Andy Keogh would begin in the game in the event of Brady not being ready.

“Keogh [will play], but we are away from home and it’s different. Robbie is more offensive. He makes a great job and it’s important. I asked him, you must repeat this [against Poland] and he said yes, but I will ask him to confirm this.”

The other surprising decision was to start Paul Green instead of James McCarthy, but Trapattoni explained this was tactical and to do with someone covering Seamus Coleman’s occasional forays forward from right back.

“When he [Coleman] goes, we need a little bit, not protection, we decide this result is important. It is important we play our game.

“We play away. I have seen many Sweden games. International games are different physically, attitude, personality. If Coleman goes, we must also [cover].

“I have respect for McCarthy. Despite my respect for James, you cant say he is creative. He is good line to line, he is not creative. I hope he increase his personality. There are players who give time to other players. James is not typical player [like this], but he can grow as he is young enough and in a few years he could be better than [Glenn] Whelan.”

Trapattoni also expressed full faith in the young players, such as Coleman, he is beginning to use more.

“My duty after the Euros was to pay attention for qualify we lost Germany missing five players. We make also the friendly game against Poland and it changed slowly. These young players give me confidence and trust about what they can do. It is important they play how I see them in training and their clubs.

“We must play with same attitude, commitment, balance to achieve this good result. How we play against Poland, with commitment, balance, mentality.”

Trap places trust in Clark, Green as he names starting 11 to face Sweden

Caption Time: What is James McClean up to?

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9 Comments
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    Mute Gum Tree
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    Mar 21st 2013, 8:02 PM

    In a few years, McCarthy could be better than Glenn Whelan??? Ah now Trap, I know that you may feel the need to motivate one of your best players, by praising him so highly, but you should be careful to give him realistic goals. Maybe start with something achievable, like, say, “James, if you work really hard, maybe, in a year, you could be as good as Andy Keogh. If you continue to work hard, maybe the year after that you could reach Paul Green’s level”…but better than Glenn Whelan? I’m not sure it will do James McCarthy any good to have to handle the pressure associated with trying to live up to being called “the new Glenn Whelan”!

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    Mute Will
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    Mar 21st 2013, 7:37 PM

    Jaysis, how much longer do we have to listen to this sort of drivel.

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    Mute Nick Menezes
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    Mar 21st 2013, 7:38 PM

    So potentially Keogh and Green, two of our consistently worst player who should be last resorts to make the squad itself could be starting against the 2nd seeded team in this group?and Brady is not physiologically fit?even though hes performed better than the like of Keogh or Green in two seasons then they have in several?garbage.

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    Mute Darren Burke
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    Mar 21st 2013, 9:16 PM

    Still don’t understand why he names the team the day beforehand! All it does is give Sweden a heads up

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    Mute emmomac
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    Mar 21st 2013, 9:19 PM

    often entices the opposition into studying your team sheet for an evening potentially fixating on your game instead of their own

    GAA management 101

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    Mute Gerard Maher
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 1:57 AM

    Again you are talking nonsense. Trap plays the same game no matter what the selection so I dont think the Swedes will even care who is playing the tactics will be the same.

    Plus Green is starting so they are prob all out on the piss knowing how easy it will be tomorrow night….

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    Mute emmomac
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    Mar 21st 2013, 9:17 PM

    Have to say the man is spot on really. Of course there are questions over Brady’s mental state given his inexperience on the eve of such a big game. My issue would be with letting it out in the open. McCarthy should be a lot more vocal and take the lead. Again, spot on from Trap. Old fashioned in how he deals with the media but he knows what he is talking about when it comes to football.

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    Mute Gerard Maher
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 1:54 AM

    Wow Giovanni, your english has improved drastically since your press conference.

    McCarthty is ten times the player Paul Green is and Brady is a much better option than Keogh. I’m sure Brady can handle the pressure considering he has been playing with man united since he was 16. Ok he made a handful of first team appearances before moving to Hull but if you have seen Brady play he certainly is not lacking in confidence…

    Trap has to go. Simple as that.

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 10:05 AM

    I think the manager is senile and his own mental capacity is very questionable. The man needs to be relieved of his job and placed in an old folks home.

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