Albania 0-0 Ireland

[John83]

Bugger. :mad:

At least Georgia held Switzerland.

[fosterdollar]

you mean switzerland?

[John83]

Originally posted by Magoo
you mean switzerland?

Whaddya mean? ;)

From football365.com:


Brian Kerr's boys in green picked up another important point to keep their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign moving in the right direction.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was as solid as a rock, making a series of fine saves to keep out the Albanians, while Damien Duff came closest to scoring for Ireland with a fierce long-range drive which was well saved by the home goalkeeper.


Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given came to Ireland's rescue with a brilliant save in only the second minute as Albania started confidently.

Klodian Duro crossed from the right and Murati - dubbed the Maradona of the Balkans by the home fans - peeled away from Gary Breen at the back of the six-yard box.

Murati looked destined to score, but Given bravely threw his frame in front of the shot and made a vital block, before Lee Carsley - winning his 25th cap - hooked clear.

Breen almost made amends at the other end after six minutes when he got on the end of Damien Duff's low free-kick from the Irish right, but his stabbed shot lacked pace and goalkeeper Foto Strakosha pounced on the ball.

Albania threatened down the right again in the 12th minute, and Given was alert to make another important save.

Duro supplied the cross once more and as Altin Rraklli won the header he went for accuracy rather than power, and Given dived to his right to make the catch.

Ireland enjoyed some possession on what looked a perfect playing surface, with Duff as tricky as ever on the ball.

But with Doherty back on the bench they lacked a target man to hold up it up and support Keane.

Right-back Stephen Carr committed a needless foul on Murati just outside the Irish box in the 24th minutes to concede a dangerous free-kick.

Duro must have studied the goal Ireland conceded in Georgia as he whipped the ball in towards the near post, and Given again had to be on his toes as he punched the ball clear with both fists.

Albania won their first corner of the game in the 27th minute. Set-piece specialist Duro delivered an away-swinger from the right, and John O'Shea made a good clearing header before Murati fired the loose ball wide from 25 yards.

Ireland were not making an impression in the final third of the field, and Albania were looking dangerous on the break.

The home team threatened again after 37 minutes when they worked the ball to Igli Tare in the box, but the big blond striker scuffed his shot wide of the near post.

It was the turn of the Albania goalkeeper - also the captain - to make a good save as Ireland enjoyed their best chance of the half after 42 minutes.

O'Shea played the ball in from the left, Keane dummied to allow it to run to Duff, and the Blackburn forward hit a powerful drive from 20 yards which Strakosha did well to push away as it looked to be creeping inside his left hand post.

A minute later Murati pounced on a mistake by Carr to feed Rraklli on the edge of the box, and Given was relieved to see him shoot wide, although he looked to be in an offside position.

Half time arrived and Irish boss Brian Kerr would have been pleased to get his players back in the dressing room without them having conceded a goal.

The unchanged teams were greeted by a series of fireworks as the second half got underway and the Albanian fans attempted to ignite the men in red and black.

Kerr said before these back-to-back games that Ireland needed a minimum of four points to get their qualifying campaign back on track, but after the great start in Georgia there was a real chance of two smash-and-grab victories.

There was half a chance for Duff after 51 minutes as Keane did well just outside the Albania area before feeding his strike partner. But the ball got caught under his feet on the edge of the six yard box and Strakosha cleared up.

Keane was not firing on all cylinders, and Kerr must have been contemplating a change - something he opted against in Georgia.

When Albania tried to hit back they were stopped more often than not by a player enjoying his second successive solid performance at the heart of the Irish defence - Birmingham's Kenny Cunningham, who was reading the game like a book.

But there was a scare after 57 minutes as Rraklli was allowed to run across the face of goal before trying to find Tare, and Carr had to put the ball wide of his own post.

Albania kept up the pressure and a minute later Given had to tip over a 20-yard drive from the dangerous Rraklli.



Doherty was limbering up on the touchline and it looked only a matter of time before he was going to be introduced.

It was a similar story to Ireland's successful World Cup campaign, when they needed Niall Quinn to come off the bench and rattle the opposing defenders, and with the big striker now retired it was the going to be responsibility of Tottenham utility man Doherty to make the difference.

The more the Irish kept the ball, the more the home fans began to get frustrated, although they tried to liven up the night with a few Mexican waves.

The inevitable change came in the 67th minute as Doherty was introduced, although it was Keane who made way rather than a midfielder. Albania made a substitution at the same time as Arjan Bella replaced Murati.

Ireland forced a free kick after 68 minutes which saw Breen knock the ball to Carsley on the right flank. His cross was good and Kevin Kilbane was only narrowly wide with the far post volley.

Albania made a second change after 69 minutes as Florian Myrtaj replaced Rraklli.



Ireland's hopes were given a little boost with the news that Group 10 leaders Switzerland were held to a goalless draw in Georgia, which meant nobody was running away with the group.

But Ireland needed to keep their concentration, and they lost possession in a sloppy manner with nine minutes remaining as Cunningham's quick free-kick aimed at Carr on the right struck Tare on the head and allowed Albania to break.

Duro teased the defence down the left before delivering a far post cross, and Given again punched the ball clear.

Duff did well again as he won a free-kick on the right after 84 minutes. Duff chipped the ball into the danger zone, Kilbane won a good flick on and Breen headed the ball inside the far post - but the flag was already up for offside.

Albania made their final change a minute later as Ervin Skela made way for Alban Bushaj and within a minute the substitute was booked for a foul on Mark Kinsella.

When the final whistle came, it had to be viewed as a point gained as Ireland avoided being bashed in the Balkans by an Albanian side still on the crest of a wave following Saturday's victory over the Russians.

The group remains wide open, and with Georgia and Albania visiting Lansdowne Road in June the Irish are by no means out of the race to reach Portugal next summer.

[Gary]

Fairly bad performance IMO. Thought Matt Holland looked way out of his depth. The fact he aint playing Premiership ball is quite noticeable.

If we win our remaining 4 matches we will qualify automatically i reckon. And hopefully we will have betetr strikers fit next time as well.

[bitored]

I thought Ireland were poor too. They looked worn out and clueless. The midfield in particular looked 2nd rate I thought - short on ideas going forward.
Albania are average enough and Ireland should have no problem beating them in Lansdowne...


And hopefully we will have betetr strikers fit next time as well
Like who?

[brine2]

Clinton. He's got the physical presence of Doherty, but bags more skill.

[colster]

A decent result. We defended well.
I think last night showed that we have a big problem in midfield.
I thought Holland was absolutely brutal.
I think it may be time to give Delap/Carsley/Healy a run out in central midfield.
I have a big suspicion about Holland. I think he coasts through games. He's never controlled a game for Ireland. Kinsella is a more honest player and he always showed for the ball last night. I think he looked tired though.

I think we're playing for 2nd place now.
We need to win the rest of our games.

I think Albania will be dangerous in Lansdowne. They played well on the counter and vary their game well. Something we couldn't do.

[John83]

I'll start with my player ratings.

Given 9.5

Carr 7.5
Cunningham 7.5
Breen 7
O'Shea 6.5

Carsley 7
Holland 6.5
Kinsella 8
Kilbane 8.5

Duff 7.5
Keane 7

How to put it? Given saved our collective ass yesterday. He kept a clean sheet, where most keepers would have not. There's little more to add about him, except that I'm really happy to have such a class player in our squad.

Carr worked his socks off, and it's a huge inditement of the team that he weas our best attacking player other than the front two. Not quite as solid as usuall, but he was really swamped.

Cunningham and Breen was good again. Yes, I know that I used was where another might use were, but Cunningham and Breen is in fact a single entity, the weaker, West Ham playing side of which made one big blooper, which Carr dealt with, but which otherwise was solid as a rock.

O'Shea wasn't bad defencively, though not great. Going forward though, he was poor. Dunphy called it - he had no options. There was one moment where he picked up the ball, and began to advance up the left wing. Looks up. No one to pass to. Runs a bit further. Looks up. No one to pass to. Runs a bit further. Looks up. Feck, being closed down. Attempts long ball to head of "target man Duff. Gets blocked down, and has to retreat.

Kinsella was very good, but Holland seemed to be going through the motions. Carsley would have scored an 8 had he been playing in central midfield. He offered absolutely nothing as a right-winger, and spent the whole time inside.

Kilbane was runner-up for man of the match. He was absolutely brilliant, legging it up and down the left flank, covering O'Shea one moment, making a run into the box the next. Why the hell doesn't he play like this more often?

Duffer was really really great. Both times he had the ball. On one occasion, he picks it up in his own half, dribbles past two (barely staying on his feet under a challenge, but keeping the ball nevertheless) passes to Roobbie (who had similar never got the ball problems), who looked to be about to release Carr, making a run up the right, but Robbie instead sold a dummy to the defender, cut inside, and released Duffer with a lovely pass. Duff caught it between his legs :-(

Kerr made some bad decisions yesterday. I knew that he couldn't afford to play Duff and Keane up front, and expected an experienced manager like him to drop Carsley, and released Duffer down the flank, where he could do some damage. In hindsight, I was wrong. He should have dropped Holland, not Carsley.

So we struggled without any physicaly presense up front, our best chances comming from set pieces, or when Kilbane made box runs. There was no link between midfield and attack, and no way to get the ball to them. Long ball doesn't work without a target, and short ball requires more skill, like what the Duffman has :evil:

Then there was the substitution. Doherty on. Yes! What devious plan has Kerr? Is he going to sacrifice Holland, like I wanted, thus unleashing Duff on the unsuspecting full-backs, as against Spain in the World Cup? No, he took off Robbie Keane, and any spark our attack had died. :cry:

Do we have a media-friendly muppet for a manager, or did he just have a bad day, trying to find his feet in a new job? My suggestions might not have beated Albania - they played with a passion and determination to match Ireland at our best, but at least we might have tried.

Thoughts?

[patsh]

Well having watched all the Georgia game and the highlights last night, I have to say Holland should be dropped if possible for the next game.
He did absolutely nothing for the two games, and as someone said already, he just went throught the motions. For me, he was the major disappointment.
I wonder is he just off form, or is it something to do with the change in management?
Outside of that any team that relies on Lee Carsley to some extent is not going to go to far. He made the effort and fair play to him, but he is shocking.
We should not be too negative though.
4 points is a decent return and if we win our 3 home games, I reckon we will make the play-offs at least.

[Schumi]

I'm surprised to see Stephen Carr being praised, I thought he was very poor defensively.

[NorthoftheLee]

I only got to see the second half which was poor enough... thought the midfield in general were poor. Kilbane had another schocker..i think he gave the ball away about 95% of the time...

personnaly i would have started keane and doherty up front with duff on the wing.....

4 points isnt so bad....now we gotta hope the 2 Swiss v Russia games end in draws and we beat them both......

[pineapple stu]

I reckon this group will end up getting decided by who gets most points away from home - and we're not bad in that regard -
Ireland 4/9
Switzerland 5/9
Russia 0/3
Georgia 0/3
Albania 0/3

If we win the next three games, which we can (not will!) do, we should be right up there again. Currently -
Ireland 0/3
Switerland 3/3
Russia 6/6
Albania 5/9
Georgia 1/6


One thing's for sure though - this is going to be one of the tightest qualifying groups ever...

[bitored]

I'm a bit more optimistic than I was last night. Hopefully the squad won't be so depleted in June. We desperately need some creativity in midfield and I reckon the return of Reid (or Finnan) on the right along with Duff on the left should provide that.
Centre of midfield - what about trying Kilbane and Kinsella?? - I know Kilbane's played there for Sunderland - and yes I know Sunderland's league position - just a thought.
If Morrison's available in June it would help too - he wouldn't give away a free everytime the ball comes to him like a certain Mr. Doherty
Roll on June - with a full squad please...

Do we have a media-friendly muppet for a manager, or did he just have a bad day, trying to find his feet in a new job?
The jury's still out

[John83]

Originally posted by bitored
Centre of midfield - what about trying Kilbane and Kinsella?? - I know Kilbane's played there for Sunderland - and yes I know Sunderland's league position - just a thought.

I've thought about that too. He seems to work well there. There's also left-back to consider. O'Shea wasn't great there for us, while Harte is hardly showing any signs of recovering his form of old, so if and when Kerr restored Duff to the left wing, it would be useful to have a competent defender behind him. Thoguh maybe I'm being too harsh on O'Shea.


Originally posted by Schumi
I'm surprised to see Stephen Carr being praised, I thought he was very poor defensively.

He was at times, but I think he made up for it with his work-rate and forward runs, not to mention that save from Breen's latest blunder.

[fonzi]

ha ha!