Spain V Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 14th June 2012 - Euro 2012 Group C

**the bear** · 14/06/2012, 9:34 PM

Originally Posted by mark12345

Yeah, because no one was listening the first time

whats the short term solution for the senior team

**jebus** · 14/06/2012, 9:35 PM

Originally Posted by dancinpants

So you think that was our strongest possible starting 11?

Out of what started tonight I'd replace O'Shea at right with Coleman and move him into center in place of St.Ledger

I'd start Doyle and Waters up front and I would have had McCarthy in in place of Whelan but that obviously couldn't happen.

Would they have not lost 4-0 tonight? Probably not, could have lost by more even.

Even with that I can see why he went with Keane, St.Ledger and Whelan, why not like they got us here and Robbie is our all time goalscorer.

I'll join the Trap out brigade if he continues to play those three in the World Cup qualifiers, but I won't jump on the bandwagon because what could be the greatest international team ever played us off the park

**the bear** · 14/06/2012, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

Out of what started tonight I'd replace O'Shea at right with Coleman and move him into center in place of St.Ledger

I'd start Doyle and Waters up front and I would have had McCarthy in in place of Whelan but that obviously couldn't happen.

Would they have not lost 4-0 tonight? Probably not, could have lost by more even.

Even with that I can see why he went with Keane, St.Ledger and Whelan, why not like they got us here and Robbie is our all time goalscorer.

I'll join the Trap out brigade if he continues to play those three in the World Cup qualifiers, but I won't jump on the bandwagon because what could be the greatest international team ever played us off the park

sledger has been our best defender at the euros

**RiffRaff** · 14/06/2012, 9:52 PM

Serious question - are we the worst team ever to play in the Euro finals? I remember Latvia got there about 8 years ago but I think they got a point in the end

**bullit** · 14/06/2012, 9:54 PM

Roy Keane speaking on ITV-

Roy Keane has reacted to Ireland's 4-0 defeat by Spain and subsequent exit from Euro 2012 by urging Ireland to 'change their mentality'.
Ireland became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament as world champions Spain utterly outclassed them on Thursday night following Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Croatia.
Talking on ITV1 soon after the game in Gdansk, former Ireland international Keane said: "I think the players and even the supporters, they all have to change their mentality, it�s just nonsense from players speaking after the games about how great the supporters are.
"Listen, the supporters want to see the team doing a lot better and not giving daft goals away like that. I�m not too happy with all that nonsense.
"To praise the supporters for sake of it � Let�s change that attitude towards Irish supporters.
"They want to see the team winning � let�s not kid ourselves, we�re a small country, we�re up against it, but let's not just go along for the sing-song every now and again.�

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/eu...eir-mentality/

**SkStu** · 14/06/2012, 9:56 PM

Originally Posted by RiffRaff

Serious question - are we the worst team ever to play in the Euro finals? I remember Latvia got there about 8 years ago but I think they got a point in the end

Was just thinking earlier that we're the Latvia of this tournament (think they were 2000?). But we're just the worst this time. It's always gotta be one team...

**the bear** · 14/06/2012, 9:57 PM

Originally Posted by bullit

Roy Keane on ITV-

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/eu...eir-mentality/

thanks for posting it, but thats ****** from keane having a pop at the fans, these lads are at the euros for the first time in 24 years and are enjoying themselves and supporting their country. i wish i could of gone myself. their attitude and support is a credit to the country

**irishultra** · 14/06/2012, 10:03 PM

He's dead right.

Em worst teams? Bulgaria were pretty damn bad, along with Latvia in 2004, but our play mirrors that of the Latvians, I think Bulgaria just lost the plot.

**gilberto_eire** · 14/06/2012, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by the bear

thanks for posting it, but thats ****** from keane having a pop at the fans, these lads are at the euros for the first time in 24 years and are enjoying themselves and supporting their country. i wish i could of gone myself. their attitude and support is a credit to the country

He's not having a pop at the fans IMO.

What he's saying is too much emphasis is being put on how vocal the supporters are and how all the talk is about them and not the standard of play we're seeing on the pitch. ''Oh we lost but weren't the fans great''....

**NeverFeltBetter** · 14/06/2012, 10:07 PM

It's perfectly ok to be dissapointed in the teams result and performance but still be proud that they got there and still be proud in your country. Do we want to be like England in South Africa, walking off the pitch to their own fans booing?

I'm not happy with the team at all, but I have nothing but admiration for those fans.

**Crosby87** · 14/06/2012, 10:12 PM

Meh, onward and upward. Croatia and Spain are a terrible fit for us. The world cup suits us so much more, with the bad teams from various parts of the Earth. We will be in Brasil with Stephen Ireland marshalling our midfield. And think of the women. Its going to be a great party, only 2 summers away.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 14/06/2012, 10:13 PM

And, to add to the reasons to be cheerful, the expanded Euro's should be easier to qualify for as well.

We'll be back, sooner then some people think.

**backstothewall** · 14/06/2012, 10:14 PM

Given - Hard to rate. A lot of great saves, but a lot of errors, especially in the first half. Looks half fit at best - 5
O'Shea - Dreadful. Kept giving it away. Not a full back - 4
Dunne - The man is a lion but a few big errors. I don't blame him for the first but at fault for the second - 4
Sledge - Best of the back four - 6
Ward - Don't think he could have done much more for the first. Not as good as Sledge at the back, but best of the rest -5
Duff - Decent, was perhaps hooked off to save him any further humiliation - 6
Andrews - Tried his best, fluffed one decent chance - 5
Whelan - Much like Andrews. Like Kanoute holding back the tide - 5
McGeady - Couple of decent crosses but an awful performance all round - 3
Cox. Ran hard but that was it. Not his position - 5
Keane Impossible to properly rate as he was so isolated. Only came into the game when he got ****ed off and ran back into midfield to get the ball. - 6

McClean - Not as good as Duff who he replaced, but light years ahead of McGeady - 5
Walters - Put himself about. Our biggest threat when he came on - 6
Green - Don't want to talk about it - 4

**the bear** · 14/06/2012, 10:15 PM

the team didn't perform, but the fans did all they could.

why is it considered just a sing song, what else can be expected of fans, spain were winning 4 nil and all that could be heard was the fields of athenry. thats the best support any team could hope for.

the team deserves critiscm but not the fans

**Condex** · 14/06/2012, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by the bear

sledger has been our best defender at the euros

Just proves how crap our defence is..
A player that struggles to get into a championship team is our best defender..

**the bear** · 14/06/2012, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Condex

Just proves how crap our defence is..
A player that struggles to get into a championship team is our best defender..

maybe so, i havent seen to much of him at club level but from what ive seen at international i cant believe a prem club hasn't snapped him up

**tricky_colour** · 14/06/2012, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

And, to add to the reasons to be cheerful, the expanded Euro's should be easier to qualify for as well.

We'll be back, sooner then some people think.

Frightening thought!!!

**NeverFeltBetter** · 14/06/2012, 10:21 PM

Like, I get why Roy Keane and others are annoyed about the singing. I also get frustrated at the sense from some fans that draws and "moral" victories are all we an hope for sometimes. I get annoyed from a sense, occasionally, that some of our fanbase doesn't think we can be any better.

But those fans tonight gave Euro 2012 one of its most memorable and heart-wrenching scenes. We need more of that, every game.

**irishultra** · 14/06/2012, 10:21 PM

What an absolute joke. Spain are quality, but we're a team of professionals, they could have scored 10. The 'fighting irish'? we went out with a whimper.

**backstothewall** · 14/06/2012, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Like, I get why Roy Keane and others are annoyed about the singing. I also get frustrated at the sense from some fans that draws and "moral" victories are all we an hope for sometimes. I get annoyed from a sense, occasionally, that some of our fanbase doesn't think we can be any better.

But those fans tonight gave Euro 2012 one of its most memorable and heart-wrenching scenes. We need more of that, every game.

I think that's a misreading of the attitude of the fans. We know we can do better, but even if we don't we're still going to enjoy ourselves.