Republic of Ireland V Russia - Friday, 8th October 2010 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[Charlie Darwin]

You watch Glee?

Everybody watches Glee.

Attended my first Ireland game in a while last night. As ever gave me a better perception of the team than watching on TV did. I hadn't really noticed bhow slow St ledger was for instance. Completely out of his depth. Kilbane, who I love, literaly didn't do a single thing of merit all night. Looked frightened of the ball. Whelan was on his own in the middle and didn't cope well. Poor Paul Green. Doubt he'd get into Rovers or Bohs midfield. Genuinely felt sorry for him as he wasn't lacking in effort. Lawrence and McGeady were woeful. At lest McGeady kept plugging away and always wanted the ball. Doyle worked hard but mislaid a few easy passes (things like laying off behind the winger rather than putting it front of them). Keane was shocking. His dive early i the first half was outragously bad. Complained about it for 5 minutes too (and in doing so missed a counter attack opportunity). Spent more time waving at the linesman than getting involved.

Bar a plucky 10 minutes around the goals (and a frantic minute or so before Russia scored), Ireland were far, far behind Russia all over the park.

Still at least the Stadium is excelent

I think you actually managed to get everything wrong. Perhaps you should stay at home more often.

http://greenscene.me/2010/10/player-...land-v-russia/

player ratings for the game

Kevin Doyle – 6
Very frustrating night for Doyle as he struggled to win any flick ons against the tall and physical Russian central defensive pairing. Booked needlessly in the second half. Difficult for the guy when all he had to work with was balls huffed up from defence, and then had to compete in the air with Ignashevich who is a good 6 inches taller than him. Just not his night.

hahaha what? Ignashevich is at best an inch taller than Doyle. Perhaps he just looked taller because he was jumping.

I'd drop St Ledger (who should have been sent off last night btw) for Slovakia. JOSH and Dunne are our best partnership in the centre. I'd start Foley at right full.

Green has to go. Replace with Gibson.

Green will have to play on Tuesday. I can't accept that Whelan is anything close to being fit and on current form Green is the more effective of the two. I don't think he has a long term future with us but this week he is the better player. Gibson has to come in, especially as Trapattoni has some fundamental aversion to playing Fahey in his natural position.

[elroy]

Yep, it was a bit of a John Sheridan v Spain moment, though I was hoping it'd turn out to be be a Frank Stapleton v Spain moment.

Last night was like both the Poland and Australia friendlies under Trap.

With the above in mind, is there any reason why Slovakia are shown as top in the table on the UEFA website? We're third.

http://en.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/standings/index.html

[Charlie Darwin]

It seems to be based on head to heads. Russia beat us and Slovakia beat Russia therefore they're top.

[Stuttgart88]

Didn't think there was much wrong with Dodge's post, though the LOI reference was a bit melodramatic. The stadium was excellent!

Was thinking after I suggested Gibson for CM that actually Fahey would probably be better.

A bold move would be to play 4-5-1, drop Robbie and play Whelan, Gibson & Fahey, flanked by LL and McGeady. Nobody should be undroppable.

I actually thought Long did well in his short time on the pitch. Looks like a fat boy but is very athletic.

[carloz]

hahaha what? Ignashevich is at best an inch taller than Doyle. Perhaps he just looked taller because he was jumping.

He is two inches taller than him. I exagerated. But he controlled Doyle in the air, which very few defenders do

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think Robbie is undroppable but I don't think you could play Doyle up front on his own at this point in time. Perhaps if Gibson was performing for Man United he could be employed as an attacking midfielder, but right now Keane is by far our most creative player and I can't see us creating much without him. Doyle is a wonderful footballer but he can't carry an entire team on his own like Torres can.

He is two inches taller than him. I exagerated. But he controlled Doyle in the air, which very few defenders do

haha sorry, I didn't realise you wrote that. But Ignashevich gave away a lot of free kicks on Doyle too (as did Berezudskiy) - he has a Kevin Davies-like ability to compete with every defender for every ball. He didn't have as much of it his own way as he did against Armenia but he was playing against more physically imposing players.

[John83]

... trapatonni is not a particularly good manager at all and only gets away with it because in general irish people have low expectations(all walks of life and it includes on soccer team)

Yeah, that must be it. One of the most successful managers active in the game hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

[Charlie Darwin]

Trapattoni suggests the first goal was offside (as well as not being a foul to begin with)

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...280727507.html

[rebelmusic]

Trapattoni suggests the first goal was offside (as well as not being a foul to begin with)

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...280727507.html

Midfield comments at the end are interesting. Seems to be more or less saying he has crap options for CM

[geysir]

Robbie was clipped, absolutely no doubt.

And if Trap had taken off Green instead of Whelan, I really would have questioned his sanity.

[Noelys Guitar]

Players who should improve on Tuesday are Lawerence, Doyle and Whelan (if he plays). We have shown under Trap that we can bounce back after what was a major set back yesterday for a whole variety of reasons. An improved performance from those three mentioned could make all the difference in a game I feel we have to win if we want to top the group. We have to play as we did in Paris.

[seanfhear]

Trapattoni suggests the first goal was offside (as well as not being a foul to begin with)

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...280727507.html

I agree with him on this but we were given a damn good hiding last night though the final scoreline does not make that clear.

[seanfhear]

Players who should improve on Tuesday are Lawerence, Doyle and Whelan (if he plays). We have shown under Trap that we can bounce back after what was a major set back yesterday for a whole variety of reasons. An improved performance from those three mentioned could make all the difference in a game I feel we have to win if we want to top the group. We have to play as we did in Paris.

Has Whelan been playing much for Stoke this season and if he has'nt is the reason that he is having some fitness problems.

Perhaps Marc Wilson would be the player best suited to fitting into Traps style. There is not enough time before Tuesday for major style changing.

[Noelys Guitar]

Didn't think there was much wrong with Dodge's post, though the LOI reference was a bit melodramatic. The stadium was excellent!

Was thinking after I suggested Gibson for CM that actually Fahey would probably be better.

A bold move would be to play 4-5-1, drop Robbie and play Whelan, Gibson & Fahey, flanked by LL and McGeady. Nobody should be undroppable.

I actually thought Long did well in his short time on the pitch. Looks like a fat boy but is very athletic.

From the man himself Stuttgart
“I don’t think I could consider playing with just one striker. Other teams can do it because they have more players to choose from in midfield.”

He did add one or two changes for Tuesdays game. My guess Gibson and one that might throw us all. McShane. I have a feeling going by that interview today he might play O'Shea in midfield.

[shakermaker1982]

I think the Trap will make changes. Foley and Fahey will get a run out. Pity Wilson hasnt been given a run out so he could slot in as a defensive MF.

[shakermaker1982]

If he plays O'Shea in mf then I would consider crying. O'Shea was put in there against Everton a few weeks back and was mr invisible.

[SkStu]

Yeah, that must be it. One of the most successful managers active in the game hasn't got a clue what he's doing.

Paul Green.

[geysir]

I'll wait for the Tuesday game before considering a review of the first phase of the Qualifiers. The team and manager have earned a right of reply to Friday's game.

[John83]

Paul Green.

There's a difference between "is beyond question" and "isn't a particularly good manager". I'm utterly sick of the kind of moron who sees his team have one bad game and immediately claims that the experienced and successful manager of his team is some sort of clueless moron.

[Noelys Guitar]

If he plays O'Shea in mf then I would consider crying. O'Shea was put in there against Everton a few weeks back and was mr invisible.

I'm guessing Shakermaker. But here is his exact quote “Of course, we will look for one or two fresh players and one or two changes are possible. If he means fresh players does he mean those who played no part or those who came on as as sub? And he also lamented our lack of quality midfielders. I can't see Foley getting the nod ahead of McShane if he decides to move O'Shea (if not midfield then LB) And I feel playing McShane at right back with O'Shea moving to left back (or midfield) is a better option than leaving Kilbane in the side. By the barest of margins.