Montenegro V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 10th September 2008 - World Cup 2010 Q

[Hibs4Ever]

I bet Trap was very happy with McGeady tonight. I'm sure of that. Bar his finish when clean through. Anyway, if McGeady was motm you wouldn't have posted so I won't get into a big debate.

I actually posted the one time he had a great game commenting about how good he was and hopefully it was a sign of whats to come. Unfortunately it hasn't happened

[Noelys Guitar]

I'm quite pleased with a point from this game. The defence was very solid whilst in midfield Reid and Whelan were composed and disciplined. Montenegro won't be bottom seeds for much longer and plenty of sides will find it very difficult to win there.

We are making progress and that's encouraging from the dark days of Staunton's time in charge of the side.

I just watched the Italian game and I can see them having problems when they play in Montenegro. The Italian back 4 even with Canavaro look a bit slow after the first two games of this campaign.

[tetsujin1979]

Post match interview from Off The Ball with Steven Reid, Steve Finnan and Shay Given: http://media.putfile.com/Post-game-i...d-Steve-Finnan

[irishultra]

If only McGeady could have finished like Walcott did for his first two goals....

that goal would have been good had we got it.

[Maroon 7]

O'Shea, Whelan, Kilbane and Reid were brilliant IMO


McGeady with another sh*t game. Hunt poor too but I'd still have him ahead of McGeady when Duff returns

The only position that is under threat in that midfield is Hunt's I'd imagine.

If he ever manages to stay fit Duff and McGeady will be the wingers. Andy Reid who knows but I think it's clear that Trap doesn't really see a place for him at the moment.

[Fergie's Son]

That's where he played for Forest, Spurs and half his time and Charlton. He's been adapted to play in the centre since then sure but there's a reason why Left wing is his position of choice.

Actually every interview I've read he's said that he prefers the middle of the pitch.

[irishultra]

I'd bet on Andy Reid playing against Cyprus from the start.

[eirebhoy]

I'd bet on Andy Reid playing against Cyprus from the start.

In place of who though? Duff will come in to replace Hunt. I can't see him dropping either of the central midfielders, while if he was going to drop a striker for him he'd have done so already.

[irishultra]

Don't know honestly, just a hunch. Even more wishful thinking on my part would be to see Sean Scannell given a chance up front(not starting obviously)

[shakermaker1982]

A very solid performance but a game we should have won. Then again I thought we had lost it when that Montenegran turned Reid and shot from distance.......

McGeady and Hunt frustrate the life out of me. Duff needs to be in a green shirt asap. McGeady needs to watch Walcott's goals tonight on DVD. Why the **** would you try and beat the keeper that side? Defence was solid and the two central MF players were very good again.

Given - 8. Two vital saves meant we haven't got muppets on here wanting the Trap to be sacked and replaced with El Tel.

Finnan - 7. Mr steady.
Kilbane - 7. Bar the slip he was useful in the air and covered for O'Shea and Dunne when needed.
O'Shea - 8. One of his best performances in an Irish shirt. Vital block and this new found aggression needs to remain.
Dunne - 7. Good performance.

Hunt - 6. Tracked back and worked hard but end product was a disaster.
McGeady - 6. Another below par performance. Tracked back like Hunt but missed the best chance of the match. I know the Celtic fans love him but he just isn't delivering.
Whelan - 7.5. Growing into the role of an international midfield player.
S Reid - 7.5. Some lovely first touches. Works well with Whelan.

Doyle - 6.5. Tried hard but didn't see much of the ball
Keane - 6.5. See above but did nearly conjure a beautiful goal out of nothing. These two needed more support from the wingers.

[cestlavie]

Have to say I was disappointed to a degree with the result tonight, we should have made changes, it was crazy keeping S Reid who was completly knackered and carrying a knock on for 90 minutes, S Hunt works like a dog and has to be admired but he offers nothing going forward and his free kick were brutal, Mc Geady again dissapointed me, why not bring on Andy Reid and D Murphy on the right, better delivery on free kicks and a bit more height in the box from free kicks compared to S Hunt. Trap is a stubburn whore

[boysingreen]

McGeady is miles ahead of Hunt. He has much better control, delivery, and has been winning us more frees than anyone. Every defender tries to muscle him off the ball or trip him up. He's far more productive with his possession.

Tonight was a real lost opportunity.. and there's not a big margin for error in this group. It wasn't one clear cut penalty.. it was TWO (Kilbane's goal-bound corner header right off the hand of a defender who's arm was level with the top of his dipping head, right in front of the 6-yard box).

If you ask me, we gave them about as much credit as if Spain were wearing the red jerseys. Our defense is becoming much more cohesive.. but offensively, we look clueless. I just watched some of the Italy/Georgia match (in Italy, mind you).. and Georgia looked far more purposeful and direct on the ball (certainly a few gears up from Saturday).

All things considered.. the group is wide open.. and we can be in the reckoning for first if we'd only link up better in attack.

[conlonn]

agree with vast majority of comments here.
For the Cyprus game A Reid must at last be given 30 mins.
Hunt and McGeady were both poor tonight (Hunt worse, headless chicken, impact sub is all he is, McGeady flatters to decieve but although loved by Celtic fans is not cutting the mustard).
But I think the team is starting to believe they can win every time.
Defense is very strong. Offense will take a little linger but massive improvement in a short time
Cyprus are improving and will be a good game next month. Would take 1-0 now. we should win it though. Revenge is a great motivator

[irishultra]

McGeady was a good 6.5/7 tonight. I don't understand people on here. His problem is he makes runs at sometimes stupid times..... but he was good tonight.

[joema]

I mean...He's the type of player to be brought on in the last 20 minutes to relive a bit of pressure...

Haha, ah I know what you mean and I agree. IMO if he gave the ball away that much against the Italians we would be destroyed.

[eirebhoy]

One thing I've noticed about Hunt is he doesn't have the ability to run with the ball and look around. That's a major problem. Fair enough you're going to have your head down when you're taking on an opponent but if Hunt is running with the ball and nobody around him he'll still probably have his head down.

McGeady wasn't bad tonight. There was 3 or 4 times when he was away from his opponent and they had to foul him. If he wasn't fouled those 3 or 4 times it could have turned an ok performance into a very good performance. I thought most would have thought he did well.

[irishultra]

I felt sorry for him when he missed. I think Robbie Keane should have run over to him to tell him unlucky.

[paul_oshea]

i must have been watching a different match to everyone else, in fact everyone with me must have been. whelan hit the ball backwards (mostly) or sideways. Fair enough if you want to just play for a bore draw. Dunphy and giles said montenegro are poor and not near as good as they thought at half time, said Ireland should be able put them away and get the win. At full time they said Ireland were class and they made them look poor. Totally different analysis from both halves and made me beleive neither of them actually have a clue. Whelan was not man of the match, that time reid got up off the ground real slow, he was never the same, his passes werent even as good after that. His passing was still far better than anyone else. No one else spread the ball across the field like he did, which he also did on saturday. Not even mcgeady did. Hunt just ran and gave the ball away loads of time, more than he won it. Keane played really well, he ran his socks off, never getting the ball anywhere so had to come really deep. Doyle did decent. Oshea did very well in fairness, finnan was never attacking and was mediocre. Kilbane was decent apart from a few mistakes, dunne very good. Given very good. MCgeady was definitely better than usual. But whelan played the carsley game and none of us could understand, everytime we got the ball under pressure he blasted it forward, everytime we got the ball with space or a chance of counter attacking he slowed it down and passed it backwards or sideways, thats fine if you want to hold onto a lead or want to come 3rd in a group or just about scrape second if the 2nd seeded team are crap, but it is not good enough if we want to win. Montenegro will fissle out at the end of this and we will be the ones to suffer.

[backstothewall]

The one thing i think we lacked tonight was a bit of pace up front. The only one along the front 4 who has that extra yard is Mcgeady which leaves Keane relying on him to make a run when he drops short. but that is a system which can be successful, as Rooney and Ronaldo showed last season for Man U.

If we had a striker of the likes of Walcott, Agbonlahor or Defoe i think we would have won easily tonight

[irishultra]

But Bulgaria is our challenger, on paper anyway. I hope Montenegro fizzle out and finish bottom of the group, so we(hopefully) get 2 extra points in the end of this qualification.(bottom team result doesn't count)