The Ireland squad to face Greece next month has just been announced and is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Westwood, Forde, Randolph.
Defenders: Coleman, O'Shea, O'Dea, Kelly, McShane, Ward, Duffy, Clark, Delaney.
Midfielders: Andrews, McCarthy, Fahey, Meyler, Whelan, Clifford, Keogh, McGeady, McClean, Brady, Hoolahan.
Forwards: Doyle, Cox & Walters.
So what are the Pros and Cons of Trapattoni's latest selection. Let's have a look:
Pros:
Stephen Kelly is included which suggests that any unrest between the pair before the Faroes game has been put to bed.
Ciaran Clark makes the squad. Fingers crossed he actually plays this time.
David Meyler's run of injuries looks set to be behind him.
Young guns Brady and Clifford get the nod.
Robbie Keane is left out. Where would the sense be in flying him all the way back from LA? We all know what he is capable of.
And the big news every Irish fan has been hoping for, for the past few years, Norwich's Wes Hoolahan is selected.
Cons:
Kevin Foley hasn't yet made his return to the international fold after being left out of the Euro 2012 squad.
Pilkington is once again snubbed.
And the major talking point of the squad is the omission of Shane Long who apparently has a hamstring injury.
All in all it is a fairly satisfying squad but a few eyebrows will certainly be raised at the Shane Long issue. There was no suggestion that he was carrying a knock before the squad announcement and with the rumour mill in full flow, questions are being asked as to whether or not there has been another falling out between the pair. Ireland can certainly not afford to lose a player of Long's calibre.
Here's what the man in the West Brom know (Chris Lepkowski) made of the news:
@ciaran_o Hard to see where he picked up injury on Sunday... players been off since (bar warm down or those in u21 action on Monday)
— Chris Lepkowski (@chrislepkowski) October 31, 2012
@ciaran_o Hard to see where he picked up injury on Sunday... players been off since (bar warm down or those in u21 action on Monday)
— Chris Lepkowski (@chrislepkowski) October 31, 2012
