Duffy and Meyler were immense. The whole back 4 and keeper were quality.
Please tell me Dunphy is squirming the scutter. Bet he had pages of script to tear into MO’N and Keane. Another quality away win vs a top seed.
Duffy and Meyler were immense. The whole back 4 and keeper were quality.
Please tell me Dunphy is squirming the scutter. Bet he had pages of script to tear into MO’N and Keane. Another quality away win vs a top seed.
I defy anyone to bemoan residents of the north declaring for us and see McClean's reaction at full time.
Very good defensively, not so great going forward. One moment of sublime footballing magic from Hendrick, Arter and McClean was all it took. And he ****ing stuck that good and proper.
Thought Hamilton had it right in the second half when he noted how much pressure the Welsh were under from elements of their media and supporters. They were woeful enough in the attacking third, save on a few moments.
Need to be careful not to overblow this result, but tonight, who cares: we're still in it.
Oh, and yeah, we just beat the #13th ranked team in the world. Away. That'll do the coefficient no harm.
Hopefully the gaffa gets some credit now for how he set them up tonight. This nonsense about no plan, identity etc from the press/pundits is way off. The guys knew their jobs, when to press and when to get back into position.
Of course we can improve but let’s think about that tomorrow!!!!!
No, when this happens he praises the players for their commitment and hard work, saying that Irish players always give it everything, tells us all that we've nothing to fear in football or in life and then tells us we'll get thrashed by any of the other teams in the play-offs because of the way we playQuote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Ampadu was the only Welsh player brought out for the warm down. Wonder is his pop at home wishing he could be part of this.
In all fairness - he should tare into Martin O'Neill. The players got the result tonight inspite of their manager. Another woeful performance by O'Neill. No Wes Hoolahan - why we will never know.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
And then he brings on his star man Glen Whelan with 15 minutes left? Incredible.
Murphy should have been withdrawn at half time as every ball which went his way he lost. It required a pacy player like McGeady, Maguire, Hogan to pose a threat to Wales on the counter.
Bottom line we won this game by playing a bit of football, and quality football at that. Why are we so afraid to play that way from the off?
Tony, I know you're kidding? You have to be. How did we score the goal, by actually playing some quality football.Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
Almost word for word! Only thing you missed is how Tony Pulis has been so good for McClean.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
You think we have that in us for 90minutes?
Yeah, Dunphy is just holding his fire until we get knocked out by Portugal or whoever. Or until we go out in the group stages. Or until we go out in the knockouts. Or until we lose in the final. Or until we just lose another game.
When's the playoff draw?
please please stop. three wins and two draws away from home. when have we ever done that in qualifying?Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
we didnt beat any of our direct opponents away in 30 yrs yet oneill has seen us do it twice in the one campaign.
your post is pure tripe
next week.Quote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
World cup playoff seedings: Portugal/Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Denmark Unseeded: Sweden (TBC), N Ireland, Rep Ireland, Greece/Bosnia
Martin O'Neill is the first Ireland manager to win two away qualifiers against higher ranked opposition: Austria(30) & Wales(13)
"Of course we can improve." Ya think?Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
We created two chances in the game and took one of them.
Martin O'Neill deserves no credit for tonight. Let me get this straight. We all wondered aloud after the Georgia game if the manager told his players to hoof the ball long all night?
Many of us, including me, could not fathom that a manager would tell his players to sit back and invite the opposition upon them as we did that night.
Well we got our answer tonight. He gave them a similar sort of game plan. Admittedly he deserves credit for our lads closing them down in their half in the first half (if indeed that's what he told his players).
But there was no plan to attack them. There was just a "let's keep it scoreless to halftime and see how it goes from there" attitude.
And as for the last 20 minutes, we didn't even bother trying to get out of our own half. How is that for a plan?
A couple of speedy counterattacking players would have killed off Wales tonight.
I probably am an insatiable pessimist, but all I'm saying is there are far better ways to do it than this.
As I said in my previous post my tongue was firmly in my cheek there. We had one moment of quality football as you say. That and lots of effort. Doesn't change my view in the slightest. No reason we can't at least try to pass the ball as well. Hypocrisy in the extreme from Brady and especially Dunphy, I'd have more respect if they stuck to their guns. (Love the way Brady is talking about Robson Canoe though ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
I just used FIFA's ranking points predictor: http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranki...prognosis.html . So it's Italy, Portugal, Croatia or Denmark...ouch
Sweden ranked higher than Denmark no??Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
the prov seedings are what the bbc are saying anywayQuote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
When's the draw, Friday?Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
tomorrow week, the 17thQuote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Seeded:Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
- Portugal/Switzerland
- Italy
- Croatia
- Denmark (or France if they drop into play-offs)
Unseeded:
- Sweden (or Denmark if France drop into play-offs, or Netherlands if they beat Sweden by at least 7)
- Northern Ireland
- Republic of Ireland
- Greece unless they don't beat Gibraltar and Bosnia and Herzegovina win, then it will be Slovakia
I'd fancy us against any of Denmark, Sweden or Switzerland
Brilliant night. I feel for Wales, seeing those wee boys bawling in the crowd. We've had manys the good day since Irish soccer arrived under Jack. When you look at it objectively we are a serious consistent overachiever in the last 30 years. Was said in commentary we have only twice in that time not been in the mix on the final day of qualifying.
Thank you. So will it be the north Switzerland Italy and Croatia seeded?Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
What would have happened if the result had been a draw?
Would Wales have qualified?
I think we had a certain advantage knowing it was win or bust.
i think croatias win against ukraine meant a draw was no good to walesQuote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
think our home play off will have to be thurs or fri as the rugby team are at home on the sat
So we could get the North?Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Maybe against Denmark, not against the free scoring Swedes or Swiss.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
I also feel Wales would have stood a better chance of qualifying.
Our 'invite them on us and bar the door for 90 minutes' approach has had its nine lives.
Feel for the Welsh too. Would have liked to see them qualify along with us at the expense of Serbia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic
At the end of the day we can learn lessons from them in how to possess the football.
evidently not.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
yes. particularly from the build up to our goalQuote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Shane Duffy. No more words needed.
Have you considered that if you can't find happiness tonight, then maybe this whole football thing isn't for you? There are all sorts of other sports and activities out there. Why not have a go at your local Archery Club or a try your hand at a Bridge society? Or even a bit of gardening or something!Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Perhaps with your quest for ideological purity you would fit in with one of the revolutionary socialist political parties.
What an effort. So good. The defending was brilliant. The football was woeful, but we got the result, so credit where it's due. We got one chance and we took it. My nerves were wrecked.
Shane was a colossus for us at the back. Heroic defending. Meyler gave it his all too.
The goal was superb. Fantastic tenacity from Hendrick, great dummy from Arter (he knew James was waiting for it as he had taken a glance back as Hendrick raced down the line before crossing it) and a sublime finish by James on his weaker foot. Delighted for him. Fair play to Murphy too for managing to get out of the way!
I thought Randolph was very composed in goals too and pulled off an amazing save from Robson-Kanu's header.
I was nearly tearing my hair out when O'Neill brought Whelan on as I thought we needed someone on who could relieve pressure in our half by taking play into their half (i.e. Wes). The introduction of Whelan was only going to invite further Welsh pressure upon us. Still, we managed to cling on.
There were 58 aerial battles in the game, according to the BBC. That's the highest number in any UEFA qualifying game for this World Cup. I guess it emphasises just how awful the football was for a neutral, ha.
Joe Allen was a big loss for Wales.
The ref was abysmal - for both teams - and where on earth over five minutes of stoppage time came from, I don't know. :confused:
Anyway, what a night! Bring on the play-offs!
He threw a pre-written obituary for O'Neill in the bin: http://www.the42.ie/dunphy-martin-on...37948-Oct2017/Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
The build up to our goal was excellent, no doubt about it. But it was one of only two strikes on target all night.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
You just can't keep playing football that way and hope to get away with it. At the very least Murphy should have been replaced by McGeady or Maguire/Hogan for the last half hour to give the lads at the back an outlet pass.
Look, I don't diagree with your sentiment about not being able to find hapiness on a night like tonight. You are 100 per cent correct, I should be happier than I am.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
I am in fact happy for the lads. Great night and great memory. It's just that we seem to come across these results by chance rather than design. The lack of attacking ideas is a big concern.
I am, I suppose, thinking ahead to the playoffis when we meet the likes of Italy or Croatia. But for the moment we (I) should it enjoy the party.
But