Republic of Ireland V Poland - Sunday, 29th March 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[ArdeeBhoy]

Uninspiring stuff...expect similar v.Alba.
And no chance of 2nd.place now.


Too many posers in that team too?
Need to concentrate on the basics FFS

[OwlsFan]

Positives:

1) Yet another last minute goal. Without the three we've had, we'd be sitting on 4 points.
2) Second half performance, although I worry that it had more to do with Poland sitting back than us grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck but at least we dominated a half at home against a rival
3) We're still in the mix.
4) We got to the byline on numerous occasions.
5) Opposition had one shot on target (I think).
6) Fans got behind the team when given something to shout about.
7) Impact of McLean.
8) Poland are an average enough side like ourselves.

Negatives

1) One win against a main rival in a group at home in 12 years !
2) Two points dropped at home.
3) Bizarre selection of Given over Forde/Westwood - a keeper on form would have saved that goal. He almost got a foot to it.
4) Lack lustre first half.
5) Brady's two mistakes in first half almost cost two goals.
6) Constant over hitting of crosses.
7) A tired looking Robbie although he almost scored from a header and did work hard to close down their keeper resulting in a number of poor clearances.
8) Long balls by Given to a backline that towered over our forwards, Walters apart.
9) McCarthy anonymous for much of the game. The much maligned Whelan more effective.
10) Despite the dominance, only a few half chances created.

So we go to yet another "must win" game, this time against Scotland. History says we won't win this game but you know, despite all that, we will still go with the perennial optimism of the football fan that this time it will be different and....who knows.

[Stuttgart88]

did Keane nearly score that header? Despite hitting the post I never felt it had a chance of beating the keeper.

I don't think Given's selection was odd but I do think he should have saved it. It was as if he was positioned for a straight shot and wasn't ready for a straightforward dive to his right. That goal was avoidable on 3 counts.

I think Geysir was right. After we scored it was as if Poland went "balls" and nearly got through twice afterwards. Lewandowski wasn't far off connecting properly with that volley and they carved a back post opening that nearly gave me s heart attack watching.

I have a mix of feelings but overall we are still in it and a win over Scotland is now imperative.

[KK77]

Dunphy saying it was the first time since 2001 that we had beaten a team ranked higher than us in a qualifier, and Brady had to interrupt to tell him that we only drew was a funny one!

[Real ale Madrid]

Two things stand out for me at this point.

We are going to 100% need to get something from the last game against Poland - probably a win.

There is nothing Robbie Keane can do at International level that Shane Long can't do twice as good.

[the doc]

The facts are we got away with it again last night.

I see no progression under MON, last min goals are saving him from further critisicum.

In all honest, does anyone really think we've improved in the last year?

At least Mr Trapattoni had a set way of playing and for quite a long time it did us well.

I really can't see us progressing under MON.

Many will say that we don't have the players, that may be true to a certain extent, but we're not as bad as many make out.

Good organisation, players playing in a system that suits them and the team and we can at least have a chance.

I also feel that MON has too many assistant coaches and backroom staff, all chipping in, that's not ideal.
There were more sitting in the dug out than in the singing section last night!

For me MONs a spent force, even more so with out Johno Robbo alongside him.

Under Mr Trapattoni we'd be all but qualified by now.

Be careful what you wish for fellas!

Try and keep the FAI-th!

[shakermaker1982]

Niall Quinn on Sky was saying post match that Long needs to start with Walters. Keane can then have a 20 minute run out if we need a goal.

Shane Long has to start, not bothered who partners him but he needs a run in the team. Hoolahan also has to start.

McGeady was god awful.

McCarthy and Whelan were extremely limited. Any midfielder who passes the buck by repeatedly passing the ball backwards when under no pressure doesn't deserve a start at international level. Watch how many times Whelan kills the momentum of an attack by going backwards.

[Real ale Madrid]

Under Mr Trapattoni we'd be all but qualified by now.

Mr. O'Neill is a far better manager for us , ably assisted by Mr. Keane.

[harry crumb]

Hoolahan and Long should be the 1st names on the teamsheet.

Its been like this for the last 4/5 years. We are finally getting to that point. Pity time doesn't wait.

Long is now 28 and Hoolahan 33 in May.

Shocked to hear Long has 52 caps. How many of those did he actually start. Guessing around the 20 mark.

[shakermaker1982]

St Ledger

We were God awful in the first half but the 2nd half brought back a lot of good memories of how we can play. Don't be bitter because you aren't in the team anymore.

Our system under Trap involved hoofing it long, 8 men behind the ball and relying on Richard Dunne to take on Russia on his own.

[SwanVsDalton]

The facts are we got away with it again last night.

No. We deserved at least a point.

I see no progression under MON, last min goals are saving him from further critisicum.

In all honest, does anyone really think we've improved in the last year?

Yes. We consisently play with more of the ball than we ever did with Trapattoni, which is an improvement.

did Keane nearly score that header? Despite hitting the post I never felt it had a chance of beating the keeper.

I thought it was in from where I was sitting. Fabianski had to dive backwards and claw it off the line.

I don't think Given's selection was odd but I do think he should have saved it. It was as if he was positioned for a straight shot and wasn't ready for a straightforward dive to his right. That goal was avoidable on 3 counts.

I agreed with Given's selection - he would've been in my team. But it's only fair to point out he should've saved it. I'm pretty sure Westwood and Forde would have.

[Charlie Darwin]

Brady needs to stop reading foot.ie and do the job he's paid for. Clark will start ahead of Keogh, nothing surer. The McCarthy comments are second-rate and unfair, but presumably regurgitated from somebody else who pays as little attention as him.

edit: I realise I've gone out on a paul oshea on the Clark call but if I'm wrong I'll own up to it. But he will start because he's our best centre half right now. And he's left footed.

Ah well, at least I tried. I was half-right about Keogh at least.

I'm surprised by all the negativity. Yes, we needed a win and it's disappointing not to get it, and we did look blunt in attack even when we were battering them, but for the first time we showed an intent to play a more positive brand of football and, moreover, we got rewarded for it. We're fighting for third, realistically, but a play-off is better than nothing.

I knew Poland weren't the team people were building them up to be, but even so I was surprised by how bad they are. They play the sort of puke football Trap was blasted for, and they're a dishonest side. I'd fancy Scotland to do them at home because teams like Poland don't have the stomach or the heart when it's put up to them, and Scotland will be more prepared to exploit that than we were. I'd give us a shot of winning in Poland too.

Overall, Hoolahan had a mixed game but we're a different team when he's allowed to come into midfield and take the ball. It's the job McCarthy doesn't do enough of, but with somebody in there taking responsibility for the ball he and Whelan looked a lot more positive too. Brady had a tough night and was badly at fault for the goal, but he too showed character and a willingness to take responsibility. This 11, with maybe McClean and Long, deserves another chance.

[jbyrne]

I don't think Given's selection was odd but I do think he should have saved it. It was as if he was positioned for a straight shot and wasn't ready for a straightforward dive to his right. That goal was avoidable on 3 counts.

that's harsh on given. I thought the pole finish was superb. not much shay could have done in my opinion

[Olé Olé]

I'm hoping that last night demonstrated to MON that it we do need to drop Robbie for a home game i.e. the Scotland game in June. Long and Walters didn't fare that brilliantly in the away leg of that but I think they need another shot at it. Both can play as a central striker or on the right of a 4-2-3-1 so I think that system would suit them.

McGeady's rustiness and lack of game time showed last night. McClean's recent good club form also showed when he came in. That said, it was an ideal time to bring on McClean to use his power to drive at a tired Polish right-back.

Feel very sorry for Brady. The mistake was pretty emblematic of a winger playing at full-back i.e. he tried something but was in too dangerous an area to be trying it. I'm disappointed with it also because playing him there was a sign that we were willing to play attacking football so being punished for that willingness is a pity.

[SwanVsDalton]

Have been recovering my thoughts from last night - my overriding feeling is bitter disappointment. Ultimately, I think we had to win last night and yet again we couldn't get over the line. Now we're angling for a play-off and another must-win we'll struggle to win. I think we're shot for France. And I fancied our chances last night more than I do against Scotland.

It's all the more galling because I thought Poland showed themselves up for what they are - a desperately medicore team outside one or two and an absolutely cynical shower to boot. Haven't been so infuriated by an away team at Lansdowne Road since Isreal in '05. All we needed was Dudu Aouate to make the night complete...

The second half was a highlight of MON's tenure so far. But despite all our possession, I thought our attacking play was far too fractured and frantic. In fairness to Poland, they played no football but were plenty organised, forcing us wide or long.

On the selection - aside from Brady, O'Neill picked the team I would've went with. So guess I can't complain! Ultimately, it wasn't perfect but it did show a lot more initative than under Trap. It was far more adventurous and it was a team to win the game.

Ultimately, I also think players have to take some responsibility if things don't work after that. I think the manager did well. He picked a team to win, and changed it thoughout to up the pressure on the Poles.

I don't at all buy the 'if only Long was on earlier' theory - in eight minutes he scored, miscontrolled a pass and gave away a stupid foul. He may have had one other touch. I think someone else mentioned it (SkStu?) but the player who made the real big impact, who changed the flow of the game, was James McClean, who was excellent when he came on. Long took his goal well, but he didn't change the pattern of the play. He has made a big claim to start from now on, and that's very welcome.

Some quick player thoughts:

Given - Had one save to make, should've saved it. He would've been in my team, but my view is other keepers (including two sitting on our bench) would have made it. Only fair to point that out since the debate rages on over our keepers. I have no doubt he's our number one for the campaign now though. His distribution was a very mixed bag as well, he was surprisingly slow to get the ball forward at times. It's undoubtedly an upgrade from Forde though.

Coleman - Did well, couple of shaky moments defensively aside. Some great forward running. Should've hit the target with that shot. Don't care if Robbie was standing in front of him with his jocks down, he has to hit the target.

Brady - Didn't work did it? At fault for the goal, uncertain in defensive, didn't really get to overlap and generally poor set pieces. Which is why he was picked in the first place.

Wilson and O'Shea - Good news, Lewandowski and Milik were quiet. Plus they helped the whole team by squeezing up iin the second half. Wilson could've have been more decisive for the goal though.

Whelan and McCarthy - Thought Glenn Whelan was very impressive, in his usual unspectacular way. With McCarthy, helped the defensive keep Lewandowski et al on a short leash. Was rightly hooked when we were chasing a goal. McCarthy did some great things, but was still too passive at times. I think he could be a lot braver.

McGeady - Poor. Looks short on form and confidence.

Hoolahan - Good, but I'm not ready to annoint a new saviour just yet. Cleverest attacking player in the squad by a country mile. BUT he gave the ball away cheaply half-a-dozen times in the second half. I thought he looked knackered as well. But he has to play for that extra ability alone.

Walters - I thought he did well in the first half, faded in the second (he also looked wrecked by the end). Didn't have an easy task going up against three physical Poles at every turn. But the big problem with Walters last night was that he almost looks like he's from a completely different team. We play long balls to his head but no one gets close to him for flick-ons or second balls. The team doesn't play to that strength. He's there as an extra physical option (and also because we have a smallish team) but we don't even attempt to make that option work as a team. For that reason, I'd bench him from now on. Can't see it happening though.

Keane - Quiet. Nearly scored from a header. Typical Robbie performance. If we're not going to play a traditional centre forward partnership (which we still were not doing last night, despite going 442) then he's going to be useless for almost 90 minutes, yet potentially able to score at any moment - the dilemma continues.

McClean - Defines cult hero at this point.

Long - We want him to score and he did. Deserves to start next time.

[Stuttgart88]

5 yellows last night. Anyone missing Scotland game?

[Stuttgart88]

Doc, how many home games did Trap win? How many times did we come from behind? How many leads did we squander?

[pineapple stu]

I missed the game (stuck on a train); just saw the brief highlights on YouTube really.

Looks to me like Given was expecting a shot at the near post, and wasn't able to react quickly enough when it went the far post. He was hugely exposed by Brady, and I think it's understandable that he was preparing for a shot to one side. Decent finish from the Pole.

For Keane's header, I think he would have done better only another Irish player (is it Long?) gets in his way as he goes up to head. Means he can't really get enough power on it. Thought the Polish keeper had a straighforward save tbh; no need to let it hit the post.

Gem of an assist from Hoolahan.

A Polish mate texted that McShane could have been sent off with ten minutes to go for slapping an opponent?

Other than that, we're bottom of the four-team group this has now become. Not overly encouraging to be honest. June's game is the best chance to make up some ground; I think it's a must win alright.

Wikipedia's article on the group doesn't note any suspensions for us after last night (and it does have Poland's Glik missing their next game after being booked last night)

[DannyInvincible]

I see no progression under MON, last min goals are saving him from further critisicum.

Probably because his teams have scored within the allotted time-frame. Last-minute goals are valid goals too, doc. You play for the full 90 minutes and O'Neill's teams certainly do that. You can surely appreciate that?

Good organisation, players playing in a system that suits them and the team and we can at least have a chance.

What system is that? Do you mean a return to the Trap days?

I also feel that MON has too many assistant coaches and backroom staff, all chipping in, that's not ideal.

Why not? Perhaps he feels it gives him a broader outlook or ensures he can consider other perspectives. That shows flexibility and an openness to other ideas; they can be virtues too. Does he really have that many more than your average international manager anyway? I'm not sure, but Trap had Tardelli and even Staunton had Bobby Robson.

Under Mr Trapattoni we'd be all but qualified by now.

How can you say that? What results would have been different for certain? Even if you replaced the loss in Glasgow with a draw, it certainly wouldn't have in an all-but-qualified position.

[SwanVsDalton]

A Polish mate texted that McShane could have been sent off with ten minutes to go for slapping an opponent?

Apparently McCarthy gave Mila a little dig. At the game, Mila went down like he'd been shot. I didn't see anything happen. The BBC text commentary says McCarthy slapped him though and should've went.

I care not a jot, the Poles were an absolute cynical shower the whole night. Pulling, tugging, pushing, tripping and generally souring my relationship with that great country.

EDIT - Vine of it here, aye he could've been sent off (seen them given etc) but look at the absoute state of Mila going down like that...