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.