Man management has not been one of Giovanni Trapattoni's strong points in his time as Ireland manager. He has alienated several players when the Irish team could certainly have benefited from their presence.
Kevin Doyle was a surprise absence from the Ireland squad to play Sweden on Friday night and then Austria on Tuesday night. The Wolves striker has not been in great form this season, only scoring 6 goals. Though, he has been a major part of the Irish set up since making his debut in 2006. So after 7 and a half years of making every Irish squad when he was fit you would think he could at least be afforded the courtesy of a phone called informing him that he would not be travelling with the squad.
That was not the case though, as Doyle, quoted on the Wolves website, says that he received a text message informing him of his absence.
“I was very disappointed to come in after the game to a text message saying I wasn’t to travel to Ireland to join up with the squad. I have been in every squad when I have been fit for seven-and-a-half years so it was disappointing. I thought I might get a phone call but it wasn’t to be and I haven’t spoken to the manager about it. Maybe he will speak to me about it in the future and for now I just have to get on with it.
I’ve been in squads for seven-and-a-half years and certainly never took it for granted and have always found it a great pleasure and privilege to play for my country. I feel I have always given 100 per cent in terms of showing the right attitude and dedication with Ireland in every training session and every match as I do here at Wolves. I will carry on doing that and hopefully get another opportunity to do that again in the future.
It was disappointing to get the text message telling me not to travel particularly after such a good game with Wolves and you quickly go from one extreme to another. But that’s football - I’m not going to cry about it and just get on with it and hopefully get back in the squad as soon as I can.”
Hopefully this is not another case of Trapattoni alienating a player we all know should be in the squad.
