Republic of Ireland V Finland - Sunday, September 6th - 2020 - UEFA Nations League

[shakermaker1982]

I don’t mind that. McCarthy and Hourihane don’t deserve another start based on the Bulgaria game.

I’ve never been convinced by Arter in an Irish shirt but all 3 CM places are up for grabs. If he plays well tonight then a good chance he starts in the game that matters next month.

Idah deserves another go. I think he could do serious damage if he has space. He didn’t get many opportunities to shine the other night but I thought he did the basics well.

[shakermaker1982]

Bulgaria are truly terrible at seeing out games.

[centre mid]

Glad to see Idha start again.

Bulgaria conceed in the dying minutes again. :eek:

[tommy_c12000]

What is with Kenny’s early fascination with O’Dowda? Needs to do something at club level before being considered at this level for me

[Eirambler]

Hoping to see Molumby bringing some much needed drive into our midfield today and nailing down the jersey for the next 10 years.

Probably asking a bit much but I have huge hopes for him longer term.

[elatedscum]

I guess he’s gonna ask Arter to sit, which will somewhat compromise his game, his ability to press intelligently and tackle and to drive forward and get into areas where his passing can create chances.

Have never really seen him play as the deepest midfielder, so no idea how comfortable he is doing that job...

[Diggs246]

Dropped the whole midfield and I dont blame him

[Razors left peg]

Like that he's not afraid to make changes. Obviously seen the midfield was too static

[Diggs246]

Like that he's not afraid to make changes. Obviously seen the midfield was too static

You mean they were crap!

[Razors left peg]

You mean they were crap!

I thought I was moaning enough on this thread so I was being diplomatic

[passinginterest]

Not disappointed to see a fresh midfield. The system they’re trying to implement is very hard on the three in the middle work rate wise too. Never been convinced by Brady in a central position, but we know he’ll have a clearly defined role this time so will be interesting to see how he copes.

Agree re: O’Dowda, though his position might have been vulnerable, I’ve been more impressed by him in other appearances than the other night, but then again he was given man of the match.

Presumably McGoldrick will get some time, I wonder will he look to give Coleman and McClean some time as the other experienced squad members who haven’t been seen yet?

[Bielsa´s irish]

my very good people, any proper links to watch it for free online?

[swinfordfc]

Cut wide open there .. midfield is a problem!

[passinginterest]

Fins certainly a step up. We started bright but since the first 5 minutes they’ve looked the better side. Exploiting the spaces around our back four that Bulgaria exposed at times. Interesting to see if we can adapt.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Not up to much so far. Serious lack of ideas in the final third. Labouring a bit when on the ball and off it. Finns look very good in contrast.

[passinginterest]

Idah is such a frightening prospect in full flight. I think he’s going to be a superstar if he stays injury free for a few years. Much better from us last ten or fifteen minutes without the clear cut chance coming.

[Insidetherock]

I know its a new system and players are rusty, but we are leaving some serious space in the middle of the box.. could easily be a coupld down

[Insidetherock]

And can Enda Stevens judge how hard he's kicking a ball ffs.. crossing, through balls, etc, not just a few yards long, but twenty yards long

[Olé Olé]

Molumby looks nervous. But glimpses of quality.

[Scrufil]

Game is as dull as dish water.

[passinginterest]

I think "frustrating half" from the commentary sums it up. Bright first 5 mins the a really shaky 15 when Pukki should have scored. The Fins did their homework. Going forward the used the wing backs the stretch our midfield then played into the space as the back four gpt stretched. Took us a while to figure it out but I thought from 30 mins we were much better.

Did their homework defensively too and haven't given Connolly an inch to get turned or in behind. Ref not giving him anything soft either. Some flashed of nice play and some better balls into the box might have created clear chances. Best was the pullback from O'Dowda where Brady just stopped his run too early.

Doherty is frustrating the life out of me, and probably himself, nothing seems to be working for him. Arter and Molumby pretty industrious, Brady with little flashes but I think he's part of the vulnerability defensively in the middle.

Idah did well a few times and looks so dangerous the rare chances he gets going towards the Fins goal. Again there's signs of promise but needs a bit more speed of thought and action.

[Eirambler]

Still don't understand how O'Dowda won MoM the last night and he has looked poor tonight also - sorry but I just don't see it with him. He looks to be tripping over Doherty while Idah is being left quite isolated up front at the same time.

I think Doherty's instincts to go forward mean that we need more of a forward player than a midfielder in that right wing position - I'd look to get Long on over there soon enough.

I think I prefer this midfield to the midfield that played against Bulgaria overall. Finland are definitely a step up from Bulgaria but they are doing OK.

Hopefully get McGoldrick on soon enough after half time as well, no point in waiting until 75 minutes in to make the changes.

[brine3]

Thursday's midfield was better at holding on to the ball

[elatedscum]

Still not convinced Idah is ready for this level yet, think he needs another 6 months. Hopefully McGoldrick will make an appearance soon enough.

Connolly hasn’t really got into it, has been deprived of space. Doherty also hasn’t really gotten into the game

Midfielders have been an improvement on the previous 3 and have been busier and more energetic. The Finns have been more open than Bulgaria which also helps... Saying that, overall as a team, it’s still far too slow. You’re never gonna create chances when you give the opposition all that time to set their shape and get players back behind the ball...

[centre mid]

Better start to the 2nd half, wish Brady would stop trying a killer ball everytime.

[passinginterest]

Disappointing to concede. Generally playing much better second half. Robinson suits Doherty much better on the right. We look far more dangerous and Doherty is getting more involved. Hopefully we can take some of these chances soon.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Three great chances in a row. Lack of killer instinct is a real problem.

[passinginterest]

Midfield looks very tired now too. Probably needs to make the third change to get some fresh legs in there. Brady seems to be done. Maybe Hendrick to come in.

[boovidge]

both games we've looked better with Robinson on

[tommy_c12000]

For me, O’Dowda needs to do something at club level before getting another chance. He’s poor. Brady still way off the pace, whether he rediscovers his remote form remains to be seen. Idah needs 12 months of regular football before being seriously considered, he’s not up to the level currently. Frustrating watch. A lot of work for Kenny to do

[zero]

i keep telling myself it's early days but i'm not really seeing the positives others are seeing.

it could be a tough couple of years ahead like micheal o'neill had with NI.

[passinginterest]

i keep telling myself it's early days but i'm not really seeing the positives others are seeing.

it could be a tough couple of years ahead like micheal o'neill had with NI.

I still see a lot of positive. It’ll be disappointing not to take something from this game alright, but we look so much more likely to create chances from open play than in the past. It’s not quite happening because things are breaking down at the final stage a lot, but with a bit more sharpness come the next international break I’d be a lot more confident that things might click.

You can see how the Fins have qualified. Very organised and play well to their strengths. They might pick us off for another before the end.

[tommy_c12000]

I still see a lot of positive. It’ll be disappointing not to take something from this game alright, but we look so much more likely to create chances from open play than in the past. It’s not quite happening because things are breaking down at the final stage a lot, but with a bit more sharpness come the next international break I’d be a lot more confident that things might click.

You can see how the Fins have qualified. Very organised and play well to their strengths. They might pick us off for another before the end.

Admirable optimism! I don’t recall any dramatic new creativity though. Our best chances came from Finnish mistakes ...

[boovidge]

Admirable optimism! I don’t recall any dramatic new creativity though. Our best chances came from Finnish mistakes ...

And from set pieces. Lack of quality up front is worrying.

[passinginterest]

Admirable optimism! I don’t recall any dramatic new creativity though. Our best chances came from Finnish mistakes ...

Yeah, I guess that’s kind of my point too. We haven’t actually created the chances (although at least 3 or 4 second half) but we’re keeping the ball in the opposing half, in areas where, when it does click, chances will be made. I like the way we’re still trying to play ball. As a footballer in that team you’d have to feel like you’re being given a chance to play ball and make things happen. We have an issue with the midfield three, in that the system requires huge energy for 90 minutes and in both games the players have faded. Arter has been impressive here though and might have cemented a place for himself, possibly alongside Molumby and Hendrick or McCathy for the next game.

[brine3]

Best Irish player on the pitch was O'Shaughnessy

[zero]

a two out of ten performance for me. created nothing and looked shaky at the back. lucky to lose by only one.

[paul_oshea]

Could have been two losses with very few chances created. It's worrying times indeed. Was happy with arter but that's about it

[brine3]

1. Hendrick and McCarthy are clearly better at dictating things in midfield than these lads

2. We can't afford the luxury of Coleman on the bench.

3. 4-3-3 is too open for us. We don't have a Keane or McGrath or Frenkie de Jong in midfield to cover the gaps.

Can't see why we can't just play a 4-3-2-1 with nice possession football. Been screaming for this for years. Decades actually.

[seanfhear]

Irelands best chance of a goal was Finland creating an Irish goal by playing out from the back, badly.

To do one of what Connolly did with his chances coming in from the left was unfortunate ~ ~ to do it twice ( though slightly differently ) is bordering on the wastefully careless.

[jbyrne]

unless our players start the new club season on fire we have no chance beating slovakia, never mind bosnia. we have to play to our strengths in slovakia.... try to contain them and hit them on the break with connolly, robinson and maybe long. maybe things will get better with time but we are too easy to open up at the moment.

thought arter (i usually am not a fan) and robinson our bright sparks. doherty has disappointed over both matches. would revert to coleman for slovakia

[seanfhear]

Randolph kept the score down, Thankfully.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Looking for positives in that is absolute bin dipping. Two watery enough sides we've played and all. Didn't hear the Finnish goalkeepers name mentioned til the 89th minute.

[shakermaker1982]

It goes to show that international football isn’t like football manager 2020.

Telling the players to pass, pass, pass, using an attacking 433 set up and blooding youngsters isn’t a guarantee of success. It’s going to take a while. Next month playoff is way too soon for us.

We lack somebody to link with attack. I thought Arter had a good game. Full backs were really disappointing (again).

[Nesta99]

Very obvious how important McGoldrick is. He isnt the prolific goalscorer but his link play and ability to recycle the ball will be crucial to how SK wants to play. Robinson also improved things when he came on. Its so unusual to watch, frustrating even, for such slow build up play watching Ireland. We are used to the helter skelter bombardment of long balls chasing a goal, but that wont happen under SK. He sticks to his methods to the letter. Maybe if it means going out of a play-off it might happen.

It will take time, the players can play as is wanted, they just need to get used to doing iy with each other. McClean must be seen as a having a role but he needs coaching in being a bit more composed when in a handy position considering his experience. We did create a number of good chances and a few half chances too. The goal settled the Fins and they started to look handy for spells in the 2nd half. We had one or 2 spells than wnet both wide and through the middle which we will see more of that type of pressure strung together. Come November there will be a mix and match of the 2 recent starting 11 selections.

I havent decided whether having no fans is good or not in terms of supporting the team during these early days. There would be plenty of groaning and shouting to hoof it in frustration. But it has to be hard for the players to lift themselves and be given that wee bit of energy by the crowd. In terms of this competition Wales are topping the group with 2 very late wins and havent been convincing. Quality of the group overall isnt great but with teams trying things out.

[youngirish]

Another disappointing performance against limited opposition. I actually thought Finland could feel aggrieved for not having won by more to be honest.

Pros
- Arter put the boot in and looked the pick in a disappointing midfield.
- McGoldrick improved the forward line when he came on.
- Randolph saved us from conceding a number of additional goals.

Cons
- O'Dowda offered nothing and cannot be a starter in the play-offs.
- Brady whilst tidy with the ball in midfield is a passenger we can't carry when we don't have the ball. He also fades very badly as the game wears on.
- Stevens makes the wrong pass far too often. Max Lowe could easily replace him in the Sheffield United team this season.
- Doherty looks a poorer option in this system than Coleman.
- For all his endeavour Connolly is a headless chicken with the ball and almost never makes the right decision in dangerous positions.
- Kenny needs to realise its no good loading the forward line with pace if you don't drill your players to move the ball forward quick enough to make use of it. Very laboured.
- It is going to be a long road ahead turning this team into the possession based football team Kenny is striving for.

[seanfhear]

unless our players start the new club season on fire we have no chance beating slovakia, never mind bosnia. we have to play to our strengths in slovakia.... try to contain them and hit them on the break with connolly, robinson and maybe long. maybe things will get better with time but we are too easy to open up at the moment.

thought arter (i usually am not a fan) and robinson our bright sparks. doherty has disappointed over both matches. would revert to coleman for slovakia
Doherty seems to be a specialist Wing-Back. Certainly to get the best out of him he needs a manager that plays with Wing-Backs. I hope Mourinho is going to use him as a Wing-Back.

Good Captain-ship from Coleman to give Doherty these Opportunities. Some Captains would be expecting to play these matches.

[passinginterest]

Made the mistake of looking over at boards. There’s a fine line between a bit of optimism and the absolute blazing negativity over there! Arter said a lot of similar things to what I’ve said in his interview, didn’t create enough but got comfortable defending against them after the first half hour, their goal was out of the blue and their other chances mainly came late on.

We had at least 3 excellent chances, McGoldrick, Robinson and Connolly and there was another that fell between Connolly and Idah. I think players and manager have learned a lot from the camp. I think there’s still a great chance of surprising people in the playoff game.

[Bungle]

All this talk of something different and then McClean comes on. An absolutely horrendous player.

Really poor performance. Before this game, we were second seeds for the world cup draw. Now, I would say unless we do something very special we will be third seeds. Russia will get in there ahead of us.

Looking at our team currently with about 2-3 good players, a few solid enough lads and a few talented youngsters, we would get anhilated at the Euros if we do qualify and if we get a tough draw for the world cup, it could be a few bad drubbings in the next 12 months. It somewhat reminds me of the early days of Mick's reign, but at least then aside from talented youngsters, we had some top class players or players who had been top class.

I think we roll the dice next month and if we don't qualify, then we completely bring through a new team getting rid of the likes of McClean, Brady, and Hendrick. I would keep our defence to be fair as they are generally not a bad unit. Work towards Euro 2024 and let them grow. Not a hope this bunch could qualify for a world cup but come 2024 or 2026 we could have a decent team.

[Eirambler]

Could be a long couple of years ahead here for us. So, so many problems with that second half performance for me, could have lost 3-0 easily. When your best player is clearly your keeper it is never a good sign.

It's all good and well passing the ball over and back but we simply don't have midfielders that are going to create something out of nothing, so the only way we can play that kind of game plan with success is to bring a lot more urgency and drive to our play in order to open up chances. We did that for 10 minutes after half time and for a few minutes after the goal but otherwise it just wasn't there.

Individually there were some very poor performances. Stevens was posted missing on a few occasions at left back and seemed very hesitant on the ball, he seemed to overthink everything in possession rather than having any natural instinct for what to do. Let his man get away for the goal as well.

Idah looks to have been promoted ahead of time. He needs a season of first team football and some more time with the under 21s, who need him next month in any case, I wouldn't have him in the next senior squad.

O'Dowda is 1) not particularly good and 2) totally unsuited to playing alongside an attacking full back like Doherty, he was a waste of a jersey for almost an hour. We need a forward playing in that position to support the centre forward, particularly if the centre forward is McGoldrick, who drifts out of the box a lot.

McClean got on the ball seven or eight times when he came on and I think he found a teammate once, and it was from a throw in. As an impact sub the only impact he had was to give the ball away and put us under more pressure.

The game plan really needs us to take our chances when they come, because both games have shown us how susceptible we are to quick breaks from the opposition. Both goals conceded this week came from these kind of breaks and we could have conceded a few more tonight. At the same time we seem to have no interest in counter attacking ourselves and Kenny has said previously that it is not part of the game plan - this is worrying.

The worst thing is that I don't even think either Bulgaria or Finland are much good. Finland are better organised and have Pukki but I think they'll be eaten alive in that Euros group they're in to be honest. And they still could have beaten us 3-0 today and we could have had no complaints. I fear what a genuinely good team might do to us right now. Thankfully I don't think there are any outstanding teams either in our Nation's League group or playoff group, so we might be spared a drubbing for a while at least.

In terms of positives I thought Doherty came onto a game somewhat and Arter was lively to be fair. McGoldrick was good when introduced and has to start next month. Obviously Randolph had a great game.

It really does look like a long road ahead here, we're committed to changing the way we play and we have to stick with it and back the team and management. But I could see things getting worse before they get better to be honest.