Republic of Ireland V Turkey, Italy, Costa Rica & Portugal - May/June 2014

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Not sure Curtis is fully up on his facts. We've been a disaster in defence. Front four have been better.

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I think he only started playing CB regularly a three or four years ago and he's 28 in a couple of months.

We at least have others to come in at the back I suppose. Wilson, Coleman, O'Shea and Dunne have to be first choice. I actually am shocked at just how bad Keogh is

Our GK and back 4 all play in the championship FFS, and of the two deep midfielders one is Championship and the other 16th in EPL. Hardly surprising defence has been porous.

Only positives really are that Meyler, Hendrick and Wes seem to be on same wavelength in attack. Wes looks as if he could play for Portugal. McGeady is good going forward but can't cover for Ward's weakness.

Walters looks lost up there by himself, McClean gets in good positions but does eff all.

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Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

We are, but Coleman, Dunne, Sledge, O'Shea, Delaney, Wilson and maybe even McShane would all be ahead of the current 4 in there, so I'm not TOO worried. If anything I hope this drubbing consigns Ward and Kelly to the nether regions of the stand-by list or worse.

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Absolutely. I'm trying to turn that into a positive from this game tbh. Better up front than the past few years; the defence irrelevant as they won't be playing.

Hopefully St Ledger gets his career back on track and pushes Keogh out of the reckoning. There is still hope for Pearce. Damien Delaney at least is a lot more commanding and physical than Keogh.

anyone know if this is accurate: https://twitter.com/OCowzer/statuses/476522478454726656

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Ireland likely to drop out of top 75 in world rankings with a loss here. 2018 WC qualification draw in 12 mths, Ireland heading for 4th seed

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

We at least have others to come in at the back I suppose. Wilson, Coleman, O'Shea and Dunne have to be first choice. I actually am shocked at just how bad Keogh is

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MON's body language tells me that he is planning for life without Dunne. Do you think these performances may have changed his mind, Razor?

Pure and utter cack performance.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

We at least have others to come in at the back I suppose. Wilson, Coleman, O'Shea and Dunne have to be first choice. I actually am shocked at just how bad Keogh is

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McCarthy, Gibson, Reid, Brady too.

I still think Doyle might be the biggest winner of this set of 4 games.

Anyway, you can't take on Portugal with a second tier defence. Keogh talks a good game but, as expected, is no better than 5th choice. He asked to be noticed, he got what he wanted.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

I think he only started playing CB regularly a three or four years ago and he's 28 in a couple of months.

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Yes, I'm pretty sure he speny most of his time at Carlisle and Coventry at right back.

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Originally Posted by Crosby87

Thoughts from the front:

Forde is awful.
All the irish around me are saying hoolie needs to play deeper.
Staff is yelling at mcgeady to shoot more.
I was right behind mcclean when he got tied up with neto, his leg went one way, his knee the other, I was nervous when he came up limping.
Its kinda hot out I dont know why ireland put those collars on their tops.
Keogh is the whipping boy amongst the irish in the stands.
MOL looks like he has lost some weight.
It annoys me that the porto keeper has one pink shoe and one powder blue shoe.
Varela and Almiela are too tall. We need some height.
Sorry about any misspellings ive had a few belts. Porto fans seem really friendly, almost pathetically trying to be positive about the BIG to some irish fans....
I snuck in a flask of grey goose and passed it around but now im nervous about germs.

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It's worrying when you are talking seriously and are almost bang on. You need a fish pun or two.

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Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

We are, but Coleman, Dunne, Sledge, O'Shea, Delaney, Wilson and maybe even McShane would all be ahead of the current 4 in there, so I'm not TOO worried. If anything I hope this drubbing consigns Ward and Kelly to the nether regions of the stand-by list or worse.

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Them languishing is the best. Not the worst. I still can't believe that Ward is getting a game in an Irish shirt after that horror show in Poznan.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

anyone know if this is accurate: https://twitter.com/OCowzer/statuses/476522478454726656

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Don't think it's too relevant as yet; 12 months is a while away yet and we've more important games to come.

The FIFA World Rankings site has a programme where you can enter in results and get an updated score. Putting in a 4-0 defeat here (and 1-1 against Costa Rica) drops us from 473 to 440 points. That would drop us to 76th, just behind Haiti, Senegal, Israel and Zambia. Though Trinidad & Tobago and Zambia have played games this month which I think will drop them back below us.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

MON's body language tells me that he is planning for life without Dunne. Do you think these performances may have changed his mind, Razor?

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I think he probably has to since Dunner isnt getting any younger. Id say he wants to pair Wilson with O'Shea. Problem with that is that Ward is next choice left back.

Wow how bad was that cross from McClean?

That is one of the worst crosses I've ever seen. Pinpoint - if he was aiming for Lansdowne Road.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

I think he only started playing CB regularly a three or four years ago and he's 28 in a couple of months.

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Regardless, he's a centre back now and he's been torn apart by Almeida and Ronaldo tonight, as I'm sure you'll agree. He has to be assessed on that basis.

McClean stands on his right foot, he's wasted out on the right wing
Strange that there was no subs from either side at half time

We have put in a good few crosses tonight without ever looking dangerous from any of them. Walters isnt mobile enough to play lone striker role. At this stage Id restrict him to a battering ram role off the bench when need

Flappy flappy Fordey again.

Forde had absolutely no idea that cross was going nowhere. Probably as much Kelly's fault though.