That's fair enough in terms of the result but the performance has not in any way been a 3 nil has it?Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
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That's fair enough in terms of the result but the performance has not in any way been a 3 nil has it?Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
Cracking game I thought, two teams willing to attack, and attack at pace, and thus leaving space for the opposition to attack also. I thought we were the better side for most of the first half, and although we did need that magnificent save from Bazunu, we could have been ahead either from a penalty or the Ogbene shot.
We started the second half fairly poorly, and could easily have been behind from the chance we gifted them, or the disallowed goal, so we were maybe a bit fortunate to be ahead from Duffy's goal. But we did really well after that, scored a beautiful second and and lovely third, and we finally made Luxembourg look like the limited side they are.
Ogbene dangerous all night, Hendrick very solid again. Knight made a huge difference. Idah fairly poor again, must be really short of confidence also.
Chippy will be fuming
There was a really poor 15 mins start of second half. There was a bit of panic (although we had 2 good chances in that time too) and you could see a bit of doubt creeping in. The 3 up top didn't really work and Knight immediately shored up the middle and changed the game. Still learning and improving. Looking forward to the Nations League and the next qualifiers.
Crap for most part but the bosses sub changed the game so great management decision won us an away from home qualifier against a side who beat us at home so it’s all gravy lad, we love the boss.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Stephen Kenny’s substitution bringing on Jason Knight was a game changer. He saw the issue and corrected it. A messy, disjointed spell in the first half and some sloppiness at the beginning of the second half was corrected and we ran out deserving winners.
I'd love to point out to him if we held on in portugal and managed to beat lux at home we would have finished second.Quote:
Originally Posted by centre mid
It was a poor campaign for a white world cup but ogbene and all the other new players make it for me personally. What a group of lads to have to support.
Incidentally, no rice means we get Cullen. That will do me.
Still learning and improving, I'll give you that. But two things that were different from the pre-Kenny era. Firstly, we passed the ball brilliantly through midfield (through the middle that is instead of square passing ad nauseum) for the entire 90 minutes. And, when we went in front we did not retreat into our shell and defend at all costs (a feature of the McCarthy era). So in that respect we are improving and improving nicely.Quote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
I think Liamo (the poster, not Brady!) has a point in that it wasn't a convincing 3-0. But that's the way these go oftentimes - the minnow drops the head after the first goal and then you ram home the advantage.
There's definite progress for sure. The Nations League will be interesting now because Luxembourg/Azerbaijan/Qatar were crap and it will be a more telling level. But certainly Kenny has earned the right to lead the team into it and let's see where it goes.
Still concerns about our ability up front which will be more apparent at a higher level. Idah in particular offers little still But **** it; let's enjoy this and have four months of positivity!
Great goal alright. And smashing pass from Hendrick. Another fine performance from him tonight. Long may it continue.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Yeah, it was, in hindsight, a bad idea to move away from the blend that had been serving us we'll with the front three i.e. a midfielder, a forward and a striker to two forwards and a striker. As well as McGrath has done, Knight showed with his contributions to all three goals that he is the better player for that role.Quote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
Also, Serbia scored in the last minute to top the group; Portugal in the playoffs.
By far the best team we played; interesting to see how they fare in Qatar
Jesus now a 3 nil is not a 3 nil. Lads are really going to any lengths not to give Kenny any credit
Good pass..medium performance but defo improvements lately. He needs a move in janQuote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Can't agree that it was crap for the most part. Even before Knight came on we created a flurry chances, more chances than we did in the first ten games under Kenny. We were very positive and constructive all night and thoroughly deserved the victory against what was a quite capable team.Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
Hahaha it’s absolutely ridiculous. The mental gymnastics by quite a few on here is quite something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Good call on that!Quote:
Originally Posted by brine3
Great to end the group on a high. The influence of Anthony Barry can't be underestimated. The commentary team noted how much he was involved in instructing players. No doubt he made the tactical switch with Knight. Kenny will remain on now, I'd rather just give Barry the job but as long as Barry remains coaching the team and in charge of tactics, this is acceptable.
BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!
I urge everyone not to feed the troll.Quote:
Originally Posted by BOOMSHAKALAKA
Sweet I do like gravy to be fairQuote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
We need to find another striker badly. Don't think Idah is ever going to have it.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Looking at the options for the future Parrot, Connolly, Oko-Flex, Odubeko, Ferguson, along with Robinson and Ogbene, we really need one of the former group to step up and show themselves as a good striker at top flight level.
I felt that we were quite disjointed in the first half and it was really, from my perspective, down to McClean on the left. His passing and touch was quite off in attack and we were caught out on his side on the break quite often too. I thought Coleman was poor too. And Duffy was all over the place at times. Gerson, Sinani and Borjes played brilliantly between the lines and it created issues at times in the first half and then havoc in the first 15 mins of the second until Knight was brought on for Idah who, let’s be honest, was very poor. Immediately, we changed. After that we controlled every inch of the park and Knights mobility and quality allowed Hendrick to find a quality performance in the last 30 mins. It also put Robbo into a more effective spot on the park. Knight clearly brought a lot more than just better shape though and I think is now undroppable… that was some performance from him. Really enjoyed the performances from Doherty, Cullen, Ogbene over the whole 90 mins but bringing Knight on worked on so many levels that Hendrick, Robinson and McClean all improved too. Great game management.
I'd put Connolly in the same boat as Idah tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Strongbow10
Hogan and Maguire are options too, albeit Maguire has a poor scoring record and both are close on 30 more, so while I think they should be there, they've another 4-5 years really.
But if there's friendlies in the spring, we need to use them to try new strikers for sure. Even Keane may be worth a try.
Ogbene has now two goals for Ireland. In 70 league games in England he has one.
The only thing I’d like to add to my post above is that Bazunu’s save was incredible.
Hogan needs to be rehabilitated, because too many of the current contenders either aren’t ready or are not good enough. Obafemi, if he ever sorts out his issues, could still be a contender. Love to see Ogbene playing at a higher level.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Idah for me needs to be getting half decent service and isn't going to get that in this irish team unless, ironically, knight is playing.
When we set up in our optimal defence and midfield, there isn't room for a classic number 9 to hang around waiting for passes. I'm not sure if idah is less mobile than knight but he definitely played higher up which meant we had less fluidity.
Connolly has different problems I think but I've not watched him enough...he will struggle to get back in this team...
Big winners from the campaign
Bazanu
Knight
McGrath
Omobamidele
Cullen
Ogbene
O'shea
Egan
Some impact
Parrot
Molumby
Idah
Collins
Not as much as I'd like
Connolly
Not much, hard to see a way back
Clark
Odowda
Yeah, if only we’d lost :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
I felt very nervous around the 60 minute mark but have to say I'm buzzing now with the way the game finished up. Strong mentality shown to get our noses in front and then put it to bed with some aplomb. Fantastic second two goals of a kind Ireland never score. Excellent composure and team play from young Knight, what a lad. Credit to Kenny for his introduction. The future is bright.
Knight was brilliant for the second and third goals.
Classic from Richard Dunne on TV3 just now. Losing to Luxembourg is not a sackable offence, so beating them shouldn’t guarantee a new contract ! Ok, I can see the point about no need to give a contract yet, but you can be damn sure that if we’d lost tonight Dunne would have very much considered it a sackable offence. ( and in fairness it would have been hard to argue against.
I'm delighted for Kenny that we finished campaign so well. Even the most ardent fans of him were having doubts especially after the Luxembourg loss. We could see what he was trying to do but the results weren't coming. He could have tried to placate the critics and gone to the more pragmatic football of the past but he stuck to his principles and we've had some excellent performances. The best was ironically in the loss away to Portugal but I think that gave the players massive belief.
We were sloppy enough at times tonight but like what happens often with a better team against poorer opponents, they tired a bit and goals change games. He made the right sub and we were brilliant for last 20 mins.
Hes earned a new contract now and I'm excited going forward. We are not instantly going to back competing for top of groups but we are definitely more competitive again and now with a very young squad we will continue to grow
Theres definitely a player there with Connolly arguably the pick of the lot, but a shocking attitude will prevent him reaching his true potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Doherty, Cullen and Ogbene all brilliant tonight. Agreed. If I had to pick a stand out of the three, it would be Cullen. He really linked the play in midfield. I hate to tempt fate, but we are a different team now. We're setting off on the road towards constructive football. We are no Portugal or Serbia but we can defend and keep possession for a decent amount of time. Quite lacking upfront but hopefully that will change.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
I would actually say the best was away to Azerbaijan, where we just went out with the attitude that we were better them and we knew it, and were just superior for the whole game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Portugal away was good, but it was a more traditional 'backs to the wall' performance which we've seen many times from Ireland before, but Azerbaijan was a Kenny performance.
Exactly right. We never would have finished the game like that in previous years. Even with Trap, MON and Keane, and especially under McCarthy. If we scored a goal we retreated into our shells faster than you can say Stephen Kenny. Quite a nice change in attitude to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic
There were times in that game that we kept the ball well and created chances against much better opponents. I thought it was excellent at times.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
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Originally Posted by mark12345
No rice, we got Cullen. I'm fine with that
Lads can we also put to bed the question marks about Bazunu too. He is on his way to being World Class. His interview on Rte before the game was articulate and he seems like a very level headed and professional young fella.
Where is paul o sheaQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu