Has Trap shown himself up.....

Throw out all your players and manager and come onto an internet forum and sulk.

Cunningham has done nothing of late and I very much doubt you have even seen him play.

Brady whilst talented is still very raw and a long way to go.

Given / Westwood

Kelly - St Ledger - Dunne - O'Shea

Gibson - Andrews (Whelan for K-Stan and possibly Germany, given the suspension)

McGeady - McCarthy - McClean

Long

Never going to happen of course, and it is presupposing Duff and Keane decide to retire, as there is no real place for Robbie in the system, as he tends to need a front line partner and lately hasn't shown himself able to operate as a lone striker or as a creative attacking midfielder. Also, this formation relies on the wingers providing a goal threat from both sides, which (sadly) appears to only be present from one side from McClean, although McGeady can and does cut inside. For the same reason, it only works if Duff isn't in the side (which is likely only if he retires) as his goal threat has diminished lately and relying on one striker is risky at the best of times. It does however provide a threat from deep, with Andrews' runs into the box and Gibson's shooting from distance, although of course that is presupposed on McCarthy or whoever the number ten is assuming the midfielders' positions and covering when they advance, which is why McCarthy seems to me to be the best fit for that position. Also, the big if is McCarthy's future and whether he decides to place his international career on hold for the time being. I'm also unsure as to who I would like up front, as there are obviously a number of options, although we should really try to counter-attack a bit more (much and all as that was never an option against in the Euros what with the early goals and all), especially against the likely high German line and I think Long is better suited to that class of game than Walters or the alternatives.

 

If McCarthy suspected he was going to start/get game time in Poland I suspect he might have made a different decision about making himself available. Just an opinion

O'Brien has confirmed it was one of his better investments.

The view from the continent is that Trap took over a bunch of journey men that were going nowhere and has managed to get them to overachieve by qualifying for a tournament. Just shows the lack of regard people have for our players. Its not exactly how i see it but that's the perception.