Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
The trial of Andy Reid vs. Giovanni Trapatoni
What's the verdict?
Now that international football is due to start again soon, I feel it’s at last time to judge the most high-profile issue in Irish International Soccer. The Andy Reid vs. Giovanni Trapatoni argument has rumbled on for ages now, filling column miles, and hours on the airwaves. In one Irish Times debate where readers were asked to write an argument for either side, the two parties agreed that Reid should be on the Ireland team.
Here’s both sides of the argument. Make up your own mind.
The Case For:
We need a passer in midfield: Let’s face it, creativity is at an all-time low in the national team. The wingers, who Trapatoni rates highly, haven’t performed, and the centre of midfield is the wekaest area of the team. Reid would add a creative dimension, and spot a killer ball the forwards crave.
Works well with Robbie Keane: Reid struck up an exciting partnership with Keane at Spurs, and let’s face it, Robbie is going through a crisis of confidence at the moment. His international form has been similarly poor lately, and would surely benefit from Reid’s presence.
He’s better than the alternatives: Darren Who? Glenn Who? Gibson and Whelan actually. Neither of them can get a game with Manchester United or Stoke City, respectively, but still displace the man who’s played most of Sunderland’s games this year. They also have no creativity, and aren’t really the holding midfielders that Trapatoni craves.
He deserves a chance, at least: Given that Whelan has played every minute of Trapatoni’s reign, and Reid hasn’t been on the pitch at all, it would appear Trap has a vendetta against him. No matter his doubts over Reid, he should have an opportunity to prove himself.
Results haven’t been that good: Scraping a one-nil win against Cyprus, losing at home to Poland, draws with Serbia and Montenegro (respectively, now!), and even the win against Georgia was uninspiring. Reid would surely improve the side.
The Case Against:
Trap has a game plan: Trapatoni is one of the world’s greatest ever managers, and he has achieved his success without playing champagne football, so maybe we should trust in him, and not in a Sunderland midfielder who’s only started half of their games.
He’s not Liam Brady: Or Ronnie Whelan, or David O’Leary. Reid has been compared to both, and though they all suffered international exile, the above three would make most people’s all-time Irish XI. Would Reid? No, he plays for relegation-bound Sunderland.
He’s not that good: Does anyone remember when he was actually given a chance under Brian Kerr? That wonder goal against Cyprus aside, he was mainly ineffectual. He has often looked overweight, and unable to keep up with the pace of international football. He has also been vastly overrated. Rory Delap, Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt, amongst many others have more assists tha him, and he hasn’t scored this season.
He broke the rules: Reid was up later than a curfew allowed him. Trap got angry, and didn’t play him. It’s called discipline. He’s new in the job, and wishes to enforce order on a lazy, uninspired bunch.
We’re doing fine without him: Seven points out of ten in the qualifying group! We all would have taken that beforehand! Trap is new in the job, and still developing a team, and squad.
Verdict: So, should Reid be playing??? Make up your own mind, and tell me!
By: Ciaran Leinster
Photo: jonboy mitchell
