Republic of Ireland V Lithuania - Tuesday, 29th March 2022 - Friendly

[tetsujin1979]

https://www.skysports.com/football/republic-of-ireland-vs-lithuania/stats/462782

Match stats from Sky Sports give us 78.2% possession, and an 88.5% pass completion rate. Can't find a number of passes listed anywhere for this one, but those figures alone are something we've never seen from an Ireland side previously. Even when playing the likes of Gibraltar in the past, we've never dominated a game as much, while keeping the opponents largely pinned in their own half.

With 18 shots, 10 corners, and all of the decent possession through the game, we really should have been scoring more. But it's continued improvement in key areas.
I had 561 completed from 627 attempted, or 89.4%
Usually there's some difference across different sites, but 89% is probably about right. That's nine passes completed for every one pass that failed
1508907995194875920

[backstothewall]

I feel some of the criticism of Hourihane is over the top.

I didn't think he had that bad a game, but even if he did, that's all it was. One bad game doesn't mean we necessarily need to find a replacement for him or anything like that. It just means he wasn't at his best yesterday.

[Eirambler]

Has he had many good games for us though? Aside from scoring the free kick in the tennis ball game at the Aviva, what else has he done to merit repeated selection?

I wouldn't mind a one off bad game, but it feels like most of his 30 odd caps have been bad games to be honest. I suppose they're all just one off bad games if they're only each looked at individually!

[sparky12345678]

slight change of topic but thought it curious given some criticism of some players.

It's my understanding that LOI fans rank the league somewhere between League 1 and Championship ie 3rd tier ish
Given it was a friendly, and given Kenny's history and positive attitude towards the LOI how was it that the only player who got a call up was the keeper and that was due to injuries etc.

How many players for these 2 games were from the 3rd tier, 4-5? Who would be able to give Will Keane a run for his money given the criticism here? Have the LOI lads not built any form/fitness yet? Are we hoping in the june window, someone could make the cut?

[Olé Olé]

I feel some of the criticism of Hourihane is over the top.

I didn't think he had that bad a game, but even if he did, that's all it was. One bad game doesn't mean we necessarily need to find a replacement for him or anything like that. It just means he wasn't at his best yesterday.

I don't know. I think the criticism is couched in some similar performances and has to be taken in the context of how his performance impacted the team. Receiving the ball and standing there stagnantly before looking up and around and sweeping it out to the most obvious player doesn't help the team. That is why Cullen has become integral. He changes direction, he plays with urgency, he receives the ball in tight spaces, he turns in those tight spaces. I'm not saying he's the best player in the world, Cullen, but when he only have 2 midfield players then we need a lot more from them in terms of progressing the ball. Hendrick also demonstrated the contrast when he came in.

Hourihane might be fine for a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2 but I don't think we can get away with playing him in a 3-4-3.

[Olé Olé]

slight change of topic but thought it curious given some criticism of some players.

It's my understanding that LOI fans rank the league somewhere between League 1 and Championship ie 3rd tier ish
Given it was a friendly, and given Kenny's history and positive attitude towards the LOI how was it that the only player who got a call up was the keeper and that was due to injuries etc.

How many players for these 2 games were from the 3rd tier, 4-5? Who would be able to give Will Keane a run for his money given the criticism here? Have the LOI lads not built any form/fitness yet? Are we hoping in the june window, someone could make the cut?

Are you sure about this? I don't think that fans think that or the league is of that standard but I'm open to being corrected. To give a crude and simple answer, Georgie Kelly is still adjusting to life at Rotherham having been top scorer with Bohs last night. Keane is scoring lots at that level.

[Eirambler]

slight change of topic but thought it curious given some criticism of some players.

It's my understanding that LOI fans rank the league somewhere between League 1 and Championship ie 3rd tier ish
Given it was a friendly, and given Kenny's history and positive attitude towards the LOI how was it that the only player who got a call up was the keeper and that was due to injuries etc.

How many players for these 2 games were from the 3rd tier, 4-5? Who would be able to give Will Keane a run for his money given the criticism here? Have the LOI lads not built any form/fitness yet? Are we hoping in the june window, someone could make the cut?

Some League of Ireland fans might rank it between League 1 and the Championship but I don't think anyone else does.

The League of Ireland Premier is positioned moreso between League 2 and the National League if we're comparing to the English leagues. Hence the lack of call ups. In the same way that we very occasionally might call up a League 2 player if needed, there may be the same justification for the calling up of a League of Ireland player from time to time. In this case Talbot was called in, but he was more there as a training keeper than anything. With Talbot being in there, I'd suggest the league was over-represented, if anything.

[joey B]

I don’t think there’s very many that rate the LOI at that level,I don’t anyway but maybe there is others that do and they’re entitled to their opinion on that.

I also can’t think of any current LOI player that would be pushing for a call up to the National team either,it’s a very rare occurrence for a reason .

Maybe in time Jack Byrne might perform well in Europe and catch Kennys eye but I wouldn’t expect it tbh…..

[DCWA]

slight change of topic but thought it curious given some criticism of some players.

It's my understanding that LOI fans rank the league somewhere between League 1 and Championship ie 3rd tier ish ?

I can’t believe there is anyone that ranks the LOI at that level, or even close.

I would say most LOI fans feel we have a few more players probably capable of playing at that level than others may realise but that would be about it.

It is miles off League 1 and not even in the same stratosphere as any part of the Championship.

Quick edit to say that I would agree with the above that there are no LOI players currently warranting significant consideration for the national squad.

[Stuttgart88]

The LOI is a mixed bag - some players could play at a good level in England given the chance, others wouldn't even play League football. It's hard to say where the league as a whole stands. A LOI top 3 team vs L1 top 10 would be interesting. I'd say L1.

[Stuttgart88]

I don't know. I think the criticism is couched in some similar performances and has to be taken in the context of how his performance impacted the team. Receiving the ball and standing there stagnantly before looking up and around and sweeping it out to the most obvious player doesn't help the team. That is why Cullen has become integral. He changes direction, he plays with urgency, he receives the ball in tight spaces, he turns in those tight spaces. I'm not saying he's the best player in the world, Cullen, but when he only have 2 midfield players then we need a lot more from them in terms of progressing the ball. Hendrick also demonstrated the contrast when he came in.

Hourihane might be fine for a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2 but I don't think we can get away with playing him in a 3-4-3.

He plays his best football at club level in an advanced position. He has consistently disappointed for Ireland in deep positions. Agree totally on Cullen.

[Jd2793]

slight change of topic but thought it curious given some criticism of some players.

It's my understanding that LOI fans rank the league somewhere between League 1 and Championship ie 3rd tier ish
Given it was a friendly, and given Kenny's history and positive attitude towards the LOI how was it that the only player who got a call up was the keeper and that was due to injuries etc.

How many players for these 2 games were from the 3rd tier, 4-5? Who would be able to give Will Keane a run for his money given the criticism here? Have the LOI lads not built any form/fitness yet? Are we hoping in the june window, someone could make the cut?

loi is closer to the conference/conf south as a whole. rovers would give a l1 side a game the rest? not a chance. couple of players within the league capable of playing to that level but not more than a handful.

[zero]

I know he didn't have a load to do but Collins looks the real deal. We may need an "Embarrassment of riches: centre half" thread!

[Olé Olé]

He plays his best football at club level in an advanced position. He has consistently disappointed for Ireland in deep positions. Agree totally on Cullen.

Yes, he does, and that is easier for him to achieve in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. He often played on the left or right of the midfield 3 for Villa and that was where he was best for them and then playing in the 10 role would suit too.

However, it doesn't look likely that he would be able to occupy either of the spots near the striker in our 3-4-3. Those positions are reserved for lads that can work and press and cover ground like Ogbene, Knight, McGrath or that are forward players looking to pick up awkward positions like Robinson and Idah.

[Olé Olé]

I know he didn't have a load to do but Collins looks the real deal. We may need an "Embarrassment of riches: centre half" thread!

Honestly, it's like he was built to be high level centre half. The way he controls, passes, heads and tackles is all so natural to him. I don't want to attract accusations of hype but I would be shocked if he isn't a Premiership defender for a long time to come. I've liked O'Shea and Omobamidele a lot but this guy just feels more like a sure thing.

[CraftyToePoke]

slight change of topic but thought it curious given some criticism of some players.

It's my understanding that LOI fans rank the league somewhere between League 1 and Championship ie 3rd tier ish
Given it was a friendly, and given Kenny's history and positive attitude towards the LOI how was it that the only player who got a call up was the keeper and that was due to injuries etc.

How many players for these 2 games were from the 3rd tier, 4-5? Who would be able to give Will Keane a run for his money given the criticism here? Have the LOI lads not built any form/fitness yet? Are we hoping in the june window, someone could make the cut?

Not wanting to drag this off topic either with the where does LOI rank side of it, which is a bit pointless and always divides opinion & its an Ireland match thread.

I think a number of things have calmed the calls for LOI players, its early season here being part of it. We have players coming through at better level clubs in England to occupy the conversation which wasn't the case there for a few seasons and that drew focus on players like Maguire / Byrne and Burke, they got chances and ultimately didn't impact.

[Stuttgart88]

Yes agreed, mea culpa

[third policeman]

Not wanting to drag this off topic either with the where does LOI rank side of it, which is a bit pointless and always divides opinion & its an Ireland match thread.

I think a number of things have calmed the calls for LOI players, its early season here being part of it. We have players coming through at better level clubs in England to occupy the conversation which wasn't the case there for a few seasons and that drew focus on players like Maguire / Byrne and Burke, they got chances and ultimately didn't impact.

I’ve not seen Byrne recently, but his cameos for Ireland were just that. He’s not conspicuously worse than some who have had multiple caps during the same period. I’m not necessarily advocating for his recall, but to say he didn’t impact is harsh given the very limited opportunities he has had.

[sbgawa]

I’ve not seen Byrne recently, but his cameos for Ireland were just that. He’s not conspicuously worse than some who have had multiple caps during the same period. I’m not necessarily advocating for his recall, but to say he didn’t impact is harsh given the very limited opportunities he has had.

A match like last night where defences are sitting in is the exact sort of match where a player like Byrne who can pick out a killer pass would be useful.
Its early season though but come the Nations league i suspect he will be on the bench at least.

[ontheotherhand]

I’ve not seen Byrne recently, but his cameos for Ireland were just that. He’s not conspicuously worse than some who have had multiple caps during the same period. I’m not necessarily advocating for his recall, but to say he didn’t impact is harsh given the very limited opportunities he has had.

Agreed. He made more of an impact v Bulgaria than Hourihane did last night against worse opposition. But he'd only be an option on the bench even if he can get back to his levels. I think he'd have stayed in and around the squad if not for the bad case of covid and then the back injury but now there's plenty ahead of him where there wasn't really when he was flying.

But as of now there's nobody close to a call up in the league and better options elsewhere. There's a few younger players worth watching mind you.

[tetsujin1979]

Watched some of the highlights back online, basically the offside goals, and the actual winner.
From early on in the game, it was clear that Lithuania did not come here to win, or even to play. It was very much a case of defend in numbers, and try to get something either on the break, or from a set play. There's nothing wrong with those tactics, it could even be considered a compliment - that if they tried to win the game, they would be open to our style of play - but it meant that watching it as an Ireland fan was frustrating in the extreme.
Everything good in the first half went through Ogbene. I wasn't sure what height he was before the game, but I never thought he was short, and a google afterwards puts his height around 5"11, but he still looked short against the Lithuanian defence. Likewise Will Keane (who stands about 6"1, depending on what source you trust) was crowded out every time a ball came near him, so I don't understand why we persisted in crossing more than 40 balls into the box when they were just going to be headed away anyway.
I know the trope of a player getting better when he doesn't play is tired, but this was a game that needed someone like Wes Hoolahan, to pick a pass between the lines to expose a packed defence. Wes is six weeks shy of his 40th birthday, so why not use this opportunity to give Mark Sykes(seven assists this season) his debut, or include Connor Ronan(five assists) in the squad? Among the substitutes that were named, the only player other than Sykes that could do that is Jason Knight.
It was a good result, the unbeaten streak is extended, the clean sheets record is now five in the last six, only Portugal and Serbia have scored more than one against us in twelve months, but it's hard to not feel that this game was a missed opportunity. I could have been in goals for the last twenty minutes and Lithuania still wouldn't have scored, so why not give Talbot or O'Leary a cap? When Travers and Bazunu are available again, they're unlikely to be in the squad, and if any goalkeeper is unavailable for any reason in June, throwing either of the two callups in for a debut in a Nations League game is a lot to ask.

The post reads a bit down, and my opinion of the game is anything but. By most metrics, it was a success - a win, a clean sheet at home, a fine winning goal, chances created, opposition dominated - but still there could have been a little more done.

[Razors left peg]

If Talbot or O'Leary played 20 minutes last night it would make zero difference to how they would perform if they were called into a real game.

[ontheotherhand]

Yeah agreed - and more valuable for Kelleher to play as many minutes as possible. There was always the chance he would get tested on the break. But tets is pretty spot on with everything else.

[Eirambler]

I think if Talbot or O'Leary were sent on it would just have been a token cap, because there's every chance that neither will ever be capped.

However I'm disappointed that there were no debuts at all across the two friendlies. In particular I would have liked to have seen at least one of Sykes or Ronan get a decent run out. Feels like a missed opportunity there, probably caused by the poor initial selection in midfield. If we had started with a proper midfield we would likely have been comfortably ahead and could then have experimented more in the second half.

[third policeman]

My frustration with Kenny is that he's not radical enough. He has a style and a playing philosophy, so stop picking players who clearly are never going to be able to play that way like Hourihane.

[pineapple stu]

I know he didn't have a load to do but Collins looks the real deal. We may need an "Embarrassment of riches: centre half" thread!
Collins was popping up all over the pitch last night. There was one time he was hanging off the last Lithuanian defender trying to run onto a through ball (might have been from Hourihane) which just didn't come through to him. Wasn't the only time he was up in attack either. I know it was only Lithuania and he didn't have much defending to do, but was good to see him keen to get forward.

Also looks like a big lad; the Richie Dunne comparison someone made earlier in the thread (I think!) seems apt.

(Also, don't want to drag things too much off topic - or maybe tets/John wants to spin this out into a new thread - but JD2793 linked to this twitter thread (https://twitter.com/AndyForrester1/status/1446047884751867905) in the Off Topic forum recently which I thought was an interesting attempt at setting out how the LoI compares to other leagues. Slightly below League 2 on average is what it reckons, but with a range between mid-table L1 (Rovers) and Conference North/South (Longford). Certainly I don't know anyone who thinks the LoI is somewhere between Championship and L1)

[Eirambler]

I know he didn't have a load to do but Collins looks the real deal. We may need an "Embarrassment of riches: centre half" thread!

I could absolutely see us needing one of those before long. However we may also need embarrassment of poverty threads for left back, central midfield and up front...

[Eirambler]

Collins was popping up all over the pitch last night. There was one time he was hanging off the last Lithuanian defender trying to run onto a through ball (might have been from Hourihane) which just didn't come through to him. Wasn't the only time he was up in attack either. I know it was only Lithuania and he didn't have much defending to do, but was good to see him keen to get forward.

Also looks like a big lad; the Richie Dunne comparison someone made earlier in the thread (I think!) seems apt.

(Also, don't want to drag things too much off topic - or maybe tets/John wants to spin this out into a new thread - but JD2793 linked to this twitter thread (https://twitter.com/AndyForrester1/status/1446047884751867905) in the Off Topic forum recently which I thought was an interesting attempt at setting out how the LoI compares to other leagues. Slightly below League 2 on average is what it reckons, but with a range between mid-table L1 (Rovers) and Conference North/South (Longford). Certainly I don't know anyone who thinks the LoI is somewhere between Championship and L1)

That's an interesting Twitter thread. It actually more or less lines up with how I would have viewed those various leagues before I saw it - LoIP being between League 2 and National League etc. I do think it slightly overrates Shamrock Rovers though - mid table League 1 and better than every Scottish team outside of the big 2 - I'm not sure that's quite right? It might be skewed by Rovers playing European games mid season or something.

Anyway, veering off topic here.

[pineapple stu]

It might be skewed by Rovers playing European games mid season or something.

Anyway, veering off topic here.
That's actually exactly what I reckoned in the Off Topic thread too

[Olé Olé]

I could absolutely see us needing one of those before long. However we may also need embarrassment of poverty threads for left back, central midfield and up front...

Amazing the swings and roundabouts this can take. I thought the forwards (Obafemi, Connolly, Parrott and Idah) would be the surest things. These 3 young centre halves and 3 young goalkeepers have come up from behind them and all 6 lads look like they will be high level Championship or Premiership level footballers for the majority of their careers which means they'll be in the frame for us unless we have a drastic uptick in quality overall. The forwards have been a mixed bag and Obafemi and Idah have had really bright patches at Championship and Premiership level respectively of late. And our front 3 looks like it will be Knight, Ogbene and Robinson for the next while unless one of those guys sustains some really good club form.

I agree on midfield and left back. Coventry, Kilkenny and Johansson are 3 of the lads I think need big seasons next season and need to pick their moves wisely (assuming all of them will be on the move). Johansson I'm including because he has looked quality when I have seen him but it hasn't happened for him this season in Holland.

Hopefully we get an Ogbene-like bolter into the mix if none of those guys press on. Maybe Mark Sykes or Daniel Crowley (who I believe is playing deeper for Willem II than the 10 spot he normally occupied). Ronan is probably a player for the front line options if he does keep going.

As I type this, it is becoming clear to me that our squad has become much stronger recently.

[seanfhear]

Just the odd quick look at Ryan Manning there with the beard and his size ( not so much his style of play ) reminded me of the Great Tony Grealish. What a Great Player Tony Grealish was for us.

[third policeman]

Indeed he was. Thought I was the only person here old enough to remember him playing. Pity Jack turned out to be such a disappointment. Somehow when he first emerged I wondered whether Tony was his old man in the same way I thought Eddie might be David's father.

[Olé Olé]

Indeed he was. Thought I was the only person here old enough to remember him playing. Pity Jack turned out to be such a disappointment. Somehow when he first emerged I wondered whether Tony was his old man in the same way I thought Eddie might be David's father.
His nephew was Example. A fairly run of the mill pop act that had lots of hits in the 2010s.

[Insidetherock]

Indeed he was. Thought I was the only person here old enough to remember him playing. Pity Jack turned out to be such a disappointment. Somehow when he first emerged I wondered whether Tony was his old man in the same way I thought Eddie might be David's father.

I remember Grealish too.. loved him.. he was one of those players that always seemed to be running around more than everyone else.. big Bjorn Borg head on him :)

[seanfhear]

I remember Grealish too.. loved him.. he was one of those players that always seemed to be running around more than everyone else.. big Bjorn Borg head on him :)
Good passer of the ball too. We’d be lucky to have a Tony Grealish now.

[mark12345]

Good passer of the ball too. We’d be lucky to have a Tony Grealish now.

Remember Grealish well. He was a pivotal player in Ireland's emergence from the wilderness years. I believe he is (or was) related to Jack Greaslish. Both from the Birmingham area of Irish lineage.

[jbyrne]

I remember Grealish too.. loved him.. he was one of those players that always seemed to be running around more than everyone else.. big Bjorn Borg head on him :)

we played england in wembley not long after his passing in 2013 and they played a very nice tribute to him in the stadium at half time.
nice touch from the english FA for an away team player.

[Snapshot]

My concern is that Keane will be discarded on the basis of this messy game. He'll probably be in the Championship next season, the standard of many in the squad. He's our only prolific club scorer and if it continues at that level he should be a factor.

[jbyrne]

My concern is that Keane will be discarded on the basis of this messy game. He'll probably be in the Championship next season, the standard of many in the squad. He's our only prolific club scorer and if it continues at that level he should be a factor.

we absolutely cannot discard him and i don't think SK will.
the tempo of the first 60 mins was very slow, crosses were coming in from way too deep and I am not sure he received a decent pass anywhere near the box all night. it would be very unfair to judge him on last tuesdays game which was after all only his first start

[paul_oshea]

Remember Grealish well. He was a pivotal player in Ireland's emergence from the wilderness years. I believe he is (or was) related to Jack Greaslish. Both from the Birmingham area of Irish lineage.

No they're not. He grew up in West London. The only connection is Galway

[EAFC_rdfl]

Amazing the swings and roundabouts this can take. I thought the forwards (Obafemi, Connolly, Parrott and Idah) would be the surest things. These 3 young centre halves and 3 young goalkeepers have come up from behind them and all 6 lads look like they will be high level Championship or Premiership level footballers for the majority of their careers which means they'll be in the frame for us unless we have a drastic uptick in quality overall. The forwards have been a mixed bag and Obafemi and Idah have had really bright patches at Championship and Premiership level respectively of late. And our front 3 looks like it will be Knight, Ogbene and Robinson for the next while unless one of those guys sustains some really good club form.

I agree on midfield and left back. Coventry, Kilkenny and Johansson are 3 of the lads I think need big seasons next season and need to pick their moves wisely (assuming all of them will be on the move). Johansson I'm including because he has looked quality when I have seen him but it hasn't happened for him this season in Holland.

Hopefully we get an Ogbene-like bolter into the mix if none of those guys press on. Maybe Mark Sykes or Daniel Crowley (who I believe is playing deeper for Willem II than the 10 spot he normally occupied). Ronan is probably a player for the front line options if he does keep going.

As I type this, it is becoming clear to me that our squad has become much stronger recently.

Good post, I suppose it goes back to one of Giles's one liners, the hardest part of football is putting the ball in the net.

[third policeman]

No they're not. He grew up in West London. The only connection is Galway


He started out at Orient before Giles brought him to West Brom along with Irish internationals Mick Martin, Paddy Mulligan and Ray Treacy. Treacy started his career at West Brom but only played a couple of games before being sold. He scored a couple of goals in his first few games after Giles signed him ten years after he left. He jokingly said he was due a testimonial as he was averaging a goal a game for the Baggies over a 10 year period.

[geysir]

I remember Grealish too.. loved him.. he was one of those players that always seemed to be running around more than everyone else.. big Bjorn Borg head on him :) He was iconic, more our version of a Grizzly Adams graced with the legs of Cú Chulainn, ploughed on straight through tackles and himself could tackle like a combine harvester.

[ontheotherhand]

My concern is that Keane will be discarded on the basis of this messy game. He'll probably be in the Championship next season, the standard of many in the squad. He's our only prolific club scorer and if it continues at that level he should be a factor.

Wouldn't be too concerned. Kenny seems to like him and spent some time defending his performance in the press conference afterwards. He'll get more chances unless better players emerge.

[Razors left peg]

Wouldn't be too concerned. Kenny seems to like him and spent some time defending his performance in the press conference afterwards. He'll get more chances unless better players emerge.

He wouldnt be the first fella to look poor on his 1st start and go on to do better. I thought that he looked like a L1 player the other day, but I think I said after the game that because of his goal record this season hes probably worth another look. I dont think he'll ever be 1st choice for us but hes a better player than James Collins to have as back up

[third policeman]

[QUOTE=third policeman;2106840]He started out at Orient before Giles brought him to West Brom along with Irish internationals Mick Martin, Paddy Mulligan and Ray Treacy. Treacy started his career at West Brom but only played a couple of games before being sold. He scored a couple of goals in his first few games after Giles signed him ten years after he left. He jokingly said he was due a testimonial as he was averaging a goal a game for the Baggies over a 10 year period.[/QUOTE

Memory playing tricks there. He went to West Brom after Giles moved on.

[ontheotherhand]

He wouldnt be the first fella to look poor on his 1st start and go on to do better. I thought that he looked like a L1 player the other day, but I think I said after the game that because of his goal record this season hes probably worth another look. I dont think he'll ever be 1st choice for us but hes a better player than James Collins to have as back up

Im not sure the lead striker is his best position? Thought he was better when he came on against Belgium than he was leading the line. He has plenty of time anyway. Can't be writing off anyone after a bad performance or two. We aren't spoiled for choice. Up front and in midfield anyways. Embarrassing riches further back of course.

[TonyD]

[QUOTE=third policeman;2106840]He started out at Orient before Giles brought him to West Brom along with Irish internationals Mick Martin, Paddy Mulligan and Ray Treacy. Treacy started his career at West Brom but only played a couple of games before being sold. He scored a couple of goals in his first few games after Giles signed him ten years after he left. He jokingly said he was due a testimonial as he was averaging a goal a game for the Baggies over a 10 year period.[/QUOTE

Memory playing tricks there. He went to West Brom after Giles moved on.

You sure about that ? I would have said Giles signed him for West Brom. I know Giles brought him back to Shamrock Rovers When he was manager there.

[third policeman]

[QUOTE=third policeman;2106859]

You sure about that ? I would have said Giles signed him for West Brom. I know Giles brought him back to Shamrock Rovers When he was manager there.

He signed Treacy, but not Grealish. Greyish was signed by Atkinson. You are right about Treacy going to Rovers. Never understood why Giles favoured Treacy over Terry Conroy when he was Ireland manager.

[Snapshot]

You sure about that ? I would have said Giles signed him for West Brom. I know Giles brought him back to Shamrock Rovers When he was manager there.


[QUOTE=TonyD;2106878]

He signed Treacy, but not Grealish. Greyish was signed by Atkinson. You are right about Treacy going to Rovers. Never understood why Giles favoured Treacy over Terry Conroy when he was Ireland manager.
He signed Treacy, but not Grealish. Greyish was signed by Atkinson. You are right about Treacy going to Rovers. Never understood why Giles favoured Treacy over Terry Conroy when he was Ireland manager.

Both good players but very different. Conroy was slight and essentially a winger while Treacy a rugged and aggressive striker. He was used as a foil up front alongside Don Givens. Conroy was definitely more skilful and elusive - he went round defenders, Treacy through them. A good touchstone for the era was Ireland's famous 3-0 defeat of USSR at Dalymount in 1974 in a European Nations qualifier where Treacy did the spadework for a Givens hat-trick and 18-year-old Liam Brady made a sensational debut. Conroy didn't play (maybe unplayed 12th man, maybe injured as unfortunately he often was), but it would hardly be a surprise that Giles preferred the no-holds-barred Treacy.

Ireland line-up: Paddy Roche, Jimmy Holmes, Paddy Mulligan, Terry Mancini, Joe Kinnear, Liam Brady, John Giles, Steve Heighway, Mick Martin, Don Givens, Ray Treacy.