As for Hoolahan there is no guarantee he will start v Wales imo.
Will Brady and McClean be available for the Wales match?
Something has to go, maybe it will be Wes? Which is why he left him on so long?
I don't think Wes is considered defensive enough?
Analysis of that Aviva snorefest, where O'Neill's usual inertia teed up a second-half farce: http://bit.ly/2y5GOt1
Wouldn't be surprised if MON found space for Whelan in his team.Originally Posted by tricky_colour
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
Did Meyler do much tonight to sway the opinion otherwise?Wouldn't be surprised if MON found space for Whelan in his team.
Quite frankly, the borefest is your subjective preachfest on ireland games.
Just thinking of those dropped points against Austria and Georgia...
O'Neill said about the Wales game in the RTÉ post-match interview: "It's there for us; let's go for it."
If he actually believed in that philosophy and we'd done that in the two aforementioned games, we'd be comfortably out in front at the top of this group. Even with O'Neill saying that now, I'm still not confident we'll give it our best shot on Monday with the team-selection and set-up, particularly with Wes having stayed on so long tonight. I have a feeling he won't start Wes as a result and we'll play to keep it tight in the hope of a lucky break instead of really going for it and attacking Wales.
O'Neill was also asked by Tony about taking Wes off around the 78-minute mark and Tony wondered whether Wes can play two games in four days. O'Neill waffled about Wes' age (as if that was a reason to have kept him on for so long) and then offered some evasive tautological nonsense along the lines wanting to keep Wes on for as long as he wanted to keep him on. He concluded with: "We'll see how [Wes] comes out of this game." Was he seriously just leaving Wes' fitness for Monday to chance? Crazy stuff.
No in all honesty Meyler didn't do too much tonight. Marginally better than Whelan would have been, but maybe you can put it down to his knowing that the opposition were'nt up to much. Maybe, maybe not?
In any event, if your asking who gets the nod between the two - give it to the Corkman.
Never met you Danny, but it's great to 'meet' someone of like mind. You took the words out of my mouth. Had we 'gone for it' as Mr O'Neill suggests for the Wales game, against Austria and Georgia, we would be home and dry by now. Austria still sticks in my craw to this day. I still cannot fathom the game plan for that one. We basically wrapped up two points in gift wrap and ribbon for the Austrians (they were one of the worst teams to come to Dublin in some time - worse than Moldova were tonight). And the Georgia performance was the worst game plan and 'effort' by the Irish players I have ever seen (I did miss some games along the way). How nice would it be to have those four extra points right now.Just thinking of those dropped points against Austria and Georgia...
O'Neill said about the Wales game in the RTÉ post-match interview: "It's there for us; let's go for it."
If he actually believed in that philosophy and we'd done that in the two aforementioned games, we'd be comfortably out in front at the top of this group. Even with O'Neill saying that now, I'm still not confident we'll give it our best shot on Monday with the team-selection and set-up, particularly with Wes having stayed on so long tonight. I have a feeling he won't start Wes as a result and we'll play to keep it tight in the hope of a lucky break instead of really going for it and attacking Wales.
O'Neill was also asked by Tony about taking Wes off around the 78-minute mark and Tony wondered whether Wes can play two games in four days. O'Neill waffled about Wes' age (as if that was a reason to have kept him on for so long) and then offered some evasive tautological nonsense along the lines wanting to keep Wes on for as long as he wanted to keep him on. He concluded with: "We'll see how [Wes] comes out of this game." Was he seriously just leaving Wes' fitness for Monday to chance? Crazy stuff.
So, the 64K question now is: Pick the team for Monday.
With the need to seriously curtail the exploits of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen (therein lies the key to the game) I'll offer the following
Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Brady
Hendrick Arter Meyler
Hoolahan
Murphy McClean
He probably realises at this point that we can't play any other way. And you know what, our performance in the final third tonight proves he is not far off the mark.
I believe O'Neill will go for:
Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Ward
McClean Hendrick Meyler Brady
Murphy Long
I'd like him to go with
Randolph
Ward/Brady Duffy Clark Brady/Ward
Meyler
Hendrick Hoolahan
McClean
Murphy
Has Brady or Ward ever played on the right? Are either capable? Would be harsh on Ward to be dropped
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Very overly harsh on O'Neill I feel. The idea that some perfect manager is out there if they'd just sack the MON/Keane team is wishful thinking.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Ward
McClean Hendrick Meyler Brady
.....Hoolahan
..........Murphy
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
I think the consensus of opinion on here after the last few games was that Brady was better employed at left back.
You're absolutely right that it would be harsh on Ward to be dropped - he has played quite well of late in a green shirt, save for those games against Austria and Georgia were nobody played well.
But the problem is that Brady playing in front of Ward almost always ends badly
One of Whelan or Meyler will be tasked with man marking Ramsey on Monday.
I don't think looking for a counter-attack would be a particularly bad idea either, but we need to be looking at Murphy starting up front ahead of Long in that case in a 4-3-2-1 come 4-3-3 sort of formation. Long is off-form and was wasteful in front of goal again tonight. Murphy is bang on form and will provide plenty of physical presence against a big, strong backline in Cardiff.
There can be no question marks over the defence at this stage, and Randolph will start in goal again. The big decisions need to be made in the middle of the park.
I don't think Wes will start again, and I don't think the Wales game will suit him either. Hamilton and Whelan absolutely creamed themselves at every pass Wes made tonight, most of which were passes you'd expect any professional footballer to be able to make.
For me, I'd be taking out Long and Hoolahan and bringing in Brady and McClean for Wales, with McClean and O'Dowda flanking Murphy up front, Brady taking up Hendricks wide, almost floating free role space in midfield and Hendrick in Hoolahans central spot. With that, you've pace, a counter attacking threat, good defensive cover, and our two top scorers in McClean and Murphy up top.
Has anyone suggested his yet?
Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Ward
McGuire Hendrick Hourihane Brady
....McGoldrick
..........Murphy
My statistical selection.
Could be a winner, might be a disaster.
Last edited by tricky_colour; 06/10/2017 at 11:37 PM.
The second half was pretty deflating in the stadium, and frustrating too considering a hammering was possibly on the cards. But it seemed the players just wanted the game over asap once the goals went in. Mentally moved on to Cardiff. I'll forgive them if they tear into Wales from the first whistle on Monday.
Our guys are so well trained to be risk averse it is unreal (Hoolahan excepted). Lost count of the amount of times a first-time incisive not-that-difficult forward pass was on but the player chose to check back and play a simple or lateral ball.
Poor Shane Long - felt for him big time. Looks like a shell confidence wise. I suspect O'Neill left him on as long as he did in the hopes he'd get a goal.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
O'neill's probably retired Whelan tonight
Was it Arter who fell down clutching his face in agony, simulating great hurt and got a player sent off'?
Who ever it was, it was a pathetic act.
It was Arter, aye. It looked ridiculous from one of the replay angles.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x63j8ib
Luckily, the Moldovan number 15 walked in front of the camera recording the incident from the other angle right at the moment of "impact" to save poor Harry further humiliation.
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