Republic of Ireland V Wales - Sunday, 11th October 2020 - UEFA Nations League

[tommy_c12000]

Game is lacking intensity, pace, creativity but more than anything stop this messing passing about the back four. Long balls up to long have worked out so far or fast to feet he's won us frees or laid off passes. None of this passing about the back to massage some possession based stats. Or make some people feel better because they need hope, hope keeps them going, the perpetual flame of hope. Our best opportunities or play have come from long balls. Long making some good runs. They looks t 6s and 7s when attacking centrally at speed on them. So use long. Gabbidon and Mick saying as I said no intensity happy to have it around the back and negating eachother. Possession for possession sake. Not playing to our strengths or players better attributes. General poor fare.
And everyone we get the ball in their half we seem to turn back or pass it around. 4 games in I thought we have looked to rectify that. MCG and Robinson did try the last day to be fair. And created our best chances off it.


At least previously we looked like scoring from set pieces we don't even have that now. Where are our goals going to come from it you won't play to our individual players stengths who are on the pitch?!

Times are changing POS. Let’s embrace it! We no longer have to be ashamed of the football we play, and wince when other countries merely state we are “difficult to play against” or we are “pests to play against” given our tough footballing style of hoof ball and harassing the opposition. Although by the sounds of it you’re one of the footballing faithful that revel in that. Sure, you may miss out on a few **** up trips abroad where you will stand proudly with a pint in your hand singing the Fields of Athenry as we are 4-0 down in the closing minutes, and slapping yourself and your mates on your back telling everyone who will listen “aren’t we the best fans in the world?” As the hoof ball and pestering the opposition continues from our sides, as opposing fans put their eyes up to heaven as the primitive Irish “put ‘em under pressure” to the delight of the drunken Irish fans.

This attempt to change the football philosophy is refreshing for me. Hopefully, I can finally be proud of Irish football. Hopefully, it’s a case of short term pain for long term gain, and we don’t return to the embarrassing/dark days. Let’s give it 4 years, and see what happens. At least we can say we gave it a try

[Olé Olé]

I'd have Hourihane off here for Byrne- if not Byrne then Cullen.

[Colbert Report]

While it is refreshing to watch us try to play proper football, we simply give the ball away far too often. I don't think we have the players in the middle of the park to pay the ball on the ground, especially against teams better than Wales.

[Razors left peg]

Shane Long missing chances like that is so Shane Long

[Olé Olé]

So true. The most Shane Long miss ever. Not exactly a sitter given he had to judge flight of the ball but goalscorers score that. He's had a fine game. I'd like to see Byrne in to slot a few through to him.

[passinginterest]

Still a mix of good and bad, but we look the better team and the more likely to get a winner and we haven't done that the last few times against Wales. A win would really do so much for this team now.

Hendrick mixing the sublime and ridiculous as usual.

[Olé Olé]

Yeah, Hendrick is so frustrating. He has so much about him.

Brady causing Ben Davies a lot of problems. Given their 4-4-2 set up, Burnley should embrace the option of him there. He'd make hay.

[passinginterest]

Byrne the only one from the original squad on the bench and yet to see minutes? Surely he gets at least 20 mins?

[boovidge]

An instinctive goalscorer would also have taken the shot then rather than try and play a cute 1-2 between two defenders

[Razors left peg]

Hourihane much better in 2nd half playing at base of midfield.

[Olé Olé]

Wales bringing on the teenages now in Williams and Levitt. No subs yet for us on 67 minutes.

[Razors left peg]

Id like to see Hendrick on right of front 3, get Byrne into 10 position

[sbgawa]

Wales are there for the taking. No bale or Allan and they are bang average, Kenny needs to go for this we need 3 points 1 is useless

[Olé Olé]

Seani Maguire and Horgan coming in. Cullen and Byrne sitting on their hands.

[Razors left peg]

Would have taken McClean off instead of Brady. Strange sub

[passinginterest]

Doherty has been impressive at centre back. Horgan was unlucky with the header. A couple of good chances this half. Really need one to sneak in now.

[swinfordfc]

11 attempts on goal ... None on target! ... It tells you everything!

[passinginterest]

A shot on target!!

[swinfordfc]

Finally one ... Hendrick there ... Ireland playing well last 5 mins!

[Bungle]

Stupid from McClean.

[Colbert Report]

I love McClean, but that should be a ten match ban. Shocking tackle. The flicking of the finger into the guy's ear afterwards was embarrassing.

[Olé Olé]

I saw Ampadu mouthing to McClean after he nicked Roberts on the heel. He left off some roar there too.

[Razors left peg]

McClean is a moron plain and simple

[pineapple stu]

I love McClean, but that should be a ten match ban. Shocking tackle. The flicking of the finger into the guy's ear afterwards was embarrassing.
What? That's nonsense. He was a bit loose, sure, but he pulled out of it and barely made contact. The first yellow was nonsense, the second was harsh, and the idea of a ten match ban is just bizarre tbh

[Insidetherock]

It looked bad in real time, but on replay it wasn't even a yellow

[Colbert Report]

What? That's nonsense. He was a bit loose, sure, but he pulled out of it and barely made contact. The first yellow was nonsense, the second was harsh, and the idea of a ten match ban is just bizarre tbh

What was up with flicking his finger in the guy's ear when he was lying prone on the ground? That's assault, no place in the game for that. What is he, ten years old?

[Olé Olé]

Cullen in now. This must be very frustrating for Byrne. Its not as if Hendrick or Hourihane are playing too well to be withdrawn.

[Razors left peg]

McClean shouldn't be lunging in for a ball like that when already on a card

[pineapple stu]

Ah assault me hole. Silly maybe, but the Welsh fella's a big boy.

[Razors left peg]

Cullen in now. This must be very frustrating for Byrne. Its not as if Hendrick or Hourihane are playing too well to be withdrawn.
Maybe he's looked crap in training

[geysir]

It looked bad in real time, but on replay it wasn't even a yellow

Maybe a half yellow.

[zero]

will we ever score a goal again?

[Olé Olé]

Maybe he's looked crap in training
Same thing sprung to mind for me. Must have been really crap.

[Colbert Report]

Ah assault me hole. Silly maybe, but the Welsh fella's a big boy.

If someone did that to me in a pub league, I'd tell them to cop themselves on. This guy is supposed to be a professional football player. There is no excuse for behavior like that.

[Olé Olé]

Ah assault me hole. Silly maybe, but the Welsh fella's a big boy.

Welsh Irish fella in fact. And he screamed loud enough to be heard in Derry. Sickening.

[Fixer82]

No sign of Byrne?
Him and two keepers left on bench?

[Colbert Report]

That was one of the worst matches I've seen in years. We could have played all day without scoring a goal.

[paul_oshea]

Positives We didn't concede.

Negatives: Very little creativity,
no real bite or spark,
very little intensity,
poor set pieces
poor crosses until Long went off(bar that 1 chance which he should have scored)
Too many passengers
Another game and no goal.
390 mins and only one goal(from a Duffy set piece).


Mick and Danny on the commentary called out the passing and not trying to be more quick with getting the ball forward. playing players that suit a system but not adapting the system. Playing a game that suits the players when certain players are gone off. Looked good when we tried to hit longer balls taking out one line of their midfield.


We seem to have removed any scoring ability from set pieces or crosses like we did under previous regimes, we seem to have spent all the time focusing on passing and possession, mainly in our own half, for some false aspirations of playing a brand of football that probably wont make a massive difference to our overall chances of qualifications. We've thrown everything into this one thing and neglected the bigger picture. We're too small a nation to throw away chances of qualifications, we should always remember that. WCq is more difficult than ever, it will require a massive slice of luck, a very good draw, and then probably some, unless we managed to unearth 5 class players in the next few years of course...

I feel a bit deflated first time after the start of a managers reign to be honest. But its ok, because we have loads of possession though! Doesnt matter if its in our own half, of course, thats not relevant.

[pineapple stu]

If someone did that to me in a pub league, I'd tell them to cop themselves on.
That's fair. So why are you saying he should get a ten match ban instead?

[pineapple stu]

Positives We didn't concede. Only conceded 1 thus far under kenny.
2 - Bulgaria and Finland.

It's very hard to evaluate these games with 7 players out due to covid and no crowds at the game

[zero]

terrible stuff. 3/10. that's 3 dreadful performances out of 4 and 1 half decent.

concerning.

[Nesta99]

I think thats the first time I have ever seen Stephen Kenny a tad star struck there - standing with Giggs post match as their country's managers, hint of disbelief!

[seanfhear]

Doherty has been impressive at centre back. Horgan was unlucky with the header. A couple of good chances this half. Really need one to sneak in now.Doherty certainly did ok at centre back ~ handy string to have in the bow if necessary. That was a good chance for Horgan.

[paul_oshea]

I think thats the first time I have ever seen Stephen Kenny a tad star struck there - standing with Giggs post match with as their country's managers, hint of disbelief!

ya felt the same expecting him to ask if he had a spare pen.

[seanfhear]

Stupid from McClean.I am amazed he does not get sent off more often. He is a risky player to have on the field for 90 minutes.

[passinginterest]

I think we've seen the players get more comfortable with the system with each game. Wales were completely nullified for the most part and they've totally outplayed us in the last two meetings. And that's despite the major disruption to the squad.

Set piece issues may not be that surprising. I remember it was a criticism of Kenny when he took over from O'Neill at Rovers that he didn't give anything like the same time to either attacking or defending set pieces as his predecessor. I'd image with Ireland and the limited time he's had, the focus has been almost completely on playing philosophy. The set piece work will hopefully come later.

A win in Finland will be hard to come by, but it would be huge now.

I wonder did Jack Byrne pick up a knock? Kenny has been pretty consistent in putting in players in the order they were called up, seems strange to overlook him. Unless he really has been gash all week in training!

[Nesta99]

2 - Bulgaria and Finland.

It's very hard to evaluate these games with 7 players out due to covid and no crowds at the game

I dont know why people are concerned really. When there was something really at stake in the play-off we performed, that isnt in doubt. There is a complete change in philosophy yet there have been damn all contact hours on the training pitch to get the new manager's ideas across yet there is obvious progress in the revolution. Add to that (the more and more farcical sounding) disruption to preperation. 4 games in is not the time to be concerned!!!

[Bielsa´s irish]

In Argentina they said that the ref was cooked by ampadu for the sending off which they said unfair, but later because of this mistake by the greek, he didnt send off christie which was a second booking.

They said Eire was the better side the more ambitious but they said that Shane Long was a bit isolated should have been assisted more.

They also said that damian duff new guy is really impressive,,,,,,,, they asked if they are cousins

good game doherty.

They chose Shane Long as man of the match in direct tv southamerica

[Philly]

That was a tough watch.

On the plus side, we continue to look more comfortable on the ball and playing it out from the back, and we look defensively more solid than we did in the first two games under Kenny.

On the other hand, what is it now, 300 minutes or so without a goal? That tells it all - we are not creating enough chances, and do not have the quality needed up front to convert what we do create. Long's miss was poor, and other than that we were mainly limited to weak attempts from far out.

I still believe this is the way forward, but it could all be pointless unless some of our young attacking talent comes good during the current season. We badly need Parrott, Idah and Connolly to get goals and consistent appearances. McClean is not good enough for what is expected of him in this system (he got sent off while attacking!), McGoldrick is great but soon 33, and Long is a similar age and has not scored for us in 4 years.

I think it could be a rough few games ahead but it might just be worth it if our attackers come good.

[Razors left peg]

Anyone that doesn't see progress with this team is being willfully negative. If you look at possession stats just against Wales in last 4 games since 2017 we are so much better. Previous games were 41.8% , 28.8%, 38%, 44%. Today we had 50.4%

I know possession isn't everything but we did create some chances and should have won the game. When you consider all the players missing, especially attacking players its very good. I really believe when we can add a few of the young attacking players we have we are going to be a good side.

I'm very positive after today's game