Republic of Ireland V Turkey, Italy, Costa Rica & Portugal - May/June 2014

**DeLorean** · 01/06/2014, 2:09 PM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

People seem to take a perverse satisfaction in him missing chances. You would swear he is on a goal drought but he has only went two Intl. games without scoring.

A perverse sense of satisfaction regarding one of our players doing poorly or making a mistake? I thought you had the monopoly on that.

**DeLorean** · 01/06/2014, 2:11 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

It's actually more than that - Italy haven't named their final squad as yet, so many of the players were actually playing for their place on the plane. So no reason at all to doubt they were well up for the game. Given we were also missing players, it's definitely a decent performance from us.

Didn't realise that, case closed!

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 01/06/2014, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

A perverse sense of satisfaction regarding one of our players doing poorly or making a mistake? I thought you had the monopoly on that.

Except Shane Long didn't do poorly or make a mistake unless you count not scoring chances that weren't bonafide sitters as "playing poorly" or "mistakes". He was central to our good play along with McGeady, Pilkington and Hendrick; as opposed to say making a litany of defensive errors.

And I took no satisfaction in Keogh's error a week or so ago. You are too cynical of me.

I wanted to see Hendrick in the PL so I was p*ssed off.

**DeLorean** · 01/06/2014, 3:03 PM

It's hardly cynical of me to think you have it in for Keogh. You've been on his case in a pretty vindictive way ever since you first realised he has a thread on here! Even saying he's had a "litany of defensive errors" at the end of a season where he has clearly played well is selective, nit picking rubbish.

It's far more cynical to suggest that anybody on here would take any sort of joy in Long missing important chances that has cost us results, it's actually paranoia bordering on lunacy to even consider it as a possibility.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/06/2014, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

As I suspected no one has mapped the correlation between italy first 10-12 mins and montilivo breaking his leg? italy tempo completely changed after that. If this were a proper qualifier or world cup game or euro game they would have beaten us no problem.

Ward is so sh1te tho. He really is. poor hoolahan too small and weak. longs chances last night were very difficult and he should have had a pen. In a qualifier it would have been a pen.

I thought meyler was whelan for a while with all the back passing thought when italy tried he was by passed and should have got more stuck in. good atmosphere and good crowd which was nice to see.but I won't read anything into this game. Italy clearly had their minds elsewhere and mainly not getting injured. We badly need to finish the few chances we create tho

As I suspected only Paul didn't realise that Long was offside, that's why the ref brought play back for an earlier infringement.

And enough of your sanctimonious claptrap. Everyone i was with twigged the correlation between us getting into the game and Montelivo going off. You're not some sort of tactical visionary.

And Hoolahan is indeed too weak and small to twice dispossess an Italian centre back to set up a good attack.

Give credit where it's due. Good team performance, good individual performance, good football, good tempo. No, it's not a sign that we are now some sort of superpower but it's a big step up from the last two outings. No more and no less.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/06/2014, 3:44 PM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Except Shane Long didn't do poorly or make a mistake unless you count not scoring chances that weren't bonafide sitters as "playing poorly" or "mistakes". He was central to our good play along with McGeady, Pilkington and Hendrick; as opposed to say making a litany of defensive errors.

And I took no satisfaction in Keogh's error a week or so ago. You are too cynical of me.

I wanted to see Hendrick in the PL so I was p*ssed off.

Who said Long played poorly?

Plenty have said he misses too many chances to be considered reliable. They'd be right. Long didn't miss any easy chances last night, so nobody criticised him for it.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/06/2014, 3:55 PM

I'm just wondering if in Paul's world it's fair to dwell on poor friendly performances and equally fair to overlook the importance of a good one.

**Charlie Darwin** · 01/06/2014, 3:57 PM

Paul is too busy telling it like it is to dwell on anything.

**DeLorean** · 01/06/2014, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Who said Long played poorly?

Plenty have said he misses too many chances to be considered reliable. They'd be right. Long didn't miss any easy chances last night, so nobody criticised him for it.

Well actually...

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Even I can not defend Long after that. F*** sake......

**BonnieShels** · 01/06/2014, 5:04 PM

Highlights up on Daily Motion for us non-fans: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1x...31-05-14_sport

**Crosby87** · 01/06/2014, 6:08 PM

Are you fine if unkempt chaps buying or selling the rumors that some first round world cup matches are already fixed?

**tricky_colour** · 01/06/2014, 6:31 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Most of them taken in Australia, I guess?

Looks like he was hanging upside down from the roof of the stand.

**geysir** · 01/06/2014, 6:35 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Highlights up on Daily Motion for us non-fans: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1x...31-05-14_sport

Good to have the choice,
Though for more serious fans, the whole game is up on Sharing Irish torrents.
For some, it might offer a chance for a sober reflection on the game, but by sober reflection I just refer to alcohol count.
Possibly also, some fans got waylaid on their merry way to Craven Cottage and arrived late.

**Yard of Pace** · 01/06/2014, 7:02 PM

Paul Rowan in the ST praised Ward's performance

Said he'd been written off by the fourth estate too early.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/06/2014, 7:16 PM

Don't know what happened the pics. They're in my iPad the right way up.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 01/06/2014, 7:39 PM

Try rotating them on there...but get the picture(s).

Enjoyable game. Forgive PO'S, he was tired and emotional, only after getting released by the FARC guerillas, or some such.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 01/06/2014, 7:42 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Give credit where it's due. Good team performance, good individual performance, good football, good tempo. No, it's not a sign that we are now some sort of superpower but it's a big step up from the last two outings. No more and no less.

This.

Didn't notice all the other technical points made in his post, but willing to trust Stutts judgement, as it sounds like was undoubtedly paying more attention than the majority.

**paul_oshea** · 01/06/2014, 7:44 PM

stutts I noticed it but what I knew you wouldn't have noticed is he seemed to play on after that point until long was brought down ignoring the linesman's call.he should have stopped straight away.

We have seen many false dawns at this stage. friendlies are there to form partnerships or understandings between players, that's about it or about all we can learn or in some cases where we discover a player is nowhere near the standard.....

**Charlie Darwin** · 01/06/2014, 7:55 PM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

Paul Rowan in the ST praised Ward's performance

Said he'd been written off by the fourth estate too early.

He's right. Apart from a couple of slips (I assume the grass was slippery) he was solid. He outperformed Coleman, and not for the first time.

**geysir** · 01/06/2014, 8:13 PM

They (the nasty italians) did put the squeeze on Coleman.

Wardy also got wrongly implicated in Turkey's first goal last time, was it not Rowan who gave him a hard time or was it D Kelly? I thought Ward protected his area as well as anyone could then , our Seamus went missing, leaving 3 at the back and Delaney was almost linking arms with O'Shea.