Hungary v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 8th June 2021 - Friendly

[pineapple stu]

14,000 crowd at the game tonight apparently - in a 15,000 capacity stadium. So effectively a full house.

[centre mid]

I think you could throw a hanky over the two keepers tbh. Kelleher always worries me when coming for crosses. Banuzu has had a few poor decision making occasions.

EDIT that last sentence makes no grammatical sense.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think you could throw a hanky over the two keepers tbh. Kelleher always worries me when coming for crosses. Banuzu has had a few poor decision making occasions.

EDIT that last sentence makes no grammatical sense.
So what you're trying to say is you could throw a hanky over the two keepers and neither of them would catch it?

[pineapple stu]

I'd be careful with that if I were you. A hanky can be quite a dangerous weapon.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Ym5iUPIfk

[CraftyToePoke]

Makes me wonder what the score is with Max O'Leary is, played a few games for Bristol this season. He's not the answer ongoing most likely but surely should be around the squad.

[Razors left peg]

The 2nd half against Andorra was good but against decent opponents today we need to look like we can compete. If we go out a lose 2 nil with a crappy performance where we create nothing I'd be very worried. There were plenty of positives from the Andorra game that we need to take forward to today.

Games this time of year are notoriously poor with players having one eye on the beach but given the circumstances of our record in the last year Id hope the players will be engaged for at least 1 more game.

[Razors left peg]

1402305671849156609

3-5-2 tonight with Parrott and Idah up front.

[ColourfulPeanut]

Looks like

---------------------Bazunu---------------------

-------------Egan - Duffy - O'Shea-------------

Doherty --------------------------------McClean

------------Cullen - Hourihane - Knight----------

-------------------Idah - Parrott-------------------

[pineapple stu]

So Duffy and Idah in for Collins and Curtis is it?

[geysir]

The 2nd half against Andorra was good but against decent opponents today we need to look like we can compete. If we go out a lose 2 nil with a crappy performance where we create nothing I'd be very worried. There were plenty of positives from the Andorra game that we need to take forward to today.

Games this time of year are notoriously poor with players having one eye on the beach but given the circumstances of our record in the last year Id hope the players will be engaged for at least 1 more game.

Hungary's players are (undeservedly) going to the Euros, their team will have different priorities. It could turn out to a typical game where the tournament bound team get turned over by the team with a point to prove.

[Olé Olé]

1402305671849156609

3-5-2 tonight with Parrott and Idah up front.

I don't get a 3-5-2 in this game. Why not give the players a workout with this formation against Andorra?

I wonder if O'Shea could be left back and McClean left of the front 3 with Parrott right of it?

EDIT: Or Parrott central and behind Idah with Knight right and McClean left. 4-2-3-1.

[Razors left peg]

Very excited about the front 2, but they need service from the midfield. Hourihane and Doherty as senior players need to get the finger out and start contributing.

[centre mid]

3 centre halves with McClean and Doherty wing backs I think. Cullen and Hourihane as 2 DMs - Parrott and Knight behind Idah?

[the 12 th man]

Egan rattles the crossbar from close range,the bit of jostling in the build up probably cost him hitting the target.

We've started on the back foot again.

[centre mid]

Ok start from us, struggling to get Parrott and Idah into the game but early days.

[Olé Olé]

Is Hourihane trying to play a game of Where's Wally with all the people in the stadium? He has been non existent so far and it is killing us. We cant seem to keep possession past midfield and play through any lines.

[passinginterest]

Think after a very shaky first five minutes it’s been solid enough. By far the best chance with Egan off the bar. When we’ve mixed it up we’ve looked a lot better. We’re better keeping the ball from a break down up the field than trying to play out. Hourihane does have an incredibly and infuriating ability to put himself in positions where he’s never an option.

[Razors left peg]

Is Hourihane trying to play a game of Where's Wally with all the people in the stadium? He has been non existent so far and it is killing us. We cant seem to keep possession past midfield and play through any lines.

Standard from him

[SkStu]

Is Hourihane trying to play a game of Where's Wally with all the people in the stadium? He has been non existent so far and it is killing us. We cant seem to keep possession past midfield and play through any lines.

was thinking the same about Hourihane. He is such a passenger, its not even funny. Parrott, to me, looks a step or two off where he needs to be at this level. Idah on the other hand has so far shown a little better - won a throw out of nothing stands out. Still pretty laborious stuff, cant seem to get our foot on the ball and find a meaningful pass.

[Olé Olé]

I don't like hammering him too persistently but this is as bad as I've seen him do it. He will not receive possession unless he has a yard or two of space all around him.

[Olé Olé]

was thinking the same about Hourihane. He is such a passenger, its not even funny. Parrott, to me, looks a step or two off where he needs to be at this level. Idah on the other hand has so far shown a little better - won a throw out of nothing stands out. Still pretty laborious stuff, cant seem to get our foot on the ball and find a meaningful pass.

I agree on all fronts. Idah is putting in a shift, without getting a great return but they are challenging situations. Parrott trying to knock it around the corner past a good player like Orban. He must have chuckled to himself as he guided the ball to the keeper.

[SkStu]

I agree on all fronts. Idah is putting in a shift, without getting a great return but they are challenging situations. Parrott trying to knock it around the corner past a good player like Orban. He must have chuckled to himself as he guided the ball to the keeper.

I was embarrassed for him.

[paul_oshea]

Parrott's seems to think he's still playing against Andorra

[passinginterest]

I think Parrot has been good. He’s trying things and he’s won two or three frees. One with a lovely nutmeg and another that he took quickly in an effort to make something happen. Idah is putting in a shift but not making a lot happen either.

Hourihane made a criminally bad pass in the first minute and didn’t want to know about the ball after that. You see it happen to amateur players all the time but it shouldn’t happen with an experienced pro.

[the 12 th man]

Better than the first half against Andorra (wouldn't be too hard) but still we look a bit more interested.

[SkStu]

A lot better from Parrott there. O'Shea has been very impressive to me too. And McClean i have to say, much as that pains me :D

[Insidetherock]

Not the worst first half.

Hungary are better, but they're ranked higher so that's expected.. they are also a much more settled team/squad, while Ireland are very much a work in progress.

I keep saying it.. its brave to blood so many yiung players at once, but its necessary. They're doing ok

[D24Saint]

Enjoyable enough game in that first half. The novelty of fans at the game is help aswell. It’s been a solid performance from Ireland.

[paul_oshea]

We have been fairly solid defensively which is what we should expect

I hope O'Shea isn't a starter when everyone is available. Got caught out again

[passinginterest]

We have to be pretty happy with that half. Generally solid defensively, a couple of fantastic balls into the box when the chance has presented. I think we’re letting them run the ball out from the back a little too easily at times, but I suppose that’s letting us get organised in the middle rather than getting cut open by a couple of passes with a full press.
Glad to see us mix things up a bit. Duffy and McLean really lifting their games. We still lack a bit of craft around the middle. Knight is working his balls off and getting fouled repeatedly, would be nice to see Cullen or Hourihane just being a bit more assertive and creative from time to time.

[Eminence Grise]

Encouraging so far, but room to improve. Cullen and Knight creeping towards double figures in caps and looking better than Hourihane - they could be the mainstay of midfield for the best part of ten years, albeit Cullen may need to shift a gear. Need to work on the final ball. Parrott settling into the game, I think. O'Shea looks the real deal. Satisfied, says Kevin Doyle on RTE. Sounds about right.

[osarusan]

Solid enough defensively, which was all I was hoping for.

[Eirambler]

Kenny has clearly done a good job of lowering expectations anyway. Set the bar so low you can't fail and all that. One attempt on goal from Ireland in the whole half, a header from a free kick. Otherwise dreadful, Hungary aren't even any good and they're still dominating us. Nothing from us in general play at all, not even a half chance.

[paul_oshea]

Who's the woman on rte ? She's talking more sense than a lot theyve had on recently

[pineapple stu]

Lisa Fallon. Galway coach.

[paul_oshea]

Solid enough defensively, which was all I was hoping for.

Said the same before the game that's what I wanted. So relatively happy. Hopefully Hungary take the second half as seirous as the first and don't make loads of substitutions

[paul_oshea]

Solid enough defensively, which was all I was hoping for.


Lisa Fallon. Galway coach.

Thanks. I meant than a lot of other pundits(male or female)

[Insidetherock]

I was only thinking the same thing myself

[placid casual]

The days of hanging onto the ball, dominating possession don't look any closer anyway - midfield is just risk averse, panicked, rubbish as always.
Must say, as derided as Duffy is in most circles he always looks like he loves being out there playing for Ireland and really competing . Can't say the same for Doherty or Hourihane anyway.

[centre mid]

McClean's best 45 mins for Ireland in a long time. We look much better organised in defence with Duffy in there. Struggling to link midfield with the front 2 and Hourihane constantly passing it back doesnt help.

Hungary arent a quality side at all so we've a decent chance to nick something here. Good save from Bazunu and he's been fairly solid apart from a couple of occasions where he probably should just go long.

[Olé Olé]

Wouldn't be rushing into any changes. Is there a concern over Idah still? He might need replacing. Collins is the only option there. Otherwise, Hourihane should be replaced. I'd either bring Knight back beside Cullen or bringing in Arter or Molumby. Molumby for me would do fine.

[Insidetherock]

Aye, you'd know she coached and isn't just anex player. Sometimes ex players are crap pundits

[Olé Olé]

McClean's best 45 mins for Ireland in a long time. We look much better organised in defence with Duffy in there. Struggling to link midfield with the front 2 and Hourihane constantly passing it back doesnt help.

Hungary arent a quality side at all so we've a decent chance to nick something here. Good save from Bazunu and he's been fairly solid apart from a couple of occasions where he probably should just go long.

Great point on Duffy. It needs to be said. He has been good. And he has played some tidy passes, both long and short.

[paul_oshea]

I didn't realise bazunu was that small.

[Olé Olé]

Kelleher for Bazunu. Fair enough I think.

[Nesta99]

Lisa Fallon knows all about playing long ball tactics from all her time under John Caulfield's Cork and Galway sides, on this occasion she is right though. Demanding the ball to always be played short out from the back irrespective of a very high press in numbers is too one dimensional, as much so as the old aerial bombardments of the past. It's showing that SK is both evolving as a coach and more pragmatic than he has been previous. It's a huge improvement since the Slovakia performance though we have a fuller hand to pick from tonight and moving on from covid fiascos. Seeing crowds back is great and has to be a help to players and lifts performance. Not too fussed on the result from now as there is evidence of the manager putting a mark on the team and is a longer term process.

[pineapple stu]

****ing Hourihane - a free-kick 7/8 yards inside their half, in a lovely central position, and he turns around and immediately plays a pass 15 yards back.

[Olé Olé]

Ah the ball being taken off his toe there and his lame attempt to recover before Egan had to do it for him. Absolutely frightening stuff.

[centre mid]

Molumby has had more of an impact in 6 or 7 mins than Hourihane did in his 50 odd mins.

[Insidetherock]

Is it just me.. or is Daryl Horgan a lovely player.. always seems busy and looking to do something