Georgia V Ireland - Saturday, 6th September 2008 - World Cup 2010 Q - Mainz, Germany

[FarBeag]

Great result if not the best game to watch. One thing for sure Steven Reid needs to stay fit, best Irish player on the pitch. I was happy with the back four until the organisation was upset by the changes. Steven Hunt ran himself into the ground and I was surprised with Whelan as he is a better player than I thought.I hope he can keep this up as he also is a better option than Carsley.

The only negatives imo besides the late goal is that Miller and Keogh are seen as the better option than Andy Reid.

We do need to improve for Wednesday though and keep our concentration for 90min +

[conlonn]

2 examples, one from many years ago. :rolleyes:

The substitutions wouldnt have been made if we were only 1-0 up.

Trap is still unbeaten as manager.

yes true. They should win on Wednesday also which is the perfect start.
On a positive note for me they can improve another 25% over the course of the qualifying campaign.
They will need to to compete with Bulgaria and Italy

[shakermaker1982]

job done and if we had kept a clean job it would have been a solid 7 out of 10 performance. I thought we looked shaky at defending set pieces though and I hope we work on that over the next few days.

I thought the two full backs were solid and Reid/Whelan looked accomplished in the centre of the park. Obviously Wednesday's game will be trickier and we'll need to improve to have any chance of getting 3 points but I'm happy enough with the performance. Still early days but at least we don't resort to lumping the ball long every time the back 4 get the ball.

Marks out of 10? 6 being average performance or in Given's case not having to do much.

Given - 6.
Finnan - 7.
Kilbane - 8
Dunne - 6
O'Shea - 6
Hunt - 6
McGeady - 6
Whelan - 7
S Reid - 7
Doyle - 7
Keane - 6

[Maroon 7]

job done and if we had kept a clean job it would have been a solid 7 out of 10 performance. I thought we looked shaky at defending set pieces though and I hope we work on that over the next few days.

I thought the two full backs were solid and Reid/Whelan looked accomplished in the centre of the park. Obviously Wednesday's game will be trickier and we'll need to improve to have any chance of getting 3 points but I'm happy enough with the performance. Still early days but at least we don't resort to lumping the ball long every time the back 4 get the ball.

Marks out of 10? 6 being average performance or in Given's case not having to do much.

Given - 6.
Finnan - 7.
Kilbane - 8
Dunne - 6
O'Shea - 6
Hunt - 6
McGeady - 6
Whelan - 7
S Reid - 7
Doyle - 7
Keane - 6

Thought McGeady would be worthy of a 7 to be honest. Put in the cross for Doyle's goal. Put in a great corner which O'Shea headed over. Put a great long pass through for Keane that eventually led to Whelan having his shot for his goal. He had a very good second half. Only dodgy spell was when he was over on the left wing for the final 15 minutes of the first half.

[shakermaker1982]

He also gave the ball away on numerous occasions. He was steady enough. He's a skillful player and I'm hoping the best is to come from him in a green shirt.

[Maroon 7]

He also gave the ball away on numerous occasions. He was steady enough. He's a skillful player and I'm hoping the best is to come from him in a green shirt.

Well he's on the same rating as Hunt and I thought he definitely had a better game than Hunt did anyway.

[irishultra]

It will do. Not great by any means, but decent. Its easy to say Georgia were not upto much...results indicate they are a tough nut to crack. It was an away game in Fifas eyes, so its a massive 3 points.

To be honest I thought we were playing in 2nd/3rd gear...and feel we can really pick it up. I'm nervous about the Montenegro game. I don't understand Reid being so far down the pecking order. Hunt did what he does, but by god is he annoying to watch at times. With Duff, we will be a much better proposition.

Trap's changes were mind boggling, but its a results business and we got what we needed. Another 3 in the next game and we will be flying.

[conlonn]

2 examples, one from many years ago. :rolleyes:

The substitutions wouldnt have been made if we were only 1-0 up.

Trap is still unbeaten as manager.

Israel away in qualifiers too is another conceded late on

[irishultra]

They beat Scotland in the last qualifers and drew with Ukraine. Only got beaten 3-2 away to Ukraine as well. Well done lads.

[Stuttgart88]

Not impressed: good in parts, poor in parts. Steven Reid is a massive player for us and we need him fit. I thought our ball retention was awful at times and we lacked cohesion. I still think Trapp has to learn who our best players are. I think if we can play ugly and keep winning for the time being we'll develop well but we're still vulnerable and whilst I think we merited our win we rode our luck at times too. I'd like more leadership ahead of our defence.

I didn't agree with the substitutions much and if that had been Stan we'd be livid. In Trapp I trust however :)

There were good points at times too but I wasn't convinced. Obviously we look at all things Irish very subjectively and critically, but stuff it, we won and I'm delighted.

Our best players? Reid & Kilbane for me.

[OwlsFan]

Not impressed: good in parts, poor in parts. Steven Reid is a massive player for us and we need him fit. I thought our ball retention was awful at times and we lacked cohesion. I still think Trapp has to learn who our best players are. I think if we can play ugly and keep winning for the time being we'll develop well but we're still vulnerable and whilst I think we merited our win we rode our luck at times too. I'd like more leadership ahead of our defence.

I didn't agree with the substitutions much and if that had been Stan we'd be livid. In Trapp I trust however :)

There were good points at times too but I wasn't convinced. Obviously we look at all things Irish very subjectively and critically, but stuff it, we won and I'm delighted.

Our best players? Reid & Kilbane for me.

Agree with most of that. Hate the 5 in midfield substitution to close down a game - usually backfires and Miller :rolleyes: Was pleased with the back 4 and Stephen Reid. McGeady gave the ball away far too much (nice cross for the goal and the pass to Robbie though). Not sure how Whelan got MotM. Was quite anonymous at times. Hunt puts himself about - like the curate's egg. Good in parts. Keane was very quiet as well and I wouldn't have noticed Doyle apart from his goal.

But 3 points is all that matters.

[EastTerracer]

It's been clear since 2002 that Stephen Reid was always going to be important to us. He had a couple of decent sub appearances under McCarthy (and a world cup appearance) and a storming game in Brian Kerr's first game in Scotland but he has been dogged by injuries ever since and only played a handful of games for us. We desperately need him to stay fit.

On Andy Reid I think Trapp will get to know his abilities over time but then the question is how to fit him into the system. He won't get up and down the wing like Duff, McGeady and Hunt but I think Trapp wants a solid, no nonsense centre of midfield rather than flair. I hope he can work it out.

Someone posted earlier that Robbie Keane is overrated but IMHO he is still our most important player. He was unlucky to hit the post today and other than that didn't get much of the ball (which he can't be blamed for).

When we went 1-0 up there was definitely a strategy of playing out the game like the Italians would. I think the manager had more faith in our ability to do that than the fans (he hasn't gone through the last 3 campaigns the way we have). I was really nervous for 15 or 20 minutes but the second goal did ease the nerves a bit.

A good start but we need to keep improving on the performance. Everyone did their job today - no complaints on effort from anyone. Hunt tries his heart out but needs to pass more (he can't beat them all). At times he gave the ball away but I think it was one of McGeady's best games yet.

Given the injury he got just seven days ago I think Kilbane was my personal star today.

3-points away to start - brilliant. Let's go and get 3 more on Wednesday.

[backstothewall]

Given - 6* Hard to mark, had little to do but pick the ball out of his goal
Finnan - 7
Kilbane - 8
Dunne - 7
O Shea - 7
McGeady - 8
Whelan - 8
Reid - 8
Hunt - 8
Doyle - 8
Keane - 7

[the-blue-harp]

i dont know if andy reid is down the pecking order or just the way the game panned out his services weren't required. If we were a goal down, then he would have thrown on andy reid.

andy reid will figure in montenegro.

[mypost]

We got the win, even if the traditional late goal conceded took some of the gloss off the result. It's the first game of the campaign, so criticising the team is nit-picking. We've won the first game for the first time since 2004. It's very much a work in progress at the moment. It wasn't pretty but it was effective.

[Galwayman]

Good to get the 3 points from tonights game anyway. Like a lot of other posters I do find it strange that Andy Reid is not in the starting eleven.Whelan did okay tonight but I'd much prefer Reid in the centre of midfield. We find it hard enough to keep possession of the ball without excluding our best passer of the ball.
Whelan is a workhouse but lacks the touch of class that Reid brings to the table.
The one negative for me were the substitutions. I know we were 2 goals up but the idea of resting a defender for the last 10 minutes of a game baffles me.Okay Finnan is in his thirties and hasn't played any first team football this season so far but my belief is that you tinker with your back four at your peril.
It's going to be hard for a player coming in off the bench to get to the pitch of the game straight away - especially a disaster waiting to happen such as McShane. The defence had done well up to that point. I predictaed straight away that Georgia would pull a goal back - straight away mcShane was skinned and they almost scored.

Anyway the results seem to be going our way tonight so far with the other 2 games draws. Montenegro will be a serious test on Wednesday night!!

[Carrigaline]

I serious can't believe how negative some of you are. We were away from home, a potential banana skin and we totally controlled and dominated the opposition. I don't think there was a man on the pitch that played poorly tonight either! The 2-1 scoreline definitely flattered Georgia.

Given - 7
Finnan - 7
Kilbane - 8
Dunne - 8
O Shea - 7
McGeady - 7
Whelan - 8
Reid - 8
Hunt - 7
Doyle - 8
Keane - 7

Roll on Montenegro!

[mark12345]

IT WAS A GOOD SHOWING IN MANY DEPARTMENTS, BUT what about the constant long balls to outnumbered Keane and Doyle - if it doesn't work first few times then why keep trying it.

Don't want to be too pizcky though - there was a lot of discipline in the performanzce at times and Reid and Hunt were brilliant. I've been on Kevin Kilbane's back for a while but he was solid tonight - still don't subscribe to all the hype about him being the Iron Man though. He remains a limited player but it worked out for him tonight and we all knew for years that his best position was left back - shame on the previous managers.

Let's all reserve judgement however until after the Montenegro game - they'll be a different proposition altogether.

[FarBeag]

I serious can't believe how negative some of you are. We were away from home, a potential banana skin and we totally controlled and dominated the opposition. I don't think there was a man on the pitch that played poorly tonight either! The 2-1 scoreline definitely flattered Georgia.


Roll on Montenegro!

I think that people are being realistic rather than negative. To be fair both teams were away from home and the best team won but just about. I think it could have been a different score line in Tbilisi so we can count ourselves lucky.

There are no easy games in this group and we can only lose out on not qualifying ourselves. I think a win on Wednesday is vital but it will be a far more difficult task than to-day so prepare for a nerve racking 90 minutes or so. We have to improve on today; there is no doubt about this. We done our job today and hopefully will top the group come Wednesday night if all goes well?

[irishultra]

Yeah I agree with that. I am over the moon with the 3 points, but if we were to play like that against Cyprus away we would be ripped apart...again.

[Stuttgart88]

like the curate's egg. Good in parts.
But 3 points is all that matters. Exactly how I feel.

Still, I wonder how a neutral with little knowledge of either team would have seen it. I reckon most would have had us on top.

It's important to remember that few teams impress in these qualifiers and as long as the results keep coming that's what counts. Despite the fact that many of our players are experienced enough we're clearly at the bottom of a learning curve under Trap and have a lot more room for improvement. If - and it's a big if - we can keep winning while we make progress then qualification will be attainable. Winning becomes a habit - just look at the run of results we put together in 2000-2002. What was it at one point (after we lost to Greece & Scotland in friendlies)? One or two defeats in 25 games?

[Maroon 7]

Exactly how I feel.

Still, I wonder how a neutral with little knowledge of either team would have seen it. I reckon most would have had us on top.


Oh we were definitely the better team alright. I think 2-0 would have been more reflective of the game than 2-1. Just annoying to concede at the death.

[TheBoss]

We were very solid and compact, passed the ball well when in attacks but just allowed Georgia to have possession but they could not break us down. Tactics were used very well.

[razor]

Happy enough with the performance overall, got a huge slice of luck at a time when Georgia were at their strongest, 3 points is the main thing, now if only we can stop this concession of goals in stoppage time. It leaves a terrible bad taste.
Was it a coincidence or did we look shakier at the back when McShane came on?

[boovidge]

it definately wasnt a coincidence

[irishultra]

Had to laugh at Trap's reasoning for taking off Finnan and Doyle....

Our first goal was brilliant play, I honestly believe people are making light of that goal.

[craig7042]

Happy to get the 3 points, but the manner of it was a bit unconvincing.

Relying on a goalkeeper error for our victory hardly instills me with confidence.

A bit worried about Trap's defensive mentality in the final minutes as well.

Liam Miller for Doyle? Straight out of Kerr's tactic book.


Come on! Its still international football and points and performances are not easy to come by. Look at France and Italy tonight.... (Same ol same old arguments!) Can you not see the Dunphy agenda kicking in like it did after Stans first game against Chile? You dont have to act like him!

We have a better set-up now than before. We got a lucky 2nd goal but then again Keane could have scored instead of hitting the crossbar. The substitutions were made with wednesday in mind clearly. I dont think Andy Reid should be ignored, but you cant argue with Whelan and Reid in the mid after tonights performance.

Good performance. Great result. We dont have to over-analyse it.

[highlight100]

Man of the match Stephen Reid, Hunt came a close second. Great effort all around.

[cheifo]

We seemed to adopt the Italian approach for away game qualifiers.
Win the game with a good professional performance and job done.
Reid and Whelan were well disciplined and Kilbane was excellant.

This is a very tough group.Georgia,Cyprus and Montenegero are all teams capable of pulling out unexpected results, so a well organised team is vital to pick up points in these places.

My main worry is where the creativity will come from against better opposition(Reid,Duff?).

Overall satisfied with three points and the better looking shape of the team.

We look like we have more substance to us.Wednedays performance will be interesting to see if a pattern in our performances develop.

[Maroon 7]

Man of the match Stephen Reid, Hunt came a close second. Great effort all around.

Thought Hunt was the worst of our midfielders to be honest.

[Adrianovic]

It would be silly to declare this a new dawn in Irish football, and equally silly to draw any negative conclusions about the gaffer or the upcoming campaign from it.

We got the three points, didn't get any injuries and I can't remember any bookings either. So job done.

What interested me tonight, and I believe there's another thread on it anyway so I shall not harp on, was that Montenegro held old uncle Bulgaria to a draw. The bookies tell me that we're favourite to beat them on Wednesday - I'm not so sure.

Back to Tbli... Mainz. Kilbane really put in a good show considering the state of his face. The move to left back has put years on his career in the top flight and has dug us out of a rather awkward positional hole. Kilbane is trustworthy and unspectacular, and has constantly proven his will to do anything to play.

Other positives were Steve Reid getting through 90 mins in a green shirt, Doyle taking his goal well, from a good cross by McGeady and that's about it. Any criticism of Keane is unfair, he didn't get much ball, but was unlucky not to score from a tight angle.

At least you can say this campaign, if we don't qualify it will not be because the manager is a clown.

[the-blue-harp]

ideally hunt would be an impact sub,for me, he has only impressed me when hes come of the bench. did he get down the line and get any crosses in tonight? no cos trying to take on the entire georgian team.

[Crosby87]

S Hunt is a headless chicken not up tp this level.
:eek: He is indeed tp to this level.

[SkStu]

Positives: Reid (immense), 1st goal (great movement, nice finish), O'Shea's performance, Kilbanes performance, Whelan's performance (impressed me, a sceptic).

Negatives: late goal (we didnt deserve to concede), substitutions (unnecessary, disruptive), Hunt & McGeady wasteful in posession, absence of A. Reid.

overall rating - 6.5/10. We will need to improve against Montenegro. A win would leave us sitting pretty, im leaning towards a 1-0 victory but would take a draw.

[Maroon 7]

Negatives: late goal (we didnt deserve to concede), substitutions (unnecessary, disruptive), Hunt & McGeady wasteful in posession, absence of A. Reid.


Again I'm amazed how McGeady is considered a negative. He was our most creative force going forward. Gave the ball away a couple of times but that's what happens when you are trying to make something happen. I'm sure he could pass the ball 5 yards sideways or backwards each time but then people would complain that he's not trying anything.

Don't get me wrong sometimes he should hang onto possession rather than try a chancy pass or flick but you either give him some freedom or tell him to pass everything sideways and never lose the ball.

[livehead1]

Just in from watching the game and I enjoyed it.

[youngirish]

Happy with the performance tonight. We never looked like not winning the game. More importantly under Trap we seem to be improving every game. Pluses for me were:


We seem to have a gameplan going forward now while under Stan, and to a lesser extent Kerr, we were clueless in the final third of the pitch
Whelan showed he can be quality against poorer opposition (he might well struggle against better teams though)
Doyle weighed in with a good goal
McGeady looked quality in patches
Kilbane was solid at left back
Hunt was full of energy and harried the opposition


Still some negatives:


The game was there to be won by more goals but Trap proved very negative with his substitutions which inevitably cost us a goal in the end. Hasn't he watched any games under our previous managers who would often make the same mistake?
Miller came on instead of Reid
McGeady looked poor in patches
Keogh is not good enough for International football at present particularly when he still can't get into the Wolves team

We are on the right track. I do however think Georgia looked a poor team tonight. Montenegro will be our first real test as they look fairly handy.

[mypost]

I do however think Georgia looked a poor team tonight.

Most teams struggle away from home. They will be a handful in the group.

[SUB of the day]

Look around Europe,France well beaten in Austria, Romania hammered at home by Lithuania.Closer to home Nordies and Scots lose by the odd goal away(Slovakia and Macedonia).The Welsh scrape a late winner at home to Azerbijan.There are no easy games in the group,which should make it a real roller coaster.I'm convinced that the team at the top and bottom, come the final group table, will be separated by very few points, hence any 3 points "away" are very welcome.I would take a point on Wednesday.

[Paddy Garcia]

In the cold light of day we had a reasonable slice of luck (long overdue btw) especially with the second goal and the time Dunne lost his man at the far post - knew nothing about the block & it could well have gone anywhere - like in the goal.

If nothing else I hope Trapp & the team realise we are always going to need a two goal cushion - at least.

Agree with the earlier posts that our history is scattered with defeats/draws caused by the substitution of an attacker for a midfielder/defender. Someone send Trapp a vid collection of the goals.

We are going to need players in the first team who play football for a living every week. The right flank was very vunerable once McShane came on - there is a reason he is struggling so badly at club level & he has been responsible for an astounding number of goals over the last season (I dont mean for his own team). I thought Whelan did ok, but is going to have to improve quite a bit if we are going to dominate in midfield. He is also going to have to get himself a game at club level.

S Reid was MOMT for me, though he was challenged hard by Kilbane, who was excellent - reminded me of the bravery & commitment of Moran, McCarthy & that lot. Wonder what that eijit who was delighted he broke his face last week thought !

Also agree with the posts that call for Lawrence to be in the shake up. Could make a huge difference to the midfield & he knows where the goal is. We should have tested that goalie far far more than we did.

Hope A Reid will get a chance on Wednesday & that he will be raring to go (unplanned benefit by Trapp!).

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I thought Doyle had a great game. Worked his socks off, held the ball up really well and got the goal he deserved.

Pity he was playing up front on his own. Time for captain fantastic to get the finger out.

[FarBeag]

I thought Doyle had a great game. Worked his socks off, held the ball up really well and got the goal he deserved.

Pity he was playing up front on his own. Time for captain fantastic to get the finger out.


Tell me what Doyle did any better than Keane apart from scoring the goal which Keane had a major contribution in setting up? I like Kevin Doyle but he is nowhere as good a Robbie and never will be.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Jesus Lads, looks like Dunphy's words of wisdom do have some effect.

We did the job and in the most part played solidly well. Trap has got a strategy and in true roman form we obtained what we set out to obtain. Georgia, like any footballing team thesedays are no pushovers - just look at England's comprehensive victory over the mighty Andorra - and for an inch of a post and a late defensive lapse (when the game was already won) it could quite easily have been 3-0 - a more reflective scoreline.

Positives
Steven Reid - Immense powerhouse in the midfield - best player on the pitch.

McGeady - May have gave the ball away a few times trying to coax the defender into an error - however that is his game and when it works we were streaking free. His control, passing and dribbling has never been in question - just great to see it in a green shirt - should give him added confidence for Wednesday.

Hunt - Gave a dogged performance and never gives up - always snapping at heels and for every ball he gives away he will win back

The Strategy - Like many others on the board I would like to see Andy Reid in the team, however in Trap we Trust and we got the result. Maybe he does need to be more mobile or lose a few pounds and his reaction is the most important thing. The most important thing is that we have a manager who is dictating a strategy, rather than a strategy dictated by the players. Great to see us learning from England's mistakes.

Our Dogged Style - Obviously Trap likes the high tempo wing action with the midfielders ghosting in from deep and I personally think that suits our footballing mentality. Our greatest footballing period was based upon this footballing premise and whereas there is an argument for more creative players in the team are we really going to outcreate the Italians and even potentially technically superior Bulgarians? Maybe playing to our strengths is the key.

The Defence - looked solid enough for the first 80 minutes and encouraged by the height in the back 4.

Learning Points (There are no negatives)
Substitutions - obviously unsettle when en masse - however the game was won
McShane - A true warrior on his debut and in the msot part of the lass campaign however his confidence is brittle and we don't need it ruined any further

At the end of the day we have no divine right to qualify and considering that we have only qualified for one tournament since 94 are all maybe guily of expecting too much. For a squad which it has been questioned is the worst for 30 years it was encouraging. Roll on Wednesday.

[Billsthoughts]

cant complain with the 3 points. its early days and the important thing is to win our matches. if montenegro are any way as good as they are being made out to be they will cause us lots of problems.

If richard dunne had played as well as o shea today everyone would be raving! In fact Id go to say some of dunnes clearnaces were pure panic and could have gone anywhere.

Mageady seemed to put the effort in at least but thru on goal and fell over himself. overrated.

Doyle proved once again that if he gets one chance he is more likely to put it away than if robbie gets 5. thats not to say robbie played poorly, far from it but I think we cant rely on him to get us goals in tight games.

I switched off the rte post match. we are talking bout our first competitive game under a highly succesful coach ,away from home and we scored two and picked up 3 points. they were going on like we had lost the world cup final or something. very negative.

A gradual improvement throughout the qualifiers and Ireland still in with a shout at the business end and I will be happy. to that end you cant really complain with 3 points.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Tell me what Doyle did any better than Keane apart from scoring the goal which Keane had a major contribution in setting up? I like Kevin Doyle but he is nowhere as good a Robbie and never will be.

Worked his socks off, held the ball up, took his chance. 3 things Keane didn't do. And hasn't done for us in a while in a qualifying campaign.

[NeilMcD]

Lads just woken up after a great night in Mainz, best Ireland trip in a long time and the singing last night was top notch.

For me Stephen Reid and Kevin Doyle were excellent. I am not sure cause I was at the game but I noticed Doyle making runs time and time again, his running of the channels was top class and himself and Keane seem to have a system going on.

Great first goal and good defensive performance. Stephen Reid is so important to us and I thought Whelan was good but would not have given him MOTM. Miller coming on was a joke but we got away with it.

[FarBeag]

Worked his socks off, held the ball up, took his chance. 3 things Keane didn't do. And hasn't done for us in a while in a qualifying campaign.


3 things Robbie did do. Worked his socks off as he always does, Nearly scored a goal from a very acute angle from the only chance he got, never stopped motivating and guiding his colleagues throughout the game.What else do you want from him apart from scoring goals which will come providing he is given the ball to do so.There is evidence of this already by the 30 odd goals he has already scored. Let’s see will Kevin Doyle ever achieve this?

I have no issues with any anyone constructively criticising a player if he is not up to it or does not have the potential e.g. Miller et al but to see people constantly on Robbie’s back trying to find fault is ridicules

[Claret Murph]

Boy I am not looking forward to reading anything on this board if we get beaten that's for sure .
Bottom line an away win againist Georgia is a very good start , 3 points in the bag and at the top of the table .

NEXT PLEASE .

[Manc Irish Wolf]

For me Stephen Reid and Kevin Doyle were excellent. I am not sure cause I was at the game but I noticed Doyle making runs time and time again, his running of the channels was top class and himself and Keane seem to have a system going on.

Great to here that - can't account for his full output on TV. Great to see him leading the line like that. With Robbie filling the hole behind (note the word "the" and not "his" - which would put a perculiar twist on it altogether) it sounds like the two of them could be beginning to link well.

[Dun Laoire]

Absolutely delighted to get off to a win and a deserved win too. Roll on Wednesday. C'mon Ireland!!!!!