Republic of Ireland V Gibraltar - 10th June 2019 - Euro 2020 Qualifier

[brine3]

How will he blame Doherty for this performance vs Gibraltar?

[shakermaker1982]

We cannot cross a football.

Zero creativity. Get ball out wide and hit a defender. Repeat.

[tommy_c12000]

Worst I’ve seen. Mick as stubborn as ever. Nothing else to say, that is all

[the 12 th man]

I swear Crumlin Utd or Sherriff or Avondale would beat Gibraltar.

[The Fly]

Finally.

Denmark 5 - 1 Georgia btw.

[passinginterest]

Fairly indefensible performance overall. To only score one and barely have a couple of shots on target is desperate.

Scratch that. Second goal makes all the difference...

[Eminence Grise]

Fairly indefensible performance overall. To only score one and barely have a couple of shots on target is desperate.

Scratch that. Second goal makes all the difference...

Yup. Lipstick on a pig.

[Eirambler]

Positives?? We learnt a few players are nowhere near good enough. It's pointless wasting any more time on someone like Seanie Maguire, he is terrible even at this level. Hogan was useless as well.

[zero]

a win. hogan was about gibraltar level, if that. hard to see how he ever scored goals.

hendrick was very poor also. hourihane showed for the ball and tried to be creative. stevens and mcclean are a very poor left side, but i suppose who else do we have?

[rebelmusic]

The only reason I can think that Robinson came off was that he started to look a bit tired just before the change. I would have given him man of the match personally, I don't see how in hell McGoldrick got it

[The Fly]

We certainly play to the standard of the opposition.

It's a cunning ploy to lull the bigger teams into a false sense of security I tell ya!

[pineapple stu]

Good quote from the RTE rolling report -


This game feels like a two minute spell of play that's repeating endlessly and always ends with a poor cross leads to a corner which comes to nothing.

[geysir]

It looked a very nice 2nd goal but I suspect the goalie flapped at the cross.

[nigel-harps1954]

Less said the better. 3 points, move on.


Only one point to make. Professional footballers should be able to pass a ball five yards to their team-mate.

[osarusan]

Garbage from the first minute to the 93rd. No positives to take from it really.

[pineapple stu]

It looked a very nice 2nd goal but I suspect the goalie flapped at the cross.

I think that's harsh on flapping tbh

He jumped up under the highest trajectory of the cross. Terrible

[Fizzer]

Thank god that’s over.Not far off San Marino again other than Gibraltar were wrecked after Georgia.Stevens,McLean and Hogan were dreadful.At least Coleman and Hourihane tried.I really like Hendrick but he went from awful to actually downing tools with 20 minutes to go, he’d want to take a look at himself.Maguire is not good enough, running away from goal and into Duffy like that when that’s exactly where you’d expect Duffy to be attacking....I dunno.At least there’s Obafemi to come back in.Maybe we do need to have a look at this Crowley fella after all.

[geysir]

Even considering the absolute 'direness' of our approach play I don't think this game changes anything, cráp winning games against minnows don't matter in the scheme of a qualification campaign.

[Eirambler]

Do the Irish lads have a bet on how many times they can get "10 points from 4 games" into the post match interviews or something?

[elatedscum]

Hendrick must be absolutely shot with confidence. Rarely have I seen a greater difference between natural ability and performance. Comparing him to the player we saw in the lead up to Euro 2016, it’s appalling. Can’t come up with any other explanation...

The faster McCarthy, Arter, Browne and Connell are back in the squad, the better. Seeing what Cullen could do would have been a good idea. Ditto regarding Crowley, Byrne and Ronan.

[Diggs246]

I love mick, but he was poor today. Starting Hogan who was unfit and over weight. No game time for Josh Cullen and for not executing Jeff.

[liamoo11]

Switzerland at home next dont see any possibility mick changes anything if everyone is fit the side that played against Denmark will start with maybe Robinson in for Brady. Whelan will still start ahead of McCarthy even if he is back playing. Crowley likely wont be in the squad even if his transfer has come through. We will need to find a way to beat Georgia and win one of those 3 games against the swiss and Danes and get another draw somewhere to see us through. Tough ask and no way mick is going to experiment rightly or wrongly

[Diggs246]

If james McCarthy is playing and whelo is still unemployed. McCarthy will start. Our problem is the 2 guys beside him. Jeff and Conor they are the Houdinis of our international team. Not the magic part but the disappearing part

[elatedscum]

Comical ratings from RTE.ie:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0610/1054566-player-ratings-robinson-the-avivas-shining-light/

In case they are deleted:

Randolph 7

Coleman 8
Keogh 7
Duffy 7
Stevens 7

Hourihane 8.5
Hendrick 7

Robinson 9
McGoldrick 8.5
McClean 7

Hogan 7

Maguire 7
Brady 7.5

[Olé Olé]

Watched how lateral our midfielders played even in the opposition half and couldn't help but think that Jack Byrne could be an answer to our problems. His goal the other night against Derry was an example of his ability to get forward momentum even in tight scenarios. Whether or not he can do it against the Danes and the Swiss, I don't know. But he could definitely have done it last night. It will be interesting to see what it takes for him to get into the reckoning (probably proving himself at a higher club level).

Dan Crowley in the meantime would make sense too. I don't know what's going on there or if his transfer has gone through yet. That didn't preclude Mick from calling Max O'Leary in for training.

[Diggs246]

Comical ratings from RTE.ie:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0610/1054566-player-ratings-robinson-the-avivas-shining-light/

In case they are deleted:

Randolph 7

Coleman 8
Keogh 7
Duffy 7
Stevens 7

Hourihane 8.5
Hendrick 7

Robinson 9
McGoldrick 8.5
McClean 7

Hogan 7

Maguire 7
Brady 7.5

They forgot the zero and the decimal point in front of those lunatic asylum ratings

[brine3]

Wouldn't surprise me if Crowley ends up at PSV, puts in a couple of food Champions League performances and gets called up to the England squad

[Olé Olé]

Wouldn't surprise me if Crowley ends up at PSV, puts in a couple of food Champions League performances and gets called up to the England squad
He wants to play with us though. Unless Mick pulls off qualification too by the time all of the above could have taken place then Kenny is likely to be in situ. And if he's playing that well then I would be shocked if he doesn't get a call-up. I think he should have been called up by now but it's hardly been a grave travesty that he hasn't given that he may not even be eligible with too long. Doherty gathering splinters given his PL form and not being found any place could be considered a greater travesty.

[brine3]

It's Mick. Once he settles on his mates he stays very loyal to them. See also McAteer starting against Cameroon in 2002 even though he wasn't even fit enough to be in the squad.

Also left John O'Shea at home in 2002, even though he was in the form of his life.

[Diggs246]

Wouldn't surprise me if Crowley ends up at PSV, puts in a couple of food Champions League performances and gets called up to the England squad

Once fifa accept his application he is gone. Basically england have missed the boat on this one

[tetsujin1979]

It's Mick. Once he settles on his mates he stays very loyal to them. See also McAteer starting against Cameroon in 2002 even though he wasn't even fit enough to be in the squad.

Also left John O'Shea at home in 2002, even though he was in the form of his life.
O'Shea made 13 appearances for United in the 2001/02 season, with no goals. How was this "the form of his life"?

[backstothewall]

My ratings

Randolph 6
Coleman 5
Keogh 6
Duffy 5
Stevens 6
Hourihane 6
Hendrick 5
Robinson 7
McGoldrick 7
McClean 4
Hogan 5

Maguire 7
Brady 7

[jbyrne]

My ratings

Randolph 6
Coleman 5
Keogh 6
Duffy 5
Stevens 6
Hourihane 6
Hendrick 5
Robinson 7
McGoldrick 7
McClean 4
Hogan 5

Maguire 7
Brady 7

coleman had a far better game than stevens who had a stinker.

[Diggs246]

My ratings

Randolph 6
Coleman 5
Keogh 6
Duffy 5
Stevens 6
Hourihane 6
Hendrick 5
Robinson 7
McGoldrick 7
McClean 4
Hogan 5

Maguire 7
Brady 7
You will have to explain the Maguire 7

( no guilford 4 jokes plesse)

[Jolly Red Giant]

The only two players worth talking about last night were Hourihane and Robinson - they were the only two who showed a bit of inventiveness. McGoldrick is a journeyman grafter and Coleman was trying to do too much. Hogan is a run-of-the-mill Championship player who spent most of the season on the bench. McClean and Hendrick need to be benched at this point - neither have done anything for several games now and Duffy needs a good kicking - he will cost us in future games without it. I think we badly missed Shane Long last night.

The biggest issue now with McCarthy is that he is not playing arguably the second best player in the squad in Doherty. I thought McCarthy might have brought a little bit of a more relaxed approach second time around - but he seems as stubborn as ever. Unless he gets Doherty on the field in the next game I would be calling for his head immediately.

As for the next game - Whelan will be a few months off 36 and possibly without a club - if McCarthy ends up at Newcastle then I think you have to give him a game. I would put out a team something like - Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Stevens, Doherty, McCarthy, Hourihane, Robinson, Maguire, Long - but I suspect it will end up something like - Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Stevens, Brady, Hourihane, Whelan, Hendrick, McClean, McGoldrick.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Would be expecting a more comfortable win than the away game. Like many I blamed the wind for our less than stellar showing then, so it will be good if they can confirm that opinion by scoring a few tonight.

Hmm. Very poor showing yesterday, a cause for great concern. It was so hard to breakdown a team of limited amateurs. It's chastening to think that we will probably have to beat Denmark or Switzerland to progress. On this basis Georgia away will be hard enough.

[backstothewall]

coleman had a far better game than stevens who had a stinker.

I disagree. I thought Coleman had a shocker. Against an opponent like Gibraltar the full backs should be on the touchline offering width. There was no defending to be done. Coleman seemed to spend most of the game gormlessly watching Robinson being swarmed rather than giving him an overlapping run.

For me Stevens was totally anonymous. Coleman was noticibly bad.

[jbyrne]

I disagree. I thought Coleman had a shocker. Against an opponent like Gibraltar the full backs should be on the touchline offering width. There was no defending to be done. Coleman seemed to spend most of the game gormlessly watching Robinson being swarmed rather than giving him an overlapping run.

For me Stevens was totally anonymous. Coleman was noticibly bad.

coleman got in behind the gib defence numerous times. granted his final ball was lacking but i cant remember stevens getting in behind even once

[Diggs246]

Coleman, Robinson and McGoldrick did play imo

I just dont get the Hourihane love in, I thought he was sh*t

We need James McCarthy back ASAP,

I know I'm repeating myself but why not play Matt Doherty at right back and Coleman in the advanced role ??

[Diggs246]

Would anyone object to this team against the Swiss ( if they are playing ok at club level of course)
-----------Randy
Matt D Duffy Egan Stevens
-------James McCarthy ----
Coleman -------Robinson------O dowda
------------ McGoldrick
------------Michael Obafemi

[pineapple stu]

coleman got in behind the gib defence numerous times. granted his final ball was lacking but i cant remember stevens getting in behind even once
I'd agree with that. I was sat midway into their half for the first half; Coleman (in front of me) was linking up well with Robinson, while Stevens on the far side seemed to have too loose a touch and lost possession more often.

Coleman was on the far side then for the second half, so harder to really see his play, but overall I thought Coleman and Robinson were the only two bright spots. It was in the centre where I thought we were really poor. I know Gibraltar massed their defence, but these are the kind of teams that get broken down with a through ball, not a cross.

[DeLorean]

Would anyone object to this team against the Swiss ( if they are playing ok at club level of course)

-----------Randy

Expect an immediate objection from Real ale Madrid! :)

[brine3]

O'Shea made 13 appearances for United in the 2001/02 season, with no goals. How was this "the form of his life"?

Oh, I didn't realise he was a striker. I stand corrected.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I'm just relieved we weren't up against a pub team with fully charged batteries.

[pineapple stu]

If the crowd was 35k and the population of Gibraltar is 35k, then basically the best XI of the stadium crowd should be better than Gibraltar

So Ireland struggled to beat a team slightly worse than the crowd who'd paid in to watch

[SkStu]

Would anyone object to this team against the Swiss ( if they are playing ok at club level of course)
-----------Randy
Matt D Duffy Egan Stevens
-------James McCarthy ----
Coleman -------Robinson------O dowda
------------ McGoldrick
------------Michael Obafemi

I think the three of Coleman, Robinson and O'Dowda is very unbalanced and an example of square pegs in round holes. And I wouldn't drop Keogh for Egan (I would be more willing to drop Duffy). I might give the following a run out:

Randolph

Coleman
Keogh
Duffy
Doherty

Browne [it would though be madness to give him a first start against the Swiss]
McCarthy
Hourihane

Robinson
McGoldrick
Long

The game yesterday was absolutely dire. I agree with those that thought Coleman was poor and my take is that Stevens has not shown us anything at this level yet. Hes functional but he is very one dimensional. Duffy's inability to find any sort of decent pass is a serious limitation for the team (ignoring the 3 yard pass that he put out for a throw, his short passing is always behind the receiver, never puts them on the front foot). Keogh was good and carried the ball forward effectively on a few occasions in both games. Hourihane had a good second half and his passing range is pretty impressive as he showed against the Danes too but he needs to impress himself on games more - dont know if it is a confidence thing. Hendrick needs to be benched quickly, his confidence is in tatters, nothing coming off and hes getting in the way. McClean should not be anywhere near the team (I have a feeling McClean is - or will become - McCarthy's biggest blind spot; the decision that leaves everyone scratching their heads all the time). He offers nothing - he is a no-trick pony at this stage - woeful. The Stevens/McClean combination on the left is the weakest i have seen in years. McGoldrick played well in the second half but he is not the main attacker we need. We need (and don't really have) a high striker who will hold it up and bring our wide attackers into play - he would do well behind such a striker. Hogan fluffed his audition completely - that he got nothing on that header in the first half was unforgivable. Robinson was truly the bright spark and came to life in the second half. He's a nice player to watch and his enthusiasm in playing for us is definitely a feel good factor. Hes done well in green in each game he has played now so is definitely a keeper. I am disappointed we didnt give Cullen even a few minutes as he is still a flight risk (however unlikely).

Weirdly, if McCarthy made 2 or 3 changes to that team, we would be in a good spot. I am a little concerned (full disclosure: I am a huge Mick Mc fan) that he wont make those changes.

[tetsujin1979]

Oh, I didn't realise he was a striker. I stand corrected.

I didn't realise he never played better than in the 2001/02 season.

[ifk101]

Missing the anchor in midfield last night, the 4-4-2 doesn't work with the players we have, didn't work in Gibraltar and didn't work at home against them either. Would rather we stick to the 4-5-1, perfect that, and use games against opposition such as Gibraltar to evolve it into a more advanced 4-3-3. Lost opportunity because the failings in the away game were put down to personnel, rather than how the team was set up to play.

[DeLorean]

Missing the anchor in midfield last night, the 4-4-2 doesn't work with the players we have, didn't work in Gibraltar and didn't work at home against them either.

Yes, that was frustratingly obvious as soon as the team was announced. I think even including Cullen would have given the midfield more balance and, without defending their performances, allowed Hourihane and Hendrick to play their more natural game.

[brine3]

I didn't realise he never played better than in the 2001/02 season.

He was bloody good then. I would say his peak was between 2001 - 2004. He's one of those players who peaked early. I remember seeing him when he broke into the Man Utd team in 2001-2002 and failing to understand how he wasn't in the World Cup squad.

Ian Harte was a liability for much of the 2002 World Cup. We didn't really have anybody take his place at left-back. Stan's pace was too much gone for playing at left-back. We could have had O'Shea at left-back, and that would also have allowed us to play Duff on the wing instead of having Kilbane cover for Duff. Steven Reid was also really good back then (pre-injury), but Mick stayed loyal to McAteer (when he was clearly injured) and Gary Kelly (who was off the boil).

Below is a possible 2002 Starting XI in an alternate universe, which would have put Duff out on the left where he could do maximum damage, and taken advantage of the fact that we had three class central midfielders (play them all! we were always dropping one of Kinsella or Holland... Mick not being able to accommodate multiple top players is a recurring theme).

Given
Finnan - Cunningham - Breen - O'Shea
Reid - Kinsella - Keane - Holland - Duff
Keane

There has always been too much of loyalty to existing players in the Ireland squad and it has done my head in for years. Not just by Mick but by all managers. Places in the team should be continually earned, there should be no favouritism.