Just wish Saint and Greavsie were alive to see it.
If it was the old days we would all be at crackbird right now.
Just wish Saint and Greavsie were alive to see it.
If it was the old days we would all be at crackbird right now.
****ing hell. Hell of a win. Wasn’t convinced until about the 94th minute.
A performance of men. I think we probably got into the Portugal box a dozen times and should have scored more a few more with Ogbene, Azaz, Ebosele and Johnston all with big chances and we had another handful where the final pass just let us down or a heavy touch to a ball over the top ended the attack. We really exploited their vulnerability.
To do that while missing:
Doherty, Manning, Brady, O’Dowda, Knight, Lawal, Molumby, Smallbone, Sykes, Szmodics, Ferguson.
You don’t want to have to bring a debutant on while you’re holding out against Portugal but Conor Coventry did well. Adam Idah would frustrate you so much. The lack of work rate in those late minutes was really frustrating. We were giving them grief with our running power and Idah just wasn’t up for chasing every ball in the channel where he was second favourite.
Great to see Ogbene finally look close to being physically the player he was before the injury. In September and October, he just looked so off it. Was much better tonight.
Kelleher made that one vital save and had a really good game. Coleman was superb, especially considering his lack of game time. I genuinely think the biggest mistake HH has made so far as Ireland manager was leaving Coleman out of the irish squad for the first games which included the Armenia away game.
Really good to see Robbie Brady involved on the sideline with the players, exactly what you’d want.
Big game on Sunday. Really good that we have Manning and Molumby fresh to come in. Hopefully HH has the cojones to make changes to the team who played tonight. We are 100% gonna need fresh legs given the shift that went on tonight.
Like a result from another dimension. Impossible to explain - could a recent spike in solar flare activity be the real reason?
One thing I noticed on the pitch is that instead of taking 10-20+ passes to go from defence to attack last noight we went for the attacking ball very quickly. I think that made a huge difference and is obviously what we need to be doing every game - we have the pace up front. Delighted for Parrott.
Was just walking through Clonsilla about 30 minutes ago -nasty morning out there- and the team bus went by. Loads of kids on their way to school were cheering and waving and clapping... one young fella shouts "F you Ronaldo" and all his mates cracked up.. great to see the buzz.
Ah that's just true though. The highlights show plenty of chances for Germany, with 6 in the first 20 minutes alone, including a disallowed goal and some great last-ditch defending. Our only chances is a scuffed effort from Walters. The last ten minutes only show a tame header straight at Randolph.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
By contrast last night we were 2-0 up by half-time, and had hit the post in between, and were looking dangerous on the counter even before we scored. Against Germany, we had 5 shots (and only one real chance), but we had 14 against Portugal. We were a consistent thorn in their side in a way we simply weren't against Germany. And I think that's the bit that sets it above Germany for me - yes, we defended deep at times, but we knew exactly how to hit Portugal quickly on the counter, and did so repeatedly. A "tactically excellent performance", a Polish mate of mine called it after. That's what sets it above Germany for me.
That said, I do like the similarities in Parrott's celebration for the opener and Long's against Germany.
Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
Fantastic! I know that feeling. Had to leave my seat at the Armenia game for a little walk around with my 8 year old when it was getting noisy. It’s a killer but has to be done
Have to say Collins was very good, as I have my doubts about him at International level, as he seems to perform well with Brentford more!
That game was not Croke Park, it was Lansdowne.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
When Germany came to Croke park it was 0-0 and they had already qualified.
Andy Reid had a great game and controlled midfield with his passing. We all thought he’d be a future captain but then Trap came to town
Did Ireland's new President Catherine Connolly attend the Ireland v Portugal game last night!
I don’t think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by nr637
What a game for her to miss.
I was supposed that the teams came out and kind of just went straight into the anthems
Imagine what she'll be like when she hears the result of the match!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
No, and I was very disappointed. The most talked-about old-fashioned left winger in recent times, albeit not great on the offensive but capable of solid defending when tricky questions are being asked, just didn’t show. It may be something to do with being Ireland’s new No 10, and needing time to get used to the new role, which will probably require some drifting towards the centre now and then.Quote:
Originally Posted by nr637
Ah lads. I work in a more rugby/D4 orientated office. I get plenty of jibes (nothing too mad) when I mention going to Ireland matches and having a season ticket. A few of our group pulled the plug on renewing this year and last, not just football related but the results certainly didn't encourage any borderline lads. Last night is why we as supporters go through the dross, it's like a drug, you wait years and years for that one night which makes it worthwhile. Now please let them become a bit more frequent.
100% understand this pain, and the cure.Quote:
Originally Posted by OMTY
I'd need to watch the match back again without the emotion involved, but my gut reaction last night was Dara O'Shea was the clear man of the match from start to finish - for one reason above all else: not only did he perform his own role well, he kept an invisible rope tied around himself, Scales and Collins and didn't shut up from the first minute to the last.
In a defensive unit which (rightly) was pilloried over the past year for poor communication, lack of bravery, etc., that was put right over two matches against the Porto-geezers, but crucially last night (as opposed to Lisbon) the comms department at the back stuck to their task entirely. And this included when Festy moved over to the left-inside-centre channel - O'Shea screaming at him a number of times to form the tip of the triangle with himself and Scales. it was great to watch.
Als
It's on the rte player
Fantastic performance from the players and well done to the coaching team. After 5 minutes I thought we looked really organised and we’d be hard to break down. You could tell all the players bought into it and it was clear to see they are playing for the manager.
When we did win the ball we always looked to play forward at pace. The Portuguese back 4 struggled with our attacking players for most of the evening (until Idah came on really).
Best performance in years and a breakout performance from Parrott.
After Troy Parrott, I was most impressed by Seamus Coleman, who is arguably still the best player we have in terms of talent and experience. His experience in the breakdown moments (both when we had to defend and when we had the opportunity to counter) really inspired confidence in those around him. He's still the leader of that team - you could see him berate Collins for engaging with the whinging Ronaldo in the aftermath of the elbow incident, when the ref was consulting VAR. A timely reminder of the folly of hastily sidelining our top talent simply because they are getting on - he's the captain, still on the books at a Premier League club after all and has never really let us down.
While I wouldn't quite go as far as giving him MOTM, Dara O'Shea deserves a lot of credit, I agree. In the first half he happily ate the foul from Cancelo, getting him a yellow, then set up Parrott's second goal with a clever first-time ball over the top and he played Ronaldo like a 3lb trout for the red card. I've always felt he's been the best of our young CB talent, which is why he has 40 caps already - more than John Egan has. He's shown it over a long period of time, even going back four years to Faro when he got under Ronaldo's skin by rolling the ball off the spot before Bazunu saved the penalty. It has to be said that O'Shea was complemented by the work of Liam Scales, too. This was probably his best game too.
[QUOTE=shakermaker1982;2235381]Fantastic performance from the players and well done to the coaching team. After 5 minutes I thought we looked really organised and we’d be hard to break down. You could tell all the players bought into it and it was clear to see they are playing for the manager.
When we did win the ball we always looked to play forward at pace. The Portuguese back 4 struggled with our attacking players for most of the evening (until Idah came on really).
Best performance in years and a breakout performance from Parrott.[/QUOTE]
**** me there's a blast from the past!!!!
Yeah I thought O'Shea was our best player. Troy got motm for obvious reasons but that win was built on defending. Coleman was also fantastic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
A great result but the worry is that we've usually played fairly well with our backs to the wall. We added pretty clinical finishing last night to get the win but the Hungary game will be a different challenge.
worth mentioning as not mentioned above, Cullen was also really great. Best display ever (or in a long time at least). Really looked like a premier league midfielder. Both aggressive out of possession and composed in it.
Coleman just does bring that passion and urgency. If he isnt captain he is the defacto leader. The Portuguese moaning about the red card Im enjoying not because its Ronaldo 'n stuff, but its a throw back to times when more talented sides just really hated playing us because we could stop them playing and it really frustrated them. One old Italia 90 story is Schillachi, obviously scored the winner, bit fortunate too, but when he was interviewed after he had 2 black eyes. Its not quite like that but these top sides are tempermental and they dont handle it too well when they feel disrespected and its hilarious, the post match interviews about disappontment about mind games when they love throwing themselves to ground and rolling around (though there wasnt any of that last night).
Conundrum for Sunday, approach the game on a more equal footing or stand off and hit on the break - when you need to win and they can stick, sit in themselves, a mexican standoff doesnt suit us. Nor does being on the front foot as previously we have been vulnerable to the break. I dunno, I almost hate the hope even if I wouldnt have i any other way.
100% on this. Cullen was utterly superb.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
If ever the total was more than the sum of the parts it was last night,incredible performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypx2jB4BoAU
About 3.27 in the leadership and experience of Coleman is evident. Maybe a wee issue with kind of overuling designated captain. But he was making sure that Ronaldo couldnt engage and deflect, spread the blame and cards. Then as ref is waiting for VAR to call the check he is standing in between Ronaldo and any potential for an Irish play to approach. Leaving the ref to do the job. I know there is no need to prove Coleman's leadership but I think this is a fine example to anyone in the game on how to handle things, not get distracted, focus, and keep out of trouble. Wasnt an Irish player stupidly booked while one of the other opposition red cards was give in one of the previous games.
I'm all for spirited and physical football, but counter argument: if you have to give a footballer two black eyes to keep him from scoring more than once, you're a dirty cheat and you deserved to lose.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Well it was Mick McCarthy, a different era and probably more anectdotal than factual thuggery, probably told by Scilacchi himself. The point just being a team that sides genuinely dislike playing. At this stage Im on the win at all costs side of an argument, mostly! Wouldnt be at all bothered by a Trap like comment on our players lack of technique now if we leveling the playing field at all.
it will sound petty but jesus there's plenty of that from the other side - nice to soften the cough of the NI fanbase for the first in a long time aswell.
I'm absolutely fine with us having one or two hard bast@rds at the back who strikers hate playing against. Every team needs their enforcers.Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
The highlights are up. You know you want to watch again!
Though if doesn't have Johnston's chance in the last minute. That felt like a bad miss to me, but didn't have a great view of it. Anyone see it on tell?
I remember thinking at the time that he got caught between two minds. He had a pass outside him or chance to go himselfQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Behind the scenes on match day
Same as fixer. It was the kinda of situation he'd probably bury in a club game but the weight of the moment got to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I would imagine he was told to protect the scoreline at all costs and Idah wasn't doing a great job of tracking back the longer he was on. I remember thinking you could see 40 scenarios pop into his head and the ultimate result was something that didn't lead to a significant counter
Are we talking about Johnston chance? I'll try dig out a recording but my feeling at the time was that Idah made run into same space as him and made defenders options easier. Needed Idah to either drop out right or run across him.
Just looking back at a few clips. Ogbene getting bundled over after the 1st goal (because he stole the ball. Wonderful ****housery) and Taylor and Scales bailing in to have a go at Dias, Ronaldo’s red card and O’Shea smiling at him as he walks past him after the incident, the crowd taunting Ronaldo and overall making it a cauldron of noise for Portugal. Boos, jeers and taunts.
It was the first time in a very long time it felt like we made Lansdowne Rd a horrible place for the opposition team to visit.
Shocker! Ronaldo suspension to be “suspended”… he’s box office so I’m sure a few envelopes were exchanged on this one…
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/c30jp9q4jp6o
Piers Morgan is delighted. And that’s the main thing
Did Ogbene get a slap back or side of the head after one of the Parrott goals? He picked up the ball in the net and was running toward the near corner celebrations with it and it looks like a Portugal defender took exception to it and chased after him. Its in the background so hard to see but went unlooked it I think and it could be a grab of the shirt or a bit of a haymaker to the side of the head. Ogbene hit the deck but never saw a replay anywhere that was clearer. Not that it matters, just looks like missed petulance by another Portuguese that was a lesser provocation than Ronaldo who was getting shoved and held.
Yeah, I think there was a brief red card check after the goal. Came to nothing - is it not in the background of the goal on the highlights? Looks like nothing to me really