Treacy: Trapattoni wrong to ditch Reid

ANDY REID is the victim of an ‘over-reaction’ from Giovanni Trapattoni on the night his international future was thrown into limbo – so says Ray Treacy, who was a bystander on the fateful evening in 2008.

Reid hasn’t played for Ireland under Trapattoni since his falling out with the Irish manager following Ireland’s World Cup qualifying clash with Georgia in 2008, and Treacy, who was a witness in the bar in Germany on the night, says Reid has been hard done by.

“I was in the bar in Wiesbaden (on the night Giovanni Trapattoni and Andy Reid had their infamous falling-out) and I do know this: what Reidy did you would see a hundred times and you’d barely notice it,” Treacy says, in an interview in today’s Irish Examiner.

Reid’s subsequent form for Sunderland has led to his calls for his return but Trapattoni has refused to budge, garnering much criticism. Treacy believes Reid should return.

“If there was three glasses on the table between four or five lads, that was it. Time for bed? Fine. And Reidy only did what nearly everybody in Ireland would do: right, lads, one for the road and then we’re gone. End of story. Did Trapattoni overreact? In my opinion, totally.”

Treacy laments the decision to cast Reid – who has 27 caps – out and said his return to the Republic of Ireland squad is a “no brainer”.

“Andy is a smashing lad. He’s also a smashing player. And I think every team needs a player like that, a playmaker, someone who can spot a pass. Should he be in the Irish squad? I think that’s a no-brainer. Do I think Trap is wrong to have done what he’s done? Yes, I do.”

Former Irish international Treacy was formerly in charge of Ireland’s travel arrangements, and admits he chose Saipan for Ireland’s 2002 World Cup preparations – a decision which ultimately led to Roy Keane marching out of the Irish World Cup squad after a bust-up with then-boss Mick McCarthy.

“I would accept 100% responsibility for Saipan,” said Treacy.

He convinced McCarthy that the Irish team should use Saipan as a preliminary base for their World Cup assault in 2002 but insists it was fit for a purpose.

“All it was meant to be for (the Saipan pitch) was a loosener. It was an average pitch that they’d done some work on. Was it dangerous? I’ve played full games at international level on worse pitches. In Izmir, it was like 100,000 people had come in and thrown a lump of mud each onto the pitch. The Saipan pitch, for a run or a bit of shooting practice, was more than adequate for what Mick wanted.”