Republic of Ireland V Poland - Sunday, 29th March 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[Bottle of Tonic]

We were crap for the most part. Plenty of the ball but nothing created bar a few crosses slung in from out wide. Thought we had little or no urgency, took ages to take frees, corners, throw ins etc. Horrible stop start game. The players aren't really there but I have no faith in management to improve them. I've heard it said before that the real reason for MON's successes was John Robertson.

[shakermaker1982]

Much better 2nd half in terms of tempo. I bet MO'N gave em a rocket 2nd half.

Same old failings though.

Central midfield invisible and persisting with Walters for so long was infuriating. I'd love to see the Opta stats on how many balls Whelan played forward tonight.

Thought McClean made a big impact when he came on.

Coleman and Hoolahan had good games and to be fair to Brady despite his mistake for the goal (plus poor set piece delivery) he did not hide away and kept wanting the ball.

Not a fan of the Polish team. Time wasting from the 45th min and play acting the whole game.

[SkStu]

It's not about Shane Long if you ask me (and I'm his biggest fan here). It was McClean that made the bigger impact and probably the selection call that O'Neill got most wrong. Going 2 up front in the second half showed the wisdom and transparency of O'Neill in admitting his mistake (you wouldn't have got that from that senile Italian geebag) and adjusting and to be fair it completely changed the game. Long didn't need to come on straight away as a result of that tweak.

But in retrospect with 2 second choice full backs on for Poland, McClean should've started.

[tricky_colour]

Should have won it,

We are back!!!

On the up :pride:

[SkStu]

The Poles were disgraceful too with the play acting and time wasting. Ref was a gobsh1te and all.

[tricky_colour]

We did very well considering we wasted so many free kick, if we could find a player who could kick a dead ball a set distance with a 20% margin of
error (either way) we would be quids in.

I thought Robbies could do that but he was very poor, I could do a better job but I don't fancy the running around bit,
so don't even bother calling me Martin or Roy, I and *not* available for selection. (unless the money is really good :wink-new:)

[Spudulika]

Terrible ref, cheating Poles, went for a win and got a draw. Despite a good 2nd half it was a fair result as we gave away possession too easily, but fought hard to get it back.

I don't agree with Dunphy that everyone should work to give the ball to Wes, good players fight for the ball, and he does. He gets knocked about and is a bit suspect, but he has heart. Brady messed up but never stopped playing. He is too one footed for my liking and gets himself into trouble over it.

I think MON did the right thing and went even more aggressive as the game wore on. With a better/less biased ref, and a little more self-confidence, Ireland would have skated home. As it is, a point is good and we now have a decent run of matches with points to be won.

[tricky_colour]

We should have had two players on the free kick in front of goal, one left foot, one right foot so the keeper has doubt in his mind.

[geysir]

I'm glad for the fans that did make the effort to attend, that they had something to cheer and had a 2nd half team performance to get behind.
Our football performance was something else, we lacked football intelligence but we compensated in the 2nd half with that something else and we all love that something else.

[mark12345]

MON has got out of Gaol again, this joker is a spent force.

Agree that Long should have been on earlier but "Martin O'Neill has got out of gaol again, this joker is a spent force".
Wow! What a statement.
Answer me this my friend. What manager on the face of the earth, and you can have your pick of them, could have made the Irish lads play any better than they did tonight?
There isn't one. When will you wake up and smell the coffee. We just don't have the players. And you lot continue to blame the managers. Amazing

[mark12345]

I'm glad for the fans that did make the effort to attend, that they had something to cheer and had a 2nd half team performance to get behind.
Our football performance was something else, we lacked football intelligence but we compensated in the 2nd half with that something else and we all love that something else.

In all fairness it was a gutsy second half performance. True. But at the end of the day our passing and technical ability let us down. We cannot retain the ball in close quarters and those responsible for coaching our kids can't teach them how to do it. There will be no future for Irish football until we address that problem.

[boysingreen]

Don't know where the optimism from Giles and Dunphy came in the post-match, like this was some great performance. I want to be enthusiastic as much as anyone. Maybe our dismal opening 30 minutes clouded my judgment for the rest of the match, but I was watching thinking we won't qualify and there wouldn't be much use in us doing so anyway.

Losing away to Scotland and now dropping 2 pts at home to Poland, we've put ourselves up against the wall from here on out.

One positive was that Poland hardly had any chances on goal . We brought the goal on ourselves, should've been a clean sheet(although they did seem to stop going forward after the goal).

[tricky_colour]

I'm glad for the fans that did make the effort to attend, that they had something to cheer and had a 2nd half team performance to get behind.
Our football performance was something else, we lacked football intelligence but we compensated in the 2nd half with that something else and we all love that something else.

That was a real leap out of your seat moment when we scored.

[paul_oshea]

Ireland have the players to beat Poland at home. That negativity must have been instilled in you from the trap era.

It wasn't great football it was certainly a lot better than anything I've seen before in the aviva from us. We certainly kept going at them but we were playing crosses and high ball when no one in there who is known for their headers.

Wes did well but a better team or even a more motivated team would have punished at least a couple of his mistakes. Still maybe we need him in there regardless.we still never tried to play it through the middle. Our crossing was woeful and I hoped that wes would give Coleman and Brady the overlap more with 1-2s but it didn't happen.

I thought before we would play well and get the draw and I think I said so on here too but the draw isn't really good enough. I can't see us beating Scotland at home.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought we got the least we deserved. Poland were ok and scored after a gift from Brady. They had two chances all game plus a few good moments but the second half performance was good enough for the draw and a bit of luck might have seen a win.

Keane doesn't have the legs anymore from what I saw and he was even mentally off the pace, failing to anticipate anything. McCarthy just about came good but bar a few good tackles he just didn't do enough on the ball. Fahey uses the ball with more purposes. I thought Whelan was good by and large, doing more on the ball than mccarthy. McClean changed the tone and did very well. That tackle was as good, if not better, than the legendary Keane tackle on Overmars.

Great finish by Long, a shame he wasn't on longer. Silly foul at the end, the one he always gives away, but I'll forgive him.

We're still in contention but we need to start winning games.

[Olé Olé]

The best summation I can give as to why we lost is that Brady, who is not a full-back by nature, made a mistake and we over-relied on high balls to Walters, who is not a target-man by nature.

[BonnieShels]

The best summation I can give as to why we lost is that Brady, who is not a full-back by nature, made a mistake and we over-relied on high balls to Walters, who is not a target-man by nature.

Ole is in for a shock when he finds out that JOSH scored against Germany as well in the closing moments.

---

Overall I was delighted with our attitude in the second half. Ref was a disaster and the Poles were very poor. That game was there for us if we didn't concede the goal in the first half. We need Germany to take this group by the scruff of the neck now and let us at the Scots and Poles again.

[Olé Olé]

Ole is in for a shock when he finds out that JOSH scored against Germany as well in the closing moments.

---

Overall I was delighted with our attitude in the second half. Ref was a disaster and the Poles were very poor. That game was there for us if we didn't concede the goal in the first half. We need Germany to take this group by the scruff of the neck now and let us at the Scots and Poles again.

Haha christ.... Freduian slip due to the fact that a draw in what was dubbed a must-win game is a loss.

[Comic Book Guy]

We showed Poland far too much respect especially in the first half. Robbie Keane is a spent force end of story. We simply can't afford a slow start against Scotland. Two points dropped tonight.

[ger121]

Haha christ.... Freduian slip due to the fact that a draw in what was dubbed a must-win game is a loss.

So we got a draw that felt like a win but needed a win, so it could be viewed as a loss but even though we didn't win, the draw keeps us in the race but not quite as much as win would have... Simple really.

[geysir]

In all fairness it was a gutsy second half performance. True. But at the end of the day our passing and technical ability let us down. We cannot retain the ball in close quarters and those responsible for coaching our kids can't teach them how to do it. There will be no future for Irish football until we address that problem.
It was huff and puff against a team who were a goal up, who stood back to hold on, who conceded most of the field and when finally we equalised, they even had the temerity to take possession of most of what little remained of the game.
I don't know why it's like this but we are competing for 3rd and 4th spot and atm we are in 4th spot.

[Fergie's Son]

Beat Scotland at home. Baby steps and all that.

[mark12345]

<MOD EDIT - quote of deleted post removed>

The Joker?
Astonishing to describe a manager that had a very average (on paper) Celtic team into one which came very close to winning the Uefa Cup, and beat the likes of Barcelona and Juventus during his tenure at Parkhead. A brilliant manager is Martin O'Neill and he has a pretty brainy footballer in his assistant also. What he has working against him however is the lack of depth in the Irish squad, the absolute lack of ability among too many of his players, and a scarcity of upcoming talent to work with.

[boysingreen]

It was huff and puff against a team who were a goal up, who stood back to hold on, who conceded most of the field and when finally we equalised, they even had the temerity to take possession of most of what little remained of the game.
I don't know why it's like this but we are competing for 3rd and 4th spot and atm we are in 4th spot.

Sums it up pretty well. If 4th place would secure a playoff, we'd find a way to be languishing in 5th.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEQFhLl46A

[DannyInvincible]

I didn't want a draw before the game, so I don't think the result is quite something to celebrate. Well, certainly not like the way Dunphy was going on in studio afterwards anyway. He'd gotten so carried away, he thought we'd won until Liam reminded him it ended 1-1! I suspect Dunphy went overboard due to the delight of witnessing a seeming shift in philosophy (and it having borne at least some fruit) after years of exasperation under Trap and then O'Neill's cautious beginnings. A shift is something to applaud and I can empathise to a degree, but our present position in the group should be quick to bring one back down to earth. We're in fourth position at the half-way point. The Scotland game will be a cup-final winner-takes-third-place type of situation now.

First half, we were limited and ineffective. I feared we were in for a long night of fruitless, paining and draining huffing and puffing. We didn't look like we felt we needed to win, nor did it look like we were set up for a victory. There was no urgency or tempo.

There are positives though. We showed that we can up our game and our second-half performance/effort was much, much improved. We were a completely different side. As O'Neill said, we deserved at least a draw, all things considered. We ended with 57 per cent possession and 13 efforts on goal to their 6. We had 3 on target whilst their goal was their solitary effort on target. We had 5 corners to their 1. Poland admittedly sat back after they scored, but we showed good endeavour and intensity too in response. It's up to us to take advantage of opportunity and we did that. We made them look very ordinary and, although we failed to create anything seriously clear-cut, we really should have beaten them after such a dominant second-half. They were utterly non-creative themselves and I can't imagine too may Poles being pleased with their team's performance, even if it was an away match. Glik was talking us down in an interview before the game and bigging up Poland's supposed superiority; that certainly wasn't evident.

We'll beat Scotland at home if we play like we did in the second half tonight, so that is something from which comfort can be taken. We're fighting for third place now, but I think it's still a realistic possibility considering we showed we are capable of getting through the remainder of this group unbeaten. That was what I needed to see; intensity, dynamism and desire. The most depressing and frustrating thing under Trap was the complete lack of a plan B when ultra-conservative plan A clearly wasn't working, but O'Neill has proven that he can at least make the changes that are required or that he is at least prepared to try something different. He is flexible.

O'Neill did comment post-game that had we had a few more minutes, we might have won the game; perhaps another way of looking at it would be to say that had he brought Long on earlier, we mightn't have needed those extra few minutes. Long might have been able to do more damage had he been given the time to do so. Albeit late (and better that than never), the changes were very positive and made a huge difference nevertheless; I hope that inspires confidence in playing more positively in future, even if it does happen to be riskier. I think most supporters would prefer the latter though. The second-half was tense and refreshing; anything but mind-numbing. It would have been fun if it weren't for the fact we just couldn't get the ball in the bloody net for so long. The crowd responded with appreciation and it is that sort of adventure that will re-capture the public's imagination. I'm all for it!

Robbie simply wasn't in the game up front; not his fault being left alone up there like that, especially at this stage of his career. McCarthy was almost anonymous in the first-half too, but that was down to us by-passing midfield and being unable to string anything meaningful together. Walters and Whelan did what Walters and Whelan do. Coleman was more influential and daring in this game than in any game I've seen him play for us before. He should have done better with the stinging shot he skited wide but I think Robbie kind of put him off in front of the ball and that hindered his run-up; you'll have seen that Séamie stalled or hesitated ever so slightly in his approach which indicated that he couldn't have been 100 per cent focused on connecting cleanly with that ball. Just uncertainty really as to where Robbie was going. If they were club team-mates with a chemistry from weekly experience together, Robbie would have known to be well out of his way and that would have been in the back of the net. Hoolahan impressed me again throughout. McGeady was obviously lacking match-sharpness, although had he scored that chip, it would have been an absolute beauty; he made fools of two Polish defenders in the build-up and probably could have somehow contrived a penalty out of that had he been more cynical. I felt bad for him coming off. His body language said it all; he looked mentally beaten despite O'Neill's attempt to put an arm around him in consolation. At that point, my hope was nearing evaporation too.

Brady had a really poor game. I was surprised to see him start at left-back and had thought Wilson might play there with Clark getting the nod in the centre. He was very much at fault for their goal though and his dead-ball delivery was abysmal on numerous occasions. O'Shea looked eager to make himself as small as he possibly could when they scored. You'd like to see your defender trying to make himself big to block there, but I suspect he must have felt Given had the angle covered and was wary of a shot potentially taking a wicked deflection off him and going in. I don't think Wilson could have done much in the lead-up to their goal. He was put in a desperate situation; very stretched and over-run by two men. The finish was very precise though; couldn't have been placed better.

Our defence did OK otherwise; they weren't really challenged besides that and Given didn't have much to do all game. I was happy he started though and would feel more secure with him there in place of Forde, who would actually be my third-choice. Both subs did well and helped raise the game; McClean for his tenacity and directness and Long for his movement and swiftness of foot. I loved James' cruncher soon after he'd come on. He'd promised us that during the week and he duly delivered. Stuff like that really makes a difference psychologically both on and off the field; it helped bring the crowd into the game more and get them behind the team.

I thought the ref was pretty poor, blowing up for nonsense throughout. He was booking Ireland players all night for little, niggly b*llocks, yet the Pole who took Coleman clean out after a race for the ball in the first-half got away without a card. I think the ref also somehow gave a foul against a Walters struggling to stand with two men crawling all over him. At least we got 5 minutes of injury time for the faffing around, although we could have had another few minutes, to be honest.

[DannyInvincible]

MON has got out of Gaol again, this joker is a spent force.

Ridiculous comment. O'Neill is an intelligent, inspiring and honest manager who has a real respect for the players under him and who knows how to motivate them. That's not to mention his impressive record. There are certainly questions to be asked and things still to be proven, but to call him a "joker" and a "spent force" is just petty. Someone would nearly think you were bitter he wasn't selecting a certain centre-back!

And when something keeps happening over and over again, you can more likely put it down to design than chance.


Keane doesn't have the legs anymore from what I saw and he was even mentally off the pace, failing to anticipate anything.

He got an elbow on the head which left him in a lot of pain and then about 15 minutes later he looked really dazed again after having attempted a header but completely miscalculating. Surely he wasn't still feeling the effects of the elbow then, was he? Or did the ball clip him on the top/back of the head or something? I didn't see it closely.


It was huff and puff against a team who were a goal up, who stood back to hold on, who conceded most of the field and when finally we equalised, they even had the temerity to take possession of most of what little remained of the game.
I don't know why it's like this but we are competing for 3rd and 4th spot and atm we are in 4th spot.

What's your theory? Is it psychological? We don't have the bottle to hammer it home and do it convincingly? We play safe unless we really, really have to push for something more?

[SkStu]

Lovely review Danny..

[DannyInvincible]

Just re-watching Paszko's goal in tricky's video and I'm wondering could Wilson have just knocked the ball out for a corner instead of trying to drag it back and into his possession? I suppose it's easy to suggest that in hindsight. Defenders will always want to avoid giving away a corner and I don't think he was really expecting Peszko to be oncoming so quickly. Brady was sleeping even after he'd put Wilson in trouble in letting the eventual goalscorer get ahead of him; downright poor from him throughout the whole sequence, from beginning to end.

[CraftyToePoke]

Brady was sleeping even after he'd put Wilson in trouble in letting the eventual goalscorer get ahead of him; downright poor from him throughout the whole sequence, from beginning to end.

He was, yeah, complete absence of natural defensive instinct from him throughout that whole passage of play.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Uninspiring stuff...expect similar v.Alba.
And no chance of 2nd.place now.
:(

Too many posers in that team too?
Need to concentrate on the basics FFS

[OwlsFan]

Positives:

1) Yet another last minute goal. Without the three we've had, we'd be sitting on 4 points.
2) Second half performance, although I worry that it had more to do with Poland sitting back than us grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck but at least we dominated a half at home against a rival
3) We're still in the mix.
4) We got to the byline on numerous occasions.
5) Opposition had one shot on target (I think).
6) Fans got behind the team when given something to shout about.
7) Impact of McLean.
8) Poland are an average enough side like ourselves.

Negatives

1) One win against a main rival in a group at home in 12 years !
2) Two points dropped at home.
3) Bizarre selection of Given over Forde/Westwood - a keeper on form would have saved that goal. He almost got a foot to it.
4) Lack lustre first half.
5) Brady's two mistakes in first half almost cost two goals.
6) Constant over hitting of crosses.
7) A tired looking Robbie although he almost scored from a header and did work hard to close down their keeper resulting in a number of poor clearances.
8) Long balls by Given to a backline that towered over our forwards, Walters apart.
9) McCarthy anonymous for much of the game. The much maligned Whelan more effective.
10) Despite the dominance, only a few half chances created.

So we go to yet another "must win" game, this time against Scotland. History says we won't win this game but you know, despite all that, we will still go with the perennial optimism of the football fan that this time it will be different and....who knows.

[Stuttgart88]

did Keane nearly score that header? Despite hitting the post I never felt it had a chance of beating the keeper.

I don't think Given's selection was odd but I do think he should have saved it. It was as if he was positioned for a straight shot and wasn't ready for a straightforward dive to his right. That goal was avoidable on 3 counts.

I think Geysir was right. After we scored it was as if Poland went "balls" and nearly got through twice afterwards. Lewandowski wasn't far off connecting properly with that volley and they carved a back post opening that nearly gave me s heart attack watching.

I have a mix of feelings but overall we are still in it and a win over Scotland is now imperative.

[KK77]

Dunphy saying it was the first time since 2001 that we had beaten a team ranked higher than us in a qualifier, and Brady had to interrupt to tell him that we only drew was a funny one!

[Real ale Madrid]

Two things stand out for me at this point.

We are going to 100% need to get something from the last game against Poland - probably a win.

There is nothing Robbie Keane can do at International level that Shane Long can't do twice as good.

[the doc]

The facts are we got away with it again last night.

I see no progression under MON, last min goals are saving him from further critisicum.

In all honest, does anyone really think we've improved in the last year?

At least Mr Trapattoni had a set way of playing and for quite a long time it did us well.

I really can't see us progressing under MON.

Many will say that we don't have the players, that may be true to a certain extent, but we're not as bad as many make out.

Good organisation, players playing in a system that suits them and the team and we can at least have a chance.

I also feel that MON has too many assistant coaches and backroom staff, all chipping in, that's not ideal.
There were more sitting in the dug out than in the singing section last night!

For me MONs a spent force, even more so with out Johno Robbo alongside him.

Under Mr Trapattoni we'd be all but qualified by now.

Be careful what you wish for fellas!

Try and keep the FAI-th!

[shakermaker1982]

Niall Quinn on Sky was saying post match that Long needs to start with Walters. Keane can then have a 20 minute run out if we need a goal.

Shane Long has to start, not bothered who partners him but he needs a run in the team. Hoolahan also has to start.

McGeady was god awful.

McCarthy and Whelan were extremely limited. Any midfielder who passes the buck by repeatedly passing the ball backwards when under no pressure doesn't deserve a start at international level. Watch how many times Whelan kills the momentum of an attack by going backwards.

[Real ale Madrid]

Under Mr Trapattoni we'd be all but qualified by now.



Mr. O'Neill is a far better manager for us , ably assisted by Mr. Keane.

[harry crumb]

Hoolahan and Long should be the 1st names on the teamsheet.

Its been like this for the last 4/5 years. We are finally getting to that point. Pity time doesn't wait.

Long is now 28 and Hoolahan 33 in May.

Shocked to hear Long has 52 caps. How many of those did he actually start. Guessing around the 20 mark.

[shakermaker1982]

St Ledger

We were God awful in the first half but the 2nd half brought back a lot of good memories of how we can play. Don't be bitter because you aren't in the team anymore.

Our system under Trap involved hoofing it long, 8 men behind the ball and relying on Richard Dunne to take on Russia on his own.

[SwanVsDalton]

The facts are we got away with it again last night.

No. We deserved at least a point.


I see no progression under MON, last min goals are saving him from further critisicum.

In all honest, does anyone really think we've improved in the last year?

Yes. We consisently play with more of the ball than we ever did with Trapattoni, which is an improvement.


did Keane nearly score that header? Despite hitting the post I never felt it had a chance of beating the keeper.

I thought it was in from where I was sitting. Fabianski had to dive backwards and claw it off the line.


I don't think Given's selection was odd but I do think he should have saved it. It was as if he was positioned for a straight shot and wasn't ready for a straightforward dive to his right. That goal was avoidable on 3 counts.

I agreed with Given's selection - he would've been in my team. But it's only fair to point out he should've saved it. I'm pretty sure Westwood and Forde would have.

[Charlie Darwin]

Brady needs to stop reading foot.ie and do the job he's paid for. Clark will start ahead of Keogh, nothing surer. The McCarthy comments are second-rate and unfair, but presumably regurgitated from somebody else who pays as little attention as him.

edit: I realise I've gone out on a paul oshea on the Clark call but if I'm wrong I'll own up to it. But he will start because he's our best centre half right now. And he's left footed.
Ah well, at least I tried. I was half-right about Keogh at least.

I'm surprised by all the negativity. Yes, we needed a win and it's disappointing not to get it, and we did look blunt in attack even when we were battering them, but for the first time we showed an intent to play a more positive brand of football and, moreover, we got rewarded for it. We're fighting for third, realistically, but a play-off is better than nothing.

I knew Poland weren't the team people were building them up to be, but even so I was surprised by how bad they are. They play the sort of puke football Trap was blasted for, and they're a dishonest side. I'd fancy Scotland to do them at home because teams like Poland don't have the stomach or the heart when it's put up to them, and Scotland will be more prepared to exploit that than we were. I'd give us a shot of winning in Poland too.

Overall, Hoolahan had a mixed game but we're a different team when he's allowed to come into midfield and take the ball. It's the job McCarthy doesn't do enough of, but with somebody in there taking responsibility for the ball he and Whelan looked a lot more positive too. Brady had a tough night and was badly at fault for the goal, but he too showed character and a willingness to take responsibility. This 11, with maybe McClean and Long, deserves another chance.

[jbyrne]

I don't think Given's selection was odd but I do think he should have saved it. It was as if he was positioned for a straight shot and wasn't ready for a straightforward dive to his right. That goal was avoidable on 3 counts.


that's harsh on given. I thought the pole finish was superb. not much shay could have done in my opinion

[Olé Olé]

I'm hoping that last night demonstrated to MON that it we do need to drop Robbie for a home game i.e. the Scotland game in June. Long and Walters didn't fare that brilliantly in the away leg of that but I think they need another shot at it. Both can play as a central striker or on the right of a 4-2-3-1 so I think that system would suit them.

McGeady's rustiness and lack of game time showed last night. McClean's recent good club form also showed when he came in. That said, it was an ideal time to bring on McClean to use his power to drive at a tired Polish right-back.

Feel very sorry for Brady. The mistake was pretty emblematic of a winger playing at full-back i.e. he tried something but was in too dangerous an area to be trying it. I'm disappointed with it also because playing him there was a sign that we were willing to play attacking football so being punished for that willingness is a pity.

[SwanVsDalton]

Have been recovering my thoughts from last night - my overriding feeling is bitter disappointment. Ultimately, I think we had to win last night and yet again we couldn't get over the line. Now we're angling for a play-off and another must-win we'll struggle to win. I think we're shot for France. And I fancied our chances last night more than I do against Scotland.

It's all the more galling because I thought Poland showed themselves up for what they are - a desperately medicore team outside one or two and an absolutely cynical shower to boot. Haven't been so infuriated by an away team at Lansdowne Road since Isreal in '05. All we needed was Dudu Aouate to make the night complete...

The second half was a highlight of MON's tenure so far. But despite all our possession, I thought our attacking play was far too fractured and frantic. In fairness to Poland, they played no football but were plenty organised, forcing us wide or long.

On the selection - aside from Brady, O'Neill picked the team I would've went with. So guess I can't complain! Ultimately, it wasn't perfect but it did show a lot more initative than under Trap. It was far more adventurous and it was a team to win the game.

Ultimately, I also think players have to take some responsibility if things don't work after that. I think the manager did well. He picked a team to win, and changed it thoughout to up the pressure on the Poles.

I don't at all buy the 'if only Long was on earlier' theory - in eight minutes he scored, miscontrolled a pass and gave away a stupid foul. He may have had one other touch. I think someone else mentioned it (SkStu?) but the player who made the real big impact, who changed the flow of the game, was James McClean, who was excellent when he came on. Long took his goal well, but he didn't change the pattern of the play. He has made a big claim to start from now on, and that's very welcome.

Some quick player thoughts:

Given - Had one save to make, should've saved it. He would've been in my team, but my view is other keepers (including two sitting on our bench) would have made it. Only fair to point that out since the debate rages on over our keepers. I have no doubt he's our number one for the campaign now though. His distribution was a very mixed bag as well, he was surprisingly slow to get the ball forward at times. It's undoubtedly an upgrade from Forde though.

Coleman - Did well, couple of shaky moments defensively aside. Some great forward running. Should've hit the target with that shot. Don't care if Robbie was standing in front of him with his jocks down, he has to hit the target.

Brady - Didn't work did it? At fault for the goal, uncertain in defensive, didn't really get to overlap and generally poor set pieces. Which is why he was picked in the first place.

Wilson and O'Shea - Good news, Lewandowski and Milik were quiet. Plus they helped the whole team by squeezing up iin the second half. Wilson could've have been more decisive for the goal though.

Whelan and McCarthy - Thought Glenn Whelan was very impressive, in his usual unspectacular way. With McCarthy, helped the defensive keep Lewandowski et al on a short leash. Was rightly hooked when we were chasing a goal. McCarthy did some great things, but was still too passive at times. I think he could be a lot braver.

McGeady - Poor. Looks short on form and confidence.

Hoolahan - Good, but I'm not ready to annoint a new saviour just yet. Cleverest attacking player in the squad by a country mile. BUT he gave the ball away cheaply half-a-dozen times in the second half. I thought he looked knackered as well. But he has to play for that extra ability alone.

Walters - I thought he did well in the first half, faded in the second (he also looked wrecked by the end). Didn't have an easy task going up against three physical Poles at every turn. But the big problem with Walters last night was that he almost looks like he's from a completely different team. We play long balls to his head but no one gets close to him for flick-ons or second balls. The team doesn't play to that strength. He's there as an extra physical option (and also because we have a smallish team) but we don't even attempt to make that option work as a team. For that reason, I'd bench him from now on. Can't see it happening though.

Keane - Quiet. Nearly scored from a header. Typical Robbie performance. If we're not going to play a traditional centre forward partnership (which we still were not doing last night, despite going 442) then he's going to be useless for almost 90 minutes, yet potentially able to score at any moment - the dilemma continues.

McClean - Defines cult hero at this point.

Long - We want him to score and he did. Deserves to start next time.

[Stuttgart88]

5 yellows last night. Anyone missing Scotland game?

[Stuttgart88]

Doc, how many home games did Trap win? How many times did we come from behind? How many leads did we squander?

[pineapple stu]

I missed the game (stuck on a train); just saw the brief highlights on YouTube really.

Looks to me like Given was expecting a shot at the near post, and wasn't able to react quickly enough when it went the far post. He was hugely exposed by Brady, and I think it's understandable that he was preparing for a shot to one side. Decent finish from the Pole.

For Keane's header, I think he would have done better only another Irish player (is it Long?) gets in his way as he goes up to head. Means he can't really get enough power on it. Thought the Polish keeper had a straighforward save tbh; no need to let it hit the post.

Gem of an assist from Hoolahan.

A Polish mate texted that McShane could have been sent off with ten minutes to go for slapping an opponent?

Other than that, we're bottom of the four-team group this has now become. Not overly encouraging to be honest. June's game is the best chance to make up some ground; I think it's a must win alright.

Wikipedia's article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying_Group_D#Discipline) on the group doesn't note any suspensions for us after last night (and it does have Poland's Glik missing their next game after being booked last night)

[DannyInvincible]

I see no progression under MON, last min goals are saving him from further critisicum.

Probably because his teams have scored within the allotted time-frame. Last-minute goals are valid goals too, doc. You play for the full 90 minutes and O'Neill's teams certainly do that. You can surely appreciate that?


Good organisation, players playing in a system that suits them and the team and we can at least have a chance.

What system is that? Do you mean a return to the Trap days?


I also feel that MON has too many assistant coaches and backroom staff, all chipping in, that's not ideal.

Why not? Perhaps he feels it gives him a broader outlook or ensures he can consider other perspectives. That shows flexibility and an openness to other ideas; they can be virtues too. Does he really have that many more than your average international manager anyway? I'm not sure, but Trap had Tardelli and even Staunton had Bobby Robson.


Under Mr Trapattoni we'd be all but qualified by now.

How can you say that? What results would have been different for certain? Even if you replaced the loss in Glasgow with a draw, it certainly wouldn't have in an all-but-qualified position.

[SwanVsDalton]

A Polish mate texted that McShane could have been sent off with ten minutes to go for slapping an opponent?

Apparently McCarthy gave Mila a little dig. At the game, Mila went down like he'd been shot. I didn't see anything happen. The BBC text commentary says McCarthy slapped him though and should've went.

I care not a jot, the Poles were an absolute cynical shower the whole night. Pulling, tugging, pushing, tripping and generally souring my relationship with that great country.

EDIT - Vine of it here (http://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/vine-sebastian-mila-gets-touched-on-the-face-by-james-mccarthy-goes-down-like-hes-been-shot/19378), aye he could've been sent off (seen them given etc) but look at the absoute state of Mila going down like that...