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

[Colbert Report]

Given
Coleman-O'Shea-Wilson-----Brady
Walters-Whelan-McCarthy-McGeady
---------- Hoolahan-------------------
------------ Keane---------------------

Extremely attacking line up. I like it. Anything but three points today and we're out

[SkStu]

Bizarre selection. Brady as an out and out LB scares me.

We are set up to switch easily to 3-5-2 though, should it be needed.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Forde was in a relegation battle last season and the 2012/2013 season with Millwall, so why is he being shafted now? If it didn't affect him then, it wouldn't affect him now. He hasn't put a foot wrong for Ireland.

Given has failed to win back the goalkeeper's gloves at Aston Villa so this shouldn't even be an argument.

Are we just supposed to forget his dodgy performances before, during and after Euro 2012?

Even in the cup games for Villa, for every good game he has where he makes loads of flashy saves, he has a bad game where he makes several gaffes.

Annoyed about this completely unnecessary change.

[p2011]

4-2-3-1 i'd call it. McGeady and Walters wide, Hoolahan as the no. 10 behind keane. Hoolahan is a positive, hoolahan supplying keane might bring some joy,, and Brady, Wilson add natural talent on the ball.

@towk: For what it's worth, long for keane is a substitution that's very very likely.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

@ stu: PM him and find out. This is the match thread.






:p

[SkStu]

Given
Coleman-O'Shea-Wilson-----Brady
Walters-Whelan-McCarthy-McGeady
---------- Hoolahan-------------------
------------ Keane---------------------

Extremely attacking line up. I like it. Anything but three points today and we're out


4-2-3-1 i'd call it. McGeady and Walters wide, Hoolahan as the no. 10 behind keane. Hoolahan is a positive, hoolahan supplying keane might bring some joy,, and Brady, Wilson add natural talent on the ball.

@towk: For what it's worth, long for keane is a substitution that's very very likely.

Ok, ok...I'm buying this...

[mark12345]

Forde was in a relegation battle last season and the 2012/2013 season with Millwall, so why is he being shafted now? If it didn't affect him then, it wouldn't affect him now. He hasn't put a foot wrong for Ireland.

Given has failed to win back the goalkeeper's gloves at Aston Villa so this shouldn't even be an argument.

Are we just supposed to forget his dodgy performances before, during and after Euro 2012?

Even in the cup games for Villa, for every good game he has where he makes loads of flashy saves, he has a bad game where he makes several gaffes.

Annoyed about this completely unnecessary change.

I would think MON is looking at Given's experience as a whole, keeping in mind the magnimity of the game. Nothing to choose between them and slightly harsh on Forde, although there is the confidence factor also. When you see the ball continually bulging the net behind you which has happened to Forde lately, it has got to affect his confidence slightly. Other than that I am hopeful we can take the game to them with this line up. Fingers crossed.

[mark12345]

Bizarre selection. Brady as an out and out LB scares me.

We are set up to switch easily to 3-5-2 though, should it be needed.

If you're scared by Brady as LB, then you must be terrified by Ward. At least Brady can get on the ball and turn a defensive situation into an attacking one.

[Colbert Report]

MON is definitely rolling the dice here, especially with the GK and LB selections......Dunphy et al have been crying out for Hoolahan for years now, will be interesting to see what they'll say if we get trounced 3-0.

[Colbert Report]

I would have thought Wilson would have played at LB instead of Ward or Brady.

[tricky_colour]

Bizarre selection. Brady as an out and out LB scares me.

We are set up to switch easily to 3-5-2 though, should it be needed.

It is "optimistic"!!!!

Things could go badly wrong!!!

[Fergie's Son]

Given makes no sense to me at all. Otherwise a fairly attacking, if limited, team.

[SkStu]

If you're scared by Brady as LB, then you must be terrified by Ward. At least Brady can get on the ball and turn a defensive situation into an attacking one.

I think that's far more likely if deployed as a wing back. As part of a rigid back 4, it's a big gamble imo.

[TrapAPony]

Happy Given is starting. Forde was weak enough for me. I like the look of this team. Hoping we get the 3 points.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Brady shackled Sterling well earlier this season. He's up to it.

[Crosby87]

Polish players walked in backwards to try to trick us.

[CraftyToePoke]

Anyone got a decent stream lads?

[shakermaker1982]

Keane looks isolated already

[tricky_colour]

is this on RTE?
I want to watch via a proxy thing VPN, or is it only on a pay channel????

Help?

I do have a decent stream anyway, so no need to panic :)

[tricky_colour]

Anyone got a decent stream lads?

http://www.eplsite.com/stream23.html with chat/abuse box!!!

[shakermaker1982]

and that's why wingers don't make good full backs

[SkStu]

Exactly.

[tricky_colour]

disaster.

managered to get the RTE live stream though, I missed the goal in the process but seen reply.
was always worried about RB at left back

[tricky_colour]

Now I can watch the defeat in HD!! :rolleyes:

[tricky_colour]

and that's why wingers don't make good full backs

looks good on paper to have so many attacking players, but we has seen the problem with that

[Colbert Report]

As poorly as we've been playing, it makes me wonder how different things might have been if Trap had given Hoolahan a run.......he's been our best player by a mile in my opinion.

[shakermaker1982]

Poor.

Too many 'big' names have gone missing, again.

Leaving Keane up top on his own is just stupid. If you want to play him then give him a strike partner. If you want 1 up top then you use Long.

[SkStu]

That was quite shocking. I thought we'd ride the Polish wave for the first 15 mins and grow into the game but we stayed flat and useless. That's as bad as anything Trap served up (and I fckin HATE Trap). Must get better, must win game.

[shakermaker1982]

Why are we sitting off teams at home? In a must win game.

[Fergie's Son]

Showed a bit more effort and vision in the last 15 minutes but we really don't seem to have any actual plan for scoring. Once we get near their goal, we freeze.

[tricky_colour]

Brady has been pretty poor, two poor free kicks at least and there is the goal of course.

leaves us in an awkward spot, i mean you could have brough him on as a sub, not now really.

Only an Arter hattrick can save us.

[TrapAPony]

Midfield are hiding but what is new with that. Very nervy performance.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Keane back on the pitch despite offering absolutely nothing again.

Long & McClean remain on the bench.

[tricky_colour]

ref is bad, polish are cheats

[tricky_colour]

ocscar nomination for robbie!!

[tricky_colour]

ref is a cheat

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Poland getting every single 50/50 decision and we are supposedly at home. Good man Walters. Get Long on and Keane off FFS.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Keane is a yard off the pace whenever the ball comes anywhere near him. Why is he still on?

[shakermaker1982]

Can't believe McGeady lasted to 67 minutes

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

How many touches and passes has Keane completed in this match?

It's criminal that Long is still on the bench.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Again, why on Earth is Keane still on?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Keane & Walters not reaching straightforward headers. Need Long up there.

[Fergie's Son]

Ugh. Should have put that on target Seamus. Keane still on the pitch as Whelan makes way for Long...ok....

[SkStu]

There better be at least 7 mins added time here. Way better second half.

[Fergie's Son]

Time wasting by the Poles.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He should have ****ing started.

[tricky_colour]

still time to win it!!

[abcd]

Good fightback in the 2nd half but in all honesty we got it tactically wrong and its a bad result in the context of our chances of qualification.

[SkStu]

Brilliant second half showing. Probably deserved three points actually.definitely needed three. All must win games from here.

[the doc]

Great 2nd half by the lads, why the Poles sat back was strange.

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

Long should of been on earlier.

Result just prolongs the agony