Russia v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 6th September 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[Stuttgart88]

..assuming we win both of ours:)

I can see us finishing 4th but Trap gets an open top bus around Phoenix Park for 8 consecutive clean sheets.

[Stuttgart88]

So let me get this straight:

If we beat Armenia and Andorra, Slovakia lose to Armenia (again) and beat Russia (again), we will top the group.

If we beat Armenia and Andorra, Slovakia beat Armenia and draw with Russia, we will lose out?

I thought we were ahead of Slovakia on head-to-heads?

Sorry if this is a question with a glaringly obvious answer but my nerves are absolutely shot to smithereens after enduring that 90 minutes.Slovakia also have to go to Macedonia.

[Crosby87]

Armenia needs to go out and score a goal and make it 1-0 so we can chew over how that changes things on the fly.

[AlaskaFox]

You guys needed to be on foot.ie over the weekend. This was all discussed and chewed over.
If Slovakia-Russia is a draw and they both win their remaining other games we finish 3rd.

Did this before tonight's game, but if Slovakia win later, it'll still be spot on:
http://greenscene.me/2011/09/euro-2012-group-b-qualifying-permutations/

[MagicMon]

I thought Russia were set up well tactically, apart from their strikers not shooting and coming up against a brilliant Dunne (and to a lesser extent Given).

They didn't give Duff an inch and closed him down even into the Irish half whenever he had the ball. On the other side their right back bombed forward knowing that McGeady was less of a threat and that Ward was inexperienced and would keep on tucking inside. Their front players kept the width and the midfield closed down Whelan and Andrews, knowing that they'd panic, play the ball backwards and then the defence would have to hoof it upfield. Then the forwards would run about a bit but would have to hold the ball up to wait for support, so all that was needed was to nick the ball off them to set up the counter attack because Ireland have one shape for defence and then have to change into another one for attack. And they knew that Trap wouldn't change things around too much, I could've called the subs and the time of introduction almost to the minute.

Ireland were outclassed and should have lost 2 or 3 nil. Dunne's performance is definitely up there with Paul McGrath but that alone won't get us qualification.

[IsMiseSean]

Paul McGrath just tweeted
"Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself..."

Says it all really!!

[Fergie's Son]

Dunne was magnificent. As good of a performance as I have ever seen from a defender. Otherwise we were very, very lucky. Ward was very poor and I actually was pining for Kilbane! O'Dea did well. Trapp just doesn't seem to want to change. Of course, this could all be out of our hands because if Slovakia win today and then draw with Russia we'll most likely be out.

[SwanVsDalton]

My word that was a tough watch. So relieved it's hard to engage in any critical thinking. But Dunne was unbelievable, Shay class, Kelly and O'Dea gave everything and played well. Ward gave everything but was poor. Whelan and Andrews bearly drowned. But everyone worked to the bone, to the end.

Severe questions have to be asked of Trap and the system. But that point feels important. As an aside the Russian fans have been surprisingly easy going and very friendly. Which is a relief after that robbery...

[thejollyrodger]

great team performance to get the result. I only hope the playoffs are in our hands. I can all 3 top teams winning their remaining games.

[theworm2345]

great team performance to get the result. I only hope the playoffs are in our hands. I can all 3 top teams winning their remaining games.
It'll be a bit tough for both Russia and Slovakia to win when they play in Slovakia next month :)

[Spudulika]

Really enjoyed tonight, despite the naysayers. Arshavin got a few belts and then hid on the wing, if he'd stayed in the centre we were dead. Ireland were strolling at times and let the Russians have the ball, knowing that they are awful at finishing. It was just like the Slovakia match except Ireland had chances but didn't score like the Slovaks did.

Paddypower is paying out tonight.

[elroy]

Oh man i am too wrecked to post after that game. Talk about a 90 min rollercoaster. Bar a 15 min spell in the second half, they were all over us. Dunne immense, Shay played very well, so did O'Dea. Kelly was also good. Notable mention for McGeady, defensively played very well. Andrews in with some fantastic blocks.

But the midfield is just not up to it. We either try something different or else drop one of the strikers and go for a third (attacking) centre midfielder. We are been over run there in so many games. Truth is although they lost, Macedonia gave Russia a better game than we did.

So far so good in the Slovak/Armenia game, nil nil. A draw there and it is in our hands, for second at least. Best case scenario is a draw there and a win for Slovakia at home to Russia (which they will need to get if they draw tonight) and then my friends with a home win over Armenia, we top the group.

[Charlie Darwin]

For all those criticising Ward - and he was ill-disciplined - he wasn't running into midfield for the laugh. Somebody had to follow Arshavin in there because they were outnumbering us sometimes two to a man.

[elroy]

For all those criticising Ward - and he was ill-disciplined - he wasn't running into midfield for the laugh. Somebody had to follow Arshavin in there because they were outnumbering us sometimes two to a man.

The lads on RTE made the point that Killer has a tendency to do the exact same when he is LB so perhaps it is an instruction from Trap.

[Charlie Darwin]

Killer tucks in but I don't think he gets sucked into midfield like Ward does. Either way, the root cause is that we're being badly outnumbered in the middle and somebody has to close the space.

[Sullivinho]

Paul McGrath just tweeted
"Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself..."

Says it all really!!

Is that legit? Real touch of class there if so.

[IsMiseSean]

Is that legit? Real touch of class there if so.

Ya sorry, should have posted the link
http://twitter.com/#!/Paulmcgrath5

[tricky_colour]

The lads on RTE made the point that Killer has a tendency to do the exact same when he is LB so perhaps it is an instruction from Trap.

Yea the thought occurred to me it could be tactical, it is better to protect the centre than worry about the wings.

[the bear]

For all those criticising Ward - and he was ill-disciplined - he wasn't running into midfield for the laugh. Somebody had to follow Arshavin in there because they were outnumbering us sometimes two to a man.

he was caught out badly for that free header with a few mins to go, wasn't even thinking bout marking his man

[tricky_colour]

All we need now is for Wales to equalise!

[Straightstory]

Ireland were strolling at times and let the Russians have the ball, knowing that they are awful at finishing.
Good tactic. Give them all the possession and hope for the best. It 'worked' tonight. 99 times out of a 100 it doesn't, though. Still, a rollercoaster of a game. Three Nil Nils in a row for Ireland. Has that happened before?

[geysir]

I hope George is back in the commentary saddle soon, Maloney is a nice lad but just too excitable, he hasn't the mature gravitas to handle the pressure of a backs to the wall, blood and bandages game
Not much to say about the game that hasn't been said, I thought once the team accepted this was the Alamo, we took on the challenge and grew formidably into the role.

[Sullivinho]

Trap buys our patron saint a ticket for the upper Luzhniki. (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0906/ireland_quotes.html)


"I told the players St Patrick was looking down on us tonight."

What a guy.

[TheBoss]

Three Nil Nils in a row for Ireland. Has that happened before?

It has in 1985, against Norway, then Spain and then Israel.

That is now 11 matches unbeaten away from Home, equaling the record (not including Georgia or Italy as it was neutral venue). A new record could be set against Andorra.

[BonnieShels]

It's now 4.15... and this is where this thread stopped... shocked and appalled!

[CraftyToePoke]

Well, it has all been said in the pages since the final whistle, but if we had some luck in store, we got it all in one helping tonight, and needed every bit of it.

I'd be very worried what three quality sides would do to us if we qualified with the midfield as it is, never once in my memory of the game did they set up and establish controlled, sustained posession in the middle third, let alone probe their opponents from there going forward. But it is what it is, they left it all out there and gave every ounce.

And finally, in the unlikely event Richard Dunne ever reads this site, that was immense, simply immense, you just joined McGrath and Keane from those who, in my time watching Ireland, have single handedly lifted and held the whole side up by the scuff of the neck and refused defeat. You deserve to play another major finals for that 90 alone. Magnificent.

[irishfan86]

We were thoroughly outplayed, but Dunne was brilliant.

You can't give Trap much credit for the win on the surface of things, but he seems to have injected a dose of pragmatism that grinds out results, even when ugly. Compare this to a commendable performance away to Germany which we lost under Stan and I think you get the gist of what I'm saying.

When it mattered most last campaign, we played good football against the French despite our lack of finish. Trap lamented following today's match the lack of fitness of some of his players, and I think it's a fair point to make.

Next round of fixtures hopefully we'll have O'Shea, Sledge and Long back and perhaps a more fully fit McGeady and Doyle.

[boysingreen]

"I told the players St Patrick was looking down on us tonight."

Whatever about any constructive criticism, I love the man! lol Legend. Onward and upward!

[BonnieShels]

Still thinking about Dunne last night. He really was wonderful.

When he went on that maisy run, lost the ball and then legged it back to put in the tackle well inside our half you just felt it was gonna be his night.

[dr_peepee]

Is it a case that trap wants them to go long with the to to ensure that when we inevitably do loose possession that it's far enough up the pitch to organise ourselves accordinlgy... Rather than try play it out via and loose possession in our own half with little chance to get set ?

For all McCarthy brings to the table ahead of Andrews I can't see him putting the tackles in that Andrews did last night.. He's seen the tenacity required from trapp to play. it's up to him to add that string to his bow.

What was the story with the poor control and the balls needlessly going out to touch?

I still think there's potential for Ward if he can show he's on a learning curve. I'll be watching his efforts for Wolves more closely to see if he's learned from the chasing he was given.

The fact that the wingers are playing in off their good foot does my head in. It's not as if either has a good shot when they come inside either.

Doyle is not happy... But maybe trapp has a point. He does look like he's not fit to me?

Kelly is always at his best in those type of games, even at club level.

[Fixer82]

What was the story with the poor control and the balls needlessly going out to touch?
.

absolutely. happened few times in Slovakia game too. When there little to no pressure on the player, nearly always Ward or McGeady

[Kingdom]

What stats show that?!

How many crosses has he put in? How many goals has he scored? How many of those were as a result of a crap keeper? How many assists has he?

McGeady's ridiculously over-rated, I think. Yes, he can skip by a player, but he's got practically no end product whatsoever.

Pm sent.

[Kingdom]

Nothing to add on our performance, but on the Russians, am I the only that thinks they didn't play 433?
I was sure they played 3-3-3-1?

---------Twin 1 ----------Ignashevich--------Twin2---------

Anyukov -----------------Shirokov------------------Zhirkov

Arshavin ----------------Zyryanov ---------------------Semshov

--------------------------Kerzahkov----------------------------

That's how I saw it anyway.

[irishfan86]

Meant to bring this up earlier but thinking back Stephen Kelly didn't look out of place at all despite hardly playing.

Very difficult game to be thrown into relatively cold, showed his experience big time.

[SwanVsDalton]

Meant to bring this up earlier but thinking back Stephen Kelly didn't look out of place at all despite hardly playing.

Very difficult game to be thrown into relatively cold, showed his experience big time.

Thought it was Kelly's best game in an Ireland shirt.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yes, but Ward aside, the defence wasn't the problem. It was the midfield, of which yet again only Hunt came out of this game with any credit.
The forwards were hardly much better, though the 'service' they receive via Trap's somewhat eccentric system is absolutely woeful. Hoofing it long would make more sense...

And instinct tells me we'd have been better off beating Slovakia and losing to Russia, if only for the extra point...

[jbyrne]

Meant to bring this up earlier but thinking back Stephen Kelly didn't look out of place at all despite hardly playing.

Very difficult game to be thrown into relatively cold, showed his experience big time.

the kelly (and odea) situation illustrates perfectly the complete non waste of time the friendlies have been over the last 12 months despite claims otherwise. both performed admirably when called on recently in qualifiers. i think the friendlies had a lot to do with this

[DeLorean]

Bumping thread.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tiwuf7GFUNM

[DeLorean]

Closed thread.