Where to from now....

[Charlie Darwin]

It would be nice to get some pace in the side. Leaving aside the obvious technical deficiencies we have also looked the slowest side at the tournament. Phasing in the likes of Long and McClean might add some badly needed zip to the team.

That was one of the things I found odd about Trap's selections. We know we're going to have much less of the ball than opposing teams, so wouldn't it stand to reason we make sure our most athletic players are on the pitch? For me that means the likes McClean, Walters and Long.

[third policeman]

I know there is nothing more infuriating at time like this than someone saying "I told you so" but treat this as a form of therapy. I took quite a bit of **** for posting the comments below last October

"If by some incredible miracle Trappatoni's mind-numbing obstinacy pays off against Armenia and gets through a play off against a European giant of the magnitude of Estonia or Montenegro, is there still a case for replacing him before his tactical shortcomings and perversely vindictive selction preferences are cruelly exposed this summer?

Is there anyone out there who honestly believes that we are a better team for not having tried out our most promising prospects, integrated our most consistent premiership performers or recruited our most plausible 2nd G options? Could O'Neil, Coppell and a host of other half decent unemployed coaches without Trapp's dogmatic idiosyncracies do any worse? If we do qualify it can only be dismal humiliation, frustration and shame. There will be no ambition, drama, beauty or heroism. In Russia they refer to the Brezhnev years as "the era of stagnation". I fear Trapp's reign will be similarly remembered or probably simply forgotten."

[bennocelt]

Heh some of us have talked about that style of football from the VERY BEGINNING

[cestlavie]

The training camp was far too long, not healthy to have too much time on their hands thinking about the games. They needed an extra week off at the end of the season.

Paul Green Thats says it all.

[eekers]

Trap just there in the press conference when asked would he stay on, that the Irish fans yesterday night showed that they support him.
Using the whole Ole Ole fields of athenry bull**** as proof that he is popular.

[backstothewall]

Trap just there in the press conference when asked would he stay on, that the Irish fans yesterday night showed that they support him.
Using the whole Ole Ole fields of athenry bull**** as proof that he is popular.

I don't think he was saying that at all. It's always hard with his English, but I thought he was saying he had a responsibility to the fans to give them the results they deserve.

[eekers]

I don't think he was saying that at all. It's always hard with his English, but I thought he was saying he had a responsibility to the fans to give them the results they deserve.

As long as the players understand what he want them to do. Oh wait, Walters when asked what instructions Trap give him last night replied "You'd have to ask him".

[Diarmo]

As long as the players understand what he want them to do. Oh wait, Walters when asked what instructions Trap give him last night replied "You'd have to ask him".

I do think this is a problem. I am generally very supportive of Trap and what's he's managed to do with the team, but one of the glaring things to appear to me over this tournament is our movement for the ball.

I wonder what type of training the team actually does with Trap. A lot of it seems to be "defend at all costs, keep shape" rather than any tactical ideas whatsoever. When we have possession, no player seems to have a clue where anyone else is, leading to the hopeless long ball tactics.

Also, take a look at some of the Spanish goals. Our marking is suspect, to say the least. I firmly believe we're not doing any passing movement or simple things like marking in training. I find that baffling for a manager and team who put so much stock in the system and tactical plan.

Otherwise, I'm not expecting major changes for the World Cup Qualifiers. I have one huge concern though. I'm worried that if we get a raft of retirements after the Euros, that Trap will turn to his current back up players (Green, McShane etc.) rather than try unfamiliar options such as Wilson, McCarthy etc. That, in my opinion would be a huge step back.

[gastric]

Not too much optimism about Trap in this article (surprise, surprise!), though for once I think Kerr has a point.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...317986306.html

[Junior]

Interesting he wasn't at the game but in Poznan?

Nothing new from Kerr in that article.

[Stuttgart88]

I thoughtb that was Kerr's most balanced and least caustic (in fact it wasn't even slightly caustic) article in a while. The game has moved on from 442 and we need to catch up starting at the bottom. What's wrong with saying that?

[Stuttgart88]

Lee Carsley has been interesting all week

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...318057874.html

[barney]

Lee Carsley has been interesting all week

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...318057874.html

Interesting stuff. I do take issue with a long held belief amongst some reformists (and those who commented on that article) - give each kid a ball coz that's all they need. To an extent yes but this ignores the biggest problem of the Irish and British game.

The majority of time it isn't the guy on the ball that's the problem. Taking a touch and passing 5-10 yards is not massively difficult. The problem with the Irish mentality, or one of the problems, is that the other 9 outfield players don't appear to realise how important it is to find some space and make an angle to receive a pass and know before they get the ball where their team mates are. I was never taught anything about movement as a youngster - the onus was never on me to make myself available for the guy who had the ball. It was on him to find someone.

I watched O'Shea get the ball the other night (v Croatia) and a space opened up for him five yards inside but Keith Andrews refused to move into it and O'Shea punted it long and lost it. It was Andrews fault for hiding (which is something I've seen him do lots of times before).

The guy on the ball is not the most important guy on the pitch - it's the 6-7 guys who should be looking for it so he has options.

[Stuttgart88]

yep, passing is the easy bit. You could see the Spanish anticipating passes all night., So as one guy made himself available, the (e.g.,) full back would anticipate him receiving the ball and would already have set off to make himself avilable for the next one. The thing is, we've seen our players do this in pre-match drills and they do it week in, week out. It's Gilesey's moral courage, you ahve to show for it and want it. Of course you ahve to have the touch and awareness to receive it and use it too though.

[Noelys Guitar]

I doubt we will ever see players on these islands play as a group the way Spain played and play for a whole variety of reasons. The best we can hope for especially with qualifying for 2014 coming up is that 3 or 4 top players come through. I don't see one on the horizon at the moment but that can change, sometimes very quickly. I can't see any way we will get out of the group as things stand with the manager and squad we have now. Trap did a good job getting us to the finals but the two performances so far have been very poor even with the standard of player availabe for selection. I just can't see things improving under Trap with the types of players we have available. A mediocre manager like McCarthy would have gotten more out of this squad over the last two games.

[Stuttgart88]

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.

[Noelys Guitar]

Excellent performance from Greece to beat Russia. Samaras MOM. Shows what can be achieved by a team with not one world class player. Robbed of a peno as well. They make the most of what they have.

[Stuttgart88]

True, but it'd be nice to be able to get a goal from an opponent's throw in. I agree though, if you're not in you can't win. Engage your opponent. Moral courage. By all means be good without the ball but be good with it too.

[thischarmingman]

We all consoled each other after getting battered by Russia twice that a point was a good return as they were such a brilliant, top, world-class side. Now they've beaten the worst Czech side I can remember- with two late goals- drawn with Poland, and have been beaten by Greece.

[Kingdom]

We all consoled each other after getting battered by Russia twice that a point was a good return as they were such a brilliant, top, world-class side. Now they've beaten the worst Czech side I can remember- with two late goals- drawn with Poland, and have been beaten by Greece.

To be fair, Russia can never be a barometer. They're the football equivalent of the Joker from the Dark Knight; one minute they're slitting your throat with a knife in their shoe, the next they're running round in a dress blowing themselves and everyone else up.