Republic of Ireland V Switzerland 25th March & Slovakia 29th March 2016 - Friendlies

[SwanVsDalton]

I think it's fair enough at this stage to let McGeady's Sheffield Wednesday form dictate whether he gets in or not. It's still his place to lose (just about) but he needs to show something.

He's at risk for sure, particularly if the likes of Judge, Arter and O'Kane kicking around.

I do wonder if Meyler is fully out of it as well. He didn't show up well on Friday, but the squad lacks truly powerful, defensively minded midfielder and he showed in the campaign he was adept at coming off the bench and shoring up play. It's possibly the kind of thing Arter or O'Kane can do but I haven't seen as much of them.

Might be the kind of player invaluable if we're looking to protect a late lead.

[paul_oshea]

think it was for the end of the Easter celebrations. Doubt we'll see it again

Also, the anthem was well sung, one of the best I can remember.

You can only have one "anthem" anyway so we wouldnt be able have it at the euros. Also I thought the one on Friday was brilliant as well. Fair play to the FAI.

[Stuttgart88]

Overall I think it was a useful 2 games. Duffy, Clark, Randolph, Christie, Wes and Long stood out for me. Others looked useful, including some newcomers. Ward, Whelan and McShane posed worrying questions. Diamond / 451 is way more effective than 442 and we actually played proper attacking football for a lot of last night. If I was O'Neill I'd be very happy with what I learnt (both good and bad), disappointed for Elliott and I'd give Judge another look in May, even if only for next season.

[paul_oshea]

Randoplhs kicking really is a good asset, he is so bloody accurate, the laid back swagger but some potency with the boot. He was also quicker off his line yesterday on two occassions which was good to see.

I still think he isn't as agile as needed to be a premiership keeper and mainstay. One time yesterday he ran across and dived to make the save as though he was quicker doing that than actually diving. I just feel he is a bit slow getting down and out-stretching, and I hope it doesn't cost us at the Euros.

And no CD i'm not saying its a waiting to happen, as we might not have a chance against us like that, but I still feel he isn't reactionary and/or agile enough for us.

Breen had the diamond as a 4 in midfield, and 2 strikers out and out. Also we did play 2 up top even with the diamond so it was like a more compact 4-4-2 - in the first half at least before forced subsitutions.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I find SvD quite amusing and humble. You on the other hand are just petty and tedious. You're rank hypocrite too. You don't have the sole right around here to be sarky.

Whelan played awful last night. We know. Despite that it's fair to have a different opinion on his value to the team in previous games. Personally I think he finished the campaign reasonably well but as much as anyone would love someone else to emerge and take on his role. Neither Quinn nor Meyler came anywhere close last night.

And Paul, you're around here long enough too to know how to make a point constructively without constantly having to pick out someone's previous opinions like a 6 year old. With only one obvious exception I'll engage with anyone around here constructively. When it comes to that exception I'll call him a cnut when he's being one, like he has been for the last day or so.

You don't think it's a bit childish to have a pop at someone for their opinions on a player and try to camouflage it by hiding it in a comment ostensibly replying to someone else i.e. "Unless They (i.e. me) Hate Whelan".

All because I said he was culpable in both goals, including when his giving the ball away under no pressure started a litany of errors that led to the second goal.

Now I didn't say solely culpable and if I did I would deserve a backlash, but I said culpable and he was. And it's McShane & Ward who will get the brunt of the blame for it.

Someone with Whelan's experience and # of caps is supposed to be setting the tone for the rest of the team. At the very least, he has to have some composure that reflects his vast experience, but it was the same as Warsaw - his nerves running through the rest of the team.

I agree Meyler and Quinn didn't do enough to take his role but equally McCarthy could have done everything Whelan did last night better.

And I know my moaning gets tedious but so does constant sark.

[Charlie Darwin]

Can we have one thread that doesn't turn into being all about TOWK? It was tedious before and it's already become tedious again.

[OwlsFan]

We actually played proper attacking football for a lot of last night.

Never happy with that description. A long ball is just as "proper" in an attacking sense as other forms of attacking play. Our goal against Germany at home was a so-called "hoof ball". I am happy with either style of play provided it gets results. Hoof ball = victory or "proper football" = draw, I'll take the former any time and, of course, vice versa. There are many ways to skin a cat as the saying goes.

Sickened for Elliot who seemed to be clasping his knee even before he hit the ground. Why is it friendlies nearly always throw up serious injuries?

Despite McShane's horror appearance, there is a good chance he might go due to his versatility. He did ok when switched to centre-half. However, only he and Elliot (for other reasons) damaged their chances.

Negatives as regards MON: Why not bring on Pilkington earlier to play the striker's role rather than Brady? He is doing well there at Cardiff. Disappointed Judge didn't get another run. Why take another look at McGeady and Brady when we know what they can do? If Forde was there, and I assume he was, why wasn't he brought on instead of Randolph or has he no intention of bringing him. Is that a "given"? Two games for McCarthy?

Positives as regards MON: Unlike my pal, Trapp, he tried different players and tactics.

Despite it all, I still seem him playing his usual team in Paris: Randolph (Given if "fit"), Brady, O'Shea, Keogh (where was he?) and Coleman, McGeady/McLean, Whelan, McCarthy, Walters, Hoolahan, Long.

The only changes I'd make would be keeper (obviously) and try and fit Arter someplace but not sure where

[DeLorean]

His usual team would include Hendrick at this stage I think.

[SkStu]

Positives as regards MON: Unlike my pal, Trapp, he tried different players and tactics.

This is huge in my opinion.

Re Ward: I am going to defer to the masses here and admit I must have gotten it wrong!

[zero]

His usual team would include Hendrick at this stage I think.

yes, and doesn't include both long and walters i think? certainly not all of hoolahan walters and long... i'm not sure he'll start hoolahan in all 3 group games, maybe the first game and see how we go for there.

[DeLorean]

Long has surely done enough now to start ahead of Murphy, surely....

[SwanVsDalton]

You don't think it's a bit childish to have a pop at someone for their opinions on a player and try to camouflage it by hiding it in a comment ostensibly replying to someone else i.e. "Unless They (i.e. me) Hate Whelan".

And I know my moaning gets tedious but so does constant sark.

I've refuted and challenged this in a direct post to you, a post you haven't had the courtesy to respond to yet either here or privately. Hey, that's your choice, but if you've a problem PM me and leave the thread be.

[SwanVsDalton]

His usual team would include Hendrick at this stage I think.

I think Clark might be pushing Keogh a little bit too, after his late showing in the qualifiers. Or, at least, there's a question mark over who will partner O'Shea.

[geysir]

Long has surely done enough now to start ahead of Murphy, surely....

The mere fact that you ask this question is an indication of a low level of confidence in O'Neill.
At the very least, it reflects an image of a manager all too prone to vacillating, sometimes interpreted as tactical flexibility

[Stuttgart88]

I knew Owls Fan was going to respond to my "proper football" description!

I take the point but I firmly believe that purposeful positive and measured use of the ball is the way to win games these days but having route one in your locker is a good asset too. Only having the latter is unlikely to get consistent results. Down the years we have lost points due to an inability to get the ball down, use and retain it well. And Brian Kerr referred to our football last night as "proper" too it warms my heart to see a player like Wes find space between the lines. A goal from a hoof is still a goal but modern refereeing and modern tactics favour more technical play and if you can't do that you'll struggle to compete consistently.

[OwlsFan]

I knew Owls Fan was going to respond to my "proper football" description!

I suppose I am predictable, although the ball over the top does suit Long's pace rather than one twos around the box. Two things will always garner a response. RTE Panel comments and whether there is a proper way to play football but over the years I have learned that I am a reactionary. If the majority thought Giles was someone who envied the success of other Irish managers, I'd come down in the opposite camp or believed that the long ball was the way forward, I'd say that wasn't proper football.

But enough about me. DeLorean states that MON's usual team would include Hendrick at this stage. Perhaps as he had slipped my mind (see what happens when someone misses a couple of games!).

[DeLorean]

I think Clark might be pushing Keogh a little bit too, after his late showing in the qualifiers. Or, at least, there's a question mark over who will partner O'Shea.

I actually think Clark has jumped ahead of everybody, it's more a question of who will partner him now. I'd imagine Keogh will start against The Netherlands, if indeed he doesn't have a playoff final to tend to the next day, and if he gets through that with no major errors, I think he'll start in France.

[geysir]

I don't regard Randolp's assist for Long as defining hoofball nor does it justify hoofball, that particular piece of artistry can fit into any type of football and be applauded as a brilliant piece of football.
Our options for playing "proper football" are limited and fragile. Mo'N is half hearted, as in not fully trusting it,
we only have a single player who can make it effectively work and Mo'N hasn't bothered blooding in a deputy.
But when it comes to hoofball, we have more options, hoofball plan A, B and C.
Teams we will be playing in the Euros are settled in their game for years
Most every team has a deputy if needed to run midfield, they don't radically shift from one tactic to another depending on who's available. When Raketic is out for the Czechs then the main man is Darida.
.

[zero]

no ireland games now for two whole months but we'll be monitoring about 35 players even more so than usual.

and at the end of those 2 months a few really intense weeks where our collective focus will be at max levels.

can't wait.

[Stuttgart88]

When Raketic is out for the Czechs then the main man is Darida.
.

Darida mist play a lot then because Rakitic is a Croat

O'Neill versus Trap?

Both like solid systems and mistrust real creativity
Both like, in an ideal world, the wide positions to provide a threat
O'Neill trusts full backs to get further forward
Trap started with the ball more in the deck, finished with only hoofball
O'Neill started confused, seemed to prefer hoofball, then added more nuance and flexibility
O'Neill prefers to press without the ball, Trap preferred to stand off
Trap responded to accusations of not looking beyond core players by picking and persisting with strange choices
O'Neill, so far, seems to be serious about blooding new players at the right time even if his extended squads include some dinosaurs
ONeill got a great result at just the right time for him /us