Switzerland v Republic of Ireland - Geneva - 15th October 2019 - Euro 2020 Qualifier

[brine3]

Whelan is consistently about five yards off the pace.

[The Fly]

It's getting loose now, but at least we're trying to play a bit more I suppose.

[brine3]

We were 1 nil down in a cup game a couple of weeks ago with 20 to go. The gaffa thought “I know let’s go for a 352”. We conceded 2 goals straight away because we didn’t have a clue who was doing what. This is repeating itself before my very eyes!!!!

I remember there being a team in red.

[passinginterest]

Three passes there and a shot on goal. Goes to show these lads are not great either. There’s definitely chances to be had.

[youngirish]

I agree these players don't have a clue how to play 3-5-2 but many of them don't have a clue how to play 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 either.

[pineapple stu]

3-5-3 might give us a chance in fairness.

Assuming we still have a keeper of course

[tricky_colour]

All those yellow cards are not helping.

[youngirish]

I see Egan comes from the Shane Duffy school of centre back distribution.

[Nesta99]

Looking leggy already! Pitch and chasing shadows. One tired lunge from a red card. Fussy ref against with a bunch of amatuer dramatics and no allowance for conditions. Hiding to nothing at the moment. One good thing is the ability to change shape on the hop before the game is beyond us - something we wouldnt have seen during the last regime!

[NeverFeltBetter]

Not going too well.

Randolph: Good save early when he was unsighted. Couldn't do much about the goal.

Egan: Some important interceptions.
Coleman: Swiss mostly going down the opposite side, so wasn't up to much. Not great going forward.
Duffy: OK. Maybe could have done more for the goal? Still our biggest goal threat.
Stephens: Some nice runs forward, but woeful shot just past the half-hour. Did his job at the back.

Browne: Needs to be more mindful. Stupid foul for the booking, and not doing his defensive duties properly.
Hendricks: Anonymous, unless he's fouling people, losing his mark and sending the ball over the endline.
Whelan: Weak in lead-up to goal. Not justifying his continued selection.
McClean: Not great, should have been booked. Caught out of position at the back a few times. Some smart passes all the same.

Collins: Outpaced by Swiss defenders, very poor attempt right at the whistle.
Connolly: Little in the way of service or support, so hard to judge. Made some decent runs, but struggled with the pitch.

So, the defence is doing OK, but the midfield is lacking and the attack largely superfluous. Not the best situation when you're chasing the game. A couple of indications the team can pass the ball around in the opposition half are a bit encouraging. But suspect its already beat Denmark or bust. Just kind of waiting for the Swiss to kill it off.

[osarusan]

Grim stuff.

And on the very few occasions we've passed with any urgency, they suddenly look poor enough.

[Fixer82]

Egan guilty of belting the ball over Swiss goal line a few times also.
Grim is right.

Swiss are a different class at the moment

[passinginterest]

Grim stuff.

And on the very few occasions we've passed with any urgency, they suddenly look poor enough.

I think that’s what’s making it worse. Any time we put 3 passes together they look very vulnerable. That was a serious chance at the end of the half, they were all over the place. A bit more composure and there’s plenty of opportunities the Swiss are under massive pressure and they look nervy enough.

[SwanVsDalton]

Call me crazy but I just don't think this not-playing-football tactic is working out.

[Razors left peg]

Imagine having a midfielder who could actually get on the ball and pick a pass

[centre mid]

Swiss have little quality but we just can't string more than 2 passes together. Browne hasn't worked. I think Randolph could've done better for their goal. We'll get chances as these are poor at the back.

[shakermaker1982]

This is as bad as the bad days of Trap/MON.

It’s caveman football but without any belief that the tactic will actually work. They are now lumping it long because it’s all they know and it passes on the responsibility to somebody else.

[Fixer82]

O’Dowda showing a bit of calmness and cleverness so far

[backstothewall]

I missed the first half but we look decent from the first 10 mins of the second.

[NeverFeltBetter]

A bit better this half. Amazingly, professional footballers can play football.

Still need Randolph to bail us out of course.

[shakermaker1982]

Mick has had a word...we’ve actually passed the ball on the ground!!

[tricky_colour]

Corner!

[backstothewall]

Would like to see Hourihane on. If only for his set piece delivery.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Look at us, bossing a game for once. Shame that ball fell to Egan and not Connolly.

[shakermaker1982]

Lichsteiner and his antics will get somebody sent off. Particularly with a soft ref like this one.

[backstothewall]

Jaysus that was close. That would have been curtains.

[passinginterest]

I know Coleman is captain, but he’s been nearly as big a liability as McClean in this game. Just losing the ball in dangerous positions or giving it away all the time.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Losing Duffy for the Denmark game is huge. Hopefully he can score two in the next twenty five minutes!

[pineapple stu]

Have we lost him?

They said at the start that it was 3 yellows was a ban, and only one Swiss was at risk

[NeverFeltBetter]

The "Misses Next Game" thing flashed?

[tricky_colour]

Have we lost him?

They said at the start that it was 3 yellows was a ban, and only one Swiss was at risk


I hope so!

Coleman is on a yellow too and someone else?

[The Fly]

Penalty.

[Razors left peg]

I remember now why I was delighted to see back of McCarthy last time

[The Fly]

Well done Randolph.

[backstothewall]

This pitch is reminding me of the Heysel Stadium in 97

[The Fly]

We're climbing the North face now.

[Real ale Madrid]

What a save.

[tricky_colour]

Gibraltar 2-2 Georgia.

Maybe Gibraltar and Georgia will save our bacon?

[NeverFeltBetter]

At some point we will have to consider Randolph in the same breath as Bonner and Given, if we aren't already.

[pineapple stu]

Gibraltar have come from 2-0 down against Georgia at home to equalise.

Puts Saturday's performance in perspective a bit

Edit - Georgia 3-2 up now

[Olé Olé]

Are Hendrick and McClean going to get 90minutes in this game? Says it all.

[passinginterest]

I know Whelan is not the most mobile at the best of times, but he can’t move at all at this stage, surely need a sub.

[backstothewall]

Time to shove Duffy up front

[pineapple stu]

The "Misses Next Game" thing flashed?
Hamilton just clarified the graphic was wrong. 3 yellows it is.

Coleman is out of course

[Razors left peg]

Explain to me why Doherty wasnt brought on instead of Browne playing right back

[The Fly]

Did anyone see a replay of the penalty incident?

[shakermaker1982]

Hogan has done ok since he came on.

[tricky_colour]

Corner!

[brine3]

Explain to me why Doherty wasnt brought on instead of Browne playing right back

Mick McCarthy is an idiot?

[tricky_colour]

Two quick goals and we're laughing.