Mexico v Republic of Ireland - Met Life Stadium NJ - Friday, 2nd June 2017 - Friendly

[tricky_colour]

Two Daryls in the line up, a first?

[Closed Account]

Early days, but not a fan of this formation. Certainly not with Keogh and Christie down the right. Two left footers in central midfield is cutting off supply to McClean, conversely Christie seeing lots.

[Closed Account]

I mean defensively.

[Closed Account]

Goal comes down the right.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Early days, but not a fan of this formation. Certainly not with Keogh and Christie down the right. Two left footers in central midfield is cutting off supply to McClean, conversely Christie seeing lots.

You may have a point. They're exploiting wide expanses of space in wide areas. Awful defending again there.

Shocking the speed of that attack.

[SwanVsDalton]

I mean defensively.

That goal is case in point.

Comical lack of midfield.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

O'Kane and/or Gleeson, probably both, should be playing.

Hourihane gets thrown under the bus.

[Lionel Ritchie]

well taken but p1sspoor goal to give away

[tetsujin1979]

Two Daryls in the line up, a first?
they're the only two Daryls ever to play for Ireland, so I would imagine so

[tricky_colour]

Could be another 5-2, if we are lucky, looks lore like 5-0 at the moment.

[Closed Account]

Poor again, runner off Hourihane, occupies 2 centre back, McClean wrong side and silly nudge. System failure.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Fair point from Kerr asking how 3 center backs could get wiped out by a long ball.

[samhaydenjr]

Ouch, this is looking painful - we look half-decent going forward (particularly Christie) but they're tearing us apart on the break

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Has O'Dowda even touched the ball yet?

[tricky_colour]

Bit silly going so attacking v Mexico, really we need a double Whelan in midfield.

[Closed Account]

Horgan always impresses me. Looks a real player.

[DeLorean]

Has O'Dowda even touched the ball yet?

He's been fouled a couple of times, one which the Mexican was carded for. One which earned a free kick in a good position.

Goals here-

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1306126672775431&id=146104712110972

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1306134522774646&id=146104712110972

[SwanVsDalton]

Think we're going to score here. We might be four down by the time we do but still.

We're all over the shop, a shame because there might be a workable 3-5-2 in the squad. But it's too much to ask players to take up a new system while most of them are playing out of position.

[Closed Account]

Yes, can't see the reason to play Horgan and O'Dowda in those positions with O'Kane, Gleeson and Browne all more suitable. One would nearly call it stupid.

[tetsujin1979]

the surface isn't looking great(not that it's affecting Mexico), is it artificial?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Come on Duffy..

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He's been fouled a couple of times, one which the Mexican was carded for. One which earned a free kick in a good position.

Goals here-

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1306126672775431&id=146104712110972

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1306134522774646&id=146104712110972

I thought one of those fouls was Egan?

[tetsujin1979]

best corner we've taken so far

[DeLorean]

I thought one of those fouls was Egan?

No, was O'Dowda on the right sideline. And the booking was definitely a foul on him, not that it really matters.

[SwanVsDalton]

the surface isn't looking great(not that it's affecting Mexico), is it artificial?

Doesn't have the weird bobbles of artificial, think it's grass that's too long or too thick. Ball just dies when it's played on the ground.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Yes, can't see the reason to play Horgan and O'Dowda in those positions with O'Kane, Gleeson and Browne all more suitable. One would nearly call it stupid.

Hourihane doesn't even play in that position at club level. He played attacking midfield for Barnsley and right midfield for Aston Villa as far as I'm aware.

Mindboggling.

[johnnyc]

They're toying with us now.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It's remarkable how much space we are leaving right outside the penalty area, time and time again.

[Closed Account]

Nice experiment lads but too much. Egan to left back, tell Christie to focus on defending. Get O'Dowda off for O'Kane. Give Murphy or McGoldrick another 15, before unleashing Wes. Most importantly, lets get McClean into the game, wasted tracking runners all day.

[Charlie Darwin]

It's remarkable how much space we are leaving right outside the penalty area, time and time again.
It's not that remarkable considering most teams that try out 3-5-2 find they leave lots of space around the penalty area, particularly wide. The players clearly haven't been properly drilled on it enough.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

At least Hourihane is trying to maintain his position. Horgan is all over the place.

[tricky_colour]

The long ball ball through the middle reminded me of the 5-2 v Cyprus, history repeating it self although I can't see us getting 2, I can see them getting another
3 if they are bothered.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I know Cunningham is injured. I don't know if Doherty would've been fit in time. Stevens could've been given the nod seeing as O'Dowda got called up based on a successful season in League Two.

It's a ragtag team based on the limited choices available but it shouldn't have come to this. If he could call up six center backs he could have roused someone who could play left back. Even Wilson. So we wouldn't be pressured into playing a formation purely based on a lack of manpower rather than a genuine desire to experiment.

http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/Highlights_from_Off_The_Ball/194562/Ireland_v_Mexico__Leader_McClean_Murphys_Role__Wes

I can't remember if they were talking about Cunningham or Doherty or both, but one of the lads on the podcast said that O'Neill went to see them in action and didn't fancy them.

[Closed Account]

At least Hourihane is trying to maintain his position. Horgan is all over the place.
Hourihane and Horgan keep switching, i was wrong earlier, it was Horgan who passed on a runner for the second goal. Duffy waved him on then to Egan who got dragged inside leaving McClean too much ground to make up. Personally I think Duffy should have tracked the runner leaving Egan in a good covering position.

But at the end of the day, it's a new formation for players who've never played together. Keogh and Duffy need to take command back there, they could possibly both start against Austria.(I hope not)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

This certainly displays the importance of O'Shea in terms of leadership and defensive organisation, even if he is 36.

Defenders constantly getting pulled out of position, but I suppose there are extenuating circumstances (midfield, formation).

[DeLorean]

Keogh and Duffy need to take command back there, they could possibly both start against Austria.(I hope not)

So you're hoping for O'Shea and....?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Randolph cracks me up.

Cool under pressure.

[Closed Account]

So you're hoping for O'Shea and....?
O'Shea and Duffy would do me.

As Brian Kerr is saying, this Mexican side do look very good. Working very hard to win it back, but the movement of the front 3 is wreaking havoc.


Goal

[DeLorean]

O'Shea and Duffy would do me.

Same here. I can only remember them playing together in that Netherlands friendly.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Dreadful by Duffy.

[SwanVsDalton]

Players sucked into the ball.

Players not knowing where the ball is.

Players falling all over the shop.

It'd be funnier if it wasn't 2.50am and I was still watching this.

[DeLorean]

Deserved that for not making a couple of damage limitation substitutions at half time.

[tricky_colour]

Oh schedule for 5-0 (or 6)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

After the Uruguay game we could well be looking at four games since we've scored a goal.

[Closed Account]

Should be 6. What is to gain by continuing with this 11/formation? Manage it.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Should be 6. What is to gain by continuing with this 11/formation? Manage it.

You could accuse O'Neill of being slow to pull the trigger when it comes to these things.

And they call Eric Clapton Slowhand.

[DeLorean]

Seriously MON, do something, anything. Mexico have made five substitutions already. We're lucky it's not six or seven (yet).

[Closed Account]

Seriously MON, do something, anything. Mexico have made five substitutions already. We're lucky it's not six or seven (yet).
Kevin Long coming on. Another centre back will do it..... :)

Long on for Egan
O'Kane for Hourihane
Wes for Murphy
4-5-1
Keogh, Duffy, Long, McClean
Christie, O'Dowda, O'Kane, Hoolahan, Horgan
McGoldrick

[tricky_colour]

I keep thinking Mexico are Ireland, it is a brief moment of optimism until I realise my error.

[DeLorean]

Take McClean off I think, last thing we need is to go down to ten.