Today's Irish Independent

[endabob1]

Superhoops is bang on the money here. yes McGeady was very good in the 2nd half but in the first he was brutal, I lost count of the number of crosses that sailed out of play, straight into the keepers hands or sailed over the Keane & Doyle. I appreciate that he was on the wrong side for the first half hour or so but even so from a supposedly top-class player his distrobution in the first half was Very poor but like the man says he was much better in the second half.
Whoever said the ratings were problably done at half time with Keanes changed because of the goals may not be too far wide of the mark.

[elroy]

You just gotta laugh at the newspapers:
Back page of Indo: No way back for (Stephen) Ireland

Irish Times: GT insists the door is still open for Stephen Ireland.

The real story behind the headlines is that Trap has said that if Ireland qualify for the WC without SI then he will (and rightly not) not allow SI to play any part in the finals.

Separately, the game drew a peak audience of 1.077m with an average of 768k - fantastic numbers and i think judging by prior years that figure is already likely to be the highest viewing figures for Ireland for any sport event this year.

[lionelhutz]

never a game goes by that our captain doesnt get this kind of tripe thrown at him. keane also ran his socks off and did what he's there to do and scored two goals. decent performance and at least as good as doyle

Keane truly was dire. I'd love to say he played well and has done consistently but the fact is he hasn't had an effective or influential 90 mins for Ireland for a long time now.

On Wed night he barely got a touch of the ball, although Irelands long ball tactic didn't really help him. But I felt he could have read Doyles flick ons much better. And there were a couple of through balls that he should have been alot sharper to.

I felt he should have been taken off after an hour. Try the Hunt Doyle combination from Reading. Then he scored twice but his overall performance was very poor IMO.

With regards the Indo, I find David Kelly's writing constantly cringe worthy - whether it's rugby or soccer. His writing is more in tune with the sun or mirror. However, I like Vincent Hogans pieces in general but he got it wrong about Keane yesterday.

[Pike B]

Keane truly was dire. I'd love to say he played well and has done consistently but the fact is he hasn't had an effective or influential 90 mins for Ireland for a long time now.

On Wed night he barely got a touch of the ball, although Irelands long ball tactic didn't really help him. But I felt he could have read Doyles flick ons much better. And there were a couple of through balls to him that he should have been alot sharper.

I felt he should have been taken off after an hour. Try the Hunt Doyle combination from Reading. Then he scored twice but his overall performance was very poor IMO.

With regards the Indo, I find David Kelly's writing constantly cringe worthy - whether it's rugby or soccer. His writing is more in tune with the sun or mirror. However, I like Vincent Hogans pieces in general but he got it wrong about Keane yesterdya.

I am a centre forward myself,(although at a junior level) and as such understand that it is without question the hardest position on the pitch. You are a victim of whats behind you and if they are rubbish, well, you can be a spectator. But in the case of a great striker, you never ever take them off. Because as Keane showed, they're dangerous for the entire 90mins.

I agree with your assesment but I wouldn't have taken him off. Trapp knew he was capable of what he did. And next time he's having a mare, he'll still stay on.

[jbyrne]

Keane truly was dire. I'd love to say he played well and has done consistently but the fact is he hasn't had an effective or influential 90 mins for Ireland for a long time now.

is two goals not considered influential? my god, what nonsense

[endabob1]

Sorry unless I'm mistaken isn't Scoring goals the whole point of the game??

[geysir]

If anybody picked Doyle as motm, no problem imo.

Watching the game a second time yesterday I changed from a few first impressions.
Dunne was very culpable for the goal, it was his ball to deal with and the very dangerous flick on should not have been allowed. He dealt with everything after that.

On McGeady, he did alright in the first half.
3 poor crosses out of about 8 or 9,
about 95% of his passes completed successfully,
won a few corners
and a very confident run on the break with a good shot.
Credit to him for holding his head up and turning in a great performance in the second half. He deserves all the plaudits for an overall very good performance.

[lionelhutz]

is two goals not considered influential? my god, what nonsense

Look, I think Robbie Keane is a great talent and Irelands best striker in my lifetime. I just feel he could do more in games for us. He could link up play more and hold it up better.

Yes he scored the 2 goals that won us the game (1 a penalty and the other shouldered into the net) but he could have made more of an impression on the game IMO.

Doyle and McGeady carried the fight to Georgia in a way I felt our captain should have been doing.

I always support every Irish player to the full and I pray that he performs brilliantly in the upcoming big games - which he is capable of doing.

[Superhoops]

watch the second half again in cold light of day, without the nerves we all felt watching it live, and tell me again he was poor.

Not sure if you intended this towards me but I did agree in my response to backtowalsall that McGeady played well in the second half.

He certainly was (the best player on the park) in the second half, but in the first half he was dreadful only marignally better than Stephen Kelly. But how he got MOTM in front of Kevin Doyle is unbelieveable.

[jmurphyc]

Yes he scored the 2 goals that won us the game (1 a penalty and the other shouldered into the net) but he could have made more of an impression on the game IMO.

I thought he was relatively poor up until the goals. Attacking wise he wasd quite poor IMO; he was struggling to utilise the ball and moves were breaking down due to him. But defensively he was quite good. He was constantly harrying the defenders and managed to snatch the ball off a defender on a couple of occasions, if I recall correctly. He'll certainly be useful to us in that regard for the rest of the campaign.

[eirebhoy]

Separately, the game drew a peak audience of 1.077m with an average of 768k - fantastic numbers and i think judging by prior years that figure is already likely to be the highest viewing figures for Ireland for any sport event this year.

All the Late Late show heads tuning in to watch Dunphy.

[Stuttgart88]

Not sure if you intended this towards me but I did agree in my response to backtowalsall that McGeady played well in the second half.

Not directed at you at all, just a general quip at anyone who was moaning about the performance. I cited the second half because that's all I've seen again since the game and what stood out for me in the second half was how well McGeady did.

His final ball isn't as good as Duff's but he has added a directness & willingness to shoot which is a threat.

Funny thing is that Doyle and Keane are probably best served from a central position but our 2 most creative players are wide guys. That's an issue that needs to be addressed somehow. I did like Andrews' willingness to make himself available, not unlike Lampard or Gerrard, around the box to give them an extra option.

[geysir]

Yes he scored the 2 goals that won us the game (1 a penalty and the other shouldered into the net) but he could have made more of an impression on the game IMO.

Whilst the penalty decision was dubious, Robbie grabbed the ball without hesitation, it was his responsibility to take this high pressure, he dispatched it masterly and with supreme confidence. The diving "header" was a well taken goal.

Not referring to you LH, but it is incredible that this player does not get due credit for coming up with the essential goods in a game where he at least busted his gut to get involved and to get up to his pace.
Part of it is that we take a converted penalty as granted.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Keane truly was dire. I'd love to say he played well and has done consistently but the fact is he hasn't had an effective or influential 90 mins for Ireland for a long time now.

On Wed night he barely got a touch of the ball, although Irelands long ball tactic didn't really help him. But I felt he could have read Doyles flick ons much better. And there were a couple of through balls that he should have been alot sharper to.

I felt he should have been taken off after an hour. Try the Hunt Doyle combination from Reading. Then he scored twice but his overall performance was very poor IMO.

With regards the Indo, I find David Kelly's writing constantly cringe worthy - whether it's rugby or soccer. His writing is more in tune with the sun or mirror. However, I like Vincent Hogans pieces in general but he got it wrong about Keane yesterday.

Thank Christ you're not the manager so. Keane stood up when it counted. He got more into the game as it went on, how anyone can criticse him after scoring twice is beyond me. Strikers are there to score goals, would you sooner his link up play had been superb and we'd lost one nil? Dire???!!! Beggars belief.

Kelly's piece in the Indo was a disgrace though, I'll give you that.

[BigmanCas]

If anybody picked Doyle as motm, no problem imo.

Watching the game a second time yesterday I changed from a few first impressions.
Dunne was very culpable for the goal, it was his ball to deal with and the very dangerous flick on should not have been allowed. He dealt with everything after that.

On McGeady, he did alright in the first half.
3 poor crosses out of about 8 or 9,
about 95% of his passes completed successfully,
won a few corners
and a very confident run on the break with a good shot.
Credit to him for holding his head up and turning in a great performance in the second half. He deserves all the plaudits for an overall very good performance.

Stephan Kelly was 100% at fault - he was sleeping.

On Mc Geady - exactly - your stats say it all. Hands down Man of the Match. It's official as well.

[geysir]

I don´t doubt that Kelly was snoozing on the job.
Next time you see it have a look at Dunne, no concentration or snoozing himself, his man rose unchallenged to flick on. That would not have happened to Dunne anytime later on in the game.

[back of the net]

Superhoop - did you watch the game. Mc Geady insisted from the getgo to attack his man he was eager, willing and showed a hunger that aside from Doyle, nobody else on the team sustained for the full 90 minutes. I am sick, sore and tired of people who seem to have an inability to spot this quality in him. The naysayers and there are many in this little land of ours that have wrote Mc Geady off in the past are reluctant to change their minds on this performance. They are blinded by intransigence. These include you my friend. Stephan Kelly is substandard and the fact that you brought him into your argument reinforces my point. Open up man - give in - you are wrong.

Bigman Cas - i am in complete agreement with Superhoops on mcgeady - i was at the game also and i thought mcgeady was bloody diabolical in the first half...absolutely awful. Big improvement in the 2nd - but first half he was terrible.

nothing against the lad...he was just poor in the first half of the game

[boovidge]

Hopefully the good second half performance will give McGeady confidence in the Irish shirt. You could visibly see him grow in confidence after he went on that first run.

As far as Keane's concerned I think people are being a little harsh. It wasn't a vintage performance overall but all a striker can do is score goals. Alot of people on here say he doesn't produce the goods in big games. With 20 minutes left and Ireland going out the World Cup he got 2.

Doyle played well, worked hard and got his head on a few balls but in the end failed to penetrate the Georgian defence which is ultimately the most important thing.

[irishultra]

yep i watched the game, keane was out of the game but he wasn't so bad. I think trap is trying to fool himself into thinking keane is some irish totti, but he really isn't that is why we need ireland to link these up between midfield and attack.

at no point during traps games that i can remember have we threatened to get behind the defence with a nice through ball.

[Stuttgart88]

McGeady's chance in Montenegro?

Keane's goal in Norway, and his goal at Craven Cottage?

I accept the broad point though. I think I said on this thread that Doyle & Keane are best served by central midfield than by wingers and this is an issue we need to address.