Shane not starting for the Republic

[Mr Angry]

Hmmmmmmmm - you are Trapatoni; you have an important qualifier which you simply have to win, so who do you put out as your first choice strikers?

Either a young, in form striker scoring goals for fun, or an old, crocked has-been who hasn't played any sort of game for 2 months?

[Wycombe Royal]

I'm dissapointed for Shane, but selfishly from RFC's perspective this is good news. He has been carrying a few knocks for weeks now so he could do with the r&r time.......

[RobRoyal]

I'm dissapointed for Shane, but selfishly from RFC's perspective this is good news. He has been carrying a few knocks for weeks now so he could do with the r&r time.......

Agreed, might be a reason behind Trap not starting him too.

Otherwise, weird decision. He's done well enough for Ireland so far in his career, and has just hit the form of his life.

[Elmer Park]

If I wasn't a Reading supporter I would think it was perfectly logical for Ireland to start with two Premier League strikers over a Championship one. Also Robbie Keane seems to have legendary status out there. Shane will get some game time though.

[Handsome Man]

One might seem to be on the way up and the other on the way down, but Keane is better than Long and you wold be shocked if Long was preferred.

[The Rouge]

[PEARCEY]

Hmmmmmmmm - you are Trapatoni; you have an important qualifier which you simply have to win, so who do you put out as your first choice strikers?

Either a young, in form striker scoring goals for fun, or an old, crocked has-been who hasn't played any sort of game for 2 months?

Keane's still a decent player. I'm not surprised by this.

[Hoop Blah]

Keane is a pretty key figure in the Eire side and possibly more importantly his style blends well with either Long or Doyle (they are similar players) so doesn't surprise me at all.

As WR says, this is good news as far as we're concerned.

[Royal Rother]

An Irish friend of mine with no affiliation to Reading thinks Shane Long is miles better than "that oxf*rd Keane".

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Shane Long is probably wondering what more he has do to get a start in the Irish team in a Euro Qualifier.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Banal

"stay with the peoples choice

stay safe"

[Davyc]

As an irish man i can say i would much prefare to see shane starting tomorrow and thats not the reading supporter in me coming out but everyone i know feels the same

[Svlad Cjelli]

Doesn't he have a slight knock he's been playing through?

[Victor Meldrew]

Shane Long is probably wondering what more he has do to get a start in the Irish team in a Euro Qualifier.

Play Premiership football?

[Sarah Star]

Probably not what Simon Church is thinking sitting on the bench for Wales.

[Mr Angry]

I just thought it was an odd decision to play a guy who has been out injured for 2 months over someone who is in the form of his career; Keane could alwys come on for the last 30 mins or so? But as has been said, it benefits us, so not overly bothered.

[Gordons Cumming]

He's on now after 18 minutes to replace Doyle who has what looks like a bad injury.

Come on Shane, show them what you can do.

[prostak]

How many of us would swap Long for Keane at club level, assuming a straight swap were possible?

[Elliott]

Thank f*ck Shane got up from that DISGUSTINGLY high footed challenge!!! Can't believe it wasn't a red!

[Elliott]

Now has a head bandage on...