worth mentioning as not mentioned above, Cullen was also really great. Best display ever (or in a long time at least). Really looked like a premier league midfielder. Both aggressive out of possession and composed in it.
worth mentioning as not mentioned above, Cullen was also really great. Best display ever (or in a long time at least). Really looked like a premier league midfielder. Both aggressive out of possession and composed in it.
Coleman just does bring that passion and urgency. If he isnt captain he is the defacto leader. The Portuguese moaning about the red card Im enjoying not because its Ronaldo 'n stuff, but its a throw back to times when more talented sides just really hated playing us because we could stop them playing and it really frustrated them. One old Italia 90 story is Schillachi, obviously scored the winner, bit fortunate too, but when he was interviewed after he had 2 black eyes. Its not quite like that but these top sides are tempermental and they dont handle it too well when they feel disrespected and its hilarious, the post match interviews about disappontment about mind games when they love throwing themselves to ground and rolling around (though there wasnt any of that last night).
Conundrum for Sunday, approach the game on a more equal footing or stand off and hit on the break - when you need to win and they can stick, sit in themselves, a mexican standoff doesnt suit us. Nor does being on the front foot as previously we have been vulnerable to the break. I dunno, I almost hate the hope even if I wouldnt have i any other way.
100% on this. Cullen was utterly superb.Originally Posted by elatedscum
If ever the total was more than the sum of the parts it was last night,incredible performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypx2jB4BoAU
About 3.27 in the leadership and experience of Coleman is evident. Maybe a wee issue with kind of overuling designated captain. But he was making sure that Ronaldo couldnt engage and deflect, spread the blame and cards. Then as ref is waiting for VAR to call the check he is standing in between Ronaldo and any potential for an Irish play to approach. Leaving the ref to do the job. I know there is no need to prove Coleman's leadership but I think this is a fine example to anyone in the game on how to handle things, not get distracted, focus, and keep out of trouble. Wasnt an Irish player stupidly booked while one of the other opposition red cards was give in one of the previous games.
I'm all for spirited and physical football, but counter argument: if you have to give a footballer two black eyes to keep him from scoring more than once, you're a dirty cheat and you deserved to lose.
You can't spell failure without FAI
Well it was Mick McCarthy, a different era and probably more anectdotal than factual thuggery, probably told by Scilacchi himself. The point just being a team that sides genuinely dislike playing. At this stage Im on the win at all costs side of an argument, mostly! Wouldnt be at all bothered by a Trap like comment on our players lack of technique now if we leveling the playing field at all.
it will sound petty but jesus there's plenty of that from the other side - nice to soften the cough of the NI fanbase for the first in a long time aswell.
I'm absolutely fine with us having one or two hard bast@rds at the back who strikers hate playing against. Every team needs their enforcers.
Folding my way into the big money!!!
The highlights are up. You know you want to watch again!
Though if doesn't have Johnston's chance in the last minute. That felt like a bad miss to me, but didn't have a great view of it. Anyone see it on tell?
Last edited by tetsujin1979; 15/11/2025 at 2:14 PM. Reason: Embedded video
I remember thinking at the time that he got caught between two minds. He had a pass outside him or chance to go himself
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Same as fixer. It was the kinda of situation he'd probably bury in a club game but the weight of the moment got to him.
I would imagine he was told to protect the scoreline at all costs and Idah wasn't doing a great job of tracking back the longer he was on. I remember thinking you could see 40 scenarios pop into his head and the ultimate result was something that didn't lead to a significant counter
Are we talking about Johnston chance? I'll try dig out a recording but my feeling at the time was that Idah made run into same space as him and made defenders options easier. Needed Idah to either drop out right or run across him.
Just looking back at a few clips. Ogbene getting bundled over after the 1st goal (because he stole the ball. Wonderful ****housery) and Taylor and Scales bailing in to have a go at Dias, Ronaldo’s red card and O’Shea smiling at him as he walks past him after the incident, the crowd taunting Ronaldo and overall making it a cauldron of noise for Portugal. Boos, jeers and taunts.
It was the first time in a very long time it felt like we made Lansdowne Rd a horrible place for the opposition team to visit.
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