It's not like you to try and take the gloss off a performance, Paul. So you'd endorse the Trapattoni approach of playing the same team as often as possible?
It's not like you to try and take the gloss off a performance, Paul. So you'd endorse the Trapattoni approach of playing the same team as often as possible?
Would there be a chance, and I'm going out on a limb here (no pun intended) that Italy decided to take it easier in the aftermath of Montolivo's injury?Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Seems legit. But as you know more maybe you can enlighten us with your incalculable knowledge of this Italian side.
The only Italian side POSH cares about is Sophia Lorens backside and I support him on that.
Thank God for Paul to remind us how stupid those of us were to enjoy the game against Italy and remind us (yet again!!!!!) just how smart he thinks he is.
And to equate enjoyment of a game with losing a perspective? I really would never had made such a connection.
I mean, who else would be so full of himself to assume such a pose? it takes a special kind of one to take the burden, heavy lies the crown and all that.
Against us some of the Italy players were playing for their place in the squad so I dont buy that they werent up for it at all, against Luxembourg the squad has been picked so I could definitely imagine the foot was off the pedal
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30330889.html
5 players on a mission
Hendrick
Pilkington
Duffy
Quinn
Keane
5 players on the ropes
Green
Cox
Kelly
Sammon
Keogh
Article goes into further detail.
Not sure what he drinks but he definately dips his boots in treacle.Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
I'm all for change, when its done at the right time and the right change. Trap even played fringe players in friendlies. At this current stage though, I think we need to be playing the players who will start in september, build some sort of consistency and understanding between the players. That doesnt mean taht we still cant bring in certain players or change the system/players at a certain time or given a certain situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Having 2-3 teams of completely different players playing doesnt give us any consistency and previously pointing out that these friendlies cant be taken too seriously but help in consistency amongst players and understanding the system/eachother is what we should hope for. I'm disappointed really.
Still if hendrick and meyler are the midfield for the next couple of games, 2 of those are likely to start in september so that probably isnt a bad thing. Throw in Pilkington impressing and hopefully he makes that position his own. I'm not overly gone on McClean, and like him as an impact player when the opposition are tiring.
I think O'Neill is still learning about the players though, so doesn't fully know yet who will start in September. Several are unavailable anyway. No doubt Pilkington, Meyler and Hendrick did themselves no harm. Hoolahan probably will have allayed fears that he is only a home team player against lesser teams. O'Neill will have learnt about Pearse too. He's no Paul McGrath but he has that strength and ruggedness that O'Neill has appreciated in the past in Elliott, Mjallby and Prior. I'd say O'Neill will have learnt that he's a credible back up option but no better than Delaney who himself is probably behind Wilson, unless Wilson plays in another position.
All the players will be learning O'Neill's ideas which appear to be based on pressing high up the pitch, keeping two midfielders back and allowing full backs and the wide men to get forward.
It's a shame that Clark will miss the trip as he had something to play for. Wilson might be given the chance to impress again at left back and it's important to give the young midfielders another couple of outings. Hopefully O'Neill will also learn for sure that Whelans presence impacts the team negatively.
Come September there will be 3 or 4 players back in the reckoning which can only be good.
And wrt the Italy game, I don't care if they haven't won since qualifying. Prandelli says they were put through an exhaustive training programme in the heat since they played us. Apparently they missed a hatful of chances and let in a soft goal from a corner.
Against Ireland I saw with my own eyes that they were talented and up for it, as much as any friendly match anyway. I also saw with my own eyes a good Irish team performance and some very good individual performances. What Italy did next is of no concern to me. What Ireland does next is of every concern.
And what if we don't know who'll be playing in September? And if he has to make a decision this week and it turns out later to be the long run, does he change it? The fact is we have a lot of players of roughly equal ability and it will take time for O'Neill to figure out which ones work best together.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Pity that any two of Hendrick/Gibson/McCarthy are our best options in midfield but instead we'll get a Whelan/McCarthy partnership that clearly doesn't work because McCarthy and Gibson didn't show up for one reason or other.
What will be team to play against Costa Rica I wonder....
Forde; Kelly, Keogh, Pearce, Wilson; McGeady, Hendrick, Whelan, McClean; Hoolahan; Keane
Or Wilson could play CB, Keogh could play RB and Kelly could play LB. Wouldn't be surprised to rest Hoolahan for the Portugal game and play Quinn. Or alternatively start Keane with either Long or Murphy up front.
http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-n...internationals
Well Murphy won't be playing because he has went home. I'm really disappointed with the behaviour of a lot of these players. I thought with Keane and O'Neill on board this kind of crap wouldn't be tolerated but it's a lot worse than it was during Trap's reign.
He's injured?
Inverted commas.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
And this is based on...
Prejudice.
Fully agree. Makes a laugh of all this talk of how much certain players just love playing for their country. Modern day football i suppose.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
You could have Mourinho there and players still wouldn't care about end of season friendlies in the US. The manager can't really be faulted here.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Modern day rugby too then, given the spate of casualties from the England, Ireland and Argentina squads. Or maybe there's another explanation. Players actually get injured. I'm really disappointed in Clark's behaviour too, hurting his knee like that. And Walters for getting sick but who'll fly anyway if asked.Quote:
Originally Posted by KK77
And quite frankly I wouldn't give a hoot about Murphy anyway. Nothing to offer at this level.
I'm sure certain players could have played through the 'pain' if these were club games or important international games. However, everybody (that matters) agree that there's no point in risking agrivating even a minor injury for friendly games. It won't benefit club or country if they do. Patriotism is great, but common sense is even better.
You can dress it up any way you want but it must be some coincidence how these lads can stay fit through an entire League season but start getting injury prone whenever there is an International window.
I mean you have lads going to the wedding of their teammate's brother for crying out loud.
And these the very same people who'll start getting noisy when it comes time for their International bonuses to be divided.
I look forward to the performances come September when you have the team looking like strangers who have never played together before and the platitudes to the press and fans after the inevitable lackluster performances and results.
Which of these players didn't get injured during the club season?
For the love of jeebus TOWK
Bonnie, give it a rest. Good lad.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Oooh snarky.
In fairness if anyone needs to give it a rest it's your good self. Your latest insinuation of an "injury" beggars belief. Your endless bickering and negativity is growing tiresome.
Ignore list works wonders. :)
I know. But then I'll get these weird out of context responses.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
So, now you suddenly think Whelan and Walters' absences are a problem? It's not long since you thought they were both rubbish.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
And what about Ward missing the Costa Rica game but possibly available for the next? He's a good case study as there is no doubting his willingness to turn up, anywhere and any time. Is it only Clark and Murphy you're narked about?
I think the brother's wedding thing looks poor, but O'Neill could easily have insisted they don't go to it. Instead he took the pragmatic option and looked at players in their positions, and to good effect too. All of them are back in the squad, although Walters is sick but may still travel.
Seems like that's what's causing problems at the moment!Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
What I or what you think about them is beside the point! They are going to be playing a significant part in the coming campaign so it is, frankly, a problem for me!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Stephen Ward is on holiday in Italy right now. He is paid a king's ransom to kick a football for a living. Turn up for a 2 weeks and then you have plenty of time for a holiday!
These people are f'ing indulged beyond belief. The problem for most of them isn't physical exertion. They just can't stand being around each other and having to stay in a hotel room all day. Boo bloody hoo!
Slightly worrying that you know where Stephen Ward is gone on holiday.
But TOWK has a point on this one.
But 'modern' football(ers) and all that.
You're talking about modern football?
Maybe he isn't part of the coming campaign? Maybe the manager of the team has decided he's seen enough? Do you know?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
I don't like Wardy. I don't like him as part of the squad. I'm glad I now know he's in Italy and to be honest I hope he never pulls on a green shirt again.
Where's the indulgence here?Quote:
These people are f'ing indulged beyond belief. The problem for most of them isn't physical exertion. They just can't stand being around each other and having to stay in a hotel room all day. Boo bloody hoo!
He is the pretender to POSH's manbag. He needs to know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
So, Irish footballers should not listen to their wives or girlfriends when considering moves, should not attend weddings if it affects their 'international obligations' and God help us if they don't meet your definition of who is Irish. TOWK, I really don't know what you want from modern day footballers. Even Alex Ferguson realised that he had to change tact to work with modern footballers. Any chance you could do the same?
Of course they should talk to them. They should be making the decision though... you know since it's their career and they are earning.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
Yes, to be quite frank, they shouldn't be going to a teammates' brother's wedding when they are supposed to be preparing for a qualifying campaign. I don't think that is unreasonable.
I don't like lads playing for 3 different countries, I don't like lads treating our underage teams as a launching pad for a senior career with England, I don't like lads declaring to boost their chances of getting moves at club level and I don't like Irish lads who have been playing all through the age groups being pushed aside once they reach 22 for mid-twenty somethings who are too sh!te to play for their own country. Again, not unreasonable, but I learn to tolerate it.
..... and that last paragraph isn't an assault on all English footballers who declare for Ireland, unless that is what you want to decipher from it.
Chauvinistic and stupid, careers aren't all about money. Girls can make decisions for themselves and decisions for couples should be joint decisions. It's called equality! The amount of negativity in this post is unbelievable, have you heard of prozac?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
This is the end. I just don't know why you bother anymore to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
This forum has a very bad habit lately of every thread being taken over by the ridiculously over the top views of one poster. Its becoming less and less enjoyable.
True, my thoughts earlier today also. Certainly poorer for this presence.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg