France V Republic of Ireland - Monday 28th May 2018 - Friendly

[samhaydenjr]

While the France game would come too soon after the Championship Play-off final, could Hourihane and Hogan be called up for the USA game? We really need to have a look at them, especially if Villa go up.

[IsMiseSean]

Who is showing the France game?

[liamoo11]

Who is showing the France game?

I'll have it on in my house if you want to call over!

[DeLorean]

RTÉ 2, coverage starts at 19:30, k/o 20:00.

[IsMiseSean]

I'll have it on in my house if you want to call over!

Do I need to bring my own beer?

[Closed Account]

Alan Judge added to the squad

https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/may/alan-judge-added-to-ireland-squad/

[OwlsFan]

Alan Judge added to the squad

https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/may/alan-judge-added-to-ireland-squad/

Surprised he wasn't in it in the first place. Before the injury, Newcastle were about to sign him. Hopefully he's well on his way back

[Stuttgart88]

Is there a match tonight? :)

Anyone prepared to guess the team? I haven't a rashers!

Doyle
Seamus-Duffy-Long-LB
Meyler-Rice
O'Dowda-Browne-McLean
Long

I'd probably pick Cunningham at LB myself but Williams and Stevens could both play there too. I'd like to see Doherty start so maybe put him at LB though I generally don't like RBs playing LB even if they do it at club level sometimes. I'd maybe move O'Dowda into Browne's position and play Doherty RHM.

But it could be anything...

[OwlsFan]

Is there a match tonight? :)

Anyone prepared to guess the team? I haven't a rashers!

Doyle
Seamus-Duffy-Long-LB
Meyler-Rice
O'Dowda-Browne-McLean
Long

I'd probably pick Cunningham at LB myself but Williams and Stevens could both play there too. I'd like to see Doherty start so maybe put him at LB though I generally don't like RBs playing LB even if they do it at club level sometimes. I'd maybe move O'Dowda into Browne's position and play Doherty RHM.

But it could be anything...

Why do you call Coleman by his forename and the rest by their surnames ? Is he a personal friend :) ? Seen worse teams. Doherty has to start someplace

[jbyrne]

Is there a match tonight? :)

Anyone prepared to guess the team? I haven't a rashers!

Doyle
Seamus-Duffy-Long-LB
Meyler-Rice
O'Dowda-Browne-McLean
Long

I'd probably pick Cunningham at LB myself but Williams and Stevens could both play there too. I'd like to see Doherty start so maybe put him at LB though I generally don't like RBs playing LB even if they do it at club level sometimes. I'd maybe move O'Dowda into Browne's position and play Doherty RHM.

But it could be anything...

I think he will find a position for arter. could see rice played LB to accommodate this

[Diggs246]

I would like Conor O'Malley to start, we know what level Doyle is at and he is early 33

[tetsujin1979]

It's fair to say our record against France isn't great
last beat them in 1981, last beat them in France in 1937!
https://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2686&stc=1

[osarusan]

I never liked the rule that a victory over 90 minutes doesn't count as such if things change in extra time.

EDIT: or, at least, that there is no mention at all that the game went into extra time.

[pineapple stu]

Agreed. We beat them last time.

This time though...

How many are left in the squad now? Can we expect everyone to get a run tonight? Or certainly between now and Saturday?

I'd be worried this will end up like the Portugal friendly before the last World Cup.

[IsMiseSean]

I have absolutely no idea what starting XI MON will go with tonight.

I'd like to see something like;
O'Malley
Coleman, Duffy, Long, Cunningham
Meyler, Rice, Arter
O'Dowda, Long, McClean

[Fixer82]

Agreed. We beat them last time.

This time though...
.


Well, last time was Euro 2016.
But I know what ya mean.
I think that Henry match should count as a win for Ireland

[Stuttgart88]

Why do you call Coleman by his forename and the rest by their surnames ? Is he a personal friend :) ? Seen worse teams. Doherty has to start someplaceHe warrants the distinction!

[ger121]

Real chance for Burke. Squad is thin in parts but quite good given the circumstances.

If he goes 2 up front then you think that Burke might start along side Long. It’s a friendly so not like we need to go with one up front. It is O’Neill though, so we could end up with Long as the lone striker.

[pineapple stu]

Well, last time was Euro 2016.
But I know what ya mean.
I think that Henry match should count as a win for Ireland
Whoops!

Actually, I worry tonight could be like that match too, which was an absolute battering in all areas except the scoreboard.

But important to be aware that it is just an experimental friendly for us.

[jbyrne]

Whoops!

Actually, I worry tonight could be like that match too, which was an absolute battering in all areas except the scoreboard.



it was pretty even until the 60th minute when we completely ran out of steam having played only a few days earlier Vs frances 7 day rest after their last group game

[pineapple stu]

We were getting thumped before half time in that one.

Once they realised - at half-time - that they had no need of a holding midfielder (Kanté) and made an attacking sub, we were utterly outclassed.

Only their ineptitude in front of goal kept it respectable on the scoreboard.

In my opinion

But tonight's a different game

[Closed Account]

1001159985462640641
https://i.imgur.com/wOGpLG7.png

[pineapple stu]

We were getting thumped before half time in that one.
Actually, looking back at the match thread here, we we well in it up to half time, but I think the change at half-time completely swung it, and comments at the time were that the equaliser - on 57 minutes - was coming since the break. So probably the truth is in between both our posts.

Anyways, who's on the bench tonight? Is it everyone else? So that'd be -

GK - O'Malley, Supple

DEF - Cunningham, Egan, Doherty, Rice, Lenihan, Stevens

MID - Meyler, Arter, O'Kane, Horgan, S Williams

FW - Burke

Too many for a full team swap, but would like to see 6 of that lot get a half hour at least.

[Closed Account]

Actually, looking back at the match thread here, we we well in it up to half time, but I think the change at half-time completely swung it, and comments at the time were that the equaliser - on 57 minutes - was coming since the break. So probably the truth is in between both our posts.

Anyways, who's on the bench tonight? Is it everyone else? So that'd be -

GK - O'Malley, Supple

DEF - Cunningham, Egan, Doherty, Rice, Lenihan, Stevens

MID - Meyler, Arter, O'Kane, Horgan, S Williams

FW - Burke

Too many for a full team swap, but would like to see 6 of that lot get a half hour at least.

1001162109730910208

[Closed Account]

1001161972791103488

[pineapple stu]

Amazing to look at that team - one ethnic French player, if I can use the phrase. Certainly only one French name in it (Giroud). All the rest are effectively from the African colonies - don't think any are more than first generation French.

[Closed Account]

Brave call on the bench by Martin
https://i.imgur.com/Car5Y7M.gif

[tricky_colour]

14% possession ;)

[pineapple stu]

Absolute men against boys. As expected really

Generally very good defensive shift about the best to be said about it.

[tetsujin1979]

Goal was coming, can't argue with it. Long looks very isolated up front.

[pineapple stu]

There's the League One keeper effect now...

This could be a long second half.

[pineapple stu]

Graham Burke on now. He's on a complete hiding to nothing here, God help him.

Hope he enjoys it at least.

Judge also on.

[sbgawa]

Great to see Burke on :)

[sbgawa]

If this was boxing you'd be looking for the towel to throw in

[osarusan]

We bring on Burke, they bring on Pogba and Dembele.

[seanfhear]

If this was boxing you'd be looking for the towel to throw inIs Richie in the Squad ?

[CraftyToePoke]

We bring on Burke, they bring on Pogba and Dembele.

Its no excuse.

[Eminence Grise]

We bring on Burke, they bring on Pogba and Dembele.

They probably thought it was their cup final....

[tetsujin1979]

Second half was an improvement in a "at least they didn't score" kind of way. They will really need to get a result against the States, who we beat 4-1 in November 2014, to end the season on a high (of sorts)

[Fixer82]

Second half was an improvement in a "at least they didn't score" kind of way. They will really need to get a result against the States, who we beat 4-1 in November 2014, to end the season on a high (of sorts)

Speaking of which, has Pilkington played since?
He’s recently been promoted to the PL with Cardiff and always thought he was a decent player.

[geysir]

As bad a performance Ireland have ever offered, poor management of a fixture which held so much promise, meeting France in a packed atmospheric stadium.

[tetsujin1979]

Speaking of which, has Pilkington played since?
He’s recently been promoted to the PL with Cardiff and always thought he was a decent player.
yeah, but only once. He was a second half sub in a 2-2 draw with Slovakia in 2016: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0329/778201-penalties-earn-ireland-a-draw-against-slovakia/

[OwlsFan]

On the positive side some new players were blooded which is what people have been calling for in friendlies. I was a bit embarrassed though by our performance in the first half though where we couldn't keep the ball, O'Dowda in particular being guilty in this respect. For me though the highlight was seeing both Coleman (Seamus to Stutts) and Judge back on the field after horrific leg breaks. Delighted for them both. We can build on the 2nd half performance and might have even nicked one in the end. For all their possession Doyle was called on to make only 3 saves (ignoring the one that wasn't a save). We have to work on our set pieces since we're going to get too many chances in open play.

[osarusan]

Bleak stuff for long periods, don't really know what France got out of it either.

[DeLorean]

Speaking of which, has Pilkington played since?
He’s recently been promoted to the PL with Cardiff and always thought he was a decent player.

Pilkington only started one Championship game last season and only 152 minutes in total. He did manage three goals in that time which was a better than decent return and would make you wonder why he featured so little - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/what-future-now-holds-every-14633201


Anthony Pilkington
It looked for all money as though Pilkington would leave last summer, and yet he stayed. For long periods was a peripheral member of the Bluebirds' promotion winning squad but played his part with some vital goals. He has Premier League experience so it wouldn't be a shock if he actually stayed on.

[Fixer82]

Would love to see us play some football on the ground and hold the ball for long periods. I think Eunan O’Kane is actually quite good at this but not sure he in the squad. Injured?

[Charlie Darwin]

Pulled out with injury, yeah.

[zero]

Not many positives to take from that - good experience for the younger players I guess. Long continues to be very much off the boil. I thought Williams did quite well at left back, though it's interesting that O'Neill appears to favour him over Doherty who will be a PL player next season.

Hopefully the performance against USA will be a marked improvement.

[OwlsFan]

I thought Williams did quiet well at left back, though it's interesting that O'Neill appears to favour him over Doherty who will be a PL player next season.

Not sure about that as Doherty is a right back so it made sense to play Williams rather than Doherty in that position.

[Diggs246]

Not sure about that as Doherty is a right back so it made sense to play Williams rather than Doherty in that position.
Doherty can and has played LB, he is a far better player than Williams and truth be told Ward too. Also if I was Cunningham i would be wondering what i did wrong.!