Ireland 1-0 Slovakia Post Match Thread

Very positive performance last night, hard to fault anyone. Very surprised to see McGeady being

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Originally Posted by Nailer77

Wouldn't say Carsley dicatated things. You need to get on the ball to dictate play. Defensively he was excellent, solid and covered the ground well but to get the best out of Carsley you need to let him do just that and and Kilbane alongside him was never going to offer himself as much of an outlet. Stephen Reid and Andy Reid will be better partners for Carsley. Thats not a criticism of him by the way, he's limited but at least he knows it.

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Not saying he dictated things in the same way that a Keane or a creative player would have in the past, was actually talking about the way he organised the payers around him when he hadn't got the balll. Whenever the play was in front of him he was barking out orders, telling Kilbane when he could push up and when to stay back and generally making sure we held our shape.

On the specifics of last nights performance - glad to say the team delivered what many had been calling for: commitment, urgency and at least some cohesion to their play with a few great individual performances and of course - the win.

The start was crucial. Having weathered the early bits of pressure, the team gained in confidence and the crowd became more vocal as a result. Both semmed to buzz off each other after that.

I was right next to the Slovaks section and that lot can whip up some racket. The Slovaks away will be an intimidating place.

Dunne and McShane seem to complement each other well and were solid.

Thought Doyle led the line brilliantly - took the clatters the opposition dished out and laid the ball off intelligently. Took his goal very well. It was a welcome change from Keane running to take a throw in near the corner flag when he should be in the oppositions box or waving wildly at the ref for some imagined foul. Begs the question is Keane part of the solution or part of the problem?

The introduction of Hunt and Long was the shot in the arm we needed to see out the game. Hunt is far from polished - but his positive running at the Solvaks took some much needed pressure off our back four. Unlike Kilbane, he's more than just a blind runner - he's got an eye for a pass or a through ball.

That bloody Mexican Wave. Feckin Ole Ole.

Even "Stand up..........." is getting a bit played out. The mass need to stand up, sit down, sing and intermittently pray must be a by-product of Sunday Mass that's ingrained in the Irish Psyche.

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Originally Posted by FarBeag

We need to find a left back from somewhere Finnan is not the answer.

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Shouldn't have to look too far there was a half decent left back playing right back last night :D

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

That bloody Mexican Wave. Feckin Ole Ole.

Even "Stand up..........." is getting a bit played out. The mass need to stand up, sit down, sing and intermittently pray must be a by-product of Sunday Mass that's ingrained in the Irish Psyche.

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i know the repetitiveness of the same 3 songs is annoying, but given the paucity of well known songs its hard to get a new one going

i sang ole ole just for a change, one thing i wont sing is the Fields of Athenry though :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by craig7042

get a life...this is the night that the negativity....and never ending STUPIDITY of this sort of comment died.........

The headlines on Sunday arrogantly said "Now do it against a good team Stan".


Well he did....so eat that!
you must find it hard to take eh?

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There's nothing stupid about 7 points from five games against non-pub teams Craig.

Very relieved we held on for the win. Players deserve a heap of credit but Stan hardly does. I stand over my assertion that anything these players achieve in this group will be in spite of him -not likely because of him.

its as simple as this...
mcgeady out
kilbane out
hunt in
kelly in and move oshea to midfield
keep robbie on the sideline for awhile then he might realise what it means to represent your country

cant agree with kilbane out , he worked like a dog and made things easier for duff

Decent highlights:
http://static.filefront.com/ffv6/vid...e.html?v=88934

McShane. :D

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

Thought Doyle led the line brilliantly - took the clatters the opposition dished out and laid the ball off intelligently. Took his goal very well. It was a welcome change from Keane running to take a throw in near the corner flag when he should be in the oppositions box or waving wildly at the ref for some imagined foul. Begs the question is Keane part of the solution or part of the problem? .

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I saw Doyle waving his hands at least 5 times looking for a foul. If you don't like someone, you find their habits irritating. If you like them, you don't even notice them.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I saw Doyle waving his hands at least 5 times looking for a foul. If you don't like someone, you find their habits irritating. If you like them, you don't even notice them.

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Hold on a minute. Robbie is notorious for it, whether he deserves a foul or not. He spends far too much time bitching and moaning and not concentrating on whats going on, and for a captain thats not good enough. He should be leading by example.

I don't think O Shea is getting enough credit. Looked very solid throughout, strong in the tackle and I don't think Finnan did so much better than most people are making out. Obviously I'd swap them both across but I think O Shea's versatility is a massive bonus for us. We were near enough at full strength for these fixtures but that doesn't always happen at international level(hardly ever does in fact) so to have someone for the next good few years who can play anywhere across the back and slot into CM and look resonably comfortable is a plus.
We now know he's a decent emergency keeper too and also if Stan ever gets sent to the stands we should bring Johno off and put him in the technical area in his place. I've no doubt he'd slot in there successfully too.
Johno for taioseach.

By the time the next set of qualifiers (6 months down the road) come around how about this team:

Given

Finnan
Dunne
McShane
Kelly
S Quinn
J O'Brien
Ireland
Duff
Doyle
Keane

Subs
Supple/ Logan
O'Dea/ O'Shea
S Reid/ Carlsey
Hunt/A Reid
Long/Stokes

That looks very strong to me (far stronger than the first 11 of anyone else in this group on paper). Remember Joey O'Brien was far better IMO than Ireland last year and look how much he's progressed so if O'Brien can get himself fit in the summer then he could be class. Hopefully he'll get more games as a midfielder under his belt also (his natural position). Also O'Dea, S Quinn, Kelly, McShane and Stokes should all be regulars in the Premiership or SPL next season so the future looks good.

[QUOTE=youngirish;655965]By the time the next set of qualifiers (6 months down the road) come around how about this team:

Given

Finnan
Dunne
McShane
Kelly
S Quinn
J O'Brien
Ireland
Duff
Doyle
Keane

Subs
Supple/ Logan
O'Dea/ O'Shea
S Reid/ Carlsey
Hunt/A Reid
Long/Stokes


These 3 have 6 caps between them. I wouldn't risk them all in a qualifier. Even Ireland is a bit of a risk at times. Needs Carsley beside him.

Thought it was our best performance easily since Paris and maybe even Korea/Japan especially in first half.

I give Stan a lot opf credit. formation worked well with Doyler on his own. But still was a bit baffled with the full back thing.

Duff's best Irealnd game since Korea/Japan was magnificent getting by players and holding up the ball when no where to go.

Centre halves sensational all night.
Ireland's best game in green even without the ball - passed very well.

Wasn't excited with performance of full backs, thought they were poorest Irish performances last night.
If Stan wasn't so stubborn with Carsley before CYPRUS and the group would be a whole lot different, but 3 wins and 2 draws in AUTUMN and I think it will be good enough for us to have a 2008 summer to look forward to.

Will we do it? very very tough but also very achievable!

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Originally Posted by youngirish

By the time the next set of qualifiers (6 months down the road) come around how about this team:

Given

Finnan
Dunne
McShane
Kelly
S Quinn
J O'Brien
Ireland
Duff
Doyle
Keane

Subs
Supple/ Logan
O'Dea/ O'Shea
S Reid/ Carlsey
Hunt/A Reid
Long/Stokes

That looks very strong to me (far stronger than the first 11 of anyone else in this group on paper). Remember Joey O'Brien was far better IMO than Ireland last year and look how much he's progressed so if O'Brien can get himself fit in the summer then he could be class. Hopefully he'll get more games as a midfielder under his belt also (his natural position). Also O'Dea, S Quinn, Kelly, McShane and Stokes should all be regulars in the Premiership or SPL next season so the future looks good.

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There's hardly any point in complicating things. Whats wrong with going with the side we had out last night. You basically have our midfield manned by 3 kids there. These guys can be looked at in the summer friendlies but I wouldn't be naming them in any starting lineups just yet.

You can't play those 3 inexperienced players. If we've learned anyting it's that we need Carsely in there.

IMHO - the keeper and back 4 will be the same.....playing well as a unit.
Duff/Kilbane/Carsley will start in MF.

The decision is whether 4 5 1 or 4 4 2, with us being away it'll prob be 4 5 1 .
- then Ireland will also play.

That leaves a choice for the stiker - persoanlly Doyle looks a better bet....so up for graps is right sided mf - McGeady/Hunt/Keane.

The big decision is the Robbie Keane one - hopefully Stan won't fudge it like the English are with the Gerrard/Lampaed fiasco.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

That looks very strong to me (far stronger than the first 11 of anyone else in this group on paper)

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Jesus I think the Germans might have something to say about that. :) There's tons of Stephen Quinns and the like in the Bundesliga not coming close to a call up.

Stan wouldn't drop Keane. I think one of the Reids should take the place of Kilbane.

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Originally Posted by Nailer77

There's hardly any point in complicating things. Whats wrong with going with the side we had out last night. You basically have our midfield manned by 3 kids there.

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Read the post it was a suggestion of our possible team 6 months down the road not today. As for not changing the team, yeah we beat Wales and Slovakia at home so we should never change the team again???????? Roll on Brazil. Good one.

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Originally Posted by cooee

You can't play those 3 inexperienced players. If we've learned anyting it's that we need Carsely in there.

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Maybe that's what you learned. What everyone else learned was that you can't play O'Shea or Kilbane in there. Carsley is a very limited player. If J O'Brien is playing and performing well as a holding midfield player for Bolton next year then I'd have a look at him. Of course try him in some friendlies first.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Jesus I think the Germans might have something to say about that. :) There's tons of Stephen Quinns and the like in the Bundesliga not coming close to a call up.

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Stephen Quinn is one player of the 11. Anyway the German first 11 has some very average Bundesliga journeymen playing in it. On paper our strongest first 11 is better than theirs if we can agree that the Premiership is a better league than the Bundesliga (which it is).

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Originally Posted by youngirish

Stephen Quinn is one player of the 11. Anyway the German first 11 has some very average Bundesliga journeymen playing in it. On paper our strongest first 11 is better than theirs if we can agree that the Premiership is a better league than the Bundesliga (which it is).

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On paper only. Certainly not on the football field.