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

[SkStu]

It cuts both ways. I have had to sit here countless times listening to people denigrate Long's performances and nitpick them even when he has been one of our best players (Serbia for example). He linked up excellently with Hoolahan against teams like Italy but that kind of performance never gains any traction whatsoever. Instead people just moan about him not taking his chances when he a goalscoring record of better than 1 in 2 starts for us and has never started consecutive competitive games!

What's hyperbolic to me is completely ignoring Shane's composed touch for the goal against Poland and instead focusing on how it was deflected. What's hyperbolic to me is having a go at Shane for getting booked against Austria in Dublin and ignoring Walters' culpability in Alaba having the space to score. What's hyperbolic to me is having a go at Shane for an innocuous foul deep in the Poland half and ignoring the fact that Walters almost gave away position cheaply in a crucial position. What's hyperbolic to me is telling me that I am not strenuously analysing Long's performance like I did Keane when Long came on when we were losing the match 0-1 with 10 minutes to go in a cauldron situation and Keane completed 90 minutes without barely touching the ball, making any kind of impact or exerting any kind of influence.

As I said, it's not a "grudge". I gave Walters 6 out of 10 and I praised his performance against Germany. I can call a spade a spade. But FFS Keane has been out of it against Austria, Portugal, Georgia, Germany, Poland. He had a fantastic performance against Faroe Islands and Gibraltar and Georgia over the last three years.

I can't remember the last time he had any kind of impact against a reasonable side, crucial goal against Sweden aside.

And I will praise Walters for this.

While the fans and players were getting carried away because of an equalising goal at home that leaves us with a considerable task in qualifying - showing our mentality, Walters was the only one remaining composed, bringing the ball back to the center circle and looking to get on with the task at hand.

I don't think he should be in the starting line up whether it's keeping McClean or Brady out or whether it's keeping Long out but he has a good attitude.

You see, it always just comes back to you making a point in order to take a swipe at Keane.

I agree that Long is undervalued considerably by the majority on here.

[SwanVsDalton]

I love SVDs matter of fact assertion based on his own opinion when there is nothing to state or show from Forde's career, languishing in a relegation battle looking down towards league 1, that suggests he is some sort of great shot stopper. Just cos you saw him in the LOI doesn't count for a tad. At least when I do that(bold matter of fact) its about someone who can be backed up.

" think Forde would've saved it because it was perfect height for him, he's an excellent shot-stopper despite claims to the contrary"

He is not, he can't get down low, thats his biggest problem i have gone through countless examples and that sweden one was a woeful example. He is playing bottom div1/league 1 and previously LOI because he is NOT an excellent shot stopper and scouts/managers/etc all over agree with that.

Lol.

There's been countless examples when Forde has displayed his shot-stopping ability as you well know and I don't have to go to the LOI well to get them - they've been much pored over on this forum.

Your response amounts to 'my opinion and examples are worth more than your opinion and examples'. Which is already out-your-scoop-chat, without pointing out that I can accept Forde struggles with some shots (as many keepers do) while remaining an overall excellent shot-stopper (search the forum) and you can't even recognise an ability he's displayed on several occasions.

Anyway, this part gave me a great laugh.

I love SVDs matter of fact assertion based on his own opinion

He is playing bottom div1/league 1 and previously LOI because he is NOT an excellent shot stopper and scouts/managers/etc all over agree with that.

Proved your point well alright. Matter of fact assertions based on own opinions are everywhere on internet forums, foot.ie no exception.

[SwanVsDalton]

While the fans and players were getting carried away because of an equalising goal at home that leaves us with a considerable task in qualifying - showing our mentality, Walters was the only one remaining composed, bringing the ball back to the center circle and looking to get on with the task at hand.

Just to say I noticed Glenn Whelan do this when we conceded (O'Shea had his head on his hands, maybe he was thinking he should've blocked it...) but was impressed that he was immediately trying to get on with getting back in the game.

its very fcking negative in here. Jesus. The nitpicking of O'Neills comments, the general performance and Shay for the goal is just way off.

We totally destroyed them in that second half. I have not seen an Irish team retain possession in such a controlled and continuous way as they did in the second half on Sunday - not for a long long time. Sure, a lot of it was sideways but that is okay. That is what continental teams are praised for doing. We defended in numbers effectively and with shape/discipline. I was very impressed watching again. To read the media (and some on here) talking about the second half being huff and puff towards an equalizer is just so unfair and way off the mark. I challenge anyone to watch it again (ok, just the second half) and not be impressed to the same extent I am or see the game similar to how DeLorean has reviewed it.

Some good points there in fairness.

I haven't watched the whole second half granted, but my view was just from being there and believing, going in, that we had to win. I still think that, and I was gutted that we didn't get the three points. I thoroughly believe we can beat Scotland but I saw Sunday as a better opportunity.

There are positives in that second half performance, not least that we really changed up our approach and played in a more fluid manner than I've seen in years.

But I didn't really feel throughout that Poland were necessarily going to break - we were building pressure but it didn't necessarily feel intense at the time. Hence, I did think it was a bit huff and puff. There are plenty of times watching Ireland when it feels like we're going to concede, and I didn't get that feeling from Poland.

Have to watch it again though. And I thought the midfield were much better in the second half and the defence did a great job of squeezing the play.

[paul_oshea]

ah svd go back to sleep.he plays in a team headed for league 1 and poring goals. its not assumption, Internet forums or other such lark. It's plain and simple fact unless you live in some parallel universe and base your opinio6n on that.

[SwanVsDalton]

ah svd go back to sleep.he plays in a team headed for league 1 and poring goals. its not assumption, Internet forums or other such lark. It's plain and simple fact unless you live in some parallel universe and base your opinio6n on that.

And that means he wouldn't have saved that shot? Or he hasn't played well for Ireland? Or shown that he's a really great shot stopper?

Of course, in a parallel universe Forde could be keeping the second-most clean sheets in the Championship as part of high-flying Millwall team - but that wouldn't answer those questions either.

Ah here look, never mind you're right as always - I'll just stick myself back on the naughty step here with Charles Darwin sure.

[Charlie Darwin]

It's actually not too bad back here. It's pretty basic but you're kept warm by the glow of Paul's superior football knowledge.

[Stuttgart88]

Who exactly got carried away? I knew TOWK would come back to gloat about his prediction of fist pumping after a draw. There's a world of difference between celebrating a drab draw and celebrating an injury time equaliser that prevents your team from certain elimination. Nobody thinks the result is anything other than the equivalent of a bogey salvaged from a triple bogey and nobody doubts that we need some birdies in the last few holes.

[tricky_colour]

He did say he(pzesko) hit it so well that it was a blur for him as it went past, I actually thought he didn't cover either angle but stayed well in the middle anticipating either, but he looked a bit slow to move, definitely though between he and o'shea they should have covered that angle, o'shea just turned sideways rather than get his body behind it, but as pointed out before perhaps he was afraid of a deflection and thought given had it, I still think a defender should block it especially in that position as its unlikely a deflection would get around the other side of the keeper.

I don't think many keepers would have saved it unless it hit them, it was struck so well that you barely have time to move
you just have to try and anticipate where it goes. It seemed to just lift up high enough to clear his out stretched foot.

[tricky_colour]

The group is not too bad, there are positives for us, we drew in German for example.
German do not appear to be the strongest team, Scotland only got a goal there and they only be
best Gibraltar 4-0, we got 7.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought this was funny

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/201...aviva-stadium/

[the doc]

ah svd go back to sleep.he plays in a team headed for league 1 and poring goals. its not assumption, Internet forums or other such lark. It's plain and simple fact unless you live in some parallel universe and base your opinio6n on that.

Disagree!

Fordie has done well for Ireland, harsh that he lost his place.
Shays a top man and Ireland legend but even he would agree it was harsh.

To me it shows signs of a manager clutching at straws with no clear plan or direction of where the teams going.


But hey what would I know?

[DeLorean]

Your footie?

[paul_oshea]

Where's my post the idiot?

will the doc disappear if we do the unthinkable and beat Scotland and then go on and qualify?*

I hate when posters are full of chat and then disappear for years in the hope people have forgotten all about their lack of credibility.

*If we win and qualify ill gladly admit I was wrong. I love being wrong in these instances.

I think we are more likely to draw with Germany than beat Scotland. I actually think there is a much bigger chance of that and it could well happen.

[DannyInvincible]

Where's my post the idiot?

Ha, Mypost (famous for "I don't do logic") only ventures into Current Affairs of late in order to share his peculiarly-stubborn brands of xenophobia and homophobia, and very rarely at that, because he managed to get himself in a bit of a twist during the last few visits.

(And, yes, that is my attempt to egg him into a response, if he's reading!)

[Stuttgart88]

Can anyone remember what the big Polish football chant was during 2012? To the tune of "stand up for the boys in green" it was "Polska something something"

[tetsujin1979]

polska byer-woah chervony - at least that how I think it's pronounced
Poland white and red is the translation

[DeLorean]

I think it sounded something like 'Polska... on the trampoline". That's what I use join in with anyway.

[SwanVsDalton]

[Stuttgart88]

I took my son to the Poland home game. They had another chant, lord knows what it was. My son asked why they were singing "last day lemon". We still joke about it.

[DeLorean]

Bump.