Republic of Ireland v Austria - Sunday 11th June 2017 - World Cup 2018 Qualifier

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Originally Posted by mark12345

They are a difficult opponent alright. They'll threaten us in Tblisi. We need to open our account early and hopefully hit them on the break as they come looking for an equaliser.
Team selection in that game will be crucial once again, but somehow I have lost all faith in MON's ability to see what't in front of his eyes.
Best manager in Europe when he was at Celtic, because he achieved so much with so little, but last Sunday's performance from him will stick in the craw for many years to come.

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Usually agree with you Mark but what, he won the SPL a few times, wow:p

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Usually agree with you Mark but what, he won the SPL a few times, wow:p

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Wasn't really thinking of his exploits in the SPL. More of beating teams like Juventus and Barcelona in Europe. And he took Celtic to extra time in the UEFA Cup Final in Seville, in a five goal thriller.

I just thought I'd note the importance of the never-say-die attitude that seems to have been instilled in the team - this is the sixth competitive international under MON where we've scored in the last ten minutes to improve a result (Georgia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Serbia and Austria).

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

I just thought I'd note the importance of the never-say-die attitude that seems to have been instilled in the team - this is the sixth competitive international under MON where we've scored in the last ten minutes to improve a result (Georgia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Serbia and Austria).

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That's one way of putting it and, whilst I was delighted those goals came and have been generally happy to credit O'Neill for making the necessary changes - something the inflexible Trap may not have done - there's also another (admittedly pessimistic) way of looking at it, or, to be more specific, there's another way of looking at those games where the goal improved the result from a potential loss to a draw. As I wrote in the "opponent watch" thread:

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

The pattern of play against our main group competitors at home seems to be to play very cautiously - giving our opponents a greater deal of respect than they probably deserve - and then making a big push for the final quarter or so. From what I can recall (and correct me if I'm wrong), against Poland (in the last qualification campaign), Wales and Austria all at home, that late burst proved to be just too late for us to snatch the three points and we've ended up with draws in games when we really could have won them had we started as we finished. Had we had another ten minutes or so in each of those three games, I think we could have won them. Despite having clawed back and squaring things up from being a goal down in two of those games, the end-result of a draw still felt oddly frustrating or irritating in the immediate aftermath considering how strongly I think we had finished those games.

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It's annoying that a conservative or overly cautious approach from the outset has allowed us to fall behind in the first place in some of the games mentioned before we've really utilised our full attacking potential late on, by which time it has often proved too late to take the very-much-achievable full three points on offer. Sure, it's great we didn't give up on getting back into those games, but it's just such a shame we left the spirited and gallant comeback efforts so late.

For me there are two issues, although maybe linked to each other:

(1) the midfield selection was conservative
(2) despite all the fighting talk in the build up, the players started like rabbits in the headlights. This was a bigger failing for me. MON is renowned for his motivational skills. They didn't seem to work on Sunday.

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Originally Posted by mark12345

Wasn't really thinking of his exploits in the SPL. More of beating teams like Juventus and Barcelona in Europe. And he took Celtic to extra time in the UEFA Cup Final in Seville, in a five goal thriller.

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True but I was referring more to the style of play which was pretty boring at times.

Also not much tactical nous

He would never get a big job at Man United, or Arsenal, for sure

Yet David Moyes did.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

True but I was referring more to the style of play which was pretty boring at times.

Also not much tactical nous

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cant agree with this. The wins over Germany, Bosnia and Italy in the Euros were exciting. Also, some excellent football played in the first 60 mins against France in the euros before we ran out of steam and a very decent away win in Austria. You cant beat the likes of Germany, Italy, Bosnia and Austria away without some sort of decent tactical nous.

I have had mixed views about MON since he got the job but not really sure he can be criticised too much overall.

We have some decent players and we play to our strengths as best we can. The fact that the discussion around our fortunes and style of play centre around a 35 year old championship player speaks volumes of the type and standard of player we have.

I think many an Irish supporter has unrealistic expectations really.

getting a little away from the match topic, if you want to discuss MON's management/tactical history there's a thread for that: http://foot.ie/threads/184787-Martin...-and-Roy-Keane

I see that Icelandic clap hasn't run its course yet. I squirm in my seat when it's going on. They were actually doing it in the lead up to an Austrian corner in the first half and then to an Irish corner in the second. Not sure who it's supposed to help/encourage. All I know is that it has to go.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I see that Icelandic clap hasn't run its course yet. I squirm in my seat when it's going on. They were actually doing it in the lead up to an Austrian corner in the first half and then to an Irish corner in the second. Not sure who it's supposed to help/encourage. All I know is that it has to go.

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I couldn't agree more, nearly as embarrassing as booing Glasgow Rangers players. For a nation renowed for playwrights, song writers and story tellers we're brutal when it comes to penning a few football chants. Do we actually have any originals????

it was being done before the Euros.

Seemingly started by Motherwell fans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8iC1Yf6h84

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I see that Icelandic clap hasn't run its course yet. I squirm in my seat when it's going on. They were actually doing it in the lead up to an Austrian corner in the first half and then to an Irish corner in the second. Not sure who it's supposed to help/encourage. All I know is that it has to go.

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Not as embarrassing as the James McLean has less than fond feelings for the Queen song.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Not as embarrassing as the James McLean has less than fond feelings for the Queen song.

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Haven't heard that at the last couple of games thankfully.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I see that Icelandic clap hasn't run its course yet. I squirm in my seat when it's going on.

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Who gave it to you, that guy you met at the bar in Reykjavik? Can't they give you something for it?

Hahaha.... walked into that! :o

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Haven't heard that at the last couple of games thankfully.

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You're obviously not behind the goal. Sung almost every time James makes a significant contribution.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

You're obviously not behind the goal.

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Well he is obviously not there now - the game was over a week ago!

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

You're obviously not behind the goal. Sung almost every time James makes a significant contribution.

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I was in the corner behind the goals that Walters scored into the last day, not directly behind the goal. Didn't notice anything.