Was going to hijack wayno's thread about the new jersey, but decided to create a new thread instead.

1. Liam Brady is stepping down as assistant coach after his contract expires in April of this year. I suppose Trap doesn't need an interpreter on the training pitch anymore.

2. Trap has asked to be removed from the shortlist for the Nigeria manager's position, and apparently turned down an offer to manage the Ivory Coast for the WC. All very commendable.

3. Ireland are to play Paraguay and Algeria in the RDS in two friendlies on the 25th and 28th of May. Good to get two more games against decent opposition.

4. The Brazil squad for the March 3rd game in the Emirates has been announced:

Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)

Doni (AS Roma)

Maicon (Inter Milan)

Daniel Alves (Barcelona)

Lúcio (Inter Milan)

Juan (AS Roma)

Thiago Silva (AC Milan)

Luisão (Benfica)

Michel Bastos (Lyon)

Gilberto (Cruzeiro)
Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos)

Felipe Melo (Juventus)

Josué (Wolfsburg)

Kleberson (Flamengo)

Ramires (Benfica)

Julio Baptista (AS Roma)

Elano (Galatasaray)

Kaká (Real Madrid)

Robinho (Manchester City on loan to Santos)

Nilmar (Villarreal)

Luís Fabiano (Sevilla)

Adriano (Flamengo)

Full strength squad, should be an interesting match...

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 15/02/2010 14:10:22    561744

Glad to see we are playing home games in May rather than having to go to London again. Paraguay and Algeria will be tough opposition, both countries have qualified for the World Cup. Trap is going to have the usual squad for the Brazil friendly so hopefully he will introduce some new players for the training camp and friendlies in May.

I would like to see the following called up in May:
Seamus Coleman - Everton
Mark Wilson - Portsmouth
James McCarthy - Wigan
Chris McCann - Burnley
Anthony Stokes - Hibernian
John Meyler - Sunderland
Gary Deegan - Coventry
Keith Fahey - Birmingham
Wes Hoolihan - Norwich
Mark Yeates - Middlesborough
Keith Treacey - Preston

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2022 - 16/02/2010 12:45:44    562862

A lot of midfielders/wingers there men_of_49!! I agree many of them should get a crack but definitely Coleman and Wilson as we are pretty threadbare at the back. Not sure about Yeates as we have enough on the left without even bringing Andy Reid into the equation. Likewise with Treacy who is one for the future.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 16/02/2010 13:15:57    562923

Agree with you there Breffni39, defence is the main cause for concern with regard to development for EURO 2012.

In particular we need to find a left back fast. Kevin Kilbane is not a left back and he was found out numerous times in the last campaign. Eddie Nolan was second choice but he is not in the Preston team of late. Stephen Ward must be the obvious choice, playing regularly for Wolves in the Premiership. Trap talked about Conor Powell of Bohs in the past but realistically he will have to move across the water if he is to be called up.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2022 - 16/02/2010 14:18:38    563020

No Lucas in that squad?

DABLACKSPOT (Westmeath) - Posts: 551 - 16/02/2010 14:26:36    563032

I agree men_of_49, would like to see some fringe players in the Paraguay/Algeria squads too. A few defenders to add to your list (although there's not too many I can think of to be honest and they're all left-footed):

Stephen Ward (Wolves, surely our best option at leftback in the longterm)
Eddie Nolan (Preston, haven't seen much of him to be honest)
Darren O'Dea (Celtic, although I don't think he's good enough we don't have great cover at CB)

Player I don't want to see in either squad: Kevin Nolan. Jamie O'Hara I'm not sure about, not sure how strong his desire to play for us is...

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 17/02/2010 18:47:26    564770

We are stuck at left back alright, but not as stuck as Brazil considering they have Gilberto in the squad!! Not to mention Kleberson and Robinho!!! Thank God we have players like Kilbane, Duff and Andrews who have actually been able to carve out careers in the Premiership.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 18/02/2010 18:09:39    565973

Ireland squad announced. Can't believe Stephen Ward (Wolves) hasn't been called up.

Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Manchester City), Keiren Westwood (Coventry City), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United).

Defenders: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Kilbane (Hull City), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Sean St Ledger (Preston North End), Paul McShane (Hull City), Marc Wilson (Portsmouth), Greg Cunningham (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Fulham), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Hunt (Hull City), Liam Lawrence (Stoke City), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic).

Forwards:Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Celtic), Shane Long (Reading), Leon Best (Newcastle United).

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2022 - 22/02/2010 12:35:34    569373

Has anyone seen Greg Cunningham play? What's he like? He's from Galway isn't he?

I'd ask our resident City fan, but he'd be more likely to know how bad Darron Gibson is than how good Greg Cunningham is.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 22/02/2010 12:42:49    569385

Greg is 6ft plus left back who is still growing. Went to city as a striker but ended up at left back in a youth game and impressed in the air and with his distribution. He has signed a new contract with city last month which says a lot considering they could sign almost anybody in the world, He is a down to earth and works his socks off to improve. You could not meet a more level headed young lad then him. even set the leaving cert last year while at city and got 400 + points.
He will be gthe first to say he is shocked to be in the squad and knows he has an awful lot to do to progress in the game. he will probably go on loan next year.
Fair play to the lad and also to Trap for giving him a chance. he may not play but the experience will be great for him and hopefully us Ireland in the future.

galwaybhoy (Galway) - Posts: 83 - 22/02/2010 12:53:22    569405

galwaybhoy is a very proud uncle.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 22/02/2010 12:59:53    569425

The Steven Ward omission is baffling alright men_of_49. He is a player who starts every week in the Premiership unlike any of our other leftback options. While it's good to see young players like Cunningham called up to gain experience of the senior set-up, you'd wonder about Trap's decisions sometimes. I noticed he was in the crowd in Craven Cottage yesterday, that seems to be the only ground he ever visits to watch players in the UK.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 22/02/2010 13:10:14    569453

I see Shane Duffy (from Derry i think) has turned down the chance of playing for N.I. to represent us. Any Everton fans about to give us any info on him?

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 22/02/2010 14:05:41    569527

PomeroyPlunkett
County: Tyrone
Posts: 349

569527 I see Shane Duffy (from Derry i think) has turned down the chance of playing for N.I. to represent us. Any Everton fans about to give us any info on him?

______________________________________________________________________________-

He was savage for me in Football Manager ;)

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13837 - 22/02/2010 16:58:23    569805

Haven't seen that Duffy lad play either. Handy to get him as we lost a centre-half in Aston Villa's Shane Lowry who played underage for us and has declared for Australia.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 22/02/2010 17:25:10    569847

Re: Stephen Ward

I'd say Trap has seen enough of him, as he is playing regular in the premiership and played in the training camp and B internationals. He probably just wants to get a look at Cunningham and to be honest, himself or Tardelli have probably been chatting with Mancini and are suiting each other?

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 22/02/2010 17:28:11    569852

22/02/2010 17:28:11
Breffni39
County: Cavan
Posts: 2215

569852
Re: Stephen Ward

I'd say Trap has seen enough of him, as he is playing regular in the premiership and played in the training camp and B internationals. He probably just wants to get a look at Cunningham and to be honest, himself or Tardelli have probably been chatting with Mancini and are suiting each other?
_______________

That argument doesn't stand up Breffni. First of all, when has Trap seen Ward play in person this year? The only ground he ever visits is Craven Cottage, there obviously mustn't be any flights from northern Italy to any British city other than London, and Duffer must be able to reserve him a comfy seat there whenever he decides to come over.

Ward will no doubt have improved immensely from playing in the premiership, how long ago was the last B international and Trap's famous training camp? Again, no problem with Cunningham being in the squad to get experience, but to say that Trap has seen enough of Stephen Ward (arguably our best option at leftback) is nonsense.

Kilbane will likely start at leftback vs. Brazil, but he is seriously getting on and can't get a game for Hull who are below Wolves in the premiership. We won't learn anything new by playing him again, and it's a bit much to throw Cunningham into a game vs. opponents like Brazil. I can't understand why he would ignore Ward for this game given the alternatives' ages and the fact that they don't get a game in the premiership.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 22/02/2010 20:11:22    570180

Paul McShane being kept in the Irish squad. What is Trap looking at? One of the few players that looks like he's already played 90mins + extra time in the warmup.

The_16th_Man (Clare) - Posts: 251 - 22/02/2010 20:44:06    570245

Nocky, I'm not saying he is ignoring Ward (he might be, I don't know?) just that he is using this opportunity to have a look at a player he has probably never seen. I'm sure Ward is still in his plans.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 23/02/2010 10:53:28    570506

I read in the Indo today that Trap would be willing to change his famed defensive system to accomodate James McCarthy if he fulfills his potential. So why couldn't he do the same for Andy Reid who is a proven Premiership player?

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2022 - 23/02/2010 14:39:43    570766