Two starting debutants, two off the bench, a variety of formations used plus a win and a clean sheet in the run up to a major tournament? That's like hitting the international friendly jackpot.
Keeping the momentum and a winning, confident mentality is imporant ahead of the Euros - combining that with a lot of new faces is really pretty pleasing as far as friendlies go.
That's called the perfect delusion.
Yeah, nearly everything svd says is correct but it was hardly a flawless friendly experience.
What would a flawless friendly experience look like to you both so?
A bit more control of the game would have been nice, football is more than just defending after all. We were the home side believe or not and although the opposition were decent, they weren't exactly top class. Delving into the unknown again but I would have questioned our ability to respond had they equalised or taken the lead, I don't think we can keep relying on riding our luck (a little) and seeing out one goal leads. A few more chances created from open play would have been encouraging, we're extremely reliant on set pieces. We were totally incapable of turning defence into attack, or even retaining possession for more than five seconds at a time. The speculative hoof was the default strategy when our defenders received possession. O'Neill has mentioned more than once that we need more composure on the ball, yet he picked a side that was highly unlikely to give us that, shouldn't a friendly be used to try to improve an area you're weak?
Like I said, I agree with SVD's individual points, there were a nice few positives, but I wouldn't let the extremely positive result paper over all of the cracks.
http://images.wisegeek.com/yellow-ma...witzerland.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Your post here comes across as the proverbial moon-on-a-stick. Pretty speculative too - if they had of equalised, if we had of went behind...Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
I'd argue we wouldn't learn an awful lot about those things because (no matter how few) we had new players, new-ish combinations and it was a game played largely in 'please, don't let me get injured' conditions.
We already know something about the calibre and spirit of this side in red-hot conditions - look at all those late goals in qualifying for instance.
To my mind, what we we could realistically learn from Friday is what players have the personality to try and take a chance and where do we lack strength in depth. And what we can maintain is a winning, confident mentality going into a major tournament.
I'm not saying it was flawless, but how many above-turgid friendlies have Ireland played in over the last ten years? And worse, how many of those have we learned absolute nothing? And lost?!
Of course! Did you not see what I was asked?Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
I know, I said as much myself. Has speculating been banned or something?Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
Aye, fair cop on that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
No, then we can't speculate on just when we'll be knocked out of the Euros after Friday's fantastic victory - semi-finals, final or champs? I'm with the latter, definitely.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
I'm only coming across as critical because I didn't really agree that we hit friendly international jackpot and was asked to elaborate. I was very happy with Friday overall, more pros than cons for sure.
No plans to call up striker. No excuse not to play Hoolahan or Judge behind Long. If Long picks up a knock, what will be learned from playing a patchwork team with several players playing out of position? Won't be able to learn anything about different formations and shapes because the players simply won't be there to fulfil it! And the ones who are there will be forced to make up the numbers elsewhere!
I get what Stutts is saying about Doyle & Sheridan et al. - I wouldn't have them pushing for a place in the summer either - but it's not about them. It's about the bigger picture. And one year ago nobody would have given Hayes a hope of getting a call up. This time two years ago nobody would have given Judge hope of a call up.
Anyways. I'll shut up about it now.
http://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/ire...-mcgeady/71638
Good to know the priorities are right. We have to see what he can do when the ball is sailing over his head, not what he can actually do with it.Quote:
O’Neill has insisted that places are available but those who come in will have to work hard. Alan Judge’s experience on Friday suggests it will be a struggle. Judge was selected to play a selfless role on Friday. At half-time, Roy Keane told Judge that this wasn’t a night when Ireland were going to have possession and it was time for other qualities.
“He said, ‘This is how you show that the manager can trust you off the ball’. Hopefully I did that tonight,” Judge said later.
Woah, woah, woah! You are the one who talked about a flawless friendly. I was merely (and genuinely) wondering what that would look like given the variety of positives we could take from Friday's game. I agree that the performance doesnt make us contenders for the Euro Cup but I also think that in terms of what you want from a friendly, it ticked pretty much every box.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Agree with the comments in relation to O Neill/Keane calling up a replacement or two given the injuries to Keane, Doyle, Murphy and Walters. Father time waits for no one and given the age profile of those not available the thorny issue of finding replacements has to be addressed, The likes of Leon Best, Anthony Pilkington, Paddy Madden and Joe Mason should be given serious consideration. The Euro's are not the issue here, it's more about the next Qualifying campaign in terms of Striker options.
I'd go for more negatives than positives out of that game. The main negative is with O'Neill's managing of the game. And the manager has the greatest effect on the way we're set up. And the way we were set up was bog standard, tactically we are the crudest team at the Finals.
There was little reading of how the game was developing and bringing on Murphy was just something from the dark ages. And I do not go for the argument that we have such technically inferior players, that we can't play somebody in midfield who has a football brain.
I'd say the Swiss were moaning about how impotent they were up front, both with creating chances and taking what chances they did make.
pilkington was in the squad but was withdrawn with injury.Quote:
Originally Posted by Murph 1
Thanks Stuggart88, Had been of the understanding that Pilkington was sent back to Cardiff before the Swiss game for treatment , The hope was that he would return to make himself available for Tuesdays game. Has been impressive since being moved into a striking role for his club and would be an option upfront given the lack of options.
yes, but the remark was in response to a complaint that none of our fringe forwards got a look in. Context is everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Me? I thought the oerfirmance was good in parts. Central midfield was poor, defenders and keeper played well, forwards looked lively and wide players mucked in well due to the circumstances. We didn't control the game but looked better when we changed things with better players coming on, notably Wes.
Nothing wrong with your question at all. You seem to have picked up my wording to svd as "do you see what this crazy ass SkStu has had the cheek to ask me', when really I meant," hey svd, I was asked what a flawless display would consist of, so I responded accordingly. Please don't accuse me of looking for the moon on a stick because of it". :) I only spoke of a 'flawless friendly' in response to svd's 'jackpot friendly' evaluation.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Oh right, although I kind of knew that was the context, but I think svd meant it was a pretty perfect outing, all things considered, regardless of context. If I'm wrong fair enough. Wouldn't be the first time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Not really, just flippantly relative to the often horror show that is international friendlies. I said it was 'pretty pleasing'.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Team for Tuesday, anyone?
---------------Elliott-------------
Christie---Duffy--Keogh---Ward
-------------O'Kane------------
-------McCarthy---Judge---
Brady---------Long-------McClean
Case for playing Brady in midfield but I'd like to give Judge a go in behind Long, and have another look at Eunan O'Kane too (though I suspect Whelan will play). Would like to see more of Duffy too.
Is Pilkington available tomorrow? I'm getting mixed messages over that.
If he is, I would be fully supportive of giving him some game time up front to see if he can replicate what he has been doing for Cardiff.
Should definitely get some game time anyway. He was fantastic attacking with Long against Italy.
McClean should be getting game time in his natural position.
Independent article I read earlier said he is an option. Didn't comment at all on the fact that he went back to his club last week so wasn't sure if the writer knew or not.
Times said it as well. Presume that means O'Neill mentioned him in passing but there wasn't a full quote.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
I saw pictures of him training with the rest of the squad today.
I agree regarding O'Kane. Worth a look again. Showed great energy the last night. My only fear for him would be that MON, like Eddie Howe, has him below Arter in his thoughts. I think Arter's form in the PL is being taken into consideration in a way that, say, McClean's wasn't for Euro 2012. Not saying they're that similar as players but it's a numbers game at this point given that McCarthy, Whelan, Hendrick and Hoolahan are the four certainties in and around the middle.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
I wouldn't mind seeing Doherty too but I think Christie has earned himself the second choice RB spot and can also fill in at LB which is similar to Doherty so he loses out there.
Definitely want to see Judge at 10. Hoolahan's inability to play the two Poland games on the bounce must be considered because the three group games come quite thick and fast and we might need another option in the creative midfield role, given that we don't look as good without a creative midfielder in terms of ball retention etc.
I think O'Shea is going to get some time. I have a notion MON actually stated it. Might need a start too. Duffy would nearly be better off not playing at all and having his towering performance Friday night as the main factor in MON's thoughts when he goes about considering if he can bring Duffy. I think he might be able to. Perhaps at Wilson's expense, depending on if Wilson is fit and getting games. Coleman, Christie, Clark, O'Shea, Keogh and Ward have all featured a lot under MON so I think they'll all go (Brady too). He's not completely reliant on Wilson's ability to play LB and CB because we have 4 options for LB (in order, probably: Brady, Ward, Christie, Clark). Wilson has played a lot under MON too so it might be a case that it's unfair not to bring him and Duffy's own post-match comments are the reality. In which case, all going well and on the basis of Friday and his season at Blackburn, he's playing in the PL next season and he's starting the first round of qualifiers for the World Cup.
As good a place as any. Congrats to Northern Ireland on 10 consecutive wins. That's a fantastic achievement.
I've never heard of Christie playing left back I don't think?Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Think it's ten games unbeaten isn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Ya sure they drew against Wales on Saturday.
Yep sorry, got a bit carried away. Still quite the achievement.
Indo says Pilkington is fit for tonight.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
The coleman thing is no longer an issue because he seems to have removed that Gaelic football tugging from his game. At least i hope he has as I havent seen him do it in a long time. Players can change/adapt and therefore opinions can too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Perhaps its a communication issue with the players and Randolph, we can give the benefit of the doubt perhaps Randolph is one of those who needs to be told rather than proactively runs out to cover the ball, and if thats the case then we could put it down to unfamiliarity amongst the defenders and keeper. I am not so sure, but the jurys out on that one.
I also felt like my Dear Bonnie, that although we never had much possession we never looked like conceding at the same time, probably because the swiss were so impotent at the head of the attack :D They badly need a striker up there who can score goals. Having said that i think we still looked relatively comfortable and never felt like that with Trap really(trap reference only because this was how we also played under Trap). We also looked a lot more capable of scoring in this game even with the limited possession we had.
I think because of the results at the moment we are excusing MON to an extent with his formations, I was more critical of this earlier on but if he keeps getting the results or "lucky" as some have said then I am happy to accept it. When the results start changing then it will be a lot more heavily scrutinised - and rightly so.
Hopefully we get a win tonight. And i also hope Doyle gets on the plane, he offers something different to the other 3 forwards we have, and i think technically has more about him, which is something Kilbane said the last night too.
I think Doyle did enough in 20 mins on Friday to book his spot. He still has that bit of class that others lack.
Friday was a game we might have won 2-0 (Long's header and O'Kane's late chance maybe) or lost 3-1. The Swiss had a few good chances from 18-22 yards and one header from a corner that didn't miss by much. On a bad day they go in and it looks like a hammering.
Keep things tight & nick goals from set-pieces seems to be the O'Neill way, just as it was when Celtic did well in Europe. If we can find a way of adding a bit more purposeful possession, via Wes most realistically, then we'll be in a decent place.
The Examiner - Injury woes will force Martin O’Neill to mix and match
O'Neill has said that Hayes and O'Kane will possibly play and that Hoolahan will probably start. Liam Mackey indicated that Clark won't play tonight and we already know that Elliot will start. McClean up front seems to be a genuine option in his mind also. Something like this maybe? (possibly more of a 4-3-3 than 4-4-1-1 given the personnel).
-------------------- Elliot ------------------
Christie - Duffy - Keogh - Doherty/Ward
- McCarthy - Whelan - O'Kane - Hayes -
------------------ Hoolahan ---------------
------------------- McClean ---------------
Yeah, their best ever run, fair play to them.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Trap went 14 without defeat between 2011-2012, before we imploded in style in Poland. We didn't even concede a goal in the first eight of those. What's our record run without defeat I wonder? We'd have put fairly decent runs together under Charlton and McCarthy for sure, although that late concession in Tehran kind of messed up McCarthy's most successful campaign, for these purposes anyway.
Edit - it was under Charlton, 16 games over three years between 1990 and 1993. Amazing to think we very nearly missed out on qualification to both tournaments in that time, wasn't much room for error.
Just realised that's a competitive game record, we lost a few friendlies during that period. I give up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Soccer-Ireland.com
There's a list of all Republic of Ireland games on wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matche..._football_team
Find the longest number of games between red rows and you're sorted
Does the 1-1 draw with Finland in Liam Brady's testimonial count? If so, we had a 17 game unbeaten run under Charlton, ended by Toto in Rome. Ten of these games were draws.
McCarthy had a sixteen game unbeaten run before being beaten in Tehran, ten wins and six draws in his run.
Interesting to note a nine game unbeaten streak under Staunton, who lost only one of his last twelve games in charge!
A lot of this side for tonight hinges on who MON plays up front. Not sure if Koeman would be impressed with Long starting. Maybe if he started and played a half then we'd have a bit of shape from the start.
The issue, for me, is that I can't see Pilkington (if he's fit) or McClean starting up front on their own or together. As a result, I'd have to fancy Long to start with one of them (probably not both if Judge or Hayes was to get a start).
I fancy he'll go with:
Elliott
Christie Keogh O'Shea Ward
O'Kane Whelan/McCarthy
Hayes Judge McClean
Long
That's a 4-2-3-1 but I think there's the potential to switch to a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2.
Thinking back on Keane's advice to Judge that he referred to in his post-match interview, maybe Friday was about seeing how Judge could fare when asked to work hard against the tide. Maybe tonight will be his chance in a role that offers more freedom?
What I was struck by on Friday, other than the excellent crowd with lots of kids, was that as each substitution was made, our guys who came on got smaller and theirs got bigger. Are we the smallest football playing team in Europe?
I heard O'Neill talking up Given for France if he manages to even break wind on the playing field between then and now. More importantly though, and sorry if this is covered elsewhere, he bemoaned the fact that he didn't get much of a chance to see Judge going forward, which is his best attribute, due to our lack of possession. What a pity Arter wasn't fit. I think he's an excellent player.
There's a good chance McShane could start instead of O'Shea in the friendly ?