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

[Duggie]

mcgeady was ok, he has serious pace if his end product just gets a little better. will be a big player for us in the coming years i believe. hes ok IMO.

look at all the results across all the groups. teams will drop points. its a long road.

[Stuttgart88]

I think persisting with 2 traditional wingers may not be the best way to service Keane & Doyle. I also think that Liam Lawrence may well have been the type of player who’d have been useful to bring on last night (if nothing else his set pieces delivery is very good).

In due course a narrower but tight midfield with Whelan anchoring both Reids and maybe McGeady or Duff having a freer role? Our full backs are strong enough to assume the responsibility that this involves.

I’m still happy enough. I disappointed we’ve left 2 points out there but there were clear signs that we’re getting better & more cohesive and less vulnerable at the back.

[John83]

I think John O'Shea has been possesed by the spirit of the undead Franco Baresi.

All hail zombie Baresi.

International matches are infrequent enough that people consistently seem to expect a win. It just doesn't happen. This group will be very tight too, so the two points aren't as significant as some people make out. I'm happy with the four points, and I'm very happy with the performances.

[blobbyblob]

Thought it was a solid, composed and patient performance where the players were comfortable with their roles and look to have taken ownership of this qualification campaign. Thats reflected in their ratings this morning. Given that the only worthy argument for column inches since the weekend has been for the inclusion(or not) of Andy Reid, it speaks volumes of what Trap has done in 4 games.

If your waking up from a coma since the era of Stan - "Its safe to come out"

My only criticism would surround set pieces - attacking. Delivery of frees and corners were shocking and away from home especially we need to be at least creating from these oppurtunities. To fail to beat the first defender at this level is inexcusable. We've also switched off defending on more than one occasion.

Little details add up to points.

[dr_peepee]

I think persisting with 2 traditional wingers may not be the best way to service Keane & Doyle. I also think that Liam Lawrence may well have been the type of player who’d have been useful to bring on last night (if nothing else his set pieces delivery is very good)..

When is the next Friendly?? Just wondering will he bring in the like of Lawrence then...

[Bored]

From the other side (Montenegro), I can say that the public is mildly content with the point against Ireland, the loss of two points to Bulgarians still being a key fact in the press today.

It was bound to end 0-0 with just 2 or 3 semi-decent chances throughout the game. Ireland's best was ruined by Keane's bad effort from the volley, while McGeady's chance wasn't as good as it seemed. He was too much to the right, and had no space to get inside or clean assist options. We had Vucinic alone shooting from a narrow angle and two half-decent long shots, the deflected one being the most likely to get past Given.

Overall, I feel the Ireland's greatest advantage was on the bench. Our manager is well below European average, with no notable successes even on local level, poor international experience, no tactical vision whatsoever, and is incapable of managing a side which should aim to play modern football. Though it improved over the last few games, disorganized defense and midfield causes us to lose where we should draw, and relying solely on our forwards' individual touches of flair to create chances causes us to draw where we should win. On the other hand, Ireland has a world reputation manager who knows his work. His experience was the sole reason I felt Ireland would snatch a 1-0 win somewhere in the last quarter of the game.

On the sidenote, I was quite surprised that the media seemed to completely ignore Simon Vukcevic (left-footed player wearing #7, entered in second half) before this game, while he's pretty much the key player for the national team, and not quite low profile either - being officially the best player of portugese league last season and carrying a 20 mil tag. It was quite strange how media focused on the likes of Boskovic and Jovetic instead, especially considering that it was Simon who had most impact in the second half against Bulgaria.

[seanfhear]

When is the next Friendly?? Just wondering will he bring in the like of Lawrence then...

I think that Lawrence could be a better option than Stephen Hunt but for whatever the reason he has not become a mainstay of the squad.

[rambler14]

I missed the match last night and I only saw sufficient highlights this morning and from what i've seen, it was a BLATANT handball and i'm still wondering how it wasn't given!
Also McGeady had a chance that was identical to Walcott's first two goals and the difference was that McGeady went to the near post when Walcott went across the keeper!.........thats the difference between Celtic and Arsenal.

[Montenegrin]

Can somebody explain me what "partizan crowd" means?

[lionelhutz]

Ireland's best was ruined by Keane's bad effort from the volley, while McGeady's chance wasn't as good as it seemed.

Are you serious? Keane's was an extremely difficult chance that he created out of nothing and almost scored. McGeadys chance was much easier, he had loads of time to decide where to put it and should have at the very least put it across the keeper like any decent attacker would.

[Duggie]

Can somebody explain me what "partizan crowd" means?

vocal...hostile that sort of thing.

[Stuttgart88]

Also McGeady had a chance that was identical to Walcott's first two goals and the difference was that McGeady went to the near post

Did he actually go for the near post, or did he just hit it goalward with the ball skewing off the side of his foot?

[Duggie]

Did he actually go for the near post, or did he just hit it goalward with the ball skewing off the side of his foot?

ya think he just hit it like you said. pity great chance but great pass by robbie to set him up.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Did he actually go for the near post, or did he just hit it goalward with the ball skewing off the side of his foot?

He paniced and just took a swipe at it, distinct lack of composure. Shame, was the chance of the game by a long way....

[Dun Laoire]

All hail zombie Baresi.

International matches are infrequent enough that people consistently seem to expect a win. It just doesn't happen. This group will be very tight too, so the two points aren't as significant as some people make out. I'm happy with the four points, and I'm very happy with the performances.

The way i see it is realistically we are looking for second place (I mean if we won the group the country would go into a tizzy). So if you look at it from that point of view and take it that it's between us and Bulgaria for second spot we already have the upper hand because we've already matched them in Montenegro. It's now up to them to go out and beat Georgia away.

[Billsthoughts]

Are you serious? Keane's was an extremely difficult chance that he created out of nothing and almost scored. McGeadys chance was much easier, he had loads of time to decide where to put it and should have at the very least put it across the keeper like any decent attacker would.

I thought Keane's volley was a great bit of skill. As good as you would see in an Ireland match in manys the long year.

[joeSoap]

I took some great positives from the two games:

1).We now have a very established, very experienced back 5. O'Shea has looked far more composed alongside Dunne, and we have solid full backs and keeper. We won't be conceding 5 to anybody...let alone Cyprus.

2). Whelan is a good worker, and when Reid gains full fitness, they will be a strong partnership.

3). McGeady and Hunt are our Achilles Heel. Duff, if ever fit again, and Andy Reid have to be our wide men for the remainder of the campaign. I know every manager has his pets, and I hope and pray McGeady or Hunt aren't Trappatonis. Hunt is nothing only a runner. He is also a liability as he is a dirty player. I used to think he couldn't tackle, now I believe him to be a dirty player. McGeady will never quite make it imo.

4).Doyle and Keane are sound. The goals will come; especially if Andy Reid and Duff are supplying them the ball.

All in all, I'd have settled for 4 points last Saturday at 5 o'clock. Now I see it as 2 points down the swanny.

[Wolfie]

Content enough with the result but theres a nagging feeling that with a bit of luck (Robbie Keane volley, peno shouts) and composure (McGeady effort) - we could have nicked it.

If we have any real designs on winning the group we really should have been nicking the 3 points last night. This isn't a specific critiscism of the team or the performance. Its the reality of the situation. Italy have the nack of nicking games that we can't.

A few things of note from the game:

John O'Shea - I've been one of his staunchest critics. He was outstanding last night. His best performance for Ireland by a country mile. The bloke needs to make the break from Utd and sign for another club at centre half. He owes it to himself.

Glen Whelan - continues to establish himself. He's by far the finished article but has delivered for us in the short term. I'm sure there's a few who wrote him off are back tracking a bit at this stage.

Stephen Hunt - his attitude and commitment is infectious and commendable. However, he's a school yard player. Head down and leg it. That's the game plan. If Hunt doesn't know what he's going to do next - what hope have the opposition? His delivery for the set pieces last night was abominable. May well revert to "impact sub" status.

How big is the Cyprus game now???!!!??!!

[Noelys Guitar]

I expect Duff to come back against Cyprus but injury permitting no other personnel changes. We should see Stephen Reid venturing further forward more often. And both full backs overlapping occasionally. Exactly what the Italian's do. 1-0 or 2-0 type score. Anyone expecting to see one of Andy Reid/Lawerence/Murphy starting against Cyprus will be disappointed. Not going to happen. Why would Trap drop players who have just got him 4 away points under difficult circumstances (other than Duff who played previously in 2 of Traps 3 first games).

[Stuttgart88]

I thought Keane's volley was a great bit of skill. As good as you would see in an Ireland match in manys the long year.

Superb technique and timing. If he'd only mi**** it slightly or just a fraction either side of the keeper it may have gone in.