Probably true. Makes the decision to give them a new contract on the eve of the Denmark home game that bit more confusing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
There's some weak teams going to get promoted from League D - Georgia and Macedonia topping their groups after the first couple of games yesterday. These are the teams we look like joining in League C next year - so that's our level. Worrying stuff.
They actually gave us far too many chances to be 'good' (the fact we were unable to take advantage doesn't make them a good side). Robinson missed a couple of decent chances and our goal was bad schoolboy defending by Wales. Passes went astray far too often as well. Not saying they were a bad side, and they were much better than us, but would not describe them as a top side by any stretch.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Very likely.Damage was done rushing them into a new contract (FAI scared by alleged interest of Prem team, Leicester I think). suspect we are stuck with them for this campaign or until fan pressure forces a change.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
I’d have no problem having Mick back as I always liked him. And he instals passion and spirit in a group. The same thing O’Neill is supposed to be famous for.
But let’s not forget that when we lost to Spain in 2002 everyone was giving out that Mick didn’t know they were down to 10 men. Everyone said his tactics against Russia and Switzerland were negative....
Give him the job, sure. But don’t turn on him the minute things looks the same as they do now.
We’ve the worst group of players we’ve had for years. And there’s little a manager can do about that
Given our current situation of total negativity and ineptitude- Mick seems the only realistic option, He is available, has done a very good job before, and knows all there is to know about Irish Football and the playing pool available. He kept a very average Ipswich side very competitive on a shoestring budget,
Most importantly of all he has a real passion for the International side and would give the job 100% .
Hope the FAI see sense in the near future and bring an end to the O Neill/Keane charade.
I'd have no problem with Mick taking over again, but would it be a continuation of the same?
Mick wasn't exactly known for his free flowing football at Ipswich.
Perhaps we need an 'outsider'. Someone with no links to the team/nation. A German, Dutch or Scandinavian coach.
Anyone see Tommy Martin ask Mick 'when can he start' right after the highlights on TV3 last night?
Mick just replied 'ah that's unfair'. :D
Yep fair play to Mick. He’s conducted himself pretty well.Quote:
Originally Posted by IsMiseSean
We got an outsider before and it didnt quite pan out.
And with O’Neill, he’s done so much that we moaned about Trap not doing: attending LOI games, attending underage games, changing starting line-up when it wasn’t working.
Would an outsider be as involved as O’Neill? His starting line-up confused me the other night and we probably do need a change but...I’m not optimistic about the team whoever takes over.
10-man Spain in 2002 - that's what I was thinking of. We need someone who sees that, someone who thinks "if I take off 2 defensive midfielders, Eriksen is going to murder us", someone who sees where all the danger came from last night. That's what I was wondering - anyone watched Ipswich in recent years and seen what Mick is like nowadays?
True that MON has been an improvement on Trap in terms of being flexible and making changes, but his changes often feel like mad curveballs. And MON has taken to the Trap habit of talking down the players in public. Not good.
I would just call up LOI players, i hate relying on English born players who are not good enough to play for England then don the irish shirt, it drives me insane.
In fairness to Trap - he did get us to a tournament, although it was worse than watching paint dry at times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Qualification is always our aim, anything else is a bonus.
I wouldn't write off an 'outsider' because of Trap's negative approach.
Surely the Rude Doctor would know some Dutch managers that would suit us.
We need a new Manager, one who is relatively young and inexpensive, is not afraid to take a gamble on players, then gets the most out of those players. Has a positive winning attitude which he instills in his teams and that they in turn buy into. Oh and knows how to play a passing game with those players at his disposal. If only someone like that existed.
steve staunton?Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Rovers will want too much compo for Bradser.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
I have to say, we would have lost yesterday anyway, but if we look at the last year or so without James McCarthy we haven't done the business. He is key to our midfield structure …
Please please get fit
Also I think its clear Kevin Long is a better option than Clark
Such a pity Kwame Ampadu married a Welsh woman.
He’ll treat every match as though it’s a Cup Final.Quote:
Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid
If Ethan Ampadu was Irish, MON wouldn't have him in the squad anyway as he would be deemed too young.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
MON wouldn't dare put bristol city squad player calum o'dowda's place at risk.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
not a single player performed well last night. not even coleman. i can't remember the cyrpus game too well, but we were a rabble last night, reminded me of the austria away game under trap.
I said in my preview that even with the withdrawals we have good players, not great, but good and good enough to at least stand up and be counted. Anyway, this morning I listened to a full hour of analysis on OTB with Cunningham, Breen and Andrews and John Hartson from the Welsh angle.
The 3 Irish guys' views were largely the same and can be summarised as:
- The selection was poor. Our 2 in midfield were just swamped by a high quality 3 in midfield for Wales.
- We failed to adapt to this, just as we failed to adapt to Denmark's dominance in Dublin (then we actually made it worse)
- The players played poorly. In the past pulling on the green shirt brought better performances from players than many were used to delivering at club level. These days the players play WORSE than at their clubs. This is a management failure.
-Hendrick and Hourihane were both picked as a vanilla 2 man midfield, expected to sit deep, yet neither plays deep at club level; each is used to arriving late in the attacking third of the pitch
- Management (despite MON, Keane, Guppy & Walford all being prominent) admit to not working on systems, shape etc.
- Last night, yet again, there was no obvious pattern, shape or system. This is a "systemic failure" of management.
- Other sides work on their shape and systems so why can't we? EVERY other side does it.
- Despite being critical of both individual performances and management's role, and tearing apart the impact of management, all 3 declined to call for a change (actually I didn't hear Breen's final remarks). Hartson said he is too close to MON to comment.
- Despite the absentees we had our strongest back 5 out.
So,
-I have to say I agree with all of this, except for the strongest back 5 bit. I think the May friendlies showed Kevin Long is deserving of a start over Clark, and actually Stevens is deserving of a start over Ward. So too was Williams based on his Paris performance. Lenihan looks a player too and a threat from set pieces
- Hartson said we played 451. I don't think so.
- Why no Meyler? No world beater but his absence left the space in front of our back 4 too open. allen had acres of space for the first goal
- No mention at all of Matt Doherty, far more influential at Wolves than Christie at Fulham
- No mention that Stevens and Horgan - our only credible out ball in the absence of Judge - looked like a great "unit" on the left versus USA, and did so again briefly last night
- They let management off too lightly. Faced with the charge sheet aimed at them, their position is totally untenable in my opinion.
- We played 352 in 3 games since Denmark. He went back to 4411 in the next competitive game. Weird to say the least.
There is just no way this set up can continue. NI and Iceland are great examples of organisation. The WC showed lots of "lesser" teams being hard to play against because of their shape and system off the ball. We didn't have one. That's just unforgivable especially when MON says he doesn't have time to create a system. 2nd place is crucial in the Nations League. That's a very tall order now.
I'd give the job to McCarthy tomorrow. Even Kerr again.
who is one of our few players who actually looks comfortable on the ball and can do something positive with it....Quote:
Originally Posted by zero
agree with all of the above.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
We only lost that 1-0, 75th minute goal. Not comparable.Quote:
Originally Posted by zero
Great post. But dont agree on KerrQuote:
Originally Posted by zero
Same as that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
We were awful under Kerr. Except for in friendlies strangely enough
McCarthy is not the answer. Look at what was at his disposal (see below!). Kerr loves a 12 hour video session but I don’t think that will work with the Instagram generation.
The players tend to avoid scrutiny following a humiliating defeat. All 4 goals were down to mistakes from individual players - they also need to be held accountable. I’d love to be at the post game review with Clark. So that Gareth Bale chap who is world renowned for being brilliant with his left foot. Talk us through your thought process on that one Mr Clark.
I was looking through some old team sheets and it’s a depressing read.
Ireland vs Holland 2001
Given, G Kelly, Dunne, Staunton, Harte, McAteer (O'Brien 90), Holland, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Duff (Quinn 87), Robbie Keane (Finnan 59).
Ireland vs Italy 2009
Given; O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady; Keane, Doyle.
Wales vs Ireland 2018
D Randolph, S Coleman (c), S Duffy ,C Clark , S Ward, C Christie , J Hendrick , C Hourihane, C O'Dowda , J Walters, C Robinson
Something drastic needs to happen ASAP if we don’t want to fall further behind. Relying on English clubs to train promising youngsters is not the answer. The FAI nvested in regional centres which is a great idea but I really do fear for our future. Particularly with kids seeing the success of the Irish rugby teams and dominance of the Dubs at GAA.
the Kerr remark was largely tongue in cheek though if I could wake up in the morning with a choice of Kerr over O'Neill it'd be Kerr.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
yes of course the players need to be accountable but many of the ex-pros' remarks are surely very true:Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Management don't work on a system. Every other team on the planet does
Players are asked to play roles that don't suit them
Players play worse for Ireland than at their clubs
We're simply a shapeless, strategy-less shambles
Did anyone else notice how we botched our own kick off to start the game? A perfect metaphor for the rest of the game.
Bale is worth more than the entire Irish team!Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Didn't see the match. Thankfully I've stopped watching the Irish team. It's just too painful.
Maybe that makes me a bad fan, I dunno. But there's only so much needless self-torture a human can put up with.
We win ltogether, we lose together babyQuote:
Originally Posted by brine3
Watched every Irish competitive match for three decades. Been to a number of away matches. Slept in airports waiting for flight connections. But the Ireland team has now become a an ego trip gig for over the hill managers to cash in on their reputation. The Denis O'Brien money has been an absolute curse.
I have no beef with the players, but I'm fed up of being taken for a ride by the FAI and the management.
Maybe people will stop with the lazy iceland comparison after yesterday. They should not be the yardstick
Iceland is the yardstick to what can be achieved with limited resources. That's the comparison. The laziness is an acceptance we don't have the players when the focus should be on maximising the resources available to us.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
we have been the iceland many times. once no 6 ranked in the world if my memory is correct, 1/4 final in 90, wc last 16 in 94 and 02.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
for every iceland there is a holland, italy, chilie.......
I couldn't have put it better myself. Except I still go through the torture of watching on TV.Quote:
Originally Posted by brine3
It'll be a long time before I pay to watch or follow the Irish team again.
Don't get the clamour for Mick. There must be a reason why no English club wants him nowadays. He's not known for particularly open, expansive football. And Kerr isn't known as a attacking, free flowing coach either. His greatest "success" was with the Faroes, when all he had to do was park the bus again and again and again. Even when losing, so they could keep the score respectable.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
That doesn't mean the current coach should still be there. Surely there must be a coach out there who understands the fundamental requirements of his job, can get the team organised without needing to park the bus, and doesn't fly off the handle with the media.
This one has already lost to Scotland, Poland, Serbia, Denmark, and Wales. And to be fair, only just lost out to Belarussia, Iceland, Turkey, Mexico and numerous others.
Atm, the rugger buggers are doing well, we have gymnasts, athletes, rowers, and hockey players setting new records and standards. If the FAI don't get their act together, the Ireland international could be well down in the publics priorities soon enough.
Wales losing in Denmark at half-time...
Could be a long campaign, this one
... which is surprising, considering we've only three games left.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Gonna be three long ones though
2-0 win in the end; Eriksen with both.