Republic of Ireland V Luxembourg - Saturday, 27th March 2021 - World Cup Qualifier

[Kingdom]

My team would be
Bazunu
Doherty Coleman O'Shea Clark Stevens
Cullen Knight Browne
Collins Robinson

Would gladly see Parrott or Long up top and no issues with Molumby midfield, just keen for Knight to get a good run. Likewise, I wouldn't have an issue with Travers in goal.

I would not like to see 4-3-3 though.

What are the lotto numbers Olé?

[BonnieShels]

Delighted with that team.

Pretty confident about tonight.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Let's hope Bazunu has a quiet night ahead of him. I feel for Travers, but not very surprised.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Great move, sad for Travers but this is football, even at junior level you get dropped.

Long and Manning from the bench please,

[tommy_c12000]

I love the team selection and I love the persistence with the formation, despite the criticism from the Stone Age RTE pundits. Come on Ireland!

[Kingdom]

Great move, sad for Travers but this is football, even at junior level you get dropped.

Long and Manning from the bench please,

Manning isn't in the squad Javier.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Manning isn't in the squad Javier.

oh J. McClean is ready then, which creative mids do we have ? Only Brady?

[Colbert Report]

Leaving Hendrick, Brady, and McClean on the bench is crazy. Stephen Kenny knows the FAI don't have the money to sack him, but if we lose today, I don't think he should be picking the teams anymore. This is madness against a team like Luxembourg.

[centre mid]

What a save from the Lux keeper. Decent first 20 mins.

[tetsujin1979]

I’m sure it was an autocorrect error.


Is it really too much to ask you to learn to spell the guy's name...? ;)

It was, my apologies

[NeverFeltBetter]

We're definitely not clicking going forward as much as you would like, that one chance aside. Don't think we're going to have many shots tonight, but only one of them has to go in.

[Colbert Report]

These guys are good, closing us down, creating turnovers in possession, putting a few passes together and not afraid to shoot. We are in serious trouble if we give up the first goal of the match.

[centre mid]

Giving the ball away too easily in midfield at the moment.

[backstothewall]

Very proud of this...

Well done Olé

[seanfhear]

99% Rubbish up to 30 minutes !

[backstothewall]

Giving the ball away too easily in midfield at the moment.

Coleman weaved his way past 4 of them at one point, lovely bit of play. Then passed it to Browne who kicked it directly to a Lux player

[NeverFeltBetter]

Don't v want to overstate the case, but Lux do look decent. Their press when we play out from the back only needs to work once.

[pineapple stu]

This is poor stuff so far. We're slightly the worse of two poor teams. Not sure when we start getting antsy at the lack of chances being created, that one point-blank save from the keeper aside.

[shakermaker1982]

Got to up the tempo. Pedestrian. If we let them reset every time it could be a long night.

[backstothewall]

Our forwards are doing a great job closing down their back 5. They really don't get a second to think and end up giving it back to us more often than not.

[Colbert Report]

Jesus, I thought that was in.

[passinginterest]

I’d say we’re the better team overall, they haven’t really looked like creating a chance whereas we’ve had one great one and a lot more pressure overall. Desperately missing a truly creative player in there. Bazunu very impressive so far in commanding his area and making good decisions. Knight some nice touches too. I think we might switch to 4-3-3 to try and create more second half.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Jeez, this is frustrating to watch. Bazunu proving his worth, and Coleman, not sure I think much of anyone else. Lots of the ball, making bad decisions with it constantly.

[boovidge]

pretty depressing that we now have to discuss who has been the "better team" after 45 minutes against Luxembourg

[backstothewall]

Bazunu > Travers

[seanfhear]

Tippy Tappy for the sake of Tippy Tappy can get old very quick. Why not mix it up occasionally ! If you are going to be Tippy Tappy all the time then that makes it very simple for the opposition. I am not saying long ball all the time ! !

[centre mid]

Crying out for a quality No.10. Very good first half for Bazunu, he has looked confident and assured in everything he's done. Its gitten a bit pedestrian at times and Collins playing like a flat track bully. Connolly would've been ideal for this game.

[Colbert Report]

I've been impressed with Browne, but other than that, we look like we're sleeping out there. Luxembourg deserve to be one up on us at the half. You can't give away possession the way we are and get away with it.

[Bottle of Tonic]

It's poor. Luxembourg look shakey at the back. We should be piling on the pressure here to get the goal. Only did it for a spell around 35 mins. Still, it's international football and I'll take any kind of a 1-0 win.

[pineapple stu]

Bazunu > Travers
Very hard to judge based on the opposition in fairness - Luxembourg aren't putting us under the pressure Serbia were, and it helps a keeper settle into the game. But Bazunu's done ok, one awful pass aside that nearly went out for a throw in line with the penalty area.

But certainly Luxembourg have had the better chances, and that worries me. We've been gradually stifling them, but jays, that's a low bar. And we've been stodgy going forward, a bit like the worst Nations League games.

[shakermaker1982]

Whatever happens I don’t want to hear Luxembourg are a good side.

Buzunu the only positive.

Hook Collins & Stevens.

[zero]

dreadful stuff. huge 45 mins for SK.

i think we'll get there but it might need a pen.

[seanfhear]

I've been impressed with Browne, but other than that, we look like we're sleeping out there. Luxembourg deserve to be one up on us at the half. You can't give away possession the way we are and get away with it.
I thought Browne looked tired and sloppy at times.

[Fizzer]

Browne has been awful for me, his positioning and runs are ok but he’s killed a few decent passages dead with misplaced passes.I’d be either moving Knight up and Molumby on for Browne, otherwise ......maybe Jeff might not be such a bad option.....

[Diggs246]

It's a shame dan crowley isnt onboard. I know he is on the bench at the moment but so are half our lads. He would be the type of player who could open up a team like Luxembourg.... tbh even old wessi would do better in the final third today then what's been seen here so far

[pineapple stu]

I thought Browne looked tired and sloppy at times.
He had that poor corner and the wojus follow-up cross from it that almost hit our half-way line. It's only one incident from the half, but it's the one that sticks out with me.

[passinginterest]

I thought Browne looked tired and sloppy at times.
I agree. I think he’s a big part of the problem. Trying to do far too much when you just need him to pass it and move. He’s frustratingly sloppy but also most likely to get us a goal. I think 3 forward would help. Conditions are also horrible, the wind is like the Gibraltar game nearly.

[BonnieShels]

Brady on to decapitate Luxembourg defenders

[backstothewall]

I'd put on Parrott for Browne and got to 3-4-3

[NeverFeltBetter]

It feels like every time we turn over the ball and have the chance to press the attack, we're passing backwards within seconds.

[zero]

why are we playing so deep? it looks like we're hoping to hold on to a 0-0.

[passinginterest]

That’s an absolute sitter for Browne. Despite not playing well we’ve now fluffed two fantastic chances. Lacking even more cohesion with the half time change.

[shakermaker1982]

why are we playing so deep? it looks like we're hoping to hold on to a 0-0.

We are worried about losing the ball. The wing backs should be higher but because it’s 50/50 whether we’ll play a successful pass it means the whole team are worried about a counter.

[passinginterest]

That attempt by Browne to play Collins in sums up all that’s wrong with him as a player. Just a brutal decision and execution.

[backstothewall]

This is hopeless. We aren't good enough for this tippy tappy stuff.

Browne wasn't great in the middle, but he just isn't a wing back. Get Cyrus on.

[BonnieShels]

Stevens needs to be hooked.

[backstothewall]

An hour in against Luxembourg at Lansdowne Road and our goalie looks on course to get the MOTM award

[Colbert Report]

This is some shocking stuff on display. No cohesion at all. Robinson just took a shot from a poor angle with Robbie Brady in acres of space at the top of the box.

[passinginterest]

Yeah, not sure I can find any positive from this second half. Although another half chance there from good pressing. But Luxembourg are looking the better team now no question.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Fallen out of the game now. Letting them set e pace. Just now Robinson selfishly wastes a gift of possession in Lux box. The team looks clueless, bar the keeper.