So sub role doesn't suit Keane, Walters is injured, doubtful Hoolahan can start two games in succession, Whelan & McCarthy on bookings.
Fair to say we are getting stretched early in terms of how to utilize squad etc?
Surely Murphy and Meyler and/or Quinn will be needed by a week's time.
Yea I was not expecting a 2-0 win for Italy, I though it would be close, Belgium dominated the shots and possession accordingQuote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
to the stats, but Italy got more shots on target, quality not quantity I guess.
It puts some shape on the group, we have Belgium next.
Hope we do as well as Italy but it ain't gonna be easy that is for sure!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
The full 90 could be! :D
So, so, so frustrated. It's was the game to win and we should have won. It was there for us and in a fairly classic way we blew it. There's plenty of positives, but I couldn't be arsed dwelling on them too much right now. I'm just too cheesed off.
I thought defensively we were largely excellent, except down the right where Coleman wasn't at his best and given no protection. Clark has been hung out to dry in some quarters (not here, mostly social media) for the own goal but I thought he and O'Shea were largely excellent, and kept Ibra totally hushed for most of the game. For the own goal, there wasn't much he could do - a cross from seven yards at pace at more or less head height as he's travelling backwards and an attacker down his neck. A nightmare for a defender and a nightmare outcome but tough to blame the guy.
Brady was super going forward and his delivery is so excellent. Coleman didn't have his best game but he was totally up against it, since McCarthy did so little to help him and Walters didn't look his usual self.
Whelan had a very good game. Tuned in and a leader. If we make it out of this group, he'll be crucial.
By contrast, McCarthy might get a deserved dropping for Belgium. Thought he was poor, off the pace and generally didn't look up to it. Brady into midfield, Hendrick CB and Ward LB next game?
Hendrick can take some deserved plaudits for a very good game. Wessi was superb. Long did really well up top with some typically limited service and Walters wasn't anywhere near what he can be, albeit he still made some very good interventions. He didn't look fit. But I don't blame the management for risking him. He's a big player. But now it's a massive question mark over whether he can play Saturday.
I thought all the subs were various shades of useless. McClean less so but he didn't have much of an opportunity to make an impact and his couple of runs ended up being wasteful.
That game was never going to suit McGeady and Keane and, as has been pointed out, it brings into question the squad selection. I've not been convinced Doyle would add all that much, realistically, but at 70 minutes he was the man I wanted off the bench. Not Keane, not Murphy. I don't question bringing Keane, but if Murphy is a big guy who can't get a run when we're launching it in the last quarter against a limited, physical team like Sweden then when can he get a run? Why bring him?
I'm holding on to what TrapAPony said about Belgium above. We're still in it, it's already much better than 2012 - but still. But still.
I thought we played really well until we scored. After that we looked like a nervous wreck until they equalised. Same old Ireland.
Atmosphere in the ground was electric.
Walters wasn't fit and shouldn't have played if he was that crocked. Wessi and Hendricks looked neat and tidy all game.
On plus side we need one more point. I think we will draw the next 2 games anyway!
Two points is hardly enough to be one of the four best third placed teams.
Agree our squad could be exposed big time over the next week.
Walters should be saved for the Italy match now.
All is forGiven Shay for playing while injured in 2012.
2 points could get us second in a freak scenario where Italy beat everyone. We draw with Belgium and Belgium draw with Sweden. It would come down to goals scored in the games between us, Belgium and Sweden. So say we draw 1-1 with Belgium and Sweden draw 0-0 with Belgium. It would be:Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Italy 9pts
Ireland 2pts 0 goal difference 2 goals scored
Belgium 2pts 0 goal difference 1 goals scored
Sweden 2 pts 0 goal difference 1 goals scored
One more point isnonsense. We need to beat Italy or Belgium
It was a very poor game of football and ultimately very disappointing. I don't know which team was more culpable for dragging down the standard but i suspect our management team were more intent on this strategy against what was the poorest Swedish team i have witnessed at any finals and one that should have beaten out of sight in the first half.
Our centre halves, whelan and the triumvirate (Hendrick Brady Hoolahan) all did very well and more the pity that others for different reasons struggled. Long's ability was totally wasted with the management's strategy. Tactically we were bankrupt after we went ahead and again management were clueless in effecting counter measures.
The team selected looked good on paper but wasted with the emphasis on caveman huff and puff football and possibly more than a couple of the players were far from being match fit.
Proud of the performance but terribly disappointed with the result. Such a pity we couldn't hold on and seemed to lose our composure for a spell after scoring. We really should have won it. We could have been a few goals up at half-time. Towering performances from Hendrick, Brady and Wes. Possibly Hendrick's best ever in an Ireland shirt. Wes shone on the big stage and I was delighted for him. Amazing finish for the goal. Good work by Coleman in the lead-up too. It was McCarthy who put the ball out there for him. Did Dunphy miss that?
No problems with Randolph. He pulled off a great save to keep O'Shea's miss-kick out. Solid otherwise. Couldn't have done much for the goal really, I don't think.
Whelan led well too. Long was limited to chasing. Losing Walters leaves us a bit short on options up front. Subs were ineffective.
Harsh to blame Clark for the goal. thedoc's criticism earlier is way off. He played very well and what was he to do in that situation? Had he left it, Larsson would have scored and he'd be getting an earful for that. He was in a no-win situation; not his fault for doing his best to get to the ball. The goal came as a result of slack defending elsewhere.
Randolph was excellent. Steady and came out and punched the ball away on several occasions when needed.
My only issue is with McCarthy. Never showed for it, showed little hunger. I thought everyone else put in a good shift, with genuine quality from Brady, Hendrick, Wes and in parts Coleman. Whelan played a leader's role but jaysus I wish he could see a forward pass.
A shame we haven't got Arter or Gibson to come in for McCarthy. Gibson would have loved yesterday's game. Meyler or Quinn would do better than McCarthy.
Squad is crying out for Doyle. Walters might have been worth the risk but Murphy is the wrong plan B.
Keane needs Wes on the pitch at the same time. Pointless otherwise.
...is the correct answer. One of the oddities of these round robin groups is the possibility of progressing with two points or going home with six. (Though the six point exit would be in a WC group with no 3rd places.)Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
Absolutely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Bring on the man that will get on the end of delicate passes that split the defence, and take off them man most likely to make those passes.
Just read this. Well said.
The difference between now and 4 years ago is we have two shots at a win to get through. The Italy game is guaranteed to mean something still.
I didn't realise Randolph's save was from an Irish player. He played well apart from one poor kick (again) that put us under pressure.
With a bit of luck we can beat Belgium. Their defence doesn't look like they'll cope with Long as easily as the two big Swedes.
Really disappointed our fans sang our own anthem mid-game, just before the equaliser. That's a total no no for me. Must be newer fans.
Disappointing to draw as we are the better team. McCarthy wasn't in the game at all which allowed their left full to find plenty of joy down our right side. The substitutions we made didn't have any real impact - McClean could have been more involved when he came on as he was up against a player playing out of position. Unfortunately we don't have much on the bench that can change a game for us.
Looks like Walters and Hoolahan might need to take a break from the Belgium game, Walters probably gone completely. And Mccarthy also warrants a game out of the team after yesterday's performance.
Could he go with the same back 5 and Long up front, with a midfield along the lines of mcgeady hendrick whelan quinn mcclean. Need plenty of workrate in that area against Belgium. Big ask for Whelan and Long to do 3 x 90 minutes in 9 days but that might be the case.
Why leave Hoolahan out?
Give him a break, give protection to the 2 full backs, get more chasers/workers in midfield to annoy Hazard and the other handy Belgian ball players, and to have him fresh for the Italians. Looking at their defensive set up last night, it'll need all of Hoolahan's talent to break them down.
To keep him fresh for Italy. I wasn't too surprised at the substitution, items rare for him to complete 90 minutes these days