Nigeria Post Match Thoughts and Analysis

**John83** · 30/05/2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

The two big Q's for next week is who will partner Dunne/JOSH and KK and who will be alongside Keane up front.

Unless I've missed an injury, there's still a decision to be made in central midfield too: Andrews or Gibson to partner Whelan. Even Miller might be hoping to be considered given he's supposed to have been decent against Nigeria, though I'd expect him on the bench at best.

**dr_peepee** · 30/05/2009, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by howsyourtouch

the back four is being built around john o'shea and dunne,why would anyone possibly disrupt this half way through a qualifying campaign.

Because Trapp disrupted it against Italy to put O'Shea full back so it's somewhere in his thinkin. Fact is that as things stand O'Shea and Dunne are our best CB pairing however for the back four as a unit there's a case to be argued for playing O'Shea at Full back.
One question to be asked is "Is St Ledger a better centre half than Kilbane is a left full or McShane Right full??"...

I don't think it'll happen against Bulgaria but I'd expect St Ledger to get games in the centre in Thomond Park in August..

Keane was quality last night... Though that air hit on the turn in the penalty area was trademark. Difficult I know, but I think it's that finesse that keeps him out of the top four sides. Defoe, allthough the inferior player in IMO would have got it on target.

Too hard to judge really, I think in terms of the new guys. Friendlies at this stage always are. Foley looked assured, but not as solid as I'd like from a full back. I always prefare solid doggish fullbacks given the choice (Carr pre 2002) but foley looked good in parts in is probbly the best specialist right full we have at the minute..

I saw some play from Nolan that would indicate there's a centre half in him. Wouldn't be overly confident with him at left full. Miller showed some good stuff but there's always that scene where he's half a second off the pace... Thought Andrews done well enough. He'll retain his place with Whelan on Sat. As much as Lawrence would have done nothing to displace McGeady or Duff, he has presence and physicality. These little tussles and battles are not to be underestimated and I think he'll retain his place in the squad. I think his football will come through with a few more caps..

Best done well but I couldn't help feeling there's more there. He definately ticks a few more box's than Folan in terms of atributes. And it wasn't all route one. Hopefully Trapp's the man to get him to tap into that last 20%... . I Think an eleven with Dunne a fit Reid and a Best would be a real solid spine!!!

**geysir** · 30/05/2009, 1:36 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Unless I've missed an injury, there's still a decision to be made in central midfield too: Andrews or Gibson to partner Whelan. Even Miller might be hoping to be considered given he's supposed to have been decent against Nigeria, though I'd expect him on the bench at best.

Most would agree that the CM partnership looks reasonably settled in Trap's mind and the question most likely will be answered, without too much stress, by Whelan and Andrews.
RB is a proven dodgy area.
Most would like to think that Trap is thinking long and hard about the options to replace McShane at RB.
This friendly game showed that Trap was quite (100%) justified in not throwing Foley and Nolan into a qualifier, even ahead of McShane.
Which leaves O'Shea or Kelly as the only real alternatives at RB.

**Junior** · 30/05/2009, 2:04 PM

I hadnt seen any of the debutants play before, only read about them on here.

St-Ledger - I thought he looked great. Physical, assertive, confident, good ariel threat. He lived up to the hype. I really liked the lok of him.

Nolan/Foley - Less impressed. Foley did make some crisp passes but also lost possession a few times far too easily. Unfortuantely he didnt get forward as much as I would have hoped. Nolan did nothing of note. I doubt either did anything to harm/improve their chances of future caps too much tbh.

Best - Put in a good shift. Thought I was watching Folan at first! Similar attributes. Will be interesting to see if he defers back to Folan for Saturday. Best was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet but for a great block.

Lawrence - Fairly quiet game, has a bit of 'dig' about him that I generally like, though I hope he has the temperment to control it.

Someone said Nigeria were poor. I actually thought they looked quite decent. Very composed at the back (ok sometimes a little too composed!) and comfortable on the ball. Some lovely passing from midfield out to their wide players, swept it around quite quickly.

Good noise from both sets of fans. Nigerias "All we are saying is give us a goooaaal" sounded great. Probably only a fewthousand behind the goal but when it first struck up sounded like 50,000 - good tune.

Good first half, 2nd half was less entertaining. Beautiful evening, treated myself to a Riverside Stand ticket (way overpriced for a friendly!!!) had a few prematch and half time swallies - all in, a good night!!

Even spotted Sligohornets jersey prematch in the Golden Lion!!

**lopez** · 30/05/2009, 2:30 PM

Won't go into a great deal of match analysis, because I'm not expert enough in it, but I think that Nigeria on the skill side of things looked more impressive. Think 1-1 was fair result and good seeing the players that were missing.

Love these internationals at Craven Cottage and hope they continue. Took Conchita y los ninos to the game. It's a great part of London but dissapointed that there was not as many as last year, probably down to the small Nigerian support to Colombia's, which is a bit of a disgrace considering that there are more Nigerians than Colombians in London and that they are more affluent. Hope to get one of the World Cup Carribbean teams (Jamaica or Trinidad) or another South American side, if it is played again next year. Irish fans have played their part ensuring this fixture is a success and gets some sort of regularity, so hope it doesn't get binned when the FAI are looking to get every friendly Ireland ever plays in future, hosted at Lansdowne Road.

**zenokelly** · 30/05/2009, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Unless I've missed an injury, there's still a decision to be made in central midfield too: Andrews or Gibson to partner Whelan. Even Miller might be hoping to be considered given he's supposed to have been decent against Nigeria, though I'd expect him on the bench at best.

I think there's 3 decisions that Trap has to make.

St Ledger/McShane at the back. I'm not including Foley because I don't think the manager fancied him before last night, was at fault for the goal, and was very sloppy in the first half.

Whelan and Gibson/Andrews. Personally i think that Andrews will get the nod, but I wouldn't rule out Gibson, solely because of Trap's subsitution in Bari(by the way Gibson's a doubt for Sofia)

And 2 of Duff/McGeady/Hunt. People might think that it will be Duff and McGeady, but I wouldn't be so sure considering Trap could have been seen to be resting Hunt last night and his MOTM performance in Bari.

No matter what, it will be the most interesting team selection by Trap so far in the qualifiers.

**the doc** · 30/05/2009, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

I'm not passionate about St. Ledger replacing O'Shea in the middle, and O'Shea being pushed out right, but if a change is to happen with our back 4, that would be the one I'd make.

I don't think anyone expects Trapp to break up the Dunne/O'Shea partnership, but at last Trapp is looking at options and giving new players a chance to show what they can do.

**Colbert Report** · 30/05/2009, 4:56 PM

I'll tell you something. That young Westwood lad has an unreal leg on him. He kicked it the full length of the pitch how many times?

**irishultra** · 30/05/2009, 6:00 PM

Originally Posted by lopez

Won't go into a great deal of match analysis, because I'm not expert enough in it, but I think that Nigeria on the skill side of things looked more impressive. Think 1-1 was fair result and good seeing the players that were missing.

Love these internationals at Craven Cottage and hope they continue. Took Conchita y los ninos to the game. It's a great part of London but dissapointed that there was not as many as last year, probably down to the small Nigerian support to Colombia's, which is a bit of a disgrace considering that there are more Nigerians than Colombians in London and that they are more affluent. Hope to get one of the World Cup Carribbean teams (Jamaica or Trinidad) or another South American side, if it is played again next year. Irish fans have played their part ensuring this fixture is a success and gets some sort of regularity, so hope it doesn't get binned when the FAI are looking to get every friendly Ireland ever plays in future, hosted at Lansdowne Road.

How about we host some England matches here for all their immigrants

**paul_oshea** · 30/05/2009, 7:20 PM

lads may sound like a stupid question, but i thought foley was right back and nolan left back?sounds different from what im reading here as i thought foley looked good on the ball whereas nolan looked a bit unsure and nervous like he didnt really want the ball...

**geysir** · 30/05/2009, 7:35 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

lads may sound like a stupid question, but i thought foley was right back and nolan right back?sounds different from what im reading here.

Looks like you need a few more days to sober up, Paul.

**paul_oshea** · 30/05/2009, 7:36 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Looks like you need a few more days to sober up, Paul.

edited but, yes, i do, ive been in bed all day only eating dinner/breakfast now. Cant drink pints of heineken export till 4 in the morning, it wrecks me

**geysir** · 30/05/2009, 7:57 PM

Trap looks to be edging to playing Robbie in his Bari role again, with Folan (if fit) up front.

“Yes, people talk about Caleb Folan and Kevin Doyle and we need to find other players who can play up front while Robbie plays a little but between attack and midfield. It’s important to find and another player who can play in this space.”

sounds like a verbatim quote

**ifk101** · 30/05/2009, 8:14 PM

I thought Nigeria were quite poor - probably the reason Liam Miller had a good game

.

Of the debutants;
St Ledger looked too slow for the international game but I'll reserve judgement for now.
Nolan needs a few seasons of first team football before he becomes a viable option.
Foley was shaky defensively but looks a better option than McShane at right-full.
Lawrence looked out of position and had a poor game.
Best did well (I can see why NI were interested in him

) but needs to learn how to score.

**peadar1987** · 30/05/2009, 8:53 PM

Lawrence, as I've said before, is a strange player. He can be electric or awful. Most of the time he's very good at picking out passes, and delivering them, although he's lacking in pace. About once in every five or six games though, he'll hit his time of the month, and won't be able to find a red and white shirt all match.

**Paddy Garcia** · 30/05/2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by zenokelly

I think there's 3 decisions that Trap has to make.

St Ledger/McShane at the back. I'm not including Foley because I don't think the manager fancied him before last night, was at fault for the goal, and was very sloppy in the first half.

.

Surely he won't pick McShane again - once again his performance was useless, unbelievable errors which underline why he cant get a game of football.

**irishfan86** · 30/05/2009, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

Surely he won't pick McShane again - once again his performance was useless, unbelievable errors which underline why he cant get a game of football.

He's good in the air and a good tackler. I think playing centre-half for a Championship side or lower Premier League side is what he needs to be doing- he's not as bad as some say here, but he's just not a fullback.

I think Hull should try and snap him up- even though he played as a fullback for them he seemed to fit in with their system.

In terms of Ireland, I'd have him in the squad as our 4th choice centre-half, and not in the reckoning at all for fullback at this point in time.

**Colbert Report** · 31/05/2009, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

He's good in the air and a good tackler. I think playing centre-half for a Championship side or lower Premier League side is what he needs to be doing- he's not as bad as some say here, but he's just not a fullback.

I think Hull should try and snap him up- even though he played as a fullback for them he seemed to fit in with their system.

In terms of Ireland, I'd have him in the squad as our 4th choice centre-half, and not in the reckoning at all for fullback at this point in time.

Who would you put in at right back next week against Bulgaria? Foley?

**irishfan86** · 31/05/2009, 12:18 AM

I'm loathe to break up the pairing of Dunne and O'Shea, but I'd seriously think about pushing O'Shea out to the right and putting St. Ledger in the middle with Dunne.

I think placing one of our best defenders in O'Shea up against Martin Petrov as opposed to letting him run at the inexperienced Foley or the incapable McShane would also be a smart decision.