Republic of Ireland V Switzerland 25th March & Slovakia 29th March 2016 - Friendlies

If we are set up to play like that in the Euros, we will again experience a quixotic failure.
And even when Wes came on, despite the immediate upgrade in technical ability, invention and the unpredictability factor , we were a disorganised mess.
As Keith Andrews said in the co commentary, when Doyle got injured it was time to bolster midfield, not bring on a one dimensional Murphy. We were getting wiped in midfield but somehow the Swiss couldn't manufacture enough chances and those they did manage to muster they couldn't finish with enough aplomb, credit also to the centre halves.
MON was stubborn to stick to the lumping game plan with 442 even after it was obvious we had lost control of the game and midfield needed repair.


We want Brady in the first 11, that's a no brainer and if it has to be at LB then so be it, but there needs to be a definite tactic to support him in his defensive duty.

It doesn't make much sense playing Brady left back at this stage. There's really no need.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Meyler and Quinn both held their own playing in the PL, especially Meyler, so I think the Championship reference is a bit unfair. It's obvious they're not our first choice central midfield but I don't think they had a hope last night. Whelan and McCarthy, these days, usually have plenty of support from the likes of Hendrick and Hoolahan so it's much easier to find a pass and they're not outnumbered to the same extent. Neither Meyler or Quinn are ball playing central midfielders but both could do a decent job individually in a different kind of circumstance. They were sloppy in possession last night alright but it was a bit of a lost battle. I can't remember too many games we've played without McCarthy and Whelan to be honest, to have actually missed them. Obviously Glasgow and Whelan was absent for Germany without it being at all noticeable. The only other game I can think of was the USA friendly when we got a real foothold as the game went on and played quite well.

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It is factual though. I wasn't trying to deride them but they're not at the level of Whelan, McCarthy and Arter (maybe even O'Kane). Quinn was a free agent in the summer and dropped down to Reading who finished 19th in the Championship last season. Meyler started about half of Hull's PL games and they were relegated (Quinn had less starts than Meyler). They both held their own at PL level for spells but, ultimately, neither was a regular starter in and in a relegated side and they're both at Championship level now.

I agree with your point in relation to having less options ahead of them and maybe it wasn't a great call to play them together in a 4-4-2 where that would be the case (they are decent options when they have better players alongside them than one another, I think). Obviously, we don't have the luxury of a huge pool of top level players but my point is that this pair together was always going to struggle against the likes of Xhaka and I think we struggled as a result of having them in there together. We could have fielded better players if we were going with 4-4-2.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

It doesn't make much sense playing Brady left back at this stage. There's really no need.

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Agreed. Ward is going better than he has in a long, long time now. Brady is also going through, arguably, the best spell of his career too and is playing quite a bit in the left of midfield.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

It doesn't make much sense playing Brady left back at this stage. There's really no need.

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I think there's sense of him at lb in the context of O'Neill's 3 5 1 1. But in an ordinary meat and gravy 442 there is no sense, where we mainly only reap the benefit of his set pieces and have a defensive vulnerability.

robbie out of the slovakia game, speculation that a replacement player might be called up

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34574312.html

can't imagine who the replacement could be... mason or sheridan i suppose. or cox :/

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Originally Posted by zero

robbie out of the slovakia game, speculation that a replacement player might be called up

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34574312.html

can't imagine who the replacement could be... mason or sheridan i suppose. or cox :/

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'O'Neill indicating that the 35-year-old is slightly worried about facing a spell on the sidelines'

'there is a chance that the 64-year-old might have to call in a replacement'


so writes Daniel McDonnell aged over 30

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Originally Posted by geysir

I think there's sense of him at lb in the context of O'Neill's 3 5 1 1.

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He definitely seems the best fit for a wing back formation but O'Neill hasn't used that since his Celtic days has he? Even for set pieces it would be more beneficial for Brady to take them from a midfield position, less need for cover when he's switching wings to take corners from the right, etc. Doherty's definitely worth a look but even if he's not up to scratch Ward, Clark and hopefully Wilson are all decent options. I've no major problem with Brady's defending, none of the guys I mentioned are superstars in that position anyway, but I just think he's wasted back there a bit when it's not his best position. I think he's a pretty tenacious tackler, he always tries to get a toe in (often successfully) where some others would just stand off and he's deceptively strong, the amount of times he puts opposing players flying with his shoulder is impressive!

Murphy has an injury as well. It's being described as minor but given that it forced him off I can only assume he is a doubt for Wednesday as well.

I'd say at least on replacement has to come in at this stage. Cox or Stokes presumably based on the initial squad.

I did think when he came, he seemed to be limping a little, there was a corner just after he was introduced and he wasn't moving too comfortably

Completely disagree with the notion that Brady should be unseated from the left back position, particularly if O'Neill reverts to the 4-3-1-2 system in June. Wrote a piece about it here, in fact:

http://www.the42.ie/robbie-brady-ire...50220-Mar2016/

Also, analysis of the game last night, including the decision to go with a 4-4-2 here, if anyone's interested:

http://www.punditarena.com/football/...er-impression/

Brady is having a stormer this season at left back for one of the worst teams in the league. Second best chance creator among defenders and his defensive statistics are well up there too.

While Ward played well at home to the Germans, he was awful in the away fixture, away to the Scots and throughout Euro 2012. Positionally, he is far more questionable than the less experienced Brady.

There is no argument, for me.

Despite some of he issues re CM last night I haven't felt as calm watching us play in a long long time. Friendly aside, our back four ably held up the Swiss whenever they looked briefly threatening.

When you look at Randolph's distribution though you always wonder what it might have been like if Given had that in his armoury back in the day.

Raging for Doyle. Still don't understand where Shlong gets his energy.

Also, delighted for Duffy stepping up as the player we always hoped he would be. Fingers crossed it's the beginning of a meteoric rise.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

He definitely seems the best fit for a wing back formation but O'Neill hasn't used that since his Celtic days has he? Even for set pieces it would be more beneficial for Brady to take them from a midfield position, less need for cover when he's switching wings to take corners from the right, etc. Doherty's definitely worth a look but even if he's not up to scratch Ward, Clark and hopefully Wilson are all decent options. I've no major problem with Brady's defending, none of the guys I mentioned are superstars in that position anyway, but I just think he's wasted back there a bit when it's not his best position. I think he's a pretty tenacious tackler, he always tries to get a toe in (often successfully) where some others would just stand off and he's deceptively strong, the amount of times he puts opposing players flying with his shoulder is impressive!

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The closest we have had to the full backs on the front foot was against Scotland at home, but Coleman was the the more effective, most probably because that's what he does.
I had thought at the time that MO'N was on to something to be developed.

Walters won't participate in the Slovakia friendly either. Murphy ruled out after being substituted last night.

Long the only available striker.

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-slovakia...82376-Mar2016/

Common sense would dictate that this could be a marvellous opportunity for someone like Mason, Eoin Doyle or Madden to be given an emergency call-up. But it doesn't look like that will happen.

Be some laugh if a similar injury crisis were to happen two months from now and this golden opportunity to assess other available options was missed.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Agreed. Ward is going better than he has in a long, long time now. Brady is also going through, arguably, the best spell of his career too and is playing quite a bit in the left of midfield.

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Ward has looked very sharp any time Ive seen him play for Burnley in last couple of months. Looks slimmer than usual and has a bit of pace about him.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Walters won't participate in the Slovakia friendly either. Murphy ruled out after being substituted last night.

Long the only available striker.

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-slovakia...82376-Mar2016/

Common sense would dictate that this could be a marvellous opportunity for someone like Mason, Eoin Doyle or Madden to be given an emergency call-up. But it doesn't look like that will happen.

Be some laugh if a similar injury crisis were to happen two months from now and this golden opportunity to assess other available options was missed.

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probably the most progressive squad of the last 6 years and you're still not happy.

Long runs himself into the ground for 90 minutes every week for Southampton. I don't think we should tempt fate by having him complete close to 180 minutes in the space of four days.

Both Long & Murphy came into this series of games on the back of injuries and already one of them has been forced to go home.

I know McClean will probably just get shunted up there but that's not where he should be getting match practice; he should be getting that in his own position.

It's a matter of expediency. Nobody is saying Doyle, Mason, Madden or Sheridan have but the remotest chance of participating in Euro 2016, but they need to be called up to add numbers the same way Irish based players are called up to add numbers on the training pitch. And if they impress, well that's a bonus.

Long, Walters, Murphy, Keane and Doyle are all in their thirties once we approach the business end of the next qualifying campaign too. The earlier we consult other options the better.

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Originally Posted by geysir

The qual campaign is long finished, it's past history.
He's getting older and of late slower or/and shipping injuries, either way there's a doubt.
Our history tells us the value of sentiment diminishes fast when it comes to extending loyalties all the way to a finals tournament.

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ive lost track of the number of times jos has been written off but 100 + caps.......

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Long runs himself into the ground for 90 minutes every week for Southampton. I don't think we should tempt fate by having him complete close to 180 minutes in the space of four days.

Both Long & Murphy came into this series of games on the back of injuries and already one of them has been forced to go home.

I know McClean will probably just get shunted up there but that's not where he should be getting match practice; he should be getting that in his own position.

It's a matter of expediency. Nobody is saying Doyle, Mason, Madden or Sheridan have but the remotest chance of participating in Euro 2016, but they need to be called up to add numbers the same way Irish based players are called up to add numbers on the training pitch. And if they impress, well that's a bonus.

Long, Walters, Murphy, Keane and Doyle are all in their thirties once we approach the business end of the next qualifying campaign too. The earlier we consult other options the better.

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Then let MON make those emergency callups or not before being so negative. Your last post makes sense but in the grand scheme of last night there's no need to be so critical of the squad selection or the team's performance. Come tomorrow/Monday and MON sends us out with a 442 with McClean and Long up top then you can let it rain.

The team that went out last night was a good example of a progressive selection even if the formation was a bit "safe". It's best to sometimes evaluate some players in your typical formation. What would we have learned with Meyler and Quinn in the middle of a 5 or 3 when we tend not to play with that?

Christ. Long doesn't play often enough now he's being played too much.


I think Rooney was going to make this squad if fit. I think last night showed one up front is the likely way forward anyway. I'd call up another forward myself but the success or failure of the next campaign isn't going to hinge on whether Eoin Doyle or Cillian Sheridan gets called up this week.