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

[brine3]

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

Yep. Been brilliant ever since he came on against Germany and hasn't looked back since.

[osarusan]

Whelan: If we put in a performance like this at home to Denmark, we have a great chance to qualify for the euros.

You have to wonder what he is watching at times.

[shakermaker1982]

Nations League play off it is then....

[pineapple stu]

Did anyone see a replay of the penalty incident?
No actually.

Unfortunate with the own goal at the end, but for all that it was an improved second half performance, the Swiss hit the post, missed a penalty, forced a superb block and scored.

Thought the defence was outstanding at times. And it's just as well because we'd be shipping some utter hammerings if we couldn't defend

[SwanVsDalton]

Why did we start and finish that game like we had something to lose? Feels like we waved the white flag as soon as the team was picked, which is a shame cause the Swiss played almost at our level. Fairly pathetic.

[Razors left peg]

Mick McCarthy is an idiot?

Best explanation I can think of

[NeverFeltBetter]

Ugh. We played much better in the second half, but lack of really stand-out forward option is very telling: did we ever really threaten the Swiss goal? If we could play like that from the off against Denmark it would be encouraging. Too many passengers in the team all the same: Whelan, Hendricks, McClean should all be coming to the end of the line.

[Lionel Ritchie]

The elements of that performance that it was good to see are sadly a day late and a dollar short.

[the 12 th man]

Lost for words,so many players not up to it..Glen Whelan our MOM according to RTE :eek:..How do Hendrick and McClean get away it.



Edit MOM changed to Randolph.

[Fizzer]

Not nearly as annoyed as Saturday.Least we set out to try to win,Hendrick got on the ball and tried to make things happen but was forced too deep, Stevens was good, Egan, Duffy and Randolph exceptional. McLean was woeful again and it seemed like Coleman was on a mission to get sent off. I dunno, it’s not the worst thing in the world to have one big chance to do one on the Danes, the arrogant so and so’s. The stadium will be hopping and if we play like that we’ll have a shot.

[mark12345]

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

If I had a chance to talk to Mick just after the game, I would ask him why his players didn't play that brand of football ( second half style) in Georgia last Saturday? We might just be qualified by now if they did.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, I don't think the performance was all that bad. We started badly, made changes, improved, maybe got unlucky with the red (pending seeing a replay)

The bigger issue is the lack of players, especially forwards. Silk purse and sow's ear to an extent. 6 goals after 7 games, 2 of which were Gibraltar, is awful

[Fixer82]

We’re missing McGoldrick. That’s how sparse a squad we have.
McGoldrick has made the no.10 his own in this campaign and holds the ball up well.

Web very little quality. I actually thought Browne had a good second half and played some very good passes forward. Defended well too, having been anonymous in first half.

Hendrick drove me nuts as he has done for quite some time.

McClean was hit and miss.

Coleman was very poor. Overplayed the ball and wanted a scrap with the Swiss lad (can’t remember his name).

Whelan did well 80% of the time but when we’re relying on a 35-year old playing in Scotland as our main DM, well that says it all.

[pineapple stu]

There's the penalty replay anyway. Hands up in the box = penalty regardless of the fact that it was hit straight at him, unfortunately. No complaints over that

[Fixer82]

There's the penalty replay anyway. Hands up in the box = penalty regardless of the fact that it was hit straight at him, unfortunately. No complaints over that

Agree. Definite peno

[backstothewall]

As I said I only got seeing the second half. We huffed and puffed but it never really looked likely. Everyone was exhausted by the end

I'm not disappointed Coleman won't be available v Denmark.

[Diggs246]

Well we've invented a new football philosophy which I like to call "total garbage "

[pineapple stu]

As I said I only got seeing the second half. We huffed and puffed but it never really looked likely. Everyone was exhausted by the end

I'm not disappointed Coleman won't be available v Denmark.
You did well to miss the first half. The second half was ten times better

[backstothewall]

Very honest assessment from Mick McCarthy there. Sounded like a man who's had enough of being a sand bag for some of the underperforming members of his squad. I wonder if that means there will be changes for Denmark.

[Diggs246]

If we all finish on 15 points we go out right? as head to head turns to goal difference?

[pineapple stu]

If we beat Denmark by 2 goals, that should do it? HTH goal difference rather than overall, I'd have thought

[Diggs246]

If we beat Denmark by 2 goals, that should do it? HTH goal difference rather than overall, I'd have thought

If its hth goal difference 1-0 would do. But they would beat the swiss and the swiss us. But only 2 qualify

[elroy]

Realistically Swiss gonna finish on 17 now. Leaves DK with 15 and us with 12. If we beat DK then we are through on the H2H. Unfortunately cant see that happening right now.

[sbgawa]

Who are we likely to play in the Nations cup thing? or is it like the third secret of Fatima

[4tothefloor]

If we beat Denmark by 2 goals, that should do it? HTH goal difference rather than overall, I'd have thought
By 2 goals? Yea.... 😄

Peter Schmeichel was spot on. We are absolutely turgid. Some senior players that need binning. I’m actually happy Coleman is suspended. Doherty is superior and should be in on club form over the last 2 seasons anyway. Not that it will make a jot of a difference. The Danes will need a point in Dublin and we have as much chance of breaking them down as I have of winning the Euromillions.

[pineapple stu]

If its hth goal difference 1-0 would do. But they would beat the swiss and the swiss us. But only 2 qualify
HTH goal difference if we won 1-0 would be SUI +1, DEN 0 and IRL -1?

[Diggs246]

HTH goal difference if we won 1-0 would be SUI +1, DEN 0 and IRL -1?

So if swiss draw with Georgia we are basically out

[Nesta99]

McCarthy has instilled some belief in the team but it goes out the window when we are 'favourites' like v Georgia. When the shackles are off and we need to just go for it we start to look like we have pro footballers in the side. Having someone who creates an almost arrogant self belief may be no harm down the line. We can beat the Danes but it will be an ask. If we go one up we will go in to our shell, if we go behind we will have too much to do and will probably end up too open at the back so our best hope imo will be to keep them ar arms length and 0-0 for as long as possible and go at them seeking a late winner. Will need luck ie a favourable ref, not being hit with injuries and having them weakened so no Schmeichel or Erikksen...just for starters.

Thought the Nations Cup route was done??

[seanfhear]

Coleman’s first booking was really dumb stuff . Bad example from the Captain . He got sent off in his last game for Everton as well .

He is struggling . Hopefully Doherty can prove in the next game what we have been missing .

[geysir]

I'm more positive (a few degrees) about Ireland's qualifying chances after that game than before. And considering the way Denmark celebrated their "qualification" after beating the Swiss, it would be an added pleasure if we did manage it.

[mark12345]

We’re missing McGoldrick. That’s how sparse a squad we have.
McGoldrick has made the no.10 his own in this campaign and holds the ball up well.

Web very little quality. I actually thought Browne had a good second half and played some very good passes forward. Defended well too, having been anonymous in first half.

Hendrick drove me nuts as he has done for quite some time.

McClean was hit and miss.

Coleman was very poor. Overplayed the ball and wanted a scrap with the Swiss lad (can’t remember his name).

Whelan did well 80% of the time but when we’re relying on a 35-year old playing in Scotland as our main DM, well that says it all.

I agree with you completely on Hendrick and Whelan. Hendrick is now as bad as Whelan used to be. Everything Jeff did today failed. The most damning aspect of Mick McCarthy's performance today was his persistence with Whelan and Hendrick until the death. Hendrick"s quality was abysmal while Whelan, although much better than Hendrick, was tiring badly and should have been replaced by Cullen or Judge

[mark12345]

If we all finish on 15 points we go out right? as head to head turns to goal difference?

We are better off going out. We have no business going to a tournament where football will be played. A couple of encouraging displays today, but the reality is that we have had three successful managers now who don't want to roll up their sleeves on the training ground, and demand from their players precise and deliberate passing moves which keep the opposition chasing shadows, much like Switzerland did to us today

[samhaydenjr]

Who are we likely to play in the Nations cup thing? or is it like the third secret of Fatima

By my reckoning, if Slovakia uses their game in hand to overtake Hungary for second in their group, it's beginning to look like Wales, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. That's doable, but we'll have to beat two of them, starting with an away game in Wales, with no return leg. Potential improvements in personnel over today: Matt Doherty proves himself better than Coleman over the next two games; James McCarthy starts playing regularly and replaces Glenn Whelan; McGoldrick returns - he and the other Blades players continue to improve with more EPL time; Connolly gets two more caps and 15-20 EPL games under his belt, with a few more goals; Robbie Brady returns; Shane Long and/or Michael Obafemi start playing (and scoring) more for the Saints

[seanfhear]

You’d have to opine that Shane Long would offer more than James Collins if the last two games were anything to go buy . It was big step up for Collins . I wouldn’t write him off . He certainly will have seen what it is like to play at this level and who knows , maybe he can get a better undressing of what is needed and improve .

Long has sometimes produced for us and its not as if we are overflowing with options that have done that .

I wonder what's the ‘ difficulty ‘ Mick has with Shane ?

[ifk101]

It was big step up for Collins . I wouldn’t write him off.

He's 28 years ago. 29 in December. He's at his peak, it's downhill from here. Write him off because he's not good enough for international football.

[Stuttgart88]

Pretty depressing in several respects, not least in the feeling that we keep handicapping ourselves by picking McClean. I’m torn on Whelan. He’s too slow but still plays some great balls and plays with a determination that sets example.

It was also frustrating that last night showed we can play good football – but only if we adopt the mindset that we need to play good football. If we played more games with the attitude and courage to take risks and show for the ball like we did at the start of the second half yesterday then I can see a brighter future for Irish football. A mere whippersnapper mid-30s Stuttgart88 used to bemoan our lack of willingness to engage teams in a game. We did this in parts last night. I have doubts that Stephen Kenny will be tough or savvy enough to be genuinely successful in international football, but I’m looking forward to his “yes we can” attitude. We still have the Jack Charlton “take no risks, we’re not as good as them” attitude ingrained in our senior team’s culture.

I loved Connolly’s attitude. Gesticulating at poor service or bad decision making. He knows how the game should be played, and it wasn’t how we played for most of the first half. Hopefully that’s the standard his generation expects.

Parts of last night were encouraging and with a good starting XI we can give the Danes a good run for their money. I’d be inclined to go 3 at the back because Doherty & Stevens are such accomplished wing backs. At the very least make it a 433. Drop McClean, retain Browne, retain Connolly, bring back Long, pray Brady gets fit again…

[third policeman]

[QUOTE=Stuttgart88

Parts of last night were encouraging and with a good starting XI we can give the Danes a good run for their money. I’d be inclined to go 3 at the back because Doherty & Stevens are such accomplished wing backs. At the very least make it a 433. Drop McClean, retain Browne, retain Connolly, bring back Long, pray Brady gets fit again…[/QUOTE]

You can add James McCarthy to that list as well.

[ifk101]

I loved Connolly’s attitude. Gesticulating at poor service or bad decision making.

Think you can read that two ways :-)

But agree with the attitude part of your post. I like to see more intent to "win" games. Georgia game was reduced to hope of nicking a goal on a set piece and giving Connolly a run against tried legs. Last night's start and formation was akin to "I'm not sure now what to do, let's try this".

Whatever approach is decided, hopefully use the opportunity of New Zealand as a trial run and have a go.

[brine3]

Don't like Mick's post-match interview. We played a totally untested system in the first half, he changed it at half time and we played marginally better. And in the interview he's saying it's mostly the players' fault that they played bad in the first half.

Did you ever see a top manager like Wenger or Ferguson throw his players under the bus like that? I sure as hell never did.

[brine3]

You’d have to opine that Shane Long would offer more than James Collins if the last two games were anything to go buy . It was big step up for Collins . I wouldn’t write him off . He certainly will have seen what it is like to play at this level and who knows , maybe he can get a better undressing of what is needed and improve .

Long has sometimes produced for us and its not as if we are overflowing with options that have done that .

I wonder what's the ‘ difficulty ‘ Mick has with Shane ?

Long is not a natural goalscorer, but he is a natural forward. He runs good lines that takes out defenders for others (watch his movement in that goal that Walters scored with the Hendrick assist against Georgia a few years ago, for but one example), he is always open to take the ball, he put defenders under pressure, he wins you headers, he has pace that can stretch defenders. When Long is on the pitch, we have a higher chance of scoring, simply because he helps the others into the game so that they can score. He's a very good player.

The bandwagon Premier League crowd don't understand that.

[seanfhear]

He's 28 years ago. 29 in December. He's at his peak, it's downhill from here. Write him off because he's not good enough for international football.He’s no spring chicken alright . Shane Long would have offered more whether as a sub in the last two games or as a starter .

Obviously some history between those two . Did Mick try to sign him and Shane declined somewhere along the way ?

[seanfhear]

Long is not a natural goalscorer, but he is a natural forward. He runs good lines that takes out defenders for others, he is always open to take the ball, he put defenders under pressure, he wins you headers, he has pace that can stretch defenders. When Long is on the pitch, we have a higher chance of scoring, simply because he helps the others into the game so that they can score. He's a very good player.

The bandwagon Premier League crowd don't understand that.I have always liked a bit of Shane Long .

[Fizzer]

Wenger constantly suggested his players were mentally brittle.However, I didn’t like the blaming of the players either.Some of them were dire, the interview suggests that they should now fear for their places.But you’re right, he shouldn’t be doing it publicly.Much of the blame lies in the fact that not only are the wrong players on the pitch, many of the right ones aren’t even in the squad. There’s only one man at fault for that.

[brine3]

Yep, your ideal Irish striker would be Shane Long with Robbie Keane's finishing abilities. Or Robbie Keane with Shane Long's positional sense and pace. Yes, Robbie Keane is a natural goalscorer, but we always sacrificed a bit of team cohesion to make space for him in the team. He's the Irish Pippo Inzaghi. Very good at what he is good at, but has other shortcomings. There's very few perfect strikers who have everything, of course.

[brine3]

Wenger constantly suggested his players were mentally brittle.However, I didn’t like the blaming of the players either.Some of them were dire, the interview suggests that they should now fear for their places.But you’re right, he shouldn’t be doing it publicly.Much of the blame lies in the fact that not only are the wrong players on the pitch, many of the right ones aren’t even in the squad. There’s only one man at fault for that.

All Mick had to say is "it didn't work out for us in the first half" and leave it at that. They can discuss amongst themselves in the changing room if it was the players or the formation or both.

[mark12345]

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.

I have been Glen Whelan's biggest critic over the last several years. But credit where it's due, he turned in one of his best performances in an Irish shirt yesterday. With that said he was tiring badly in the last 25 or so minutes. Criminal that Mick didn't replace him with Cullen or Judge. What both of them must think now about their value to the team........ Also if I was Sean Maguire I would be slightly miffed that an U21 player with one Premier League start to his name gets in ahead of me

[Tipp Townie]

Pretty depressing in several respects, not least in the feeling that we keep handicapping ourselves by picking McClean. I’m torn on Whelan. He’s too slow but still plays some great balls and plays with a determination that sets example.
…

Agree. I'm no Whelan fan but I thought his workrate last night was great and although he was tiring badly towards the end, he kept going and showed the fight that seems to be lacking from other players. The block was him wasn't it? Or have I remembered that wrong.

So, is Duffy suspended for Denmark or not? I thought he was... If we're playing a very inexperienced centre back pairing (or trio) then they might well need the deep 'protection' from centre mid that Whelan provides (sometimes). We might also need a captain...
Although if Duffy isn't suspended, then i'm just talking b****cks.

[tetsujin1979]

Long is not a natural goalscorer, but he is a natural forward. He runs good lines that takes out defenders for others (watch his movement in that goal that Walters scored with the Hendrick assist against Georgia a few years ago, for but one example), he is always open to take the ball, he put defenders under pressure, he wins you headers, he has pace that can stretch defenders. When Long is on the pitch, we have a higher chance of scoring, simply because he helps the others into the game so that they can score. He's a very good player.

The bandwagon Premier League crowd don't understand that.
The premier league has been around for almost 30 years.

[Olé Olé]

I have been Glen Whelan's biggest critic over the last several years. But credit where it's due, he turned in one of his best performances in an Irish shirt yesterday. With that said he was tiring badly in the last 25 or so minutes. Criminal that Mick didn't replace him with Cullen or Judge. What both of them must think now about their value to the team........ Also if I was Sean Maguire I would be slightly miffed that an U21 player with one Premier League start to his name gets in ahead of me

I'd be more miffed that Scott Hogan gets in ahead of me if I were Maguire. I don't think he has the right to be miffed regarding Connolly.

[Stuttgart88]

Agree. I'm no Whelan fan but I thought his workrate last night was great and although he was tiring badly towards the end, he kept going and showed the fight that seems to be lacking from other players. The block was him wasn't it? Or have I remembered that wrong.

So, is Duffy suspended for Denmark or not? I thought he was... If we're playing a very inexperienced centre back pairing (or trio) then they might well need the deep 'protection' from centre mid that Whelan provides (sometimes). We might also need a captain...
Although if Duffy isn't suspended, then i'm just talking b****cks.Duffy is available to play