Nothing like letting your Trapp go

By Lee Ryder on Oct 4, 11 10:58 AM

To hear Giovanni Trapattoni's cutting comments must surely have been a bit of a blow for Leon Best after the 2-1 win over Wolves.

Best missed out on Ireland's squad for this month's games with Andorra and Armenia, despite a tally of three goals from six starts with an assist chucked in for good measure.

The Nottingham lad put in one of his best performances in a black and white shirt at Wolves, despite not getting on the score sheet.

But it still prompted the following response from Mr Trapattoni...

The Ireland boss said: "Leon is not here because we have other three four strikers with other qualities. Leon knows why. I don't forget him but he knows why I need other attitudes.

'But on the field there is only one ball.

"And winning football is about 11 players running for 90 minutes, or 94 minutes, with a winning mentality.

"I cannot have players who just wait for the ball.

'We need a team, we need work and commitment.

"That is football. We need this mentality because with our mentality anything is possible.

"We cannot afford to have players standing there waiting for the ball.

'Leon knows why he is not here. We are also missing Keith Treacy and he knows.

"The players understand why. I tell them to their face, not through the newspapers."

Clearly, Trappatoni has included a few swipes at Best but they don't reflect his start to the season or his part in helping Newcastle get to fourth in the table.

Thankfully, Best's efforts have been fully appreciated so far in these parts anyway.

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