Rep of Ireland v Oman - Wednesday, 31st August 2016 - Friendly

[DeLorean]

What are we thinking for tomorrow night? That squad could really have done with an Egan, Cunningham or Doherty alright to freshen things up. I don't think there's anything to be learned from playing McShane or Pearce, only to prevent others from picking up knocks. I suppose they're only emergency cover at this stage, especially McShane. Probably worth noting that Pearce is still only 27. Maybe Keogh and Clark could do with a game together as that hasn't been the pairing since the playoffs, when they both performed well. Long could do with a goal but we could definitely do without losing him to injury, and I think he sat out training either today or yesterday with something minor.

http://www.footballuser.com/formations/2016/08/1500088_Ireland.jpg

[Stuttgart88]

Is it on TV? I can't see it listed on SKY or Premier Sports in the UK.

[DeLorean]

It's on Eir Sport here (previously Setanta).

[osarusan]

Oman played both Cork and Limerick in friendlies, and drew 1-1 and 2-2.

I don't know how close they were to their first team when they played Limerick, but if it was anywhere close, Ireland should put about 20 goals past them.

[DeLorean]

We don't have the players (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/absence-of-fresh-talent-a-worry-as-robbie-keane-bows-out-1.2773526)

[BonnieShels]

Oman played both Cork and Limerick in friendlies, and drew 1-1 and 2-2.

I don't know how close they were to their first team when they played Limerick, but if it was anywhere close, Ireland should put about 20 goals past them.

So you're predicting a 1-0 win for us. :)

[TerryPhelan]

Does anyone have a good work-filter-friendly streaming link for the match tonight?

My work PC is blocking Firstrowsports, sadly...

[Supreme feet]

Team: Westwood; Christie, Brady, Clark, Wilson; Arter, Whelan, Quinn; Walters, Keane, Long.

[pineapple stu]

Is Brady centre-half?

[Supreme feet]

Is Brady centre-half?

Sorry, I'm a stickler for tradition. 2 = right-back, 3 = left-back, 4 and 5 = centre-backs.


Best guess -

----------- Westwood ------------
Christie - Wilson - Clark - Brady
---- Arter - Whelan - Quinn ----
Long -------Keane ------- Walters

[DeLorean]

State of the crowd.

It's on Premier Sports alright by the way.

[osarusan]

So you're predicting a 1-0 win for us. :)

There will be no John O'Flynn on the pitch tonight though, and His presence will be missed.

[Supreme feet]

Keano!!!!!!! :cool:

[nigel-harps1954]

Ah, that was inevitable really. Couldn't begrudge him that goal. What a way to get it too, top class.

[tricky_colour]

Would be a great goal to finish his international career on, he may well get another, I
was going to back a 7-0 scoreline but Walters scored before I got in on so I pumped it
up to 8-0 but I think that is stretching it a goal too much.

[DeLorean]

Could beat the Gibraltar 7-0 here, given we've a couple of creative fellas to go on yet maybe and I'm half dreading seeing these guys when they're tired! What's our record win again? 8-0 v Malta is in my head, I presume it's there for a reason!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Lovely goal by Keane.

Would it not make more sense bringing Murphy on now so he can get off the mark and go into the Serbia game with some renewed confidence? You know, since he actually remains active as a player for Ireland.

No, course not.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

#Ledge

[tricky_colour]

I need this to go in

[tricky_colour]

James McClean straight into the wall, that is exactly what I said before he hit it.
He should not be taking free kicks imo or corners.

[SkStu]

Ah, that was inevitable really. Couldn't begrudge him that goal. What a way to get it too, top class.

only scores in friendlies.

[tricky_colour]

Walters looks like a pint of Stella.

[tricky_colour]

I need 4 more goals.

[SkStu]

I need 4 more goals.

i believe you are on a final warning to be posting about your bets Tricky... be careful out there.

[tricky_colour]

Think we stepped off the gas second half.

[tricky_colour]

Interesting all the Oman players are called Oman, it must be a popular name there.

[SkStu]

Interesting all the Oman players are called Oman, it must be a popular name there.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80821000/jpg/_80821180_inpho_00638789.jpg

[tricky_colour]

Say what you like about Robbie Keane but he is a decent bloke.

[Eminence Grise]

8-0 v Malta is in my head, I presume it's there for a reason!

Well, yes, most of us have a head for a reason. I find it a useful place to store my hat.:hat:

Not much else going on with it, alas...

[backstothewall]

Are the highlights being shown anywhere? I wasn't able to get down as my daughter starts primary school tomorrow morning.

[DeLorean]

RTE 2 at 10:40pm.

[tricky_colour]

I just noticed how much Dennis Irwin sounds like Roy Keane, I have not hear him speak much in the past
but he is doing the analysis with Kevin Kilbane on the stream I am watching. They are both form Cork so
that kind of explains it I guess!!

[pineapple stu]

Keane goal (and open-goal miss!), that was a complete waste of time. Oman are going backwards.

But now - no Keane. For the first time in half a lifetime for me. Was it the Belgium play off the last game before his debut? Given, Irwin, Cunningham, Staunton, Houghton, Townsend, Connolly, Cascarino...Who else played that day?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

only scores in friendlies.

Against Oman.

[tricky_colour]

Are the highlights being shown anywhere? I wasn't able to get down as my daughter starts primary school tomorrow morning.

In Russian? Or Greek? (Commentary)

http://footyroom.com/matches/79923828/ireland-vs-oman/review

[SwanVsDalton]

Keane goal (and open-goal miss!), that was a complete waste of time. Oman are going backwards.

But now - no Keane. For the first time in half a lifetime for me. Was it the Belgium play off the last game before his debut? Given, Irwin, Cunningham, Staunton, Houghton, Townsend, Connolly, Cascarino...Who else played that day?

Jeff Kenna, Lee Carsley, Alan McLoughlin, Ian Harte, Mark Kennedy - David Kelly came off the bench too. http://ng.soccerway.com/matches/1997/11/11/europe/wc-qualifying-europe/belgium/ireland-republic/630305/

[Eminence Grise]

When you see those names blasted from the past, you really get a sense of how long he played, and near every minute of it at the top. There must be posters here who don't remember seeing Houghton, Townsend, Kelly playing.

[pineapple stu]

And other posters who are amazed we're a full generation removed from those players!

Paul McGrath was picked out on the big screen tonight (to huge cheers and the sound of lots of kids asking their dad who that was).

Had Shay Given been given a farewell cap tonight, then McGrath could have said he played alongside one of the players on the pitch. But maybe that's one for the Shay Given thread instead. :)

[MeathDrog]

Oman were one of the worst teams I've ever seen at international level.

Walters can barely run anymore and he rounded the keeper like.

Also, Walter's two goals puts him ahead of Ian Harte in the ROI goalscorer list. One more goal puts him joint 10th.

[backstothewall]

Bobbins opponent brought in to give Keano his final hurrah. They were there to do a job and delivered what was expected. And it was a decent wee earner for the FAI into the bargain.

Robbie earned his night in the limelight over decades rather than years. Everyone's a winner and onto the serious stuff now.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Oman were one of the worst teams I've ever seen at international level.

Walters can barely run anymore and he rounded the keeper like.

Also, Walter's two goals puts him ahead of Ian Harte in the ROI goalscorer list. One more goal puts him joint 10th.

I have a feeling Walters and Murphy will start against Serbia.

I think the Italy and France matches could have been a template for the way we set out to play in this campaign, but instead one (or both?) of McClean or Long will get dropped.

And instead of high energy, pace, crossing, interplay and give and go, we'll get two lads in their mid-thirties running through treacle and throwing their weight around.

Back to what worked so dreadfully against Scotland in Dublin.

Brady has netted in his last three games. If he nets against Serbia there can't be many Ireland players who've netted in four consecutive games, surely?

Only 24 so it's entirely possible he could end up #2 top scorer behind Robbie Keane someday.

He's currently on 7.

[Charlie Darwin]

Bobbins opponent brought in to give Keano his final hurrah.
To be fair, it was scheduled long before we knew Keane would be retiring. They were brought in because they're the latest backwater the FAI has found a way to milk money out of.

[tricky_colour]

Nobody had beat them by four goal since 2010 (Belarus).

We beat the 2-0 in 2014, 4-1 in 2012.

[SkStu]

That was a lovely goal from Keane to say goodbye. The low fat version of Gazza v Scotland 96.

Not too shabby from Brady and Walters (header) either.

http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/08/31/ireland-vs-oman-highlights/

[Colbert Report]

Nice set up from Arter on the fourth goal, even though it was offside. Any chance he starts against Serbia?

[DeLorean]

They were brought in because they're the latest backwater the FAI has found a way to milk money out of.

It's mad really. Since we played them first in 2012, other than Finland and Uruguay, we really stick out like a sore thumb in terms of the teams they've played. The others are either from their jurisdiction or minnows or whatever, although they seem to play Australia and New Zealand a bit as well in some Asian Cup. Whatever about playing them once, to play three friendlies against them in four years seems bizarre. The only reason I'd even heard of Oman before leaving school was because they were somehow in the computer game Microprose Soccer (https://youtu.be/CcfFEecaYPc?t=30s) for the Commodore 64!


Nobody had beat them by four goal since 2010 (Belarus).

Australia beat them 4-0 in 2015 according to this. (http://int.soccerway.com/teams/oman/oman/1615/)

[backstothewall]

To be fair, it was scheduled long before we knew Keane would be retiring. They were brought in because they're the latest backwater the FAI has found a way to milk money out of.

Call me a cynic, but I could have told you 2 years ago that he would be retiring after our Euros campaign ended.

[DeLorean]

If they had known they could have really milked the 'Robbie's last game' thing though. It would have been a far more appealing prospect than just a regular Wednesday night friendly against Oman. I think they could have got a lot bigger crowd if it was marketed properly in that way instead of just announcing it was going to be his final game a few days before.

[Fixer82]

Arter looked really positive. Anyone reckon Arter and Hendrick to start?

[Charlie Darwin]

Arter looked really positive. Anyone reckon Arter and Hendrick to start?
Funnily enough, Kenny Cunningham on RTE was adamant he was the opposite of positive, saying given the opposition he spent way too much time hanging out by the defenders.