Qatar v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 30th March 2021 - Friendly

[Insidetherock]

Luxembourg 1-0 Portugal :eek:

Gibralter 0-0 Holland

Nothing easy

[pineapple stu]

1-0 Holland now

[sbgawa]

jaysus could you imagine if Lux hang on. :)

[elroy]

jaysus could you imagine if Lux hang on. :)

We’d only need about another 8 results to go in our favour then, that’s excluding ours!!

Shame that Azer couldn’t hold on either earlier.

[osarusan]

Decent first half, great just to see a bit of urgency about us. Qatarlook really limited, some awful first touches, but that's their problem.

Bazunu looks something of a liability.

[tommy_c12000]

Promising opening half with a limited bunch of players. Bazunu is some bomb scare keeper but hopefully his decision making will improve as he matures

[pineapple stu]

Bazunu looks something of a liability.
Yep - another rush of blood to come to the edge of the box, and then he dropped it which I think indicated he hadn't planned for what he was going to do; he had to punch it from there.

I think we've had more surging runs in that half than in the entire 10 games under Kenny so far though, which is very positive.

Also, I think the goal will go down as an own goal, which does mean we're still struggling to score...

[boynemunich]

Bazunu looks something of a liability.

He's almost too enthusiastic to show his sweeper keeper abilities, needs to calm down a bit but its understandable for a 19 year old.

[centre mid]

Decent half some good performances. McClean giving loads of energy as per. Coleman been good offensively. O'Shea havibg a very solid game. Long's best performance for a while. Kenny should be happy.

[shakermaker1982]

Senior players working hard, they have something to prove.

This version of Qatar no great shakes. Not sure if it’s their best 11 but I fear for them at the WC.

Long might not be clinical but he stretches teams and he’s always a pain for defenders.

[zero]

I thought we've been poor enough in the second part of the half in particular. Qatar look weak which is why I asked if this is a strong team for them or not.

Sitting deeper and deeper as the half went on, but a lack of confidence is understandable considering the results of late. Coleman and Long have been good and as bad as his form has been I prefer Duffy over Clark at centre half.

[Insidetherock]

Senior players working hard, they have something to prove.

This version of Qatar no great shakes. Not sure if it’s their best 11 but I fear for them at the WC.

Long might not be clinical but he stretches teams and he’s always a pain for defenders.

Should have scored though.. should have scored

[tommy_c12000]

Agree on Long’s tireless running and being a pain for defenders to play against. But he missed a great chance and has given the ball away a number of times with his severe limitations. Hopefully we won’t need to revert back to him for this campaign. We need to continue to move forward

[osarusan]

Also, I think the goal will go down as an own goal, which does mean we're still struggling to score...

I thought that as long as the original shot was on target, he gets to keep it.

[pineapple stu]

Qatar look weak which is why I asked if this is a strong team for them or not.
Looks strong. Keeper has 70+ caps. The number 10 has 140 caps. Number 19 up front has 29 goals. Just scanning through the wiki squad and the line-up and it looks close to full strength.

[zero]

Looks strong. Keeper has 70+ caps. The number 10 has 140 caps. Number 19 up front has 29 goals. Just scanning through the wiki squad and the line-up and it looks close to full strength.

Fair enough. They did grow into it a bit as the half went on so we will see. If we continue to stand off you'd expect them to find a way through - that said we look dangerous on the counter in the 'might win a pen' kind of way.

[pineapple stu]

It could be that the third game in a week is taking it out of them, cos I agree with you on the standard alright. They're not great.

[pineapple stu]

They're not great.
I type as they score...

[shakermaker1982]

Normal service resumes.

[centre mid]

FFS ran through midfield- nobody comes to attack it. Basic stuff.

[zero]

Way too easy for them, nice finish notwithstanding. Duffy seemed to be caught out though I'd need to see it again.

[sbgawa]

some fella called Ronaldo just put Portugal 2 to 1 up against mighty Lux

[centre mid]

Its so annoying that every other nation on earth with a football team are morw comfortable on the ball than us. Is it a mental thing with us? Is it going to take a while to banish the mindseof the last 15 years?

[zero]

we've stopped playing.

[shakermaker1982]

That’s a criminal wrong ball option from Robinson.

[tommy_c12000]

Who is supposed to be the “defensive” central midfielder?? We’ve no midfield in second half

[centre mid]

Been better since Knight and Robinson came on

[zero]

1/10 performance in the 2nd half. woeful.

[elroy]

1/10 performance in the 2nd half. woeful.

This is becoming a consistent theme. Losing our way in the middle of games and not getting it back

[zero]

We'll be told we were brilliant and deserved to win the game.

I see no progress. The players looks scared and frankly disinterested. This is our "reaction" to the luxembourg loss.

[centre mid]

Christie has to be the most pointless player in a generation

[BonnieShels]

What was the point of that free? Nonsense.

[osarusan]

Real game of two halves.

First half, we had a sense of urgency, a sense of direction about us (and by direction I just mean moving towards the opposition goal).

Second half, all that drained away on about 55-60 minutes, and it was pretty aimless after that, no structure at all.

Could still have won it right at the death though, superb ball to the back post, diving header that was well saved...had to go back across goal with it.

[sbgawa]

drives me mad when there is seconds to go and players flute around with it...lump it into the ****ing box for ****s sake

[tommy_c12000]

Reasonable result. Some improvements to aspects of the performance. Cullen, Molumby, Knight, Bazunu, O’Shea, Connolly, Parrott, Idah have been nicely blooded in. Many more to come in the coming months. Let’s see who pushes on towards the latter part of club season and who emerges over the summer. It will be a painful process, but a worthwhile long-term experiment

[pineapple stu]

What was the point of that free? Nonsense.
Yeah, a criminal waste alright.

Overall, at least it was a draw. And a deserved one. There were positives. Enough? Not to disspell the idea that we're a desperately poor team.

McClean looked likvely, but gave the ball away a lot. Robinson mayn't have been on the pitch. Bazunu was very shaky. Brady is injured again.

I do feel a bit better than I did after the Luxembourg game, but that's not saying a huge amount tbh.

[Straightstory]

How can there be so much hype about Troy Parrot? His descent through the leagues (Premier, Championship, League 1) looks unstoppable.

[pineapple stu]

How can there be so much hype about Troy Parrot? His descent through the leagues (Premier, Championship, League 1) looks unstoppable.
Ah, that's unfair. Yeah, he hasn't done much yet, but he's just gone 19; his career is hardly over. There's a shade between black and white like.

[DCWA]

I think there is some progress there.

Pro’s

A higher tempo generally (apart from a spell at the start of second half).

A better mix of possession and a willingness to be a bit more direct.

Bazanu. He settled well after his rashness for the overturned peno and the spill at the edge of the box. His distribution is excellent, very sharp. He is confident, decisive and clearly has all the attritibutes to be a top keeper. With him and Kelleher and to a lesser extent so far Travers we have good options in that position going forward when not so long ago it looked a serious concern.

Parrott. In patches at least. Intelligent player.

Cyrus Christie. He done better tonight at RWB than Matt Doherty has at all for Ireland.

James McClean. Been a while since we could say that.

Con’s.

Fading yet again after a positive start. How very Ireland of us frankly this has been an issue now for several years.

Midfield. Jeff Hendrick’s name on the teamsheet may as well just be a gap. I wouldn’t have him in the squad again. Whilst we have promising players in midfield it will take some time you would imagine.

Decision making. It is unbelievably infuriating how often we make the wrong decision in the opposition half again a long standing issue.

[Straightstory]

His careers not over. But on that performance, he looks destined to spend his time in the lower leagues. What justifies the hype - apart from him being 19?

[Eirambler]

You know things are really bad when you draw 1-1 with Qatar and people are saying it's a decent result. It's another dreadful result if we're being honest, we're just more conditioned to them now, which is probably just as well given how the autumn games are likely to go under Kenny.

As for Parrott, hopefully he makes it as a decent professional and a solid international, there's plenty of time for him to develop. But he must be the most overhyped wonderkid to ever leave our shores. Was being made out like he was the next Robbie Keane. He is nowhere near the level Keane was at at a similar age. Anthony Stokes was better at 19 than Parrott is.

[pineapple stu]

Bazanu. He settled well after his rashness for the overturned peno and the spill at the edge of the box. His distribution is excellent, very sharp. He is confident, decisive and clearly has all the attritibutes to be a top keeper. With him and Kelleher and to a lesser extent so far Travers we have good options in that position going forward when not so long ago it looked a serious concern.
I wouldn't agree with this. Distribution and decision-making are two very different aspects of goalkeeping. Three or four times in those two games Bazunu showed wojus decision-making, and we're fortunate it didn't cost us. That doesn't get balanced out by some good distribution. I'd be terrified if he were in nets against Portugal.

Yes, we have some good goalkeeping prospects, but he was one of the downsides of tonight for me.

[pineapple stu]

You know things are really bad when you draw 1-1 with Qatar and people are saying it's a decent result.
Well look, they are Asian champions and that's not a mickey-mouse tournament. They beat South Korea and Japan to win it. They didn't play well at all, but they're not Oman. I think it was an ok result, and we've been short enough on them lately that I'm ok with that. Certainly it wasn't a great result by any stretch.

[DCWA]

I wouldn't agree with this. Distribution and decision-making are two very different aspects of goalkeeping. Three or four times in those two games Bazunu showed wojus decision-making, and we're fortunate it didn't cost us. That doesn't get balanced out by some good distribution. I'd be terrified if he were in nets against Portugal.

Yes, we have some good goalkeeping prospects, but he was one of the downsides of tonight for me.

Tbf I didn’t say he got his decisions right just that he was decisive. I think perhaps too keen as someone else has mentioned but it is a very good sign to me at such a young age playing for his country for the first or second time he is willing to back himself and make those decisions. I would have no concerns that over the next couple of years he will couple that decisiveness with timing.

Obviously Randolph still solidly #1 and Kelleher given his performances at a high level is ahead of him but I seen all the attributes there to suggest the lad is or will be a very good keeper.

[Paddy Garcia]

Poor Kenny is totally lost

[sbgawa]

I wouldn't agree with this. Distribution and decision-making are two very different aspects of goalkeeping. Three or four times in those two games Bazunu showed wojus decision-making, and we're fortunate it didn't cost us. That doesn't get balanced out by some good distribution. I'd be terrified if he were in nets against Portugal.

Yes, we have some good goalkeeping prospects, but he was one of the downsides of tonight for me.

Just as well you arent the goalkeeping coach at Man City Stu.
two goals conceded in two games no chance with either.
I agree with rating players harshly, youth is nothing to do with it , he is a professional and no excuses allow, do think you are harsh

[pineapple stu]

Just as well you arent the goalkeeping coach at Man City Stu.
two goals conceded in two games no chance with either.
I agree with rating players harshly, youth is nothing to do with it , he is a professional and no excuses allow, do think you are harsh
Do I think I'm harsh? Nope. Three or four howlers in the two games and he's been lucky to get away with them. Great prospect, but he's not a positive from tonight's game.


Tbf I didn’t say he got his decisions right just that he was decisive.
Decisively wrong isn't much good to us!

I hope he does learn from it. But he's got a lot to learn still. I can see why he's conceding two a game at Rochdale for example.

[John83]

I think some folks are so desperate for green shoots that they're wilfully ignoring mistakes from Bazunu.

I thought the good tonight included Duffy, McClean, Coleman, O'Shea, and Long. Flashes from Christie, Knight and Brady too, and a solid shift from Horgan. Robinson was dire. Molumby wasn't great. Bazunu was shaky. Parrott didn't catch my eye much, for good or bad. All I saw tonight was a suggestion that Kenny made a bags of the team selections last week in the games that mattered. I said before the game that a score draw would be a good result, and I stand by that.

[Neish]

As for Parrott, hopefully he makes it as a decent professional and a solid international, there's plenty of time for him to develop. But he must be the most overhyped wonderkid to ever leave our shores. Was being made out like he was the next Robbie Keane. He is nowhere near the level Keane was at at a similar age. Anthony Stokes was better at 19 than Parrott is.

Was just having this debate on Facebook with some guy asking why does Kenny never start Parrott. I pointed out Troy has scored just 1 goal in the last 2 seasons (23 club games) that one goal came in the 3rd tier.

Definitely has potential and looked good at youth level but need to be taking the next step up soon, From what i have seen he is a best a championship player

[zero]

seems like the overall narrative was that we played well and 1-1 was a decent result.

I don't understand.