AFTER EXPECTING TO be relieved of his duties as Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni finds himself still in a job.
It has barely been two weeks since a 4-1 win over the Faroe Islands followed the country’s biggest competitive home defeat at the hands of Germany but it’s back to business.
This afternoon, Trap will be at FAI headquarters in Abbostown to name his squad for what looks like being a particularly low-key international friendly against Greece on November 14.
Due to the opposition, the association would probably struggle to attract a full house in normal circumstances. And with some fans claiming they would make their feelings heard by staying away from future games when it was announced that the Italian was to continue, the game could well be played in front of a half-empty Aviva Stadium.
Trap agreed to John Delaney’s wishes and has been spotted at two Premier League grounds in the last fortnight. Whether those visits will have a genuine impact on his selection, we won’t find out until 3pm.
Here are some changes we would like to see:
1. Bring in Wes Hoolahan
Trapattoni paid a visit to Carrow Road for the meeting of Norwich and Arsenal the weekend before last. He has complained about going to games only to discover that the players he had hoped to watch were not playing in the past, so will have been glad to learn that both Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington started for Chris Hughton’s Canaries.
While Pilkington was industrious on the winger and could suit Trap’s system, it was 30-year-old Hoolahan who stood out behind Grant Holt. The Dubliner then followed that performance up by being awarded man-of-the-match in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday. Trap doesn’t see him as fitting into a traditional 4-4-2 formation but he deserves to be given a chance nonetheless.
2. Kevin Doyle is fit again
Ruled out of the last two qualifiers with a thigh injury, Wolves forward Doyle has since returned to club action and scored two goals in the draw with Bolton last Tuesday. He may find himself down the pecking order but is still one of the best strikers the country has to offer and is expected to be recalled today.
3. The return of Kevin Foley
Full-back Kevin Foley, frustrated at being initially picked for Euro 2012 only to lose out to Paul McShane, has seemingly indicated that the disappointment of the summer has passed and he could be ready to return to the international fold. In the past couple of months, Seamus Coleman has seized his opportunity with a number of defenders out through injury and Foley will have to be happy as back-up but he is worthy of a spot in the squad. If he does, in fact, want it.
4. Pick Ciaran Clark
Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark only received a call-up for the Germany and Faroe games after it emerged that Sean St Ledger and Glenn Whelan would play no part.
He didn’t feature in either game but should be given an opportunity to prove his Premier League pedigree and with Marc Wilson out for up to four months with a broken leg, will be a valuable addition as he can play in a number of positions across the backline.
5. Leave Robbie Keane out
Is there really any need to fly the Ireland skipper 5,000 miles for a non-competitive game? Surely not. It would be much more beneficial to try out a Jon Walters/Shane Long partnership than add one more cap to the 122 the 32-year-old already has. Yes, he is the country’s all-time record goalscorer but he was poor again against the Faroes and it is time to plan for the future.
This game should be played in Tallaght or Thomand Park in front of a full house… There won’t be 20,000 in Lansdowne Rd for this.
The day Paul green got minutes on a pitch was the day I lost all respect for trap .
Looks a bit like Messi is he as good?
It’s time to extend our national pool, get Hoolahan, Pilkington, Foley, Gibson, Clark, Brady, Meyler, Joey O’Brien etc into the squad to challenge for places in the qualifiers, leave out Keane, Whelan, Andrews, Westwood & McGeady.
Agree with you regarding extending the pool of players but a bit of realism would be nice there Robert. Leave out Westwood and play who in goals? Richie Dunne maybe? Andrews was our best player at the Euros. Ridiculous shout.
Exactly and if u look at the team with all these players that were left out before it actually starts to look like a pretty decent team that would be able to pass the ball a bit the players u mentioned and McCarthy McLean Doyle
leave out Westwood and Andrews? gonna have to stop you there.
McGeady had the most assists in Euro qualifying, sure he’s incredibly frustrating – but without him we have very little threat going forward.
I would say leave Keane out of this squad, no point in flying over for a friendly, he has to play in competitive games – like it or not he has more class about him then the rest of our strikers combined.
Bang on Eric. Robbie hasn’t been laying well lately but he’s had an unbelievable career for Ireland. It’s not right to throw him on the scrapheap just yet. Saying that- flying him halfway across the world for a meaningless friendly is a wasted effort and leaving him out is a good opportunity to try new combinations up front. #122 #54
Mcgeady does something good only every 5 or 6 games at best. That seems to be enough to keep him in the team. He is on nobody else’s wavelength but his own. Drives me mad. If he was any good he would be playing in the premiership. All is forgiven zinedine kilbane. ;-)
McGeady is our only player in the Champions league this year. He doesnt have to play in the premier league to play for a good team, that’s just naive.
Not eric R, that is a rubbish argument. Playing in the champions league does not automatically make you a good player. I could give loads of examples but for now remember Djimi Traore. He even has a winners medal, and he was crap. The natural step up from playing in scotland is the premier league, and nobody really wanted him that badly. A bag of tricks that don’t work most of the time. That’s all mcgeady is. Like the free toy with a happy meal.
Teams in the premier league wanted him! He chose champions league football and big money! Natural progression from Scotland to England, we’ve too many players playing in poor English sides, he made the right decision to go to Russia and play for a better team. Without him we would score far less goals, like it or not he’s one of our only players who can beat a man. He’s one of about 3 of 4 players in our team with speed. Coleman is a full back before you say he should play instead, McClean is just as infuriating with his crossing ability, and Duff has retired from international football.
Brady looks like an excellent prospect, but that’s all he is. I would much rather have Spartak Moscow’s first choice left winger in my team than a Man United reserve player.
As a Norwich supporter I’m absolutely shocked that Hoolahan and Pilkington haven’t had their chance at competitive level. They were 2 of our 3 best players last season and since they came back into the side this turn we’re starting to see an upturn in fortunes. Pilkington is a real class act, running at defences causing opposition all sorts of problems and has a real eye for goal. As for Wes, he’s fabulous as the link man between the midfield and forward line, loves to play some real dangerous through balls and has great passing ability. Trap was at the Arsenal game where Wes was outstanding, I don’t think he has any choice but to pick him after that result and display.
I like Wes Hoolahan, I think he’s a good player. But surely as a Norwich fan you can see he doesn’t work in a 2 man centre midfield? Especially one that is focused solely on sitting in front of a back four! He’d be completely wasted on the wing also.
To bring him into the team would mean a change of formation, going to 1 up front and leaving only 1 position between Keane, Walters, Long & Cox.
If he’s that good it would be worth it, but for the moment I’d stick with two up front.
He may have been quite useful Vs Gerrmany in terms of actually keeping the ball!
You can still pass the ball and be creative in a flat 4-4-2. Something we are actually really lacking in our centre is midfielders good enough to hold and pass the ball. And he can adapt to different formations without hassle. To many one trick ponies in the team, time for change.
I agree, it’s possible. But whether himself in beside Andrews or Whelan would provide enough cover for our poor back four I just dont know. Against weaker opposition, and teams we are more or less equal to, he could be useful, but against teams that are really going to dominate us we need two more defensive players, I’ll admit, this sounds stupid after the germany game
@Not Eric Where does Glen Whelan come into it???
After he showed the whole world during the Euros, that he is nowhere near good enough for international level and with James McCarthy now established, Glen Whelan should most definitely be consigned to the periphary of the squad!
I watched a cameo of ‘Jacob’ who plays as holding mids for West Brom. Someone could do with sending that video to Poor Glen to show him that a real defensive midfielder is mobile, actually wins tackles and makes blocks and can also play a forward pass to hurt a team! Glens days of ‘shadowing’ and jogging round the Irish centre circle should be well and truly finished!!
@Nigel Plenty of players had bad tournaments, Whelan when playing well is better than Andrews.
I assume all of you negative Ned’s in here think Brazil 2014 is out of the question? If so, Hoolahan will be 35 for the next Euros – really progressive bringing him in now.
@Nigel Unfortunately we don’t have players of the technical ability of Argentina, nor are we able to field them for Ireland so naming Yacob, is pretty pointless. Yes there are players that can tackle and pass, but we are not blessed with them so we play a way our players are suited to.
whatever you say about mcgeady he’s twice the player Mcclean has been this season. the latter was savage from Jan to June but has been useless since.
IM a villa fan and too be honest I think Clark is a liability..fair enough he scores some goal .be he’s a small be dogey at the back…still young and IM sure he get better with time ..south Trapp with be risking his job by picking for for qualifier so call up for friendly are pointless
Leave Kramer out but only for the friendlies. I would have him on the bench for the qualifiers
Keane out
Kramer is brilliant- Especially love the way he slides into Jerry Seinfelds apartment. Brilliant cameo in Curb Your Enthusiasm too in the Danny Dooberstein episode. Note sure what he’s got to do with the Ireland team though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riv1yzjg5vw
Save the money on Keanes flights put it to one side and it can go towards getting rid of Trap