Bosnia-Herzegovina V Ireland - Friday, 13th November 2015 Euro 2016 Play Off 1st Leg

[CraftyToePoke]

Easy to criticise McClean for the goal but I think it was Wilson who was out of position. Either way, it was a good goal from their point of view.

Do you think their goal as well demonstrated why MON went to such lengths in risking Ward at LB ? Because where McClean was standing made him redundant in tracking the run and also, cutting out the passing angle, maybe a specialist LB albeit a lesser player would have positioned himself instinctively better.

[DeLorean]

The Foggy Dew!

https://www.newstalk.com/content/000/images/000129/132875_54_news_hub_123223_328x250.jpg

[Stuttgart88]

I think a specialist LB would have covered the gap Wilson left when he was playing the role of a CB caught wide. It was McClean who got turned but Wilson who was caught in no man's land.

[Stuttgart88]

The Foggy Dew!

https://www.newstalk.com/content/000/images/000129/132875_54_news_hub_123223_328x250.jpg
It was like any mid-winter game at Dalyer in the 80s before bituminous coal was banned.

[Crosby87]

So what do you fine chaps think the lineup will be? Not what you want, what you think.

[harry crumb]

So what do you fine chaps think the lineup will be? Not what you want, what you think.

-----------------Randolph-----------------


Coleman-----O'Shea--------Clark-------Wilson


Hendrick-----Whelan------McCarthy------Brady

-------------Hoolahan----------

-------------Walters------------------

Nee

[gastric]

-----------------Randolph-----------------


Coleman-----O'Shea--------Clark-------Wilson


Hendrick-----Whelan------McCarthy------Brady

-------------Hoolahan----------

-------------Walters------------------

Nee

Yep would be very happy with that line up! Confident that this team can get a result at home against the Bosnians.

[TrapAPony]

I can never understand why Hendrick plays on the wing though. He is not a winger. I'd stick McClean there instead.

[backstothewall]

I can never understand why Hendrick plays on the wing though. He is not a winger. I'd stick McClean there instead.

McClean never impresses when he starts. It's odd. It's like he needs to watch 55 minutes to wind him up.

If Long is fit (big if?) I think It'll be back to the 4-1-2-1-2 (Diamond)

----------------- Randolph -----------------
-- Coleman -- Keogh -- Clark -- Brady --
-------------------- Whelan ----------------
--------- McCarthy --- Hendrick ----------
----------------- Hoolahan -----------------
--------------- Walters Long ---------------

Also. As an international manager, Martin O'Neill is starting to feel like a round peg. We've been through the initial bounce, then the inevitable bit of slippage, but I feel like he is really in the groove now.

[Bungle]

I'd keep the defence the way it is bar slotting brady back in at left back, but i wouldn't be opposed to jos at left back either. Keogh and Clark played well and deserve to keep their places. in such a case, it may allow Brady's technical ability to come to the fore more.

I like backtowallsall's team - we all know Whelan's faults but he does bring certain qualities to the team. Moving forward, i'd like to see other options come in, but his ability to stifle superior players could be essential in this game. I feel Wes is going to have a stormer if he is given the opportunities unlike the way Friday panned out.

The big thing is that we are proactive and take the game to them. I do think they have a goal in them so while we have to be sensible, sitting back for the 0-0 will do us no favours. It would play into Pjanic's hands and Dzeko is always capable of a goal as we saw on Friday.

I'm looking forward to seeing Walters up against that defence. Long may be a good impact sub if he isn't 100 percent to start.

[Fixer82]

I'd keep the defence the way it is bar slotting brady back in at left back, but i wouldn't be opposed to jos at left back either. Keogh and Clark played well and deserve to keep their places. in such a case, it may allow Brady's technical ability to come to the fore more.
.

I'd hate to see JOS at LB. he was never a good left or right back. Now on top of that he's too old. He'd get destroyed. I'd actually rather Clark and Keogh be out centre back than O'Shea.

[Stuttgart88]

I'd probably pick Keogh and O'Shea at CB and shift Clark to LB. There is a lack of conviction in that selection though. I'm in several minds. We really need someone like Greg Cunningham to step into that position and make himself undroppable. It's been a problem for us since Harte.

Speaking of which, were Harte and Kelly on Sunday Supplement today? I think they said last week they'd be the special guests.

[geysir]

It's not just a matter of who plays at LB but also employ a definite tactic to support the LB when there is a threat, not leave him isolated, otherwise the (dodgy or not) LB becomes a glaring target for any opposition.

[DeLorean]

I'd probably pick Keogh and O'Shea at CB and shift Clark to LB. There is a lack of conviction in that selection though.

I would go with this but with plenty of conviction, not because I'd trust it fully but because I think it would definitely be the best option we have, in light of the performances on Friday. Bosnia were at their most dangerous down the right so I really wouldn't see the sense in dropping Brady back there, especially after what he produced at the other end the other night. Clark is a solid, relatively mobile unit, they shouldn't get past him too easily. O'Shea and Keogh combined well for our best defensively display and result in years against Germany so it all pieces together well I think, as long as O'Shea is fully good to go.


Speaking of which, were Harte and Kelly on Sunday Supplement today? I think they said last week they'd be the special guests.

I heard McAteer and Kelly were on Goals on Sunday, that's the same thing, right? They were supposed to have been very funny but didn't see it myself.

[the doc]

I would go with this but with plenty of conviction, not because I'd trust it fully but because I think it would definitely be the best option we have, in light of the performances on Friday. Bosnia were at their most dangerous down the right so I really wouldn't see the sense in dropping Brady back there, especially after what he produced at the other end the other night. Clark is a solid, relatively mobile unit, they shouldn't get past him too easily. O'Shea and Keogh combined well for our best defensively display and result in years against Germany so it all pieces together well I think, as long as O'Shea is fully good to go.
.

Anyone who thinks Clark is a solid and relatively mobile unit, really doesn't know their footie.

Like Keogh, Clark is an accident waiting to happen.
Both will cost us games and that's my fear against Bosnia.

My heart says we will win but my head says a Bosnia win courtesy of a Clark or Keogh howler.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Blog on the trip for anyone interested. Great trip, really enjoyed it!

Forgive any typos, too wrecked to proof read now, will do it later!

http://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.ie/2015/11/mist-sarajevo_15.html

[elroy]

Listening to Dan McDonnell on newstalk, really respect this lad's views in comparison to someone like fanning or Dunphy.

Bloody nervous listening to it. Good points that the biggest thing learned from Friday is that Bosnia finished third for a reason, they certainly aren't anything to be feared, a fresh Walters should offer a more effective threat and that the prospect of long being fit to come on in last 20 mins is worrying Bosnia. Need to make the Aviva a difficult place to play rather than the friendly venue it has been far too often.

[DeLorean]

Anyone who thinks Clark is a solid and relatively mobile unit, really doesn't know their footie.

Solid unit as in strong and sturdy, not infallible. I mean he's unlikely to be taken to the cleaners the way Ward was and he'd be more defensively minded than Brady. Are you saying he's slow? Not something I've noticed but I'm willing to bow to your superior footie knowledge :)

What back four would you go with yourself Doctor?

[Closed Account]

Anyone who thinks Clark is a solid and relatively mobile unit, really doesn't know their footie.

Like Keogh, Clark is an accident waiting to happen.
Both will cost us games and that's my fear against Bosnia.

My heart says we will win but my head says a Bosnia win courtesy of a Clark or Keogh howler.
I know my footie...
http://img.rasset.ie/000b5c4e-642.jpg

[third policeman]

Solid unit as in strong and sturdy, not infallible. I mean he's unlikely to be taken to the cleaners the way Ward was and he'd be more defensively minded than Brady. Are you saying he's slow? Not something I've noticed but I'm willing to bow to your superior footie knowledge :)

What back four would you go with yourself Doctor?


Historically some of our best fullback combinations have involved players not playing on their favoured / natural side. Irwin and Hughton both played LB and RB at different times when needed. I am not saying Christie is ar that level, but he is a full back who knows how to defend and has done well when picked.

[DeLorean]

True. Is it a bigger ask for a left sided centre back to play left back or a right back to play left back! Irwin was exceptionally comfortable on his left side though, I wouldn't think Christie is at all from what I've seen. Even his smartly taken goal against Gibraltar was crying out for a left footed strike, not that I was complaining.

[swinfordfc]

I play O'Shea there tomorrow night - left back - he play there before

[Stuttgart88]

I think in the history of foot.ie nothing has attracted more consistent criticism than O'Shea's performances at left back. Personally I don't think this criticism was fair mind you.

[DeLorean]

Jesus he was there often enough for Man Utd teams winning title after title and contending for the CL. I'd still put him in the middle though, older legs and wiser heads are more suited to centre back.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think in the history of foot.ie nothing has attracted more consistent criticism than O'Shea's performances at left back. Personally I don't think this criticism was fair mind you.
I'd say his RB and CB performances came close. Before Glenn Whelan came along, O'Shea was the foot.ie-appointed "worst player ever to play for Ireland".

[tricky_colour]

McClean never impresses when he starts. It's odd. It's like he needs to watch 55 minutes to wind him up.

If Long is fit (big if?) I think It'll be back to the 4-1-2-1-2 (Diamond)

----------------- Randolph -----------------
-- Coleman -- Keogh -- Clark -- Brady --
-------------------- Whelan ----------------
--------- McCarthy --- Hendrick ----------
----------------- Hoolahan -----------------
--------------- Walters Long ---------------

Also. As an international manager, Martin O'Neill is starting to feel like a round peg. We've been through the initial bounce, then the inevitable bit of slippage, but I feel like he is really in the groove now.


I'd say he has to conserve his energy if he starts, you can't go full pelt for 90 minutes, indeed he might have been tiring for the equaliser?

[DannyInvincible]

Good result in hindsight considering the circumstances (injuries and suspensions) and also in light of getting an away goal, but disappointing to have conceded so soon after we scored. Makes the second leg a lot more nervy now, but 1-1 is a result I'd definitely have taken if I'd been offered it before hand.

Hard to judge the specific details of the game though really. Couldn't even see the second half so was just so difficult to follow. We seemed to nullify Bosnia and made them look fairly limited for most of the game. They seemed nervous, or just not as good as we had anticipated. Begovic is in poor form as well, or, again, perhaps just not actually the top keeper he's purported to be. His confidence seems low of late. That was a huge gap he left at the near post for Brady to beat him and he's very prone to dropping balls. Conceded a goal that way against Cyprus last month and if we, or Keogh even, had been more alert to the possibility of a fumble with Brady's first-half free-kick into the box, we might have been able to take advantage.

Great goal from Brady. Really was a case of taking what was our only significant chance. The rest of the Bosnian defence and midfield were lost in the fog - they appeared to have left gaping space at the back - and I'm not quite sure how Brady actually got the ball into (or received it in) such a position, but fair play for being clinical and taking advantage.

The goal we conceded was poor. Concentration probably drifted slightly after the goal and a few players could have done better. Randolph certainly not the primary culprit, but was he slow to react? If his anticipation had been better, maybe he could have spread himself across the goal in hope of pre-empting a highly likely shot on target? Maybe that's harsh in hindsight - there was no certainty a shot would come, nor was there any way of knowing where it would be directed - but just a consideration. Very pleased with Randolph though nevertheless. Composed, quick-footed and confident. Good kicking too. I feel much safer with him behind the defence than I would with, say, Given or Forde, neither of whom I think are as agile.

Ref did well I thought. Let play flow and wasn't blowing up for silly stuff over which other more whistle-happy refs seem to obsess.

0-0 will do tomorrow. Indeed, we beat them 1-0 last time we played them in Dublin. And let's not forget Walters is back. Ninety minutes of this should do the trick then!:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CT4SGlBWIAA-cnV.png

[the doc]

I'd say his RB and CB performances came close. Before Glenn Whelan came along, O'Shea was the foot.ie-appointed "worst player ever to play for Ireland".

Don't get all the criticism of Josh, he's a good lad.

"From the Rocky Road to Dublin to Rocky Mountain high..."

[DeLorean]

You gonna bother answering my questions oh footie master?

[zero]

a quite harsh preview from ed leahy on rte:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/1116/742171-preview-ireland-v-bosnia-herzegovina/

[CityBoy]

Unlikely - but any tickets floating around for tonights game?

[jbyrne]

Unlikely - but any tickets floating around for tonights game?

one or two popped up on ticketmaster over the weekend I understand but mostly premium tickets.
I think you will probably pick up a ticket before the match if you are willing to head in early enough

[Kingdom]

my eyesight is failing me so I literally could not see anything in the second half, so no praise or criticism here.

First half I thought we did quite well, I'd have it as the best competitive away performance I've seen under O'Neill. Sure we surrendered possession easily at times but I felt there was a plan there to try and nullify Bosnia, and it worked largely.

They were disappointing, very disappointing. With hindsight, maybe that performance shouldn't have been a surprise: after all, considering where they were in the group, they needed to be relatively gung-ho against Wales et al, just to make the play-offs, and having got there, it would be stupid to undo all that work at home in the first leg. The pressure is off them now so to speak. They know they have to score, and I've felt they were going to score in both legs, so not a lot has changed. This is going to be interesting watching O'Neill. He has (in my opinion) coughed up one opportunity to qualify already by setting up the team incorrectly.

Does he play for the draw, does he try to kill the tie (are we good enough to kill the tie?)? With Walters to come straight back into the side at Murphy's expense, I;d nearly have a look at Walters and Robbie up top, particularly if Hoolahan can't start.

Finally, with Cunningham released - our only active left-back btw - I would still retain Ward at left back - despite the roasting he appeared to be getting. JOSH is not a full back, he's a centre back; Clark is not a full-back, he's a centre-back; Wilson is not a full-back, he's a c....ome back to me on that one. Brady does his best work for us midfield up. Could the Virus play left-back? Possibly. In that light, I'd stick with Ward. He was solid against Germany. If it's going pear-shaped then hook him at h/t. If Josh is fit then I'd start him with Clark.

Randolph

Coleman, Josh, Clark, Ward

McCarthy

Hendrick Arter Brady

Walters Keane

[jbyrne]

Finally, with Cunningham released - our only active left-back btw - I would still retain Ward at left back - despite the roasting he appeared to be getting. JOSH is not a full back, he's a centre back; Clark is not a full-back, he's a centre-back; Wilson is not a full-back, he's a c....ome back to me on that one. Brady does his best work for us midfield up. Could the Virus play left-back? Possibly. In that light, I'd stick with Ward. He was solid against Germany. If it's going pear-shaped then hook him at h/t. If Josh is fit then I'd start him with Clark.

Randolph

Coleman, Josh, Clark, Ward

McCarthy

Hendrick Arter Brady

Walters Keane

Keogh deserves to start ahead of clark. what does Keogh have to do to get his good form for us recognised?

[Kingdom]

Left-footed.

[OwlsFan]

I;d nearly have a look at Walters and Robbie up top, particularly if Hoolahan can't start.


Is he injured :O ?

Brady needs to get his dead ball game back in to gear. He was terrible in Poland and not much better against the Benson and Hedges.

Starting to get nervous already.

[geysir]

a quite harsh preview from ed leahy on rte:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/1116/742171-preview-ireland-v-bosnia-herzegovina/
I thought it was a good article with some harsh truths but overall he's shading towards positivity about our chances.
Some points I perceive from it.
Under previous criteria we would be out of contention, let's not get carried away.
We are not as good defensively set up as we might think.
Also we need to shore up our whole approach to how we as a team defend our left flank, as merely changing Wilson for Ward did not plug the hole and added a different weakness to the situation.
Brady's day seen as a lb option are thankfully over.
We have the home crowd hopefully at full throttle.
He offers an attack centric formation
"Brady in behind Long and let McClean bomb forward on the left with Walters coming in from the right to support the striker and put real pressure on a suspect central defensive partnership."

I really don't know about Long's fitness, if he plays or if he doesn't play obviously affects how we are going to be set up, but if he doesn't then I'd have Walters up close and personal in that box.

[Charlie Darwin]

Unlikely - but any tickets floating around for tonights game?
Bosnia returned some tickets which will go on sale at 3pm (10 minutes time).

[Straightstory]

I'd say his RB and CB performances came close. Before Glenn Whelan came along, O'Shea was the foot.ie-appointed "worst player ever to play for Ireland". Overtaken by McCarthy at this stage, I'd say. Utterly useless.

[Charlie Darwin]

They were disappointing, very disappointing.
I wasn't disappointed in the least.

Agree about Ward, he's our only proper left back and the same people who want Wilson in the team will be the same ones complaining we have no attacking threat down that side.

[jbyrne]

I'd say his RB and CB performances came close. Before Glenn Whelan came along, O'Shea was the foot.ie-appointed "worst player ever to play for Ireland".

and before that 110 capped kilbane.
a lad I used to go to all the matches with used to give out yards about o'shea and then blamed us not hanging on in Paris 09 on o'shea going off injured!!

[the doc]

Keogh deserves to start ahead of clark. what does Keogh have to do to get his good form for us recognised?

Stop making mistakes, truly dreadful player!

[jbyrne]

Stop making mistakes, truly dreadful player!

I think his performances would suggest otherwise. MOTM performances away to both Scotland and Bosnia and a clean sheet against the word champions for starters

[TrapAPony]

I think there will be 2 changes. Walters & Wilson for Murphy & Ward. I'd be happy enough with that too. Don't think Long & O'Shea will be fit enough to start.

[Closed Account]

I think his performances would suggest otherwise. MOTM performances away to both Scotland and Bosnia and a clean sheet against the word champions for starters

Pffft, do you even know your footie? Jk lol, brb haterz

On a seperate note, what has Stephen Ward done so wrong that everyone wants him dropped?

[shakermaker1982]

It's really difficult to pick the starting line up tonight. Does Walters go up top or on the right?

Will he stick with Hoolahan? (Hope so).

Who does he put at LB? Not a big fan of Wilson at LB but Ward did struggle big time on Friday.

What time will be hear the team? 7pm'ish?

Really hope we get a goal early on to settle the nerves.

[Olé Olé]

I think there will be 2 changes. Walters & Wilson for Murphy & Ward. I'd be happy enough with that too. Don't think Long & O'Shea will be fit enough to start.

That's what I'm hoping for too. Walters is nailed on to come in for Murphy. It makes sense to put Wilson at left back and I hope he does.

Would fancy a goal from us with Walters, Brady, Hendrick and Wes in attack.

I think having Walters up front on his own is preferable to how we would line up if we started both Walters and Long. I don't think MON would keep the 4-2-3-1 if he played Walters and Long (could easily have one of them on the right but don't think he would). I think it'd go back to 4-4-2 and Wes or Hendrick would be on the wing with the other dropped.

[shakermaker1982]

Brady at LB

Walters and Murphy.

Who plays left wing?!

[nigel-harps1954]

---------------Randolph----------------

---Coleman--Keogh--Clark--Brady---

----Hendrick--Whelan--McCarthy----

-----Walters--Murphy--Hoolahan-----

[Colbert Report]

I'd say McGeady if we were chasing a goal.

I'd love it if Trap would manage us just for this one match. We'd be guaranteed the 0-0 we need.

Ward simply can't start at LB. He's the new Paul McShane.