Italy V Republic of Ireland - Monday, 18th June 2012 - Euro 2012 Group C

[tricky_colour]

On reflection we did pretty well against Croatia, with a bit of luck we could have scrapped a draw.
However Spain knew they had to give us a good hiding and they did just that.
We have certainly looked below par.

How about we go 4-1-4-1 with Gibson being 1 number 1 and Long being 1 number 2.

We have a good outlet in Long he has a bit of pace and can get the long clearnaces we
shoudl be making rather than trying to pass our way through the bess passing and closing down
side in Europe and the World.

[eekers]

Idle speculation that just doesn't add up. Why would he care how he's viewed in Spain and Croatia because of something that happened in 2004? He'll be managing us for a further two years after this tournament, so it's in his best interests to care about the future of the Irish team. He'll pick what he believes to be his strongest eleven because he wants to win the game.

That's what he said a few days ago in the press conference. He wanted to pick his best team because he owed it to spain and croatia and hoped another team would do the same if he was in their situation.

[CraftyToePoke]

Anyway, the main issue is not what we do in the Italy game but what changes are made afterwards.

I don't know, I think the experience within the squad, or lack of it, of having been at a major finals before really told on us here, guys who are likely to be involved should we make a finals again soon could have gotten some tomorrow.

[brine3]

Who's on a yellow card? I know Keith Andrews is. He picks up one against Italy and he's out for the first qualifier.

Not very clever to play him.

[BonnieShels]

Who's on a yellow card? I know Keith Andrews is. He picks up one against Italy and he's out for the first qualifier.

Not very clever to play him.

It could work to our advantage if he did. Andrews needs Gibson/McCarthy beside him. Him out for the game against the Kazakhs forces Trap's hand.

So yeah, he'll pick Paul Green against them.

[geysir]

Who's on a yellow card? I know Keith Andrews is. He picks up one against Italy and he's out for the first qualifier.

Not very clever to play him.
Perhaps it's not very clever, not to know that yellow card & yellow card suspensions obtained in the Euro Finals do not carry over to the WC qualifiers.

[CraftyToePoke]

Steve Staunton on the need for youth, and the lack opportunity for youth with Trap, and how his reign had built in mechanisms to nurture youth, and how things were done in Jacks day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18478998

If only it was as easy as saying it eh Stevie ?

[Murfinator]

Thank god he blooded in Douglas and Alan O'Brien. Where would we have been down the road without his keen eye for talent.

[CraftyToePoke]

Thank god he blooded in Douglas and Alan O'Brien. Where would we have been down the road without his keen eye for talent.

More here on that US tour http://thedubiousgoalscommittee.co.uk/2012/06/08/men-of-the-match-republic-of-ireland-vs-ecuador-23rd-may-2007/

Gamble, Bennett, O'Cearuil, Murphy, Lapira, Dixon, overall an interesting who's who of a where are they now affair.

Whatever shortcomings of Traps are being exposed at present, shhhh Steve, just shhhh.

[Crosby87]

Yeah the above, I was at the game vs Ecuador at (since imploded) Giants Stadium, with Stan. Irish looked awful. Steven Hunt was by far the best player on the pitch ( artificial turf get the **** off it by Giants/Jets) on either side....
I remember Stan standing there, kinda clueless and said to my friend, "This Is not good." We had REALLY good tickets. Wasn't hard of course, to get those.....

[Charlie Darwin]

Stan also gave Kevin Doyle his debut.

[CraftyToePoke]

Stan also gave Kevin Doyle his debut.

Fire enough bullets and you will eventually hit something OR Even the blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

They were dark days CD, you know it, I know it, I know you know.

[Metrostars]

Yeah the above, I was at the game vs Ecuador at (since imploded) Giants Stadium, with Stan. Irish looked awful. Steven Hunt was by far the best player on the pitch ( artificial turf get the **** off it by Giants/Jets) on either side....
I remember Stan standing there, kinda clueless and said to my friend, "This Is not good." We had REALLY good tickets. Wasn't hard of course, to get those.....

FYI they had grass on the field not artificial turf.

[brine3]

I think Steve Staunton's reign can indeed be best summed up by Joe Lapira.

Joe Lapira, an amateur footballer who was playing in the US 4th division. Capped for Ireland.

[geysir]

I suppose we will forget the games under Stan, such as being undone by late goal to deny us the pleasure of home and away victories against Slovakia. Under Stan we performed better (home and away) against Germany & Czech Rep than we did against Russia & Slovakia under Trap. Where Trap pulls clear are with some of the performances against the 4th& 5th seeds. And i can't say that we played with great distinction against Cyprus under Trap.

When you boil it down, we have not moved that much from the Stan 'era' considering how Traps fabled organisation of defence has been shattered.

[Noelys Guitar]

The most disheartening thing for me (and particulary the old geezers) is that we have been around this block before. Giles persisting with a system (which was failing)and sticking with certain players who had long passed their prime. This is all leading (once more) to a one game disaster in the qualifyers. I see no benefit for Trap or the players by him staying in the job.

[brine3]

Under Stan we performed better (home and away) against Germany & Czech Rep than we did against Russia & Slovakia under Trap.

We only got two points from those games you mention under Stan.

Whereas we got three points from those games under Trap.


And i can't say that we played with great distinction against Cyprus under Trap.

One thing we can say about Stan is that we put in distinctive performances against Cypurs.

[geysir]

Or 5 points against Slovakia and Germany under Stan as against 3 points under Trap against Russia and Slovakia.

As I said, re performance, the performance under Stan against those teams I mentioned does not compare unfavourably with those under Trap. I'm not going to go down the many potholed road of defending Stan or looking for positives in his management, but neither do I subscribe that his record was the pits, even if he was evidently clueless.
Trap (with such a pedigree) has not moved us forward on quality of performance.

[osarusan]

9 minutes in and still goalless. Better start than before.

[Charlie Darwin]

A couple of quality hoofs already, one in particular from McGeady. It's like watching Shamrock Rovers.

[Charlie Darwin]

McGeady is wandering around like he did against Bosnia while Doyle and Keane are filling in on his wing. I like this shape a lot.

[Maroon 7]

Sense we are not going to get much from this ref.

[tricky_colour]

So much better, we are right in this and perhaps the better team so far.
Italy look poor!!!
Ref is Italian, he is poor too.

[Maroon 7]

By far our best performance so far (not hard granted). We've actually shaded this over the first 30 minutes. Still not really creating any chances though.

[sullanefc]

Poor, poor decision making in the final 3rd for us. But a lot more encouraging.

[backstothewall]

Suicidal.

[Maroon 7]

Shay again. He's had a nightmare tournament.

[shakermaker1982]

What the hell has happened to Given?

[cavan_fan]

Shay again. He's had a nightmare tournament.

Like Packie a tournament too far

[tricky_colour]

That ref is a qunt

[BonnieShels]

Ward and Given have been woeful.

Shay's positioning has been gash.

[Noelys Guitar]

Get McClean and Long upfront and Gibson on in midfield and we could actually win this. O'Neill has talked about playing McClean on the right but alos putting upfront. He is an excellent header of the ball and his pace coupled with Long's would cause that Italian defense real problems. Given should not be playing and neither should Whelan.

[BonnieShels]

But we can only make three subs Noely.

Agree though.

[shakermaker1982]

Long & McClean please.

[cavan_fan]

It'll be Green and Cox!

[shakermaker1982]

O'Shea is so bloody clumsy

[dancinpants]

O'Shea is so bloody clumsy

An utter donkey sometimes!

[tricky_colour]

we are due a goal!!

[tricky_colour]

An utter donkey sometimes!

Nay!!!!

[Maroon 7]

There was a tap in there had someone reacted in time.

[Maroon 7]

Pretty easy to fool this ref. Theatrical dive from Ballotelli.

[tricky_colour]

Quality goal from Baliotelli. (sp?)

[shakermaker1982]

What is Andrews having a hissy fit for? You pulled his shirt. It's a foul.

[dancinpants]

We are soooo bad at the most basic of things its insane.

[cavan_fan]

Thank God its over, a better performance, lets hope we can improve a bit, Andrews will miss a few games, so a chance for some changes

[Metrostars]

I second that, thank god this tournament is over for us.

[Noelys Guitar]

We are on top playing some nice football and then Given decides to go long ball for the last 7/8 mins of the game. McGeady who was playing well should never have been taken off. Keane should have been the first to go. This was a perfect game to bring on McClean and Gibson. Very frustrating. O'Shea lucky not to be sent off. Andrews was very good again as was Dunne and St Ledger. Duff played well but should have done much better with that last chance he had. Doyle played well and I wonder would he be a better midfielder than forward. Should have been teamed up with Long from the start.

[mark12345]

O'Shea is so bloody clumsy

That's giving him credit.

O'Shea is one of the worst players ever to pull on a green shirt. So glad that Balotelli showed him up for what he is in the end.
Don't know about any of you but my initial emotion at the final whistle was not one of bitter regret, like usual, but one where I don't want to see any of our players again for a very long time. Ok, I am excited about the likes of McClean and other youngsters who might be coming along, but the old guard were very badly exposed in this tournement.

[cavan_fan]

That's giving him credit.

O'Shea is one of the worst players ever to pull on a green shirt. So glad that Balotelli showed him up for what he is in the end.
Don't know about any of you but my initial emotion at the final whistle was not one of bitter regret, like usual, but one where I don't want to see any of our players again for a very long time. Ok, I am excited about the likes of McClean and other youngsters who might be coming along, but the old guard were very badly exposed in this tournement.


I'd defend Duff from that but otherwise would agree.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Thank God its over, a better performance, lets hope we can improve a bit, Andrews will miss a few games, so a chance for some changes
Well there's an exciting young player called Paul Green Trap is keen to give some game time to....