Germany V Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 14th October 2014 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[BonnieShels]

I actually hate this kind of talk. People do what they want to do. It's not like going to different countries watching football and drinking beer is some kind of selfless deed or major sacrifice. There are people that go to games that know f* all and there are people that watch it at home that know loads, and of course vice versa. Everybody's situation is different.

Not to mention finances, college, jobs, kids, illness etc...

Cannot understand why the so called superfans even give a crap about it to be honest. How does it affect them?

At the end of the day there's always Davy Keogh who will be better than all of them...

[DeLorean]

I had just added to my rant

[BonnieShels]

I had just added to my rant

Well... you didn't mention Davy...

[DeLorean]

Davy reminds me of this guy

[ArdeeBhoy]

I actually hate this kind of talk. People do what they want to do. It's not like going to different countries watching football and drinking beer is some kind of selfless deed or major sacrifice. There are people that go to games that know f* all and there are people that watch it at home that know loads, and of course vice versa. Everybody's situation is different, there are probably some guys that save half the year to get one trip in and some that can click their fingers and have their private jet pick them up, like POS. And, of course, there are some that haven't a chance of making those kind of trips, be it because of finances, work commitments, the wife, etc.

Well yeah, but didn't mean every game or the other end of Asia, even the odd friendly once every 5-10 years, if necessary. And tbf to PO'S he has no private jet. Sure he's just a Rossie after all...

[jbyrne]

Tbf, at least some of them make an effort to go to games...

what I really like about the self anointed super fan is the way they keep that to themselves and don't think it practically entitles them to a seat on the team bus

[ArdeeBhoy]

Tbf, lots of fans just comment on social media rather than MB's, which is probably a lot more tedious as you get loads of people saying they're doing the same thing. I only commented myself because I know lots of Germans...
Plus lots would admit they know 'feck all' about tactics and the like.

[SwanVsDalton]

He was better in the second half but in the first half in particular I think his touch was very heavy and he gave the ball away a few times when he should have been able to control the ball easily or play a short pass. He did improve though, to be fair. I think he is an intelligent player and the more responsibility and encouragement he's given under O'Neill, the more his technical ability will show.

I've only seen the game once, so I'll take your word but I'd say just as many times he beat a man and played a good pass. His composure was striking, particularly in the first half when other players seemed happy just to get rid and since he often received the ball in our half, wide on the left, under pressure from German players and with little on. Usually he used the in a noticeably calm fashion.

Cummiskey and Kerr were both reporting from the stadium, I assume, and didn't have the aid of a replay. On TV, I don't think it looked like a foul, but possibly from the gantry and in the stands it did. I will give Kerr the benefit of the doubt for now and assume he wasn't looking for things to complain about.

You might be right, but found it strange they were so certain. Usually the journos are all talking to each other and at least some have seen replays.

Kerr's column was actually really good and worth a read, not the usual bitter missive.

After Hendrick replacing Whelan, he immediately went on a couple of kamikaze runs into German territory before eventually losing possession. I think it might have been then that MON decided he better bring on Gibson for a bit of extra protection, as it was clear that Hendrick was unlikely to be as disciplined defensively as Whelan.

Either way, dynamic substitutions are not something Irish fans are used to!

[Charlie Darwin]

what exactly was lucky about a quick throw-in followed by some decent wing play, a deep cross brilliantly turned back across the goal and our centre half (yes, miles from his own area) getting across a world class centre half to turn the ball brilliantly into the corner on the net?

please advise.

Not to contradict you because you're right, but Hummels is not and never will be a world class centre half. He's just a good one.

[DeLorean]

I'd like to see the list of world class centre halves if Hummels isn't one. He's only 25 also so his best years are probably ahead of him.

[Stuttgart88]

O'Shea said O'Neill told him to go forward for the last ten, so another notch of kudos to the gaffer. The finish was excellent.

[geysir]

I'd like to see the list of world class centre halves if Hummels isn't one. He's only 25 also so his best years are probably ahead of him.

Hmmn......... I don't know if I would get into a dispute with Darwin about his proclamations based on his evolutionary, detection/predictive prowess.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd like to see the list of world class centre halves if Hummels isn't one. He's only 25 also so his best years are probably ahead of him.

Terry, Varane, Kompany, Ramos Pique, Chiellini, Garay, etc. In recent years, Ferdinand, Vidic, Puyol, etc.

Don't get me wrong, he's a very good footballer but he's a useless defender, which is a luxury a team like Germany can afford but most teams couldn't.

[paul_oshea]

Fwiw, the Podolski penalty didn't look a penalty to me in real time though obviously I've seen them given. There was another where O'Shea clumsily had his arms around an opponent's shoulders and they fell to ground - that was more heart-in-mouth time for me.

That wasnt quite it, his arm was interlocked like ye see a lot of gaelic footballers do, so it fools the ref into thinking he has grabbed and is holding his arm, when in fact the striker has cutely placed and locked in his arm. Never a penalty but at the same time O'Shea was a bit dopey letting him pull him down with him which makes it look a bit more like he dragged him down.

[BonnieShels]

Hey everyone, Paul is back!

[Kingdom]

Terry, Varane, Kompany, Ramos Pique, Chiellini, Garay, etc. In recent years, Ferdinand, Vidic, Puyol, etc.

Don't get me wrong, he's a very good footballer but he's a useless defender, which is a luxury a team like Germany can afford but most teams couldn't.

I agree with you CD. I'd only seen snippets of him before this group, and took the opinion from others that he was top 5 material. But I've seen a bit of him now the past 3 months, and to me he is exactly as you say, a good footballer, but not great at the job he;s paid to do - defend! He's as slow as a funeral. Ramos is the only one from your list that I'd have question marks over but the others yeah, all look better to me.

[DeLorean]

Terry, Varane, Kompany, Ramos Pique, Chiellini, Garay, etc. In recent years, Ferdinand, Vidic, Puyol, etc.

Don't get me wrong, he's a very good footballer but he's a useless defender, which is a luxury a team like Germany can afford but most teams couldn't.

I haven't seen an awful lot of Hummels to be honest but I thought he looked very solid at the WC and the few games I've seen him play for Dortmund. Varane has massive potential but is just a kid really, he's obviously not quite there yet to say that train wreck Pepe is usually preferred. I remember he was badly beaten (by Hummels as it happens) for the decisive goal in the WC quarter final. Terry can't be far off the 'recent years' list although he's still a super defender to be fair. Kompany is the man that can do no wrong no matter how much wrong he does and Pique hasn't had the best few months, by all accounts. I'm a huge Ramos fan, loose cannon but a big game player and inspirational figure. Can't say I've seen much of Garay and Chiellini is pure class.

[Stuttgart88]

Hey everyone, Paul is back!

Just don't ask him about 80s power metal. (In joke)

[Charlie Darwin]

There's probably a shortage of truly world class defenders around but those players are all a lot better than Hummels, in my opinion. He plays for a Dortmund side who concede a lot of goals, he's slow, turns slowly and isn't particularly great at winning the ball and making interceptions. What he is very good at, though, is passing and moving his team up the pitch, which are great skills to have but they're not a complete skillset. And if we're going to use being badly beaten for a goal against a player, I can think of one recent example where Hummels was badly exposed.

[Stuttgart88]

Credit to O'Shea though. He showed a great instinct to get ahead of Hummels like he did. Reactions are slower at that time of a game too. Hummels can be criticised but I think more credit is due to JOSH.

Hummels is a winner and a strong character, big attributes that are missing in other prominent CBs.