Well, after a late heartbreaker, which brought back terrible memories of the 94th minute in Zagred, Skopje or similar bottlings in Tel Aviv - I am as gutted as a man can be about a game of football.
We are now left with the footballing equivalent of praying for rain (a win) in the worst drought a country has ever known (not getting a decent away win in .... decades?).
It hurts so bad because at times we really looked the real deal. There was naievity at times, which cost us at the end, but we can come back to that, the positives were carried on from the away friendly against Denmark. Getting a first touch on the ball and then playing it became our trademark for the first 20 minutes, and the Slovaks didn't get near it.
The Dunne-McShane-Carsley triangle at the back often set up good attacking moves. We had composure not seen away from home since I was tall enough to see over advertising hoarding (I'm 20 and and a shade below the six foot mark, now). Kilbane was industrious and McGeady had an occasional decent touch. On such a poor pitch, the passing was worthy of much praise.
Our first came from excellent play, first from Kilbane, then Keane unsighted their defence, before Stephen did what a goalscoring midfielder must.
Long before the end of the first half we lost our way. Slovakia deserved to be level, but it is like this: either Stan is a defender and should be able to coach it accordingly, or O'Shea et al need a serious wake up call. The ball should not flash across your goal without someone heading it, even if it kills them.
Ireland again started well in the second half, and Stan showed a bit of nous in taking off McGeady and putting on someone else. I can accept Gibson coming on ahead of Hunt this time, as he proved himself against the Danes, he's a talented lad and naturally central, and it really ****ed off Nigel Worthington. Gibson was good, I thought, and sured us up in the middle, whilst Ireland gave O'Shea much needed help.
Doyle scored a great goal and got a lot better after he had scored it. All at once he came into form. He was at his best when he was coming short, and then dropping off, and generally surprising the defenders who took too long on the ball. A real pain in the arse, you might say. All round, what you want your bigger centre forward to do when your away from home (without being regularly offside in the first half).
Now, I'm a Forest fan and our gaffer does it all the time, if we're winning with 20 minutes to go we cease to exist as an attacking force, defenders camp in the box and the midfielders make sure they are within whispering distance. We get burnt last minute a lot. Surprise, surprise.
Cobra is exactly spot on in saying Hunt should have come on. As he says, he covers every blade of grass and puts himself about. If he has any flaws as a footballer it is not for the want of trying - and he tracks back with a purpose. You have to in the Premiership. Douglas, who I'm not sure is even a Leeds regular, doesn't appreciate this and **** me, it cost us.
I'm really struggling writing this. This shouldn't be so disappointed because frankly, out of our last 5 or 6 qualifying campaigns, this is probably the one we least deserve to be successful.
It will now take an act of god to beat the Czechs in Prague. Let's all pray for rain.
Other than the substitute incident and not playing Hunt or Reid at any point during this fixture, I do not blame Stan. I'm sure he fully expects a midfielder to know the value of tracking back, or for John O'Shea to not be as nervous as **** whenever he pulls on a green shirt. The side is young, and if you think I'm talking like this campaign is over - wake up, and will improve. But experienced pros like O'Shea are the ones that need to lead by example. Take Dunne's last ditch block seconds before.
I'm going to watch a film and take my mind off the football.
Last word goes to the travelling fans though, looked impressive.
