I dont think its depressing at all. It is just part and parcel of not being one of the global or European football powerhouses. Only for a short time were we ever considered "better than" Austria (90's and even then we lost twice to them, if not more) and i would say, pre-Jack, they would have been a tier above - maybe a couple of tiers at times throughout the history.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Arter has a lot of hype to live up to if he does play - Fallon jumping the gun again as is his want.
Strong hints on FAI Twitter that Horgan and Boyle are making final squad.
The most surprising thing for me was that we haven't had a friendly against them since 1968. God knows how many time we've faced Poland (who are generally of a fairly similar calibre) in that timeQuote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Yesterday was the first I've seen of either of them. What do people who have seen more of them think of their performances vs their usual level?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
I wasn't really impressed enough by either to merit a place in the squad but they might just have been having a bad day.
The dundalk lads made it, ward out
I dunno. I think Horgan has that valuable ability to quickly make a yard of space from very little and send in a lovely floated cross that can cause danger. Very Duff like in several respects, without Duffer's pace from what I've seen on telly.
Fwiw I thought RTE covered the final well and the Cork fans looked great during their celebrations. I only turned on after 65 minutes but really enjoyed it from then on.
FAI Cup final was no barometer of their ability. Dundalk were a shadow of themselves in the final, and were visibly wrecked after 60 minutes hit.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
Horgan is very similar, not only in look, to Duff. Yard of pace and ability to beat the man from any angle. He'll be a cracking addition to the squad. Boyle is more of a modern day centre half and good with the ball to feet. He'll not particularly improve or weaken the squad as such, but he'll be an able replacement should he be called upon.
Credit to Nigel. First person here to suggest Horgan get called up. 6 months ago? More?
Personally I thought it was LOI-tinted glasses with a bit of wacky backy on top, but luckily I didn't print my thoughts at the time :)
I'll be honest and say Boyle's inclusion is a bit of a surprise for me. Though that's maybe because I recall a horrendous blunder on his debut for us back in 2009, when he completely missed a header back to goal and let Limerick's forward in in the last minute, but the guy missed. And maybe also because I recall a horrendous blunder in his second game for us, when he completely missed a header back to goal and let Sporting Fingal's forward in in the last minute, but the guy missed. Obviously he's improved since then!
Horgan is well worth his place based on Euro games alone, though as I've said before, I'd like to see him improve his shooting/finishing.
In the few times I've seen Dundalk lately I've been more impressed with their other centre back, Gartland I think. I don't think we need so much cover in that area anyway, I'd have preferred if Maguire was included seeing as we've so few strikers.
Danny Rogers Ian Lawlor Cyrus Christie Stephen Ward Conor Hourihane James McCarthy Stephen Quinn
These 7 don't make the cut. Bit harsh on Hourihane.
From the Irish Times -
Interesting!Quote:
Both of the Dundalk players named in the 35 have survived the initial cut despite some concern when it appeared neither had received any information in advance of the cup final with regard to what precisely they were to do.
A further cut to come before the squad travel to Austria. Don't understand why the need to fooster around naming the final squad, but anyways.
Funnily enough I thought they kind of took over from that point after Cork had dominated the first 15/20 minutes of the second half, and they continued to control the game through extra time.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Definitely. He's the only fit outfield player to be cut, so far anyway. Seven centre backs seems like overkill in the extreme.Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_denilson
The travelling is probably a reasonable point. I thought Horgan made a lot of bad decisions yesterday, but airports and hotels drain the mind as much if not more than the legs. He played some lovely passes and I could see the ability is there.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
I think there is a place in the side for either him or O'Dowda.
With the idea that a point is a great result I'd go with
------------- Randolph --------------
---------------------------------------
Coleman -- Duffy -- Clark -- Brady
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-------------- Whelan ---------------
SH/CO'D Arter Hendrick McClean
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-------------- Walters----------------
Horgan hasn't made the cut yet, there are still 13 midfielders with 4 likely to be shod and maybe strange enough, Boyle is in a better position being one of the 8 defenders left.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
He's one of seven centre halves though. With Brady likely to play left back, I'd say Horgan's chances are better. Also because he's a better player than Boyle.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
The most surprising thing is that 21 years later I still HATE Austria so so so much. It's obsessive at this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
Even the missus (a Clare [I know I know] woman attending her first "LOI" match) was commenting on their lethargy. I was impressed she could see them wrecked as a opposed to them being shoite.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Once Cork seemed to do nothing for that purple patch you could sense Dundalk might nick it. Smellbag of a goal to lose it by.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
They were the better team for the last hour of the match including extra time. I was expecting them to tire badly, especially once it went to extra time, but if that was them tiring then Cork really are miles behind them, which I think they've proved is not really the case, especially this season. Dundalk would have had every reason to be shagged, but it wasn't overly visible I don't think. Cork were the ones hanging on. That's not to say Dundalk wouldn't have produced a silkier performance had they not had such a demanding schedule or a game in Russia on the Thursday, but I was watching it thinking they're looking remarkably fresh considering. Compare it to the cup final last year when Cork looked absolutely dead on their feet in extra time and there was no comparison really I don't think.