Republic of Ireland V Slovakia - Friday, 2nd September 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[theworm2345]

Argh!

[Maroon 7]

Cox puts a great chance just past the post now.

[Irish_Praha]

Am sorry but where the **** is Hunt?

Just send him on and tell him to go beserk (my 1000th post - wayhey!)

[BonnieShels]

There he is...

[Maroon 7]

This ref has blown for a foul every time Dunne has won a header tonight.

[theworm2345]

There he is...
...and already has put in more crosses than McGeady

[theworm2345]

****, Sledge to miss Russia. I fear for us with O'Dea in there.

[tricky_colour]

last chance saloon

[theworm2345]

**** me

[Maroon 7]

Now Dunne misses a great chance to score a last gasp header.

[Metrostars]

Should have won it. We created enough chances in the end but just couldn't do it.

[BonnieShels]

Boll........

[tricky_colour]

Tough match, a draw may be a good result, Slovakia played well.

[paul_oshea]

That's it lads.trap has brought us no further.they were there for the taking but we were too concerned about conceding.

No chance now.

[tricky_colour]

It's perhaps no surprise Slovakia went to Russian and won.
Looks like we have to do the same.

[theworm2345]

That's it lads.trap has brought us no further.they were there for the taking but we were too concerned about conceding.

No chance now.
Quick, everyone to the ledge!

[Noelys Guitar]

We started playing for a 0-0 ourselves. The slowness with the free kicks. Having said that we missed three great chances. Mind you they missed a few as well. It was like a continuation of the second half of the away game against Slovakia. Very disappointed.

[Noelys Guitar]

Hopefully Long can play on Tuesday. Not beyond the bounds we can go there and win but need some serious alcohol now.

[cestlavie]

On your bike Trap, He is living in the dark ages. Sick of him at this stage. He can t communicate and should be put out to pasture.

[MagicMon]

Same as the first half; Dunne and St Ledger played very well, saved us a few times, Duff worked hard and was the biggest threat. McGeady and Doyle were very poor, Cox at least got some chances and Slovakia looked far more worried when Hunt came on. The midfield is getting carved wide open, but Trap won't play anything other than 4-4-2 so its pointless talking about alternatives. Slovakia were better for the most of the game.

The thing that's making me happy is that now the press will slaughter the team and give them no hope against Russia, and that's always when Ireland produce their best.

[paul_oshea]

Ive forever lost respect for cox too.greedy English blah blah wanting the glory 2 great chances to put in Andrews

Doyle and mcgeadu not fit

[OwenGoal]

Sad confirmation that we haven't got beyond the problems of Trap's system. Recent run of form means nothing now and we were shown up by a similar level team. We're set up to defend, and don't play like the home side. The limitations of the centre mids are very much laid bare under this system. We might do ok in Russia, but ultimately we'll fall short of qualifying. Bit depressing really, as we had seen signs of progress.

[greendeiseboy]

Right I'm probably going to get slammed for this but bear in mind where I'm from and where a certain high profile member of the FAI is from and I've just got a text from a very reliable source that if we fail to qualify for the Euros that a certain recent ex unemployed Liverpool manager is being lined up as a replacement. I'll put it this way that same source tipped me off about Trapattoni before he was appointed.

As I said I'll probably get slammed for this but I wouldn't be putting my head on the block if I didnt trust this contact.

[Noelys Guitar]

Right I'm probably going to get slammed for this but bear in mind where I'm from and where a certain high profile member of the FAI is from and I've just got a text from a very reliable source that if we fail to qualify for the Euros that a certain recent ex unemployed Liverpool manager is being lined up as a replacement. I'll put it this way that same source tipped me off about Trapattoni before he was appointed.

As I said I'll probably get slammed for this but I wouldn't be putting my head on the block if I didnt trust this contact.

Paisley? Souness? oh wait Benitus.

[paul_oshea]

Well at least benitwz can't sell our best players...but he will want rid of given...

Benitez only recently said he wasn't interested at the moment in international management

[DannyInvincible]

Depressing and frustrating. Hunt should have been on long before the last five minutes. McGeady unable to do much but he clearly wasn't match sharp. Why Trap stuck with him for so long, I don't know. As someone pointed out, Hunt got more crosses in in about 3 or 4 minutes than McGeady did throughout the whole game. And dangerous, well-placed ones too from which we should have scored.

Whelan and Andrews non-existent again. It really is a big problem. Slovakia had 80% of possession for a spell of about five or ten minutes before half-time and had already been all over us since long before that. St. Ledger and Dunne at the back the only positives really, but that's not worth a huge deal when we can't retain possession or create opportunities, or at least put the finishing touches to the precious few we can muster. St. Ledger will be missed in Moscow. Will O'Shea come into the centre or will O'Dea slot in? Duff worked tirelessly as ever but it was frustrating. O'Shea was poor. Ward looked OK. Doyle had a very poor game as well but was working off scraps. Robbie wasn't great either and his missed chance was a shocker. Clearly took his eyes off the ball fearing a knock from the keeper. Disappointing. If we'd lost, I don't think anyone could have had any complaints. Trap saying something about it having been balanced in the first-half, although also mentioned Slovakia being superior physically, and us deserving to score in the second half. Also asserting that McGeady was very dangerous and that we should have had a penalty. I agree with the latter point, but not sure about the others. We have to win in Moscow now. Nothing else will suffice.

Just one thing though; who the **** boos the team? Jesus. :dazed:

[OwenGoal]

Is it all conceivable that these players are told to stand around and not show for the ball? There's isn't one of them that would get away that or try to get away with it at club level. Getting quite cross now....going out to throw some fruit at a tree. Doyle and McGeady clearly not fit.

[greendeiseboy]

Well at least benitwz can't sell our best players...but he will want rid of given...

Benitez only recently said he wasn't interested at the moment in international management

Nope, seemingly he's not interested in managing any club other than Liverpool and he's ready for international management. I dont know if he's the man for the job but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that replacements are being lined up should we fail to qualify.

[rebelmusic]

Am I on drugs or correct that if we beat Russia we'll be on top of the group on goal difference and in pole position to win the group?

[Philly]

Everybody could see McGeady didn't have the legs in him for the second half, yet is took over 80 mins for Trap to respond, very disappointing. Andrews, well, he was just woeful. Couldn't do the simplest of things right. On the plus side, Duff seems to still be in form and St Ledger was immense (we will miss him next week).

Did anybody else think Given's distribution was poor? Maybe there just wasn't enough options for him, it's hard to tell, but giving the ball away so easily in Russia next week will lead to a lot more trouble for us.

On the positive side, we seemed to have more stamina than them and controlled the game for the last 10 minutes.

[DannyInvincible]

At least if we finish level on points with just Slovakia, we'll be ranked ahead of them due to our away goal out there.

Hungary beat Sweden, who I thought might take the automatic qualification spot for best runner-up, although I dunno what chance we have of taking that now either after our own result. Will have to have a more in-depth look at the permutations.

[DannyInvincible]

Am I on drugs or correct that if we beat Russia we'll be on top of the group on goal difference and in pole position to win the group?

We'll be top on points, no? But that's easier typed than done.

[Sumac]

What is the deciding factors if all 3 teams are level on points as would happen if results pan out as below
Apologies if this has been covered below but working at the moment so no time to run through all the threads

Date Time Result
6-Sep-11 Russia 4:00 Ireland Draw
6-Sep-11 Macedonia7:00 Andorra Home
6-Sep-11 Slovakia 7:15 Armenia Home

7-Oct-11 Slovakia 7:15 Russia Away
7-Oct-11 Andorra 8:30 Ireland Away

11-Oct-11 Russia 6:45 Andorra Home
11-Oct-11 Macedonia6:45 Slovakia Away
11-Oct-11 Ireland 6:45 Armenia Home

[tricky_colour]

Am I on drugs or correct that if we beat Russia we'll be on top of the group on goal difference and in pole position to win the group?

Sounds like a mix of crack, smack, and alcohol to me. :p

[OwenGoal]

At least if we finish level on points with just Slovakia, we'll be ranked ahead of them due to our away goal out there.

Hungary beat Sweden, who I thought might take the automatic qualification spot for best runner-up, although I dunno what chance we have of taking that now either after our own result. Will have to have a more in-depth look at the permutations.

Also, if we draw in Russia (which is probably the best we can hope for) is it right that we need Slovakia to lose one of their remaining matches? It is possible that we're in a better position than them, given their run-in.

[MagicMon]

Am I on drugs or correct that if my Auntie had balls she'd be my Uncle?

Fixed it for you.

[greendeiseboy]

Roy Evans? Gerard Houllier? Graeme Souness?

Recent - read the post - obviously Benitez.

[tricky_colour]

Everybody could see McGeady didn't have the legs in him for the second half, yet is took over 80 mins for Trap to respond, very disappointing. Andrews, well, he was just woeful. Couldn't do the simplest of things right. On the plus side, Duff seems to still be in form and St Ledger was immense (we will miss him next week).

Did anybody else think Given's distribution was poor? Maybe there just wasn't enough options for him, it's hard to tell, but giving the ball away so easily in Russia next week will lead to a lot more trouble for us.

On the positive side, we seemed to have more stamina than them and controlled the game for the last 10 minutes.


I'd say the Slovaks were all over us, running all over the place and marking our players out of the game.
That's why we struggled to make passes, nobody to pass to. Slovakia are ranked above us and it looked like it.
We may have controlled the last 10 minutes because they had settled for a draw. They are a decent side when they
want to be, they showed that when they went to Russia and beat them.

[tricky_colour]

At least if we finish level on points with just Slovakia, we'll be ranked ahead of them due to our away goal out there.

Hungary beat Sweden, who I thought might take the automatic qualification spot for best runner-up, although I dunno what chance we have of taking that now either after our own result. Will have to have a more in-depth look at the permutations.

That is the one ray of hope we have.
The second one is that we will get 3 points from Andorra.
The third is that Slovakia could drop points in all their remaining games.

6-Sep-11 Russia 4:00 Ireland Draw
7-Oct-11 Andorra 8:30 Ireland Away
11-Oct-11 Ireland 6:45 Armenia Home

6-Sep-11 Slovakia 7:15 Armenia Home
7-Oct-11 Slovakia 7:15 Russia Away
11-Oct-11 Macedonia6:45 Slovakia Away

So still everything to play for.

[boovidge]

Recent - read the post - obviously Benitez.

That's the end of Robbie then

[Philly]

With Sledge out for the Russia game, who will fill in? O'Dea at CB again? I'm not sure what to think about that one.

[TrapAPony]

With Sledge out for the Russia game, who will fill in? O'Dea at CB again? I'm not sure what to think about that one.

I'd rather O'Shea and Dunne centre halves. Foley and Ward the full backs.

[Murfinator]

Depressing stuff tonight, same old with our inability to beat any halfway decent team home or away.

Given - 5. Did what he had to do (which wasn't very much) well bar the one brainfart that could have gifted them a goal.

O'Shea - 4. Looked really off the pace, which in fairness to him he probably was. Got forward well although his crosses came to nothing for obvious reasons.

Dunne - 6. Strong throughout though worryingly done for pace in the second half.

St Ledger - 8. Started off poorly but really grew into the game, that block in the second half was beastly.

Ward - 2. Awful positioning, poor composure on the ball and his wayward marking seemed to not only ruin his game but McGeadys as well having to cover his ass. McGeady bailing him successfully and repeatedly was also a potential reason for Traps reluctance to bring Hunt on.

Whelan - 4. Just seems to ghost in and out of the game as per usual, some decent tackling, nothing positive in terms of possession play.

Andrews - 4. Awful for the first 60 minutes, just dire. But he seems to be a different player when the pace and tempo lifts like he was away to France, was everywhere and a serious threat and presence towards the end. Since we don't usually play with that intensity he probably shouldn't be playing for us.

McGeady - 5. Bizarre night in the sense his most positive contributions were defensively. Bailed the woeful Ward out time and time again which really stifled his attacking game where when it got going was lacking. Probably wasn't 100% so can be excused.

Duff - 9. Top notch player and ran the show, seemed like the only man in green with half a brain for much the game. Perfect crosses for both Keane and Dunne should have been goals barring poor aerial play from the two, add in a selfish Cox and a deflection and Duff could have been responsible for 4 goals here. Was literally part of everything positive we did, I'd despair playing a game without him.


Doyle - 4. Petulant performance filled with a lot of small, needless fouls. Worked hard as ever but no end product from him tonight, Slovakian defence had his number on this occasion.
Keane - 4. Keane lives and breathes on doing nothing for 90 minutes and popping up to clinically score the winner, he almost had it again tonight but wasn't to be. Hard to blame him when his midfield only created 1 clear cut chance for him.

Cox - 2. Selfish on two occasions spurning chances, his half hour won't have done him any favours tonight.


I said it before but what really puzzles me was how the gameplan appears to be whipping high balls into the opposition boxes over and over again. How exactly is that supposed to work when none of our strikers are especially good at scoring in the air? Doyle wasn't even in the box a whole lot so they were mostly aimed at keane which is just confusing. Its been a prominent strategy throughout the campaign and I can't think of any stage when its ever actually worked. Was so many groans tonight everytime O'Shea and Ward especially would overlap only to rain in some high ball for the Slovakians to comfortably clear.

[harry crumb]

Given 7 : Not troubled
O'Shea 6 : Sluggish all night and passing was poor
Dunne 6 : Caught idling with ball too much. Missed big chance at the death.
St. Leger 8 : Kept it simple all night. Epic block in 2nd half. Will be missed in Moscow.
Ward 6 : Not positive enough in attack.
Duff 7 : Our brightest spark. Was being doubled up on a still was always a theat.
Whelan 4 : Slow, didn't get on the ball enough. Out of his depth.
Andrews 3 : Gave the ball away constantly. Not good enough.
McGeady 5 : Mixed the good with the bad. Same problems he has had all his career. He doesn't strike the ball well. Didn't lack for effort.
Doyle 4 : Worst game I've seen him play for Ireland. Nothing stuck and was 2nd for the ball too often.
Keane 5 : Offers very little in open play. Missed the best chance of the night.

Subs

Cox 5 : Didn't add any spark when he came on
Hunt 7 : His mad hair lifted the crowd. Got on the ball and caused some problems.

[born2bwild]

I will never attend an international again while that relic is in charge.

Utterly incompetent tactics, inept substitutions, static and disjointed - Ireland deserved to lose.

Awful.

[born2bwild]

Just one thing though; who the **** boos the team? Jesus. :dazed:

People who, after a week's work, go out of their way to get to a game hundreds of kilometeres away, pay at least the price of three LOI matches to get in, hike up through 6 flights of steps, watch a depressingly defeatist side play out a dire nil-all draw and trudge home again.

Those people would be insane not to boo.

A disgrace - the worst thing is that the likes of Brady, Giles, McGrath and Roy Keane are all still alive to see it.

Boooooo!!!!!

[DannyInvincible]

What is the deciding factors if all 3 teams are level on points as would happen if results pan out as below

If all three teams finish on the same number of points, they're distinguished by way of a sort of mini table of three.

If, for the sake of argument, all teams were on the same number of overall points right now and the group had already concluded, Slovakia would be top with 5 points from their win over Russia and two draws against us, Russia would have 3 points from their win against us and we'd have 2 from our two draws against Slovakia so we'd finish third. If we were to finish on an even number of overall points with just Slovakia, however, we'd finish ahead of them as we'd both have two points from our games against one another but as we scored an away goal in Slovakia, that would favour us.

[Murfinator]

I will never attend an international again while that relic is in charge.

Utterly incompetent tactics, inept substitutions, static and disjointed - Ireland deserved to lose.

Awful.

To be fair you could stick Pep, Ferguson or Klinsmann in charge of them and theres only so much they'd be able to do with guys like Ward, Andrews and Whelan. I've yet to hear a convincing attacking gameplan a side can play with no target man and two central midfielders who don't like the ball. The fundamental problems I'm convinced is down to the players, it was incredible the number of times Ward, Andrews and McGeady would fail to retain possession tonight. The wayward passes, poor decisions and lack of confidence in attack are down to individuals.

There are problems in our attack coaching and our incessant crossing is one of those, McGeady being allowed take free kicks is another. I don't know why Trap keeps thinking thats a good idea. On the contrary our defence is well organised, defensive set pieces drills are to perfection. Six clean sheets in a row is smashing stuff and a direct product of Traps coaching, Of course as we saw thats not good enough but I'd still be more liable to label blame with certain players being especially **** rather than the manager.

[Crosby87]

That was dissapointing. Sucked the air right out of the Irish Pub I was in it did.

[OwenGoal]

A disgrace - the worst thing is that the likes of Brady, Giles, McGrath and Roy Keane are all still alive to see it.

Yes, you're right. We should kill them.