Ireland V Australia - Wednesday, 12th August 2009 - Friendly - Thomond Park

[Den Perry]

Sorry but Hunt was woeful, ok he controled the ball well most of the time, only to subsequently lose the ball with a poor pass or cross straight into Schwartzer's hands.

We need to nip this Stephen Hunt buzz in the bud now, everyone said look at the commitment from Kilbane and the the chap won't go away (sorry Kev love ye really) and Kilbane has much more talent than Hunt.

Keane played well tonight I thought, he held up the ball and held off the Aussie defenders a few times, I would never have put him down as a strong player. Defence was ok, Whelan made a good few defensive tackles and Andrews proved to be better than Gibson with his cameo. Duff had one or two good bits of play.

But the thing is Trap doesn't view International friendlies as any other Irish manager has in the past. He views them in the same way the likes of England, Italy, Brazil etc. they are just warm up exercises and the result doesn't matter. It's no longer about picking up world ranking points, just look at our result against Serbia and Poland. Austrailia are also a very good side so I wouldn't worry too much about the result, it's all about the game against Cyprus

Thank God!!somebody agrees with me about Stephen Hunt. This guy is the most overrated Irish player in years. Regarding last nights match,I can only comment on what I saw on highlights, but from those snippets his touch was rubbish, his crossing was terrible and he has the footballing brain of a chimp. I've been banging on about him for a whle now. I've seen him play live numerous times and watching his touch beggars belief. Yes, he does provide energy..but it all seems misplaced. At the very most he should be used as an impact sub

[geysir]

I could agree with your post even if it does emit a fair whiff of arrogance if it weren't for a couple of fundamental flaws to your logic:

1. Lawrence has never had a good long chance in the team. How is one friendly game against Nigeria a good long chance? In any case he wasn't crap just fairly average which I would argue is still a step up from his competition.
2. McGeady and Hunt on the other hand have certainly had a good long chance to impress for Ireland and have never managed to do so. McGeady in particular has been dire from day one yet still he seems to be an automatic starter.

And finally what sort of drugs are the people taking that claim it would be foolish to bring in somebody untested at International level (though not at club level) because they possibly could make a mistake to replace someone like Kilbane and McGeady who in fairness have lots of international experience but are guaranteed to be rubbish and make mistakes. I could see the point if you were replacing average players who do their job with untested ones.

Please read these posts before submitting them and try to make sense of such statements.

Of course I´m being arrogant, you dish it out by the jcb load , you should be man enough to take a little whiff of sarcasm
Lawrence was tested at international level like Foley, and found seriously wanting.
Means it would be a stupid managerial risk to use a player in a crucial game who has had the chance to impress and who played much worse than what you have got.
Likewise it would be stupid to replace the faltering Kilbane with Foley, i.e.suddenly throwing in Foley ahead of players who have shown much more promise when tested like Nolan and the more experienced Kelly (when match fit).

[youngirish]

Of course I´m being arrogant, you dish it out by the jcb load , you should be man enough to take a little whiff of sarcasm
Lawrence was tested at international level like Foley, and found seriously wanting.
Means it would be a stupid managerial risk to use a player in a crucial game who has had the chance to impress and who played much worse than what you have got.
Likewise it would be stupid to replace the faltering Kilbane with Foley, i.e.suddenly throwing in Foley ahead of players who have shown much more promise when tested like Nolan and the more experienced Kelly (when match fit).

I don't think Lawrence looked any worse than McGeady or Hunt when played against Nigeria. I see keeping substandard players in the team as more of a risk than trying new ones.

I'd bite your hand off now if you told me Foley would start in Cyprus instead of Kilbane and his keystone cop antics when defending.

[paul_oshea]

I was at the nigeria game and had a great view of lawrence. The only difference between he, and the other two mentioned previouslly, was that he didnt even get the ball to do a bit of schimmeying and lose it. He was doing his best matt holland impression that day.

[DeLorean]

I'm a fan of McGeady to be honest. I thought offensively he was excellent in the first half last night, with no help whatsoever. He generally has to play himself into a game with such an inadequate central midfield. His end product is fairly poor but he's generally involved and himself and Duff starting are is a no brainer for me, especially against lesser opposition.

[as_i_say]

I was at the nigeria game and had a great view of lawrence. The only difference between he, and the other two mentioned previouslly, was that he didnt even get the ball to do a bit of schimmeying and lose it. He was doing his best matt holland impression that day.

Ah Mr Invisible himself. He can also add worst pundit ever to his list of achievements.

[jbyrne]

Ah Mr Invisible himself. He can also add worst pundit ever to his list of achievements.

he wasnt invisible when he popped in two crackers v portugal away and cameroon in japan

[Scram]

Thank God!!somebody agrees with me about Stephen Hunt. This guy is the most overrated Irish player in years. Regarding last nights match,I can only comment on what I saw on highlights, but from those snippets his touch was rubbish, his crossing was terrible and he has the footballing brain of a chimp. I've been banging on about him for a whle now. I've seen him play live numerous times and watching his touch beggars belief. Yes, he does provide energy..but it all seems misplaced. At the very most he should be used as an impact sub

Hunt is a conundrum, I can't yet figure out if he brings more good than bad though last night I leant to the more good side. There isn't much in it but he certainly over-rates himself.

[Scram]

a simple pass and robbie was 1 on 1 with the keeper. course he was going to have a go at him, I would, anyone would if they were playing. hes our capt, thats part of what i want him to do.

Don't agree there really, especially when, if Robbie had looked up while in the box he had Foaln beside him and Hunt unmarked to pass to, insted he tried to score through two defenders.

There was a whole lot of schoolboy like not looking up last night from players in a forward position.

But seeing as Gibson is a MUFCker then fair enough!

[Razors left peg]

Don't agree there really, especially when, if Robbie had looked up while in the box he had Foaln beside him and Hunt unmarked to pass to, insted he tried to score through two defenders.

There was a whole lot of schoolboy like not looking up last night from players in a forward position.

But seeing as Gibson is a MUFCker then fair enough!

can ya not keep that sort of rubbish to the Teamtalk or Football 365 message boards.

[sligoman]

One of the worst matches I've ever seen.

Scott McDonald being cheered by both sets of fans made me ashamed to be Irish. Also, why was Kewell being booed? I hope it wasn't cos he played for Liverpool?

[paul_oshea]

Delorean, mcgeady does a lot of running, and holding the ball, if we are 1-0 up and we need to run down the clock then that is good, he gives us a bit more time with the ball before he gives it away. But as an attacking threat it is absolutely of no benefit if his end product always ends in the opposition getting the ball back, it completely negates any jizzy jazzy stuff.

[SkStu]

it completely negates any jizzy jazzy stuff.

Duff used to do lots of jizzy jazzy stuff.

[Superhoops]

I'd bring in Lee Carsley for these next few games

[carloz]

Really worries me when i see some of the stupidly over the top remarks of some people here. Pointless friendly where we were below average. This doesn't compare to the Holland game a few years back where we were simply embarressed. Its the kick up the arse we needed before the massive Cyprus game. My only worry is how toothless how much lack of imagination we seem to have in home games under Trap. Excellent away, decididly average at home

[carloz]

I'd bring in Lee Carsley for these next few games

Lee Carsley wasn't the answer under Staunton, he won't be the answer now. Gibson, Andrews and Whelan havehelped get us into this great position in the group, to bring in Carsley now based on a friendly is just a slap in the face to them. Remember we still have S. Reid to come back who was always our number 1 CM

[paul_oshea]

Duff used to do lots of jizzy jazzy stuff.

yes, but he had an end product

[christo]

Don't agree there really, especially when, if Robbie had looked up while in the box he had Foaln beside him and Hunt unmarked to pass to, insted he tried to score through two defenders.

There was a whole lot of schoolboy like not looking up last night from players in a forward position.

Gibson made the wrong pass, Keane also made the wrong decision but as Keane is a striker it is slightly more excusable really

[DmanDmythDledge]

Lee Carsley wasn't the answer under Staunton, he won't be the answer now. Gibson, Andrews and Whelan havehelped get us into this great position in the group, to bring in Carsley now based on a friendly is just a slap in the face to them. Remember we still have S. Reid to come back who was always our number 1 CM

They haven't really though as for most of the campaign they have all been poor. Agree that Carsley is not the solution but it is frustrating that there are obvious better options than those three.

[Fergie's Son]

I'm not even sure where to begin in responding to your post.

Richard Dunne is very average. There is a reason man city want to get rid of him. If we were to play teams who would just lump the ball into our box so the honey monster can throw his fat head at every ball and clear it any where then great. But the truth is he is always caught out against teams who play fast flowing football on the break. Not an intelligent footballer.

I'll start with Richard Dunne: Firstly, Man City fans clearly weren't so unhappy with Richard Dunne when they named him player of the year what, four years in a row now?

Secondly, Dunne has had some magnificent games for Ireland. One need only look at the recent match in Sofia to see just how important he his to the team.

There is an idea! James McCarthy – one of the biggest prospects we have had for years

Jamie McCarthy: Excellent prospect but that's all he is. He has yet do to anything in the Premiership as is as well off in the Under 21's. I can certainly see the justification in putting him in the squad but to consider him the current solution to our central midfield woes is patently ridiculous.

Kevin Kilbane is not a defender and never was a defender. He was a half decent left winger when we needed him.

Kevin Kilbane: No, he isn't great as a fullback and he seems to be constantly beaten by cross field balls. Foley may be the answer there.

Owen Garvan, probably the most creative midfielder I have seen in a green jersey this century. Give Shane Long a chance, he is lively, different, good in the air and can score goals.

Garvan still isn't convincing for Ipswich much less Ireland. Long came on as a sub so clearly Trapp rates him.

And can we please get Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid back in the squad. FFS we need them so badly.

Unlikely as to both. Ireland doesn't want to play for us. End of story. Reid wasn't good enough for Sunderland last year why is he suddenly good enough for us now?