Slovakia V Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 12th October 2010 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[paul_oshea]

I was refering to the fact that if russia draw. do i really have to write everything out in plain and simple english or do people just never see the point?!

[dr_peepee]

I think Long will do reasonably well tonight. Consistency is the reason he's still at Reading more so than abillity. He's turned it on in fits and starts in the past and held his own against bigger teams (whilst Reading were in the top flight and in recent cup games).

I actually don't see us loosing tonight. Both teams are coming of the back of recent defeats and are eager to atone. I would hope we're going to be cautious difficult to break down however loosing to Armenia and playing the next game so soon after at home I feel Slovakia will be more keen to open up and push for the win.

It's been too long coming but McGeady needs to step up tonight. All our big names are in some form of rut at club level at the minute bar him.

[shakermaker1982]

I'm tipping Slovakai to beat us (and hopefully I'm jinx em). I'm sick of being positive, a bit of negativity for once might see a reverse in our fortunes....

Slovakia 2 Ireland 1. Both teams start out cagey. They score first, we do what we always do and put up a bit of fight. We get an equaliser, celebrate as if we have won the game and they go and score in the 87th minute from a corner.

The Trap is ridiculed. The players revolt and we are all depressed Thursday morning. A foot.ie campaign starts up asking the FAI to bring back Brian Kerr after the Faroe Islands beat Northern Ireland 5 nil.

[Stuttgart88]

I never understood sending Sledge up for corners and free kicks. I know he scored against Italy but he really isn't that good at attacking the ball in the air and he doesn't look very tall. Dunne and JOSH are better options.

I disagree - Sledge scored against Italy and nearly scored in Armenia. He had a very good goalscoring run for PNE last season. I think he attacks the ball well in the opposition box. Despite his 2 goals last time out, both from Hunt deliveries, Dunne doesn't impress me as much in this regard.

Long surprised me with how well he did in the air on Friday.

[Stuttgart88]

do i really have to write everything out in plain and simple english

Just once would be nice

[Colbert Report]

say bye bye to Paul Green. This guy is brutal . I don’t care how much effort he puts in it does not change this fact. James O Connor is a much better player than he is in fact many of the central midfielders in the LOI are better than him.

Uh......no. If there were any players in the LOI that were better than him, then they'd be playing for Derby in the Championship. The lowest paid player in their squad is making far more than the top paid player in the entire LOI.

[Noelys Guitar]

Tonight all depends on how well Slovakia play. If the replacement players they have to bring in play well then we are in trouble. Good as Long was on Friday it will be that much harder for him starting in this game as a lot is expected (and hopefully he delivers). We always look vunerable at the back from free kicks around the box and corners (Given has to take some of the blame for this as he nevers comes off his line). We had three players on the line when Russia scored their frist goal. Why? We sometimes seem halfway between Rafa Zonal marking and actual man marking. Just the latter please tonight. On the plus side Keane usually gets better the more back to back playing time he gets and he along with the in-form McGeady can cause that Slovakia some real problems unless they unearth a gem from somewere. To close to call this one.

[geysir]

We always look vunerable at the back from free kicks around the box and corners (Given has to take some of the blame for this as he nevers comes off his line). We had three players on the line when Russia scored their frist goal. Why? We sometimes seem halfway between Rafa Zonal marking and actual man marking. Just the latter please tonight.

Just when I thought our back 4 look very composed facing Armenia, we reverted to type against Russia.

[shakermaker1982]

Tonight all depends on how well Slovakia play. If the replacement players they have to bring in play well then we are in trouble. Good as Long was on Friday it will be that much harder for him starting in this game as a lot is expected (and hopefully he delivers). We always look vunerable at the back from free kicks around the box and corners (Given has to take some of the blame for this as he nevers comes off his line). We had three players on the line when Russia scored their frist goal. Why? We sometimes seem halfway between Rafa Zonal marking and actual man marking. Just the latter please tonight. On the plus side Keane usually gets better the more back to back playing time he gets and he along with the in-form McGeady can cause that Slovakia some real problems unless they unearth a gem from somewere. To close to call this one.

I think Kilbane was picking up the guy who scored from the first goal. As soon as the ball pinged around the box he ran to cover the post?! I don't think Whelan was aware of the guy behind him. When I'm defending set pieces I stick with the man I'm picking up until the ball is cleared/safe. If that guy scores = cue moaning for 10 minutes!!!

[bholg]

It's been too long coming but McGeady needs to step up tonight...

This statement is made before every single game. And not just on this board.

[Noelys Guitar]

Just had a look again at the first two goals for Russia on Friday night. Some nice football from Russia but the defending is criminal. United Churches League (no disrespect to the UCL) Division 4 midtable would be ashamed of what went on. We have five players heading back towards our goal for their first leaving three Russians unmarked. Whelan decides its not for him and allows the scorer a free shot. Some nice Russian one touch football leading to their second but look at Kilbane and St Ledger. First of all Kilbane is caught out of position. Then to compund things he never closes down the Russian winger (sticks out his right leg on the edge of our box with the Russian out on the wing. Why not go out to the player?). Then St ledger is just ball watching (nice finish though from the Russian player). This is the first time I have looked back at the game and I did not realise how bad the defending actually was at the time. Got to be stamped out tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiNEipsUR7A

[geysir]

It's a team game and McGeady is on form with his offensive play.

[Kingdom]

I seem to be the only person laying the blame for the first goal squarely at Shay Given's door.....

On another matter, if Fahey is selected, there is more of an option of playing 3-2-1 than there is if Lawro is playing, where we go 4 & 2.

[Noelys Guitar]

And on that video you can see that Keane was definetely clipped for the peno which explains the Russian's muted complaints.

[jbyrne]

I seem to be the only person laying the blame for the first goal squarely at Shay Given's door.....

not squarely but largely so. look at what whelan does, what was he up to at all?

[Stuttgart88]

I seem to be the only person laying the blame for the first goal squarely at Shay Given's door.....

He's definitely culpable to a large degree.

[tetsujin1979]

I seem to be the only person laying the blame for the first goal squarely at Shay Given's door.....

I posted on another forum that he made the same mistake I've seen him make in a lot of recent Ireland games, letting the ball bounce off his chest before attempting to catch it.
Also, just before the shot comes in, McGeady turns on the far post to run with the ball. I know its his first instinct, but no defender would ever do that, he'd put his foot through the ball to clear it, and the danger with it.

[EastTerracer]

And on that video you can see that Keane was definetely clipped for the peno which explains the Russian's muted complaints.

I wonder did the Sunday Independent bother to look at any replays before branding Robbie a cheat on Sunday and suggesting it was a blatant dive.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-2372854.html

We all know he is prone to wave his arms about too much but he gets an undue amount of criticism from Indo in particular.

[tetsujin1979]

We all know he is prone to wave his arms about too much but he gets an undue amount of criticism from Indo in particular.

The whole FAI setup is getting an undue amount of criticism from the Independent at the moment for some reason. Daniel McDonnell in particular has been over the top in his criticism.

[Noelys Guitar]

I seem to be the only person laying the blame for the first goal squarely at Shay Given's door.....

On another matter, if Fahey is selected, there is more of an option of playing 3-2-1 than there is if Lawro is playing, where we go 4 & 2.

Your right. I didn't realise the ball actually reached Given from the free kick.