Ireland V Sweden(A) 22 March & Austria(H) - 26 March 2013 - World Cup 2014 Qualifiers

[Maroon 7]

Fair play to my fellow Galway man David Forde. Made a few great saves and claimed every cross he came for apart from one I think. That said he looks really uncomfortable with the ball at his feet.

[Fixer82]

Forde was very good tonight but unfortunately we have another keeper, just like Shay, who frightens the life out of me when the ball is passed back to him under pressure. But all in all, his saves and taking balls from crosses/corners was excellent. Well done to him!

Back 4 very solid.

Thought Green and McCarthy were excellent in the middle and felt a bit for Green when one or two passes went astray as it blemished an otherwise solid performance from him.

Very impressed by Robbie also. Thought he looked sharp and used his brain, leading from the front.

What I'm most impressed about was our attitude to the game and our togetherness. It was real 'put 'em under pressure' stuff.
We've gotten so used to seeing Irish teams drop off when the opposition have the ball, this was like a breath of fresh air.
Was delighted to see Walters, McClean and Green flying into tackles. Rattled the Swedes and set a benchmark for us to kick on and improve in this group.

A good night's work!

[geysir]

All the players at various times made a bad pass.
If Green makes one or two bad passes, it hits the headlines. If a McClean cross doesn't find anybody in the box, his 'no end product' hits the headlines.
Both McClean and Green had very good games. If you get one superb ball from a winger landing at the foot of a striker in space, that's a good night's work in a game where chances were few and non existent.
Of our full backs, I thought Coleman showed signs of inexperience which is normal enough but he was far more disciplined in his positioning than previous.
Wilson was solid and that was without showing his usual ability to stroke the passes.

[wonder88]

I agree that Coleman still tends to get caught out of position a few times, but hopefully he keeps improving his game. I am delighted for him as I used to watch him play when I lived in Sligo for a couple of years and it is always nice to see a player you watched at LoI level do well. I am surprised that the expert analyists at rte Giles/Dunphy are not aware of this fault in his game but with more experience and good coaching he can sort this out before the two guys catch o0n while watching him on tv playing in their beloved premiership. I also hope the Everton fans have stopped giving him abuse as they were doing earlier this season.

[peadar1987]

I agree that Coleman still tends to get caught out of position a few times, but hopefully he keeps improving his game. I am delighted for him as I used to watch him play when I lived in Sligo for a couple of years and it is always nice to see a player you watched at LoI level do well. I am surprised that the expert analyists at rte Giles/Dunphy are not aware of this fault in his game but with more experience and good coaching he can sort this out before the two guys catch o0n while watching him on tv playing in their beloved premiership. I also hope the Everton fans have stopped giving him abuse as they were doing earlier this season.

He does get caught out of position, but he's keen as mustard, which is always a benefit

[Charlie Darwin]

Coleman is keen as mustard, Sammon a fish out of water, Keane is eager to make an impression, Forde is a vintage model, Clark is a pair of shoes, etc

Let's get them all out now and then burn them.

[geysir]

I'd of thought, Clark shows a clean pair of heels.

[SkStu]

Green is inexperienced, Wilson is ballsy, McClean gave them a pasting and Long drew the short straw...

[Crosby87]

I think long missed cox.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Keane a doubt for Austria. Hollahan might get his chance: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2013/0324/378157-doubts-over-keane-fitness-for-austria-match/

[Grafter]

Keane a doubt for Austria. Hollahan might get his chance: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2013/0324/378157-doubts-over-keane-fitness-for-austria-match/
Ah Robbie will start on Tuesday come hell or high water IMO;)

[Charlie Darwin]

Keane out, Doyle called up according to Tony O'Donoghue on RTE.

Trap has made Grafter look like a fool here.

[tetsujin1979]

confirmed: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/statuses/315857661054840832

Robbie Keane has been ruled out of Tuesday's game against Austria with calf strain. Kevin Doyle has been called up to replace him. #IrlAus (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23IrlAus&src=hash)

[SwanVsDalton]

Keane out, Doyle called up according to Tony O'Donoghue on RTE.

Trap has made Grafter look like a fool here.

Not sure if Grafter even got a text, but regardless Trap should've phoned him before dropping that bombshell. Disgraceful man-management once again.


confirmed: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/statuses/315857661054840832

Indo (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/trap-to-go-with-same-starting-xi-as-keane-awaits-scan-results-29150780.html) reported this morning Trap was likely to go with same XI if Keane was fit.

Good chance Hoolahan will slip in for his first competitive start - but I wouldn't be surprised if Trap went back to 442, with Brady in for Keane and Walters up front with Long.

[Stuttgart88]

Whelan trained today.

Trap really has a perfect excuse to start Hoolahan now. According to RTE Trap spoke to Doyle, almost newsworthy in its own right.

Will be an interesting team announcement.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd start Doyle, he'll have a point to prove & a positive reaction guaranteed.

I'd be surprised if he picks Hoolahan. Walters or Sammon will partner Long. Just got to hope he doesn't bring Whelan back into the fold.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'd let Hoolahan have a go, with Doyle as a sub option if it goes pear-shaped.

[Sullivinho]

I'd start Doyle, he'll have a point to prove & a positive reaction guaranteed.

I'd be surprised if he picks Hoolahan. Walters or Sammon will partner Long. Just got to hope he doesn't bring Whelan back into the fold.

Presumably this would mean dropping McCarthy. Christ only knows how that could be justified. (Which is not to attribute Glenn's inclusion to the work of a divine tactician) It wouldn't even make sense to replace Green with Whelan at this stage.

[Colbert Report]

Trap shows once again that he is smarter than all of ye! Doyle with a hat trick is my prediction.

[Grafter]

Keane out, Doyle called up according to Tony O'Donoghue on RTE.

Trap has made Grafter look like a fool here.

Too true...
Felt this game was made for Keane.... a penalty could decide match, who would be the taker now?
Even with his record this season, I'd assume Walters if he's on the pitch?

[Crosby87]

Not to talk about Brazil but if we ever did make it, the who's in who's out debate by then could really burn this place down.

[mark12345]

Back 4 very solid. Thought Green and McCarthy were excellent in the middle

Back four were solid. I have to admit, and I'm the first to critizie O'Shea because I don't think he should be anywhere near the team. But on this occassion he was competent. Long may it continue.

Also regarding Green and McCarthy, I don't think Green is the answer to our midfield woes but he did have a good game the other night (I think Hoolahan should be there with McCarthy). However, can we take it that the Whelan / Andrews axis is now over? I certainly hope so.

[Stuttgart88]

Not to mention Trap's 2 year contract extension Crosby.

[mark12345]

I haven't changed my opinion about Trap that much either. I still think he shouldn't be manager. It's taken him a long time to make changes to personnel and tactics and I still think the answer to "Could someone do better with the players we have?" to be "Yes".

Beating the Austrians is the next step to changing that opinion.

Good point. We're all talking about how Trap pulled off a masterstroke. But did he really. If he had his way, Whelan would have been in instead of Green. And he did have his way on Hoolahan, and look what happened. We missed Wes's brilliance for 75 minutes. So Trap's decisions in using certain players is still way way off the mark.

[Charlie Darwin]

Back four were solid. I have to admit, and I'm the first to critizie O'Shea because I don't think he should be anywhere near the team. But on this occassion he was competent. Long may it continue.

Also regarding Green and McCarthy, I don't think Green is the answer to our midfield woes but he did have a good game the other night (I think Hoolahan should be there with McCarthy). However, can we take it that the Whelan / Andrews axis is now over? I certainly hope so.
I think Andrews would probably replace Green if he came back. And we still don't know what Trap will do about Whelan/McCarthy on Tuesday.

[geysir]

Too true...
Felt this game was made for Keane.... a penalty could decide match, who would be the taker now?
Even with his record this season, I'd assume Walters if he's on the pitch?
Without Robbie on the pitch, the chances of winning a penalty are greatly diminished.

[Charlie Darwin]

Without Robbie on the pitch, the chances of winning a penalty are greatly diminished.
Yeah but that's balance out by the fact that with Coleman on the pitch, the chances of conceding a penalty are also greatly diminished.

[Crosby87]

MArk played in the LOI.

[ArdeeBhoy]

What's the betting the auld fool will stick Whelan back in? No thanks.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd say it's still 50/50 but it would be ahead of Green. There was something very different about the performance in Sweden - Green was doing a straight screening job but McCarthy was pressing much further forward than I've seen even Andrews doing. In fact, the only time I saw Andrews do it was in Paris. Trap knows Whelan's lack of mobility means he couldn't do the same job.

[tricky_colour]

Just copied out a pile of stats, unfortunately if does not display very well as you need to scroll.
http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/3389/Stages/6531/PlayerStatistics/England-Premier-League-2012-2013

offensive

R Name Team Pos Apps G A SpG KP Drb F Off Dis Trn Rt
78 Seamus Coleman Everton D( 15(2) - 4 0.4 1.1 0.9 1.3 - 1.1 0.9 6.99
139 Glenn Whelan Stoke M(C) 27(1) - 4 0.7 1.1 0.1 0.7 - 0.8 0.6 6.84
143 Ciaran Clark Aston Villa 28 1 - 0.5 - 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 0.4 6.83
144 James McCarthy Wigan M(CL) 29 2 1 1 0.9 0.6 1.3 - 0.7 0.7 6.83
169 John O'Shea Sunderland 26 1 - 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.4 - 0.1 0.1 6.75
170 Shane Long West Bromwich 19(7) 6 4 1.3 0.8 0.3 1.6 0.5 1.4 1.8 6.75
184 Jonathan WaltersStoke 30 6 1 1.6 1 0.4 1.5 0.6 1.7 2 6.71
203 Wes Hoolahan Norwich AM(C) 23(4) 3 2 0.9 1.4 1.1 1.3 0.3 2.5 1.8 6.65
207 James McClean Sunderland 18(10) 2 2 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 - 1.7 1.5 6.63
defensive
R Name Team Pos Apps Tackle I F OW Clr Drb BS OG Rt
78 Seamus Coleman Everton D(R) 15(2) 2.1 1.8 0.8 0.1 2.2 0.2 0.2 - 6.99
139 Glenn Whelan Stoke M(C) 27(1) 1.8 2 1 - 2 1.4 0.5 - 6.84
143 Ciaran Clark Aston Villa(C) 28 1.4 2.4 1.1 0.8 11.7 0.4 1.1 - 6.83
144 James McCarthy Wigan M(CL) 29 2.9 1.9 1.1 - 1.8 1.2 0.4 - 6.83
169 John O'Shea Sunderland 26 1.3 1.9 0.8 0.4 7.5 0.5 0.6 - 6.75
170 Shane Long West Bromwic 19(7) 1 0.2 1.4 - 0.5 0.3 0.2 - 6.75
184 Jonathan Walters Stoke 30 0.9 0.8 1.1 - 1.5 0.3 - 2 6.71
203 Wes Hoolahan Norwich AM(C) 23(4) 1.3 0.8 0.3 - 0.1 0.9 - - 6.65
207 James McClean Sunderland 18(10) 2.4 0.8 1.2 - 0.6 1 0.2 - 6.63
passing
R Name Team Pos Apps A KP Avg P PS% C LB TB Rt
78 Seamus Coleman Everton D(R) 15(2) 4 1.1 28.9 80.7 1.1 1.1 - 6.99
139 Glenn Whelan Stoke M(C) 27(1) 4 1.1 40.3 81 1.3 3.4 0.1 6.84
143 Ciaran Clark Aston Villa 28 - - 28 80.6 - 1.8 - 6.83
144 James McCarthy Wigan M(CL) 29 1 0.9 59 88.2 0.1 4.7 - 6.83
169 John O'Shea Sunderland 26 - 0.2 29.2 76.2 - 2.3 - 6.75
170 Shane Long West Bromwich 19(7) 4 0.8 14.6 69.7 0.3 0.5 - 6.75
184 Jonathan Walters Stoke 30 1 1 27.5 68.2 0.5 0.1 0.1 6.71
203 Wes Hoolahan Norwich AM(C) 23(4) 2 1.4 34.6 84.2 0.7 1.1 0.2 6.65
207 James McClean Sunderland 18(10) 2 0.8 20.6 79.5 0.5 0.5 - 6.63


Key in order mentioned if appearing twice.

SpG shots per game, KP Key Passes Drb succcessful dribbles F was fouled Dis dispossed Trn turnovers
T tackles made I interceptions F fouls commited OW offsides won Drb was dribbled BS blocked shots OG own goal
A assists KP key passes Avg P average passes per game PS% pass percentage completed
C crosses per game LB long balls (\accurate) TB through balls.

[Crosby87]

Arthur all due respect but you will not be happy until Ireland doesn't Qualify so you can hire the next manager, I guess.

[Noelys Guitar]

Whelan to start instead of Green and bizarrely Sammon to replace Keane.
http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/4858226/Ireland-v-Austria-preview-Trapattoni-hits-re-Doyle-in-SOS.html Don't agree with either decision. I would have picked Hoolahan to replace Keane and started Green alongside McCarthy

[Charlie Darwin]

Forgive me for being sceptical about an article that includes the phrase "an OMG call".

[SkStu]

Whelan to start instead of Green and bizarrely Sammon to replace Keane.
http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/4858226/Ireland-v-Austria-preview-Trapattoni-hits-re-Doyle-in-SOS.html Don't agree with either decision. I would have picked Hoolahan to replace Keane and started Green alongside McCarthy

Good lord don't let it be true....

[Colbert Report]

Have faith in Trap. He knows more about football than all of us put together. In qualifiers, we have only lost to France, Russia, and Germany under his supervision. Not bad for a manager who has such a crap panel of players to put a team together from. No, Sammon isn't a household name like Doyle but perhaps Trap might know something about the Austrian team that we don't? Remember his masterstroke of putting Caleb Folan on against Italy?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Agreeing once again with Stu.
:)

If Sammon & Whelan play, he might as well throw in McShane & Ward for the full set of jokers...
Done a good job in away games, but you have to win at home.

Even if we sneak a victory tomorrow, September is as full of as many potential banana skins, if not before...
:(

[Spudulika]

Back four were solid. I have to admit, and I'm the first to critizie O'Shea because I don't think he should be anywhere near the team. But on this occassion he was competent. Long may it continue.

Also regarding Green and McCarthy, I don't think Green is the answer to our midfield woes but he did have a good game the other night (I think Hoolahan should be there with McCarthy). However, can we take it that the Whelan / Andrews axis is now over? I certainly hope so.

And when we're over run and the players are caught out of position and the team is humiliated again........

[Sullivinho]

Remember his masterstroke of putting Caleb Folan on against Italy?

I'd sooner he put him on against Austria too, if the choice was between Folan and Sammon. Assuming Caleb isn't too tied up being...prime minister of Nepal or whatever it is he's at these days.

[geysir]

Forgive me for being sceptical about an article that includes the phrase "an OMG call".

Who can say what may transpire but Dan McD in the Indo is going with a similar line to the Sun's OMG.
sammon-set-to-fill-keane-void (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/sammon-set-to-fill-keane-void-29151387.html)
the quote from Trap
"We would have to change, and put Sammon or Cox with (Shane) Long," said the Ireland boss, before then making a stronger statement with regard to the Derby newcomer. "Sammon is picked with Long, Sammon is to be with Long."
plus Dan says
Trapattoni confirmed that the returning Glenn Whelan will partner James McCarthy in central midfield with Paul Green dropping out.

Kevin Doyle is a decent cover for ....Sammon. :rolleyes:

[ArdeeBhoy]

So Sammon is now ahead of Cox & Doyle??

[tricky_colour]

And when we're over run and the players are caught out of position and the team is humiliated again........

Steady on there! Ireland have never conceded a goal when Hoolahan has been on the pitch!!
McCarthy was on for all six v Germany though.

[Bungle]

I saw something there on the RTE website about Walters carrying a slight knock. If we are going for the target man, barring injury, Walters would have to be in ahead of Sammon in my opinion, as he has more to his game and has done well at a higher level for a mid-table team in the Premiership. Personally, I would prefer Hoolahan to play in the hole between midfield and Shane Long. I think that could work really well. Wes has the ability to play that defense splitting pass, but equally importantly he has the ability to keep possession.

I wasn't that impressesd with Conor Sammon against Poland. However, I'd love if this selection came good against the Austrians. Even if he became a very poor man's Niall Quinn, I'd be delighted.

[tricky_colour]

What about this Paddy Madden?
OK he plays in league one but he is put scoring Messi at the moment.
Something like 20 in 28 games, I'm surprised Braca have not came in for him.
Just stick him on and he is more than likely to get a goal.
I have not really seen much of him playing though seem to a bit of a poacher but it looks
like Trap is going for a battering ram up front.
But if we are struggling to get a goal at least he will remember what it feels like to score a goal :p

[paul_oshea]

Not read all the posts but the general feeling is the same. We can't knock traps away qualification form really, but I think on Friday he stumbled upon his best possible selection for the night. I thought his substitutions were very good, even bringing on Sammon made sense, but Sammon just isn't good enough. I can see what Trap is doing, but you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Green did well I thought. Justified his selection, and I had seen against Poland and Slovakia that he was capable of playing. I think Coleman is turning into a world class full back, but again Friday he had the jersey of Ibrahimovic like you would do in Gaelic to stop him making a run. It wasn't in view of the ref or linesman so he got away with it, fair play but it could have been a penalty. O'shea and clark were very good. Hopefully they can build up a level of consistency and be the first choice. O'shea even played the ball on the ground a few times out of defence. Keane's donkey work and roaming were very good. We do miss a proper striker now though, Long just isn't good enough at it, and Keane doesn't have the same impact he used to have. If long hadn't bottled it we could have come home with a 1-0 win. Walters put in a good shift, as did Mccarthy, Holohan offered some relief when he came on and McClean did ok too, his distribution and crossing was poor though.

I think we are reading a bit more into how good we were, as opposed to have exceedingly average Sweden were. Keane had a good game, but only because no one tracked him, they let him roam all night. And they never got tight on us, they were happy to sit back and let us play. It was like watching us at home. The one element of our game that was really impressive was our harrying and pressure applied off the ball, we were Barcelonaesque at times, even when they tried to play their triangle passes we put so much pressure on them a couple of times that they lost possession. I never saw Trap let us do that before. It was refreshing and brilliant. I think we might regret not picking up 3 points here though,even though we didn't actually have a shot on target.

Whats baffling is how Trap saw us play Friday, as a cohesive unit, a team with confidence in their own ability, even offering an attacking threat, yet we are reading he is bringing Whelan back in and Sammon up front?

[noddy102]

What's wrong with Trap picking Whelan ahead of Green exactly?

Whelan is playing at a higher standard than Green, and is a better player overall. If he's fit, he should be in the team ahead of Green, no question.

As for Sammon.... the mind boggles.

[Bungle]

Not read all the posts but the general feeling is the same. We can't knock traps away qualification form really, but I think on Friday he stumbled upon his best possible selection for the night. I thought his substitutions were very good, even bringing on Sammon made sense, but Sammon just isn't good enough. I can see what Trap is doing, but you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Green did well I thought. Justified his selection, and I had seen against Poland and Slovakia that he was capable of playing. I think Coleman is turning into a world class full back, but again Friday he had the jersey of Ibrahimovic like you would do in Gaelic to stop him making a run. It wasn't in view of the ref or linesman so he got away with it, fair play but it could have been a penalty. O'shea and clark were very good. Hopefully they can build up a level of consistency and be the first choice. O'shea even played the ball on the ground a few times out of defence. Keane's donkey work and roaming were very good. We do miss a proper striker now though, Long just isn't good enough at it, and Keane doesn't have the same impact he used to have. If long hadn't bottled it we could have come home with a 1-0 win. Walters put in a good shift, as did Mccarthy, Holohan offered some relief when he came on and McClean did ok too, his distribution and crossing was poor though.

I think we are reading a bit more into how good we were, as opposed to have exceedingly average Sweden were. Keane had a good game, but only because no one tracked him, they let him roam all night. And they never got tight on us, they were happy to sit back and let us play. It was like watching us at home. The one element of our game that was really impressive was our harrying and pressure applied off the ball, we were Barcelonaesque at times, even when they tried to play their triangle passes we put so much pressure on them a couple of times that they lost possession. I never saw Trap let us do that before. It was refreshing and brilliant. I think we might regret not picking up 3 points here though,even though we didn't actually have a shot on target.

Whats baffling is how Trap saw us play Friday, as a cohesive unit, a team with confidence in their own ability, even offering an attacking threat, yet we are reading he is bringing Whelan back in and Sammon up front?

On the money with all of that. I think Long is a good player and I rate him, but in the coming years we are going to miss having a player of Robbie's class up front for us. Having said that, Keano missed a few sitters in his time for us so don't want to be too harsh on Shane.

[zero]

On the money with all of that. I think Long is a good player and I rate him, but in the coming years we are going to miss having a player of Robbie's class up front for us. Having said that, Keano missed a few sitters in his time for us so don't want to be too harsh on Shane.

yeah i basically agree with this; long isn't really the kind of player who will nick you a goal when he's not playing particularly well. he seems to go through patches of very good form - when he's on he's hard to deal with.

robbie though always has a goal in him.

[Crosby87]

Who is the most famous Austrian of all time?

[paul_oshea]

One other thing, I mentioned the last day that on paper we were easily as good as they were, and it was pointed out they were serial qualifiers, and the experience they had in the current side. We were as good as they were on paper, because we are as good as them and the level they play at. Skstu mentioned that both teams are pretty average, I think we were slightly better than that on Friday, but I think that Sweden were average. So whoever comes on here and says that we have a poor group of players, worst available since we started and Trap is getting miracles out of us, down through the years we never had that many top top players and even those playing at a higher level in England, the league wasn't as strong. We have a decent first 11 at the moment, and easily or should be capable of getting 2nd in groups. We had 8 premiership players the last day and we showed against a decent European side in terms of seedings that we can match them. So there should be no more talk of how poor we are in terms of player talent, which is so often used as a defensive line for supporting Trap, and his magic wand.

a team with players like coleman, mccarthy, o'shea, long, wilson and keane is more than capable.