Conservative approach not confined to Trap tenure

It is a continuing conceit of the human condition that allows us believe we are regularly blazing trails.

The reality, of course, is that most of what we do is a retread of actions and events performed countless times before and, in that, football is no exception.

If there was one topic that flowed freely through the arteries of Ballsbridge last night it was that of James McClean and the young Sunderland winger’s chances of making Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the big dance in Poland.