Republic of Ireland v Austria - Sunday 11th June 2017 - World Cup 2018 Qualifier

[KrisLetang]

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club.

This is apparently a misunderstanding. He went golfing with the team's chairman the other day and his putter broke.

[Fizzer]

Dreadful game but O'Neill continues to make some interesting selections both good and bad. The good was Long,what a brave choice to put him into this game.he did well defensively and can't be blamed for Ward's shocking performance.Randolph was also, of course,the right choice.maybe the Westwood cheerleading squad will put away their pom poms for a little while.Whelan was fine,nothing more but Arter again was clearly below the standard required at this level,he continues to worry me I'm really not sure that he's up to it despite wishing that he was,hopefully he'll improve.The omission of Wes was criminal.You're at home against a severely weakened opponent and playing one up front,...he plays.At least O'Neill is willing to make wholesale changes to attempt to rectify errors.better than the dogged stubbornness under Trap.

[tetsujin1979]

Dreadful game but O'Neill continues to make some interesting selections both good and bad. The good was Long,what a brave choice to put him into this game.he did well defensively and can't be blamed for Ward's shocking performance.Randolph was also, of course,the right choice.maybe the Westwood cheerleading squad will put away their pom poms for a little while.Whelan was fine,nothing more but Arter again was clearly below the standard required at this level,he continues to worry me I'm really not sure that he's up to it despite wishing that he was,hopefully he'll improve.The omission of Wes was criminal.You're at home against a severely weakened opponent and playing one up front,...he plays.At least O'Neill is willing to make wholesale changes to attempt to rectify errors.better than the dogged stubbornness under Trap.That's a bit much. Both Randolph and Westwood have their supporters, and there's not much between them at the moment. Westwood finished the season in the Football League team of the season, Randolph finished it on the bench at West Ham, but is in possession of the jersey. Westwood played well last week, including one excellent save at 1-1. Randolph did fine today, including one save late on to keep them on a single goal. I didn't blame him for the goal either, The late highlights on RTE 2 showed Ward left his man get a step on him to finish, and the entire defence was caught out by the double stepovers. There's been an ongoing debate for some time over who should get the nod in goals, to claim that Westwood has a cheerleading squad, armed with pom-poms, does it a disservice.


Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.Me either, Whelan did well today. Kilbane on radio commentary was very complimentary. Christie was straight down from me in the first half, and wasn't great, but I thought he looked better in the second half, albeit he was on the opposite side of the pitch to me. Hendrick was the biggest disappointment for me, we really needed him to put his stamp on the game as the link between midfield and lone striker and he just didn't work out.


Brady is not a RW and shouldn't have been started in that position. Hendrick didn't have a great match either. I'm no fan of Ward but he did well enough before he came off.

Walters was incredible - we will really miss him when he retires.

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.
That's in today's Independent today as well, but I haven't seen anything official - http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/irelands-striker-stats-a-cause-for-concern-ahead-of-crucial-austria-test-35812800.html

He did score five goals for the Geordies, some of them vital, on their quick exit from the Championship but he only played 14 games for Rafa Benitez, who last week told Murphy he can quit St James' Park.

[DannyInvincible]

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Any specific examples of errors or moments where he put a foot wrong? I can't recall any really besides the booking, which was admittedly careless. Otherwise, I'm surprised you've singled him out. I thought he played alright; he certainly wasn't "the big culprit", which is a very unfair review of his performance.


The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.

He spoke a bit about his impending departure here: http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/daryl-murphy-s-not-bitter-as-rafa-benitez-reveals-newcastle-will-sell-him-this-summer-1-8589268


Rafa is a top, top manager. He texted me after the Uruguay game to say well done. I spoke to him last week about my future and he thanked me for what I had done and said they were going to listen to a few offers. I said ‘that’s fine’.

I always knew I had been brought in there to do a specific job, to help the club get promoted. I had no illusions that I was going to be starting for Newcastle in the Premier League if we got up. I have got another year left on my contract and I will go back there for pre-season and just look at my options.

[mark12345]

This guy is MON's pet. It doesn't matter if he is a passenger and does nothing on a regular basis, he will still start no matter what.

It's true. Whelan can do anything it seems and there is no baromoter for him. And I am his chief critic it seems. Look you say: "Whelan was a great player for us today."
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you saw Joe Allen or Aaron Ramsey tonight for Wales you'd have a vastly different opinion. Allen is everything a good midfielder should be.
He is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

[mark12345]

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Brady is not a RW and shouldn't have been started in that position. Hendrick didn't have a great match either. I'm no fan of Ward but he did well enough before he came off.

Walters was incredible - we will really miss him when he retires.

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.

Agree with you on John Walters. He didn't stop running all day and he would have netted the winner if Duffy left him alone to contest the ball with the smaller Austrian defender.

[DannyInvincible]

[Joe Allen] is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

I think you're confusing Glenn Whelan with Wes Hoolahan.

Here's an excellent analysis of Whelan's actual role and general contribution when he plays by a former team-mate of his, Trevor Sinclair, on 'MOTD' last year:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXqGIc364Fs

[tetsujin1979]

Anyone else getting flashbacks to the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign?
Four teams, with little between them, battling it out for an automatic qualification spot, and a play off. All taking points off each other, but one victory could change the complexion of the group.
Two minnows, that you would expect the other four to beat easily, but can still cause an upset.

[CraftyToePoke]

On the subject of flashbacks I an hoping we won't be having them of Wes coming on criminally late in this game for years to come.

Series of awful confidence sapping decisions from MON this time out. Selection, substitutions, tactics and reacting to the unfolding consequences of those all badly out of tune today.

[Real ale Madrid]

What was people's opinion on Brady's performance? I thought he was carrying an injury of some sort he was so lethargic?
Our midfield was completely overrun yesterday - McCarthy is vital to our chances of qualifying.

[Eminence Grise]

Player reviews
Randolph – O’Neill’s ploy to use sunlight bouncing off Randolph’s shiny dome to blind the Austrians was thwarted by showers (rain, the shower in front of him) but the WHam backing vocalist woke us up before we went went with a top drawer save late on.
Christie – his claim to be the best full back in the Championship might have shown him to be a natural gas, but he’ll do just fine while we wait for the coal man to knock.
Duffy – his passing came as a relief to Theresa May who realised that it’s not just the Tories who lack direction, and the DUP haven’t produced the worst headers after all.
Long – never before did the Irish nation pray as fervently: ‘Long to watch over us’. Not yet royalty, but he’s emerged somewhere in line to the throne.
Ward – given the number of hospital passes played by Ireland access to a ward was no bad thing, though there was a distinctly HSE rather than Mater Private feel to his performance.
Whelan – confounded expectations and the evidence of 80 caps with a lung-bursting first half forward run. Nobody man-marks space better: a backhanded compliment, but a compliment all the same.
Arter – a long way short of being a main artery for our creative force, he toiled in vain.
Brady – unable to attend in person, Brady conjured up a passably credible astral projection from a beach somewhere in the south of France.
Hendrick – stayed on for the full 90 by being so anonymous that O’Neill forgot he was even in Dublin.
McClean – the diehard winger played with his usual yippee ki-yay m**********r gusto that reminds me of somebody, but I can’t think who.
Walters – pulled back his foot for that shot and thought fleetingly ‘this is for you, Towk – I’ll make you believe in me’ but had to make do with just another goal for Ireland instead.

Subs
Hoolahan – if the come and get me call of a brunette is ‘have all them blondes gone home yet?’ then Wessi’s has to be ‘have all them defensive midfield sloggers that can’t pass, and have no vision or movement died out like the dinosaurs yet?’
Murphy – looking for a club, and had he found one would have been well advised to use it on the time-wasting Austrian keeper (this season’s nominee for the Dudu Awat Award for Sportsmanship).
McGeady – one of those subversive, creative types: not to be trusted for more than 20 minutes.

Coach watch
O’Neill played it so safe he’s a shoo-in to front the next ‘Johnny’s got you covered’ ad campaign. Two points dropped - but the penny still hasn’t as far as creativity goes.

Ref watch
Funny how ‘Spanish ref’ is code for ‘useless cono riding us rock solid’. Will do better back at his natural level reffing u-12s 7-a-sides. If only we had somebody high up in UEFA with a bit of clout we might be able to avoid refs whose ‘Laws of the Game’ is printed in braille.

Overall
Collectively Ireland played as if they’d just emerged blinking into the light after 20 years captivity in Josef Fritzl’s cellar, and wanted to get as far away from all things Austrian as possible. As evidenced by the first half marking, it was mission accomplished on that score.

[tetsujin1979]

I was listening to the Newstalk commentary at the game and it's available on listen back here: http://www.newstalk.com/listen_back/10/36708/11th_June_2017_-_Off_The_Ball_Part_4/
Part 5 and Part 6 of Off The Ball have the rest of the commentary.
Kilbane was really impressed with Arter, in contrast with some of the opinions on here

<EDIT>
I don't like having to keep the newstalk site open to listen to the service, so the download links are here
build up: https://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/archive/000079/20170611_16_lA9qjAMpm0.mp3
first half, and half time analysis: https://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/archive/000079/20170611_17_nvWdCpjaTj.mp3
second half: https://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/archive/000079/20170611_18_sfML3uhpwm.mp3 (goal is on 39:00)

[jbyrne]

Kilbane was really impressed with Arter, in contrast with some of the opinions on here

Cant really fault Arters effort but his positional sense and passing were very poor yesterday. 4/10 for me

[Charlie Darwin]

Annoying? I would call it very annoying. Liam Brady advised MON yesterday to opt for the creative option (ie play Hoolahan from the off). It's something most of us would have agreed with. But once again an Irish manager opts for Glenn Whelan instead of the braver optiong. He's your player Martin. Hope he proves you right and the rest of us wrong. Hate being so negative before a game. Come on lads, let's do it.
Liam Brady when he was involved in Trap's coaching team was notorious for choosing the creative option, of course.

[johnnyc]

Player reviews
Randolph – O’Neill’s ploy to use sunlight bouncing off Randolph’s shiny dome to blind the Austrians was thwarted by showers (rain, the shower in front of him) but the WHam backing vocalist woke us up before we went went with a top drawer save late on.
Christie – his claim to be the best full back in the Championship might have shown him to be a natural gas, but he’ll do just fine while we wait for the coal man to knock.
Duffy – his passing came as a relief to Theresa May who realised that it’s not just the Tories who lack direction, and the DUP haven’t produced the worst headers after all.
Long – never before did the Irish nation pray as fervently: ‘Long to watch over us’. Not yet royalty, but he’s emerged somewhere in line to the throne.
Ward – given the number of hospital passes played by Ireland access to a ward was no bad thing, though there was a distinctly HSE rather than Mater Private feel to his performance.
Whelan – confounded expectations and the evidence of 80 caps with a lung-bursting first half forward run. Nobody man-marks space better: a backhanded compliment, but a compliment all the same.
Arter – a long way short of being a main artery for our creative force, he toiled in vain.
Brady – unable to attend in person, Brady conjured up a passably credible astral projection from a beach somewhere in the south of France.
Hendrick – stayed on for the full 90 by being so anonymous that O’Neill forgot he was even in Dublin.
McClean – the diehard winger played with his usual yippee ki-yay m**********r gusto that reminds me of somebody, but I can’t think who.
Walters – pulled back his foot for that shot and thought fleetingly ‘this is for you, Towk – I’ll make you believe in me’ but had to make do with just another goal for Ireland instead.

Subs
Hoolahan – if the come and get me call of a brunette is ‘have all them blondes gone home yet?’ then Wessi’s has to be ‘have all them defensive midfield sloggers that can’t pass, and have no vision or movement died out like the dinosaurs yet?’
Murphy – looking for a club, and had he found one would have been well advised to use it on the time-wasting Austrian keeper (this season’s nominee for the Dudu Awat Award for Sportsmanship).
McGeady – one of those subversive, creative types: not to be trusted for more than 20 minutes.

Coach watch
O’Neill played it so safe he’s a shoo-in to front the next ‘Johnny’s got you covered’ ad campaign. Two points dropped - but the penny still hasn’t as far as creativity goes.

Ref watch
Funny how ‘Spanish ref’ is code for ‘useless cono riding us rock solid’. Will do better back at his natural level reffing u-12s 7-a-sides. If only we had somebody high up in UEFA with a bit of clout we might be able to avoid refs whose ‘Laws of the Game’ is printed in braille.

Overall
Collectively Ireland played as if they’d just emerged blinking into the light after 20 years captivity in Josef Fritzl’s cellar, and wanted to get as far away from all things Austrian as possible. As evidenced by the first half marking, it was mission accomplished on that score.

Did you write that yourself?

[Eminence Grise]

Yup. All my own work - waaay too much time on my hands.

[Olé Olé]

It's true. Whelan can do anything it seems and there is no baromoter for him. And I am his chief critic it seems. Look you say: "Whelan was a great player for us today."
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you saw Joe Allen or Aaron Ramsey tonight for Wales you'd have a vastly different opinion. Allen is everything a good midfielder should be.
He is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

Who in the name of God said he's supposed to be our main man? I thought he was very good. His positioning was always on point and his distribution was sound. I would direct any disdain at our midfield performance at Hendrick. I thought Jeff was anonymous. It reminded me of the Belarus match last year. Fair enough he's not a 10 but he could have become involved as an 8.

I thought Long was really assured. Went back to Randolph a couple of times too many but I attritbute to nerves and that's understandable. I can see why Burnley have held onto him through thick and thin.

Christie was so dodgy. MON needs to re-assess who he puts his faith in for that spot.

Walters... Animal.

[Fixer82]

It's true. Whelan can do anything it seems and there is no baromoter for him. And I am his chief critic it seems. Look you say: "Whelan was a great player for us today."
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you saw Joe Allen or Aaron Ramsey tonight for Wales you'd have a vastly different opinion. Allen is everything a good midfielder should be.
He is always available for his team mates to pass to, is always playing one twos and creating for his team. He is a focal point for Wales.
Whelan is none of that. He's supposed to be our main man, making things happen for us. He just doesn't have it. Honest lad, but not even close to what we need.

I think TrapaPony was talking about Hendrick who, it seems, is undroppable.
Whelan, however, has been dropped previously by O'Neill

[Fixer82]

Who in the name of God said he's supposed to be our main man? I thought he was very good. His positioning was always on point and his distribution was sound. I would direct any disdain at our midfield performance at Hendrick. I thought Jeff was anonymous. It reminded me of the Belarus match last year. Fair enough he's not a 10 but he could have become involved as an 8.

I thought Long was really assured. Went back to Randolph a couple of times too many but I attritbute to nerves and that's understandable. I can see why Burnley have held onto him through thick and thin.

Christie was so dodgy. MON needs to re-assess who he puts his faith in for that spot.

Walters... Animal.

Bang on the money!

[mark12345]

Who in the name of God said he's supposed to be our main man? I thought he was very good. His positioning was always on point and his distribution was sound. I would direct any disdain at our midfield performance at Hendrick. I thought Jeff was anonymous. It reminded me of the Belarus match last year. Fair enough he's not a 10 but he could have become involved as an 8.

I thought Long was really assured. Went back to Randolph a couple of times too many but I attritbute to nerves and that's understandable. I can see why Burnley have held onto him through thick and thin.

Christie was so dodgy. MON needs to re-assess who he puts his faith in for that spot.

Walters... Animal.

Hendrick was very bad. No argument here. Whelan could have played out of his skin (theoretically) and made up for Hendrick's poor performance, but he didn't. You are never going to get a world class performance from Glenn Whelan (l know I'm being picky given that very few of our lads are capable of same) yet he is the longest serving midfielder we have. If he's not our main man, or playmaker, or something close to it, then why the heck has he been picked in the position for ten years?

I know I'm being harder on him than perhaps any other player, but nothing changes year in year out with the selection of Glenn Whelan in our midfield. And here we are again facing a dogfight to qualify when it could have been so much easier.

[jbyrne]

Whelan could have played out of his skin (theoretically) and made up for Hendrick's poor performance, but he didn't. You are never going to get a world class performance from Glenn Whelan (l know I'm being picky given that very few of our lads are capable of same) yet he is the longest serving midfielder we have. If he's not our main man, or playmaker, or something close to it, then why the heck has he been picked in the position for ten years?


why should Whelan have to make up for another players shortcomings? over the last 10 years other Irish central midfielders have come and gone but Whelan has been the constant in a time that we qualified for two finals and came within a whisker of a third. he must be doing something right in such a pivotal position for us to have done so.

he was without doubt one of our best performers in the first 60 mins yesterday.



And here we are again facing a dogfight to qualify when it could have been so much easier.


when has it ever been any different for us?

[geysir]

Liam Brady when he was involved in Trap's coaching team was notorious for choosing the creative option, of course.
Yes, but where did you get the idea that Liam's brief under Trap's regime included the option of choosing anything.


In the absence of any other carefully worked out plan for the team to contain and bring the game to Austria, fortunately the old 'get up and at them' approach worked like a charm, reducing the Austrians (fake Germans) to cowering wrecks.
We should have won that game without doing anything much different, maybe Duffy didn't need to lead with the outstretched arm in that 2 on 1 situation and Walters could have won the penalty, perhaps stumble and fall over in great dramatic steps, like a dying gunfighter in a Sam Peckinpah film (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFxwq33rVAs) vainly and desperately trying to ward off the inevitable fall to the ground.

It's surreal to observe Ireland still at the top of the table at the day's end, going gung-ho towards Russia 2018

[Jd2793]

Amazing the stick Whelan gets everywhere no matter what. Premier League regular for nearly 10 seasons and a regular under the last 2 managers but people think hes not got the ability. Plenty worse out on that pitch than him yesterday, Christie was absolutely dreadful.

[jbyrne]

Amazing the stick Whelan gets everywhere no matter what. Premier League regular for nearly 10 seasons and a regular under the last 2 managers but people think hes not got the ability. Plenty worse out on that pitch than him yesterday

he is the kevin kilbane of this particular Irish team. easy target for lazy criticism

[mark12345]

Lazy criticism? Not really. It didn't just happen because of yesterday's performance. It has been formed over many frustrating years. And regarding Hendrick's poor performance yesterday, you are spot on, Whelan shouldn't have to make up for his shortcomings. But I didn't say he should. I'm saying if he was a better more influential midfielder, He could have covered Hendrick's lack of involvement. Bottom line is I refuse to accept rank mediocrity year in and year out. And when Whelan is gone, there are a few others I'll turn my attention to

[Olé Olé]

Normally after an Ireland match when we're on the barstool, a few of the lads resort to the easy option if the result isn't what we need. They blame it on Whelan. Yesterday was the first time I've been able to relax and not have to defend Whelan when he's the brunt of the jokes by the boys.

[Jd2793]

Lazy criticism? Not really. It didn't just happen because of yesterday's performance. It has been formed over many frustrating years. And regarding Hendrick's poor performance yesterday, you are spot on, Whelan shouldn't have to make up for his shortcomings. But I didn't say he should. I'm saying if he was a better more influential midfielder, He could have covered Hendrick's lack of involvement. Bottom line is I refuse to accept rank mediocrity year in and year out. And when Whelan is gone, there are a few others I'll turn my attention to

'Rank mediocrity' what other Irish player would you put in there as a matter of interest? Some fans delusion with the quality of player we have available to us is unbelievable. You'd swear we have Sergio Busquets on the bench the way people go on.

[OwlsFan]

Can you be really honest with me? I mean really honest. Do you think Whelan or O'Shea are worthy of being picked to play international football? They are two of the worst players Ireland has ever produced. .

A quote of yours from 2012. You have been banging this drum for 5 years now despite around 700 appearances between the two in the top flight. Selected on a regular basis by managers of renown at both club and international level. Do YOU not think therefore that YOU are missing something about these players but Whelan in particular. Ask yourself: why would Whelan be constantly be selected by whatever manager he plays for? Are they all myopic that they cannot see year in, year out, that he is useless and contributes nothing.

Whelan's job is NOT the play-maker or to go forward and score. His job is the defensive midfield role and that is what he is asked to do by his managers at club and country level. Full stop. I couldn't count the number of times he picked up the loose ball from Austrian clearances and played the simple ball out wise or inside. In that role, he cannot afford to lose possession. His tracking back is also excellent when the opposition is on the break. There is an excellent article about him here https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/is-glenn-whelan-the-most-misunderstood-player-in-irish-football-49332

With respect, the problem is not with Whelan; it's you inability to see what he brings to the team. That said, his role is a negative one (although good defensive play is a positive attribute) and perhaps a "flair player" could perform that role as well. However, I am struggling to see one. You were a great fan of Stephen Ireland but where is he now ? James McCarthy has struggled to fulfill his potential as the attacking mid-fielder we thought he's be and Harry Arter is just making it in to the side. Whelan does what he is asked to do by his managers in a competent and unassuming way. They are obviously happy with that. Therefore, so am I.

[mark12345]

'Rank mediocrity' what other Irish player would you put in there as a matter of interest? Some fans delusion with the quality of player we have available to us is unbelievable. You'd swear we have Sergio Busquets on the bench the way people go on.

Murphy, Ward, Hendrick by the looks of things and Duffy pretty soon if all he can do is belt the ball long.

[mark12345]

I stand by the quote from 2012. I'll also stand by my belief that had Hoolahan started yesterday we would be 2 points ahead of the group today. In fairness to Whelan, he had a bad co-worker in Hendrick yesterday (and if truth is told I did give Whelan some kudos for last week's performance) and he seems to be giving everything he's got which is admirable. But at the end of the day............

[Charlie Darwin]

Bottom line is I refuse to accept rank mediocrity year in and year out.
Oh good, so you're going to take action. What are you going to do about it?

[CraftyToePoke]

That man makes a fine point chaps, he dropped Whelan at the finals and we evolved football wise thereafter. Yesterdays selection was back to the cave chaps, back to the cave quick. He played to contain, to not lose, now that has it's place and time but at home to a side we had beaten away on a day we could have put such pressure on every other side for every other minute of the qualifying campaign was neither time nor place.

[nigel-harps1954]

Is there any footage of the Walters non-penalty? RTÉ highlights doesn't have it on the player. Interested to see it back.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was on the highlights show I thought. They analysed it after the game.

[DeLorean]

Is there any footage of the Walters non-penalty? RTÉ highlights doesn't have it on the player. Interested to see it back.

Yeah, it's discussed here at 33:50 - http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/european-qualifiers-30004200/10737531/

An accidental coming together I think and the goal was rightly disallowed too. Duffy was silly, he really didn't need to lean so blatantly with his arm.

[KrisLetang]

We're still in the "Good chance to qualify" color. Whew.

https://i.redd.it/jhjkprwefs2z.png

https://twitter.com/we_global/status/847105022592765954?lang=en

Iran have gotten in. 65% chance on the above.

[tetsujin1979]

Says that Serbia have a better chance than we do

[DeLorean]

In fairness to Whelan, he had a bad co-worker in Hendrick yesterday

Hendrick wasn't Whelan's "co-worker" yesterday, Arter was.

I'm not and have never been Whelan's biggest fan but he is what he is. He did fine yesterday and better than most. I do think that we have the potential to be a better side without him though. I feel his presence reduces our energy levels and dynamism. A lot of our better performances have come in his absence.

Hendrick was stationed too far forward, he was ahead of the play most of the time and really struggled to get into the game. He was probably following instructions but maybe should have taken it upon himself to drop deeper and try to get into the match, as he did at the Euros even when Whelan & McCarthy were selected in the more orthodox midfield roles. The difference at the Euros was Hoolahan's presence to provide the support to Long.

With Hendrick and Brady both playing in unfamiliar roles it's little wonder we struggled, reverting Brady to left back has to be considered I think, as it would be unfair to drop McClean to accommodate him on the left wing, at the moment anyway. With the yellow card situation though, maybe Brady should sit out the Georgia match? The last thing we need is him missing the Serbia game with another suspension but obviously we need the points in Georgia too.

The game yesterday was a carbon copy of the Poland home fixture in the last campaign, with regards the timing of the goals, the general ebb and flow of the game and our unrecognisable improvement as we were chasing the game in the second half. Poland also had a good few players missing and it was seen very much as two points dropped, despite us levelling late on.

There was also a lot of complaining about the referee in the aftermath of that Poland game and a very similar incident to the disallowed Duffy goal. We came out the right side of it that night though as the referee didn't penalise Walters for toppling Fabianski in the lead up to the equaliser. I thought the referee yesterday was perfectly fine but haven't seen the game back yet.

We could have won with a different approach - no point in talking all week about taking the game to Austria with an ambition of winning the match and then leaving our most creative player on the bench. O'Neill's actions spoke louder than any of his words.

That said, as we were losing 1-0 with five minutes to go my overriding feeling is not 'two points dropped'... but 'absolute catastrophe averted'.

[tricky_colour]

We're still in the "Good chance to qualify" color. Whew.

https://i.redd.it/jhjkprwefs2z.png

https://twitter.com/we_global/status/847105022592765954?lang=en

Iran have gotten in. 65% chance on the above.

So you could say their religion in is Shi'te but their qualification chances are somewhat better than that.

[tricky_colour]

Says that Serbia have a better chance than we do

I would say so, we are about 7/4 to top the group Serbia about 6/4. One bookmaker has both 13/8 though.

Worst odds, 2-1 for us and 13/8 Serbia.

[Drumcondra 69er]

My thoughts on Sunday's disappointing yet predictable result now that the dust has settled......

http://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.ie/2017/06/only-names-have-changed.html

[EAFC_rdfl]

My thoughts on Sunday's disappointing yet predictable result now that the dust has settled......

http://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.ie/2017/06/only-names-have-changed.html

To me it looked like the change to 4-4-2 happened towards the end of the first half, rather than when the first sub happened. Mcclean was moved from left side to be up along with Walters, with Brady moving from right to left and Hendrick going right, leaving just Whelan and Arter as a midfield two. I noticed it from around 15minutes before the break I'd say.

[Olé Olé]

Still can't comprehend MON leaving Hendrick where he was being bypassed by the game for the entire first half.

He had a few options but didn't want to use them. He could have moved McClean up front, Hendrick to the right and Brady to the left. I think that would have been better and wouldn't have required any substitutions.

Baffling stuff. It really was. Austria were given far too much respect and we could really pay for that.

[Drumcondra 69er]

To me it looked like the change to 4-4-2 happened towards the end of the first half, rather than when the first sub happened. Mcclean was moved from left side to be up along with Walters, with Brady moving from right to left and Hendrick going right, leaving just Whelan and Arter as a midfield two. I noticed it from around 15minutes before the break I'd say.

I thought McClean and Hendrick essentially just swapped places myself. McClean was then playing far more of a free role than you'd see in a standard 4-4-2? Haven't watched the game back in full mind you, just going by memory and highlights!

[Charlie Darwin]

He could have moved McClean up front, Hendrick to the right and Brady to the left. I think that would have been better and wouldn't have required any substitutions.
That's exactly what he did do.

[Olé Olé]

Was Brady playing left of midfield at some point? I didn't notice that. Nor did I see James come in too far off his wing at any stage. And Hendrick was anonymous so maybe he was out on the right. Have to watch that back.

[Fixer82]

Watched the match back last night.

Honestly, I still think we were the better side for most of the game. They barely got into our half in the first half. They took one chance.

Brady said they were more composed on the ball. They were at times but it was generally when passing around their back 4. We just couldn't convert our pressing into chances in first half which was frustrating. Wes would've been more constructive in this department of course.

They had more chances at the start of the second half and then the substitutions shifted it back in our favour.

I honestly think people watch the games and repeat what Dunphy and pals say. And Beglin too who I've never really rated as a co-commentator.

Dunphy banging on about Kevin Long being inexperienced. Long had a very solid game. O'Shea is not the answer. Long was a good call and looked more assured than Duffy at times.

Christie did fine too. Not as catastrophic as people making out. Not amazing but not dreadful.

Whelan had an excellent game. Barely put a foot wrong. But Dunphy's narrative feeds into the public narrative. It's getting tiresome. In fact, it got tiresome years ago!

But watch it back. Austria were penned back for most of the game. Duffy hoofed ball at times which wasn't working but I still feel overall we deserved the win.

We created chances in the first half that, if converted, people would've been saying O'Neill got his tactics bang on.
If someone had been on the end of Christie's cross from the right. If Walters had finished that great move that started with him letting the ball run through to the wing. If Long had gotten properly on the end of that corner.
If one of Robbie Brady's 3 or 4 shots hadn't been blocked.

And in second half, if McClean had passed to Arter in yards of space, if McClean had finished instead of lashing the ball wide, if Arter had gotten his shot on target, if one of Murphy or Long's headers hadn't been cleared off the line.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't understand how you could think we had them penned back in the first half.

[Eminence Grise]

We had them penned back as far as the edge of our penalty area!

[Fixer82]

I don't understand how you could think we had them penned back in the first half.

How often did they get near our box in the first half? Twice?

How often did we get near theirs?

Watch it back