Most disappoint thing After tongiht

[paul_oshea]

Ill pat myself like geysir does with a cheshire cat type grin across my face.....

The most disappointing thing is we are not joint top. I said friday, i said last year after playing slovakia, that they are no great shakes. For far too long people on here give teams, too many teams actually, too much respect. Slovakia were there for the taking at home, I said it last night after watching the last 25 mins again, that they offered nothing as an attacking threat. We really should have won that game, with automatic qualification pretty much still in our hands tonight.

Traps biggest problems is this too, we give teams at home too much respect that we really shouldn't, when we should be going out for the win. Change the tactics when we can and more importantly need to.

Where is mypost now?

[Sullivinho]

Personally, the most disappointing thing was Glenn Whelan's pre-match defection to play right back for them instead.

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/1853/anyukov.jpg

[paul_oshea]

Haha that and the bear grylls sullivinho...quality :)

whelan probably did more for them as a right back than he did for us as a midfielder :)

[DannyInvincible]

Ill pat myself like geysir does with a cheshire cat type grin across my face.....

The most disappointing thing is we are not joint top. I said friday, i said last year after playing slovakia, that they are no great shakes. For far too long people on here give teams, too many teams actually, too much respect. Slovakia were there for the taking at home, I said it last night after watching the last 25 mins again, that they offered nothing as an attacking threat. We really should have won that game, with automatic qualification pretty much still in our hands tonight.

Traps biggest problems is this too, we give teams at home too much respect that we really shouldn't, when we should be going out for the win. Change the tactics when we can and more importantly need to.

Where is mypost now?

That's one way of looking at it. Another is that we're fairly fortunate to be in the position we're in. I don't think our current position - a bit of a surprise, largely thanks to Armenia, whom we still have to play - should paper over the obvious problems. We could very easily have lost earlier ourselves, which would actually have meant Armenia sitting in second position in the group right now. On any other day, we would have lost. It's a miracle we didn't. Dunne's stop on the line defied the laws of physics. And it's not like Russia hadn't plenty of other gilt-edged chances before and after that. We can't rely on our opponents wasting opportunity after opportunity if we keep letting them slice right through us like we allowed Russia to do. Can't Trap see that? Sure, you can say it's ultimately the result that counts - of course, that's what he'll always say - but the manner of our draw earlier was no vindication whatsoever of the system. Given the anaemia and gaping chasms evident throughout, even referring to it as "the system" is a tad generous. It's failing us and will fail us again in the play-offs, if that's where we end up. Something needs remedied, and pronto.

[paul_oshea]

Luck(and look) i think everyone sees that now, which has been said by few on this board the last year.

Tardelli was roaring at him all night even.

He is just incredibly lucky, what he mustn't realise is that, luck does run out.

Everytime we attacked the ball or player we came off better than when we sat back and let them attack us. But there is no point us sitting here on keyboards writing this, even if everyone now finally sees it. Its up to the players to start ignoring him and just doing it.

[mypost]

Where is mypost now?

Here.

Second in the group, point in Moscow, 7 clean sheets, destiny in our own hands, easier run-in. I'm a happy Irish fan tonight.

Someone else lost 4-0 at home. That would be a bit disappointing I think.

[Crosby87]

I guess we all have to look at the entire qualifying round as a body of work. If we go top or end up in Poland in the end of things, how can we really call for Traps head? On the other hand if we lose to Armenia everyone will be. Its precarious. But it's all about the results.
One thing is clear, hope St Ledger and JOSH play in the Oct games. We can nary afford to have players out and it seems like we have them out of out starting 11 more than most countries.

[paul_oshea]

I thought you said Slovakia were a good team, in the world cup, drew with italy etc etc....

Anyway I saw that keith Andrews is on the photos on the rte section with the caption "Keith andrews marks Andrey Arshavin", i think thats being a little more than kind to Keith.

Play-off in our own hands. Not destiny, that would be being able to win the group in our own hands.

Crosby, Traps formation/tactics/gameplay have nothing to do with what got us a point tonight, nothing at all.

His subsitutions have generally been suspect too thte last few games, bar cox tonight. Thats the only other thing you can say a manager saves his own bacon on. He simply is more than riding his luck, to try and in anyway make out anything other than this, is extremely naive of anyone as an idividual and just pretty plain ignorant - stupid.

[geysir]

Most disappoint thing After tongiht

How a young Irishman ( albeit a sarcastic culchie ) can stubbornly and shamelessly post a thread title like that, in face of all advice, spell checkers, admonition and mocking over the years from fellow board members and yet still persist with this lazy pathetic standard, is truly mind boggling.

[dantheman]

That Keith Fahy goal on match-day one is looking good now

[paul_oshea]

How a young Irishman ( albeit a sarcastic culchie ) can stubbornly and shamelessly post a thread title like that, in face of all advice, spell checkers, admonition and mocking over the years from fellow board members and yet still persist with this lazy pathetic standard, is truly mind boggling.

When you are as content with yourself, internally and externally, as I am, you don't need to worry about these "leetle details".

Or maybe just as many pints as I have had :D

[mypost]

We could very easily have lost earlier ourselves, which would actually have meant Armenia sitting in second position in the group right now. On any other day, we would have lost. It's a miracle we didn't. Dunne's stop on the line defied the laws of physics. you can say it's ultimately the result that counts - of course, that's what he'll always say - but the manner of our draw earlier was no vindication whatsoever of the system.

The manner doesn't get us the point, the result does. We could have lost, but we didn't, and so we're in a very good position going into next month. It's results that will decide Trap's future here, not tactics, formations, or style of play. We got the result we needed, we couldn't afford to lose in Russia or Slovakia, we didn't. Nobody else won in Armenia, we did. Results pay the bills.


He simply is more than riding his luck.

Sofia 77, Brussels 81, Sofia 87, Hannover 88, Gelsenkirchen 88, Belfast 88,
Rome 90, Wembley 91, Poland 91, Seville 92, Vaduz 95, Bucharest 97,
Zagreb 99, Skopje 99, Amsterdam 00, Niigata 02, Suwon 02, Paris 04,
Tel Aviv 05, Stuttgart 06, Nicosia 06, Bari 09, Paris 09, Zilina 10

Dashed hopes, shattered dreams. That's only the away games.

We deserve a bit of luck. We've had very little of it down through the years. We're possibly 2 games away from a major championships, and some of you look as though you write for Fleet Street, because eventually we get something our way. :rolleyes:

[DannyInvincible]

The manner doesn't get us the point, the result does. We could have lost, but we didn't, and so we're in a very good position going into next month. It's results that will decide Trap's future here, not tactics, formations, or style of play. We got the result we needed, we couldn't afford to lose in Russia or Slovakia, we didn't. Nobody else won in Armenia, we did. Results pay the bills.

Would you fancy us in a play-off if Trap persists with this? Your tone would suggest all is fine and dandy as long as we're racking up the desperate 0-0 draws, which is worrying. The system came up short last campaign and I fear the same will happen again. Tactics impact upon results and just because we got the draw doesn't mean we can sweep the obvious problems under the carpet and sit comfortably on our laurels until it comes to play-off time. Of course, that draw earlier might very well not have been enough had Slovakia beaten Armenia because the fact is that the matter was left out of our hands for a spell. The line between losing and drawing today was far too fine for my liking and I'm now somewhat apprehensive about Armenia at home, never mind the prospect of a more established side in a play-off. What do you make of the multitude of glaring chances from which Russia should and could have scored? What would you be saying had one of them somehow gone in? You admit we rode our luck a bit; is that what we're now relying on? Ride our luck and just pray to God our opponents waste the three or four gilt-edged opportunities we let them have?

[backstothewall]

There is more to our approach than that. Just because our midfield don't create much doesn't mean they aren't doing anything. Creativity comes from the wide men who have the freedom to play in more advanced areas of the pitch, and we get crosses in from the full backs. The primary job of the 2 central midfielders is to protect the back 4. And they must be getting something right given that we've gone 7 games without conceding.

We were up against a dangerous outfit today, and all be it that it was a rearguard action, we were disciplined, determined and organised in defence. Compare that to the Cyprus fiasco. This time 4 years ago we were dead and buried.

And say we do get rid of him. Who are we going to bring in? Which one of Roy Keane, Dave O'Leary or John Aldridge do people fancy to deliver us from Traps tactical ineptness?

[mypost]

Would you fancy us in a play-off if Trap persists with this? Your tone would suggest all is fine and dandy as long as we're racking up the desperate 0-0 draws, which is worrying. The system came up short last campaign and I fear the same will happen again. Tactics impact upon results and just because we got the draw doesn't mean we can sweep the obvious problems under the carpet and sit comfortably on our laurels until it comes to play-off time. Of course, that draw earlier might very well not have been enough had Slovakia beaten Armenia because the fact is that the matter was left out of our hands for a spell. The line between losing and drawing today was far too fine for my liking and I'm now somewhat apprehensive about Armenia at home, never mind the prospect of a more established side in a play-off. What do you make of the multitude of glaring chances from which Russia should and could have scored? What would you be saying had one of them somehow gone in? You admit we rode our luck a bit; is that what we're now relying on? Ride our luck and just pray to God our opponents waste the three or four gilt-edged opportunities we let them have?

We could get someone like England, or we could get someone like Estonia. I don't know who we'll get in the play-off, we may not even need one, so it's a hypothetical argument atm.

The system took us last time from 10 points off qualification to a ref's inability to spot blatant multiple offences in Paris. Our system has resulted in just 2 qualifying games lost from the last 20. Other countries may play better football, but they don't have that record. Eventually, it will reap it's rewards.

I like 4-4-2, I probably wouldn't have played it today admittedly, but it doesn't matter now, we got our point, and it's a very valuable point. Others whinge about how we were "overrun" in midfield. Now let's be honest, most of us have been watching this game a long time, and everyone knows that if you go to Moscow, no matter what or who you play, you'll be under the cosh for long periods, so you fight tooth-and-nail for everything, or you pay the consequences. That team fought out there for every bit of luck it got today, Given and Dunne in particular. They can take a break for the next game, and watch the forwards have the ball instead. That was our first ever point in Moscow today, and the Russians were booed off their own pitch. This team has 7 straight shutouts and won in Armenia, we're not going to lose 4-0 at home to them.

Trap has won everything going, and has taken us from the floor, to a near-miss, onto the brink of qualification. If he gets it, he should get his new contract asap.

[the bear]

first of all i couldn't give a jumpin jaysus how we get to the finals as long as we make it

die hard defending and pure luck have left us in a great position, 2 must win games , now is the time to go and grab the bull by the horns, and play our way into the tourno.

we all know what the problems in the team are theres no point in me writing them out again they are in nearly every post on this site already. therfore i would like to think that trap with all his experience can recognise them to. he seemed to be playing for 2 points out of these games. we dont deserve them but we have them. god knows we deserved a bit of luck finally. surely he knows that now is the time to be proactive and try and qualify for this thing.

[DannyInvincible]

Being critical of Trap's stubborn system or his apparent failure to see gaping problems isn't necessarily an hysterical call for "Trap out now!". His impressive record is undeniable, although it doesn't mean he gets everything right all the time either. The merits of his system aren't beyond debate, or criticism if needs be. Better the issues are weeded out before the likely play-offs rather than feeling sorry for ourselves afterwards and dreaming what might have been. Unless we're now denying there are issues there?

[Murfinator]

Its less about paying respect and more about having 3 unfit players, 2 centre mids who dont like the ball and a Left back who cant defend. Believe me we didn't sit off them and play deep by choice, you just don't get to choose what area of the pitch to play when you don't have any possession.

[osarusan]

It's results that will decide Trap's future here, not tactics, formations, or style of play.
But tactics,formations and style of play determine results.

[mypost]

Tactics determine results. Courage, heart, spirit, determination, and sometimes luck also determines results. We don't play the likes of Russia every week. Apparantly they tore into Slovakia last year, but the Slovaks got a lucky break and won the game. A repeat of that and our results then next month, will send us to the finals.

We got our result last night, and we'll take it. Job done.

[Metrostars]

We can play the should've-could've-would've game after October 11. Fact is right now we still control our destiny and if we win our final two games we're guaranteed a playoff spot at least.

[OwlsFan]

Still unbeaten away from home, including trips to Italy, France, Russia, Slovakia, Armenia etc etc, and people still question Trap's formation away from home. Be careful what you wish for. If someone had told me when Trap took the reins that in 2 campaigns with the many average players we have we'd be unbeaten away from home (not forgetting Andorra), I'd have said they were mad. His system WORKS away from home. For the first time we were outplayed in an away game but we still didn't lose. A makeshift defence stuck at it with two players particularly outstanding. Some luck but defenders playing well is not luck. Thank heavens for the "meaningless friendlies" that gave O'Dea and Kelly game time in the defence.

At home is another issue. We have been poor at home. No doubt about that. God knows we weren't even great against Andorra. He won't change now but perhaps for the next campaign, he might have to reconsider but at 70+ I am not too sure he'll be open to new ideas. Might depend of course on the players at his disposal.

For the moment, it's job done and after the result in Slovakia, who knows what might happen next. To hell with systems at the moment. It's all about results.

[Stuttgart88]

Much has been made of Trap's luck in the 3 years to date. In previous threads I've stepped up to make a pretty convincing case that this is only looking at half the picture. We've had some bad luck too, penalties not given, good goals disallowed, competing teams getting 95th minute winners in their other matches...

Last night was the first time I can think that we just totally winged it.

Paul, you're not exactly being a visionary claiming Slovakia are no great shakes. But guess what - neither are we.

Biggest disappointments?

(1) Not having put Slovakia to the sword at least once, as we'd be sitting pretty otherwise.

(2) We can't string 2 passes together.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Good post OwlsFan. We all know its not pretty, we play with basically no midfield, but our record (and Traps personal record) speaks for itself. Home form has deteriorated a bit, but away we have gone from a side who routinely lost against anyone semi decent and up, and often drew or struggled vs the mid ranking teams to one that now shuts out top ranking teams and gets wins or draws vs our mid ranked rivals.

I think Trap has more control over this force called 'luck' than people give him credit for.

[Stuttgart88]

Robbie missed a late gilt-edged haeded chance on Friday. We call that sloppy play (or worse).

Russia missed a late gilt-edged headed chance yesterday. We call that good luck.

If one is good luck, the other must be bad luck, no?

OwlsFan says there is nothing lucky about having a great defender. I agree, but even acknowledging that I thought we were lucky last night.

I actually thought we were unlucky in Slovakia. We played well enough to win, but that was a year ago.

Luck isn't the issue. I think we are where we deserve to be in this group. Making us improve from here is the big worry.

[shakermaker1982]

His system works for half our campaign (the away games). The miracle in Moscow won't happen again in the play offs ( away leg) if we play that poorly. It's not every day a side is that wasteful in front of goal. If Russia had taken their clear cut chances & scored 3 or 4 we'd be saying how crap the defending was...funny old game.

I really wish we had some friendly games coming up so other midfielders could show him that they have the right 'personality' to replace Whelan & Andrews for good.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm going to say it. I've been fighting it, but dammit, I'll let it out.

As a stop gap I'd like to see John O'Shea back in CM.

Kelly looked a better full back last night, and O'Dea & SSL are fine partners for Dunne - even a decent enough pairing by themselves.

[Noelys Guitar]

If Long keeps scoring for West Brom and stays fit then that will solve our biggest problem. Putting the ball in the net from maybe one or two chances in an entire game against top teams. I'm certain he would have scored against Slovakia at home. And he would have caused the Russian defense more problems than Robbie, Doyle or Cox. Might even have scored in his current form. We will need him against Armenia. We thought we had an abundance of forwards in form but the home game against Slovakia shook that belief. McCarthy was on the bench last night so he is getting further up the pecking order (even if the injured players like Gibson and Fahey return). A couple of small changes and we can look forward to the next 2 to 4 games depending on how results pan out.

[tetsujin1979]

The U21s are playing away to Liechtenstein on the 11th October, the same day as the game against Armenia, but I'd expect McCarthy to be released from that game

[SwanVsDalton]

Luck isn't the issue. Swings and roundabouts, we were due a slice last night and duly got it. Although I still wouldn't overplay it because it wasn't luck which allowed Richard Dunne to lunge back for that incredible goalline clearance, or Given to sprawl across goal to make saves, or Kelly, O'Dea, Andrews, Whelan and Ward to make great tackles and blocks. It was ability and a large proportion of hunger. Some of those guys got rewarded for some serious guts and fair play on that count.

As some of said, our main problem is home form and overcoming any play-off. It's very disappointing at this point in Trap's reign we've yet to see a really convincing home performance. The worry would be Trap's results only mentalitee will allow him to plough on regardless, but I think overcoming the play-off (particularly at home) will necessitate some change up.

Right now I'm just relieved we're still alive, but it shouldn't obscure the problems.

[cufc champions]

In a months time we should have St Ledger back and O'Shea, Fahey, Doyle, Long and Keane fit. I believe that we played these games with clearly unfit players and it nearly cost us dearly. The impact Cox made in his cameo apperence has giving me hope as if we having a player able to hold the ball up and bring our team forward we will be able to get Duff McGeady and Hunt on the ball in dangerous areas. Shane Long could well be the difference between qualifying and not.
Left back is a worry, I was one of many caliing for Wards inclusion after last week he has along way to go to be a bona fide international baller, but Kilbane would be an even bigger worry in there.

[Duggie]

i wanted Ward in aswell but the last 2 games looks like hes not up to it. apart from giving the ball away every single time it seemed he was caught out of position time and time again. McGeady was our left back and our left winger last night.

[Crosby87]

My question to you guys who really get into the nuts and bolts of a Managers tactics and ability to motivate, and this includes you POSH, if you could choose any manager for Ireland, do you really think our results would be much different? I'll use Mourinho as an example. If he had been manager for this entire campaign how many points would we have?
I think we are pretty much a middling team playing against a nation yesterday with many more millions of people while having injuries and suspensions coming off a hard fought draw a few nights before... and I'm not sure if any manager could change that. We played in Russia after the Slovakia game and didnt lose, and Slovakia lost 4-0 to Armenia.
If we played Russia in Moscow ten times in the next 10 weeks we would lose 5 or 6 and go 0-0 in the other 4 or 5. There couldnt possibly be a worse surface for Ireland to play on than that.

[Wolfie]

Still unbeaten away from home, including trips to Italy, France, Russia, Slovakia, Armenia etc etc, and people still question Trap's formation away from home. Be careful what you wish for. If someone had told me when Trap took the reins that in 2 campaigns with the many average players we have we'd be unbeaten away from home (not forgetting Andorra), I'd have said they were mad. His system WORKS away from home. For the first time we were outplayed in an away game but we still didn't lose. A makeshift defence stuck at it with two players particularly outstanding. Some luck but defenders playing well is not luck. Thank heavens for the "meaningless friendlies" that gave O'Dea and Kelly game time in the defence.

At home is another issue. We have been poor at home. No doubt about that. God knows we weren't even great against Andorra. He won't change now but perhaps for the next campaign, he might have to reconsider but at 70+ I am not too sure he'll be open to new ideas. Might depend of course on the players at his disposal.

For the moment, it's job done and after the result in Slovakia, who knows what might happen next. To hell with systems at the moment. It's all about results.

Well said. I can recall from the earliest indications that Trapp was in line for the Managers job, many posters on here accurately identified the obvious but pertinent point that a "defensive", "Italian" style of tactics would be adopted. Someone even posted "Get ready for a lot of nil all's!!".

We've been provided with the Managerial tactics that we sought out and paid for in 2008. Are people really that surprised that we're reaping what we've sown??

Yes, we rode our luck last night but the old cliche rings through - these things tend to balance themselves out over periods of time. For every Paris '09, we'll have a Moscow '11.

Far from assuming we head into the last game with 18 points, (but lets face it, if we don't beat Andorra, we don't deserve even a play off spot), Armenia will be very tough opponents who will be technically superior to us. There should be nothing taken for granted aganst them.

Many nations reach play offs and even achieve automatic qualification in a less than spectacular style - I wouldn't be losing any sleep about it!!!

That said, there is the obvious concern as to whether there is any future in fielding teams with little or no creative and offensive ability.

[Crosby87]

36 people dead in plane crash in Moscow...the team is out of there right? Seems like around the number they would have on the charter.

[paul_oshea]

They flew out after the game.

[Duggie]

my problem is just this, even if Trap tells whelan and andrews just to sit there they should still be able to get on the ball like and pass it around a bit. no matter how bad you are you should be able to at least get on the ball. look at paris when they played really well. they can do it but we havent seen it this campaign atal. surely they dont need to be told to get on the ball, just do it. but in the games they just seem to be non-existent going forward. if we could solve this problem we have a more than decent team/squad.

[Sullivinho]

36 people dead in plane crash in Moscow...the team is out of there right? Seems like around the number they would have on the charter.

Hockey Team. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/36-dead-in-russian-plane-crash/article2156299)


It said at least one person has survived but is injured.I'm not convinced that person isn't Richard Dunne though.

[Crosby87]

It was the Locomotiv Ice Hockey team which my nemesis Ovechkin used to play for. RIP. hope there were no Penguin prospects on there.

[pineapple stu]

36 people dead in plane crash in Moscow...the team is out of there right? Seems like around the number they would have on the charter.
Twas a hockey team (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/09/201197133167624.html) was on it (plus some others maybe).

Imagine being the one person to walk away from it.

[paul_oshea]

Now that would be luck. Trap?

[Bottle of Tonic]

I actually don't feel too bad about the prospect of a play-off. The teams we are potentially facing are no where near as intimidating as the last time (Swe, Turk, Nor, Cze etc rather than Port, Fra, Rus). As usual FIFA doing everything they can to hand the stronger nations the advantage by allowing them to play the home leg second - we all know this is perceived as an advantage in a two-legged affair - but with our current game this could suit us. Say we sneak a wee 1-0 in Dublin, which in fairness we are capable of despite our recent drought in front of goal, then I'd fancy us to hold whoever to a draw away from home. As previously pointed out, drawing away regularly now to superior outfits like Russia, France and Italy shows its no fluke.

Would be still damn nice to go in the front door though. The 1-1 missed opportunity in Slovakia and Robbies fluffed header in Dublin on Friday will terrorise me til we're safely on the place to eastern Europe next summer.

[CraftyToePoke]

Would be still damn nice to go in the front door though. The 1-1 missed opportunity in Slovakia and Robbies fluffed header in Dublin on Friday will terrorise me til we're safely on the place to eastern Europe next summer.

This is it exactly, if we had beaten them either or both times, how different it all might have looked now. We could be closing out the group as champions elect, and what a crime against football that would be, but those are the margins. It would have been hillarious.

[jbyrne]

This is it exactly, if we had beaten them either or both times, how different it all might have looked now. We could be closing out the group as champions elect, and what a crime against football that would be, but those are the margins. It would have been hillarious.

the table never lies. not the funniest thing i've ever heard to be honest

[CraftyToePoke]

the table never lies. not the funniest thing i've ever heard to be honest

I dont know, I think we are a half decent midfield pairing away from becoming Greece of a few years back and look what they did. The thought of it brings a beam to my face anyway.

What is the funniest thing you have ever heard then, if I may ask?

[jbyrne]

I dont know, I think we are a half decent midfield pairing away from becoming Greece of a few years back and look what they did. The thought of it brings a beam to my face anyway.

What is the funniest thing you have ever heard then, if I may ask?

the appointment of stan in 2006 and the fact id been tipped off 4 months earlier and didnt put money on it at about 20 to 1!

[CraftyToePoke]

the appointment of stan in 2006 and the fact id been tipped off 4 months earlier and didnt put money on it at about 20 to 1!



I remember dismissing early indications this was about to happen as well. Surely no fool in a position to make these decisions would entertain such madness, or so I told myself.

[Harry Tipper]

Sofia 77, Brussels 81, Sofia 87, Hannover 88, Gelsenkirchen 88, Belfast 88,
Rome 90, Wembley 91, Poland 91, Seville 92, Vaduz 95, Bucharest 97,
Zagreb 99, Skopje 99, Amsterdam 00, Niigata 02, Suwon 02, Paris 04,
Tel Aviv 05, Stuttgart 06, Nicosia 06, Bari 09, Paris 09, Zilina 10

Dashed hopes, shattered dreams. That's only the away games.

:

Jaysus. That hurt!

[rebelmusic]

I may be over simplifying matters here but in all these games the thing i shout out the most is "Show for the fupping ball"!

To work in traps system the midfielders need to show for the ball from the back 4 and distribute it out wide to duff/mcgeady. That's what they don't do. When we play well, that's what they do.

We are cursed with our fullbacks aswell besides Josh. Ward is no better than Kilbane. Many people warned of this but there was the usual Dunphy shouting "He's playing in the PL, blah blah". He's where he is cos Mick has a hard on for him. He's doin okay this season in fairness, but he was lucky to be getting his game last year. I think wolfy would agree.

Kelly is not a good player and should not be selected. Foley so far has shown to be nervous in irish games although he is consistently a good player for Wolves.


Final point - i don't think Andrews is our man anymore. We need to elevate someone to be Whelans partner. Maybe McCarthy, maybe foley i'm not sure.

[mypost]

Many people warned of this but there was the usual Dunphy shouting "He's playing in the PL, blah blah".

Russia Squad Clubs:

Arsenal, Tottenham, Saint Petersburg, CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow

Slovakia Squad Clubs:

Liverpool, Lokomotiv Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe, Napoli, Slovan Bratislava

Ireland Squad Clubs: :disdain:

Millwall, Sunderland, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Stoke City, Portsmouth, Burnley, LA Galaxy

They're playing European football every year at top clubs across Europe. For most of ours, the only European opposition they face is with Ireland. There's a considerable difference in player quality, yet we're expected to beat them every time, and if they don't, they get booed off the pitch, and lambasted in the press. I don't think that's fair.