Slovakia v Republic of Ireland - 8th October 2020 - Euro 2020 Playoff Semi Final

[Trequartista20]

A Slovak journalist's view.

https://www.the42.ie/the-view-from-slovakia-ireland-5226144-Oct2020/

Looking at the back four in his predicted line-up, one centre half is playing in the Spanish second tier, the other in the Italian second tier. Their right-back only made six appearances for Hertha in the Bundesliga last season, with only three of those starts. Their left-back isn't 't playing at a high level either.

They look eminently get-at-able from a defensive standpoint. We need to make this count.

[Trequartista20]

Come on - the cover for LB is in the form of McClean and Brady, who have both played there for club and country.

Two attacking midfielders, currently out of favour at their clubs? You would only really countenance doing that against extremely weak Andorra/San Marino level opposition or if you're a couple of goals down late on with little to lose.

[Kingdom]

Two attacking midfielders, currently out of favour at their clubs? You would only really countenance doing that against extremely weak Andorra/San Marino level opposition or if you're a couple of goals down late on with little to lose.

It's not first cover : you could argue that Matt Doherty is first cover;
It's not second cover: Derrick Williams;
So it's third cover: two senior members of the squad who are versatile and have played multiple positions for club and country.

If he has to resort to it, then we're likely goosed elsewhere on the pitch in the first place. So, yeah, I'm cool with it. Especially if it means he can continue with an extra midfielder or attacker.

[elatedscum]

Cyrus Christie has also played at left back for club and country on occasion...

[Diggs246]

Cyrus Christie has also played at left back for club and country on occasion...


Don't.. just don't !

[Razors left peg]

Possibly true in regards to Cullen, but it inevitably leads to questions over why he was called up at all.

You would have thought Long would have made the 23 as reliable central defensive cover. As it is, Derrick Williams is all we have as cover for both centre-back positions and left-back. Which seems to constitute a rather unnecessary risk in context of a potential 120-minute game when you're permitted 10 outfield substitutes.
There's also the Wales game where Kenny might take a look at him

[paul_oshea]

2 things i hope for tonight.

1. the ball is always played forward and in front of a running winger, and doesnt pause, stop, slowdown the forward motion of said player. I expected this to be the first noticeable change from Kennys time but didnt see it the last 2 games.
2. Whoever plays centrally regardless of 4-3-3 or whatever other slight variation of that possible, doesnt drop deep or wide to receive the ball and if they do ,that another player has license to go central then. I'm saying this because i expect him to play McG central of a 3 and then drops deep and we've no one in the middle. i would like for him to go with ROBBiO in the centre with McG behind him and Doherty covering the right side of the pitch as he moves central when McG goes deep, that or allow both McG and Robbo to rove and interchange.

The problem in the past (previous managers) we've had with any central player up top is theyve had to run channels to receive the ball and inevitably slowed down the game and (their) play to get a ball to someone or wait for someone to get into the box. Its the same problem now but with the channel being deep central (not south central).

[Diggs246]

My understanding is we will have the dreaded VAR today is that correct?

[paul_oshea]

"I don't think you have too many teams now in Europe who play long balls.

"Ireland coming here to play football will be better for us, our defenders are not used to playing against a long-ball team, so it suits us when our opponent tries to play football." -Former slovak player nemeth

its an interesting one, all teams would always say how difficult it is to play against the Irish because of the long ball. Even the big ones, though theyd usually get the result they needed.

[paul_oshea]

“A lot of people in our country are fans of success,” Antol explains. “They follow the team, but they most of the time go out from the home, go to the street, when there is a big success.

sounds familiar...

[Razors left peg]

“A lot of people in our country are fans of success,” Antol explains. “They follow the team, but they most of the time go out from the home, go to the street, when there is a big success.

sounds familiar...

Do their fans only know Ole Ole too?

[youngirish]

“A lot of people in our country are fans of success,” Antol explains. “They follow the team, but they most of the time go out from the home, go to the street, when there is a big success.

sounds familiar...

They've also a small section of much more knowledgeable fans that follow the domestic league religiously. They refer to those other fans by the derogatory expression barový stoličkas.

[Diggs246]

Is it a var game guys?

[EAFC_rdfl]

They've also a small section of much more knowledgeable fans that follow the domestic league religiously. They refer to those other fans by the derogatory expression barový stolárs.

Nicely done!

[Philly]

Randolph, Doherty, Duffy, Egan, Stevens; Hendrick, McCarthy, Hourihane; Robinson, McGoldrick, McClean

[Philly]

McClean the surprising one perhaps, but maybe having him running himself into the ground and then bringing on Connolly after 60 mins might be a smart play.

[Olé Olé]

Interesting. Didn't see it coming. If it doesn't work, he'll be rinsed.

[Fixer82]

I never see the point in naming two keepers on the bench.

Personally I totally disagree with the match day squad thing.

You should just have the full squad to choose from off the bench.

[centre mid]

Is that 4 2 3 1?

[paul_oshea]

Is Connollys down to a knock? Or just McClean favoured?

[youngirish]

If he really wants to play any sort of passing game then McClean is not the way forward. He's not even the way present. Connolly should have started before him as he's superior in every way.

[seanfhear]

Connolly will come on and get a goal or two. I feel it in my Whiskey !

[shakermaker1982]

It’s going to be interesting watching McClean in a SK team.

Hopefully opposites attract & it works out well.

[passinginterest]

It’s going to be interesting watching McClean in a SK team.

Hopefully opposites attract & it works out well.

Made his name in a Stephen Kenny team, wasn't he at Derry at the same time?

[Razors left peg]

My confidence has taken a big hit with McClean starting. Hes usually the other teams best defender with the amount of times he gives the ball away. All well and good running around like a headless chicken and making the Ole Ole brigade think that at least hes working hard, but I thought Kenny wanted to build a possession game.

Think Kenny might have blinked here and is going to try keep it tight rather than going out to win

[youngirish]

My confidence has taken a big hit with McClean starting. Hes usually the other teams best defender with the amount of times he gives the ball away. All well and good running around like a headless chicken and making the Ole Ole brigade think that at least hes working hard, but I thought Kenny wanted to build a possession game.

Think Kenny might have blinked here and is going to try keep it tight rather than going out to win

Unfortunately he is incapable of passing the ball to his teammates if they are more than 10 metres away. Hopefully his mandate is just to run up the wing and cross it into the box, if he starts trying to pass it we won't have much possession.

[nigel-harps1954]

Connolly will come on and get a goal or two. I feel it in my Whiskey !

Connolly and Idah miss out altogether tonight.

[seanfhear]

Connolly and Idah miss out altogether tonight. No, No. !

[geysir]

Somethings up, thats for sure,
They have been axed for some reason.

[centre mid]

Presumably they are both close contacts but speculation obviously

[backstothewall]

Presumably they are both close contacts but speculation obviously

That's what Twitter is saying.

[Scrufil]

So only 8 outfield subs on bench?

[geysir]

Regardless if Slovakia were putiing out their 3rd team, the pre- match nerves would just kick in automatically.

Anybody mentioned penalty shoot out yet?
oops sorry about that.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Covid related is the obvious possible cause of their being out altogether.
Other than that it'd have to be something serious like a disciplinary breach which is pure groundless speculation on my part and a much longer shot.

[Diggs246]

Looks like Odowda giving kenny head via the media during the week didn't work either!

[Lionel Ritchie]

Covid related is the obvious possible cause of their being out altogether.
Other than that it'd have to be something serious like a disciplinary breach which is pure groundless speculation on my part and a much longer shot.
Dan McConnell saying they're close contacts of the second case.

[NeverFeltBetter]

That's a dose. So bizarre to see us comparing COVID-19 effect. We need a big performance, especially from the likes of McClean.

It is a VAR match.

[NeverFeltBetter]

OK so far. They're more composed on the ball, but we're solid enough at the back. Both sides are lacking a standout player.

[centre mid]

Getting murdered in midfield

[NeverFeltBetter]

Long period of possession there, but only a bare hint of goal. Back to relying on set-pieces or mistakes.

[placid casual]

Doherty does not seem to play well unless in a wolves team it seems.
And Mccarthy has only 2 gears it seems, neutral and reverse

[pineapple stu]

We're playing some good stuff at a higher tempo than the last two games, which is something at least. Mayn't be enough too see us through here, but it's definite progress

[shakermaker1982]

This game needs fans. I’m not nervous at all, still feels like a friendly.

[NeverFeltBetter]

We've been able to run at the Slovak defence a few times, but we always make the wrong choice.

Not a shot on goal yet from either side.

[pineapple stu]

Slovakia seem to be putting ten men behind the ball a lot, which is surprising. So we can put lots of passes together in the final third, but there's no gaps really

[passinginterest]

Who’s the RTÉ co-commentator? Wrecking my head! Overall doing fairly well, marginally the better since the 10min mark or so. Good chance for McClean and a couple of other half chances. Looking very solid at the back.

[pineapple stu]

Stephen Kelly

[osarusan]

Ireland playing some decent possession stuff at times, even some spells of intricate passing, but we hit a wall when we get to their penalty box and have created next to nothing.

Doherty just doesn't fit in, not on the same wavelength at all.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Great save from Randolph, after we were sloppy defending a counter.

The very end was poor, other than that I'm satisfied I suppose. McClean's doing better than I thought.

[passinginterest]

Stephen Kelly
Thanks, doesn’t have either the voice or personality for it!


Stephen Kenny teams always look vulnerable to the counter attack. It’s something i really hope he sorts out. Bit of a lucky escape there right at the end of the half.