Irish play-off squad announced.

[sean]

Few notable names missing in this squad, no prizes for guessing one of them ;)


Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has left Steve Finnan, Steven Reid, Andy Reid and Clinton Morrison out of his squad to face France in their World Cup 2010 qualifying play-off.

It had been rumoured that Portsmouth full-back Finnan would be included to address issues with cover in defence, while midfielder Steven Reid has been playing for Blackburn in recent weeks and a return was also expected in his case but Trapattoni has opted not to bring either player back into the squad.

Trapattoni has repeatedly omitted Andy Reid from Ireland squads since clashing with the Sunderland midfielder when the side played Georgia in September and has again resisted calls from pundits to reverse his stance.

Coventry striker Morrison was also thought to be in the running after Noel Hunt was ruled out of the squad but Trapattoni has instead brought Hibernian striker Anthony Stokes in. Morrison's Coventry team-mate Leon Best is also included.

The matches will take place on 14 and 18 November, with Ireland at home for the first leg.


http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1030/ireland.html

[LUCAN RED!!!]

No surprise really!

[Paddser]

Id have gone with Morrison ahead of Stokes.

[padski08]

No great suprise there at all. Hope they all stay fit for it now

[Liverpool-law]

At least he has maximised our chances to qualify with the selection of the best players available to him.
*sits back in chair, opens can of beer and waits for bite*

[Bren100]

No surprise really!

+1

[Redrob09]

Surprised Steven Reid has been left out.
Not surprised his namesake is left out though!

[barrydoherty]

Keep going on it about it but no Andy Reid again! Trapattoni needs to think whats best for team to qualify and not who he likes/dislikes ! Should of got Finnan back aswell but

[stevieg]

Paul McShane ahead of Steve Finnan, Darren Gibson ahead of Stephen Reid, no suprise with Andy Reid.

Live by the sword die by the sword, if he gets us to the World Cup fair dues - I will take my hat off to him.

If he doesnt he still has another two years to go, and there will be more of this senile mentality, he will pi$$ alot of people off.

Fair enough the squad isnt the best ever,all the more reason to pick two of our best players.

[eoinlfc101]

never mind mc shane but stokes :eek:

[Liverpool-law]

Paul McShane ahead of Andy Reid, Darren Gibson ahead of Stephen Reid, no suprise with Andy Reid.

Live by the sword die by the sword, if he gets us to the World Cup fair dues - I will take my hat off to him.

If he doesnt he still has another two years to go, and there will be more of this senile mentality, he will pi$$ alot of people off.

Fair enough the squad isnt the best ever,all the more reason to pick two of our best players.

+1
Trap can rely on "the end justifies the means" if we qualify. If we don't qualify, I'd rather watch us play football and lose out than watch more of this no-creativity football and lose out. Why extend his contract before we qualify? He brought us back solidity, something that was sorely missing in the joke that was the Staunton days, and that is to Trap's credit. But I fear Trap will never take us to the next level, and it's not good to watch unless we build on what we have.

[eoinlfc101]

+1
Trap can rely on "the end justifies the means" if we qualify. If we don't qualify, I'd rather watch us play football and lose out than watch more of this no-creativity football and lose out. Why extend his contract before we qualify? He brought us back solidity, something that was sorely missing in the joke that was the Staunton days, and that is to Trap's credit. But I fear Trap will never take us to the next level, and it's not good to watch unless we build on what we have.

ya i agree but if he wasnt offered a new contract and we failed to qualify who would rush for the job im confident we will do a job against the french

et je crois honnêtement la peur française l'Irlande plus que nous les craignons

[Liverpool-law]

et je crois honnêtement la peur française l'Irlande plus que nous les craignons

Oui oui, je suis la piscine, le singe est dans l'arbre

[skipper]

its a joke steven reid was our best player by a mile before he got injured and thats what he gets..... and then puts stokes in ahead a reid who is playing out of his skin for his club.

[pval]

Almost fell off my chair earlier. The headline I saw read read "Trappatoni names Ireland squad" but I thought it said "Trappatoni names Ireland in squad"

[pval]

If only I could spell Trapattoni...

[Span Molby]

No surprises unfortunatly. Id imagine Reid would have been pulled by Blackburn had he been named in the squad. Would have had Morrison ahead of Stokes and cant believe there's no place for Steve Finnan. At the end of the day,the time has come for people to stop talking about squads cos this is what has been named. Trappatoni will be judged on results from here on in and if it goes wrong selectiond like this will be thrown back at him

[4tothefloor]

I hope the Steven Reid issue doesn't become like the Andy Reid one, that's all. He's gotton us this far so we'll just have to back his judgement and see how the play-off's go. If we do qualify, the preliminary world cup squad and media fare that will follow will make for a very interesting few months!

[wertyu]

Think Leon Best should get a start at croker he is such a lively player from what i've seen in the last 2games when he came off the bench.

[Bren100]

Hodgson says Duff should be ok for both games. Anyone know what the story with Keane being brought off at the weekend?

[Ron1892]

We will defo need Keane and Duff back.

Would be a huge loss if we didnt have those two players available to us.

[JMurray#8]

A French lad in work reckons this will be the France team:

...................Lloris.....................

Fanni.....Gallas.....Squillaci.....Evra

.............Diarra.....Toulalan..........

Gourcuff.......Ben Afra........Henry

..................Benzema.................

Pretty much what people expect if Ribery isn't fit, quite strong but if reports of a few bust ups are to be believed well then it's quite possible for Ireland to come out on top over the two legs... I guess it all depends on what France team decide to turn up.

[fermoyred80]

A French lad in work reckons this will be the France team:

...................Lloris.....................

Fanni.....Gallas.....Squillaci.....Evra

.............Diarra.....Toulalan..........

Gourcuff.......Ben Afra........Henry

..................Benzema.................

Pretty much what people expect if Ribery isn't fit, quite strong but if reports of a few bust ups are to be believed well then it's quite possible for Ireland to come out on top over the two legs... I guess it all depends on what France team decide to turn up.

Bit of a pussy from what I hear

[Dexter]

Bit of a pussy from what I hear

and open to penetration
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