FAI...New Manager is Heimir Hallgrimsson

[Denn Forever]

Stephen Ireland is back on form and Andy Reid is flying fit at forest........

And what about the forgotten combination of these 2 players, doing well at WBA?

Wouldn't expect too many changes in personnel in the final squad.

[ludermor]

http://twitter.com/thisandyireland

[Applesisapples]

Any chance of young McClean making a late bid for the Euros squad?

Played well today on left hand side for Sunderland but with Duff,Hunt and McGeady all certain of their places, it may come too soon for him.

He looks a better bet than McGeady and is way better than Hunt.

FFS this is getting tiresome. What do people expect from McGeady playing in the system used by Trap? He has adapted his game to include all the tracking back required and as teams at international level are harder to break down he is not going to have the same attacking impact as playing in the SPL.

It annoys me to hear the predictable moaning when he loses possession.  In the current system he is often the out-ball, but when he gets possession what are his options? No overlapping full back, no central midfielder backing up the play, strikers not dropping deep but pushing into the box gambling that he can beat 2-3 men and get a cross over. The result is that McGeady has to continually take the defenders on but is often out numbered and dispossessed. Trap is happy with this in his system as losing the ball high up the pitch is fine when no other midfielders or defenders have been committed forward. The logic seems to be that it only needs to come off for McGeady 1-2 times in game to create a chance or score a goal, combined with the defensive system this should be enough to win the game.

McGeady always had the ability and now has the discipline to play in Trap's system. There are others that have ability like Coleman, McCarthy and possibly McClean (bit premature on this one I think) but may not have the discipline to fit into Trap's system. Anyone watching these players at club level thinking they would give Ireland something different is deluded. If they play for Trap they will have to play to suit his system, as McGeady does, and would they be any better in this role? I doubt it.

Why is someone elses opinion tiresome? it is a discussion board afterall.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Any chance of young McClean making a late bid for the Euros squad?

Played well today on left hand side for Sunderland but with Duff,Hunt and McGeady all certain of their places, it may come too soon for him.

Might be a bit too soon for him although he would probably be worth taking a flyer on as someone to throw on against tired teams with 20 minutes to go.

Duffer is coming towards the end though so McLean has a direct route into the squad after the Euros for definite.

[Leo]

Stephen Ireland is back on form and Andy Reid is flying fit at forest........

And what about the forgotten combination of these 2 players, doing well at WBA?

Wouldn't expect too many changes in personnel in the final squad.

Andy Reid is a bit time sub at Forest (same as he was at Sunderland when the Dublin cheerleaders were filling up air time on his behalf). Stephen Ireland is history, thank God.

[Leo]

Any chance of young McClean making a late bid for the Euros squad?

Played well today on left hand side for Sunderland but with Duff,Hunt and McGeady all certain of their places, it may come too soon for him.

He looks a better bet than McGeady and is way better than Hunt.

Also a better bet than washed-out Duff.

[Main Street]

Leo, this is your final warning

Yes it is true that Duff can't skin a player in the blink of an eye like he use to, but that was only a part of his game.

I've rarely seen him give the ball away or just lose possession. He is the best outfield player to receive the ball, he constantly makes himself available to receive the ball. His distribution is excellant. God knows how many free kicks he wins from the exasperated opposition. And he has still that lovely dink of a well placed cross into the box. His positioning and his covering play, is very good.
Next to Dunne, he's been our best player in the qualifying group games.

[From the Bunker]

Leo, this is your final warning

Yes it is true that Duff can't skin a player in the blink of an eye like he use to, but that was only a part of his game.

I've rarely seen him give the ball away or just lose possession. He is the best outfield player to receive the ball, he constantly makes himself available to receive the ball. His distribution is excellant. God knows how many free kicks he wins from the exasperated opposition. And he has still that lovely dink of a well placed cross into the box. His positioning and his covering play, is very good.
Next to Dunne, he's been our best player in the qualifying group games.

And so say all of us! Duff is one of the main reasons we will have summer soccer for the national team!

[Orangemac]

Leo, this is your final warning

Yes it is true that Duff can't skin a player in the blink of an eye like he use to, but that was only a part of his game.

I've rarely seen him give the ball away or just lose possession. He is the best outfield player to receive the ball, he constantly makes himself available to receive the ball. His distribution is excellant. God knows how many free kicks he wins from the exasperated opposition. And he has still that lovely dink of a well placed cross into the box. His positioning and his covering play, is very good.
Next to Dunne, he's been our best player in the qualifying group games.

+1.Duff is the best passer Ireland have. He may have lost his pace but he has the ability the way Ryan Giggs did to move into the middle of the field rather than the wing.

I know Trap is fiercely loyal but he has hinted at maybe 1 or 2 new faces coming in. I know if Stephen Reid was fit and had made up with Trap he would be a great addition to the squad, better than bringing McShane out of loyalty.

[Leo]

Leo, this is your final warning

Yes it is true that Duff can't skin a player in the blink of an eye like he use to, but that was only a part of his game.

I've rarely seen him give the ball away or just lose possession. He is the best outfield player to receive the ball, he constantly makes himself available to receive the ball. His distribution is excellant. God knows how many free kicks he wins from the exasperated opposition. And he has still that lovely dink of a well placed cross into the box. His positioning and his covering play, is very good.
Next to Dunne, he's been our best player in the qualifying group games.

+1.Duff is the best passer Ireland have. He may have lost his pace but he has the ability the way Ryan Giggs did to move into the middle of the field rather than the wing.

I know Trap is fiercely loyal but he has hinted at maybe 1 or 2 new faces coming in. I know if Stephen Reid was fit and had made up with Trap he would be a great addition to the squad, better than bringing McShane out of loyalty.

Look lads, I love Duff , always have, but he's a goner.
Good point about Stephen Reid - my understanding is that Trapp would have built his team around him but injuries blighted his career and while he is now back to his best in  anew role at WBA he has probably missed the boat.
Meanwhile Doyle is off the boil  big time, Robbie is touring the country looking for a club, Coleman & Walters are ignored and McGeady puffs and puffs but blows no houses down.
On the other hand Trapp has us punching well above weight with a very average squad indeed.

[omagh_gael]

How can you say Duff is a goner? He was easily in our top 3 players from the qualifying campaign. Yes he doesn't skin the opposition time after time but his game has changed, like Mc Geady's, and fits trap's system perfectly.

[ludermor]

I have to say i think Coleman is overhyped in Ireland, he had a few good games last year but i think he is very headless with the ball. He has missed half the season in an Everton team that has lost Arteta & Pinnear this year ( only a few games to injury )
Walters on the other hand is palying very good for Stoke and i can see him coming close to a starting position very soon.

[Denn Forever]

Any chance of young McClean making a late bid for the Euros squad?

Played well today on left hand side for Sunderland but with Duff,Hunt and McGeady all certain of their places, it may come too soon for him.

Might be a bit too soon for him although he would probably be worth taking a flyer on as someone to throw on against tired teams with 20 minutes to go.Duffer is coming towards the end though so McLean has a direct route into the squad after the Euros for definite.

I think this is Hunt's best position and can't see him being usurped for someone untried.

[Main Street]

The word is, Trap is going to cap McClean in the next friendly.

Hunt's game at the present time for Wolves, is out of sorts and literally all over the place. He has work to do to keep his place in the Irish squad. I'd say he responds better to having a clearly defined role on the pitch and someone on the sideline to prompt him on his positioning every 20 seconds.

[beer baron]

Anyone know when the FAI are letting everyone know if ticket applications were successful?The Email i got a few weeks back said it would be February but i'm hearing talk now it won't be until March