Spain V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 12 June 2013 - Friendly - Yankee Stadium

[christo]

Based off the last 2 games Sammon is better than Walters

[jbyrne]

Sammon has been so poor in the first 20 mins.

has actually been decent. some decent touches when its come his way

[Charlie Darwin]

But why is it in Yankee stadium :confused:
Baseball teams seem to be making really strong bids for other sports to be played in their stadiums recently. Perhaps it is related to the Yankees' involvement with Manchester City.

[Charlie Darwin]

has actually been decent. some decent touches when its come his way
Sammon is technically better than all of our strikers except Keane. I don't know why people have been disputing this for so long. His weakness is that he's a poor finisher. His touch is miles ahead of Long or Walters, as he demonstrated for Keane's goal on Friday.

Roberto Martinez wouldn't have signed him if he wasn't technically skilled.

[BonnieShels]

That all came from him getting hit with the ball like an under-7.

He's had some nice touches and it was great play to get that chance of Pique but...

Liking this composed McShane. His confidence must be up on getting promoted with Hull.

Too many dangerous pieces of play near our box though.

[Serb]

I don't believe for a second that Sammon is good enough. He's in there to be a physical presence and win the high balls that we've obviously decided we're going to pump up to him. He hasn't won a single header and Robbie Keane has been more of a physical presence. He runs and runs and looks pretty fit, but I think we get that from Walters who is far better in my opinion.

[christo]

Wouldn't mind if half time happened quickly

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't believe for a second that Sammon is good enough. He's in there to be a physical presence and win the high balls that we've obviously decided we're going to pump up to him. He hasn't won a single header and Robbie Keane has been more of a physical presence. He runs and runs and looks pretty fit, but I think we get that from Walters who is far better in my opinion.
No he's not! Yes, he's 6'3 or whatever, but he's never been used as a target man by his clubs. He's a link player, as he's demonstrated tonight. He won't make the great runs Keane and Long make, but he will be very tidy and hold his own against defenders.

[DannyInvincible]

Fairly fortunate to make it to half-time without conceding. Spain were dangerous towards the end of the half.

[Charlie Darwin]

Fairly fortunate to make it to half-time without conceding. Spain were dangerous towards the end of the half.
I think we've been quite comfortable to be honest. Spain could equally be grateful Sammon didn't score his chance.

[SwanVsDalton]

Sammon is technically better than all of our strikers except Keane. I don't know why people have been disputing this for so long.

Step away from the Kool Aid there CD. Sammon's possesses a decent touch at times but it's inconsistent as get out. In terms of holding the ball up his touch is no better than Walters. In attack it's not as strong as Long's. Would love him to prove me wrong, but can't see it right now

[Charlie Darwin]

Step away from the Kool Aid there CD. Sammon's possesses a decent touch at times but it's inconsistent as get out. In terms of holding the ball up his touch is no better than Walters. In attack it's not as strong as Long's. Would love him to prove me wrong, but can't see it right now
Long's touch is dreadful. He would never have set up Keane's goal against the Faroes, or Keane's goal against Georgia for that matter. Neither would Walters. They just don't have it in their lockers.

[christo]

3 Ailesybury Hair loss clinic ads in 1 break, guess they reckon hair loss and watching Ireland go hand in hand :p

[BonnieShels]

No he's not! Yes, he's 6'3 or whatever, but he's never been used as a target man by his clubs. He's a link player, as he's demonstrated tonight. He won't make the great runs Keane and Long make, but he will be very tidy and hold his own against defenders.

But there in lies the issue with him. He's being used in a way that he's not suited simply because we are sending in long ball after long ball.

[Razors left peg]

We look like the Faroes out there.

Cant pass the ball, strikers cant hold up the ball. Sammons attempt when through on goal was pathetic. We look terrified and its all last ditch defending

[Charlie Darwin]

3 Ailesybury Hair loss clinic ads in 1 break, guess they reckon hair loss and watching Ireland go hand in hand :p
Or they've correctly guessed that Connor Sammon's entire family are watching!

[CraftyToePoke]

I thought Sammons second touch in that run on goal was all wrong, it undid all his good work up to that. It narrowed his angle on goal and took his percentage chance of scoring way down it was focused on getting away from chasing defenders only. That said, he did superbly up to that and for all their ball, we made the best opening of the half in that Sammon contribution.

[SwanVsDalton]

Long's touch is dreadful. He would never have set up Keane's goal against the Faroes, or Keane's goal against Georgia for that matter.

Long's touch is what opened opened up the Swedish and Georgian defence for the chances he blew. It patently isn't 'dreadful'.

I agree about the setting up, Long likely would've tried to beat a man or shot or fell over looking a peno - I'd make an argument about awareness/selflessness as opposed to touch. Sammon's got decent skill, no doubt, but he isn't blazing a trail of technical ability.

[tricky_colour]

We look like the Faroes out there.

Cant pass the ball, strikers cant hold up the ball. Sammons attempt when through on goal was pathetic. We look terrified and its all last ditch defending

Saying we look like the Faroes is rather flattering!! They were passing the ball pretty well at times v Sweden!!!

But still 0-0, they have not had that many chances on goal, we are 12-1 to win, all we need is a lucky break and plenty of solid defending!!

[BonnieShels]

We look like the Faroes out there.

Cant pass the ball, strikers cant hold up the ball. Sammons attempt when through on goal was pathetic. We look terrified and its all last ditch defending

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[tricky_colour]

Spain are wilting - they don't like it up em!!

[tetsujin1979]

for a minute there I thought this man was partnering James McCarthy in central midfield
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Sheamus_2012.jpg/493px-Sheamus_2012.jpg

[ArdeeBhoy]

Are we losing yet?

[Fixer82]

Nice piece from Andy Keogh here about how he stays looking so good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGZDfu-PZI :)

[jbyrne]

Saying we look like the Faroes is rather flattering!! They were passing the ball pretty well at times v Sweden!!!

sweden arent the current world and double euro champions.

we have a half strength team and are doing grand. need to hold onto the ball better at times though

[Charlie Darwin]

Long's touch is what opened opened up the Swedish and Georgian defence for the chances he blew. It patently isn't 'dreadful'.

I wouldn't say his touch opened the Swedish defence so much as his body position. I think he looks to take on defences when he doesn't have the ability to do so, whereas Sammon would bring other players into the game. That one opening against Sweden was the only opportunity he created and even so he never really looked in control. Sammon has more of a calm about him 20 yards from goal, even if he doesn't finish well.

[jbyrne]

Are we losing yet?

go back to bed

[ArdeeBhoy]

I'm in bed...

Who are the co-commentators on the Premier Sports coverage?

[Fixer82]

I have to say I think Stephen Kelly has done well tonight.
Still can't believe Trap gives him the time of day after he refused to board the plane to Faroes

[osarusan]

Anybody got a working stream? The one DannyI linked to earlier isn't working for me.

[BonnieShels]

Balls.

[tetsujin1979]

unlucky from McCarthy, set up Soldado with the flick

[The Fly]

1-0 Spain

[ArdeeBhoy]

It's been coming. This is just an exercise in shadow-chasing.

Just let's hope, it's not too futile.

[tetsujin1979]

Anybody got a working stream? The one DannyI linked to earlier isn't working for me.
pm'd you nothing at all to do with this

[tricky_colour]

McCarthy back heel.

[The Fly]

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream2.html

[ArdeeBhoy]

That Curtis Fleming co-commentating?

[tetsujin1979]

You've brought this on yourself Spain, here comes McClean!

[tetsujin1979]

That Curtis Fleming co-commentating?

yep, St Pat's well represented with Curtis and Kerr doing studio punditry

[Charlie Darwin]

yep, St Pat's well represented with Curtis and Kerr doing studio punditry
Quinn on the field as well.

[Charlie Darwin]

Super save from Casillas as he was wrong-footed.

[tetsujin1979]

Sledge!!

<EDIT>

is offside

[tricky_colour]

yes

fecking take that!!

[Charlie Darwin]

Disallowed, Cox offside.

[BonnieShels]

Cox again in the way. FFS.

[The Fly]

Disallowed

[gastric]

You've brought this on yourself Spain, here comes McClean!

I think we need John McClean from Die Hard to knock off some of these olive lovers!

[Charlie Darwin]

On this performance, I'd have Sammon starting against Sweden.

[tricky_colour]

come on

why take it fecking short? when we can't string 2 passes together?