Macedonia V Republic of Ireland - Saturday, 4th June 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[tricky_colour]

What's the last word there Paul, cute or c*unt?

Possibly a Macedonia's commentary on Robbie's second goal!

[SwanVsDalton]

I keep seeing this population thing cropping up from time to time on here and in the media and yes Ireland is a small country but so is Slovenia, Uruguay, Croatia, New Zealand, Denmark and Trinidad. Guess what they've all qualified for recent major tournaments. Montenegro is level on points with England at the moment and has a population of just over 625,000!!

I take your point but Uruguay have serious footballing history, New Zealand only just qualified for one tournament from Oceania, Trinidad similarly from Concacaf. The others sure, we should aspire to qualify as regularly as them, but Slovenia only make the odd tournment and Denmark and Croatia often miss out too. Point is people seem to expect us not only to qualify but to play super football getting there. It just doesn't seem realistic to me. Especially since the European teams you mentioned, with the occasional exception of Croatia, play pretty mediocre stuff.

[Qwerty]

Macedonia was dire. Ireland was a little bit less so.

The last game I watched was Barca v Man U, was this really the same sport?

A win is a win.

If you look at the team in terms of where they have been playing for much of the season it was a good result.

EPL benchwarmer

EPL benchwarmer EPL benchwarmer Championship League 1

EPL benchwarmer EPL regular

injured/EPL benchwarmer Russian League regular

EPL benchwarmer injured/EPL benchwarmer


Given that there was no Doyle, Duff, Dunne, St Ledger the result was good and great that Robbie reached the 50. He might start getting a bit of respect now.

[Stuttgart88]

Liam Mackey bang on the money with this write up as usual in my opinion.

Critics of the lack of coherent football from Ireland should also remember that this was a side unsettled by the loss of Richard Dunne, Damien Duff and Kevin Doyle and which also had to cope with a rash of recent injury concerns as well as a chronic shortage of game time for some of its key personnel. It was a measure of the side’s battling spirit that four players on the pitch required pain-killing injections to help get them through — Keane and O’Dea beforehand and Given and Hunt at half-time.

But you know what the pop psychologists like to say: no pain, no gain. Ireland put flesh and even some blood on the theory in Skopje on Saturday and, in the end, the outcome was as welcome as it was deserved.



I like Malone and think, bar the odd sh1t stirring, Dan McD is decent - he's certainly a fan of Irish football, but Mackey has seen it all and I think instinctively "gets" what's going on and what the mood is.

[French Toasht]

[URL="http://www.examiner.ie/sport/soccer/ireland-take-the-gain-from-the-pain-156920.html"]
I like Malone and think, bar the odd sh1t stirring, Dan McD is decent - he's certainly a fan of Irish football, but Mackey has seen it all and I think instinctively "gets" what's going on and what the mood is.

I like all three, but McDonnell is my favourite purely because he is on a one man crusade to rejuvinate the public's interest in the League of Ireland. There's always been a raft of journalists willing to fill column inches on the Irish national team but are less opinionated when it comes to issues surrounding our domestic league. Dan McDonnell I genuinely think gets more of a kick out of a Friday night in Sligo or Derry or Bray than being in Skopje or Moscow, and its that fervent enthusiasm for the local game that I really admire.

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, I think that McDonnell's genuine enthusiasm for the whole spectrum of Irish football is great.

I know in the past we have attributed The Indo's hostility to Trap and the FAI (wrt international football anyway) as being dowbn to their staff and editorial support for Venables. However, isn't Denis O'Brien persona non grata at INM's board level because he is a trouble-making / rebel activist shareholder? Maybe this explains it?

Maybe they just think Trap is a stubborn man with bad communication skills and a boring brand of football.

[Sullivinho]

Liam Mackey bang on the money with this write up as usual in my opinion.

Critics of the lack of coherent football from Ireland should also remember that this was a side unsettled by the loss of Richard Dunne, Damien Duff and Kevin Doyle and which also had to cope with a rash of recent injury concerns as well as a chronic shortage of game time for some of its key personnel. It was a measure of the side’s battling spirit that four players on the pitch required pain-killing injections to help get them through — Keane and O’Dea beforehand and Given and Hunt at half-time.

But you know what the pop psychologists like to say: no pain, no gain. Ireland put flesh and even some blood on the theory in Skopje on Saturday and, in the end, the outcome was as welcome as it was deserved.



I like Malone and think, bar the odd sh1t stirring, Dan McD is decent - he's certainly a fan of Irish football, but Mackey has seen it all and I think instinctively "gets" what's going on and what the mood is.

I don't read a big enough spread of journos (or even take note of the writers name for the most part) to make selection of a 'favourite' any way significant but I share your enthusiasm for Mackey. Humour, level head and crucially, downright correct the majority of the time.

[Charlie Darwin]

There are a few journalists from the nationals who attend a lot of LOI games. Daniel McDonnell and Mark McCadden from the Star are both regulars at (I think) Bohs. Richie Sadlier and Miguel Delaney from the Examiner are usually at Bray home games.

[DannyInvincible]

There are a few journalists from the nationals who attend a lot of LOI games. Daniel McDonnell and Mark McCadden from the Star are both regulars at (I think) Bohs. Richie Sadlier and Miguel Delaney from the Examiner are usually at Bray home games.

This Examiner?

examiner.jpg

[French Toasht]

I know in the past we have attributed The Indo's hostility to Trap and the FAI (wrt international football anyway) as being dowbn to their staff and editorial support for Venables. However, isn't Denis O'Brien persona non grata at INM's board level because he is a trouble-making / rebel activist shareholder? Maybe this explains it?

Maybe they just think Trap is a stubborn man with bad communication skills and a boring brand of football.

There is a general sense of dissatisfaction with Trap in the journalism fraternity because at press conferences and interviews its very hard to discern any real footballing insights from his quotes. Much of the journalists work involves a level conjecture and interpretation of what his musings actually mean and many would simply prefer interview him in Italian and translate.

Also I think a lot of the time Manuela the interpreter uses creative licence a bit too much to interpret what he is saying. Her "the players are living the life of riley" quote springs to mind.

[Charlie Darwin]

This Examiner?

examiner.jpg

One and the same. Angry Fans is particularly hilarious/lacking in self-awareness.

[BonnieShels]

Loved this quote from Trap for some reason:

“Finally, the team is now playing the way we wanted it to,” he said.

“It has acquired the right mentality but the players must now maintain this level of performance. If they do then we can play with confidence against anyone.

“We don’t know whether we can command the field but we are better at fighting for control now,” he said.

“When we have the ball we play and look to score. But when we lose the ball it’s important that we have this attitude. When it happened against Macedonia (Robbie) Keane and (Simon) Cox were the first men pressing against their defence. That’s important. I have had many teams with this mentality; teams with creative players but also the right attitude.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...298468227.html

[geysir]

I wouldn't object if Trap had ambitions about improving our passing.

[BonnieShels]

I wouldn't object if Trap had ambitions about improving our passing.

I reckon that's stage 2 after he steals the underpants.

[Stuttgart88]

I'll give Whelan the benefit of the doubt in that regard, he was injured and the pitch was awful. Fahey has been carrying an injury by the sound of things, and Gibson was, eh, not there. Those 3 can pass. Of course it helps if the receiver has a decent touch and shows intelligently.

I'd like to see the Guardian Chalkboard, or similar technology, show where our midfielders are making passes when we are ahead, and when we are chasing a goal. My guess is that they're further up the pitch when we're chasing, and hence they're nearer the front two.

Remember the away friendly in Norway? Whelan and S. Reid dictating the first half in their half of the pitch. Norway couldn't get out of their half. What has happened since?!

[geysir]

What has happened since?!

Norway are now in pot 1
Anyway, Norway are not a great example. They were practicing their version of the catenaccio in advance of Egil Olsen's second coming.
They tend to bi-pass midfield technology and depend upon a pair of Alan O'Briens to do the running

[elroy]

It amazes the way some Irish fans react to good results i.e. never happy. The same fans were probably telling us all how tricky this game was and how Trap is useless and we'd be lucky to get a draw. Some journos are as bad, listening to smug Dion Fanning on newstalk talking down Trap or his tactics or his selections, what the fcuk does a nobody whos father runs the paper know about football in comparison to Trap.

We should all know now how Trap plays. Is it a coincidence that we start games so well under Trap score quite early and then defend/counter attack for the rest of the game. Most of the time it works and we are getting better at it. We were particularly good at it in the second half on sat. So much so that I almost have more confidence in Ireland playing away from home these days than at home. Its not the most attractive to watch and it can be nerve wracking but we're not Barca and anyone who compares the CL final to last saturday really isnt getting it. The extreme buzz of Ireland scoring a goal, more than beats watching silky football ala Barca for me.

All in all a great nights work. Keane and Shay were immense. McGeady is finally proving his worth for us, did his job excellent, provided a creative outlet when needed. I thought Andrews did well and is more composed on the ball than Whelan. The defence was shaky at times and we were lucky to keep a clean sheet. Hunt worked his socks off. But to a man they gave it their all and you gotta be proud of it, id say there was some serious tired bodies after. Thats the commitment you want to the cause, limited talent maybe but no doubting commitment - certain absentees take note.

We're in a damn fine position now. A win at home (difficult and all as it will be) to Slovakia would almost guarantee second spot and would leave us heading to Russia in high spirits. Please lets keep the main men (Shay, Dunne, Sledge, JOSH, Keane, McGeady, Duff, Hunt, Andrews) fit and god let us do it this time!!!

[lionelhutz]

Fair enough so who should Trap pick? Fahey has a case for inclusion but again touch and go with Andrews. .

I agree with most of your post Noely but I have to take issue with this part. Fahey is a level above Andrews as a midfielder IMO. Andrews constantly gave the ball away - in particular the 2nd half. I think a midfield of Fahey Whelan would have much better balance and we'd be able to keep the ball better.

Also, several posters have said Long did no better than Cox when he came on. Do people not realise how much more difficult it is to make your mark on the game as a sub? I thought Cox was anonymous besides the disallowed goal - Long should have started and should definitely be third in line behind Doyle and Keane.

Aside from the above, I'm over the moon with the result and I was shocked that we closed out the second half so easily. Awful at the back 1st half, excellent 2nd half.

[geysir]

I think Fahey was off his game against Scotland - suffering with migraine?
The point is Stutts (as Eirebhoy observed) with Steven Reid, is that apart from having ability, he had the intelligence and confidence to know what to do, what Trap wanted and more. And if a player has that, Trap is not going to read the riot act to and stick a straightjacket on. Whelan in that context (with Reid) was more than compatible. The Montenegro away game (not the Norway game) was an example of that and that was with an injured Reid.
I would be worried if Trap thought that we had reached some nirvana in all aspects of our game.
"When we have the ball we play and look to score" There is a lot of room to improve on what we do when we have the ball and Trap believes more consistency leads to more confidence against the better teams.

I almost missed this bit at the end of Malone's IT article, sounds ominous but not a finality.
“We had 26 or 27 players in the squad, now the priority will be those who came and played,” he said. “I don’t forget (Darron) Gibson or (Marc) Wilson but obviously they have to show that they deserve their place.”

[Jicked]

Cox's movement created a lot of space for others, in particular Robbie who suddenly had the ball in front of their back four a few times, including the one which created the first goal. Cox also scored a very good goal which was wrongly disallowed, hard to say he was anonymous.

As for Fahey/Andrews, Fahey definitely distributes the ball better than Andrews, but Keith is a much more destructive player and helps keep the shape of the team very well by being very disciplined. When you've got a back four of O'Dea, O'Shea, Kilbane and Kelly it was absolutely the correct decision to make to give them as much protection as you could in front of them to prevent Pandev and his mates running at the dodgy centre of defence. Not least after Fahey had failed to really impose his passing game in the Nations Cup game just before Macedonia.