Republic of Ireland V Poland - Wednesday, 19th November 2008 - Friendly

[paul_oshea]

I wonder who Trapattoni would have played if he was in charge of Poland? On the other hand, I wonder who my auntie would be if she had balls?

Isn't that your uncle?

[paul_oshea]

It’s all been thrashed out above but just for what it’s worth here’s what I reckon.

• If O’Shea had made some of Dunne’s errors he’d have been slated here. That said, I think this is a good CB partnership. No complaints.
• McShane had a better game than against Cyprus and at least tried to press forward. However, there was no disguising the fact that we need a natural RB in this position.
• Kilbane was fine, but was clearly instructed to stay back.
• Gibson started the game well and faded. He and Whelan were better than against Cyprus though. The lack of pressure of a competitive game allowed Gibson to express himself a bit more.
• Duff had a fine game, poor finishing notwithstanding.
• Keogh has nothing to offer RHM at this level. If only Liam Lawrence was fit so we could have had a look.
• It was worth having a look at Folan. He did ok but I thought both Noel Hunt and Shane Long looked livelier and harder to defend against. I though the team lacked tempo until the Reading trio were introduced.
• Doyle had to work hard and player deeper than usual and did well enough in the circumstances.

Stephen Hunt is an enigma. He clearly does play better off the bench though there’s no logic to this.

I’m disappointed we didn’t get to see Foley and Delaney. The well known trio of young Championship central midfielders have to be looked at at some stage and I’m frustrated it wasn’t this week.

Trap is clearly set in his ways so we’d better hope that central midfield improves, the defence stays strong and the 6 or so genuine internationals we have stay fit.

It wasn’t a bad game. Their goals were well taken, Duff could have had a couple of goals. Based on chances created we did OK, but there are flaws in this team that were exposed and it’s no harm to be aware of them.

Re: the points about a destructive midfielder who gets stuck in and sits in front of the defense and wins ball back which we clearly need, do people think McShane to be hte perfect example here? I think he does't have the positional sense or pace to be a full back, and he makes too many mistakes at CB to be played there, but if he was played as a defensive midfielder to sit in front of the 2 CBs this could be perfect. IF he makes a mistake there is still a line of defence in behind him so its not as costly. I think McShanes biggest asset is his ability to get stuck in, make tackles and win ball and it could be exactly what we need. All he needs to do then is pass it off to a more creative midfielder who controls the game i.e. Andy Reid.

[eirebhoy]

Re: the points about a destructive midfielder who gets stuck in and sits in front of the defense and wins ball back which we clearly need, do people think McShane to be hte perfect example here? I think he does't have the positional sense or pace to be a full back, and he makes too many mistakes at CB to be played there, but if he was played as a defensive midfielder to sit in front of the 2 CBs this could be perfect. IF he makes a mistake there is still a line of defence in behind him so its not as costly.

The Gary Caldwell way. No way would I risk McShane there. I think you're underestimating how fatal it can be for the deepest midfielder to lose possession.

[paul_oshea]

The Gary Caldwell way. No way would I risk McShane there. I think you're underestimating how fatal it can be for the deepest midfielder to lose possession.

NO, I'm not saying to lose possession, using him simply to win back possession. As soon as he gets it he gets rid of it. I spose though what I'm really saying is that he would be good in a 5 man midfield, but its not a route we can afford to go down really, given the quality we have in certain positions and the need to use that quality.

[RivaldoBabb]

We were shocking. No stability in defence, non existant midfield and a few headless chickens up front.

This is the worst pool of players we have had in the last 20 years.

[geysir]

Good reading from Tets and Stutts
The use of bullets definitely adds that bit of oomph.

It will be curious to see what Trap makes of Andrews.
I liked the response from Whelan in a post match interview, more or less expressed a steely determination to get into the first team at Stoke

[Stuttgart88]

No way would I let McShane anywhere near a midfield berth.

The best Irish midfield performance I've seen at any level in years was at St. Mary's where we played a 3 man midfield of Garvan, Stephen Quinn & JJ O'Toole.

[eirebhoy]

This is the worst pool of players we have had in the last 20 years.

Jesus it wasn't too long ago that I was shouting for Kavanagh to come in to midfield. He did come in for a bit, in place of Matt Holland who hardly kicked a ball for us in so many games. Kinsella played a bit here and there but he was past it and was moving to clubs like Walsall. Healy also played a few games while Kilbane was a mainstay in the centre.

We had Steve Finnan filling in at right midfield a lot. Duff had to play up front a bit before Morrison broke in the team. Morrison's nowhere near this squad. Gary Doherty played almost 20 times under Kerr. Gary Breen and Ian Harte a good few games. Alan Maybury. Alan Lee. Stephen Carr was well past it. Nick Colgan was our sub keeper before Kenny. David Connolly and Alan Quinn got 6 caps each. Stephen Elliott was breaking into the team, albeit a good young player.

Do not tell me this is the worst set of players in 20 years. We're never going to have fabulous strength in depth but with everyone fit we've a very strong first team with the exception of the left back spot. There's plenty of back up players but we can't do without Richard Dunne, just like there was no way we could survive without Cunningham under Kerr.

Also, I'd say we could put a midfield together from the current set of players that would outplay any Keane-less team from the McCarthy/Kerr/Stan era.

[DeLorean]

Ya I think it's an insult to the holding midfield role by suggesting that because McShane gets stuck in he could hack it in this position. You need a positional sense and brain for this role, neither are traits I'd associate with him.

[tetsujin1979]

Wasn't that Bruce who headed just over? Anyway, excellent post. Morrison and Barrett both scored on their debuts I think.

Sorry, yeah, it was Bruce. When Andrews scored, I thought it was Bruce, didn't realise it was Andrews until the announcer called out his name.

[DeLorean]

Jesus it wasn't too long ago that I was shouting for Kavanagh to come in to midfield. He did come in for a bit, in place of Matt Holland who hardly kicked a ball for us in so many games. Kinsella played a bit here and there but he was past it and was moving to clubs like Walsall. Healy also played a few games while Kilbane was a mainstay in the centre.

We had Steve Finnan filling in at right midfield a lot. Duff had to play up front a bit before Morrison broke in the team. Morrison's nowhere near this squad. Gary Doherty played almost 20 times under Kerr. Gary Breen and Ian Harte a good few games. Alan Maybury. Alan Lee. Stephen Carr was well past it. Nick Colgan was our sub keeper before Kenny. David Connolly and Alan Quinn got 6 caps each. Stephen Elliott was breaking into the team, albeit a good young player.

Do not tell me this is the worst set of players in 20 years. We're never going to have fabulous strength in depth but with everyone fit we've a very strong first team with the exception of the left back spot. There's plenty of back up players but we can't do without Richard Dunne, just like there was no way we could survive without Cunningham under Kerr.

Also, I'd say we could put a midfield together from the current set of players that would outplay any Keane-less team from the McCarthy/Kerr/Stan era.

I'd agree with this. I think we've the bones of a good side and to be fair if the two Reids were playing and Stephen Ireland was available it would have the look of a seriously strong side. Fair enough this isn't the case so there's not much point in talking bout it. Still though we've a world class gk, a world class central defender in Dunne, 2 Champions Lge winners in Finnan and O'Shea (I know I'm being generous to O'Shea here with my choice of words but he's adequate with Dunne beside him). I honestly think Kilbane has finally found his true calling at left back. In McGeady and Duff we have two genuinley skillful and exciting wingers, although I do feel McGeady does him best work on the left cutting in but this is managable). In Doyle we've got a highly intelligent football brain who gives every last bit he has and Robbie Keane has 35 intl goals which is unheard of for an Irish striker really, especially at a relatively young age of 28. Centre mid's obviously an absolutely massive issue but worst team in 20yrs, you're having a laugh!!!

[irishultra]

the formation is unrealistic but i wish a manager came in and just went for something innovative, the players u listed there ciaran show we do have the players(if they all wanted to play and were fit) to play a flexible and on paper attacking formation.

[tetsujin1979]

How much money would you pay to watch this team play?


---------------Given----------

-----O'Shea----Dunne----O'Brien

-------------Steven Reid--------
---------Andy Reid----Ireland-------
Duff---------------------------McGeady
---------Keane--------Doyle----------


That'd send shivers down the spine of any defence in the world, I mean jesus how do you defend against the combined creativity of 2 Reids and Ireland, Duff and McGeady flying at you and the finishing of Keane and Doyle?

Bomb long balls into the corners, and play a big target man in the middle. Duff and McGeady are not known for tracking back, so there would be a massive amount of space for speedy wingers to exploit out there which would drag the outside centre half away from the centre of defence, leaving 2 defenders VS 2 opposition strikers.
O'Shea and O'Brien look shaky enough in a four man defence. God knows what they're like in a 3-man. Play someone like Ibrahimovic, Berbatov, or Crouch against them and someone with pace to run off the balls they'd win in the air.
That team would be like Brazil going forward, but one tackler in midfield leaves the defence painfully exposed.
Trapattoni's teams are built with 6 defensive players (4 defenders + 2 defensive central midfielders) and 4 attacking players (2 wingers + 2 strikers), your team has 4 defensive players + 6 attackers. Keegan would be proud.

[eirebhoy]

Sorry, yeah, it was Bruce. When Andrews scored, I thought it was Bruce, didn't realise it was Andrews until the announcer called out his name.

I actually thought it was Andrews coming on when it was Bruce.

[DeLorean]

How much money would you pay to watch this team play?


---------------Given----------

-----O'Shea----Dunne----O'Brien

-------------Steven Reid--------
---------Andy Reid----Ireland-------
Duff---------------------------McGeady
---------Keane--------Doyle----------


That'd send shivers down the spine of any defence in the world, I mean jesus how do you defend against the combined creativity of 2 Reids and Ireland, Duff and McGeady flying at you and the finishing of Keane and Doyle?

Ya the personnel is appealing but tis far too attack minded. I'd prefer....

---------------Given----------

Finnan-----O'Shea----Dunne----Kilbane

-------------Steven Reid--------
---------Andy Reid----Ireland-------

Doyle-----------------------Duff/McGeady
----------------Keane------------------

[tetsujin1979]

I actually thought it was Andrews coming on when it was Bruce.

Bruce was wearing 19, and Andrews was wearing 12. From where I was sitting up in the Gods at the back of the Cusack, it was hard to tell the difference!

[paul_oshea]

to be honest i'm sick of the formations threads that appear on here because we will never see them and its futile. Can we buy Ireland like that football club in england and the majority get to pick the players.

[DeLorean]

to be honest i'm sick of the formations threads that appear on here because we will never see them and its futile. Can we buy Ireland like that football club in england and the majority get to pick the players.

True enough for u.....we like tormenting ourselves though all the same!!!

[viagogo]

italy ARE a poor team. who's italy'sbest player? cannavaro. and he's practically finished, he's been rubbish for real madrid. they have no strikers as i've said. their midfield is very ordinary, gattuso and de rossi??? hardly anything special. and then you've dossena at left back along with matterazzi centre-half?and you're telling me the only irish player who'd get on the team is robbie keane?! wake up man. even the italian press have said italy are shi%te, i will go to the bookies tomorrow and bet everything i own that italy will not retain the world cup, in fact i'd put a bet on that they won't even qualify. ireland have a better squad

Is this a wind up. We have a better squad. Have you seen the Irish team.What Irish player would get in their squad.

[DeLorean]