If they'd got a lucky late equaliser we'd all be laying into the team and ranting about its obvious deficiencies but as it happens, we won. so well done Ireland and the moaning can wait for another day.
Also why is it we play so much worse with the lead?
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
If they'd got a lucky late equaliser we'd all be laying into the team and ranting about its obvious deficiencies but as it happens, we won. so well done Ireland and the moaning can wait for another day.
Last edited by boovidge; 26/03/2011 at 10:47 PM.
RTE's post-game analysis was very unfair to him. Highlighted three or four bad passes but neglected to mention that they were all within the first 5 minutes and his passing was calm and collected from that point on. I did feel he was quieter than he needed to be though. Whelan had a very nervous game, particularly in possession, which is disappointing since he's just won his place back at Stoke and is playing some decent football.Originally Posted by gastric
As good and vital as that tackle was from Gibson, you can't say it was a trademark Gibson tackle.
RTE panel differed slightly in opinions. Giles thinks the players could be encouraged to be more positive and it's the manager who stunts their natural game.
Dunphy who appears to have forgotten about Andy Reid these days, although he is pretty much the same player as he was a year ago, anyway he wants a CM of Fahey and Clark (which is an interesting theory), but then he wants Coleman in for McGeady.
Brady thinks that the players are not there, who can play the way that the others would like us to play. That yes we could play better with say an overlapping full back, but we could also get caught out and be losing games and what then?
The CM is a conundrum and pretty much at the heart of the way forward.
Dunphy also wants Clark to replace Kilbane at left-full and be the second centre-half. I think Clark is a very promising player but I really don't think we'd be able to put up much of a challenge with 9 players.
Good article up on Soccernet already. Trap saying Doyle will miss rest of the prem season 1-2 months with ligament damage but hopeful of him playing in June. That should thrill MM.
Also Trap "lashing out" at those who questioned his selection of Foley.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ous%22?cc=5901
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
I wonder if the state of the pitch had anything to do with Kevin's injury. Even allowing for the rugby international last week, it was in absolutely abysmal shape. Tough break for Wolves, but I think Ebanks-Blake is marginally more suited to their passing style. Doyle's aerial ability encourages them to play long balls when really they don't need to.
It's a pity for Doyle because, even if Wolves had been relegated, good end-of-season form would have suitors lining up for him in the summer.
You know Charlie you may have a point as he clearly had gotten hurt or tweaked something a few minutes before he went down, staying in and tweaking it again. The second time he was like "Thats it I'm out Im out..."
I thought it was a torn ACL but seeing him walk off changed that... Also he didnt seem to be in the pain you usually see them in when they tear the ACL MCL or god forbid the PCL.
TBH being it is MM who manages Wolves, thought Trap could have been a little more sensitive with his comments. Not that he is thinking that in a post game interview being conducted in a language he hasn't quite mastered but yet.....
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
I seem to recall Doyle having a bit of trouble with his knee earlier on, so maybe it was not in great shape when he started the match?
decent performance, did enough although the danger was there that we would get caught out. shouldn't sit on a lead so much
foley, o'dea westwood all very good. mcgeady and duff did well. gibson was ok i thought better than ive seen of him before. whelan wasnt great though.
can anyone explain this to me? they said that in the event of teams tieing on points it goes down to records in matches against each other. so if us russia and slovakia all finish on equal points. but russia have a better record against us, slovakia have a better record against russia and we have a better record against slovakia who comes first , second and third?
Yeah Tricky great point, hard to say right?
I mean, at first he seemed to kind of reaggravate something so you may very well be right. I hate to try to read too much into it but he seemed to kind of expect it. Second time he seemed to realize it just wasn't happening.
I doubt he was 100% going into today. And I mean I hope that is the case. I would hate to blame England/EIRE rugby on a 4 month ligament issue. (Or 1-2 as Trap says.)
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
I'd like to know this too.
Bear is goal differential the tie break?
PS dont worry the table will be all different when all is said and dunne.
Dont waste your time. Arent you to come out of hibernation and eat your young anyway?
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
My Player ratings
Westwood - 7.5 (Kicked well, commanded well, dealt with the 1v1. Promising show)
Foley - 6 (Nice passing and seemed composed but his positioning seemed very very flat, saw Duff looking over his shoulder countless times looking for him in support and he was never there. Filled in fine but won't worry JOS)
O'Dea - 5 (Quiet and seemed to let Dunne romp around and sweep any danger rather than command his own area like St Ledger would)
Dunne - 6 (Commited and in charge. Made a "mistake" for the goal but not an unforgivable one. Would blame Kilbane moreso for letting him cut in and run at Dunne.
Kilbane - 6 (Lively, caught out for the goal but otherwise felt played reasonably well. Assured in possession, had infinitely better delivery from his crosses than McGeady and probably justified his selection)
Whelan - 2 (Woeful, supposedly a DM yet happily let Macedonia control possession and run rampant through the centre. Didn't tackle, didn't get involved in attacks and only reminded people he was on the pitch when he got involved in some keep-ball towards the end of the game)
Gibson - 7 (Reasonably pleased with his showing and represents an infinitely better midfield option than green. Got stuck in defensively a reasonable amount and did seem to have a great commanding presence in the middle than we're used to. Passed well but never got in shooting range.
McGeady - 7 (Lucky goal, great running and tricks, mixed end product. The usual story but he is steadily getting better)
Duff - 9 (MOM but then he is in most of our matches anyway. Passed well, ever getting something positive out of possession and put in a massive shift in defence to cover for the at times wayward Foley)
Keane - 7 (Some clever touches, good reactions for the goal. Worked with what he was given.
Long - 1 (Dreadful, everytime he got the ball the move broke down. His decisions were poor, his positioning was poor, his temperament was questionable. Perhaps all justified by a kick to the head by nonetheless a poor performance)
Overall I didn't understand why our gameplan consisted of so many high balls into the box considering Macedonia dominated us in the air. I could understand it while Doyle was on the pitch as he's a semi-decent jumper but when Keane and Long were in the box every cross broke down and we seemed clueless how to attack them.
The wingers were often doubled up on to stop them cutting infield and the centre midfield didn't offer support so I wonder how exactly they planned to make breakthroughs without the Doyle route.
It works on a mini-table excluding other results. For example right now Slovakia are on 4 points as they've beaten Russia and drawn to us, Russia have 3 from beating us and we have 1 from the Slovakia draw. If we all ended up on equal points in that regard it'd go to goal difference making it incredibly unlikely goal difference will be worth anything.
I think you may be a little sensationalist in your ratings, Murf...
Holy Christmas, Thank God Murf, we were all eagerly awaiting your player ratings.
Whew.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
Would mainly agree with the Murf. We were generally mediocre, but luckily they played like a crap Sunday side in the first half. Though we toook our goals very well.
2 moments of class in a sea of sh*te.
A fitful performance at best.
And if McCarthy's a 'wunderkid' then many of the rest of the team need to improve by 200% to carry the poor sod.
ill prob just rob a few pick-a-nick baskets
Inexperience.
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