Not too shabby in the end. Cullen very impressive and I'd like to see him come on for Hendrick if, as unfortunately is the norm, Hendrick doesn't play well on. Monday
Brady had a good, solid game. Think he'll be starting on Monday
Not too shabby in the end. Cullen very impressive and I'd like to see him come on for Hendrick if, as unfortunately is the norm, Hendrick doesn't play well on. Monday
Brady had a good, solid game. Think he'll be starting on Monday
Another one of those games where if players do well, it doesn't mean much as it's only New Zealand. Players can only make themselves look off the pace.
Once Ireland woke up they won it easily, as they should. Hard to read too much into anything good though.
Vote for your man of the match
Josh CullenQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Lee O’Connor, lad’s first ever senior appearance anywhere, he was outstandingQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I was actually thinking the opposite. I thought he was terrible today and that he was the one player who might have had a chance for monday with good performance. I thought he played himself out of the teamQuote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Agree with that, he looks a very good player.Quote:
Originally Posted by greendeiseboy
Cullen too, very tidy footballer, looks to get on the ball as much as possible.
Probably Cullen. Thought he was very sharp and bright. Byrne tired in the second half. Clark didn’t have a lot to do but he was good.
Kevin Long looked like Franco Baresi out there.Brady was obviously off the pace by some distance, I really hope this is only a temporary loss of sharpness but he has no chance of starting Monday.I think Byrne will start, clearly the instructions were to move the ball fast to the runners upfront and that’s what he did.O’Connor had a brilliant debut and Cullen has given himself a chance of seeing some game time. I don’t think he’s played a competitive minute for us yet.
I can’t see any of them starting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fizzer
If I had to put money on who of those will start, I’d say Derrick Williams
Thought Brady was very poor. Disappointed he took charge of all the set pieces, as Byrne has equally as good, if not better, delivery than him.
Cullen was my man of the match. Looked comfortable on the ball, always willing to take the ball, and not shy in defensive duties.
Byrne was good, but nothing spectacular. His passing and vision are second to none though.
Maguire was poor in the first half. His running in behind defense is excellent, but seems a bit void of confidence in front of the goal, despite that wonderful effort into the top corner. He could have had a hat-trick on another night. Dare I say it, looked a shadow of the player who left Cork.
Nicely taken goal by Williams. He looks like he could be an option on the left. Interesting to see what decision Mick makes against the Danes after that performance.
Young O'Connor looked at ease in the senior squad too. Couple of shaky moments, but assured throughout. Still can't get my head around him not playing at Celtic. Needs a move away from there in January if he's to progress further as clearly Lennon has no interest in playing him.
You haven't voted yourself? Who are u going forQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
If think we needed to see a real eye-catching display for anybody to stake a claim for a starting position on Monday, and I don't think we really say enough of that from anybody.
It's a positive that we can have a 'second team' of that quality though, even considering the opposition.
I seem to be in a minority but I thought Brady played well in the first half before fading in the second, understandably enough given his lack of game time. Good point regarding mixing up the set pieces a bit more and using Byrne, but maybe this was an instructing by Mick, who knows.
If ever a player needed a goal it was Maguire, and his interview suggested the same. He played with much more confidence after it. Robinson too to a lesser extent.
Parrott looks well able for the physical side of things which is a big plus if he's to be fast-tracked, won countless free kick à la Aaron Connolly.
O'Connor stole the show really I felt. Looked at home all through and had some real moments of quality.
I'm abstaining. If there's a draw at the end, I'll cast a voteQuote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
id agree with this. had some nice touches and interplay with others in the first half. one or two of his passes around the NZ box went astray but on at least one occasion i was blaming the receiver.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
he took on the role of a senior player among a number of lads with much less experience and i thought he handled it well. he is definitely one of our better footballers and he looked physically strong on a number of occasions last night. real pity he hasn't a few more 90 mins under his belt this season as he would definitely be a plus for us Monday if he had.
Brady showed flashes of being a player but didn't have a good game. Why he wasn't played on the left or even tried out at LB when Williams went off annoys me. And annoyance is the feeling I have with last night's game. It wasn't used as a dry run for Monday's game, it wasn't used to give those players just outside the starting 11 a genuine chance to stake a claim for Monday's team. All we did was give the squad players a run out - same as with the Bulgaria game. Nothing learned, all boardline pointless really.
Mick probably saw the game as pretty pointless though, he didn't organise it. He obviously felt a dry run wouldn't have been worth the risk of injuries or even adding the slightest bit of fatigue to his preferred XI.
I think it went well all the same. We learned a little about O'Connor and Parrott, got some minutes into Brady and Kevin Long in case they are needed, and got two forwards off the mark in terms of goals.
P.S. I thought the new kit actually looked well.
Parrott has a real feel of Anthony stokes about him great technique, intelligent runner, physical, and goal instinct and not blinding quick. Went wrong for stokes but at 18 he was a top player and goalscorer
Seems a good young lad and has his head screwed on by all accounts. So your points are where the comparisons end!
Ah yeah life took a few wrong turns for stokes but as a number 9 at 18 he was special. That Falkirk 6months was class. The sunderland thing was a mess though. Think parrott might be a little quicker would that be fair?Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Think it is advised to be well-prepared and maximise that available to us. Whatever Mick is seeing or feeling, let's hope he communicates that to the players.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Yes we have the edge on New Zealand in friendlies, regardless of code. That's was a nice, easy start to O'Connor's senior career, Parrott was up against seasoned pros but did fine. I think Brady is capable of more than being a player to call when needed. And agree, positive Maguire and Robinson are off the mark scoring wise.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Decent but far from spectacular performance. O'Connor had a good night and Parrott and Byrne played OK. To be honest, bar injury I didn't see anything that wold propel anyone into the team for Monday. the fact he took Parrott and Byrne off on the hour might be a sign he sees them as possible bench options for Monday but hard to know. Expected more from Brady and Maguire to be honest, but harsh to judge anyone on a patchwork team against NZ in front of a pretty lethargic crowd. Nice, given its rarity to get a home win, hopefully sets us up for Monday night. Never mind the performance on Monday, a win in any manner all that's required.
Is Parrott definitely sticking around the squad for the Denmark game? I would have thought that if he wasnt a consideration at least off the bench he would be released to play with the 21s for Tuesdays game
2 people will have to be left out of the squad if there are no further injuries. If I were trying to think as Mick, I would say it’ll be Byrne and Maguire, but could see Hogan or Parrott as reasonable chances and Brady or Collins as outside bets.
I’d try move Parrott to the 21s if he doesn’t play on Monday. Doubt it will happen though
I thought exactly the same myself. Lost count of how many bad passes Robbie had. And his free kicks were weakQuote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
It’s not that Lennon has no interest in playing him rather that Frimpong signed from Man City has been superb and looks a gem of a full back. O’Connor done very well against New Zealand (a friendly against very poor opposition) but is simply going to be behind Frimpong in the pecking order at Celtic for the foreseeable unless there is a drastic decline in form and/or an injury there.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Though I didn't watch the game too closely, I thought this asembled NZ team were very decent for what they are, unlike Ireland's persistant hoofball when playing better teams, they tried to play good football, scored first after a very move, came close on other occasions and played their part in making it a lively encounter. Obviously NZ are not a team in the top seeds but I'd expect their coach will be very content after that performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
Does any have a way to watch the full match online? I missed it.
It's on the RTE player, if that's an option for you?
Perhaps so but it was a relatively easy game for a full back so I wouldn’t be getting carried. Anyway I had no intention of putting a dampener on O’Connors prospects he looks a very capable player and will hopefully flourish.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Perish the thought that an Irishman would assert themselves as a superior football player or even as a "gem of a full back."Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
Certainly not “perish the thought” and I am not sure where you have got this implication from. O’Connor played very well and hopefully continues to do so and pushes on for club and country I certainly wasn’t intending to be critical of him in any way and was simply providing context as to why he has not playing at Celtic and that is because Frimpong broke through ahead of him and has been excellent so will take some displacing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Lee O'Connor "is simply going to be behind Frimpong in the pecking order at Celtic for the foreseeable." Have you seen all Frimpong's games? That's a very heavy assumption you have made so I'm just keen to understand what has informed it.
It’s not that heavy of assumption to make from a club perspective. Barring a pretty significant change from Lennon (quite conservative/rigid with his team selections generally) in what he considers his right back pecking order at the club then O’Connor, yes for the foreseeable, will be behind Frimpong in said pecking order. That’s if Celtic are even playing with a traditional right full back at all, and yes I have watched every game Frimpong has played for Celtic’s first team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
It’s not only behind Frimpong btw - from squad selections he is in truth behind Bauer and Elhamed as well but anyway I had no intention of appearing to be not so hot on t he player himself so I’ll leave it that he played well and looks very decent hopefully continues to push on.
The Frimpong kid is brilliant.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Anyway, I think I must be the only one who thought Derrick Williams was motm. Cullen quietly efficient and Byrne very good. No killer passes but he showed for players in trouble a lot and in my opinion is exactly the type of player the senior team needs to improve our ball retention. I think he could / should have been more selfish and shot on a few occasions, but I think he felt the way to impress Mick was to take the team option each time.
I was actually disappointed in Maguire over the full game. Never motm for me but I'm glad he got better in the second half as I do think he's a good player.
I have seen him once and he is a very good player is Frimpong. I don't think he's that good that O'Connor's chances of breaking in can be written off- as they were. O'Connor is clearly a very, very good player.
However, I would question the decision to sign for Celtic given that they stock-piled right backs close to the window's end. I know O'Connor can play numerous positions but he's making his name at under 21 and now senior level for us at right back. Celtic is a big club but they're only in the SPL. I would have thought that O'Connor would have been well-regarded enough to sign for a Championship side (perish the thought he would leave the UK).
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