That wasn’t a bad performance at all. It was much improved from the previous two games.
Defensively we were good. Randolph had one save to make and made it well, handled all the basic stuff well too. Duffy did excellently for the other Slovakia chance. It was pure defensive instinct. Same with a header he made late on, where, had he not read it, they would have been in. Egan was excellent too. Read the game excellently and snuffed out chances before the began. Doherty was much improved from the previous 2 games. Stevens was very good.
As for the midfield, mixed, we had sustained periods of domination and equally periods where they passed around us comfortably. Significantly though, through those moments they never created anything from those moments.
McCarthy did the basics well. Was a solid performance without being great, better than the last one I think. Put a shift in, did good defensive work and kept the ball moving. Unfortunate to get injured.
Hourihane, needs to score there. If it comes to him on his left, it’s a goal. Still, can’t miss it. I’m sure he’ll be kicking himself. The early yellow card might have hindered him, in terms of being able to tackle and do what midfielders need to be able to do. No idea what it was for, descent maybe? Great delivery for the free-kick that Hamsik nearly put in his own net, extremely difficult to defend. We were unlucky that the ref seemed determined to give a free-kick for every header we challenged for, all night. Even the one where duffy won the ball and got punched in the head.
Hendrick had one of his better performances in recent times. I still feel he needs to be willing to shoot 15-22 yards from goal. He had at least 3 opportunities. One inside the box, where he could have turned and shot and the others, outside the box where once it sat up to shoot and he didn’t take in, and the other the space opened up to shoot as he was dribbling but he didn’t cut inside. He did a lot of good things and linked up well at times but he was also infuriating at times. He gave away the ball terribly at least 6 times. There was 2 passes straight out of play, there was the backward pass to a Slovakian where they broke and 1 bad cross field pass to Robinson which was intercepted and 2 really careless short passes. The Robinson crossfield one really annoyed me because McGoldrick made a great run to give him an easier option and instead he played a needlessly difficult pass. About a minute later, McClean hit that clearance/pass down the line to no one and I thought to myself “Why didn’t that annoy me half as much as Hendrick?” and I realised that I know McClean, I know his strengths and his flaws and I’ve come to expect those mistakes - but Hendrick 2014-16 showed that he is a much better footballer than he’s displayed since, it feels criminal. He was knackered at the end and should have been subbed after 90 mins.
As for Browne, he should score both chances. The first one, he has to go back across the keeper, I can’t understand how he goes near post. It’s an easy finish back across the keeper. Second one where he hits the post is unlucky but getting the ball in that position, just like Hourihane, you’ve got to score. Decent performance though and first time we’ve seen him playing for Ireland that far up the pitch, I remember O’Neill playing him sitting in front of the back 4. At least he was able to get into those positions. I will say one thing. If Jack Byrne received those 2 Browne chances and the Hourihane chance, I’d put money on him scoring all 3. Not saying he’s necessarily the answer, just an observation.
McGoldrick was excellent. His hold up play, the use of his body, his intelligence, creativity and work rate. Best player on the pitch. Looking back, you’d have to be very critical of Martin O’Neill for failing to get him into the side...
Thought Robinson was bright and quick and lively, the only real pace we had with Connolly missing out. Did a lot right. Think he’s earning that starting spot. O’Dowda did well for that one move, really created the move.
McClean was industrious as ever. Harried and hassled well in the first half. Worked his ****** off. That sprint back in the 44th minute. I thought it was actually a good sign, when the Slovakian took the shot, we had 9 players back in our own box. I know we were 3v2 initially and looked vulnerable but 6 players bust themselves to get back and cover. The type of thing you’d see from a Bielsa team. The shot he pulled wide was heading straight to Robinson before it was blocked. It wasn’t a great performance but it was an improvement on the last few years since he lost a touch of acceleration. Won some good free kicks, covered Stevens when he got dragged out of position, played a bit of football and made himself a nuisance. Once he got the booking, he was always a risk and I think it was the right move to take him off. Brady was good and bad, a bit more good. Still think he wasn’t 100%, there was one run back where he looked like he was struggling for air and was really slow.
Really think Connolly coming off the bench against tired legs could have cause havoc and could have scored goals.
Re penalties, watched it with my father and said I didn’t want Browne or Doherty taking them before they began. Browne first. I remember a game I played in, ball came across box and I tried to go back across the keeper, I hit it hard and well but he was a little slow getting across the goal and was able to throw a flailing leg and somehow turn it around the post. I was so angry with myself. 5 mins later, we won a penalty, I was supposed to take it and I rejected it, the only time ever. I felt that keeper had somehow won a psychological battle. I also felt like that miss let everyone down and the pressure of the earlier miss made the prospect of missing a penalty so much worse. It was the only time I didn’t feel confident taking a penalty. That’s how I felt about Browne. He’d failed to score twice. He’s a youngish player, trying to establish himself as an international, he had the opportunity to create history on three occasions, the miss 1v1 against the keeper was one which gave the keeper an edge and the post was a real mental blow. I’d believe he went up there thinking about missing and the keeper saw him coming and thought he can’t score tonight. The penalty itself was unconvincing. Didn’t hit a corner. Good height to be saved. Wasn’t smashed to the point of unstoppable. Really poor penalty.
Doherty, because of the hamstring. If there’s something off, even in your standing leg, if you’re worrying about it, it can effect what you’re gonna do. Anything that changes your natural rhythm isn’t good.
There was an opportunity to bring on another sub. After 120 mins the legs are gonna be dead, I’d much rather fresh legs taking a penalty. I did suggest (not sure how seriously really) that I’d sub Randolph at that last throw in and bring on Travers, who has saved a lot of penalties in shootouts. Actually might not have been the worst idea...
Overall though, it’s progress. It was a good performance away from home. I think it’s fair to judge SK after we’ve completed the World Cup qualification. He’s probably had about 5 days of actually training time with the players across the two windows so far. He needs time and patience. I’d like to see Byrne and Cullen used at some point from the start, to get a sense how they handle it. I’d also like to see Shane Long start one game. Not scoring enough goals is a huge problem, Robinson probably won’t score many on the right, compared to the left, where he can cut inside or the centre where he’s scoring at the moment. O’Dowda and McClean don’t really look like they’ll score at all these days. McGoldrick’s intelligence and movement creates chances for others but we’ve got to be creative in coming up with ways to get other players into positions where they can score. Shane Long’s pace, strength and directness could offer something, maybe. I don’t really know how, whether on one of the wings, but filling the space McGoldrick creates when he can or what but maybe something will click or they can figure out something.
