Republic of Ireland v Austria - Sunday 11th June 2017 - World Cup 2018 Qualifier

[mark12345]

Don't know how to feel after that, with 10 minutes left I would have taken your hand off for the draw but we showed Austria far far too much respect but we should have been dead and buried by the time of the equaliser.
I can't believe arter was hooked, Hendrick should have been taken off, poor today and poor last week. As for the disallowed goal I'm not sure Duffy's intervention was necessary, the ball could still have ended up in the net but easy to say that from here. Had we taken the points it would have been something of a travesty. I hope that this game doesn't come back to haunt us.

It will. This was the difference between our automatic qualification and a battle for second place which we are likely to end up with.

[The Fly]

Solid? Solid at doing what exactly?
It's the same complaint since the Trappatoni days - what does Glenn Whelan do?

Nothing, he's one of the most pointless players I've ever seen.

[AlanOB]

Close-to-the-whistle dissection of the game here, if anyone fancies a read.

[DannyInvincible]

Somebody needs to teach Duffy how to defend and how to stand up your man. You don't have to try & win the ball every time opposition is coming at you. It might work in the Championship but not at that level.

I thought Duffy was very reckless on one occasion especially as Austria were counter-attacking and he committed himself to a tackle, but he totally took himself out of the game in the process as he failed to win the ball and left gaping space behind him.

His balls up and across field weren't great either. Was he instructed to hoof the ball forward?

You can't blame him for attacking the ball for the disallowed goal - he showed endeavour at least - but he has a tendency to put his arms on opponents when he's challenging for headers. It can have frustrating consequences as it gives the ref the perfect excuse to blow up for a foul. That happened a few times today and unfortunately played a big part in the disallowing of the goal.

Big props to Randolph - that save has kept our hopes alive.

Although I prefer Westwood, I have to give Randolph credit where it's due. Randolph definitely deserves big praise for that save. Kept us in it for sure.

I thought Kevin Long did very well too actually. Worth mentioning as it was his competitive debut. No complaints with his performance.

Walters was an absolute workhorse, as usual. As was McClean.

[Fixer82]

I didn't think Whelan did much wrong. Passed well, held his line. Did what he does. Maybe when I watch game back I'll change my mind. But I think he gets a lot of undeserved stick. Hendrick for me should be getting all the stick today. Totally anonymous.

I thought Duffy led with the arm for the disallowed goal and the ref was only to happy to blow the whistle. It could've been allowed but I think it was an unnecessary foul.

I still think Duffy can be very rash.
On another occasion he got the ball for a throw-in in our half and lashed it at Whelan. Whelan controlled it well and passed to Long but, if miscontrolled, could've been a swift Austrian counter attack. He's a great threat in the opposing box but he gives me a few heart attacks in every game.

I doubted Randolph before today but he saved our bacon in the second half.

[nigel-harps1954]

I really can't understand the flack Whelan is getting. For me, he was our best player in a dire first half.

[DannyInvincible]

I didn't think Whelan did much wrong. Passed well, held his line. Did what he does. Maybe when I watch game back I'll change my mind. But I think he gets a lot of undeserved stick. Hendrick for me should be getting all the stick today. Totally anonymous.

I agree. Whelan did his job. It was Hendrick who failed to step up to the plate and he should have come off for Hoolahan; not Arter. In fact, so off-the-pace was Hendrick today that Whelan was actually the man trying to string passes together (and even uncharacteristically drove forward on occasion) in the final third of the pitch.

On another occasion he got the ball for a throw-in in our half and lashed it at Whelan. Whelan controlled it well and passed to Long but, if miscontrolled, could've been a swift Austrian counter attack.

I had forgotten about that moment. It was very hasty and high-risk as Whelan - not the most mobile of players as it is - already had two Austrians in very close proximity. Had Whelan been dispossessed, Duffy was out of the game on the touchline and it was two Austrians up against just Kevin Long. In Duffy's defence, I suppose the clock was ticking and getting the ball back into play quickly was a priority as it ensured we kept up the momentum without Austria having a chance to re-organise, but it could have been costly.

O'Neill said to RTÉ that we were "very, very sloppy first-half and never really got a grip of the game at all". He added that he urged the players to bring "drive and determination into the game" at half-time. It would have been more honest of him if he'd just admitted that he got the tactics and selection wrong from the start. It was the introduction of Wes and other attacking players that changed the game.

When we actually put their keeper and defence under pressure - as we should have done from the outset - they panicked. They were at sixes and sevens. The keeper looked particularly weak, but we didn't even test him seriously.

[DannyInvincible]

Prödl reckons Duffy's disallowed goal should have stood: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017...-admits-prodl/

Speaking to RTÉ, the Watford defender claimed that a Premier League referee would have let the goal stand and that he would have gone after the ball in the same way.

"I would attack in the same way," he said. "I think a British referee wouldn’t have whistled but lucky for us he was a Spanish referee and he gave a foul."

[mark12345]

I agree. Whelan did his job. It was Hendrick who failed to step up to the plate and he should have come off for Hoolahan; not Arter. In fact, so off-the-pace was Hendrick today that Whelan was actually the man trying to string passes together (and even uncharacteristically drove forward on occasion) in the final third of the pitch.



I had forgotten about that moment. It was very hasty and high-risk as Whelan - not the most mobile of players as it is - already had two Austrians in very close proximity. Had Whelan been dispossessed, Duffy was out of the game on the touchline and it was two Austrians up against just Kevin Long. In Duffy's defence, I suppose the clock was ticking and getting the ball back into play quickly was a priority as it ensured we kept up the momentum without Austria having a chance to re-organise, but it could have been costly.

O'Neill said to RTÉ that we were "very, very sloppy first-half and never really got a grip of the game at all". He added that he urged the players to bring "drive and determination into the game" at half-time. It would have been more honest of him if he'd just admitted that he got the tactics and selection wrong from the start. It was the introduction of Wes and other attacking players that changed the game.

When we actually put their keeper and defence under pressure - as we should have done from the outset - they panicked. They were at sixes and sevens. The keeper looked particularly weak, but we didn't even test him seriously.

Sorry, just don't see it with Whelan. How many years has he been the topic of conversation about whether he played well or not?
And now with Hendrick going walkabout we are very very weak in the middle of the park.
McCarthy, Hoolahan and Shane Long straight into the team for Georgia away.

[mark12345]

Wales unlucky not to get the three points in Belgrade. Ended 1-1. How big a managerial screw up was that 1-1 draw at the Aviva?
We could have been sitting pretty atop the table tonight.

[tetsujin1979]

bit worried that the two booking could come back to haunt us, especially the Christie one. Who's the replacement right full back if he's suspended? McShane?

[KrisLetang]

Stojakovic and Matic yellow for the Flying Serbies. The law firm of Alan and Richards sent off in shame for Wales United. Sources indicate I my not have spelled anyone's names right.

[mark12345]

bit worried that the two booking could come back to haunt us, especially the Christie one. Who's the replacement right full back if he's suspended? McShane?

Meyler, wouldn't you say?

[TrapAPony]

bit worried that the two booking could come back to haunt us, especially the Christie one. Who's the replacement right full back if he's suspended? McShane?

David Meyler? John O'Shea? Marc Wilson?

[Fixer82]

Meyler, wouldn't you say?

Doherty should be knocking but doesn't seem to be getting a look in

[mark12345]

Doherty should be knocking but doesn't seem to be getting a look in

So it's Wales hosting Austria in Cardiff in the first week in September (both teams 4 points behind us and Serbia).
The Serbs entertain Moldova and we are now in a critical game (a really must win) in Georgia.
A few days later we welcome Serbia to Dublin.

[mark12345]

Doherty should be knocking but doesn't seem to be getting a look in

Looks like a decent player any time I have seen him.

[Colbert Report]

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Brady is not a RW and shouldn't have been started in that position. Hendrick didn't have a great match either. I'm no fan of Ward but he did well enough before he came off.

Walters was incredible - we will really miss him when he retires.

The commentator on the feed I was watching mentioned that Murphy has been told to find a new club. I thought he was one of the top goal scorers in the Championship last season? I know he's old but it seems strange.

[pineapple stu]

Murphy had a good year two seasons ago - 27 for Ipswich. He was a bit-player for Newcastle this year; 5 goals in 14 league games.

Agree on Walters.

[TrapAPony]

Can't believe the stick Whelan is getting on this board. He was a great player for us today. For me, the big culprit was Cyrus Christie, he just didn't seem to be able to do anything right.

Brady is not a RW and shouldn't have been started in that position. Hendrick didn't have a great match either. I'm no fan of Ward but he did well enough before he came off.
.

This guy is MON's pet. It doesn't matter if he is a passenger and does nothing on a regular basis, he will still start no matter what.