Republic of Ireland V Serbia - Tuesday, 7th September 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

Serbia looked likely to pick us off for the first 20-25 minutes of the half, but we ended in some style. Really committed numbers to attack for the first time, and got the reward, albeit in lucky fashion.

Omabamidiele looked composed for the most part - some errors, but no more than anybody else. Idah did what he had to do well, Bazunu made some very good saves and survived one horrible lapse in judgement. Callum Robinson looked lively and put in two super deliveries, one of which lead to the goal.

Super atmosphere at the end, powered the team on.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Going for 1-1 tonight. No one can have a run of constant defeats and draws. Tonight's the night, a bit of luck and then people start jumping the gun saying "if only" until October comes around and normal service resumes.

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I know my foot.ie.
Robinson a game changer when he came on

We huffed and puffed but to be fair at times the tempo we had in very shorts spurts if we could keep that going for 60or 70 mins instead of 6 it would be good

Bazunu and Andrew are good players. Andrews came from nowhere and all of a sudden, here's the thing if you're good enough you're good enough it doesn't really matter age or experiEnce the skill and quality will shine through

Fans in the stadium are certainly giving Kenny their backing. Most vocally from the signing section.

Whatever abour needing an o.g. we've deserved a bit if luck.

Good to see that rather than lumping it in the last few mins we were still trying to play football. I counted 8 Ireland players in the box in the 92nd min for a corner at 1-1.

It was a very poor performance from us again, Serbia win this game very comfortably 9 times out of 10.

The Serbian OG was hilarious, though. I laughed out loud at went that went in. If we were ever going to score, that was the only way it was going to happen.

Bazunu was one of very few bright spots, but still almost cost us a couple of goals.

Bazunu and Omabamidele were superb.
Doherty, McClean and Hendrick all very good too.
Definitely seems a bit more coherent, although the Serbs could’ve easily won it with 19 attempts on goal to our 6.

Just on a side note, Kenny was shaking Robinson’s hand afterward and Robinson didn’t seem too interested.
Are there certain players who don’t respect him I wonder?

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Originally Posted by centre mid

Very good 2nd half performance- delighted for Kenny.

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Can't agree with that. It was a one all hammering for us. Outclassed Serbia should have been 4 up so many missed chances bazunu excellent. What a ludicrous goal for Serbia to concede.

This was how we pulled out results inder martin o neill and got very little credit. The crowd drove us on but its all passion which is fantastic but its not a new ireland. We lacked so much control tonight they owned us. Horgan horrific what is he doing been involved if supposedly we are building for the euros and the same with mcclean.

Obobamideile super bazunu class, I love kelleher but going to be very hard for him to get caps now

Hamilton and Stephen Kelly were on Es
It was a whole hearted proformace and we deserved a point, but that's it

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Originally Posted by centre mid

Fans in the stadium are certainly giving Kenny their backing. Most vocally from the signing section.

Whatever abour needing an o.g. we've deserved a bit if luck.

Good to see that rather than lumping it in the last few mins we were still trying to play football. I counted 8 Ireland players in the box in the 92nd min for a corner at 1-1.

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Why wouldn't we have 8 in the box in the last minute at home??? The problem is when we have avlick out and we have 6 outfield player in our own area to ultimately end up with baxunu going long anyway or us giving the ball up just outside our area.

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Originally Posted by Trequartista20

It was a very poor performance from us again, Serbia win this game very comfortably 9 times out of 10.

The Serbian OG was hilarious, though. I laughed out loud at went that went in. If we were ever going to score, that was the only way it was going to happen.

Bazunu was one of very few bright spots, but still almost cost us a couple of goals.

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We were completely outclassed. Bazunu was excellent overall and kept us in it. McClean had a really good game. We have some young talent coming through. It was nice to get the equaliser. The only downside is that this means Kenny will remain in the job.

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Originally Posted by centre mid

Fans in the stadium are certainly giving Kenny their backing. Most vocally from the signing section.

Whatever abour needing an o.g. we've deserved a bit if luck.

Good to see that rather than lumping it in the last few mins we were still trying to play football. I counted 8 Ireland players in the box in the 92nd min for a corner at 1-1.

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The crowd clearly loves that team and is backing what Kenny is trying to do. Maybe the cranks on here are in the minority?

10/10 to the crowd from start to finish and made it an experience to cherish for the young players, cheering any small positive to the rafters. Probably the crowd willed the equaliser to actually happen.
I'm glad McClean had an impact and Horgan didn't do anything too wild. Bazumu was excellent again, such confidence and skill when in goalkeeping years he's still only a baby at this level. A long career beckons at intl level for him.

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Originally Posted by liamoo11

Can't agree with that. It was a one all hammering for us. Outclassed Serbia should have been 4 up so many missed chances bazunu excellent. What a ludicrous goal for Serbia to concede.

This was how we pulled out results inder martin o neill and got very little credit. The crowd drove us on but its all passion which is fantastic but its not a new ireland. We lacked so much control tonight they owned us. Horgan horrific what is he doing been involved if supposedly we are building for the euros and the same with mcclean.

Obobamideile super bazunu class, I love kelleher but going to be very hard for him to get caps now

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We missed as many chances against Azerbaijan. Serbia really needed to win that tonight. I thought it was a decent performance in the 2nd half against a very good side.

Omobamidele had a couple of uncomfortable moments but overall was very assured, he's confident on the ball and very mobile. It would be interesting to see him in a defensive midfield role to see how he fares there.

I thought Buzunu was top class. He’s just spoken to Sky Sports and he sounds really determined and confident. Delighted for him.

Omobamidele looked the business again as well.

We were second best for most of the game but they hung in there. I think we need to get fitter and lack of club game time for some of those players doesn’t help. We missed Robinson’s pace and ability to carry the ball so hopefully he stays fit.

41% possession ok we’d prefer a bit more but it’s enough to be competitive. 86% pass completion which is good for us and means we weren’t giving it away cheaply very often. I though that was one of the bigger improvements. There were still a few dodgy ones, but the players are definitely getting more comfortable playing out and trusting each other.

It’s far from perfect, no doubt, but the young lads were excellent, Baz, Omo, and to a lesser extent Idah, performing well beyond their years. I though McClean, Doherty and Hendrick stepped up a level. McClean will never be a brilliant footballer, but he had about as good a game as he’s capable of. McClean suggested maybe the senior players were letting the younger lads down a bit recently and I think the effort to be better for them showed.

It could have been a 4-0 loss, no doubt, there was some luck but also some superb defending and goalkeeping that doesn’t happen by accident either. Still issues with making clear chances from anything other than crosses and still not getting too close to finishing them even. That’s the biggest concern. Hopefully someone can find form for their club before the next break.

One think Kenny has now is some depth. Someone posted and injured 11 earlier in the week that wasn’t much weaker than the starting 11. If players are fit and avoid COVID issues he might have the luxury of picking a squad of players getting regular minutes and that will be a big help.

I didn’t think that was great at all.We’re clueless going forward, I can’t make out any kind of plan other than to get it wide and keep crossing it into an empty box.Serbia with 10 shots on target should have been out of sight. At least we’ll have decent goalkeepers and centre backs for years to come.I think Kenny has been brave picking the players he has but it’s mildly embarrassing to see him celebrate that OG as if we’d won the World Cup, maybe that’s harsh as he has to have been feeling the pressure but he just looks like a bit of an amateur carrying on like that instead of urging the players to go for a winner.

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Originally Posted by Fizzer

I didn’t think that was great at all.We’re clueless going forward, I can’t make out any kind of plan other than to get it wide and keep crossing it into an empty box.Serbia with 10 shots on target should have been out of sight. At least we’ll have decent goalkeepers and centre backs for years to come.I think Kenny has been brave picking the players he has but it’s mildly embarrassing to see him celebrate that OG as if we’d won the World Cup, maybe that’s harsh as he has to have been feeling the pressure but he just looks like a bit of an amateur carrying on like that instead of urging the players to go for a winner.

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He quite clearly and quickly went into coach mode with his staff after his celebration. Which he was entitled to. Give him a break FFS.

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Originally Posted by centre mid

We missed as many chances against Azerbaijan. Serbia really needed to win that tonight. I thought it was a decent performance in the 2nd half against a very good side.

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Serbia s chances were much more clear cut and well created than the so called chances we created on Saturday. I see nothing in tonight to make me think we coukdvtake tge game to a middle of the road side like a finland at home and actually control the game. What formation are we playing? 541 tonight with the 4 playing narrow all basically central midfield players with no one getting anywhere close to idah, how is that ever going to get you a chance of creating openings at home?

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Originally Posted by BOOMSHAKALAKA

We were completely outclassed. Bazunu was excellent overall and kept us in it. McClean had a really good game. We have some young talent coming through. It was nice to get the equaliser. The only downside is that this means Kenny will remain in the job.

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"Bazunu was excellent and kept us in it." Okay, does Bazunu play under any other Ireland manager? Does Randolph make all of those saves?

Bazunu and Omobamidele were brilliant tonight. If we are getting a 1-1 draw and those two are playing that well, that young and getting that experience then I'm happy. You get what you deserve in football. Serbia had chances but didn't convert them. The game still finished 1-1.