Norwegian Friendly : Squad Possibilities
In November, Ireland play a friendly against Norway. Normally this match would mean next to nothing. However, after dropping 5 of the last 6 points, and showing a distinct lack of creativity at times, Ireland will hopefully be looking at new options for this friendly. Ireland played Norway in a friendly in Oslo in August 2008. Despite the dreadful weather, Ireland controlled proceedings and played some quality football. the game finished in a 1-1 stalemate.
Possible Options
Seamus Coleman
A very exciting prospect for Ireland, and a player on the cusp of nailing down a permanent starting position for Everton. Has already won man of the match awards this season, and may just have the game that could flourish at international level. Everton manager David Moyes is between two minds with the player, and feels he may make a better right winger than right back. Great engine, never shy of going forward and a good crosser. A good option to have and the possibility of putting him in at right back and moving O’Shea to left in the future in one Trapattoni should possibly consider.
James McCarthy
Almost a given that he will get his opportunity against Norway, after Trap stated that “Obviously we look for other players. McCarthy, we look at him and not only him. McCarthy plays for his club, while on the bench we have players who are not playing for their club”. The problem for McCarthy may come in the qualities Trapattoni sees in him. Despite playing every game this season as a deep sitting midfielder, Trapattoni sees him more as a player to play off the main striker, in much the same from as Stephen Ireland. With the Irish managers insistence on playing a stiff 4-4-2 this could no doubt raise problems. Made his debut against Brazil but upset the Irish management a little by pulling out of the pre World Cup friendlies with tiredness. A player of immense quality that is arguably our most consistent Premiership player. He simply cannot be overlooked any longer and deserves to be given his opportunity in the team. A player that is exciting so many Irish fans. Has the ability to be the future of Ireland’s midfield.
Marc Wilson
Has achieved his Premiership move after being one of the few bright spots of a dismal couple of season for Portsmouth. Twice Young player of the Year at Fratton Park and attracted the interest of a number of Premiership clubs when Pompy were relegated. Lot of competition for places in the Stoke midfield but hopefully Wilson has the ability to nail down a position, though it may be at the expense of Glenn Whelan. Started his career as a defender but seems to be more of a midfielder now.
Jon Walters
Settled in extremely well at Stoke, even getting the praise of Sam Allardyce after his side lost to a Walters goal. Allardyce said, “It’s not often that you see someone drop down the leagues to learn their trade and then work their way back up, but it’s just reward for all his hard work and dedication.It’s not often that you see someone drop down the leagues to learn their trade and then work their way back up, but it’s just reward for all his hard work and dedication.” Also impressed with Ipswich, becoming a consistent performer in the Championship. Physically strong player, he could be a different option to have in future squads.
Anthony Stokes
May not be Trapattoni’s favourite player, and may have a little bit of an attitude, but if Stokes keeps performing for Celtic then he has to get his opportunity in a green jersey. Dirtied his bib when he had a moan that Cillian Sheridan got game time ahead of him in the pre World Cup friendlies. However he has settled well in Celtic, and is a proven goalscorer. Time is still on his side as he is only 22.
Kevin Foley
A regular in Irish squads now, but has only one cap to his name. Regular Premiership starter for Wolves and having an OK season. Deserves his chance to show that he can make the step up to international level. Not shy of attacking and usually looks quite assured on the ball.
Andy Reid
While the clammer to get Reid back into the team by some downmarket journalists may be very hard to take, there is little denying that he probably should be in the squad. With the greatest respect to Andy Keogh, he was never the player to pick out a defence splitting pass in the last 20 minutes in Slovakia. Andy Reid is a player that can give us something different towards the end of a game.
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Excellent piece. Plenty of players that should get a look in, and hopefully this friendly will give Trap a chance to blood a good few players – perhaps 4 or 5, rather than the 1 or 2 he previously speculated. Fingers and toes crossed that McCarthy makes a good impression.
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Yeah good piece, you’ve covered most of the players I’d like to see get a look in really. Stephen Ward is another I was hoping would come into the squad to address our left fullback issue but his form at Wolves has been poor so far this season. If he doesn’t come in then maybe Greg Cunningham will get another look, no point in starting Kilbane in a friendly anyway. Pity that Dave Meyler won’t be back ready for it. Our centre midfield options could actually look pretty decent by the end of this campaign if McCarthy, Wilson and Meyler come good. Kevin Foley should definately get some playing time, solid option at right back and deserves some pitch time for us having spent recent games diligently waiting on the subs bench.
In all likelihood Trap will try to start the typical first eleven with a maximum of two changes and then throw on a couple more as subs (and I can understand the reasoning behind keeping the core players there and not throwing in 6 or 7 new players at once but the conservatism is still frustrating). Hopefully the likes of Westwood, Fahey, Long etc get another chance to develop instead of Given, Duffer, Keane etc racking up more caps.
I really hope that none of Given, Kilbane, or Keane get a run out. It’d be good to see Westwood start, and perhaps introduce one of the Murphys or maybe even Darren Randolph in the second half.
I see what you’re saying about Ward, but I think he deserves the chance more than Cunningham. Ward is a regular premiership player, which can’t be said for a lot of our squad.
If Meyler and Andrews could get over their injuries, they’d be great options to have in midfield.
Padd Kenny and David Forde are surely ahead of Brian Murphy who can’t even get on the Ipswich team anymore. Would like to see Ciaran Clark and Barry Maguire brought into the squad for the Norway game too.
I agree with what you said about David Meyler Richie. He was looking an excellent prospect before his injury. Just a month away from full training so fingers crossed on that regard.
Id imagine Cunningham will get his chance ahead of Ward. looking at Ward over the last few weeks for Wolves, he looks very much like a striker that has been made into a full back. He was gutted time and time again at Spurs. Maybe it was just an off day.
Wes Hoolahan could have been another I could have included. He is in good form, and with Treacys antics recently, he could make his way in ahead of him.
Barry Maguire was in the crowd at the Russia game so there is a chance he could get called up. Yeah Paddy kenny has been immense this season, hopefully he has got over his Cyprus nightmare
Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to see guys playing in Europe getting the chance to play for Ireland ahead of lads who are happy to swan around for dire ambitionless lower Division English sides, but I’m not totally sure where Barry Maguire would fit in, even just for an opportunity in friendlies. I sincerely hope he does get a call up, as he’s lightning fast coming down flanks and cutting across midfield, but I suspect the usual Brentford/Hull/Accrington Stanley crew will be miles ahead of him in the queue. Michael, where do you reckon he could fit in at present, surely it’s time we had someone with Maguire’s speed patrolling midfield?
Some good points John. It is tricky to know where to fit in Maguire but someone with the football intelligence of him deserves to be in our squad. He was only 17 when he broke into the Den Bosch side, and has about 100 appearances in one of the most technical leagues in Europe. Its just something different to have in the squad but I suspect very much like you John that League 1 hoof it up footballers will get in ahead of him. I know I saw a picture of him on foot.ie at the Russia game sitting in the stand with a few men in suits, so hopefully that is a sign that he has decided to throw his lot in with us and will get his chance. I wont hold my breath though
Maguire probably won’t get a chance as Trapattoni prefers players like Joe Gamble ahead of him.
what about john rooney with a lack of stricking options outside of doyle, keane, stokes, long and maybe walters and murphy, playing week in week out for inverness and scoring 7 goals in 10 games and also being top of the strikers list on trappitoni’s index his difently better than them donkey’s folan and best.
Think its Adam Rooney you mean Dara. Good point though. He is consistently scoring, as is Salmon at Kilmarnock. Guess its the standard of the league. Read an interesting stat this morning that really worried me. So far in the Premier League, only one goal has been scored by an Irish player. That was Jon Walters. That is pretty damn worrying
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