Republic of Ireland V Ukraine - Wednesday, 8 June 2022 - 2022/23 UEFA Nations League

[joey B]

Their keeper is the Real Madrid reserve from the CL final, coincidentally enough (seeing as his Liverpool counterpart is starting for us)

They're still better than Armenia I'd say. But so many changes has to help us. Doesn't it?

I mean quite alot of their team play European football where none of ours do,I think we have an uncomfortable night in store but I hope I’m wrong….

[CSAD]

Their keeper is the Real Madrid reserve from the CL final, coincidentally enough (seeing as his Liverpool counterpart is starting for us)

They're still better than Armenia I'd say. But so many changes has to help us. Doesn't it?

Individually they are obviously better than Armenia. We need to remember that Armenia aren’t very good at all, that’s why they put 10 men behind the ball as they knew that was their best chance of getting a result at the weekend, the difference is this Ukraine side even with changes will still believe they can win any game in this group so won’t sit back to the extent Armenia did.

[CSAD]

I mean quite alot of their team play European football where none of ours do,I think we have an uncomfortable night in store but I hope I’m wrong….

Except none play European football for a top 5 league team, when that’s the case the whole European football argument is pretty weak and flawed.

[SkStu]

They're still better than Armenia I'd say. But so many changes has to help us. Doesn't it?

It has to. If we changed 10 of our starters (even at our peak as a nation), we'd have been very nervous as fans.

[CSAD]

We really do. They've had 2 stonking games in the last 10 days and have just had the disappointment of getting knocked out of the world cup to those absolute... Ahem... So I'd expect them to be pretty flat with the 10 changes to boot.

But who the hell knows at this point.

But at the same time in those circumstances you’d want to play against the best players as they will be on a downer coming from heartbreaking result afew days ago to playing a NL match at the end of a long season. With this selection it will be young players wanting to prove a point, yes on paper it won’t be as difficult but it will present its own challenges.

[NeverFeltBetter]

If only Jason Knight could do that a bit more (the surging run forward, not the pass to an offside player).

[Bielsa´s irish]

After 5 minutes Knight is La Liga i Seria A quality. Plz Dump England Jason. Im watching it on livetv.con

[Bielsa´s irish]

Who is the commentator Brian Kerr or the sadllier ?

[NeverFeltBetter]

We were brilliant in the first ten minutes, the press high up the field was causing Ukraine all kinds of problems. But it's settled now and you can see them coming into it bit by bit. I worry we've had our best spell as the opposition got used to each other, and didn't take advantage.

[Insidetherock]

Dont care what anyone says.. Ogbene looks brutal tonight.. doesn't seem to know what he's supposed to be doing.. and what he is doing, he's doing slow and laboured..

Now, hopefully he'll make a show of me and score a hat trick

[TonyD]

We were brilliant in the first ten minutes, the press high up the field was causing Ukraine all kinds of problems. But it's settled now and you can see them coming into it bit by bit. I worry we've had our best spell as the opposition got used to each other, and didn't take advantage.

On the flip side, if we get our noses 8n front we could see their heads drop. Definitely need 5o capitalise when we’re on top. Knight has been eye catching so far. Must be playing himself into the starting eleven.

[pineapple stu]

We were brilliant in the first ten minutes, the press high up the field was causing Ukraine all kinds of problems. But it's settled now and you can see them coming into it bit by bit. I worry we've had our best spell as the opposition got used to each other, and didn't take advantage.

Agree alright. I've seen that before too...

[NeverFeltBetter]

If Robinson could engage his brain for a few extra milliseconds before he starts runs and and goes offside, that would be great. He's done it a few times already, and it kills attacking moves dead when the guy with the ball realises he can't play it forward.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Torrid game by Ogbene can't play the Aldo's role. Don't say Stapleton because Stapleton was a big different, he was better from the sides to the 9 position as when he defeated Barça' Maradona and Menotti.

[Bielsa´s irish]

If Robinson could engage his brain for a few extra milliseconds before he starts runs and and goes offside, that would be great. He's done it a few times already, and it kills attacking moves dead when the guy with the ball realises he can't play it forward.
Robinson is a midfielder who can score for me, he could be a 10 if he wasn't so lazy on the ball

[tommy_c12000]

Ogbene showing his league 1 standard. He’s simply not up to it for me. Impact player in small doses in the future but not the answer

[liamoo11]

Dont care what anyone says.. Ogbene looks brutal tonight.. doesn't seem to know what he's supposed to be doing.. and what he is doing, he's doing slow and laboured..

Now, hopefully he'll make a show of me and score a hat trick

Ogbene no where near the level needed as a front man

[joey B]

Probably a penalty there…

[Bielsa´s irish]

Ogbene showing his league 1 standard. He’s simply not up to it for me. Impact player in small doses in the future but not the answer
Ogbene and Robinson can play but not those roles, we need a real 9. Hendrick and Cullen playing good

[SkStu]

Agree on the comments regarding Ogbene and Robinson. Ogbene has been woefully off it. Thought that was a penalty for the clip on Robbo based on what is being given these days. Generally speaking, i think this ref has been poor for us today too so far.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I dunno, it looks to me like Robinson starts falling and then gets a toe-poke to the calf (not a tread as the commentary team is insisting). Ref probably thought he was looking for it after the move was going nowhere.

[pineapple stu]

We seem very slow to get numbers up in the attack.

Knight at times dropping deep and no-one ahead of him


Also, VAR has to disallow this surely?

[TonyD]

Ogbene no where near the level needed as a front man

He’s more of a threat than any other forward we have.

That was a let off. Did look offside though.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Got away with it there, but in fairness it was both offside and the scorer fouled Knight before hitting it.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Agree on the comments regarding Ogbene and Robinson. Ogbene has been woefully off it. Thought that was a penalty for the clip on Robbo based on what is being given these days. Generally speaking, i think this ref has been poor for us today too so far.
I understand why he plays them so further because of pace but Lewandowski is as slow as a snail and keep on scoring. We need any guy who knows the 9 role

[joey B]

We’re lucky that was offside,we were never getting it disallowed for the foul…

[SkStu]

Stevens slows everything down. Doesnt show any ambition at all. I'd honestly prefer what McClean brings to that role, flawed and all as he might be.

[CSAD]

It still baffles me how we continue with journeymen up front and leave out Obafemi who’s the only forward who’s actually shown he can score at a decent level. It should come as no surprise that we’ve been this wasteful when you back journeyman to get you out of dodge.

[third policeman]

It still baffles me how we continue with journeymen up front and leave out Obafemi who’s the only forward who’s actually shown he can score at a decent level. It should come as no surprise that we’ve been this wasteful when you back journeyman to get you out of dodge.

He’ll probably get 20 minutes when we are down and devoid of any shape or idea. Should be starting and getting a decent chance to show what he can offer.

[tommy_c12000]

Mick O, Parrott, Ebosele now for Robbo, Ogbene, Christie please. Let’s see Kenny’s in play mgt now….

[Insidetherock]

Dunno if its the effects of Yerevan.. but damn they look leggy already.. doesn't seem to be any pace in them at all.. no way can Kenny wait till 60-70 mins to make changes

[joey B]

Playing out very much how I expected,we look leggy and apart from the first 10 minutes pretty poor ….

[third policeman]

It still baffles me how we continue with journeymen up front and leave out Obafemi who’s the only forward who’s actually shown he can score at a decent level. It should come as no surprise that we’ve been this wasteful when you back journeyman to get you out of dodge.

He’ll probably get 20 minutes when we are down and devoid of any shape or idea. Should be starting and getting a decent chance to show what he can offer.

[pineapple stu]

If we're leggy now, what'll we be like in Lodz next week?

I think it's the same problem as always - lively start, don't score, run out of ideas. I don't know what you do about it though.

We can't keep giving Ukraine so many shots from the edge of the area

[NeverFeltBetter]

It's been OK, and only OK. The first ten minutes was great, but you just knew we wouldn't be able to keep it up. Ukraine look much the better side for the last 20 or so minutes. Ireland have very few ideas when it comes to the critical final ball into the box, and the amount of offsides in that half was criminal.

Positives: Knight is working hard, so is Hendrick. The defence looks reasonably solid, Ukraine's efforts have all been from distance. We've gotten better at getting the ball quickly from our third to the opposition third.
Negatives: The forward line looks totally inept when they get the ball and when they are looking for it, and the balls in from the wings aren't finding anyone. That's a recurring problem that Kenny seems unable to solve. Ogbene looks wrecked and should come off soon, I've just seen him shaking his head coming off the field.

I'd say the best we can hope for at this stage is a 0-0. How many points does Kenny need to keep his job over the next three? At least 4 right?

[Bielsa´s irish]

That was a red my man, ditto this awful first half. Ogbene should play right wing back, Robinson as an extra midfielder or Knight there, the team seemed split in half no link man, no 10 and no number 9.

[paul_oshea]

Mick O, Parrott, Ebosele now for Robbo, Ogbene, Christie please. Let’s see Kenny’s in play mgt now….

Robinson has been good, one of the few who didn't just show for the first 10 mins and run out of gas. He's unlucky to be stuck on the side that Stevens is on, it's so slow and laboured.

Jeff is a touch behind the Ukrainians at every turn as is Cullen. Ogbene much too raw and gives freesaway whether for offside or just silly fouls.

Not sure yet on Collins somethings seem brilliant and then other things , simple things he's not getting.

Theyre all about 6-7 for me thus far. The offsides are so frustrating, clearly it's a tactic but get the line and run right

[third policeman]

That was a red my man, ditto this awful first half. Ogbene should play right wing back, Robinson as an extra midfielder or Knight there, the team seemed split in half no link man, no 10 and no number 9.

Actually agree with that. Obafemi and Parrott needed. Scotland 2 up at HT.

[pineapple stu]

Negatives: The forward line looks totally inept when they get the ball
They also look really isolated. Big gaps between attack and mid. And Knight sometimes drops back deeper than mid to pick up play too

[Bielsa´s irish]

We’re lucky that was offside,we were never getting it disallowed for the foul…

Exactly, and thank God Collins was smart enough to cover that counter attack, because if the pass went through Christie was left behind by a run of a quick Ukrainian. Christie for me is not having a good game, Collins saved his neck a few times.

[Trequartista20]

We've been pretty poor again so far this evening. Passes going astray, overhit crosses, poor set-pieces, players getting caught offside unnecessarily - just generally off the pace. Everything's so languorous and lacking in spark and quickness of thought - the amount of time we take over throw-ins, for example, is ridiculous.

It obviously isn't working. Surely Kenny won't wait before making changes tonight?

[passinginterest]

Don’t think Stevens or Christie are fully fit. Both not near their full pace. Strange game. Not awful but when we don’t score after a good start it’s same old story. Ref loves the Ukraine! Agree on Collins being at times incredible and then making really basic errors. Hoping to see a change or two to freshen it up again.

[liamoo11]

That was a red my man, ditto this awful first half. Ogbene should play right wing back, Robinson as an extra midfielder or Knight there, the team seemed split in half no link man, no 10 and no number 9.

In fairness I never thought I'd say it but Bielsa is spot on

[NeverFeltBetter]

Unchanged at HT. How long Kenny waits before making changes is really critical here, he always seems to wait too long.

[SkStu]

Its the final third where we are being let down. Knight is not being supported by Ogbene or Robinson. Both had great chances to play balls through to a supporting runner and either didnt see it or fluffed the execution. Really disappointing. Knight very dynamic but his head seemed to drop a little as the half went on.

Stevens is terrible for the reasons i mentioned above and Christie hasnt done anything - good or bad.

In some ways we seem to recycle the ball for the sake of recycling it (quite a lot like Bohs over the last season and a half) which looks fine but doesnt achieve anything and gives the opposition too much time to find their shape. For that reason, I'd go a lot more direct in this half and play ball into the channels for our forward 2 to run onto.

If we really want to throw caution to the wind...

Ebosele or McClean to LWB, Obafemi for Ogbene and let Robinson roam in from wide positions (or for Robinson and let Ogbene stay out wide). I'd stick with Christie and put on Ebosele or McClean for him after 60 mins if no improvement.

[joey B]

Oh dear Kelleher…..

[CSAD]

I’ve been Kenny in all along and still am but I’m going to start having doubts if changes aren’t made at half time, it’s quite evident that this will only end one of two ways at this rate and a Irish win isn’t one of the two likely results. Get someone like Obafemi and Parrott on and stop backing journeymen, I would shift Ogbene to RWB and take off Christie and get Robinson off.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Very silly goal to concede. Kelleher seems like he's expecting his defence to deal with it, and isn't ready for the possibility that they might not. Now what SK?

[centre mid]

Sorry but a keeper shouldn't be getting beaten there

[tommy_c12000]

And that is why you need multiple senior league games to gain experience for crosses like that. Bad keeping. Travers and Bazunu clearly ahead of him until he starts regularly anywhere. Period.