Kilbane fears lack of time to prepare for Germany encounter

Kilbane fears lack of time to prepare for Germany encounter from Unison .ie

Kevin Kilbane fears Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton lacks the time to right the wrongs of last night's embarrassing defeat to Holland.
The 4-0 thumping by the Dutch at Lansdowne Road fell one goal short of equalling a record loss on Irish soil, that 5-0 to Spain 75 years ago.

The reverse clearly highlighted the lack of strength in depth of the Irish squad, and that is worrying just 16 days ahead of the opening Euro 2008 qualifying clash against Germany in Stuttgart.

Staunton will now spend the next 13 days fretting over who will play in that game as he was without several first-choice regulars.

To add to his angst, Steven Reid and Stephen Carr joined the growing casualty list with ankle and hamstring injuries that make them doubts for the opening Premiership weekend.

The following three days are all Staunton will have to repair the damage inflicted upon his players by the Dutch before sending them into battle against a German side that finished third at the World Cup.

But in refusing to hide behind the ready-made excuse easily afforded by the injury woes, Everton midfielder Kilbane was refreshingly frank in his appraisal of an abysmal Irish performance.

``It was a bit of an embarrassment,'' assessed Kilbane.

``We didn't have any possession, didn't put any tackles in, didn't close them down. We just gave them the whole pitch to play with.

``They played free-flowing football, but that's because we gave them too much time and space and as we were the home team that is not on. We should be doing better.

``We had players out, but that's no excuse. It's 11 versus 11 at the end of the day, so there's not much we can take from the game.


``We have to block this out as quickly as possible, and look to the next game in Germany in which we have to be a hell of a lot better.

Kilbane knows three days preparation to take on an in-form Germany is not enough - although on the evidence of last night, two weeks would arguably not correct the deficiencies.

``I feel we need at least four or five days before a big international like that,'' added the 29-year-old, who won his 71st cap last night.

Kilbane, though, reassuringly insists there are no early problems with Staunton, who has spent precious little time with the squad overall since taking charge in January.

Were they not supposed to be preparing for this game in Portugal in May?

:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

[B] To add to his angst, Steven Reid and Stephen Carr joined the growing casualty list with ankle and hamstring injuries that make them doubts for the opening Premiership weekend.

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Well that's one positive out of the game. Hopefully he'll play on Saturday and tear up his hamstring for the next few months. If that happens I'll be a born again Christian

Lossing Carr to an injury is Positive!

Penny has not dropped - Kilbane
Emmet Malone Soccer correspondent

Stephen Staunton has much to ponder before his next game, against Germany in Stuttgart. The Republic of Ireland manager will no doubt have to have a rethink on his earlier assertion that the "lads are beginning to understand what were looking for from them and theyre enjoying it".
Copyright: SportsFile
Photograph: David Maher

SOCCER/ Euro 2008 qualfiying countdown: As Stephen Staunton prepares to name his squad on Monday for the opening game of the European Championship in Stuttgart in a couple of weeks' time, Kevin Kilbane has conceded that the Ireland manager may not have enough time with his players in the run-up to the game to address all of the shortcomings displayed in Wednesday night's drubbing by the Dutch.

"I feel we need at least four or five days before a big international like that," observed the 29-year-old, as he considered Ireland's prospects in what will be the team's first competitive outing in almost a year.

"It's going to be difficult because we'll have a lot of work to do in the three training sessions before the game but we certainly have to improve, be more positive, a lot brighter. And hopefully we'll also be sharper, although we can't use that as an excuse for what happened against Holland because we were just played off the park."

The Everton midfielder, who again had a stint in the Irish defence on Wednesday night, also suggested that the players are still struggling to get to grips with what is being asked of them by the new manager.

While insisting that Staunton is liked and respected by the squad's members he appeared to disagree with the Louthman's assertion during the build-up to this week's game that the "the penny's dropped, the lads are beginning to understand what we're looking for from them and they're enjoying it".

"Judging by last night I don't think we have taken things on board," remarked Kilbane.

"We've clearly got a lot to learn. Myself and the other experienced lads have to help more the young lads who came in because I don't think we did that. We were left exposed, and we left them exposed."

Kilbane went on to admit that the 4-0 defeat had been somewhat humiliating to be a part of.

"It was a bit of an embarrassment, all right," he said. "We didn't have any possession, didn't put any tackles in, didn't close them down. We just gave them the whole pitch to play with.

"They played free-flowing football, but that's because we gave them too much time and space and as we were the home team, that is not on. We allowed them to do what they wanted, and the fact they could have had three or four more (goals) is very disappointing.

"We had players out, but that's no excuse," he concluded. "It's 11 versus 11 at the end of the day, so there's not much we can take from the game. We simply have to learn from it - that we can't expose ourselves like that to a team of their quality."

Having the players who missed Wednesday's game back for the German trip would be a major boost to Staunton and most seem set to be included in the squad for the game on Monday even if he is less than certain at present of their availability.

Steve Carr (hamstring) is a doubt for the game but Steven Reid said yesterday he expects the ankle problem he picked up during Wednesday's game to clear up quickly and he my even be fit in time to play in the opening game of Blackburn's premiership campaign, at Portsmouth tomorrow.

Shay Given and Damien Duff also seem likely to play for Newcastle over the weekend although reserve goalkeeper Steve Harper yesterday confirmed that he was on stand-by.

There is less confidence about Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne, with the Tottenham striker still said to be struggling with a groin strain and the Manchester City defender now believed to have damaged both hamstrings, a problem that seriously threatens to keep him out of the Stuttgart game.

If Wednesday is anything to go by Dunne would be badly missed, for the Irish defended abysmally against the Dutch, allowing them to push the ball about at will in and around the Irish area and failing even to defend set pieces with conviction.

Staunton will hope, meanwhile, that most of the players will benefit from getting a couple of competitive club games under their belts over the next 10 days while he will get the opportunity to reflect on the strategy and tactics adopted this week.

John O'Shea, Andy O'Brien and Graham Kavanagh all looked off the pace of the game on Wednesday but there were clearly problems too as those on the Irish bench sought to counter the strengths of the Dutch side by making changes from the sidelines.

It remains to be seen whether Bobby Robson will be well enough to play any part in the German game and given his ongoing health problems a decision may have to be taken regarding his future, for the evidence from Lansdowne Road on Wednesday night would tend to suggest that Staunton could do with the type of advice and expertise Robson was hired to provide being available sooner rather than later.

© The Irish Times

QUOTE KEVIN KILBANE:

``It was a bit of an embarrassment,''

Yes, Yes it was Kevin.

``We didn't have any possession, didn't put any tackles in, didn't close them down. We just gave them the whole pitch to play with.

Why would you do that Kevin, surely as a professional footballer it's second nature to know this and act on it in a match situation. Why would you let them have the whole pitch, why would you opt not to tackle them?

``They played free-flowing football, but that's because we gave them too much time and space and as we were the home team that is not on. We should be doing better.

Why is this presented as a revelation, the man gets paid to play football, you'd think by know he'd have gathered this as the basics.

``We had players out, but that's no excuse. It's 11 versus 11 at the end of the day, so there's not much we can take from the game.

Yes there is, you pick out what you did absolutely wrong repeatedly in that match and you ensure, through your own personal responsibility that it doesn't happen again. You learn from your mistakes.

``We have to block this out as quickly as possible, and look to the next game in Germany in which we have to be a hell of a lot better.

You block it out you never learn a thing.

Also the statement that " We have a lot to learn" worries.
The man is 29. If you haven't learned by now Kevin its time to give up the day job.

id rather see one of our many more competent right backs... at left... then completely rubbish footballers like Kilbane and Harte there

Stan shuda played more friendlys before the world cup when he had a chance, we could of played teams that play a similar game to ourselfs teams such as Liechtenstein or san marino :D