Scotland V Republic of Ireland - Friday, 14th November 2014 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[irishultra]

Fair enough but in gibson's younger days, fergie clearly saw great talent. If he had half the attitude of Roy Keane, I think he'd be a top premiership player rather than a decent premiership player.
Regarding Hendrick, I believe he will become a top player. One **** poor performance from him doesn't change that opinion.

Ummm he was destined to be a better player than he is but I don't think he ever promised to truly be a top class player. I don't even think his passing is good, he's so one dimensional on the ball.

[Jovial Rambler]

Great to see no complaints on here about the management. Our players have huge limitations compared with those of previous campaigns. But, I feel that we are moving in the right direction. WC14 was an unmitigated disaster for us, whereas now the manager has instilled belief, confidence, and a planB. He is benching Keane, trying out youth and fresh tactics. Sometimes its one step back to go two forward, such as tonight. We ARE on our way up, keep your heads up and believe we will turn it around in March, and support the management and the players that they choose.

[Cymro]

From a neutral point of view I thought both sides were pretty poor, but Scotland definitely wanted it more and ultimately deserved the win.

The inability of both sides to string together decent attacking moves in relatively good conditions was shocking. Probably only repeating what's already been said but the only moment of genuine class won the game. Scotland have a couple of players with decent technique in Naismith and Maloney. I'm struggling to see who Ireland have to be honest with genuine quality on the ball. Keane is a good goalscorer and the team is solid defensively, but technically Poland are much better and Scotland even seem to have an edge in that department. Hate to sound arrogant but Wales are well ahead of both sides in that regard at this point in time. If only we had a goalscoring centre-forward!

If you are to qualify directly you'll need to find a way to beat Poland, in my view. I initially saw this group as being a three-way fight for second but now I'd say it's probably a two-way fight for third. I still think the group is well-set for Ireland to qualify but it will be a tough battle with the Scots. It's definitely not over for either side. Scotland may not win in Georgia which Ireland have and the away game between both your sides is still to come.

[Charlie Darwin]

Great to see no complaints on here about the management. Our players have huge limitations compared with those of previous campaigns. But, I feel that we are moving in the right direction. WC14 was an unmitigated disaster for us, whereas now the manager has instilled belief, confidence, and a planB. He is benching Keane, trying out youth and fresh tactics. Sometimes its one step back to go two forward, such as tonight. We ARE on our way up, keep your heads up and believe we will turn it around in March, and support the management and the players that they choose.

Did you watch the match? Plenty of people in here criticising the management, and with justifiable cause.

[Bungle]

Agree with that.
What is probably most noteworthy is that between the two countries there wasn't one world class player on the pitch tonight (maybe Coleman comes close enough). It's hard to believe that our two countries used to produce the backbone of the great English club sides of yesteryear.
Wales must be putting something in the water because you're still producing the talent. Whether it's a good generation at the one time it's hard to know, but I'd give anything for your team, as I'm sure the lads on the tartan army forum would.
A few years ago we had a core of terrific talent coming through who went on to be excellent players like given, duff, robbie and dunne. Now, we're left arguing about whether our one young player in the team will become a top player. That is sobering for us and it might get worse before it gets better.

[Charlie Darwin]

Marshall's save from McGeady volley was world class. In spite of their dominance, we had four shots on target to Scotland's one. The difference between us was one very composed finished and an exceptional goalkeeper.

[Crosby87]

That sucked. This team sucks the life out of the bar.

[Cymro]

Agree with that.
What is probably most noteworthy is that between the two countries there wasn't one world class player on the pitch tonight (maybe Coleman comes close enough). It's hard to believe that our two countries used to produce the backbone of the great English club sides of yesteryear.
Wales must be putting something in the water because you're still producing the talent. Whether it's a good generation at the one time it's hard to know, but I'd give anything for your team, as I'm sure the lads on the tartan army forum would.
A few years ago we had a core of terrific talent coming through who went on to be excellent players like given, duff, robbie and dunne. Now, we're left arguing about whether our one young player in the team will become a top player. That is sobering for us and it might get worse before it gets better.

It's just a case of talent coming through together and a (very) long rebuilding phase that began under Toshack. Bale, Hennessey, Gunter, and Ramsey, amongst others, made their debuts very young - Bale at 16. He's been playing international football for nearly a decade now. The number of caps those players have at a young age shows how long we've been building up to this.

It's taken a few campaigns to get it right but hopefully this will finally be the one - won't get a better chance than this.

[Crosby87]

Cymro, do you think Wales would let Ched Evans play for them if it came to pass?

[geysir]

Scots deserved their win, like ourselves pretty ordinary team ,big difference with us is the extraordinary expectation.i agree with Liam Bradys assertion at the beginning of the group that we just do not have the quality players.the fact that Whelan and McCarthy are considered a loss sums it up.i am surprised that Coleman always seems to avoid any scrutiny when it comes to our defence,his performance tonight like many of his in a green shirt in terms of defence was,,non existent can not blame Mcgeady for all that was going on down the right hand side tonight.

I'd reluctantly agree that Coleman looked very average out there and wouldn't have objected to Cyrus coming on after half time, for novelty value alone.

[bishbash]

We all agree we are no world beaters, we all agree that we have a lot of average footballers & some decent ones to. There is no way that Scotland are as far ahead of us in terms of personnel than what tonight would suggest. Charlie Mulgrew is a very average midfielder, Scott brown is whole hearted & Naismith has been decent for Everton. I 100% believe we have similar players if not slightly better.

Why do we have to play 442, every team comes & out numbers us we can't put 2 passes together & get over run. It's so blatantly obvious. Why play Walters and long who are basically going to do the same thing try win headers or get on the end of flick on's.

We are not Germany or Spain but at least give us the best chance to try keep the ball & small bit more & have some controlled possession instead of 70 yard punts. Maybe get our wingers & forwards 15yards further forward rather than looking at it in the air.

I can't believe Stephen ward is gettin away with it, he's beyond poor.

We surely have to give ourselves a better chance than some of the luck we've enjoyed lately.

[Crosby87]

We all agree we are no world beaters, we all agree that we have a lot of average footballers & some decent ones to. There is no way that Scotland are as far ahead of us in terms of personnel than what tonight would suggest.

Truer words have never been spoken my friend.

And there in lies the rub.

[wonder88]

The luck we had in this group so far was absent tonight. Both full-backs poor and if Wilson is fit he should play instead of Ward if there no one else available. The 2 central midfielders seemed to be outnumbered, so I would not be too hard on them, plus quick ball forward style does not help them. Keogh was the best Irish player I think.
I had major doubts about the dream team management when they got the job, but they have been lucky until tonight, so too early to judge yet.

[MeathDrog]

McClean has to be dropped.

[Colbert Report]

Robbie Brady is a much better player than James McClean and if fit, should start

[boysingreen]

What a woeful performance. Pretty sure we had more touches in the Scotland half with our heads than our feet. Why bother?

Dreadful day in the campaign, and a nice little treat that we get to suck on it for 4-5 months til the next fixture.

[The Fly]

Fair enough but in gibson's younger days, fergie clearly saw great talent. If he had half the attitude of Roy Keane, I think he'd be a top premiership player rather than a decent premiership player.

He'd also need half of Keane's mobility as well.

His lack of it is his major deficiency.

[Maroon 7]

Hate to sound arrogant but Wales are well ahead of both sides in that regard at this point in time. If only we had a goalscoring centre-forward!

I don't think there is much difference at all talent wise between the three sides apart from the one obvious exception in the Wales team. Having one world class player can make a huge difference to a team as Ireland discovered when Roy Keane was in his pomp.

[tricky_colour]

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/68ADF4427D1145153116044759040_32fe3559c3f.0.1.2981 662331065690891.mp4

Apparently they worked on that in training. We should have marked them better one on one.
I have yet to see empty space score a gaol!
Anyway on the bright side, we will normally be able to field a much better midfield and we
only lost by one goal, so it could have been worse.

[Fixer82]

Not much between the two teams, a very nice goal for them and no goals for us. That was the difference.
We will have the chance to play them again at home.

At last, a common sense post instead of all this emotion.
Keogh for me had an outstanding game and barely put a foot wrong.
Cannot understand the criticism he's getting.
We were overrun by a more composed midfield. That was the difference.
We switched off for their goal. Brown was in the box on his own unmarked for an eternity. I think it was Brady's fault.
It was a 90 miles an hour game. A real cup final and they didn't let the occasion get to them like we did.

Fair play to O'Neill. He put out a team we all wanted. We just weren't quite good enough