Where to from now....

[BonnieShels]

Hopefully

[Murfinator]

Upon reflection I think the spine of our team isn't as diabolically bad as it may seem. The stats for Duff, McGeady and Doyle are actually quite good but they weren't in positions on the pitch where they could do some damage frequently enough. Thinking realistically along the assumption that Trap isn't going to overhaul his system to a 4-5-1 there are some simple chances he could make to the current formula which would make it a lot better.

The 3 key changes we need to make are in two areas of the pitch. Full backs and centre mid. Our problems begun and ended here. O'Shea and Ward cannot distribute adequately from the back and were the prime culprits for losing possession. The other is centre mids never showing for the ball, particularly Whelan who was both rarely a receiver for forward passes and had a poor passing rate in general. His presence is paradoxical in that he's supposed to break up dangerous attacking situations and yet the pressure he puts on FBs for not being an outlet and his poor passing in general means he's causing more danger then preventing.

I have no idea who the solutions are but if we change nothing else we need alternatives to JOS, Ward and Whelan. If we start a) retaining possession after distributing from out back 4, b) retain possesion for longer periods and c) actually play our front 4 into the game to give them a chance we'll be doing something positive.
Coleman, Clark and Gibson come to mind (if Gibson can play in a 2). I hope nobody retires, we need to create competition for positions. Retirements and replacing them with younger players is just switching the chosen 11 to different people, same problem. Involve them all, rotate and pick on form.

[tricky_colour]

Just been watching some of the first half again, we did really well a lot of the time, we were actually looking
like a pretty decent side, I mean my God we were in the Italian half!! (must have been a few nose bleeds for some that far up the pitch).
There was a dreadful cross-field back pass from Whelan which got cut out and lead on to the goal.
I am always against back passes generally and also passing across your own goal, it has to be a 100% certainty.
There was another option on an attacking ball to Andrews in the centre, but we were just to negative to even try it.
Too defensive in mentality and of course knocking the ball around in front of your own goal is not really my idea of
good defence. Even if the ball to Andrews had came to nothing at least it is in their half and time to press and get it back.
Maybe we just got tired? Also we could actually have gone on and got a goal from a forward pass instead it was a back
pass and a goal against us. Make the opposition run back, not yourselves!!
The ref was also biased. We were not that bad really, just few incidents changed the game.
I'd put Wes Hoolahan in midfield he is a good short passer, and it doesn't matter if you are only 5'6 in midfield.

[tricky_colour]

Wes Hoolahan pass success 86.1 only beaten by Duff, but he has twice as many goals and assist as Duff.
Naturally he never got a game.
Give him a sun tan and he woudl not look amiss in the Spanish side!!

[samhaydenjr]

I see Enda Kenny is calling for an AI team, using the flawed logic that because our rugby team is a top 8 team then our footy team is bound to improve markedly too (OK, maybe a slightly over cynical interpretation of what he said). Here's something for him though: successive governments have never shown any interest in funding or supporting Irish football. Maybe you should start there before spouting rubbish about something you know little about.

I thought that between Gibson, Wilson, Duffy and McLean, we already had created an AI Team - we just did it by stealth

[geysir]

Just been watching some of the first half again, we did really well a lot of the time, we were actually looking
like a pretty decent side, I mean my God we were in the Italian half!! (must have been a few nose bleeds for some that far up the pitch).

In the 30c heat, Prandelli let us burn out, he kept Pirlo deep. Italy allowed us the space/played a game where we would burn out.

There was a dreadful cross-field back pass from Whelan which got cut out and lead on to the goal.
I am always against back passes generally and also passing across your own goal, it has to be a 100% certainty.

Italy put more pressure after 30 minutes when we were starting to wilt, forced us to make mistakes and/or be ready to pounce when we made the mistake.
Italy's first goal was the result of 30 minutes of football, not just one or five mistakes in a row.

I'd put Wes Hoolahan in midfield he is a good short passer, and it doesn't matter if you are only 5'6 in midfield.

If you have a player like Hoolahan in front of midfield (and I wouldn't have him anywhere else) then you would also need to have a player like Gibson/Fahey in your team to get the ball to him and we'd need to play with only one winger,with Duff fading out - one of McClean or McGeady. Adopt a new principle of sacrificing a good player in one position in order to play a decent player in another position.

[brine3]

It wasn't anywhere near 30 degrees in Poznan, I don't think.

[geysir]

Let's say, I have not seen an Italian sweat so much after 5 minutes. Players were gulping water, dripping with sweat in the early stages.

[brine3]

Some numbers:

F12 A12. Our goal difference record at major tournaments up to last month.

F13 A21. Our current goal difference record at major tournaments.

1969. The last time an Ireland team was beaten by four goals in a competitive match.

The one thing the Ireland team always had going for it is that we were difficult to beat. We had some pride. Nobody wanted to play us. People will be lining up to play us now.

Our captain was on TV saying quite casually that "we have to just hold up our hands and accept that we were beaten by a better team." I can't imagine previous Ireland captains talking such crap.

A total sea change in mentality, tactics and personel is required. Nobody is asking us to beat Spain. Our to even get out of groups like these. We just don't want to be whipping boys of the tournament. Croatia are out of the tournament, but at least they played some football.

[Murfinator]

We don't have a team of particularly strong figures anymore to really inspire our teams into that kind of resistance. Richard Dunne comes to mind, Keith Andrews stood up as well but who else? Hamann spoke about the Dutch side as too many chiefs, not enough indians. I think we had the same problem in reverse. Could have done with Kilbanes presence and experience in retrospect.

[Wolfie]

A new team / squad can be built around Westwood, Henderson, St. Ledger, Pearce, Coleman, Cunningham, Wilson, Clark, Gibson, McClean, Meyler, Hoolahan, Doyle, Long, Walters, McCarthy and some others and with a ballsy manager - right now I'm going all nostalgic for Mick.

Above all we really need a few U21s to break into EPL first teams. Mason, Hendrick, Brady, Duffy, Cunningham, Henderson - I'm talking about you!

Chris McCann could be given a chance within Midfield also?? Weren't Swansea linked with some interest in him recently enough?? Sometimes, its the way of things that players are only considered when they make the move to a bigger club.

[the bear]

This starting 11 explains a lot

-------------------------Aston Villa

Sunderland------Aston Villa------Leicester-----Wolves

Fulham---------Stoke------West Brom-------Spartak Moscow

---------------La Galaxy------Wolves

[Diarmo]

This starting 11 explains a lot

-------------------------Aston Villa

Sunderland------Aston Villa------Leicester-----Wolves

Fulham---------Stoke------West Brom-------Spartak Moscow

---------------La Galaxy------Wolves

Very true. And the changes we need will read clubs like: Wigan, Norwich, etc.

[Wolfie]

Sweeping change can't and won't happen between now and the Autumn.

That said, I'd be interested to see if Stephen Reid could be brought back into the fold at Full Back, as opposed to Midfield. Straight away, he's a viable and experienced option who won't be afraid to supply midfield - if he's permitted.

Coleman should be blooded with priority.

Whelan needs to make way - as mentioned, I'd tentatively like to see McCann get a chance in August.

You'll remember, Whelan himself was fast tracked into the First eleven (as was St Ledger, Lawrence and Ward at certain points).




I'd start McClean on the left wing and I'd switch Duff to right wing. He rotates wings in games already so could cope with right wing deployment.

[Stuttgart88]

This starting 11 explains a lot

-------------------------Aston Villa

Sunderland------Aston Villa------Leicester-----Wolves

Fulham---------Stoke------West Brom-------Spartak Moscow

---------------La Galaxy------Wolves

Most better than Denmark though?

[Wolfie]

Some technical difficulties there. Where was I???

Ah yes, as mentioned sweeping change won't happen. McCarthy needs to be finally utilized to the full in the course of this campaign.

Up front - Keane to be replaced by Long. Form player starts between Walters and Doyle if we persist with 4-4-2.

[the bear]

would denmark not have lots of champions league experience and title winners from FC copehagen. kjarr at roma, eriksen at ajax, does bendtner still belong to arsenal?

anyway they were knocked out as well

[SkStu]

Danes starting 11 v. Holland. Put it in as a 442 but the principle remains. Far superior in my opinion...

-------------------------Evian

Roma------Liverpool------AZ Alkmaar-----FC Copenhagen

VfB Stuttgart---------Ajax------Club Brugge-------Brondby

---------------Arsenal------Brondby

Almost every player playing regular European footie and for good teams in a wide variety of top divisions.

[the bear]

from what ive heard of them kjaer and eriksen are tipped to become worldclas as well

[SkStu]

I also think Krohn-Dehli will make a move. He was a joy to watch at times.