We're flat out throwing the Belgium game if Hoolahan doesn't start. FFS.
You've got no fans.
Yep.
Agree with tets about not being surprised that he came off as he usually does - disappointing obviously - but still think he can manage a game next Saturday. It's not a busy schedule really - Mon/Sat/Weds would be common enough in the Premiership.
Also based on last night, we've a better chance against Belgium than against Italy - but dropping him to focus on Italy really puts all your eggs in the one basket. Don't think we can afford that. We have two chances to win and progress; we have to be prepared to take either.
Also, after likening Russia's goal against England to Houghton's against England, I think it's worth drawing comparisons between Hoolahan's goal and another famous Irish goal from the past...
No I was spot on in what I said, dreadful error by Clark, not the first time he's cost us goals.Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
His positional sense and ability on the ball are appalling.
Had he had good awareness he'd of cleared the Ball, but no he headed it in.
Dreadful player
I agree with Doc on Clark. No point on saying what could he do. He's a defender and he's got to clear that ball. Excellent header though
Keogh/Duffy should be on for the Belgium game.
Otherwise, same XI for Belgium except Duffy for Keogh and maybe McClean or Meyler for Walters assuming he is out injured. I'm guessing they will have Hazard on the left so McClean/Meyler should be on there to help Coleman.
It will be interesting to see if the result of the Italy-Sweden game will affect the selection decisions as it is being played a full day before our game e.g. if Italy wins do we go more defensive in the hopes of getting a draw against Belgium? On both games yesterday I'd expect Italy to take care of Sweden and have the Second round qualification locked up before our game with them.
Last edited by Metrostars; 14/06/2016 at 12:55 PM.
"Jacques Santini...will be greeted in every dugout of the country by "one-nil, one-nil" - Clive Tyldsley, 89th minute of France-England June 13, 2004.
"Ooooohhhh Nooooooo" Bobby Robson 91st minute.
Sorry, I meant to quote the post I was referring to. I think it was Stu's post on previous page!
Sean - just leave it be. Sound like a jilted lover now.
Clark had a decent game and handled a world class striker without any problems. The first thing I would ask for the goal would be 'where was Coleman'? I've not seen any replays since I left the ground. Where was our right back?!
Walters isn't fit and shouldn't be playing. We had 10 men out there. However I really wouldn't trust McGeady to step up.....can't believe he went down like a sack of spuds in injury time and Whelan then rolled the ball out when we could have pushed for one more chance. FFS. He then jumped straight up so clearly nothing wrong with him!!
I thought Clark should have instinctively known that there was no upside trying to do anything with that ball in. Otherwise I thought he and O'Shea coped well.
I do feel that Duffy might start against Belgium though as they looked suspect at centre back.
Ronnie Whelan wrote a couple of weeks ago that we'd regret not picking O'Kane. He's not heralded here in context of the omissions but maybe it's a good call. I expect Wes to play a decent part in each of the next two games though, unless there is official news of an injury.
Wasn't any upside to leaving it though surely? Maybe he instinctively did know that, but all he could do was get something on it and hope it hit Randolph. Most likely he just thought 'oh s&*^' and got an instant knot in his stomach.
I don't really get anyone who has suggested he could clear the ball. No way he can get a foot on it. It's head or bust. You might - might - question his positioning but he's travelling backwards with the defensive line and the cross, for the purposes of putting Clark in the doo-doo, is pretty much perfect.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Ronnie Whelan really peed me off yesterday - just after Sweden scored - "We will just have to try and hold out for a draw now" - he's the worst co-commentator we've ever had to listen to.
Just back from Paris, wrecked.
Great atmosphere though a sense of deflation with the result. For me it was the best Irish performance I have witnessed since I was last in that stadium in 2009. Some wonderful chances created, clever football and good retention of the ball. Whelan, Houlihan both excellent, quite solid at the back also.
The disappointments were (1) the failure to score in the first half, (2) the failure to offer protection to Coleman, particularly when Walters went off, their LB was given way too much freedom, (3) options from the bench are limited. Wes was wrecked/injured. Walters both also and we don't have capable replacements, (4) supply to long was more long ball punts as opposed to accurate balls over the top - it was clear the swedes were very nervous of his pace, (5) need to look at options to get Coleman further more, is Christie an option at RM. Coleman very threatening when he got forward.
Despite deflation there are far more positives than negatives. I hope injuries to Walters, Houlihan etc don't ruin our options. With belief and similar performance we can get something from both Belgium and Italy game.
Aye, it was O'Shea who sliced it back towards our goal. I hadn't realised that either until I questioned how Sweden had had no shots on target the whole game despite that clearly being on target, but upon re-checking, it clearly came off O'Shea, so obviously wouldn't count as a Swedish shot.
Clear it with his foot? Or you think he could have headed it somewhere else? I just don't think it was physically possible. How on earth would he have managed to get his body or legs into a position which would have enabled him to clear it? It was at an awful height; his waist. He was running back towards our goal to keep position in front of Larsson, or between him and where the ball was going to come from.
Just re-watching the build-up to their goal again and Coleman was sticking tight to Forsberg during the whole passage of play. When Forsberg received possession, unfortunately that pulled Coleman out of position. Forsberg was then able to pass to Guidetti, who O'Shea was covering then, but Ibrahimovic was roaming free by that point. It was great movement by Ibrahimovic who had been chased away from the box by both Whelan and Hoolahan just seconds earlier.
Funny alright, they drew one one with us but the BBC match report has them with zero on target efforts from seven attempts, we registered four from nine.
Just on Clark, he had a choice of certain OG or possible goal. I think replays showed the ball would have missed the Swede. I'm not really nit picking, it was a tough scenario in real time. Richie Dunne would have been proud of him
Edit: just watched ITV highlights and Dunney was on the panel. Dunne put it down to one of those things, Clark seeing the striker and feeling the need for a touch. Dunne said Coleman could have done better.
My re-take is that Randolph's positioning was maybe too far beyond his post, just by a metre or less. I'd personally have been hugging the post in that situation. He might have been able to cut it out by diving left if he was a bit further back and Clarks header might have hit him. I'd like a proper keeper's opinion on that! Not a major criticism by any means.
Bilic agreed we were by far the better team but that it was an ugly game will little constructive midfield play. He said it was an intense game where winning second ball was important and a lot of specualtive balls. Fair point, but it was better than we are used to! Dunne reckons Wes could have gone into better spaces to get the ball. It was only highlights but McCarthy did more than I recall, 3 routine passes. Walters was important for the Wes goal.
Refreshing to see a woman on the ITV panel, ex England international.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 14/06/2016 at 2:50 PM.
Came off Clark didn't it?
The earlier save, I think he is on about. Not the goal.
Yeah, I'd agree, it's split second stuff and Clark was good IMO yesterday and showed great mental fortitude after the OG in particular in how he finished the game. But it wasn't a sliced OG or a close deflection where the CB is helpless, he was always going to OG from there and the striker behind him actually had more work to do to put it in and could have missed. Still, split second stuff & we should have been enjoying a bigger lead anyway.Just on Clark, he had a choice of certain OG or possible goal. I think replays showed the ball would have missed the Swede. I'm not really nit picking, it was a tough scenario in real time. Richie Dunne would have been proud of him
In real time you're right, he had no choice, he had to try to get something on it. Can't see any blame on Clarks part. Or Randolphs. However, had Darron not been beaten by Martial a few weeks ago, he may have gambled and been in a better position. Ifs, whats, maybes.Just on Clark, he had a choice of certain OG or possible goal. I think replays showed the ball would have missed the Swede. I'm not really nit picking, it was a tough scenario in real time. Richie Dunne would have been proud of him
Edit, i mean better in hindsight, he was in the correct position before the cross was hit.
Yeah - that was Clark as well not O'Shea.
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