Looks like Paul f**kin' Green will be starting against Argentina.

Hopefully McCarthy gets a call up.

 

Would still like to see Gibson get a run in midfield. If not then it will be interesting to see how Green copes against a tougher opposition.

 

He has scored 2 goals in the last 2 games for portsmouth.

Dont think Trap thinks McCarthy is ready for the central position but would still like to see him get the call.

 

Re Wilson, is he playing centre mid for Pompey or still centre half does anyone know?

 

 

he has been playing centre half in the recent friendlies (captaining them too), though I think he will be moved into midfield sooner rather than later. He is a great passer of the ball and is wasted in defence.

 

Agreed. pure nonsense

Who's beggin anyone?

 

 

Exactly

 

I reckon it will be a Gibson & Andrews partnership seeing as Gibson looks to have progressed a bit with Manure & i'm thinking after our last few games trap might keep with what he's been doing since Paris & fancy a more adventourous display with it being the 1st game in Lansdowne & all that

 

Or maybe its to do with http://www.sportingo.com/football/a13917_robbie-keanes-injury-sparks-tottenham-exit-rumours - a move from Spurs?

 

GLENN Whelan refused to feel sorry for himself – despite being only an inch away from ending his frustrating start to the season in spectacular style.

Whelan, pictured below, was well below his own standards in the season's opening two games as he struggled to shake off the effects of a calf injury.

He was relegated to the bench for Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, but came on to almost snatch an equaliser when his 25-yard shot smacked against the underside of the bar and bounced to safety.

He said: "I was on my own so I looked up and thought I would have a shot. I was nearly off to celebrate to be honest.

"Even when it hits the bar and bounces down you look at the linesman to see if he's going to flag, but it wasn't to be.

"Had that gone in, we'd have been right back in it at 1-1 and it would have been a different game, but I thought the lads did really well. This was a much better performance than last time."

City's 7-0 hiding at Chelsea in April was their heaviest league defeat in 12 years and was an experience the players were determined would not be repeated.

Whelan said they were not intimidated by returning to the champions, even though Chelsea had begun their season with 6-0 wins over West Brom and Wigan.

He said: "The only thing we were thinking about was putting things right after what happened last time.

"We wanted to prove people wrong and show we could give Chelsea a game."

The 26-year-old midfielder had no complaints at being left out of the starting line up after admitting he was not at his best in the opening-day defeat at Wolves or last week's loss at home to Tottenham.

He has not got going after a pre-season calf injury, but hopes Saturday's impressive substitute appearance is the start of better things to come.

He said: "I was disappointed to be on the bench, but I know in myself I haven't been right in the last few games after my injury. I am still trying to get match sharpness.

"I was flying in pre-season and I think the coaching staff would say I was one of the fittest players, but then my calf went.

"I missed two weeks and they were probably the most important two weeks of the lot because the lads were getting games under their belts.

"I rushed back, which probably hasn't helped me, but it is up to me now to get back in the team."

Whelan admitted that it will be tough to finish above top seeds Russia and World Cup qualifiers Slovakia, but he hopes that the defeat to France has made the squad more determined to avoid the play-off route.

He said: 'We are not going into any campaign thinking 'let's go for second'. We are definitely going for top and hopefully that is the case.

'We know we have got some tough places to go and we are going to have some hard games, but we'll just worry about ourselves and what we can do.'

Whelan is one of a number of players who earned their first caps under Giovanni Trapattoni and have since gone on to become regulars in the team.

The Stoke City midfielder believes that Ireland are a wiser, more battle-hardened team than the one that set out to qualify for the 2010 World Cup back in September 2008.

He said: 'If you look at two years ago, there was a few players coming on the scene that had not had that many games internationally.

'But now quite a lot of us have picked up a fair few caps and we've been through a campaign already. Hopefully, that will help us and we can get through.

'We have been away and got some big results, especially the Italian game and how we got a late result out there. It is just little things like that you remember.'

The most difficult obstacle for automatic qualification are Dick Advocaat's Russia, but Whelan believes Ireland's recent performances will have the Russians looking over their shoulder.

'Going to Russia we know it is going to be hard, but hopefully the Russians are thinking the same when they have to come to Dublin,' said Whelan.

'We want to top the group, so if we want to top the group we have to do better than Russia. But it is not just the Russians, there are other teams in there who will be thinking the same.'

Whelan has recovered from a calf injury picked up in pre-season, which forced him to miss last month's friendly with Argentina, and is expected to win his 21st cap on Friday.

Having experienced the highs and lows of international football in the past two years, Whelan is eager for the competitive action to begin again.

'This is the first game. We have to go out there and get the right result and play really well to get this campaign going. That is what we are setting out for', he said.

'Because of what happened in the last campaign, everyone was hoping for this one to come around as soon as possible. It's here now and hopefully everyone forgets about what happened in France.'

Glenn Whelan has backed Paul Green to fit right in if he is picked for the Republic of Ireland’s game against Armenia on Friday.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side begin their Euro 2012 qualification campaign in Yerevan and Green, who played in the recent friendlies against Paraguay, Algeria and Argentina, is expected to replace the injured Keith Andrews alongside Whelan in the Irish midfield.

The 27-year-old Derby County man is a latecomer to the international fold, but has done well in his appearances so far, scoring the opener in the 3-0 win over the Algerians, who went on to shut out England at the World Cup in South Africa.

It looks like a straight choice between him and Manchester United’s Darron Gibson to partner Whelan in the middle, and the Stoke City man thinks whoever comes in is more than capable of doing a good job against the Armenians.

"We don't know the starting team yet and there'll be few people fighting for Keith's spot," said Whelan. "If its Paul or Darron who gets the nod, I'm sure they'll do their best.

"Paul waited a long time to get his chance in the summer friendly matches and he did well. He's a terrific player. I'd say Keith and I are more defensive-minded than himself but he's well capable of playing in this match."

Meanwhile, Preston North End winger Keith Treacy has joined Andrews and Damien Duff on the sidelines. Treacy might have been set to fill in on the left of midfield with Duff and Stephen Hunt not available, but a groin injury for him sees the problem in the position added to for Trapattoni.

Treacy, like Duff, may be fit to tale on Andorra at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday, however.

Whelan eager for return to action

 

can definitely see that in him alright.

He was in tears after his goal against Italy

Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan hopes that Russia are panicking when they travel to Dublin for next month’s Euro 2012 qualifier.

Whelan’s Ireland top Group B after beating Andorra 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday evening, right on the back of their next opponents Russia losing 1-0 at home to Slovakia, who a- like Ireland - now have six points from six.

Ireland play in Slovakia on October 12 and before that have another massive game against the Russians in Dublin, and Whelan hopes the pressure on the Russians after Tuesday’s reverse will benefit the Boys in Green.

“Hopefully there is a little bit more pressure on Russia now coming over to us because their next game is massive after a defeat,” the Stoke City midfielder said after playing an hour of the game against Andorra (with the game won he was then taken off as a yellow card would have seen him suspended against Russia).

“I think it’s going to be tough. They have some great individuals and are a good team but we just need to worry about ourselves and hopefully we can put in the performance to get the right result.”

Whelan was pleased that Ireland came through their games against Armenia and Andorra with a full haul of points and also praised the showing of Aiden McGeady against Andorra as the Spartak Moscow man caused the minnows problems throughout.

“We set out to get six points and do as well as we can and I think we have done that,” Whelan continued.

“The goal at the end of the first half unnerved us a little bit but we came out in the second half and gave a professional performance.

“You can only beat the team that is in front of you. No disrespect to Andorra, but these are the games that we have to win. I think at times we cruised a little bit but we were professional in the second half. I think they were playing 4-5-1 and that’s always hard to break down.

“I think Aiden was on top form tonight and he caused chaos and having a player to break them down and do that always helps.”

Kevin Kilbane and Kevin Doyle had given Ireland a 2-0 lead, but there was a brief moment of panic when Christian Martinez pulled one back just before the break. Whelan says that manager Giovanni Trapattoni was calm at the interval though and Robbie Keane’s 54th minute goal then killed off Andorra.

“He’s the coolest man I know, Whelan said of the Italian manager. “He came in and obviously we were disappointed that they scored early on but we knew we had another 45 minutes to go and the early goal in the second half took the nerves away.”

By Ruaidhri O'Connor

Tuesday November 16 2010

THE fact that a sizeable group of his regular starters are struggling for first-team action is an issue that exercises the mind of Giovanni Trapattoni, but one of those -- Glenn Whelan -- is hoping to reduce its number by one by January.

The Clondalkin man has started just three matches for Stoke City this season and, although he has come off the bench on seven occasions, the 26-year-old is concerned that if his spell on the sidelines continued after Christmas then his Ireland place would be in jeopardy.

So, he is ready to sit down and discuss the matter with Stoke manager Tony Pulis when the transfer window opens in January. Having started 25 league matches last season, his frustration is more than understandable.

The Welshman has told Whelan that the reason he has not been selected thus far is that his international games last summer left him mentally and physically drained at the start of this campaign. And as a result of the form of his replacements Dean Whitehead, Marc Wilson and Rory Delap, he cannot get back in the team now he has been rested.

Ironically, tomorrow's international friendly against Norway represents a chance for Whelan to get some game time and remind Pulis of what he can do. His international form has been rewarded at club level before and he is hoping he can win his place back with a strong performance. If not, he says he will consider his options.

"I want to be involved with Ireland as much as I can, involved in these games and the qualifiers and playing games," he said at last night's launch of the FAI Late Night League programmes in Darndale.

"If it means I move on and leave the club, so be it. But I'm not thinking about that now, I'm thinking of getting into the team and going from there. We'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

"He (Pulis) hasn't told me anything bad or that he doesn't want me in his plans. He told me to keep working hard and that I'll get a chance -- so that's what I'm doing. Hopefully, if I do well for my country the manager will take a bit of notice and realise that I can get back to good form and get back in the team."

Given the presence in his squad of a handful of players who are not getting regular game time with their clubs, Trapattoni is understandably concerned by the trend.

And, while Whelan has not discussed the matter with the Italian, he is under no illusions that his Ireland place is at stake if he cannot get game time.

"I know myself," he admitted. "I'm not stupid and if you're not playing week in, week out you're going to lose your match sharpness and not get as fit.

"But you need to be playing well for your club for these chances to come around and I need to get playing as soon as possible. Come next year if I'm not playing, I can't really see these things coming around because there will be other lads playing and they will have a fighting chance of getting into the squad.

"If you ask anybody, you want to be playing as many games as you can and I think I've only started three games. It's not enough. I'm working harder to try and get in the team probably than I've ever done so I just need a chance to get in.

"I had it a couple of years ago -- I was playing for Ireland and wasn't really involved (at club level), so hopefully it will be the same thing again. But I'll be working hard here and when I go back to Stoke as well."

- Ruaidhri O'Connor

Irish Independent

 

Fair enough Dave no doubting the lads talent just hate the way people on here

are so quick to rag on players as soon as a decent prospect comes along

whelan is a great player ,his last couple of games for Ireland have been poor but to be fair he hasnt had great support in Green and is also lacking game time.

 

I really like Whelan and hope he either gets a move or starts getting regular

game time for stoke (although cant see it happening)

 

p.s i dont buy the whole "To Young" crap that trap comes out with would just like to see a bit more of Clark before he is thrown straight into the starting 11 

Came on for Etherington to offer more security n the middle and delivered some classy balls down the channels.

Goal.com

 

 

I agree Rog, he hasn't been great in this campaign so far (but then, who has ??) but I think you can put some of this down to the fact he is not playing first team football, hopefully he can make a move to one of the above mentioned clubs and kick on again.

 

 

 

Glenn interviewed on RTE's sport at seven yesterday.

He's been excellent in the second half of the season. Even yesterday, he ran himself into the ground closing down Man City's midfield. With half of Stoke's midfield carrying knocks yesterday, it was left to Whelan to make the hard yards.  He did.

I'd be the first to admit that he'd lost his way for club and country in the autumn but he's back to what he does best.

@ Yapster. No one would deny that Whelan is not quite top class. If he was he would have been playing at a higher level. But he's the best we have in that position and until a better holding midfielder steps up, he'll likely be part of Ireland's midfield for many years to come.

 

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGGHHTTTYYYYY!!!!!!

Also, both tonight and last Friday, Trap should have gone 4-5-1 as we were outnumbered in the centre of the pitch in both games. We don't need two strikers if they're not getting much service.

 

Honestly, has there been a worse midfield pairing?

Wasn't at the game tonight, so impossible to tell, but he wasn't that far off the mark last Friday. His partner was poor tho'.

Maybe against andorra but nows not the time to be experimenting. We should have been playing fahey with mccarthy in friendlies and seeing if it works. But unfortunately McCarthy didnt bother his hole turning up so now we cant just throw him in untested. It really pains me to say it but we we have to persevere with the devil we know at this late stage. I would take andrews or whelan out and put Fahey in there. He's trustworthy from what Ive seen so far.

 

If Trap changed the system to allow him more freedom you'd see a better Whelan - watch the game back and when Doyle went off he allowed Whelan to push up beside Andrews and Keane up beside Cox suddenly Ireland where playing a lot better, alright was only a 15min spell as the Russians then got hold of the ball and upped the tempo but the fact remains if you watch from about 60-75mins you will see a marked change in how our midfield functioned especially the 2 centre midfielders

But he didnt sit in front of the back 4. He left a big gaping hole between him and the back 4 that Russia went through like a hot knife through butter. I said it during the game in the Russia - Ireland thread and i didnt realise how bad it was til I watched the analysis there tonight. He didnt even do the donkey work that he was ordered to do.

 

We could do with a Diarra or a Gattuso so badly because atleast then we'd have a foil for a player like McCarthy , Fahey or a Wes Hollohan

dunne making that run we all praised, he lost the ball, and then HE was the one winning the ball back. that sums up our midfield in a nutshell. where the fook were whelan and andrews??!