In fairness to Manning he's gone to another level this season and has really turned himself into a solid winger. If he rounds out his defensive game I don't think he'll be long in the championship
Yet another example of too much expectation on young shoulders. A lot of our team are really starting to hit their stride...and the timing is perfect
I see the new manager has brought Gavin back into the teamOriginally Posted by rebelmusic
Manning does seem to have found his feet recently, but at 29 I think the he's only a baby defense doesn't cut it. He seemed to be struggling to add enough defensive solidity to his game at left back to play at the very top, and if he's instead working out as a winger then good for him. Thing is, while an in-form winger Manning is a welcome addition to the Ireland squad, I think we'd happily sell him to Qatar* if we could get an actual left back in his place.
*Yes, I know, but it's only a matter of time before FIFA relent and allow the petrostates to outright buy players.
You can't spell failure without FAI
Himself and Bazunu seemed to get in a mess at the end today to gift Millwall a win over Southampton. Hard to know which of them was more at fault for it but it was a poor either way. The defensive issues remain for Manning and Bazunu still can't put a good full 90 together and is continuing to get zero sympathy from the Southampton supporters.
Manning had cleared off the line a couple of minutes earlier. Tough game, football.
Actually, looking at the highlights and it's a bit harsh to call that a mix-up I think. Back-post header that goes between Manning's legs and gives Bazunu little time to react. I'd be more critical of the first goal - Bazunu's weakness from long shots showing again; I think he should be getting a hand on that one as it's not close to the corner.
Second Millwall goal is a peach. Emakhu seems to have played reasonably well, though he still can't actually find the net.
We are back to this old chesnut again - Southampton today were back to the defence played by Russell Martin - stand off strikers 20 yards out and allow them time to set up, pick their spot and strike the ball - when you do that the striker will score 19 times out of 20 - that is what happened for both goals today. Bazunu was at full-stretch for the first goal and couldn't get close and there was nobody within 5 yards of Azeez. When you expose a goalkeeper like that you are going to leak goals no matter who is the keeper. It is also worth noting that Bazunu made a cracking save in the first half when the score was 0-0. Southampton fans saw what was happening today and the criticism has been firmly levelled against the defence, not Bazunu (who has been playing very well since he came back into the team).
Ah, the old "It's always the defence" defence.
Yes, the closing down is poor, but that's what happens. If he's at full stretch and can't get to a ball that's about a yard inside the post, then he's not doing great. And he's not been playing very well since coming back into the team. He has a complete brain fart that cost a goal against QPR. He conceded a corner for holding onto the ball too long against Sheffield Wednesday, was also booked for timewasting at 3-1 up, and was weak for their goal (again from distance). He's right down the bottom of the league in the main metrics like PSxG, claiming crosses, making saves. He just never seems to pull off a great save that earns a point or three - you're far more likely to be looking at the shot that he maybe should have done better for but never seems to.
Right now, even allowing for him still only being 23, it's very hard to see him ever laying down a meaningful challenge to Kelleher for the Ireland jersey. Unless maybe towards the end of Kelleher's career. Caoimhin just looks to have kicked well clesr of the pack. An interesting battle for second choice though between him, Keeley, O'Leary and Travers. Any of those five would likely be the first choice keeper for some other mid rank European teams.
I am going to move my comments on Bazunu back to the Bazunu thread because that is where the conversation should be happening.
I see O'Leary has been dropped in favour of Conor Noß' goalkeeper teammate from last year. Which is a pity.
I think we're a different team if either Parrott or Kelleher get injured. Which isn't necessarily a criticism of us - there's plenty of international teams who have a couple of very good players in a squad of otherwise mediocrity. Hungary with Szoboszlai being a prime example we've seen recently. Even Norway struggled when Haaland was injured in a recent qualifying campaign (though they've now a few more very good players and I think they'll go far in the World Cup)
Great to see so many Irish players play well. Manning and Azaz both looked very good. Emakhu looked really lively and impressive, so did Danny McNamara who missed 10 months with a knee injury (ACL I think) and is just back now, playing left back and has plenty of ability.
I'd agree with Stu re the third goal, as in Manning is just trying to defend it but he makes it impossible for Bazunu.
Re the first though, i think it's a bit harsh maybe, he cuts the ball slightly so that it moves a touch away from Bazunu - maybe he hesitates for a milisecond because of the potential deflection from the on-rushing defender and the ball is bouncing ever so slightly and he gets to within an inch of the ball. so unlike the second, it's not unsaveable and you'd hope he'd save it - but i don't think it's an error and if you say that from the deflected shot at 0-0, the narrow Emakhu shot and the first goal combined that he conceded one goal, I don't think that's bad going.
i do think in general we view all of Bazunu, Travers and Kelleher in a hypercritical way. If you remember all the Kelleher v Bazunu stuff a few years ago where every goal Kelleher conceded was considered proof that he was a kid who hadn't played enough football and didn't have enough minutes to understand the fundamentals of goalkeeping. obviously, he's almost beyond reproach but we had years of it. i watched the Liverpool-West Ham game yesterday and didn't think anything at all of the keepers, no one commented at all on West Ham's keeper Areola at any point. But I just watched with those same critical eyes and for the first goal, he gets beaten at his near post and he's quite close to it. The counter argument is it took a shot just inside the post to beat him. The second goal, he comes out of his goal, doesn't get the ball, Szoboszlai does, and him leaving the goal empty causes disaray regarding defenders positions where they're covering the goal for a second which means there's more space in the box. Suddenly both goals are his fault if we're hyper-analysing and looking for mistakes.
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