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Green Manifesto

There’s never a dull moment where Ireland are concerned. After a brave Euros qualification campaign came the humiliation of the finals themselves. Then the recent last gasp win over mighty Kazakhstan. As the World Cup qualifier campaign gathers pace, three of the lynch-pins of the squad discuss Trapp’s reputation for managerial stubborness, his controversial selection of players from the lower echelons of British soccer and tell us what’s on their iPhone playlists

Stuart Clark, 02 Oct 2012

While not a Steve Bleasdale fan – after spells at Bangor City and Leigh Genesis his former boss is currently out of the game – he’s a lot of time for Mr. Peterborough, Barry Fry.

“Ah, he’s a brilliant character,” Sean smiles. “Barry was Director of Football, the groundsman, the car-park attendant – he’s just so committed to the club. He’s one of those larger than life characters like Ian Holloway. We played Blackpool last weekend and he was running up and down the touchline kicking every ball! Beneath all the joking around he’s a fantastic manager.”

Another of his favourite football people is Sven Goran Erikkson who brought Sean to Leicester in 2011 after a spell at Preston that yielded several ‘Player of the Year’ Awards.

“What a gentleman,” he enthuses. “He’s a superb coach and man manager. You never got the big ‘I am’ from Sven. He’d been at all these famous clubs and managed England, but he was never less than 100% focused on the job while he was at Leicester.

“Sven signed me on the strength of my Ireland performances and a recommendation from Trap, which was just as well because my Preston form that season wasn’t the best! We’ve got off to a bit of a slow start this season, but there’s enough quality in the squad to mount a promotion challenge.”

KEIREN WESTWOOD

While it was the Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle late show that made headlines in Almaty, there would have been no game for them to turn around if Keiren Westwood hadn’t made two great saves in the 40th and 78th minutes.

The 27-year-old Mancunian looks to have made the Ireland No. 1 jersey his own – something he’s yet to do at Sunderland.

“I’m on the bench at the moment, which isn’t an ideal situation,” he admits. “If anyone tells you they’re happy being a substitute they’re in the wrong profession and picking up money for no reason. I want to play football, that’s why I’m here. I like the buzz of a Saturday; there’s nothing like it when you know you’ve performed well.”



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