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I'm still pretty upset with Ray Houghton for his late miss at Wembley. Every time I hear him say... "ah he has to hit the target George", I think of that miss. Stuttgart and Giant's Stadium don't even make up for it. That is probably because I was too young to appreciate Stuttgart and, yes, I know I'm being ridiculously harsh but that miss still makes me squirm. That said, the Poland games that followed were the major f*** ups.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
It was a shocking miss by Houghton at Wembley. Nothing ridiculously harsh about what you said.
Poland away was a total waste, Poland at home was just one of those days and made worse by their keeper wasting about ten minutes feigning injury. Worst of all was Poland, already 1-0 up, not being given a stonewall penalty against England for a Chris Woods foul. It was the last game, concurrent with our 3-1 (?) away win in Turkey. 2-0 would have killed it but instead Lineker got a late equaliser which put them through at our expense.
At the equivalent stage one tournament later England got their just desserts against Holland, though they conveniently overlooked how blessed they were in Poland when blaming eveything under the sun except their being rubbish for not qualifying.
God we absolutely battered England that day. I have vague memories of watching the BBC punditry after the game and Jimmy Hill and Terry Venables agreeing that we deserved to win by 2 or 3 goals. I remember long spells when they didn't even get past the halfway line.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Does anyone else agree with me that Ray Houghton must be one of the most negative commentators around? I love him for how he performed for Ireland and I'm sure he's a nice man, but I hate when he's on RTE.
I'd have him over Ronnie Whelan anyday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
I think he's beginning to chill out a little bit. For the first few years I think he felt the need to comment on every little mis-control or stray pass. I know professionals are paid a lot of money to get these things right but they're not robots either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
Is it a coincidence that Les Misérables is the google add that Im getting in the last few posts:D
yes, 3-1 was the score with John Byrne (my fav player at the time) netting twice. The home match V Poland was also destroyed by a shocking dry bumpy surface. usually such surfaces suited us with Jacks tactics but in the Poland match is just added to the whole stop / start nature of the game. Jack asked that we never play another home match in March after that game. Only 4 teams in our group back then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
God damn the break-up of the Soviet UnionQuote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
and screw Gibraltar too!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Capitalism out!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Trap to look at new tactics, something he should have done right after the Euro debacle.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29262872.html
I remember too that Jack wanted the grass left long when Ireland played Spain soon after a rugby international. After the game, the Spanish press described our tactics as being rugby like, something we were proud of as we intimidated and harried them all game! Memories!Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Yeah, but he usually trots that line out a few weeks in advance before reverting to type when the squad gets together.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
Stu, More comments about possible change!Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...toni-1.1391901
Yes, the other papers are also more explicit, saying Pilkington will be integral to a 451 with Hoolahan. Encouraging and refreshing in one sense, but also worrying that he sees one player, yet untested, as key to any formation change. Trap has form in playing players in odd ways (McClean in Serbia...) too, so I'm limiting my expectations somewhat.
I think Trap is aware of the criticism of his action / inaction in the last game and is being quite clever with talk of tactical change, which he may not even follow through with if Pilkington isn't fit, or "has the trouble with the wife".
I suppose he's being asked if he's going to try out new systems. Obviously he has to be seen to be open to the idea, even though he probably isn't. He might throw a few token experimental moves in the friendlies alright but I'd imagine we'll be back to basics for the qualifiers.
Fahey as a holding midfielder of sorts, was one of Trap's weirdest ones.
Strange that Trap launches this latest "evolution" in Carrick on Shannon.
He gave sound advice to Pilkington "he will have many opportunities to go on honeymoon,” implying that there is a higher calling, playing for Ireland in a Euro qualifier.
I was in Wembley that night and nearly sure it was close to the end as well. Can’t forget it myself. Talk about the goal at his mercy and normally a great finisher in those positions for club and country. What i also remember from that night was Paul McGrath’s performance. I felt that was his best performance in green that night.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Not sure I've seen that incident since -Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
(1:40 in)