Wednesday 6 June 2012

Walters the best option for a tactical change now

For a man who could easily be described as a journey man, given that he has been with 7 clubs in the past 10 years, could Jonathan Walters spectacular rise to top of the professional game be topped off by forcing his way into the starting X1 against Croatia on Sunday?

Walters the best option for a tactical change now


10 comments:

  1. Another case of Traps loyalty getting in the way of common sense. Doyle has been very average this season, not helped by injury, where as Walters has been an inspiration at stoke. Surely on form Walters deserves his start. But who am I to question Trap's methods when he has squeezed so much out of this team?

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    1. Although Trap has proved everybody in the country wrong with the success of the system, in my opinion there's nothing wrong with questioning his methods and decisions. This does not mean we are anti-Trap or anti-"the system", rather we just want to explore all the issues. The Irish Journalists are doing this at every press conference and maybe, just maybe, in justifying some of his decisions to them, he may have second thoughts about some selections.

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    2. Nothing wrong in questioning, not that it gets anywhere... if the past is anything to go by. Reid etc case in point. But you could argue the inclusion of McClean was through media pressure. No doubt he deserves his place, but up to a few weeks before the team squad was named he was saying "important for the future" when asked about him, yet he is in the squad, and bar some good performances from McGeady was looking like he might even start.

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  2. Niallderthal (not Arsene Wenger)6 June 2012 at 16:18

    There will be no change in tactics as has been mooted in the press, it's just (a bad attempt at) mind games if you ask me.
    Based on form there is little doubt Walters should start, along with yer man from free Derry and a couple of others. But it's not about form. It's about 'The System' and who best does the job that The System requires.
    If we play all our form players in their favourite positions we will get violated, gruesomely. Next week we play 3 teams ranked higher than us, 3 teams that are better than us. Yet we all rightly believe we have a chance of getting out of the group. Why? The System. The System has got us here, so let's see how far it takes us.
    Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that under Trap, Ireland have never beaten a team that is ranked higher than themselves. Don't worry about that, now is no the time for reasonable and logical argument. And look on the bright side, if The System fails, we get a 40% debt write off from the EU/IMF*


    * May not actually be true

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    1. Even though Ireland are likely to start every match 4-4-2, I would be very surprised if Trap hasn't tested an alternative, such as 4-5-1. The lack of a Plan B has been an obvious failing for us in the past.

      But who do we promote and sacrifice for such a Plan B? I would imagine that Gibson would be the 3rd midfielder, probably at the expense of Keane. And who would do the best job of holding the ball up front? For me, it has to be Walters.

      As for beating a team ranked higher than us under Trap ,we did beat the Italians 2-0 on their own patch in a friendly last year.

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  3. The fact of the matter is our defense is what is pulling us so far, and more specifically Richie Dunne. He is the currents teams Paul McGrath. The system requires the defense to be rock solid. Without Dunne, and Given, the whole thing starts to creak. The question of whether to start Walters or Doyle is somewhat a moot point, because it is really a question of who's likely to nick a goal on the counter. Keane is the main man there, so Doyle's job is to work hard, which he does. Walters/Cox come on to replace the tired legs with Long a more suitable replaceent for Keane's role.

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    1. Even the great man himself admitted that Dunne's performance against Russia was the single greatest display he'd ever seen in an Ireland shirt. Dunne is a superstar and if he gets injured we're goosed, no question.

      Doyle is a hard worker but carries a very limited goal threat. Walters is more physical and holds the ball up better. If Doyle doesn't do well in the first game, his position should be under threat.

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  4. Personally, I think Doyle will stand and deliver a good performance on Sunday. I have seen this happen time and again where X player should be starting as the incumbant player has poor club form, has no club at all or tortures kittens.
    His confidence has no doubt taken a huge knock this year but I expect our boys will front up collectivley. The form book is out the window come kickoff.
    We have to over achieve for every minute of every game to get anything out of this tournament.
    Doyle to score or get an assist on Sunday...he has nothing to lose.

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  5. Like a lot of the players it's the biggest game he's ever played. Hopefully he'll rise to the occasion. The excitement is starting to build now. I'm even thinking of putting bunting outside the house. I hear John Terry tortures kittens!

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  6. Mad to think at the moment we are relying on the old heads.. 10 years on, those that have been, done that... Given, Dunne, Keane, Duff. We need em all to perform. That said, I'm sure the squad has a Gary Kelly to rise to the fore (Walters a far better player).

    John Terry only tortures other players Wife's kittens.

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