Republic of Ireland V Gibraltar(A) 4th Sept & Georgia(H) 7th Sept 2015 - Euro 2016 Q

[Kingdom]

Only on here for a short bit. Second half against Georgia was as good as we showed so far in the group. I thought Whelan, Walters, Clark were excellent throughout, with McCarthy and Long very good in second half.

While obviously it's great to have got back into the position we now find ourselves, I would still worry. I think Scotland definitely have the potential to beat Poland in Glasgow, while I would be sceptical about our chances of getting a win in Warsaw.

I still find myself getting quite angry when thinking about O'Neill. The Gibraltar game was a real opportunity, with yellow cards hanging over squad members, at having a look at options. When you think that he left Eunan O'Kane at home......


Our formation is flawed. We rely on our full-backs for width, we rely on our full-backs to hit the bye-line, yet we only play with one what you could call attacking floater, Wes, who generally stays to a central line. Countless times the ball worked it's way to Robbie Brady whose only option was to whip in a cross to Robbie Keane or John Walters, or for Robbie Brady to work the ball back to Hendrick, back to wes, into Whelan, back to O'Shea, over to Coleman, back to McCarthy, back to O'Shea, repeat ad nauseum. Either you provide your attacking full-back with someone to link up with, provide an overlap -whatever- or you push them further up the pitch to become auxiliary widemen, and stick an extra holding midfielder in to guard the centre-backs. Seeing as how we have two holding midfielders in the team anyway, I don't understand the tactics O'Neill utilises.

People constantly say we don't see Coleman or McCarthy reproduce their Everton form for Ireland. The charge is fair, the evidence less so. We don't have the same formation as Everton. McCarthy plays as a tandem with Barry or Besic or whoever the hell they pick beside him. He sits, he receives, he breaks up play, and then sits again. We have him doing half of those or none at all. I'm not saying he shouldn't be able to do it, in fairness if he's as good as we think he is, then he should be, but he's not doing for Everton what he does for us, because they don't use him like we do. Similar for Coleman. For Everton, he has either Mirallas, Lukaku or Delofeu in front of him, providing him with either a solid option on the outside, to receive and then give, or on the inside, which stretches the full-back allowing Coleman the space to either overlap and get the ball around the corner, or dragging the full-back inside allowing Coleman to attack properly on the outside,rather than the isolation he has when playing for us, which results in either a poor ball into the box due to pressure, or the ball being lost from being overplayed.
If we can solve that (what I would call a conundrum) then I think we'll be in a much better place as a team. McGeady, Long, Grealish (were he to declare) and Brady himself are solutions (allowing for us getting a proper left-back to let Brady play his natural role).

Lastly, the manager should be ashamed at the state of our set-piece. If we're that crap at them, then stop doing what we constantly do, and start working on proper routines, so that defenders have something to think about. It's so bloody annoying.

To me, this is the way I'd like to see the team lining out against Germany:

____________________Westwood_________

Coleman _____ OShea __________ Clark ___________ Brady

_________Hendrick_____James Mc______Quinn___________

Long__________________Walters__________________Wes __



I'd a look at the German Line-up and to be perfectly honest, I've no idea how they lined up. I could see three recognised starting defenders, so I assume Emre Can was at right back, with Hector left-back? As I said prior to Gelsenkirchen, the Germans are weak at fullback (it was Rudy, Ginter and Durm against us in Gelsenkirchen).

If you think that they'll have a front line of Mueller, Goetze und Ozil, of which neither is really a totem, and with no natural width, then it is possible for us to make it a real slugfest by really packing the middle of the pitch, which technically with Hendrick, McCarthy, Quinn and Wes on the pitch you'd be doing, but also giving a bit of width with Brady and Coleman. They'll be crucial, as will Walters and hopefully Long.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd a look at the German Line-up and to be perfectly honest, I've no idea how they lined up. I could see three recognised starting defenders, so I assume Emre Can was at right back, with Hector left-back? As I said prior to Gelsenkirchen, the Germans are weak at fullback (it was Rudy, Ginter and Durm against us in Gelsenkirchen).

If you think that they'll have a front line of Mueller, Goetze und Ozil, of which neither is really a totem, and with no natural width, then it is possible for us to make it a real slugfest by really packing the middle of the pitch, which technically with Hendrick, McCarthy, Quinn and Wes on the pitch you'd be doing, but also giving a bit of width with Brady and Coleman. They'll be crucial, as will Walters and hopefully Long.

4-2-3-1 according to this site, which I've never seen anything inaccurate on: http://www.football-lineups.com/match/185463

[Kingdom]

4-2-3-1 according to this site, which I've never seen anything inaccurate on: http://www.football-lineups.com/match/185463

So

Can -- Boateng -- Hummels -- Hector

---- ---- Basti ------- Kroos---------
----------------Gundongan----------
----- Meuller - Goetze - Ozil --------

Natural talent aside, there is gold to be struck there.

[Charlie Darwin]

That was Can's first senior competitive game as far as I know, and Hector wouldn't be on the class of most of their players, yeah. Can will be a good player but maybe somebody like Long could spook him with a high-pressure game.

[tricky_colour]

Does anyone think Robbie has the ability and discipline to play the Hoolahan role? He's still a smart, technically gifted player and I think there's a role for him, I just don't think it's up top, solo. I've been thinking about this a lot since the Georgia game. It's like we haven't adjusted to the Robbie we have but then I also question if he could adjust to that role.

I think Robbie is fine against weak team when we can dominate play (think Gibraltar lol) and get the ball in the box a lot.
But against stronger teams where we need to win the ball his value is diminished perhaps???

[Fixer82]

The atmosphere will be electric for the Germany game. The lads will be up for it. With Clark at the back I'm confident we won't hand the ball back to the opposition the way Wilson can.
If we can hang on goalless til half time then it's game on. They'll be tough to break down but with Walters and Long we have tough, strong mobile strikers who can hopefully bring an attacking midfield of Wes, McCarthy and Hendrick into the game.
Maybe Quinn will get a nod too if we are going the wing back route.
O'Kane will have to rip up the premiership in order for O'Neill to take a chance on him

[Fixer82]

Big change in second half, whatever was said in dressing room - can imagine some Keane thunder and lightning maybe - did the business. There's the stuff Ireland can do: decent attacking football that creates chances. Should have won by more, and it was great to see the crowd find a voice. Best and worst of MON's Ireland tonight.

Given - 6. One minor scare, nothing much to do otherwise.
Coleman - 6. Not fit. Did well enough down the right, but crosses were poor. His cut-ins never lead to anything.
O'Shea - 6. A few good defensive moments here, some bad passes and fouls there.
Clark - 6. Pretty much the same. Never had much to do, but did slip-up for that second Georgia chance.
Brady - 7. Up and down all night, did something thick for everything good, but was getting involved all the time.
Whelan - 5. He was there. A few shots from distance, a stupid bit of guff to the ref. Won't cry any tears over his suspension.
McCarthy - 5. Honestly didn't think much of him out there, some occasional moments of good football, but a lot of errors and anonymity in sections.
Hendrick - 8. Took him a while to really make an impact, but he was our best attacking player by the end. Made the goal.
Hoolahan - 6. Like McCarthy, just a little bit better.
Walters - 7. Started well, but had faded big time by HT. Much bigger impact in second, well placed for the goal, but pace was a problem throughout.
Keane - 4. One bad shot choice, then failed to get on the end of a great through ball. Wasn't sorry to see him come off.

Long - 7. Threw himself around upfront, injected the kind of tempo Ireland really needed. Should have scored, and weirdly lackadaisical with that late chance.
McClean - 7. Crazy start to his brief time, but did great to set-up Long.

I wouldn't say I'm satisfied, and I worry what Germany might do to us, still needing points to confirm qualification. But this team can get third. They can get a point off Poland at least, and might not even need it. They just need to be motivated properly.

You're way wrong with your scoring.

Clark was solid and made a good block, didn't put a foot wrong - 7 for me

Whelan had a great game and his only real bad moment was getting booked. The free against him was ridiculous so could understand his frustration. I reckon you just don't like him but you should admit he played very well and was our best midfielder. - 8.5 for me

McCarthy - didn't do much wrong but lacked urgency at times and at the end was crazily trying to slow things down. 6 for me

Hendrick - Made a few silly passes and miscontrolled the ball a couple of times. Was positive but nervy at times. His wonder run made up for plenty of mistakes - 7 for me

Believe!!!!

[jbyrne]

Well if Kerr is balking at the price on what I assume is an income far higher than most you can see why people of more
modest means stay at home.
60 is ridiculous so maybe the 10 is correct?

its €45 for a child season ticket. there were adult tickets from €25 as far as I know for last Mondays game. kerrs €60 comment was made up or very ill-informed

[Kingdom]

That was Can's first senior competitive game as far as I know, and Hector wouldn't be on the class of most of their players, yeah. Can will be a good player but maybe somebody like Long could spook him with a high-pressure game.

With Long in the team, it limits the high defensive line that the Germans have been using, with Neuer mopping up. That either stretches them between the lines of 4, 2 & 3 or it forces them to play 10 yds or so further back. Either way it's something to work on.

[DeLorean]

You're way wrong with your scoring.

There's no wrong or right!

And you only disagreed in a major way about Whelan (I'd agree with you there).

[paul_oshea]

No, there is isn't but some of us are more right than wrong, and more right than others.

[Fixer82]

There's no wrong or right!

And you only disagreed in a major way about Whelan (I'd agree with you there).

Point taken

[DeLorean]

No, there is isn't but some of us are more right than wrong, and more right than others.

It goes without saying that Paul's the exception Fixer!

[Fixer82]

It goes without saying that Paul's the exception Fixer!

but of course

[OwlsFan]

No, there is isn't but some of us are more right than wrong,

You're not John Delaney are you ? http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/...s-john-delaney

[OwlsFan]

When the Liverpool fans started booing Raheem Sterling in the game v England earlier this year that was pretty much the last straw for me.

That was bizarre ok but I can assure you most of those fans weren't at the Georgia game.

I've been to over a hundred Ireland games over many, many years, but I'm much less inclined to go now. I was increasingly aware that most people at ROI games were Premiership barstoolers, event junkies, and people in GAA jerseys singing 'The Fields of Athenry'. There's also a small but distasteful sectarian element amongst Irish fans - they're very prominent on the 'eligibility rules' forum here where their hatred of the Northern Ireland team is strongly in evidence.

There is far less sectarianism among Irish fans than there used to be and certainly no more than Irish society as a whole. I remember when I used to go to Milltown before it was leveled, the sectarian abuse Peter Thomas and Johnny Matthews used to get when they played for Waterford had to be heard to be believed because they were English. God save the Queen was pretty well respected at the recent international and I have never heard any racist chants so I think the vast majority (usual cliche) of the fans are decent people who love their team and respect the opposition with reasoned hostility (I never agreed with the previous PA announcer who almost had us giving three cheers for the opposition).

The fearful, cautious football played under Trappatoni and O'Neill didn't help matters; but I've felt increasingly alienated from the national side over recent years. (And the hugely irritating chap who does the announcements at The Aviva is another reason not to go).

You're probably correct there that this lost support but I think the support was well in decline before Trapp. Some success and they will return. Remember before 2012, we hadn't qualified for anything during the previous 4 campaigns. Wales were getting poor attendances up to recently and now....

As jbyrne has said, that PA guy ("Yaah, let's give it up for the Boys in Green and their opponents") has gone.

[Stuttgart88]

Does anyone think Robbie has the ability and discipline to play the Hoolahan role? He's still a smart, technically gifted player and I think there's a role for him, I just don't think it's up top, solo. I've been thinking about this a lot since the Georgia game. It's like we haven't adjusted to the Robbie we have but then I also question if he could adjust to that role.

No, absolutely not. It was tried before too, the idea that he can be some sort if advanced playmaker linkman type player. It didn't work. If anything, as he has got older I think he has become more of a predatory lurker rather than a more active agitator / disrupter / creator.

[backstothewall]

There is far less sectarianism among Irish fans than there used to be and certainly no more than Irish society as a whole. I remember when I used to go to Milltown before it was leveled, the sectarian abuse Peter Thomas and Johnny Matthews used to get when they played for Waterford had to be heard to be believed because they were English. God save the Queen was pretty well respected at the recent international and I have never heard any racist chants so I think the vast majority (usual cliche) of the fans are decent people who love their team and respect the opposition with reasoned hostility (I never agreed with the previous PA announcer who almost had us giving three cheers for the opposition).

I'd say if anyone even attempted to start some racist crap at Lansdowne Road they would be lucky if they only got booted out. It could be a really good way to get yourself a smack in the mouth.

I've never encountered sectarianism either. A bit of anti-British stuff but never religious based. I would say for example that nobody in the ground will be remotely interested in which church particular German players go to when they come to town next month.

[geysir]

I don't remember anti-english stuff being thrown at english players in the LOI and there were plenty of them plying their trade, at some point in time Sligo almost had a team full of imports. Probably that anti-english stuff was just a local Milltown thing.

[DeLorean]

I've never encountered sectarianism either. A bit of anti-British stuff but never religious based.

I'd say you're right but that doesn't really make it any better. Not that you're saying it does.