Serbia v Rep of Ireland - Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade (WCQ) Monday, 5th Sept. 2016

[pineapple stu]

Oh no, wait - Westwood wasn't supposed to be in the Euros squad cos he didn't play against Belarus in Cork, but then shnuck in ahead of Forde. My bad.

Still, I suggest we play with a keeper, and it'll be interesting to see who it is.

[jbyrne]

match in doubt?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0905/814342-serbia-ireland-downpur-pitch-inspection/

[Serb]

match in doubt?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0905/814342-serbia-ireland-downpur-pitch-inspection/

They should just play it here, it's roasting in Dublin.

[Drumcondra 69er]

http://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.ie/2016/09/hello-to-new-campaign-goodbye-to-legend.html?m=1

Few thoughts on the group and on Robbie's retirement before we kick off tonight.

[colonelwest]

Game on, Coleman starts and captains the side and Brady has taken the number 10.
:cool:

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Death, taxes, Walters.

[tricky_colour]

team.
https://mobile.twitter.com/FAIreland/status/772851000902348800/photo/1

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I'm reasonably confident about this game.

Which means we are probably going to lose.

[tricky_colour]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Crm_I5hWAAAH2e0.png

[Charlie Darwin]

Looks very attacking. Too attacking for me.

[tricky_colour]

Whelan will stop em.

[DeLorean]

Looks very attacking. Too attacking for me.

Yeah but at least the attacking players are all good grafters too.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I would have had another, more midfield-minded, player in there in the shape of Arter, rather than Walters who is more of a striker. Most teams line up with one striker and indeed we have Long. We also have McClean and Brady in there, who are undroppable in my opinion. I don't know why it's necessary to play Walters every time - when in my opinion the presence of Long, McClean and Brady negates it.

Still confident enough in any regard.

I'd just rather have another passer and midfield battler in there than another grafter - when McClean and Long are well able to do that as it stands.

[tricky_colour]

0-1 Hendrick

Good start I was think it could be tight or we could lose mirginally or we might win big, may 4-0 or 4-1.

Early days yet.

[geysir]

So much for their rated young goalie.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

That really was superb by Long and McClean in the build up to the free kick that led to the goal.

And what a sublime ball back in to the danger zone by O'Shea.

[tricky_colour]

John O'Sublime

[shakermaker1982]

Is Walters brain dead? How many free kicks does he want to give away tonight?

[BonnieShels]

They're a bit crap and yet still dangerous.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Trademark crab pass by Whelan expects too much of the player he is passing to and puts us in a tight spot.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

We need to start getting closer to them. Not marking tight enough and giving them space in dangerous areas.

[SkStu]

I'm watching on a bad stream at home and it's reminding me of watching a foreign game on rte in the 80's.

All Serbia in terms of possession and chances. Thought that was a foul on Randolph for that free. 2 yellows for is now, have to be careful.

[SkStu]

Serbia are a dirty niggly team. Lots of shirt pulls and the like.

Good chance there from the free.

[backstothewall]

Between it being an athletics stadium and no one filling the front of the stand it sounds like the fans are watching the game from half a mile away.

Strange camera position as well. Very high or something.

[tricky_colour]

Has all the making on a late equaliser.

We need another goal I think. (ie from us :) )

[SkStu]

Flip that was a chance...blessed.

That pitch reminds me of Lansdowne in the 80's!!

[Paddy Garcia]

I suspect we will start playing if they score one or maybe two goals.

Mindset is all.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

We just do not look comfortable when we are winning. We are a far better team when we are chasing a game. It's ingrained in us to be this way.

So, so negative. Dropping off. Inviting space. No composure on the ball at all.

And as you can see from the opening three minutes we do have the players to take any team on and create chances.

The game is resounding proof, again, of how little Whelan offers in terms of taking charge of a midfield and dictating things. Simple things like slowing things down.

There doesn't seem to be any cover for the full backs at all.

Something needs to change in terms of tactics and personnel at half time.

[tricky_colour]

Living dangerously I can see it coming we are not offering much going forward, we need to be positive.

Basically we need a psychiatric to rid us of this negative mentality.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

This is dreadful, dreadful stuff. Worse than anything under Trapattoni. The only game plan seems to be clear the lines, drop off and defend, defend, defend.

This is not a very good team we are playing but we are making them look brilliant.

Edit: Ward and Brady haven't had to do much to get booked have they?

Two of their players have escaped bookings for doing much worse.

[tricky_colour]

It is coming!!

[tricky_colour]

And there it is.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

This is truly awful stuff.

[shakermaker1982]

Do we ever learn? What a crap goal to concede.

[tricky_colour]

So what now? Try and hang on got the draw and end up losing?

Even more defensive I expect.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I said before the match that Walters's inclusion was pointless and another midfielder whether Arter, Quinn or Meyler should be in there instead - and sure enough I fail to see how he has warranted his inclusion at all.

[sbgawa]

We are a poor pub team

[The Fly]

No composure at all.

Can only see this going one way now.

[Paddy Garcia]

I thought we had given up!

[SkStu]

Awful goal. Mouldy performance indeed.

[pineapple stu]

This is embarrassing stuff tbh.

Like watching Malta or the Faroes.

Though I guess we are the same seed as the Faroes.

46 successful passes in the first half. One a minute

[Paddy Garcia]

I worry we are going to get what we deserve = nothing.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

You would think going in front in a game would give any team more confidence. But not us. Going in front is like a psychological blow to us.

[sbgawa]

Ffs what a joke

[tetsujin1979]

never a penalty, but Serbia deserve the lead

[shakermaker1982]

Walters doesn't look fit at all. Needs to be hooked. Get Whelan off as well.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

We have to progress past starting Whelan and Walters in every game.

Nothing learned from the Italy and France games at all.

FFS Murphy offered far more than Walters in those games.

There is a reason he isn't starting for Stoke.

[backstothewall]

As usual Ronnie Whelan is talking out of his hoop. When the forward goes across the defender like that any contact at all and he's going down, and the ref gives it. There was a hand on the back and that is a penalty.

[SkStu]

Never a penalty.

Same old Ireland.

[Paddy Garcia]

Quinn - really!!!