THE LAST STRETCH of the road to Poland is well and truly in sight.
At 10.45 on Friday morning, Giovanni Trapattoni will announce his squad for the first of three friendlies against the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary, which will bring us right up to the opening game of June’s European Championships.
The Italian believes he has assembled a group of players who are disciplined and motivated enough to follow the set of tactics which he feels best suits the team and, having led Ireland to a first major tournament in a decade, why would he look to change a successful combination at this late stage?
And while most of the Green Army will gladly follow this team with this style of play to Poznan, Gdansk and (who knows) beyond, some would argue that we could achieve so much more during a rare appearance on the continental stage if we swapped the conservatism for more expansive football and made a couple of additions.
When asked about the possibility of one particular winger linking up with the squad that day, Trap spoke of the media’s tendency to fire names his way whenever they discovered a previously, relatively unknown player.
During his reign, he has been quizzed about the omissions of Andy Reid, Stephen Ireland, James McCarthy, Steven Reid and Leon Best among others. Most recently, Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and James McClean have all been talked about as worthy candidates.
However, do any of them actually warrant inclusion or is it, as some analysts have spoken about, simply that their talents are being grossly exaggerated as a result of their absence?
Undoubtedly, each case is unique in its own right. Below, we will assess how all – the certainites, those on the fringes and the no-hopers – are faring at the moment and who should and shouldn’t be on the plane to Euro 2012.
Goalkeepers
Between the sticks looks to be a relatively closed shop but third choice could still be up for grabs. Injury was the only thing ever going to prevent Shay Given keeping hold of the No1 jersey and now he is back playing for Aston Villa, he will be adding to his 120 senior caps in Poznan on June 10.
Sunderland’s Keiren Westwood has been playing second fiddle to Simon Mignolet at the Stadium of Light but has shown enough to secure the position of first replacement and actually last played in a green shirt against Croatia back in August.
Paddy Kenny is back plying his trade in the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers but hasn’t featured since before Trap took the job, having omitted himself from Steve Staunton’s plans for personal reasons back in 2008. He is the most accomplished player to fill the role and theoretically should be pushing Westwood for his place, but a return is not on the cards.
David Forde of Millwall has become Trapattoni’s third goalkeeper and should remain so while he is playing regularly for the Championship club, although Joe Murphy has filled that role before and has become Coventry City’s No1 this season.
Paddy Kenny’s understudy Brian Murphy, Darren Randolph of Motherwell and Birmingham City back-up keeper Colin Doyle will need to do more if they have any aspirations of being considered in the near future.
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Defenders
Richard Dunne was arguably our best performer in the qualifiers and is one of the first names on the team sheet. Fellow stalwart John O’Shea will always play when fit while Stephen Ward has become the natural successor to Kevin Kilbane, whose international career appears to be over.
Sean St Ledger has been brought in from the cold at Leicester City and has started at centre-half for the Foxes in the past month. The return of Sol Bamba from the African Cup of Nations may spell the end of that but even when the 27-year-old’s club career hasn’t gone well, he has always given everything for the Irish cause when called upon.
Fulham full-back Stephen Kelly is probably Trap’s fifth choice defender behind that lot but contributed significantly across the backline throughout the campaign and even captained the team, albeit in a friendly defeat to Uruguay.
Further down the pecking order, Kevin Foley had been a squad favourite untill pulling out of the group games against Andorra and Armenia plus the play-offs with an ankle injury. He has returned to the Wolves team and should be back in but who would that spell bad news for? Ciaran Clark looks a fine prospect and, currently in an Aston Villa side brimming with Irish influence, is a player that many would love to see become a regular at international level.
At 26, Paul McShane seems to have been around forever. The former Manchester United trainee has wound up at Crystal Palace for the remainder of the season and although he became a figure of derision even before his part in the Thierry Henry handball, he was called up for the Estonia games.
Darren O’Dea filled in for Dunne in the second meeting with Andorra and is good to have as a reserve at centre-half. Damien Delaney, on the other hand, won’t be there.
Midfield
There is a huge amount of competition to be on the flight this summer but the midfield area is particularly crowded, meaning a couple who might fancy their chances now are sure to miss the final cut.
If we begin with the centre of the park, Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan is the partnership Trap has put his backing behind and, fitness permitting, there is no reason to think they won’t be the the middle two on June 10. Their talent and flair is evidently limited but the pair, and in particular Andrews, did grow in confidence as the campaign went on and are well versed in their manager’s instructions.
Next in line would seem to be Keith Fahey. The Birmingham City player has been used from the bench and as well as having the ability to link up play, Fahey poses a goal threat, although he hasn’t found the back of the net for club or country since August.
The Ireland manager had a chuckle when asked if he thought Darron Gibson’s move to Everton was a positive thing, saying it was well overdue. Joking aside, early signs are good as the Derryman has been thrown into the Toffees team and even scored the winner against Manchester City last week. He will be in the final 23 but must take the chance of regular Premier League football to improve on his game.
And then there’s James McCarthy. For sometime now, the Scottish-born 21-year-old has been looked upon as a future star of the national team but Trapattoni has yet to be convinced by his all-round game and remains unconvinced that the Wigan Athletic player warrants a starting berth.
On the flanks, something has got to give. Damien Duff is still a definite starter even though he will be in his mid-30s by the time Euro 2012 begins. It is no surprise as the Dubliner has given nothing but 100% in a green jersey for well over a decade but along with a few others, this will probably be his last contribution in a major tournament.
Aiden McGeady is a shoe-in for the other flank even if his performances are frustratingly inconsistent. The Spartak Moscow winger does possess that bit of magic that can turn a game on its head but we don’t see it nearly as much as we should.
But if you were to replace him, who would it be with? Stephen Hunt always looks his most dangerous when being sprung from the bench and should remain an impact sub.
Like McCarthy, Seamus Coleman is another young player many would like to see featuring prominently but the Toffees wideman doesn’t seem to be trusted at full-back because of his attacking nature, and there is also a reluctance to give him a fair shot at right wing at this moment.
The name on everyone’s lips this past couple of months is James McClean. Since Martin O’Neill’s arrival at Sunderland in December, the 22-year-old has rewarded the faith shown by his manager by putting in several exemplary displays – scoring three goals and assisting in a couple more along the way.
While the hype may come across as a little over-the-top, it is rare to find a player who shows all the attributes needed to make it at the top. McClean is quick, direct, has good control, an eye for a pass and is dangerous in front of goal. He is also a threat in the air and most importantly for Mr Trapattoni, has shown an excellent work ethic.
The media and fans alike have been calling for his inclusion for the Czech game, and although it is not something the manager often does, reports are that he will receive an invite to join up with the team. The paperwork needed for McClean to switch allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic has gone through so he has been given the all-clear.
Those left on the fringes are Andy Keogh, Liam Lawrence and Keith Treacy. All three are plying their trade in the Coca-Cola Championship with Millwall, Portsmouth and Burnley respectively and it is safe to say haven’t set the world alight this season.
Keogh is seen as a useful back-up player by Trap, Lawrence was a regular before his fall from grace while Treacy got a couple of chances to shine but never has. It wouldn’t be a major shock to see any of their names on the list but I feel we now have enough depth to leave them out, barring injuries of course.
Despite standing out for Norwich this season, there have been no hints to indicate that Wes Hoolahan or Anthony Pilkington will be in contention. Steven Reid, who publicly stated that he would be willing to make a return to international football, won’t be involved either.
Marc Wilson, meanwhile, hasn’t a hope of getting a shout until he apologises to the boss. According to the player, he has no idea what exactly for, however.
Forwards
The fact that Robbie Keane‘s short spell at Aston Villa has proved worthwhile is certainly a bonus and the hope is that he keeps that form up all the way to this summer. Whether you agree or not, however, there is no doubt whatsoever that team’s captain will start against Croatia in June if he is fit. Keane, the country’s all-time record goalscorer, has showed that he can still produce the goods in the Premier League with three goals so far for Villa.
Competition to play alongside him as the second striker is pretty fierce right now. Kevin Doyle has done an admirable job for a number of years but is going through something of a rough patch of late and replacing him is a real option as our strike force possesses decent strength.
Having made an eye-catching cameo in the final ten minutes of the Armenia game, Jon Walters gave the side a new dimension when he started in the first-leg play-0ff win over Estonia. The Stoke player was impressive in running the channels, holding up the ball and bringing other players into the game, and he doesn’t give defenders a second in possession.
The man he started ahead of that day due to injury, Shane Long, is also vying for the role. The Tipperary-native has been sidelined by injury and illness recently but is due to return to the West Brom team this weekend.
Long’s clubmate Simon Cox was relatively unheard of when called up last May but his performances in a green jersey since have justified his inclusion and, while he has had to think strongly about moving on from the Baggies in the summer, a trip to Poland is pretty much assured at this point.
Leon Best would certainly have also been in the reckoning but for last week’s knee injury, which may keep the 25-year-old out for the rest of the season after scans confirmed medial ligament damage. Celtic’s Anthony Stokes is having a fine season with the Glasgow club and has 17 goals to his name this season, but will miss out.
Which players deserve a call-up and who should be omitted? Have your say in the comments section below…
Trap Watch: What is the current state of affairs?
THE LAST STRETCH of the road to Poland is well and truly in sight.
At 10.45 on Friday morning, Giovanni Trapattoni will announce his squad for the first of three friendlies against the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary, which will bring us right up to the opening game of June’s European Championships.
The Italian believes he has assembled a group of players who are disciplined and motivated enough to follow the set of tactics which he feels best suits the team and, having led Ireland to a first major tournament in a decade, why would he look to change a successful combination at this late stage?
Any talk of introducing new players in the run-up to the competition was shot down at a press conference in Dublin last month, as Trap stated he would be staying loyal to those who got him this far.
And while most of the Green Army will gladly follow this team with this style of play to Poznan, Gdansk and (who knows) beyond, some would argue that we could achieve so much more during a rare appearance on the continental stage if we swapped the conservatism for more expansive football and made a couple of additions.
When asked about the possibility of one particular winger linking up with the squad that day, Trap spoke of the media’s tendency to fire names his way whenever they discovered a previously, relatively unknown player.
During his reign, he has been quizzed about the omissions of Andy Reid, Stephen Ireland, James McCarthy, Steven Reid and Leon Best among others. Most recently, Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and James McClean have all been talked about as worthy candidates.
However, do any of them actually warrant inclusion or is it, as some analysts have spoken about, simply that their talents are being grossly exaggerated as a result of their absence?
Undoubtedly, each case is unique in its own right. Below, we will assess how all – the certainites, those on the fringes and the no-hopers – are faring at the moment and who should and shouldn’t be on the plane to Euro 2012.
Goalkeepers
Between the sticks looks to be a relatively closed shop but third choice could still be up for grabs. Injury was the only thing ever going to prevent Shay Given keeping hold of the No1 jersey and now he is back playing for Aston Villa, he will be adding to his 120 senior caps in Poznan on June 10.
Sunderland’s Keiren Westwood has been playing second fiddle to Simon Mignolet at the Stadium of Light but has shown enough to secure the position of first replacement and actually last played in a green shirt against Croatia back in August.
Paddy Kenny is back plying his trade in the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers but hasn’t featured since before Trap took the job, having omitted himself from Steve Staunton’s plans for personal reasons back in 2008. He is the most accomplished player to fill the role and theoretically should be pushing Westwood for his place, but a return is not on the cards.
David Forde of Millwall has become Trapattoni’s third goalkeeper and should remain so while he is playing regularly for the Championship club, although Joe Murphy has filled that role before and has become Coventry City’s No1 this season.
Paddy Kenny’s understudy Brian Murphy, Darren Randolph of Motherwell and Birmingham City back-up keeper Colin Doyle will need to do more if they have any aspirations of being considered in the near future.
Defenders
Richard Dunne was arguably our best performer in the qualifiers and is one of the first names on the team sheet. Fellow stalwart John O’Shea will always play when fit while Stephen Ward has become the natural successor to Kevin Kilbane, whose international career appears to be over.
Sean St Ledger has been brought in from the cold at Leicester City and has started at centre-half for the Foxes in the past month. The return of Sol Bamba from the African Cup of Nations may spell the end of that but even when the 27-year-old’s club career hasn’t gone well, he has always given everything for the Irish cause when called upon.
Fulham full-back Stephen Kelly is probably Trap’s fifth choice defender behind that lot but contributed significantly across the backline throughout the campaign and even captained the team, albeit in a friendly defeat to Uruguay.
Further down the pecking order, Kevin Foley had been a squad favourite untill pulling out of the group games against Andorra and Armenia plus the play-offs with an ankle injury. He has returned to the Wolves team and should be back in but who would that spell bad news for? Ciaran Clark looks a fine prospect and, currently in an Aston Villa side brimming with Irish influence, is a player that many would love to see become a regular at international level.
At 26, Paul McShane seems to have been around forever. The former Manchester United trainee has wound up at Crystal Palace for the remainder of the season and although he became a figure of derision even before his part in the Thierry Henry handball, he was called up for the Estonia games.
Darren O’Dea filled in for Dunne in the second meeting with Andorra and is good to have as a reserve at centre-half. Damien Delaney, on the other hand, won’t be there.
Midfield
There is a huge amount of competition to be on the flight this summer but the midfield area is particularly crowded, meaning a couple who might fancy their chances now are sure to miss the final cut.
If we begin with the centre of the park, Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan is the partnership Trap has put his backing behind and, fitness permitting, there is no reason to think they won’t be the the middle two on June 10. Their talent and flair is evidently limited but the pair, and in particular Andrews, did grow in confidence as the campaign went on and are well versed in their manager’s instructions.
Next in line would seem to be Keith Fahey. The Birmingham City player has been used from the bench and as well as having the ability to link up play, Fahey poses a goal threat, although he hasn’t found the back of the net for club or country since August.
The Ireland manager had a chuckle when asked if he thought Darron Gibson’s move to Everton was a positive thing, saying it was well overdue. Joking aside, early signs are good as the Derryman has been thrown into the Toffees team and even scored the winner against Manchester City last week. He will be in the final 23 but must take the chance of regular Premier League football to improve on his game.
And then there’s James McCarthy. For sometime now, the Scottish-born 21-year-old has been looked upon as a future star of the national team but Trapattoni has yet to be convinced by his all-round game and remains unconvinced that the Wigan Athletic player warrants a starting berth.
On the flanks, something has got to give. Damien Duff is still a definite starter even though he will be in his mid-30s by the time Euro 2012 begins. It is no surprise as the Dubliner has given nothing but 100% in a green jersey for well over a decade but along with a few others, this will probably be his last contribution in a major tournament.
Aiden McGeady is a shoe-in for the other flank even if his performances are frustratingly inconsistent. The Spartak Moscow winger does possess that bit of magic that can turn a game on its head but we don’t see it nearly as much as we should.
But if you were to replace him, who would it be with? Stephen Hunt always looks his most dangerous when being sprung from the bench and should remain an impact sub.
Like McCarthy, Seamus Coleman is another young player many would like to see featuring prominently but the Toffees wideman doesn’t seem to be trusted at full-back because of his attacking nature, and there is also a reluctance to give him a fair shot at right wing at this moment.
The name on everyone’s lips this past couple of months is James McClean. Since Martin O’Neill’s arrival at Sunderland in December, the 22-year-old has rewarded the faith shown by his manager by putting in several exemplary displays – scoring three goals and assisting in a couple more along the way.
While the hype may come across as a little over-the-top, it is rare to find a player who shows all the attributes needed to make it at the top. McClean is quick, direct, has good control, an eye for a pass and is dangerous in front of goal. He is also a threat in the air and most importantly for Mr Trapattoni, has shown an excellent work ethic.
The media and fans alike have been calling for his inclusion for the Czech game, and although it is not something the manager often does, reports are that he will receive an invite to join up with the team. The paperwork needed for McClean to switch allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic has gone through so he has been given the all-clear.
Those left on the fringes are Andy Keogh, Liam Lawrence and Keith Treacy. All three are plying their trade in the Coca-Cola Championship with Millwall, Portsmouth and Burnley respectively and it is safe to say haven’t set the world alight this season.
Keogh is seen as a useful back-up player by Trap, Lawrence was a regular before his fall from grace while Treacy got a couple of chances to shine but never has. It wouldn’t be a major shock to see any of their names on the list but I feel we now have enough depth to leave them out, barring injuries of course.
Despite standing out for Norwich this season, there have been no hints to indicate that Wes Hoolahan or Anthony Pilkington will be in contention. Steven Reid, who publicly stated that he would be willing to make a return to international football, won’t be involved either.
Marc Wilson, meanwhile, hasn’t a hope of getting a shout until he apologises to the boss. According to the player, he has no idea what exactly for, however.
Forwards
The fact that Robbie Keane‘s short spell at Aston Villa has proved worthwhile is certainly a bonus and the hope is that he keeps that form up all the way to this summer. Whether you agree or not, however, there is no doubt whatsoever that team’s captain will start against Croatia in June if he is fit. Keane, the country’s all-time record goalscorer, has showed that he can still produce the goods in the Premier League with three goals so far for Villa.
Competition to play alongside him as the second striker is pretty fierce right now. Kevin Doyle has done an admirable job for a number of years but is going through something of a rough patch of late and replacing him is a real option as our strike force possesses decent strength.
Having made an eye-catching cameo in the final ten minutes of the Armenia game, Jon Walters gave the side a new dimension when he started in the first-leg play-0ff win over Estonia. The Stoke player was impressive in running the channels, holding up the ball and bringing other players into the game, and he doesn’t give defenders a second in possession.
The man he started ahead of that day due to injury, Shane Long, is also vying for the role. The Tipperary-native has been sidelined by injury and illness recently but is due to return to the West Brom team this weekend.
Long’s clubmate Simon Cox was relatively unheard of when called up last May but his performances in a green jersey since have justified his inclusion and, while he has had to think strongly about moving on from the Baggies in the summer, a trip to Poland is pretty much assured at this point.
Leon Best would certainly have also been in the reckoning but for last week’s knee injury, which may keep the 25-year-old out for the rest of the season after scans confirmed medial ligament damage. Celtic’s Anthony Stokes is having a fine season with the Glasgow club and has 17 goals to his name this season, but will miss out.
Which players deserve a call-up and who should be omitted? Have your say in the comments section below…
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