Republic of Ireland V Switzerland 25th March & Slovakia 29th March 2016 - Friendlies

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

No plans to call up striker. No excuse not to play Hoolahan or Judge behind Long. If Long picks up a knock, what will be learned from playing a patchwork team with several players playing out of position? Won't be able to learn anything about different formations and shapes because the players simply won't be there to fulfil it! And the ones who are there will be forced to make up the numbers elsewhere!

I get what Stutts is saying about Doyle & Sheridan et al. - I wouldn't have them pushing for a place in the summer either - but it's not about them. It's about the bigger picture. And one year ago nobody would have given Hayes a hope of getting a call up. This time two years ago nobody would have given Judge hope of a call up.

Anyways. I'll shut up about it now.

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/ireland-martin-o-neill-euro-2016-aiden-mcgeady/71638


O’Neill has insisted that places are available but those who come in will have to work hard. Alan Judge’s experience on Friday suggests it will be a struggle. Judge was selected to play a selfless role on Friday. At half-time, Roy Keane told Judge that this wasn’t a night when Ireland were going to have possession and it was time for other qualities.

“He said, ‘This is how you show that the manager can trust you off the ball’. Hopefully I did that tonight,” Judge said later.


Good to know the priorities are right. We have to see what he can do when the ball is sailing over his head, not what he can actually do with it.

[SkStu]

Of course! Did you not see what I was asked?

Woah, woah, woah! You are the one who talked about a flawless friendly. I was merely (and genuinely) wondering what that would look like given the variety of positives we could take from Friday's game. I agree that the performance doesnt make us contenders for the Euro Cup but I also think that in terms of what you want from a friendly, it ticked pretty much every box.

[Murph 1]

Agree with the comments in relation to O Neill/Keane calling up a replacement or two given the injuries to Keane, Doyle, Murphy and Walters. Father time waits for no one and given the age profile of those not available the thorny issue of finding replacements has to be addressed, The likes of Leon Best, Anthony Pilkington, Paddy Madden and Joe Mason should be given serious consideration. The Euro's are not the issue here, it's more about the next Qualifying campaign in terms of Striker options.

[geysir]

I'd go for more negatives than positives out of that game. The main negative is with O'Neill's managing of the game. And the manager has the greatest effect on the way we're set up. And the way we were set up was bog standard, tactically we are the crudest team at the Finals.
There was little reading of how the game was developing and bringing on Murphy was just something from the dark ages. And I do not go for the argument that we have such technically inferior players, that we can't play somebody in midfield who has a football brain.

I'd say the Swiss were moaning about how impotent they were up front, both with creating chances and taking what chances they did make.

[Stuttgart88]

Agree with the comments in relation to O Neill/Keane calling up a replacement or two given the injuries to Keane, Doyle, Murphy and Walters. Father time waits for no one and given the age profile of those not available the thorny issue of finding replacements has to be addressed, The likes of Leon Best, Anthony Pilkington, Paddy Madden and Joe Mason should be given serious consideration. The Euro's are not the issue here, it's more about the next Qualifying campaign in terms of Striker options.pilkington was in the squad but was withdrawn with injury.

[Murph 1]

Thanks Stuggart88, Had been of the understanding that Pilkington was sent back to Cardiff before the Swiss game for treatment , The hope was that he would return to make himself available for Tuesdays game. Has been impressive since being moved into a striking role for his club and would be an option upfront given the lack of options.

[Stuttgart88]

Yeah, nearly everything svd says is correct but it was hardly a flawless friendly experience.yes, but the remark was in response to a complaint that none of our fringe forwards got a look in. Context is everything.

Me? I thought the oerfirmance was good in parts. Central midfield was poor, defenders and keeper played well, forwards looked lively and wide players mucked in well due to the circumstances. We didn't control the game but looked better when we changed things with better players coming on, notably Wes.

[DeLorean]

Woah, woah, woah! You are the one who talked about a flawless friendly. I was merely (and genuinely) wondering what that would look like given the variety of positives we could take from Friday's game. I agree that the performance doesnt make us contenders for the Euro Cup but I also think that in terms of what you want from a friendly, it ticked pretty much every box.

Nothing wrong with your question at all. You seem to have picked up my wording to svd as "do you see what this crazy ass SkStu has had the cheek to ask me', when really I meant," hey svd, I was asked what a flawless display would consist of, so I responded accordingly. Please don't accuse me of looking for the moon on a stick because of it". :) I only spoke of a 'flawless friendly' in response to svd's 'jackpot friendly' evaluation.

[DeLorean]

yes, but the remark was in response to a complaint that none of our fringe forwards got a look in. Context is everything.

Oh right, although I kind of knew that was the context, but I think svd meant it was a pretty perfect outing, all things considered, regardless of context. If I'm wrong fair enough. Wouldn't be the first time.

[SwanVsDalton]

Oh right, although I kind of knew that was the context, but I think svd meant it was a pretty perfect outing, all things considered, regardless of context. If I'm wrong fair enough. Wouldn't be the first time.

Not really, just flippantly relative to the often horror show that is international friendlies. I said it was 'pretty pleasing'.

Team for Tuesday, anyone?

---------------Elliott-------------
Christie---Duffy--Keogh---Ward

-------------O'Kane------------
-------McCarthy---Judge---

Brady---------Long-------McClean

Case for playing Brady in midfield but I'd like to give Judge a go in behind Long, and have another look at Eunan O'Kane too (though I suspect Whelan will play). Would like to see more of Duffy too.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Is Pilkington available tomorrow? I'm getting mixed messages over that.

If he is, I would be fully supportive of giving him some game time up front to see if he can replicate what he has been doing for Cardiff.

Should definitely get some game time anyway. He was fantastic attacking with Long against Italy.

McClean should be getting game time in his natural position.

[SkStu]

Independent article I read earlier said he is an option. Didn't comment at all on the fact that he went back to his club last week so wasn't sure if the writer knew or not.

[Charlie Darwin]

Independent article I read earlier said he is an option. Didn't comment at all on the fact that he went back to his club last week so wasn't sure if the writer knew or not.
Times said it as well. Presume that means O'Neill mentioned him in passing but there wasn't a full quote.

[DeLorean]

I saw pictures of him training with the rest of the squad today.

[Olé Olé]

Not really, just flippantly relative to the often horror show that is international friendlies. I said it was 'pretty pleasing'.

Team for Tuesday, anyone?

---------------Elliott-------------
Christie---Duffy--Keogh---Ward

-------------O'Kane------------
-------McCarthy---Judge---

Brady---------Long-------McClean

Case for playing Brady in midfield but I'd like to give Judge a go in behind Long, and have another look at Eunan O'Kane too (though I suspect Whelan will play). Would like to see more of Duffy too.

I agree regarding O'Kane. Worth a look again. Showed great energy the last night. My only fear for him would be that MON, like Eddie Howe, has him below Arter in his thoughts. I think Arter's form in the PL is being taken into consideration in a way that, say, McClean's wasn't for Euro 2012. Not saying they're that similar as players but it's a numbers game at this point given that McCarthy, Whelan, Hendrick and Hoolahan are the four certainties in and around the middle.

I wouldn't mind seeing Doherty too but I think Christie has earned himself the second choice RB spot and can also fill in at LB which is similar to Doherty so he loses out there.

Definitely want to see Judge at 10. Hoolahan's inability to play the two Poland games on the bounce must be considered because the three group games come quite thick and fast and we might need another option in the creative midfield role, given that we don't look as good without a creative midfielder in terms of ball retention etc.

I think O'Shea is going to get some time. I have a notion MON actually stated it. Might need a start too. Duffy would nearly be better off not playing at all and having his towering performance Friday night as the main factor in MON's thoughts when he goes about considering if he can bring Duffy. I think he might be able to. Perhaps at Wilson's expense, depending on if Wilson is fit and getting games. Coleman, Christie, Clark, O'Shea, Keogh and Ward have all featured a lot under MON so I think they'll all go (Brady too). He's not completely reliant on Wilson's ability to play LB and CB because we have 4 options for LB (in order, probably: Brady, Ward, Christie, Clark). Wilson has played a lot under MON too so it might be a case that it's unfair not to bring him and Duffy's own post-match comments are the reality. In which case, all going well and on the basis of Friday and his season at Blackburn, he's playing in the PL next season and he's starting the first round of qualifiers for the World Cup.

[SkStu]

As good a place as any. Congrats to Northern Ireland on 10 consecutive wins. That's a fantastic achievement.

[DeLorean]

I wouldn't mind seeing Doherty too but I think Christie has earned himself the second choice RB spot and can also fill in at LB which is similar to Doherty so he loses out there.

I've never heard of Christie playing left back I don't think?

[DeLorean]

As good a place as any. Congrats to Northern Ireland on 10 consecutive wins. That's a fantastic achievement.

Think it's ten games unbeaten isn't it?

[paul_oshea]

Ya sure they drew against Wales on Saturday.

[SkStu]

Yep sorry, got a bit carried away. Still quite the achievement.

[Stuttgart88]

Is Pilkington available tomorrow? I'm getting mixed messages over that.

If he is, I would be fully supportive of giving him some game time up front to see if he can replicate what he has been doing for Cardiff.

Should definitely get some game time anyway. He was fantastic attacking with Long against Italy.

McClean should be getting game time in his natural position.Indo says Pilkington is fit for tonight.

[paul_oshea]

I don't know what the racial bit is about but I thought the opposite about his speed getting out. There was one chance in the first half where Embolo bumbled his way past Duffy for once and Randolph was out very quick to make sure he couldn't get a shot on.

Is this another variation of your "waiting to happen" argument? He hasn't make a mistake yet but he looks like the kind of guy who will one day make a mistake?

The coleman thing is no longer an issue because he seems to have removed that Gaelic football tugging from his game. At least i hope he has as I havent seen him do it in a long time. Players can change/adapt and therefore opinions can too.

Perhaps its a communication issue with the players and Randolph, we can give the benefit of the doubt perhaps Randolph is one of those who needs to be told rather than proactively runs out to cover the ball, and if thats the case then we could put it down to unfamiliarity amongst the defenders and keeper. I am not so sure, but the jurys out on that one.

I also felt like my Dear Bonnie, that although we never had much possession we never looked like conceding at the same time, probably because the swiss were so impotent at the head of the attack :D They badly need a striker up there who can score goals. Having said that i think we still looked relatively comfortable and never felt like that with Trap really(trap reference only because this was how we also played under Trap). We also looked a lot more capable of scoring in this game even with the limited possession we had.

I think because of the results at the moment we are excusing MON to an extent with his formations, I was more critical of this earlier on but if he keeps getting the results or "lucky" as some have said then I am happy to accept it. When the results start changing then it will be a lot more heavily scrutinised - and rightly so.

Hopefully we get a win tonight. And i also hope Doyle gets on the plane, he offers something different to the other 3 forwards we have, and i think technically has more about him, which is something Kilbane said the last night too.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Doyle did enough in 20 mins on Friday to book his spot. He still has that bit of class that others lack.

Friday was a game we might have won 2-0 (Long's header and O'Kane's late chance maybe) or lost 3-1. The Swiss had a few good chances from 18-22 yards and one header from a corner that didn't miss by much. On a bad day they go in and it looks like a hammering.

Keep things tight & nick goals from set-pieces seems to be the O'Neill way, just as it was when Celtic did well in Europe. If we can find a way of adding a bit more purposeful possession, via Wes most realistically, then we'll be in a decent place.

[DeLorean]

The Examiner - Injury woes will force Martin O’Neill to mix and match (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/injury-woes-will-force-martin-oneill-to-mix-and-match-389923.html)

O'Neill has said that Hayes and O'Kane will possibly play and that Hoolahan will probably start. Liam Mackey indicated that Clark won't play tonight and we already know that Elliot will start. McClean up front seems to be a genuine option in his mind also. Something like this maybe? (possibly more of a 4-3-3 than 4-4-1-1 given the personnel).


-------------------- Elliot ------------------

Christie - Duffy - Keogh - Doherty/Ward

- McCarthy - Whelan - O'Kane - Hayes -

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

------------------- McClean ---------------

[DeLorean]

Yep sorry, got a bit carried away. Still quite the achievement.

Yeah, their best ever run, fair play to them.

Trap went 14 without defeat between 2011-2012, before we imploded in style in Poland. We didn't even concede a goal in the first eight of those. What's our record run without defeat I wonder? We'd have put fairly decent runs together under Charlton and McCarthy for sure, although that late concession in Tehran kind of messed up McCarthy's most successful campaign, for these purposes anyway.

Edit - it was under Charlton, (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/football-statistics/irish-soccer-records.htm) 16 games over three years between 1990 and 1993. Amazing to think we very nearly missed out on qualification to both tournaments in that time, wasn't much room for error.


For a three year period in the early 1990's, while Jack Charlton (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-soccer-managers/jack-charlton-appointment.htm) was manager of the Republic of Ireland (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-soccer-managers/index.htm), the team created a record by going three years without a loss. Beginning with a 5-0 Lansdowne Road (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/football-grounds/lansdowne-road.htm) victory over Turkey on 17 October 1990 Ireland went unbeaten for 16 football matches. The unbeaten sequence for the Irish ended on 13 October 1993 when Spain beat Ireland 1-3, also at Lansdowne Road (now the Aviva Stadium (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/football-grounds/aviva-stadium.htm)).

This record without a loss included six Euro 1992 qualifiers (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-qualifying-campaigns/euro-1992.htm) and ten 1994 World Cup qualifiers (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-qualifying-campaigns/world-cup-1994.htm). It also included nine wins and seven draws.

The record sequence without loss included the following matches: Turkey (H-Win); England (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-football-results/england.htm) (H-Draw); England (A-Draw); Poland (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-football-results/poland.htm) (H-Draw); Poland (A-Draw); Turkey (A-Win); Albania (H-Win); Latvia (H-Win); Denmark (A-Draw); Spain (http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-football-results/spain.htm) (A-Draw); Northern Ireland (H-Win); Denmark (H-Draw); Albania (A-Win); Latvia (A-Win); Lithuania (A-Win); Lithuania (H-Win).

Just realised that's a competitive game record, we lost a few friendlies during that period. I give up.

[tetsujin1979]

There's a list of all Republic of Ireland games on wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matches_of_the_Republic_of_Ireland_national_footba ll_team
Find the longest number of games between red rows and you're sorted

[DeLorean]

Does the 1-1 draw with Finland in Liam Brady's testimonial count? If so, we had a 17 game unbeaten run under Charlton, ended by Toto in Rome. Ten of these games were draws.

McCarthy had a sixteen game unbeaten run before being beaten in Tehran, ten wins and six draws in his run.

Interesting to note a nine game unbeaten streak under Staunton, who lost only one of his last twelve games in charge!

[Olé Olé]

A lot of this side for tonight hinges on who MON plays up front. Not sure if Koeman would be impressed with Long starting. Maybe if he started and played a half then we'd have a bit of shape from the start.

The issue, for me, is that I can't see Pilkington (if he's fit) or McClean starting up front on their own or together. As a result, I'd have to fancy Long to start with one of them (probably not both if Judge or Hayes was to get a start).

I fancy he'll go with:
Elliott
Christie Keogh O'Shea Ward
O'Kane Whelan/McCarthy
Hayes Judge McClean
Long

That's a 4-2-3-1 but I think there's the potential to switch to a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2.

Thinking back on Keane's advice to Judge that he referred to in his post-match interview, maybe Friday was about seeing how Judge could fare when asked to work hard against the tide. Maybe tonight will be his chance in a role that offers more freedom?

[OwlsFan]

What I was struck by on Friday, other than the excellent crowd with lots of kids, was that as each substitution was made, our guys who came on got smaller and theirs got bigger. Are we the smallest football playing team in Europe?

I heard O'Neill talking up Given for France if he manages to even break wind on the playing field between then and now. More importantly though, and sorry if this is covered elsewhere, he bemoaned the fact that he didn't get much of a chance to see Judge going forward, which is his best attribute, due to our lack of possession. What a pity Arter wasn't fit. I think he's an excellent player.

There's a good chance McShane could start instead of O'Shea in the friendly ?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ceu3tM3XIAAWcjV.jpg

[SkStu]

What I think is a tv3 stream had the infographic lineup as 442. Surely those players are far better set up as a 4231??

[CraftyToePoke]

There is a decent stream ?

[DeLorean]

What I think is a tv3 stream had the infographic lineup as 442. Surely those players are far better set up as a 4231??

O'Neill confirmed in the interview beforehand that McClean was being tried up front with a diamond of sorts in midfield, adding that they want the width to come from the full backs.

[SkStu]

There is a decent stream ?

Yeah I'm watching on Kodi via the sportsdevil add on - atdhe stream.

[SwanVsDalton]

Long was really disgusted with McClean he didn't get the pass. Decent effort from McClean but he clearly only had one thing on his mind.

...and there's a goal. Damn. After a pretty good start too.

[DeLorean]

That's McShane out of the picture I guess. Maybe Elliot too!

[SwanVsDalton]

This could be really heartbreaking for Eliot. Right knee.

[SkStu]

That was very McShane of McShane.

Really sad for Eliot.

[tricky_colour]

fairly decent here http://www.eplsite.com/stream53.html

[Paddy Garcia]

I forgot what a liability McShane is.

[SkStu]

This has been a very good attacking 20 mins though in fairness.

[SkStu]

Never a penalty!! Haha

[Closed Account]

Never a peno but we are playing well.

[SwanVsDalton]

Never a penalty! Still, take it as deserved reward for some really good attacking play. Hoolahan, O'Kane, McClean and Long are linking up fantastically well. High tempo stuff.

[DannyInvincible]

We've been playing well, besides the goal. Holding possession and passing it around. Pity about the goal and for Elliot too. Looked bad.

Oh, penalty!

[SwanVsDalton]

Another peno!!!! And that one was a penalty. What about about that touch by Shane, woof.

[Closed Account]

Not a peno this time either, dive from Shane. Touch of Germany about the buildup though.

[SkStu]

Not sure about that one either!! Great from Shane though!

[SkStu]

2-1 baby!

[SwanVsDalton]

Not a peno this time either, dive from Shane. Touch of Germany about the buildup though.

Definite contact from Skrtel I thought, dived in rashly. Whether it was another contact for Shane to go down well...

I'm really enjoying this. End to end to end stuff.