Republic of Ireland V Gibraltar - Monday, 19th June 2023 - Euro 2024 Qualifier

[zero]

still right in this.

[osarusan]

It was always going to be us attacking them for the full 90 minutes, and the question would be about how we would go about breaking down a 10-man defence. So far we have no idea how to do it. Some awful decision making, over-playing things, and really poor crosses. The one thing they want is time to get their shape and get their 10 men behind the ball, and we're always giving them the time.

We need to run at them and get at them faster. That said, even if it all stays like this, we'll nick one or two and it'll be a deserved and comfortable victory.

[SkStu]

Working it side to side and a poor cross hasn’t really been the answer to this question but it seems to be the instructions they’ve received. It just hasn’t worked. McGrath has done well though, to be fair. Obafemi and Cullen have kind of stunk the place out a bit.

We need to go 4-1-2-3, give full backs total license and bring on Johnston to beat the first or second tackle. Maybe Parrott for Obafemi.

[zero]

a shame daryl horgan is the wrong side of thirty - he could have really made a difference tonight, but it's not over yet.

[shakermaker1982]

3 CB marking 1 forward.

As a result we are outnumbered in the final third. He has to change that.

Need to up the tempo as well, it’s too easy for Gibraltar.

[texidub]

Depressing team performance, without anyone playing really badly. Smallbone seems a bit off the pace. Johnston should be given a chance soon enough in the 2nd half. Disappointing, tepid stuff so far overall though.

[SkStu]

Johnston coming on I’m hearing.

[pineapple stu]

Johnston for Collins; ok with that. Harsh on Collins I suppose, but Johnston for a defender has to be good

[SkStu]

I’d have probably kept Collins for technique and goal scoring threat and sacrificed Egan.

[pineapple stu]

Yup.

But Johnston having the exact impact wanted at least

[pineapple stu]

Yup.

But Johnston having the exact impact wanted at least

The exact impact wanted!

Thank **** for that

[SkStu]

The exact impact wanted. :)

[SkStu]

Zero and Weldoninio will be happy.

[weldoninhio]

Zero and Weldoninio will be happy.

Yeah I love watching Ireland struggle against 5th rate teams.

[SkStu]

Yeah I love watching Ireland struggle against 5th rate teams.

As expected, you’re a bit miffed that we’re winning.

[zero]

we're back! huge confidence now going into the September fixtures.

[SkStu]

Lovely stuff! Parrott making the difference.

[SkStu]

It does raise some questions about the initial formation and selection of course.

[zero]

should give idah 15 minutes, if he's ever going to score for us...

[TonyD]

Would like to see Knight and Johnston have a run at the full backs.

[TonyD]

Jesus. Madness from O’Shea there. Mind you, thought McClean should have just cleared it in the first place.

[Nesta99]

This is it! The breakthrough result that that Stephen Kenny and Ireland needed, onwards and upwrds!!

Has a former Dundalk FC manager ever been up against a Dundalk player internationally (or other former LoI domestic manager v players? For the trivia nerds...

[pineapple stu]

should give idah 15 minutes, if he's ever going to score for us...

Here he comes now I think!

Edit - and Jeff Hendrick too of course:p

[joey B]

Over 42000 at it,impressive attendance all things considered…

[Real ale Madrid]

What is Kenny doing hugging the bench after every goal. Jesus it's embarrassing.

[pineapple stu]

should give idah 15 minutes, if he's ever going to score for us...

Good ****ing Lord!

Because of Adam Idah, we're now as good as Holland, France and Greece!

(Another great cross from McClean)

[SkStu]

Delighted for him.

[zero]

happy for Idah, if ever a lad needed a goal.

[SkStu]

What is Kenny doing hugging the bench after every goal. Jesus it's embarrassing.

I hear you but he’s also a fan. It’s a bit cringe sometimes but it’s also not the worst attribute in the world.

[SkStu]

Good ****ing Lord!

Because of Adam Idah, we're now as good as Holland, France and Greece!

(Another great cross from McClean)

0-0 or 3-3 draws with them all from here on out. That’s the way it works, right?

[TonyD]

Job done. No more, no less. Had the chances to get two or three more. Will do nothing to settle the wider debate of course.

[SkStu]

What is Kenny doing hugging the bench after every goal. Jesus it's embarrassing.

Actually - I’ll add to my response by saying, I find it far more offensive when he talks up average performances or wins against minnows as being great results (which I hope he doesn’t do here but I’m expecting he will).

[joey B]

Good to see Idah off the mark,a special moment for any player opposition and current form not withstanding.

[osarusan]

Much much better second half. A slice of luck about the first, but once that went in we had a new sense of freedom to attack without any risk as we knew Gibraltar would never get back into it, and Gibraltar no longer had anything defend as they knew they'd never get back into it.

Good for Idah to get a goal, and in the end, it turned out to be one of those games where the heavy favourite (eventually) does the formalities and dispatches the minnow.

[ontheotherhand]

Yeah happy for Idah. Johnston made a huge difference. I thought he should have started but it worked. He just has more creative ability than anyone else. Doesn't always play the predictable pass and can beat a player. We don't have anyone else like that and that's what you need in games like tonight's.

[Jd2793]

good night for johnston + mcclean
bad night for 3-5-2 . its time to only use it against the top seeds stephen.

[zero]

still playing in France. 106th min.

edit: just finished, 1-0.

[Razors left peg]

Was happy enough with that. Got the initial shape wrong, Johnston should have started, but at least we adjusted at half time.

Delighted for the 3 lads that scored. All important players for our future so thats a massive postitive.

Acceptable overall.

[SkStu]

The adjustments that Kenny made at h/t were perfect. Not just the formation switch and introduction of Johnston but there was a lot more play around the edge of the area, working it in tight spaces and then a shot, a pass thru the channel or finding the wing back out wide. It stretched them way more than the overworking from wing to wing that we saw in the first half. Parrott coming on early was more reinforcement of that and allowed us to work it even more in those tight spaces. Exactly what the doctor ordered but, as I said earlier, you’d have to wonder a bit why it wasn’t the plan from the first whistle.

Always a sense of relief when those minnow games are over. Ever since Liechtenstein away…

[pineapple stu]

and in the end, it turned out to be one of those games where the heavy favourite (eventually) does the formalities and dispatches the minnow.
Yeah - I kind of got the feeling in the first half we weren't playing all that badly - slow for sure, and not running at them at all. But we put some nice balls across the six yard box a couple of times and any of those go in it's a different game. Wasn't as annoyed at 0-0 at halftime as I could have been

Obvious question though is why Johnston didn't start. A number of us here commented on it here for example. Add that to Idah starting in Greece and there's a couple of worries about selection

Overall though, unspectacular stuff tonight but nothing to really beat Kenny with. And nothing to suggest September isn't going to be a slog.

Not the first time he's had a poor first game in a window and a half-decent second one. The same questions remain for me, but I think talk of a replacement being lined up will quieten down for now

Thought McClean maybe deserved MotM on merit, sheriff albeit it has been announced before his second assist

[elatedscum]

Was happy enough with that. Got the initial shape wrong, Johnston should have started, but at least we adjusted at half time.

Delighted for the 3 lads that scored. All important players for our future so thats a massive postitive.

Acceptable overall.

This pretty much.

Should really have scored 3 in the first half with Obafemi unable to react when a toe would have resulted in a goal, Ferguson somehow missing the header from the McClean cross and McGrath having two good chances, one of which should have been a goal.

Ferguson could have had another header in the second half, McClean too.

When you end up creating 8 should score chances - and score 3 - you can’t be too concerned

[Insidetherock]

Think if Kenny does stay (and I doubt it), he's to learn the same lesson as Mikel Arteta.. you can't play the same way, every game.

There was no need to play 3 CBs against Gibralter, so he shouldn't have done it

A bit of flexibility is needed

As for the wider group scenario.. as bad as we think Friday was.. if we were to play and beat Greece in our next game.. we'd be level with them on 6 points.. after the same set of fixtures

[Calcio Jack]

Most disappointing thing for me this evening was the extremely poor send off given to Liam Brady…. 25 years of brilliant punditry and they barely mentioned it at the end…. Thank you Liam ; like Giles and Dunphy before you , you’ll be greatly missed

[Nesta99]

Actually - I’ll add to my response by saying, I find it far more offensive when he talks up average performances or wins against minnows as being great results (which I hope he doesn’t do here but I’m expecting he will).

Like it or loathe it SK celebrates goals and results pretty much the smae irrespective of opposition of tournament. Can be a bit cringe, but then at the same time he would be super downbeat after losing a firendly to a Man City. It isnt an easy watch at tie especially when he lets the mtioal sde get the better of himself.

What do I thik now after a number of years backi his management to the hilt? Well who would take the job that would mae a signficant difference - open to suggestions! Who would be looking to a longer term develpment rather than short term gain that will, as it has already, result in protracted mediocrity. Could we afford to change the coaching setup and who could we afford to bring in - would a Baraclough get the juices flowing. My main issue with SK is his uber positiveness that gets him in to trouble - targeting a nations league - fail, targeting a win in Athen - fail. Maybe he should stick to 'project' and progression is a bonus. Give it a year of 2 and there is some proper quality coming through off the back of the Kenny led elite player development programme at underage. Someone will reap the benefit of this and if it isnt SK people will miss the larger impact imo

[ltfc_2004]

The thing is a blind man could see Johnston was the perfect option for this game and we didn’t need 3 CB’s to start. It was poor management.

I was impressed with 42k tonight but it was dead most of the game. Hard to get up for it but a win is a win.

[SkStu]

Most disappointing thing for me this evening was the extremely poor send off given to Liam Brady…. 25 years of brilliant punditry and they barely mentioned it at the end…. Thank you Liam ; like Giles and Dunphy before you , you’ll be greatly missed

There was a nice tribute and quite a bit of conversation about it at the start of the programme. You might have missed that?

[Jd2793]

parrott did well in his cameo. very disappointing window from cullen (mr reliable) smallbone and obafemi

[Jd2793]

There was a nice tribute and quite a bit of conversation about it at the start of the programme. You might have missed that?

was there any montage? missed the start, would have assumed theyd have kept all that til the end.

[nigel-harps1954]

A fairly professional performance without being anything overly spectacular.

Final third was poor in the first half and probably Cullen's worst international window since stepping into the senior team.

Otherwise did what was required. Johnston was the difference and that's about it.

Happy for Idah to get his goal though.

[SkStu]

was there any montage? missed the start, would have assumed theyd have kept all that til the end.

I can confirm there was a montage. Bits of Liam with Bill, Eamon, Johnny and the rest of the lads.