Republic of Ireland V Portugal - Thurs, 11th November 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[Bielsa´s irish]

3-6-1. It seems

[liamoo11]

Ogbene strange call. Kenny incapable of not making random selection. Can ogbene play inverted and come centrally? Find it strange idah doesn't play as a focal point for Robinson to play off. Are we hoping to be pinned in and looking to hit ogbene wide on the break ? If that's the plan it's fairly grim.

[Bielsa´s irish]

What’s the formation?

It seems a 3-6-1 to me. He is gonna flood the midfield with players

[Bielsa´s irish]

What’s the formation?
On paper and on player's characteristics it seems a 3-6-1 with McGrath and Ogbebe as double false 9

[JR89]

Ya’d kinda expect Duffy to have more than 50 caps ! !

Was nearly two years between his first and second cap. His fifth cap was the France game where he was sent off.

[Fixer82]

Coleman one of the 3 CBs then?
Doherty right wing back and Stevens Left wing back

[Bielsa´s irish]

What’s the formation?


Coleman one of the 3 CBs then?
Doherty right wing back and Stevens Left wing back
I hope it works.

Worked for ourselves in Mexico 86. 3-6-1 valdano all alone

[centre mid]

Ogbene strange call. Kenny incapable of not making random selection. Can ogbene play inverted and come centrally? Find it strange idah doesn't play as a focal point for Robinson to play off. Are we hoping to be pinned in and looking to hit ogbene wide on the break ? If that's the plan it's fairly grim.

I'd imagine his pace and athleticism against a somewhat makeshirt Portuguese defence is behind the thinking.

[liamoo11]

It's a simplistic tactic I think. You lneed to have the footballing ability to go with that and awareness to get into those spaces otherwise you have a sprinter out wide not contributing and hoping for a Hollywood ball to put him away. I just don't think that will wash against a side of Portugal quality

[centre mid]

Ah ref c'mon now

[Trequartista20]

We're struggling to stay in the game so far. Ogbene, who plays asa wingback when he does start for his club, has contributed very little. Idah, who played well in Portugal, would have provided a focal point to the attack that seems lacking.

[Colbert Report]

Ogbene hasn't impressed me at all but maybe Kenny knows something I don't. We're definitely not good enough to play this way, keeping the ball on the ground and passing it about. We keep giving away possession cheaply. Matter of time before Portugal get a few goals.

[Colbert Report]

Great shot from Robinson but I think the Portuguese have figured out that all they need to do is put pressure on Bazunu and they're basically guaranteed to gain possession from one of his kicks.

[pineapple stu]

This ref is ****e. A Danilo dive gets us a yellow. Not their first time trying it either. Portugal will lap this up now

[TonyD]

Ref giving us nothing. Danilo was all over Ogbene there, but Ogbene gets booked.

[Insidetherock]

If there was ever a game to return to hoofball this is it.. the Portugese defence look ropey as hell.. balls over the top all night

[texidub]

Ogbene needs to make more of a nuisance of himself. (Assuming that's what he is there for.) He's standing off a bit too much.

[TonyD]

I’d leave Ogbene on. I think he’s growing into it, as we are overall. And if we are to play balls over the top he has the pace to trouble them.

[osarusan]

Defensively solid enough considering their quality in attack.

Really struggling up front. Robinson is lively but the game is passing Ogbene by, it's not a role that suits him at all.

If we concede a goal from that f**kacting around the back i'll break my tv. At best, we are breaking even with a long punt like the keeper could have done in the first place. At worst, we hand that a chance/goal.

[Insidetherock]

My apologies for the comment above.. predictive text.. meant to say so far and didn't realise my mistake

[DCWA]

I am surprised at the lack of positivity this is the best home performance thus far I have seen us put in against a top seed and top side in years.

We have flirted with danger certainly but we have a plan, we keep the ball to a degree and have varied our approach.

[texidub]

Robinson looking well up for it. Some good spells. Some nervous spells. Good watch. Would like to see more aggression from Ogbene in terms disrupting the Portugese at the back and to see Doherty being a bit more incisive with his passing.. he's getting into positions but not making the most of them.

[centre mid]

Shaky opening 10 mins but have grown into the game. Our right and their left are wide open. Ogbene has struggled to get into the game. Portugal dont look that bothered tbh. Could see a couple of goals in the 2nd half.

Ref has given us very little although I've seen those penalties given for the challenge on Ronaldo. An extra body in midfield would help - maybe Knight on for Ogbene?

Robinson playing well again.

[irishfan86]

Kind of surprised at the seeming consensus here on Ogbene — with his pace and some of his runs, I’m really liking the look of him. Far from the finished article but I can see why Kenny has selected him.

[centre mid]

Kind of surprised at the seeming consensus here on Ogbene — with his pace and some of his runs, I’m really liking the look of him. Far from the finished article but I can see why Kenny has selected him.

He was a little unucky with a few balls played behind him that should've been to feet. Took him a good 20 mins or so to get into the game. Certainly wouldn't be writing him off or anything.

[Insidetherock]

I think he's a long term asset.. just looks off tonight.. Robinson looks right on it though.. maybe bring in Idah as a target man with Robinson playing off him?

Also think tonight is set up for a Mc Clean winner tbh

[Olé Olé]

Funny seeing Ogbene of Rotherham go toe to toe with Danilo of PSG. I think he's growing into the game. Hopefully he backs himself a bit more now and gets found by his teammates.

[pineapple stu]

I am surprised at the lack of positivity this is the best home performance thus far I have seen us put in against a top seed and top side in years.

We have flirted with danger certainly but we have a plan, we keep the ball to a degree and have varied our approach.
I'm in two minds about the performance. Portugal had a solid ten minutes early on and have done nothing since. I just don't know how much of that is down to us really.

It's very similar to the away game really, and Portugal then upped a gear or two late on.

But can't be that downbeat about things so far for sure

[Olé Olé]

Funny seeing Ogbene of Rotherham go toe to toe with Danilo of PSG. I think he's growing into the game. Hopefully he backs himself a bit more now and gets found by his teammates.

First play of the half and he backs himself on a dribble. Palinha should have been booked.

[DCWA]

First play of the half and he backs himself on a dribble. Palinha should have been booked.

Not sure how that isn’t a booking after the very soft one given against Ogbene if first half.

[TonyD]

Kind of surprised at the seeming consensus here on Ogbene — with his pace and some of his runs, I’m really liking the look of him. Far from the finished article but I can see why Kenny has selected him.

Agree. Think he’s causing them a few problems now.

[texidub]

Better already from Ogbene. And less playing around at the back. Playing well.

[Olé Olé]

Every time I see Ogbene with Ireland all I can think of is Michail Antonio. Right sided utility player turned good centre forward through sheer grit and determination. Not saying he'll reach the heights of Antonio but seeing him torment and battle Danilo like Antonio did Van Dijk!

[Colbert Report]

Hendrick hasn't put a foot wrong all match, very interesting substitution putting Hourihane on in his place.

[pineapple stu]

This, objectively speaking, is fairly dire stuff from both sides

[paul_oshea]

Portugal look so disinterested. It's mad it's like they've been forced to fulfill some long standing end of season friendly obligation made a couple of years back.

[Colbert Report]

I'm just glad Pepe didn't start kicking Robinson when he fell to the ground.

[pineapple stu]

Pepe off for two very harsh yellows.

We've beaten them at their own game :)

[Trequartista20]

Portugal are, and have been, there for the taking really. They just haven't looked at it.

[Colbert Report]

We have no excuse for not winning this match.

[pineapple stu]

We have no excuse for not winning this match.
Ah we do. We're not very good, especially up front. That's a very good excuse

[Colbert Report]

We're not good up front so you're right, but Portugal have no interest in playing this match.

[boovidge]

argh if only we had a bit of quality up front. we took robbie keane for granted.

[Colbert Report]

Am I seeing things or did some ten year old girl just run onto the pitch and get Ronaldo's jersey?

[pineapple stu]

We're not good up front so you're right, but Portugal have no interest in playing this match.
Agree with that. Portugal were spectacularly disappointing. So it's a draw, but I'm not sure how much to read into it. I mean, I'll take it and be happy, but I don't think we played particularly well.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Yup. First time the crowd cheered him.

[Insidetherock]

She did yep.. and the face of poor Gavin Bazunu who'd asked for it as they were walking off the pitch

[SkStu]

Well how are the naysayers tonight? That was stuff to be very proud of. A wonderful performance. Stifled and strangled the many threats in that team. Disappointed not to win it, really.

In Kenny We Trust.

[DCWA]

Portugal weren’t upto much at all and we still lack up front (that ain’t changing anytime soon) but plenty of positives and all round happy. Improvement continues and the boss is rolling. Happy days.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Very dull match. Was like a dour friendly. Portugal uninterested as was shown by their selection. They were resting before their important match against Serbia. Nothing really can be read into this performance based on that but I thought we were quite poor.