It's fair to say our record against France isn't great
last beat them in 1981, last beat them in France in 1937!
I would like Conor O'Malley to start, we know what level Doyle is at and he is early 33
I never liked the rule that a victory over 90 minutes doesn't count as such if things change in extra time.
EDIT: or, at least, that there is no mention at all that the game went into extra time.
Agreed. We beat them last time.
This time though...
How many are left in the squad now? Can we expect everyone to get a run tonight? Or certainly between now and Saturday?
I'd be worried this will end up like the Portugal friendly before the last World Cup.
I have absolutely no idea what starting XI MON will go with tonight.
I'd like to see something like;
O'Malley
Coleman, Duffy, Long, Cunningham
Meyler, Rice, Arter
O'Dowda, Long, McClean
We were getting thumped before half time in that one.
Once they realised - at half-time - that they had no need of a holding midfielder (Kanté) and made an attacking sub, we were utterly outclassed.
Only their ineptitude in front of goal kept it respectable on the scoreboard.
In my opinion
But tonight's a different game
Actually, looking back at the match thread here, we we well in it up to half time, but I think the change at half-time completely swung it, and comments at the time were that the equaliser - on 57 minutes - was coming since the break. So probably the truth is in between both our posts.
Anyways, who's on the bench tonight? Is it everyone else? So that'd be -
GK - O'Malley, Supple
DEF - Cunningham, Egan, Doherty, Rice, Lenihan, Stevens
MID - Meyler, Arter, O'Kane, Horgan, S Williams
FW - Burke
Too many for a full team swap, but would like to see 6 of that lot get a half hour at least.
Amazing to look at that team - one ethnic French player, if I can use the phrase. Certainly only one French name in it (Giroud). All the rest are effectively from the African colonies - don't think any are more than first generation French.
Brave call on the bench by Martin
14% possession
Absolute men against boys. As expected really
Generally very good defensive shift about the best to be said about it.
Bookmarks