Republic of Ireland V Greece - Wednesday, 14th November 2012 - Friendly

**SkStu** · 15/11/2012, 7:55 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

Yes it was a pretty good game, I thought, we had a quite a bit of possession and I was on the edge of my seat at times
thinking a goal was coming, however as you know the scoreline you might not get the same effect, I have seen a lot
worse Ireland matches lets put it that way. A few incidents in the match worth seeing.

Actually watching it now against my better judgement. It's half time and I thought Brady looked good and is going to be hugely influential for us in the future. I loved Clark's tackle - get into them lad - a touch of the Roy Keanes bout that tackle. O'Shea did some good things but people don't tend to notice the good stuff strangely. Very flat performance and atmosphere though. When i was, ahem, a superfan (like some here) that went to every game it was always a full house, sad to see the deterioration.

McClean played like an ill-informed loudmouth, obviously...

**SkStu** · 15/11/2012, 7:56 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

This is where we differ. I don't feel a sense duty at all. I pick and choose games that suit me, whether it be at home or away. I'm 100% selfish in my decision making. If it's a trip that appeals to me, I will look into it. Stockholm in March is a must and Vienna appeals to me also. Shoot me down but Cologne probably depends on our qualification chances. Life is too short and money is too hard to come by to be throwing away on a sense of duty if you ask me.

I might be overly cynical but it always makes me cringe a little when I hear people taking about 'going to support the team' as if it's the only reason they're there. I go because I love football and there's usually a lot of craic involved. It's for me I go, not the team. That's not to say I don't support them when I'm there, or that I'm not a bit depressed when they lose. Fair play to those who spend all their money and give up their time soley for the Irish team, and not their own satisfaction but I'd be lying if I claimed that was me.

Great post - nice to see a bit of sense.

**SkStu** · 15/11/2012, 8:03 PM

Oh yeah, and Papadopoulos looks like the sort of dick who looks for fights against harmless dweebs outside chippers at 3am...

**CraftyToePoke** · 15/11/2012, 8:32 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

World Soccer ran an excellent piece on Mexico a couple of issues ago about how they focused on the under age national teams and it's now starting to pay dividends. Obviously their population and playing pool is much larger but club sides do work together to help the national cause. Something isn't right with the set up in Ireland at present and heads need to be banged together to come up with a solution. Where is the next Damian Duff going to come from? Are talented kids playing rugby instead?

Well, we have a comparable population to Uruguay and they seem to manage. There was a great piece in Four Four Two about a year ago on their youth systems. Great read. (albeit they don't have the GAA codes & Rugby to compete with)

Its funny you say about the next Duff, by that I understand, when will the English academy system fix this for us. But the present squad contains as many ex L.O.I players, or players largely forged in L.O.I. & players who chose Ireland despite not being born here as it does English academy products surely? I don't know the exact breakdown, but isn't the Keane/Duff/Dunne type produced player a diminishing resource for us at present at least ?

**DeLorean** · 15/11/2012, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Oh yeah, and Papadopoulos looks like the sort of dick who looks for fights against harmless dweebs outside chippers at 3am...

I pretty much knew the guy you were on about before I googled it for confirmation! I think you might be on to something there...

**DannyInvincible** · 15/11/2012, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

O'Shea did some good things but people don't tend to notice the good stuff strangely.

Mistakes in that position are more costly and will naturally stand out as having more impact on the final result. In O'Shea's case last night, his error/poor positioning/lack of urgency cost us a goal which directly led to us losing the game.

McClean played like an ill-informed loudmouth, obviously...

Touché.

**jbyrne** · 16/11/2012, 8:15 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I might be overly cynical but it always makes me cringe a little when I hear people talking about 'going to support the team' as if it's the only reason they're there. I go because I love football and there's usually a lot of craic involved. It's for me I go, not the team. That's not to say I don't support them when I'm there, or that I'm not a bit depressed when they lose. Fair play to those who spend all their money and give up their time soley for the Irish team, and not their own satisfaction but I'd be lying if I claimed that was me.

i dont think anyone would travel if they were not getting satisfaction out of the trip. and if that satisfaction comes out of their desire to purely support the team then good luck to them. i dont think anyone would ever let on travelling to support the team is a chore no matter what their motivation is for travelling.

**elroy** · 16/11/2012, 8:22 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

There's a big bandwagon element to Irish sport and particularly football, but even with that in mind it's worth noting that the public isn't stupid.

They know full well what they're going to get served up and they know that the game counts for nothing.

Home performances under Trap have been dross for the most part and the economic climate is crap.

I'd always go myself if I was living in Dublin but on the evidence of the last 3 years' home games, it'd be out of a sense of duty and loyalty and not in the expectation that it'd be time or money well spent. Anyone living beyond the pale or overseas is fully justified picking and choosing in my opinion.

There's plenty of better football to watch in Ireland and on TV for the punters to choose from.

You've kinda hit the nail on the head for me. I live in Dublin so almost would feel bad if I didnt go to these games, even though I know 90% of the friendlies arent exactly going to be riveting - you get the odd one. If I had the time to check back the last 10 - 15 years, I'd say you'd find the average attendance at friendlies is between 25k - 30k. Reality is in the old LR, that was almost full so perhaps there wasnt such attention towards attendace. But in the larger Aviva, I think the FAI should use some common sense and close more if not all the upper tier for the friendlies - I know this would screw up their pricing structures but at least it would optically make a big difference. And god knows so many Irish football fans see most of their football on tv anyway so if it looks better on tv............

The reality is following/attending Ireland games isnt exactly entertainment, its a passion, on your edge of the seat at nil nil in the last ten mins in a must win against Macedonia. You cant buy or create that feeling. I grew up in Cork so didnt start going to games till late teens but always had the passion for them, then my first game was the 2-1 win against Yugoslavia - hooked!!! From an entertainment point of view, every one in ten games maybe more, you have a cracker (to name a few: Paris, 2-2 Italy, Israel 2-2, Holland 1-0, Portugal 1-1, Albania 2-1) that knocks you for dead and that keeps you going through all the friendly dross. unfortunately we havent had one of those days/nights in the Aviva yet.

On the general malaise toward the team, I see it creeping into the rugby team now. Sadly, fans are dismissing the Irish team in favour of the more successful provinces. Reality is success brings success and brings more fans to the ground.

**geysir** · 16/11/2012, 8:52 AM

Competitive games are games where you turn up, if you can.
For various reasons, for various fans, friendlies have become more optional.

**Stuttgart88** · 16/11/2012, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I would as well.

This is where we differ. I don't feel a sense duty at all. I pick and choose games that suit me, whether it be at home or away. I'm 100% selfish in my decision making. If it's a trip that appeals to me, I will look into it. Stockholm in March is a must and Vienna appeals to me also. Shoot me down but Cologne probably depends on our qualification chances. Life is too short and money is too hard to come by to be throwing away on a sense of duty if you ask me.

I might be overly cynical but it always makes me cringe a little when I hear people talking about 'going to support the team' as if it's the only reason they're there. I go because I love football and there's usually a lot of craic involved. It's for me I go, not the team. That's not to say I don't support them when I'm there, or that I'm not a bit depressed when they lose. Fair play to those who spend all their money and give up their time soley for the Irish team, and not their own satisfaction but I'd be lying if I claimed that was me.

What I was trying to say was that I go but not in any expectation of it being some sort of occasion or a treat - which has been the case down the years at times. Living at home I'd never miss a game as I just enjoy being there. Being at lansdowne for a bad football match is better than most other entertainment options in my view. Obviously I enjoy it more if it's good. But I do have a strong sense of "loyal fandom" too. I go because it's a part of what I am.

**shakermaker1982** · 16/11/2012, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Well, we have a comparable population to Uruguay and they seem to manage. There was a great piece in Four Four Two about a year ago on their youth systems. Great read. (albeit they don't have the GAA codes & Rugby to compete with)

Its funny you say about the next Duff, by that I understand, when will the English academy system fix this for us. But the present squad contains as many ex L.O.I players, or players largely forged in L.O.I. & players who chose Ireland despite not being born here as it does English academy products surely? I don't know the exact breakdown, but isn't the Keane/Duff/Dunne type produced player a diminishing resource for us at present at least ?

I picked out Duffer because he is skillful and for a couple of seasons in his prime one of the best players in Europe (position wise). He joined Blackburn when he was 17/18 so his skills weren't honed exclusively in the UK. From the age of 5 onwards a coach somewhere in Dublin worked with Duffer and Keane and these two players have gone on to great things. We've got to start with the kids that are 5/6/7 and have a system in place which develops them up to senior level. Yes we are still producing footballers but they aren't of a good enough standard. The current squad is made up of a lot of Championship players which isn't good enough IMO.

What are Switzerland and Belgium doing right? Can we copy them? Do our coaches ever get to visit the academies over in Ajax and Barcelona?

**DeLorean** · 16/11/2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

i dont think anyone would travel if they were not getting satisfaction out of the trip. and if that satisfaction comes out of their desire to purely support the team then good luck to them. I dont think anyone would ever let on travelling to support the team is a chore no matter what their motivation is for travelling.

Not sure. Say when we lost 5-2 to Cyprus, there were angry fans being interviewed after the match. They were saying things along the lines of "we go all over the world and spend loads of money following the Irish team and deserve better". Don't get me wrong, I fully agree that we deserve better than getting stuffed by the likes of Cyprus and having managers like Steve Staunton, I just wouldn't use the fact that I travel to games as a stick to beat anybody with ie. players, management or FAI. I have travelled because I want to travel. Yes, it's becasue the Irish team are playing there but it's for my own pleasure/satisfaction. I know going out there the result may be a disappointing one.

Same with the Euros. All the Roy Keane's in the world couldn't convince me that I deserved better than the performances the Irish team produced. It would have been great if they had done better but I'll be forever grateful Trap and his team for giving me one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not grateful enough to hit the big smoke for a midweek friendly mind you

**tricky_colour** · 16/11/2012, 9:40 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Actually watching it now against my better judgement. It's half time and I thought Brady looked good and is going to be hugely influential for us in the future. I loved Clark's tackle - get into them lad - a touch of the Roy Keanes bout that tackle. O'Shea did some good things but people don't tend to notice the good stuff strangely. Very flat performance and atmosphere though. When i was, ahem, a superfan (like some here) that went to every game it was always a full house, sad to see the deterioration.

McClean played like an ill-informed loudmouth, obviously...

I think a lot of people have their judgement clouded by the result rather than the performance.
For example people complain about a lack of passion but there seemed to be more passion in say
Clark's tackle than I have seen from an Irish player for a long time. I saw quite a lot of positives
in the game, I saw a few negatives as well but I think if we learn from them we are looking a very decent side.
I know O'Shea got some criticism for the goal but I thought it was a well worked move more due
to good forward play than bad defending. You would expect a drop in attendance after the disappointing
Euros, especially for a friendly, there have been more matches than usually recently.
McClean would perhaps to do better if he concentrated more on his game than twitter.

I looked at Greece's recent away record and it was won 10 drawn 4 lost 1, the loss being to Germany,so
I think a 1-0 defeat where we should have had a penalty is not that bad a result.
I'd like to see some stats for the game. And I have found some.
Greece have not lost an away friendly in their last 6 games (4 -2 - 0).
Also Greece are better away from home:
Home 27 W11.0 D10 L6.0
Away 23 W12.0 D7 L4.0

They got the same number of points away (43) playing 4 games less!! (impressive!)

Can't find any match stats but I think we were ahead on possession shots and corners etc.