Ireland V Australia - Wednesday, 12th August 2009 - Friendly - Thomond Park

Half time: 0:2

Thomond looks quite full, but i think a lot of that is the empty yellow and black seats thrown in amongst the red ones in the stand making it look like people are sitting on them.

Given couldn't have done a thing for either goal. Defence is doing ok though. St Ledger lost Cahill at one point but Dunne did enough to put him off. Would like to see a few other options in the full back positions for the second half

In midfield and up top we have problems tactically. The centre mids aren't allowed to go forward, but our wingers are both inclined to come infield onto their natural foot. This is making the centre of the pitch very congested. Keane and Doyle are going into the corners to create width but because the central midfielders can't go forward this leaves no one in the box.

McGeasy and Duff NEED to swap wings. Duff can't cross a ball with his right foot and McGeady can't with his left.

Keane has had our best chance but he made it all for himself.

Thanks for your analysis.
Both the commentating and half time pundidtry on RTE radio has been shocking.

Folan and Hunt have given the team a better shape and look

disaster 3-0

pick that one out!

Detailed analysis:

We're sh1t

Trappatoni out!


Boooooo!

Eel trap should have played a Bohs and Pat's selection. Utter ****e.

:mad: stopped watchin at half time but just horrible. such a bland team really when it comes to passing and movement. team is really quite poor. terrible preperation for the match in Nicosia.

Looked better second half. Issues all over the pitch really, but we looked more balanced second half. Their right back was given a torrid time by Hunt when he went over to that side.

There was a hint of pre-season friendly about the whole thing really. half empty stands, players red in the face and panting (McGeady), and half hearted tackling (everyone on both sides, bar Hunt and Kilbane who don't know how to give anything less than 100%)

Very poor bedraggled team performance and a well deserved 3 goal win for the sparkling Aussies.
I'd have a small hope that Nolan could impress Trap enough to shift KK from LB.
Can there be any doubt left that KK is not up to it at LB?

Only a friendly but that was pretty rubbish to be honest. Anyone who paid €55 in would be feeling mugged right now. Anyway one to put behind us straight away and hope they are saving far better for the remainder of qualification.

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Originally Posted by geysir

Very poor bedraggled team performance and a well deserved 3 goal win for the sparkling Aussies.
I'd have a small hope that Nolan could impress Trap enough to shift KK from LB.
Can there be any doubt left that KK is not up to it at LB?

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No doubt at all, but I would suggest the best chance is either Ward of Foley having a great start in the EPL for Wolves, and forcing their way into the side. Foley would mean O'Shea going bacok to left back but he can play anywhere

Dunphy's article in the Irish Star should be a good laugh tomorrow. But this performance was shocking central midfield offers no creativity or protection to the back four, the wingers McGeady and Duff should be played in their proper wings. Hopefully it will show Trap that some new members need to be called up to the team e.g. Reid and Ireland.

I was watching an Aussie stream, and at half time they were talking about our attack as very predictable. They said only Keane and McGeady offered anything creative, and sometimes Duff (not effective in this game it must be said).

A couple of things I will say: this was Ireland's "first team," so they were not going 100%. They've all got their club games on their mind this weekend, and probably didn't want to get hurt.

Contrast this with the Aussie lineup, which was a mix of starters and squad players, a lot of whom had something to prove to try and break into the starting XI.

This does not justify the performance, but may help explain it.

At the end of the day, I'd rather get a wake up call like this before Cyprus, than blow a team out and go there overconfident.

Terrible performance. Far too many donkeys in that team. That Irish team individually is the poorest first 11 I've ever had the misfortune to see in the green jersey. Only about 3 of the players is capable of finding a teammate with any pass over 12 yards.

We need to find a midfield from somewhere. Hunt, McGeady, Gibson and Whelan are nowhere near good enough for this level and this considering McGeady had one of his more promising games for Ireland though both him and Hunt for all their industry offer no service to the front 2.

Tony Mobray is putting McGeady down the right for Celtic (with Maloney down the left). Hopefully between now and Cyprus Trapattoni will see him tear Gael Clichy apart in the champions league and try him on the right for 90 minutes with Hunt on the other side. With those two getting chalk on their boots and putting crosses in to Folan we would look a different prospect

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Originally Posted by Infadel

the wingers McGeady and Duff should be played in their proper wings.

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McGeady is playing on his proper wing and Duff has proven himself to be way more than capable on the right.

To be expected at this point in the season, many were off the pace (tho it didnt effect the ozzies as badly!)

St Ledger, Gibson, Duff were particularly disappointing for me. McGeady made errors toobut was also one of the more creative players with some nice link up play and a few decent crosses.

Keane did well enough to create a few opportunities for himself and Hunt had the desired impact when he came on in lifting the pace of the game.

The only positive, that I can see, is that it might give these guys a serious wake-up call before the Cyprus game.

Defense and Midfield were poor. They (Aussies) had too much space and time, nobody was really closing down. I saw Whelan make a few tackles but he wasn't great at all. This game is confirmation for me that Gibson can't be trusted to start a competitive match; he really was woeful, we may have been 1-0 up if he played Keane in on the goalkeeper early on. He never recovered from that poor decision and any confidence he may have had, which I doubt, completely deserted him. If we make the playoffs, I would not get my hopes up.

Robbie Keane looked our best player by a mile. Don't think we would even still have a shot at South Africa if we did not have him.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Terrible performance. Far too many donkeys in that team. That Irish team individually is the poorest first 11 I've ever had the misfortune to see in the green jersey. Only about 3 of the players is capable of finding a teammate with any pass over 12 yards.

We need to find a midfield from somewhere. Hunt, McGeady, Gibson and Whelan are nowhere near good enough for this level and this considering McGeady had one of his more promising games for Ireland though both him and Hunt for all their industry give no service to the front 2.

Trap needs a miracle.

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Well that miracle is probably Steven Reid. We may be able to chance our way to a victory against Cyprus without him, but for those final key games Reid's presence in midfield is absolutely integral.

Good we won't be going into the Cyprus game too over condifent so that's a positive.

shocking performance, but we have said that before after the friendly against Poland and we have stepped it up in the compeditive games so as annoyed and disgusted I am with tonight Im not gonna go on a rant and Im gonna keep the faith...

Bar 1 thing. I know Kilbane has been a great servant and is much loved by many fans but he should never start another game for us. Give him 3 sub appearances in friendlies to give him his 100 caps but let that be it. He is so far past it now that its becoming embarressing and he is destablising the whole defense

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

shocking performance, but we have said that before after the friendly against Poland and we have stepped it up in the compeditive games so as annoyed and disgusted I am with tonight Im not gonna go on a rant and Im gonna keep the faith...

Bar 1 thing. I know Kilbane has been a great servant and is much loved by many fans but he should never start another game for us. Give him 3 sub appearances in friendlies to give him his 100 caps but let that be it. He is so far past it now that its becoming embarressing and he is destablising the whole defense

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I agree that he is a liability but we aren't exactly spoilt for options in the fullback positions.

I thought Nolan did alright tonight, but I would be hesitant to give him his competitive debut in a crucial away game.

Foley was poor in the friendly he played in, and before he proves himself in a friendly or in training to Trap, I'm fine with his exclusion (I think he will be a key player for us in the future though).

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Originally Posted by irishfan86

I agree that he is a liability but we aren't exactly spoilt for options in the fullback positions.

I thought Nolan did alright tonight, but I would be hesitant to give him his competitive debut in a crucial away game.

Foley was poor in the friendly he played in, and before he proves himself in a friendly or in training to Trap, I'm fine with his exclusion (I think he will be a key player for us in the future though).

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I know we arent spoiled for choice but wouldnt we be better off bringing in the likes of Foley or Nolan and letting them develope into the team in the knowledge that they are improving all the time. Kilbane is going the other way and the younger lads couldnt be any more of a liability

Back to reality with a bang! It goes to prove that the current rankings are not wrong. We can have all the excuses we like i.e. start of a new season(didn’t affect Eng tonight) , missing S Reid etc etc .We are not a good team and it just proved tonight that we have being lucky in all our qualifiers so far. We cannot string more than four passes together and Australia like many of the teams we have played so far are far more technically better than us.

Kilbane has to go and we need to find some central midfielders quickly because both Whelan, Gibson and Andrews were all outplayed, there was no creativity or no protection whatsoever for the back four. Andy Reid needs to return, even at his worst he can thread a ball through the eye of a needle and has a decent pass.I can see why Folan cannot make the Hull starting 11, he is a total Donkey. Clinton should be there.
Cyprus will cause us problems like they did in Dublin and I am not optimistic in the slightest.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Terrible performance. Far too many donkeys in that team. That Irish team individually is the poorest first 11 I've ever had the misfortune to see in the green jersey. Only about 3 of the players is capable of finding a teammate with any pass over 12 yards.

We need to find a midfield from somewhere. Hunt, McGeady, Gibson and Whelan are nowhere near good enough for this level and this considering McGeady had one of his more promising games for Ireland though both him and Hunt for all their industry offer no service to the front 2.

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Whelan was by far Ireland's best player tonight.

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

Whelan was by far Ireland's best player tonight.

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Rubbish - Keane was by far Ireland's best player. Whelan was poor as per usual. He can't pass a ball to save his life and his tackling is shocking sometimes.

I do think Whelan was the best of a bad bunch in 2nd half

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Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

McGeady is playing on his proper wing and Duff has proven himself to be way more than capable on the right.

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He has been playing on the right for Celtic so far this year, and is obviously right footed player. So obvious in fact that every right-back he meets when he plays on the left works out after 15 minutes that there isn't a cat in hells chance of him going down the touchline, and sends him into the middle of the park and eliminates danger of a decent cross.

He got away with that against half rate defences in Scotland, but international full backs have him worked out. he has played most of his career on the left, but thats owing to Gordon Strachan playing him out of position.

And as for Duff, the only thing he has proven is that his best position is on the left wing, and that he can do a job up front. His only good performances on the right wing were in a very good Chelsea team when he was a lot younger

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Rubbish - Keane was by far Ireland's best player. Whelan was poor as per usual. He can't pass a ball to save his life and his tackling is shocking sometimes.

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I really do hope you're taking the ****. Keane was fcuking crap. Whelan passed the ball well and won most challenges he went into. Best of a bad lot.

Wasnt too many good performances, Shay Given made a few good saves in the first half. That is all.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Rubbish - Keane was by far Ireland's best player. Whelan was poor as per usual. He can't pass a ball to save his life and his tackling is shocking sometimes.

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I was at the game and being honest Whelan was the only one who was making tackles...the rest couldn't even spell tackle. Ireland were way too stand offish and gave Australia way too much respect. When we had the ball it was grand but my god when we lost it I was cringing because you knew the Ozzies were going to do something with it. Defencively we were incredibly poor considering its an International match. The third goal summed it up...Ireland standing off admiring the ball going into the top corner especially when Ireland had ten players back!!:eek: A very lethargic display from most players bar Hunt and Mc Geady...Tipp must not have suited them!:p

not good enough.why would Stevie Ireland come back and play with some of those players.shockin.he's dead right

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

I really do hope you're taking the ****. Keane was fcuking crap. Whelan passed the ball well and won most challenges he went into. Best of a bad lot.

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I thought hunt actually. I know he plays like a Jack Russell but i thought he caused more problems than anyone else. I would like to have seen his brother on the other wing if he had been available. If i was Trap I would think about playing the pair of them down the wings against South Africa as an experiment

Powder puff centre midfield - there for the taking.

You only should play 2 defensive midfielders when playing a team that are better than you.

If you do that to lesser teams you play into their hands.

Full backs were a huge issue also ... no creativity there at all.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Rubbish - Keane was by far Ireland's best player. Whelan was poor as per usual. He can't pass a ball to save his life and his tackling is shocking sometimes.

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Keane was rubbish, he spent the majority of the time whinging and looking for penalties out of nothing instead of just getting on with it. Hunt was a little more lively when he came on but that was expected. Whelan did well, just broke up the Australians play mainly. Most players gave the impression all they where thinking about was getting back to their clubs.

Was a shocking game to be at, wasn't even worth the 25euro i paid not to mind the 55 the people in the stand paid. Good Luck trying to get a decent crowd to show up for the South Africa match with performances like that.

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Originally Posted by DrRobert

not good enough.why would Stevie Ireland come back and play with some of those players.shockin.he's dead right

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Go to sleep!

Given - made a few good saves, no fault for the goals but his distribution in first half was poor. Kept hoofing long balls up the centre. Think Doyle won 1 out of 10. That said nobody showed for a short pass. 6/10

O'Shea, I can't figure this guy out. Looks a good player for Utd but has been shaky for Ireland , with a couple of good performanced sprinkled in. He was shockingly poor tonight, ponderous on the ball and loose passing.It seemed both he and Kilbane were under strict orders not to cross the half way line. 4/10

Kilbane - comming to the end of a great International career and its time to step aside. Poor positional sense under the cross field ball and never is tight enough on the winger. Offered nothing going forward and refused to overlap. Seemed a strict instruction from trap to hold back. 4/10

Dunne - ok but nowhere near his best. Looks like fitnesss is not there yet - summed up by an attemted dribble out of the back ended with a lunge from 10 yards to retain possession. Some loose clearances and communication mix ups with St Ledger. 5/10

St Ledger - struggled with decision making with some communication mix ups but was ok. Some decent tracking and tackling. Good clearance off Kewells head but should have scored with header from 5 yards. Looks a good long term prospect. 5/10

Duff - showed flashes of the old Duff but seems reluctant to go that extra mile and took the easy option at times. Is it confidence or is the magic going. I hope its just a confidence issue. He retains possession well which is a massive bonus in this team. 6/10

Mcgeady - great first half. Ran out of steam in second. Our best outlet and most creative player on the night. Held posession well and looked dangerous. Some nice long passing too. Vital to our chances in the remainder on the qualifiers. 7/10

Whelan - he had a poor first half but I think that had more to do with his partnership with Gibson. It simply does not work. They give too much space away in the middle and offer very little in terms of retaining possession and forward momentum. Was better in second half and worked hard all night but still- we are clutching at straws here 5/10

Gibson - not ready yet. Some nice touches here and there, nice passing when in space but not sharp enough in tight situations. His partnership with whelan is not dynamic enough and we basically surrender the middle of the park realying on last ditch defending and trying to nit back on the break.5/10

Keane - some nice early touches. Unlucky with 2 chances and a great cut back. Played ok but the ball played to him needs to be perfect and to feet or he will not create anything against good defenders. He is struggling from a lack of quality service. He cant out pace them, wont out muscle them or win it in the air. Down the channel or in to feet is a must but who will provide the ammunition for Robbie.6/10

Doyle - poor game again but cant fault his effort. He is struggling with form for club and country. Another living off scraps and struggling from a lack of quality service. Didn't really mack any signicant impact 5/10

Hunt - loads of effort, endevour and manic running but not much end product. Some poor set piece balls. Can look like a world beater but then fails with the final delivery. Still a positive on the night - 7/10

Folan - caused the Aussies some problems, worked hard, got stuck in. Good first touch and hold possession well. Decent option for us. 7/10

Nolan - looked ok in defence and in posession. Needs game time to determine if he is ready to step into the team. 6/10

Andrews - compliments Whelan better than Gibson and offer more of a threat going forward. Just looks more composed and streetwise than Gibson to me. Some nices passing and unluck not to score. 7/10

Rest- not on long enough to rate really