Right. I'm off to sleep to catch this at 1am. See ye on the other side.
Right. I'm off to sleep to catch this at 1am. See ye on the other side.
Hopefully it'll be like the Brazil game in Dublin a few years back where they go 1 up and then go easy on us.
I suspect Spain are actually taking this tie seriously. It's not like Brazil where they use friendlies as an opportunity to get a bit of extra training in, they will want to test their systems and there will be players who are vying to make an impression on the manager. Still, I think we will give them a better game than we did in the Euros.
De facto, Tets, de facto.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
We Rossies are fierce fond of th'oul Latin, you know. But, since it's your good self and you were only writing it ad captandum vulgus, I think that we can safely say: absit iniuria verbis on this occasion.
(And to think that before Google the only Latin I knew was 'my name is Maximus Decimus Meridius...' :D)
Carpe Diem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
If my Latin is correct, that's some form of fish dish.
Stream of game here: http://www.coolsport.tv/stream2.html
4 minutes in and still 0-0. Success!
who thought this match was a good idea?
The more matches we can play against top teams the better. Arguably, the depleted side will aid our younger players more. Only two of this side faced Spain in the Euros.Quote:
Originally Posted by boovidge
Coleman looks like he's really up for it. Hopefully, he can get more of the ball.
These mostly aren't young, up and coming players for Ireland though. McShane, Keogh and Sammon won't learn anything and even if they do, who cares?
Dam I lost my internet totally for about 15 but back now you will all be glad to hear!!
Managed to get a bet on Ireland at 12-1 to win, good odds for an unlikely result!!!
Our passing is so poor so far. We're better than this, maybe spooked by the fact that we're playing Spain, maybe it's a weakish Irish team. Sammon has been so poor in the first 20 mins, McShane has actually been good at right back. Coleman also producing with the little ball he has seen.
They're players who we might need over the next few years due to our shallow depth as a nation. Sammon and Keane have shown some promise as a pair and McShane is probably hitting the best form of his career around the age Richard Dunne finally started coming good. Hendrick and McCarthy will be hugely challenged by this experience. I'd have had Delaney - another relatively old player - starting, but as it happens O'Dea will be aided by this experience. Forde is older again but it's another game where he can cement his claim for the #1 shirt.Quote:
Originally Posted by boovidge
I don't see the negatives from playing a top side. We are a country who, by virtue of our relative prosperity and diaspora, are a financially attractive bet for really good teams like Spain to play friendlies against and I'm glad we're taking advantage of that. We can take lots of positives from this game if we approach it right and it looks like we have.
But why is it in Yankee stadium :confused:
Looks like we have Spain under the cosh ;)
could have put that through the keepers legs
Aw, glorious chance for Sammon. Great work from him to beat Pique for the ball. Maybe the angle was a bit tight.
Sammon did well to create a chance there. Nicked the ball of Pique? and dribbled in from the left. Attempted the shot from an acute angle. Realistically he never had a hope of finishing that one, but had no options in the box.
Sammon showing he has a good touch for a big man. He's been impressive for me. He's no good in the air though, other than being a bit of a nuisance, he wins no balls.
I do think he's under-rated
Based off the last 2 games Sammon is better than Walters
has actually been decent. some decent touches when its come his wayQuote:
Originally Posted by Serb
Baseball teams seem to be making really strong bids for other sports to be played in their stadiums recently. Perhaps it is related to the Yankees' involvement with Manchester City.Quote:
Originally Posted by christo
Sammon is technically better than all of our strikers except Keane. I don't know why people have been disputing this for so long. His weakness is that he's a poor finisher. His touch is miles ahead of Long or Walters, as he demonstrated for Keane's goal on Friday.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Roberto Martinez wouldn't have signed him if he wasn't technically skilled.
That all came from him getting hit with the ball like an under-7.
He's had some nice touches and it was great play to get that chance of Pique but...
Liking this composed McShane. His confidence must be up on getting promoted with Hull.
Too many dangerous pieces of play near our box though.
I don't believe for a second that Sammon is good enough. He's in there to be a physical presence and win the high balls that we've obviously decided we're going to pump up to him. He hasn't won a single header and Robbie Keane has been more of a physical presence. He runs and runs and looks pretty fit, but I think we get that from Walters who is far better in my opinion.
Wouldn't mind if half time happened quickly
No he's not! Yes, he's 6'3 or whatever, but he's never been used as a target man by his clubs. He's a link player, as he's demonstrated tonight. He won't make the great runs Keane and Long make, but he will be very tidy and hold his own against defenders.Quote:
Originally Posted by Serb
Fairly fortunate to make it to half-time without conceding. Spain were dangerous towards the end of the half.
I think we've been quite comfortable to be honest. Spain could equally be grateful Sammon didn't score his chance.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Step away from the Kool Aid there CD. Sammon's possesses a decent touch at times but it's inconsistent as get out. In terms of holding the ball up his touch is no better than Walters. In attack it's not as strong as Long's. Would love him to prove me wrong, but can't see it right nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Long's touch is dreadful. He would never have set up Keane's goal against the Faroes, or Keane's goal against Georgia for that matter. Neither would Walters. They just don't have it in their lockers.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
3 Ailesybury Hair loss clinic ads in 1 break, guess they reckon hair loss and watching Ireland go hand in hand :p
But there in lies the issue with him. He's being used in a way that he's not suited simply because we are sending in long ball after long ball.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
We look like the Faroes out there.
Cant pass the ball, strikers cant hold up the ball. Sammons attempt when through on goal was pathetic. We look terrified and its all last ditch defending
Or they've correctly guessed that Connor Sammon's entire family are watching!Quote:
Originally Posted by christo
I thought Sammons second touch in that run on goal was all wrong, it undid all his good work up to that. It narrowed his angle on goal and took his percentage chance of scoring way down it was focused on getting away from chasing defenders only. That said, he did superbly up to that and for all their ball, we made the best opening of the half in that Sammon contribution.
Long's touch is what opened opened up the Swedish and Georgian defence for the chances he blew. It patently isn't 'dreadful'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
I agree about the setting up, Long likely would've tried to beat a man or shot or fell over looking a peno - I'd make an argument about awareness/selflessness as opposed to touch. Sammon's got decent skill, no doubt, but he isn't blazing a trail of technical ability.
Saying we look like the Faroes is rather flattering!! They were passing the ball pretty well at times v Sweden!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
But still 0-0, they have not had that many chances on goal, we are 12-1 to win, all we need is a lucky break and plenty of solid defending!!
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg