Republic of Ireland v Austria - Sunday 11th June 2017 - World Cup 2018 Qualifier

[KrisLetang]

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club.

This is apparently a misunderstanding. He went golfing with the team's chairman the other day and his putter broke.

[Fizzer]

Dreadful game but O'Neill continues to make some interesting selections both good and bad. The good was Long,what a brave choice to put him into this game.he did well defensively and can't be blamed for Ward's shocking performance.Randolph was also, of course,the right choice.maybe the Westwood cheerleading squad will put away their pom poms for a little while.Whelan was fine,nothing more but Arter again was clearly below the standard required at this level,he continues to worry me I'm really not sure that he's up to it despite wishing that he was,hopefully he'll improve.The omission of Wes was criminal.You're at home against a severely weakened opponent and playing one up front,...he plays.At least O'Neill is willing to make wholesale changes to attempt to rectify errors.better than the dogged stubbornness under Trap.

[tetsujin1979]

Dreadful game but O'Neill continues to make some interesting selections both good and bad. The good was Long,what a brave choice to put him into this game.he did well defensively and can't be blamed for Ward's shocking performance.Randolph was also, of course,the right choice.maybe the Westwood cheerleading squad will put away their pom poms for a little while.Whelan was fine,nothing more but Arter again was clearly below the standard required at this level,he continues to worry me I'm really not sure that he's up to it despite wishing that he was,hopefully he'll improve.The omission of Wes was criminal.You're at home against a severely weakened opponent and playing one up front,...he plays.At least O'Neill is willing to make wholesale changes to attempt to rectify errors.better than the dogged stubbornness under Trap.

That's a bit much. Both Randolph and Westwood have their supporters, and there's not much between them at the moment. Westwood finished the season in the Football League team of the season, Randolph finished it on the bench at West Ham, but is in possession of the jersey. Westwood played well last week, including one excellent save at 1-1. Randolph did fine today, including one save late on to keep them on a single goal. I didn't blame him for the goal either, The late highlights on RTE 2 showed Ward left his man get a step on him to finish, and the entire defence was caught out by the double stepovers. There's been an ongoing debate for some time over who should get the nod in goals, to claim that Westwood has a cheerleading squad, armed with pom-poms, does it a disservice.

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Me either, Whelan did well today. Kilbane on radio commentary was very complimentary. Christie was straight down from me in the first half, and wasn't great, but I thought he looked better in the second half, albeit he was on the opposite side of the pitch to me. Hendrick was the biggest disappointment for me, we really needed him to put his stamp on the game as the link between midfield and lone striker and he just didn't work out.

Brady is not a RW and shouldn't have been started in that position. Hendrick didn't have a great match either. I'm no fan of Ward but he did well enough before he came off.

Walters was incredible - we will really miss him when he retires.

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.

That's in today's Independent today as well, but I haven't seen anything official - http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-35812800.html

He did score five goals for the Geordies, some of them vital, on their quick exit from the Championship but he only played 14 games for Rafa Benitez, who last week told Murphy he can quit St James' Park.

[DannyInvincible]

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Any specific examples of errors or moments where he put a foot wrong? I can't recall any really besides the booking, which was admittedly careless. Otherwise, I'm surprised you've singled him out. I thought he played alright; he certainly wasn't "the big culprit", which is a very unfair review of his performance.

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.

He spoke a bit about his impending departure here: http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/...mmer-1-8589268

Rafa is a top, top manager. He texted me after the Uruguay game to say well done. I spoke to him last week about my future and he thanked me for what I had done and said they were going to listen to a few offers. I said ‘that’s fine’.

I always knew I had been brought in there to do a specific job, to help the club get promoted. I had no illusions that I was going to be starting for Newcastle in the Premier League if we got up. I have got another year left on my contract and I will go back there for pre-season and just look at my options.

[mark12345]

This guy is MON's pet. It doesn't matter if he is a passenger and does nothing on a regular basis, he will still start no matter what.

It's true. Whelan can do anything it seems and there is no baromoter for him. And I am his chief critic it seems. Look you say: "Whelan was a great player for us today."
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you saw Joe Allen or Aaron Ramsey tonight for Wales you'd have a vastly different opinion. Allen is everything a good midfielder should be.
He is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

[mark12345]

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Brady is not a RW and shouldn't have been started in that position. Hendrick didn't have a great match either. I'm no fan of Ward but he did well enough before he came off.

Walters was incredible - we will really miss him when he retires.

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.

Agree with you on John Walters. He didn't stop running all day and he would have netted the winner if Duffy left him alone to contest the ball with the smaller Austrian defender.

[DannyInvincible]

[Joe Allen] is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

I think you're confusing Glenn Whelan with Wes Hoolahan.

Here's an excellent analysis of Whelan's actual role and general contribution when he plays by a former team-mate of his, Trevor Sinclair, on 'MOTD' last year:

[tetsujin1979]

Anyone else getting flashbacks to the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign?
Four teams, with little between them, battling it out for an automatic qualification spot, and a play off. All taking points off each other, but one victory could change the complexion of the group.
Two minnows, that you would expect the other four to beat easily, but can still cause an upset.

[CraftyToePoke]

On the subject of flashbacks I an hoping we won't be having them of Wes coming on criminally late in this game for years to come.

Series of awful confidence sapping decisions from MON this time out. Selection, substitutions, tactics and reacting to the unfolding consequences of those all badly out of tune today.

[Real ale Madrid]

What was people's opinion on Brady's performance? I thought he was carrying an injury of some sort he was so lethargic?
Our midfield was completely overrun yesterday - McCarthy is vital to our chances of qualifying.

[Eminence Grise]

Player reviews
Randolph – O’Neill’s ploy to use sunlight bouncing off Randolph’s shiny dome to blind the Austrians was thwarted by showers (rain, the shower in front of him) but the WHam backing vocalist woke us up before we went went with a top drawer save late on.
Christie – his claim to be the best full back in the Championship might have shown him to be a natural gas, but he’ll do just fine while we wait for the coal man to knock.
Duffy – his passing came as a relief to Theresa May who realised that it’s not just the Tories who lack direction, and the DUP haven’t produced the worst headers after all.
Long – never before did the Irish nation pray as fervently: ‘Long to watch over us’. Not yet royalty, but he’s emerged somewhere in line to the throne.
Ward – given the number of hospital passes played by Ireland access to a ward was no bad thing, though there was a distinctly HSE rather than Mater Private feel to his performance.
Whelan – confounded expectations and the evidence of 80 caps with a lung-bursting first half forward run. Nobody man-marks space better: a backhanded compliment, but a compliment all the same.
Arter – a long way short of being a main artery for our creative force, he toiled in vain.
Brady – unable to attend in person, Brady conjured up a passably credible astral projection from a beach somewhere in the south of France.
Hendrick – stayed on for the full 90 by being so anonymous that O’Neill forgot he was even in Dublin.
McClean – the diehard winger played with his usual yippee ki-yay m**********r gusto that reminds me of somebody, but I can’t think who.
Walters – pulled back his foot for that shot and thought fleetingly ‘this is for you, Towk – I’ll make you believe in me’ but had to make do with just another goal for Ireland instead.

Subs
Hoolahan – if the come and get me call of a brunette is ‘have all them blondes gone home yet?’ then Wessi’s has to be ‘have all them defensive midfield sloggers that can’t pass, and have no vision or movement died out like the dinosaurs yet?’
Murphy – looking for a club, and had he found one would have been well advised to use it on the time-wasting Austrian keeper (this season’s nominee for the Dudu Awat Award for Sportsmanship).
McGeady – one of those subversive, creative types: not to be trusted for more than 20 minutes.

Coach watch
O’Neill played it so safe he’s a shoo-in to front the next ‘Johnny’s got you covered’ ad campaign. Two points dropped - but the penny still hasn’t as far as creativity goes.

Ref watch
Funny how ‘Spanish ref’ is code for ‘useless cono riding us rock solid’. Will do better back at his natural level reffing u-12s 7-a-sides. If only we had somebody high up in UEFA with a bit of clout we might be able to avoid refs whose ‘Laws of the Game’ is printed in braille.

Overall
Collectively Ireland played as if they’d just emerged blinking into the light after 20 years captivity in Josef Fritzl’s cellar, and wanted to get as far away from all things Austrian as possible. As evidenced by the first half marking, it was mission accomplished on that score.

[tetsujin1979]

I was listening to the Newstalk commentary at the game and it's available on listen back here: http://www.newstalk.com/listen_back/...e_Ball_Part_4/
Part 5 and Part 6 of Off The Ball have the rest of the commentary.
Kilbane was really impressed with Arter, in contrast with some of the opinions on here

<EDIT>
I don't like having to keep the newstalk site open to listen to the service, so the download links are here
build up: https://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/a...lA9qjAMpm0.mp3
first half, and half time analysis: https://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/a...nvWdCpjaTj.mp3
second half: https://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/a...sfML3uhpwm.mp3 (goal is on 39:00)

[jbyrne]

Kilbane was really impressed with Arter, in contrast with some of the opinions on here

Cant really fault Arters effort but his positional sense and passing were very poor yesterday. 4/10 for me

[Charlie Darwin]

Annoying? I would call it very annoying. Liam Brady advised MON yesterday to opt for the creative option (ie play Hoolahan from the off). It's something most of us would have agreed with. But once again an Irish manager opts for Glenn Whelan instead of the braver optiong. He's your player Martin. Hope he proves you right and the rest of us wrong. Hate being so negative before a game. Come on lads, let's do it.

Liam Brady when he was involved in Trap's coaching team was notorious for choosing the creative option, of course.

[johnnyc]

Player reviews
Randolph – O’Neill’s ploy to use sunlight bouncing off Randolph’s shiny dome to blind the Austrians was thwarted by showers (rain, the shower in front of him) but the WHam backing vocalist woke us up before we went went with a top drawer save late on.
Christie – his claim to be the best full back in the Championship might have shown him to be a natural gas, but he’ll do just fine while we wait for the coal man to knock.
Duffy – his passing came as a relief to Theresa May who realised that it’s not just the Tories who lack direction, and the DUP haven’t produced the worst headers after all.
Long – never before did the Irish nation pray as fervently: ‘Long to watch over us’. Not yet royalty, but he’s emerged somewhere in line to the throne.
Ward – given the number of hospital passes played by Ireland access to a ward was no bad thing, though there was a distinctly HSE rather than Mater Private feel to his performance.
Whelan – confounded expectations and the evidence of 80 caps with a lung-bursting first half forward run. Nobody man-marks space better: a backhanded compliment, but a compliment all the same.
Arter – a long way short of being a main artery for our creative force, he toiled in vain.
Brady – unable to attend in person, Brady conjured up a passably credible astral projection from a beach somewhere in the south of France.
Hendrick – stayed on for the full 90 by being so anonymous that O’Neill forgot he was even in Dublin.
McClean – the diehard winger played with his usual yippee ki-yay m**********r gusto that reminds me of somebody, but I can’t think who.
Walters – pulled back his foot for that shot and thought fleetingly ‘this is for you, Towk – I’ll make you believe in me’ but had to make do with just another goal for Ireland instead.

Subs
Hoolahan – if the come and get me call of a brunette is ‘have all them blondes gone home yet?’ then Wessi’s has to be ‘have all them defensive midfield sloggers that can’t pass, and have no vision or movement died out like the dinosaurs yet?’
Murphy – looking for a club, and had he found one would have been well advised to use it on the time-wasting Austrian keeper (this season’s nominee for the Dudu Awat Award for Sportsmanship).
McGeady – one of those subversive, creative types: not to be trusted for more than 20 minutes.

Coach watch
O’Neill played it so safe he’s a shoo-in to front the next ‘Johnny’s got you covered’ ad campaign. Two points dropped - but the penny still hasn’t as far as creativity goes.

Ref watch
Funny how ‘Spanish ref’ is code for ‘useless cono riding us rock solid’. Will do better back at his natural level reffing u-12s 7-a-sides. If only we had somebody high up in UEFA with a bit of clout we might be able to avoid refs whose ‘Laws of the Game’ is printed in braille.

Overall
Collectively Ireland played as if they’d just emerged blinking into the light after 20 years captivity in Josef Fritzl’s cellar, and wanted to get as far away from all things Austrian as possible. As evidenced by the first half marking, it was mission accomplished on that score.

Did you write that yourself?

[Eminence Grise]

Yup. All my own work - waaay too much time on my hands.

[Olé Olé]

It's true. Whelan can do anything it seems and there is no baromoter for him. And I am his chief critic it seems. Look you say: "Whelan was a great player for us today."
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you saw Joe Allen or Aaron Ramsey tonight for Wales you'd have a vastly different opinion. Allen is everything a good midfielder should be.
He is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

Who in the name of God said he's supposed to be our main man? I thought he was very good. His positioning was always on point and his distribution was sound. I would direct any disdain at our midfield performance at Hendrick. I thought Jeff was anonymous. It reminded me of the Belarus match last year. Fair enough he's not a 10 but he could have become involved as an 8.

I thought Long was really assured. Went back to Randolph a couple of times too many but I attritbute to nerves and that's understandable. I can see why Burnley have held onto him through thick and thin.

Christie was so dodgy. MON needs to re-assess who he puts his faith in for that spot.

Walters... Animal.

[Fixer82]

It's true. Whelan can do anything it seems and there is no baromoter for him. And I am his chief critic it seems. Look you say: "Whelan was a great player for us today."
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you saw Joe Allen or Aaron Ramsey tonight for Wales you'd have a vastly different opinion. Allen is everything a good midfielder should be.
He is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

I think TrapaPony was talking about Hendrick who, it seems, is undroppable.
Whelan, however, has been dropped previously by O'Neill

[Fixer82]

Who in the name of God said he's supposed to be our main man? I thought he was very good. His positioning was always on point and his distribution was sound. I would direct any disdain at our midfield performance at Hendrick. I thought Jeff was anonymous. It reminded me of the Belarus match last year. Fair enough he's not a 10 but he could have become involved as an 8.

I thought Long was really assured. Went back to Randolph a couple of times too many but I attritbute to nerves and that's understandable. I can see why Burnley have held onto him through thick and thin.

Christie was so dodgy. MON needs to re-assess who he puts his faith in for that spot.

Walters... Animal.

Bang on the money!

[mark12345]

Who in the name of God said he's supposed to be our main man? I thought he was very good. His positioning was always on point and his distribution was sound. I would direct any disdain at our midfield performance at Hendrick. I thought Jeff was anonymous. It reminded me of the Belarus match last year. Fair enough he's not a 10 but he could have become involved as an 8.

I thought Long was really assured. Went back to Randolph a couple of times too many but I attritbute to nerves and that's understandable. I can see why Burnley have held onto him through thick and thin.

Christie was so dodgy. MON needs to re-assess who he puts his faith in for that spot.

Walters... Animal.

Hendrick was very bad. No argument here. Whelan could have played out of his skin (theoretically) and made up for Hendrick's poor performance, but he didn't. You are never going to get a world class performance from Glenn Whelan (l know I'm being picky given that very few of our lads are capable of same) yet he is the longest serving midfielder we have. If he's not our main man, or playmaker, or something close to it, then why the heck has he been picked in the position for ten years?

I know I'm being harder on him than perhaps any other player, but nothing changes year in year out with the selection of Glenn Whelan in our midfield. And here we are again facing a dogfight to qualify when it could have been so much easier.