SOCCER IRELAND SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI yesterday skipped the press conference that traditionally accompanies the naming of an Ireland squad and settled instead for a brief message to accompany the 23 names to be involved in next week's game against Poland.
"I look forward to this opportunity to work with my players again," said the veteran Italian. "This match will enable us to continue our preparations for World Cup qualification and will give me a further opportunity to build my squad before the important games ahead of us next year."
To judge by the list that follows the quote and ticketing details on the press release Trapattoni is looking forward to working with some players more than others. Previously involved in every squad for which he was fit though he didn't actually play, Andy Reid is conspicuously absent, as is Joey O'Brien, two weeks after he revealed his frustration at not getting a run-out under the new boss.
Also omitted are Daryl Murphy who, like Reid, returned to the Sunderland team at the weekend, and James McCarthy, the 18-year-old Scottish-born Hamilton Academical midfielder, who had been expected to get a first senior call-up.
Questioned about these matters yesterday, FAI officials said Trapattoni would deal with them on Sunday when he and the players arrive in Dublin to begin their preparations for Wednesday's game.
Of chief interest, of course, is the exclusion of Reid and efforts to solicit a comment from the Sunderland midfielder yesterday were also unsuccessful.
He was, however, extensively quoted in the Sunderland Echowhere his satisfaction at having played solidly on his return to the team, against Portsmouth, was, in the circumstances, of less topical interest than his comments on being left out in the first place and his apparent respect for a manager's right to make such calls.
"I was delighted to play, because it's been a while," said the Dubliner. "I just had to wait for my chance and I feel I've taken it. I feel I've contributed and done well. It was nice to show people what I can do.
"But if it (being left out) is not difficult for players when the team sheet goes up and their name's not on it, then they shouldn't really be professional footballers.
"It's about dealing with it in the right way, keeping positive and believing your chance will come. The manager doesn't have to explain himself to anybody. He makes the decisions and it's up to him, like it or lump it. Rightly so. He's the manager.
"You go through tough times in football and, over the last couple of months, it's been a tough time for me, but I'm a strong enough person to deal with it and a good enough footballer.
"It's difficult to keep your morale up, but that's part of it. It's not just a team game in terms of the 11 guys on the pitch, it's a squad game. That's how I've had to view it and deal with it."
Trouble is, he's no longer even in the Ireland squad. And neither is O'Brien (22), the versatile Bolton player who had suggested that if he didn't get a chance to play when on international duty he might follow Stephen Ireland into international retirement.
The comments seemed rash at the time. Nevertheless the frustration of two players who, whatever about being first-team regulars in the set-up, might have expected to see at least a little action this year, is not hard to understand.
In their places are some of the players who appear to have made a positive impression on Trapattoni during last month's friendly B team game against Nottingham Forest. Kevin Foley, Anthony Stokes and Keith Andrews, who featured in the Dalymount match are included, with Darron Gibson, who started against Cyprus, and Caleb Folan, who came on late in the qualifier to make his senior debut, both retaining their places.
Trapattoni hinted last month that Andrews will make his senior debut against the Poles but McCarthy had also been expected to feature as the Italian looks to end the pressure being put on him by the Scottish FA for a change of international allegiance.
There were reports last week that Hamilton had been informed of his impending call-up but despite a strong performance for the club at the weekend when he scored his side's only goal and was man of the match in a 1-1 draw with Falkirk, he is not in the squad.
Nobody at his club was available for comment but sources close to him expressed confidence his absence should not be taken as a sign his commitment to the Republic had been undermined.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD:S Given (Newcastle Utd), D Kiely (West Bromwich), J Murphy (Scunthorpe Utd); P McShane (Sunderland - on loan to Hull City), J O'Shea (Manchester Utd), R Dunne (Manchester City), K Kilbane (Wigan Ath), A Bruce (Ipswich), D Delaney (QPR), K Foley (Wolves); A McGeady (Celtic), K Andrews (Blackburn), D Gibson (Manchester Utd), G Whelan (Stoke City), D Duff (Newcastle Utd), S Hunt (Reading), Miller (Sunderland), A Keogh (Wolverhampton); R Keane (Liverpool), K Doyle, S Long (both Reading), A Stokes (Sunderland - on loan to Sheffield Utd), C Folan (Hull City).
Trapattoni's assessments of Andy Reid
Òctober 16th: "I have nothing against any player, they are all like my children. I just want a solid team with a good balance that plays international football. Like this table, with its legs, you have to be solid. Andy has very good qualities but not necessarily what we need.
"It's nothing against one particular player, let's make it clear. I know that if we get to the point where our team dominates the game and we have the right balance, then, of course, Andy can be very useful to us. This particular position only works if we are playing the ball, but if we are under pressure then this particular type of play doesn't work. I can't turn someone into a worker. I can't turn someone into a craftsman if that is not his job.
"I wanted to test the situation in Portugal but there was injury. I didn't get the chance to try him and now it's qualify, qualify, qualify . . . we can't gamble.
I've been able to build a team that has a certain balance and I can't keep changing, I need to stick to what I've found. I have to be coherent. There is a philosopher who says, if you are too coherent, you run the risk of being an imbecile, but I can't keep changing.
October 12th: "I never have prejudgments on any players. I get angry often when the players are on the pitch, but it is away in five minutes. The most important thing is the players. I don't have any problems with the players. I choose in all honesty and thinking about the interests of the team."
August 21st: "I have said many, many times, we are very, very offensive. With two strikers, with McGeady, with Duff, with also Hunt, we are very, very offensive. The team also needs a midfield with players like (Glenn) Whelan, like Steven Reid. We also have Liam Miller and Darren Potter.
"Andy Reid is a very skilful player, with very specific characteristics, but with him in the side we could play with only one striker. Depending on the game, sure, you can play with just one striker. There are teams like that in Italy, but they score goals from the left side and the right. But at the moment we don't have so many players who can score goals - (apart from) Doyle and Keane.
"These days there isn't a team that plays with players like McGeady, Doyle, Keane, Duff and Andy Reid. It needs balance.
"Andy can still be an important player for us, though. It is a long campaign and we will play a lot of games over more than one year."
