Republic of Ireland V Georgia - Tuesday, 26th March 2019 - Euro 2020 Qualifier

My Ratings for last night

Randolph - 7: Made 1 smart save in the first half. Little enough to do besides that but does everything you expect of him.
Coleman - 7: He's lost a yard of pace since the injury. Wasn't even chasing after balls i would have expected him to get on to in years gone by. That said he played well and worked hard.
Duffy - 7: Never looked troubled by the Georgians. Threat from set pieces.
Keogh - 6: Mr Dependable. It must be great for any manager to have a player like Keogh. Always solid. I can't remember him ever letting us down.
Stevens - 5: A 5 is maybe a little harsh, but he wasn't fantastic. Offered a lot less than Coleman on the other flank. Feels like he has a mistake in him.
Xavi Whelan - 8: I would say he rolled back the years, but i can't remember him playing that well when he was young!
Hendrick - 7: Just a few signs the Hendrick of 2016 might still be in there somewhere
Hourihane - 8: Great performance capped by a wonderful goal. I felt like he ran out of steam in the last 15 minutes and maybe should have been taken off.
Brady - 5: Poor performance. Rightly taken off. Coming back from a long injury so excusable.
McGoldrick - 9: I want to have his babies
McClean - 7: As ever he ran around like a stray dog that has wandered into a school playground. More effective in the second half than the first.

National Roads Authority - 2: What gormless idiot decided the night of an international match was a good time to close the northbound bore of the Port Tunnel?

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Originally Posted by Cathalsmart

It was just one of those nights where nothing went in

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It really wasn't though. Their keeper made one save. The same as the Gibraltar keeper. And I think that's the kind of stuff we need to be careful about believing (in as much as it matters a jot at all what random fans on an internet forum think). Yes, it was a big improvement, it was enjoyable, we've 6 points, etc, etc - but let's keep a bit of perspective here is all I'm saying.

I'll have to watch the game back in the cold light of day, but a few things stood out. I enjoy every Ireland game, but that was an enjoyable Ireland performance to watch. Players busted a gut, which is the minimum requirement, but more importantly, they look like they've busted a nut on the training ground too. We bested a team that has dominated us in recent games, by being committed, aggressive and hard-working. I'll take that.

I was unimpressed with the changes in Personnel before kick-off. I'm still unimpressed with the changes in personnel, but the structure of the team is at least improving. It's an obvious one to say that we're lacking a striker, but I think there's more to the problem than simply missing a striker at the peak of the formation (for those who dislike the term "up-top"). We're a lop-sided team.

RB CB CB LB
--------CM-------
---AM AM AM-LM
---------CF--------

We have an attacking right back, without the aid of a natural right-sided midfielder on one side, and then on the other side a very solid defensive left-full and a mindless left midfielder. Without the aid of a solid 18 yd box striker, it's still a little higgeldy-piggeldy. It's definitely something that needs rectifying. I still don't think our midfield is functioning correctly. Jeff Hendrick is second to none when it comes to harassing opposing players in their own half and winning possession, but he still looks like he has more to give. I would prefer to see Robbie Brady on the left of a three. Hourihane was good, probably better than he's been for us, but I'd still like to see Alan Browne get a run in the side - not necessarily at Hourihane's expense I might add.

Dave McGoldrick is a very clever footballer. Injuries have probably bested him in terms of getting further up the food chain, but he can be a huge influence for us. He should always have some ahead of him I feel. Whelan gave MON the two fingers.



If you're looking at players who MMcC will believe are mainstays of the team after this series, I'd say it's Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Stevens, Whelan, Hendrick, Hourihane and McGoldrick. There are two places up for grabs. Certain calls are going to have to be made on some of the squad options. But what's good is that if you're one of the young players, you're surely looking at the squad and thinking "I've a chance to get in there". I genuinely feel sorry for Matt Doherty. I can't put it any other way. He's not going to dislodge Coleman, who was improved last night from the Gibraltar game, but is a pale shadow of his former self. I think Doherty at right-back - in current form- gives better attacking threat than Seamus.

Finally the protest. I assume it was the 33rd minute for the 33rd team at the world cup comment.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

It really wasn't though. Their keeper made one save. The same as the Gibraltar keeper. And I think that's the kind of stuff we need to be careful about believing (in as much as it matters a jot at all what random fans on an internet forum think). Yes, it was a big improvement, it was enjoyable, we've 6 points, etc, etc - but let's keep a bit of perspective here is all I'm saying.

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Sure only 4 days ago this was apparently a repeat of the MON regime... now we are complaining that we didn’t beat Georgia by more. It’s abit silly for you to tells us to keep perspective yet you seem to have come to a conclusion on the team based on two matches.

The most frustrating aspect of last nights performance was that you felt these players always had this sort of performance in them. Decent footballers not being told to just sit. Players with ability not left on the bench/out of the squad. Pressing high up the pitch instead of retreating to the edge of our own box.

I Couldnt understand on here how after the Gib game McGoldrick wasnt seen as a shining light in an otherwise uneventful performance. He proved that it wasn't a one off with that performance last night. I'm now hoping for Sheffield United to get promoted and we have 2/3 players starting in the premier league. Mcgoldrick was superb, only thing lacking yesterday was the pace. The prospect of himself and Robinson playing together up front excites me. ANd i dont normally get excited about Irish football :D

All round great performance. Team played with intensity and never let Georgia settle, Georgians were not expecting that performance from us. 50/50% but for the first 25-30 mins we were 65% possession as we really took it to them.

Only downside was the players tired. We need them to be able do that for 90 and not drop off especially against the Swiss and the Danes. I also loved how we counter attacked, there wasn't any real clinical finishing but I'm sure that will come with time, we're not used to getting into those positions and therefore players don't know what they should do or where they should be. That will gel with time. Mick clearly proving training field exercises work, like attacking in 3's, hourihanes freekick and other set pieces. What did Trap and Mon do?Nothing.

Halfway through the second half I felt really sorry for Glenn Whelan. The lad can actually break up play aggressively, he can pass the ball forward and he can get us on the front foot. Doesn't have the turn into space quick but that can be forgiven. The abuse he has taken because of his last two managers.

Very early days but with the U21s followed by the U19s and now this, things are finally looking up for Irish football. Where are you now Trap and MON?! Irish football has been badly neglected over the last 10 years, because of pessimism and self-serving and self managers.

We dominated the first 30 minutes because Georgia did not press in our half, they sat back hoping to hold out to ht.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Wasn't there the shot blocked down in the first half when the shooter (can't remember who) might have played someone in instead after Hendrick won it back really well, the offside disallowed one when Coleman (?) was just behind the finisher and not offside, and Egan pulled a shot wide in the second half which he should have been on target from, those off the top of my head. Granted, we weren't opening them up at will or working their keeper lots, but still, we looked a totally different outfit I thought, and an enjoyable one to watch again, finally.

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It was coleman onside for hendricks offside. But would hendrick have been interfering with play even if he left it? ALso who is Egan?

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Originally Posted by Cathalsmart

It’s abit silly for you to tells us to keep perspective yet you seem to have come to a conclusion on the team based on two matches.

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What are you talking about?

All I said at the start of all this was that, for all the positives, we only scored from a set piece. And against Gibraltar, we only scored the once. This ties in with what we already know - i.e. our forward options are probably the worst they've ever been.

You're trying to draw further conclusions that I simply haven't made, and are backing them up with comments that don't stand up to any scrutiny (e.g. it was one of those games where the ball just wouldn't go in - simply not true)

So again - yes, we played much better, didn't stand back after scoring, seemed to have an actual idea what we were doing, have six points with no goals against, etc, etc, but goalscoring is still a legitimate concern.

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Originally Posted by geysir

We dominated the first 30 minutes because Georgia did not press in our half, they sat back hoping to hold out to ht.

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I am not sure, I think they didn't expect us to come out of the blocks like that. We gave them no time and 3 men in triangle formation always pounced on two so they couldn't do their triangular passes around us, as they didn't have the space. Then we sort of backed off towards the end of the first half and they took a bit more control. They were always going to be more aggressive coming into the start of the second half, which they were, but we played the counter attacking game to almost perfect effect, other than being more clinical and players individually taking the selfish/wrong option.

All I can really do is compare to the last visit from Georgia in 2016:

This game % possession was 49/51 while in the last one it was 43/57. Shots this one were 14/13 and in the last one 10/11. Both ended in a 1-0 win but performance wise it was considerably better than the previous game. We pressed higher and didn't allow them to play. On the other hand they didn't press us and we were much more constructive. So an improvement all round and that's all we can ask for and top of the group. Georgia must hate us with a passion.

I think if we'd played like last night against Gibraltar we would have won by several, but the conditions didn't allow us.

Overall a positive performance but we looked shaky at times and lacking in quality up front. Nice that we played a bit of football and good to see hourihane and Hendrick involved around the opposition final third.

Denmark away will tell us a lot.

Not as much as we hate them ;)

I’m actually optimistic about our campaign now, not just because of the win and the fact we are now top but from experience a happy Irish team is a good Irish team and one the opposition won’t want to face as they know we will throw everything at them. Like I said previously we need to realize that this Danish side is nothing special and going there aiming for a draw will just get us into loads of trouble, go there aiming to win and if we don’t we might still get a draw who knows, we go there aiming to draw and the best we can hope for is a draw and we will most likely lose.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

It was coleman onside for hendricks offside. But would hendrick have been interfering with play even if he left it? ALso who is Egan?

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He meant Stevens? If he'd squared it, it was a tap in for McG

You could see from the very start the players were giving McCarthy what he wanted. From the first Georgian kick-out, Robbie Brady manned one corner of the box, James McClean took the other and David McGoldrick pushed right up on the edge of the D.

High line. High pressure. Georgia weren't going to be allowed pass it out from the back. We weren't going to sit back, keep it tight, and surrender possession, as we usually do.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

It was coleman onside for hendricks offside. But would hendrick have been interfering with play even if he left it? ALso who is Egan?

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Yeah meant Stevens, get those two mixed up for some reason & re the offside chance we still created a tap in goal chance is my point as you well know Posher. A rare item of late.

The move that Hendrick had just strayed offside during (it would have been a tight VAR call – he might even have been level with the ball when it was struck?) followed a move of rare fluidity. So nice to see spontaneous interchanges and a through ball finding a wide player in space in the box.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I am not sure, I think they didn't expect us to come out of the blocks like that. We gave them no time and 3 men in triangle formation always pounced on two so they couldn't do their triangular passes around us, as they didn't have the space. Then we sort of backed off towards the end of the first half and they took a bit more control. They were always going to be more aggressive coming into the start of the second half, which they were, but we played the counter attacking game to almost perfect effect, other than being more clinical and players individually taking the selfish/wrong option.

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Have another look and just count the number of times when Whelan got on the ball in our half, with the Georgians voluntarily backing off into their own half, leaving our Glen to freely stroke the forward pass with venom to its intended target. A team with more ambition would have been pouncing on Glen, marking our players, putting on more pressure until the inevitable hoof.

Ah come on. Don't let a tired narrative get in the way of what was clear to everyone at the game. Whelan was class. His positioning precise and use of ball intelligent and/or prudent.

yep, I think Whelan is a bang average player at best, but he was in fairness very very good yesterday

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Ah come on. Don't let a tired narrative get in the way of what was clear to everyone at the game. Whelan was class. His positioning precise and use of ball intelligent and/or prudent.

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The fella beside me was having a conniption every time Whelan got the ball; twas gas. Actually coloured my view of things as well cos all I could see was when he lost possession and nothing else...

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The fella beside me was having a conniption every time Whelan got the ball; twas gas. Actually coloured my view of things as well cos all I could see was when he lost possession and nothing else...

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That is an excellent word PS. I had to look it up but I'll be using it myself in future.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Ah come on. Don't let a tired narrative get in the way of what was clear to everyone at the game. Whelan was class. His positioning precise and use of ball intelligent and/or prudent.

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I have already said he was class and have only positive comments to make about last night. But that does not disguise that we were allowed to have the ball in the 1st half on many occasions because the Georgians voluntarily fell back, dropped deeper and did not press us in our half.

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Originally Posted by geysir

I have already said he was class and have only positive comments to make about last night. But that does not disguise that we were allowed to have the ball in the 1st half on many occasions because the Georgians voluntarily fell back, dropped deeper and did not press us in our half.

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Sounds like what a lot of average sides would have said about Ireland over the last few years.

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

yep, I think Whelan is a bang average player at best, but he was in fairness very very good yesterday

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Whelan was exceptional. My main concern is if he can put in that kind of exertion twice within a tight international window. Hoping James McCarthy can get playing again and either play alongside Whelan or replace him in the sitting role as this campaign progresses. Fair play to Mick for resting Glenn against Gibraltar and for having the foresight to call him out of retirement to start with.

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Originally Posted by Kingdom

If you're looking at players who MMcC will believe are mainstays of the team after this series, I'd say it's Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Stevens, Whelan, Hendrick, Hourihane and McGoldrick. There are two places up for grabs. Certain calls are going to have to be made on some of the squad options. But what's good is that if you're one of the young players, you're surely looking at the squad and thinking "I've a chance to get in there". I genuinely feel sorry for Matt Doherty. I can't put it any other way. He's not going to dislodge Coleman, who was improved last night from the Gibraltar game, but is a pale shadow of his former self. I think Doherty at right-back - in current form- gives better attacking threat than Seamus.

Finally the protest. I assume it was the 33rd minute for the 33rd team at the world cup comment.

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Mick could actually have a selection headache come June with Stevens, Hourihane, McGoldrick and Whelan grabbing their chance to put themselves in the frame. I don't think they're undroppable, though, when you consider that this is the list of players who weren't available this time, who could be available by then: Clark, McCarthy, O'Dowda, Browne, Long, Obafemi, Robinson and Crowley; plus you have Arter and a resurgent McGeady in the wings; plus there may be a couple of breakthroughs by younger lads before the September qualifiers. You know what? I think we have a shot

A lot of the players you name there would fit well into the formation the other night. I actually would fancy Long on the right of a 3 front line. O'Dowda could fit in on either flank. Robinson is an option for both flanks. The Hendrick and Hourihane position is tailor-made for Alan Browne. Crowley would surely be suited there. Whelan and McCarthy competing for the base of the midfield. Obafemi on for McGoldrick to run the opposition ragged at the end!

Ronan and Idah to push into the frame?

Stevens, McGoldrick and Egan to be in the PL?

It looks as though Mick was very unlucky with his first squad. Hopefully he isn't quite as unlucky with his next.

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Mick could actually have a selection headache come June with Stevens, Hourihane, McGoldrick and Whelan grabbing their chance to put themselves in the frame. I don't think they're undroppable,

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Mick came out yesterday and said that the two full-backs are his men. Doherty isn't going to be left-back, when Mick catagorically states he's not picking him due to not having a wing-back style position for him.
He also said that he wouldn't call Whelan up to a squad if he wasn't going to pick him. That's as clear as it could be. I wouldn't have all of those named above as definite's either.

For me, and my history of posting here is consistent on the subject of Glenn Whelan, but if Whelan is ever-present, I'd name him captain.

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though, when you consider that this is the list of players who weren't available this time, who could be available by then: Clark, McCarthy, O'Dowda, Browne, Long, Obafemi, Robinson and Crowley; plus you have Arter and a resurgent McGeady in the wings; plus there may be a couple of breakthroughs by younger lads before the September qualifiers. You know what? I think we have a shot

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I agree with the ones in bold above. Again I'm probably McGeady's biggest fan here, but his time is past. If he's not going to be selected for the easiest double-header of the campaign, he's not going to be selected at all. McCarthy isn't going to play with traditional wingers/wide-men, otherwise there would have been a case for Daryl Horgan to be in as our only out and out wing option.

I'm not sure what lads will breakthrough this summer, I suspect we'll be looking at some bolters ahead of Euro2020 if we get there, or a complete overhaul of the squad if we don't.

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

yep, I think Whelan is a bang average player at best, but he was in fairness very very good yesterday

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"Bang average at best". Almost 300 games in "the best league in the world", he gets transferred and his former team is relegated and 85 international caps for his country. Strange how soon people just do not see what Whelan contributes. He's no Liam Brady or Roy Keane but he is a very good player nonetheless.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

"Bang average at best". Almost 300 games in "the best league in the world", he gets transferred and his former team is relegated and 85 international caps for his country. Strange how soon people just do not see what Whelan contributes. He's no Liam Brady or Roy Keane but he is a very good player nonetheless.

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easy target and there's always one with the fans. kilbane was another but incredibly got 110 caps for his county....

Courtin' and the Hourihane - Blog on Georgia game finally finished for these interested in a read about the match and the protest.

https://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.com/2...hourihane.html

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

easy target and there's always one with the fans. kilbane was another but incredibly got 110 caps for his county....

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Kilbane was a great player for Ireland, but unfortunately his performances tailed off and he played on reputation two or three years too long. Not his fault, but most fans would have fond memories of his sorties down the left wing. Whelan on the other hand is not in the same category as Kilbane. He was never remotely as effective a player and registered meaningless contributions in a green shirt year in and year out. Having said that I'm very happy that he played well the other night (didn't see the game but according to all reports he did very well). Good for him and he also seems to be doing quite well for Villa. Fair play to him - credit where credit is due.

However are we all of a sudden fully confident that Glen is our midfield dynamo for the campaign ahead? Is he capable of maintaining possession for Ireland and leading his troops to the highest heights against the Swiss and Danes?

I have little or no hope that that will happen. In truth there is no one in the current squad capable of running the Irish midfield the way Eriksen will for Denmark. But we know what Glen Whelan brings to the table and all of a sudden he has found a string to his bow that he hasn't had to this point in his career?

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Originally Posted by mark12345

Kilbane was a great player for Ireland, but unfortunately his performances tailed off and he played on reputation two or three years too long. Not his fault, but most fans would have fond memories of his sorties down the left wing.

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I thought he did a decent job at LB for us

Whelan at best, is very good. The greater time, average.

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

I thought he did a decent job at LB for us

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Don't recall a whole lot about that, but I do remember some very good contributions from him throughout his career.

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Originally Posted by mark12345

Don't recall a whole lot about that, but I do remember some very good contributions from him throughout his career.

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Kilbane put in a good shift at left back at the end of his career and also did a decent job in centre mid alongside Keane under Kerr. He was excellent in there against France in 2005. He could be frustrating at times (that miss from the rebound of Harte's penalty in Suwon against Spain still haunts me) but his contributions were generally positive.

Whelan was asked to do a very restrictive job by two inherently conservative managers which left little scope for him to shine. Being the dedicated pro he is, he did said role effectively and with the minimum of fuss.

Given extra freedom he was a popular Premier league player with Stoke fans for a decade under numerous managers and is now earning plaudits at Villa. His performance last Tuesday was more reflective of that form.

That indicates to me that the reasons he was awful to watch for Ireland for so long were down to the management rather than the player.

what Whelan has contributed over the years was clearly illustrated away against scotland in 2014 (?) when he was injured and our ctre midfield area was over run by the scots

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

what Whelan has contributed over the years was clearly illustrated away against scotland in 2014 (?) when he was injured and our ctre midfield area was over run by the scots

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I'm not a fan of Whelan and my heart sank when I saw he had been selected, but to be fair that was one of his best performances in a green shirt. He is clearly much more effective and a lot less frustrating when he has movement and energy around him, and Hendrick and Hourihane provided that in a way I didn't anticipate. It was a good shout by Mick given the resources he had available, but not a long term solution foor our midfield.

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

what Whelan has contributed over the years was clearly illustrated away against scotland in 2014 (?) when he was injured and our ctre midfield area was over run by the scots

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He played well the other night which was great. We beat Germany and Italy without him and he only played 20 mins when we beat Austria . We also played much better and came back to get a draw when he went off after 50 minutes against the germans .he also didn't play in the euros when we lost 2.1 against France but played excellently

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Originally Posted by liamoo11

He played well the other night which was great. We beat Germany and Italy without him and he only played 20 mins when we beat Austria . We also played much better and came back to get a draw when he went off after 50 minutes against the germans .he also didn't play in the euros when we lost 2.1 against France but played excellently

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It was 0-0 when he went off against the Germans.