IRELAND MANAGER Giovanni Trapattoni has pleaded with Richard Dunne to postpone any retirement plans.
In the wake of his side’s Euro 2012 failure, rumours have begun to circulate concerning the futures of senior players such as Shay Given, Damien Duff and Dunne.
With players such as James McClean, James McCarthy and Darron Gibson set to be blooded at international level, Trapattoni has called for irreplaceable Dunne to consolidate his position in the Ireland side for years to come.
The Italian admitted to asking the Aston Villa defender not to retire, but conceded that the player’s family could sway his decision.
“He smiled, but I have to convince him,” Trapattoni said. ”Sure, there is a possibility that he will speak to his family, but in this moment we need Dunne again.
“We don’t have another like him. Maybe we have options in place of Damien Duff, but with Dunne, we need him in his position.”
After three consecutive defeats in the group phase of Euro 2012, Ireland will look to reach back-to-back major tournament finals as they kick off their World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign with a trip to Kazakhstan in September.
There was really no need for the Duff comment in there, nobody wants to feel expendable, even if he is hanging up the green boots.
very true, although might it just be pragmatism lost in translation?
After four years and eight million euro-it shouldn’t be.
Billy maybe you should apply to take up Robbies position and show us all how wonderful a player you are!
Ann, what are you actually talking about, I made no reference in this post to Robbie Keane.
We should have Dunne things differently.
I love the way Andrews threw a wobbly when he got sent off. We need more passion like that in the team.
Dune should hang in there hes a good solid centre back,
Glen Whelan should retire in place of Dunnie.
It looked like he already did.
Not surprising,no mention of Keane retiring.He will only go kicking and screaming,useless bag of shite…
Appalling comment about our top goal scorer of all time and someone who has given everything to the green jersey, unlike a certain other Keane who you probably adore.
While I agree he should retire and he was poor this tournament, that’s a really harsh comment! I think hanging on to any of the older guard is possibly a bad idea, Trap should blood Clark and Duffy at the back, McLean and Coleman on the wings and Long up front in place of Keane
Ru ni digs, Robbie may well be past his best but at least he has shown commitment to the cause. Unlike the other keane who walked out on his country when we were actually at a world cup.
I hate to say it but you are kind of all backing Roy Keane’s argument up here.I laugh every time I hear “Robbie’s Ireland’s highest goal scorer”.Yes who held the title before him ??? Niall Quinn,an average to below average player,if it wasn’t for his height,he would have scored far less goals.Let’s go back and look Robbie’s goals tally.Most of his goals came against lower opposition and in games that count for nothing.Alex Ferguson was so right when he said that he wasn’t worth 300 grand…Yes,a celebration and acceptance of mediocrity and banality,it’s seems it’s the Irish way,for the most part!!!
The amount of goals Keane has scored against weak teams is unreal. In competitive games against big teams he hasn’t really did it. 1 against Holland in 2000 in a game we f**ked away, 1 against Germany at the world cup, 1 against Russia in a game that was already over,1 in Italy in a qualifier and 1 in Paris in 2009. And if you want to count the penalty against Spain in 2002 that’s 6 goals against good opposition in 72 competitive games.
Superman wears Richie Dunne pyjamas !!!!
How about if we plead with Trap to retire.
I think all these press conferences are ridicules just let Trap do his job
Richard “a lot” Dunne, but still more to do.
I agree, the other keane did walk out when we needed him most but he never was shite on the pitch like robbie.
Long live the iron curtain… go on Richard Dunne!!
Dunne, pls stay!
Here here. Duff and Given to hang around for Brazil aswell.
@Paul. Look at the goal records of any major international striker. They all score a load against weak opposition. That is the nature of international football. Robbie has scored against Germany, Italy, France, Holland a few times, Croatia, Czech, Yugoslavia, Spain, Russia, Turkey and Iran as well as all the minnows. The truth is he is now past it and will become a more bit part player if he continues. Long, Walters and Doyle will hopefully spearhead the next campaign.
forget the world cup…we need to blood the young players like Germany did after euro 200 when they were hopeless.
hanging onto the likes of dunne and given is not gonna give the young players a chance to play and learn.
andrews…st ledger.whelan..ward..mcgeady..doyle..not good enough.
give the youth a chance!!
Can’t see how the team can be changed just like that. With 1 friendly and 5 or 6 training sessions to go before the first qualifier there is no way the team can be settled in time.
Mcgeady, Doyle and St. Ledger all have a role to play. I would be happy to see alternatives to Andrews, Whelan and Ward being blooded alright.
euro 2000!..lol