Ireland top Group C on goal difference after Mexico beat Bahrain 2-0, both goals coming in the first ten minutes. Basically, the group decider is on Thursday evening at 7:30
Defensively, Kelleher, O’Shea and Masterson were all very good as you’d expect. Masterson is better on the ball I think. O’Shea is a more physical unit. Good partnership. O’Connor was much improved from Luxembourg - looked comfortable out there. Leahy is probably the weak link there - would have him behind Clarke and Wilson at left back.
I felt the midfield allowed themselves to be dominated at times during the first half, maybe it was the heat or going 2-0 up so fast, but they were much improved in the second and overall came out with serious credit.
Idah took his penalties well but struggled otherwise. Didn’t hold up the ball like he can, never really got at the centre backs. Connolly did well but feels like he’s a 9 playing out of position and Elbouzedi was very lively
9 of the starting 11 have been raised in Ireland so have come through our football system from the beginning. Coventry with an Irish mother and Ronan with a rejection of England are the only two that haven't.
I was disappointed in Kelleher. good save with feet at a crucial time but I'm not sure he was convincing in the incident that led to Masterson clearing off the line and his late flap and miss at at a routine cross was alarmingly bad in my opinion. Having expected so much due to his reputation I was very underwhelmed.
I agree with you on Idah. Looks a fine athlete but snatches and misses at chances a bit too much in the times I've seen him play.
Idah is young and has time. The fact he's even holding his own at this level at his age is positive. But he has work to do.
On the other hand, Connolly looked awesome playing out of his position. That was a great blistering run so early in the game for the assist. And he took his goal well. Potter put faith in Daniel James and Oli McBurnie this season at Swansea. Let's hope he makes Connolly a £10m+ player too.
It's amazing to see what Kenny has done in a short period of time with this side. They haven't played superpowers and Mexico will likely be the first big test. But he's done some really positive things that we wouldn't have seen previous to him 1) he's blooded players from age groups below that are seriously hot prospects for that level (under 19 players like Idah, Connolly, O'Connor, Coventry) 2) he's afforded LOI players opportunities to prove themselves at this level (Scales, Farrugia, Elbouzedi and the decision to pick a home-based squad early on) and 3) he has the team playing a fast and fluid variation on 4-3-3.
Even if we do get thumped by Mexico, those three things stand up to scrutiny as being for the betterment of Irish football even in the face of a loss.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Who was the lad playing number 8? He really needs to take it down a notch or ten. Yes, the marking for the Chinese goal was poor but seriously, there's no need to give your team-mates PTSD with your reaction.
That was Molumby. Thought he covered every blade of grass on the pitch
You're not far off: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status...659403264?s=19
Again, I'm liking the FAI Twitter page these days. They've committed to having someone focusing on following the squads at senior and underage level and providing content that is relatively interesting in this day and age.
Amazing to think he's only 19. Not to mind our plethora of teenage strikers, we have a few crackers in the centre of midfield- Connell, Coventry, Knight, Hodge and Molumby all look great options at 6 and 8.
Aaron Bolger deserves to be in that list. He was absolutely immense for the 19s in Russia.
As for Molumby, if he didn't miss a year and a half with a series of truly horrific knee injuries, I think he'd have a chance of being a Brighton regular and a full international...
Stream for the Mexico game:
http://www.sportp2p.com/football/893...nline-p2p.html
He's played centre-mid, left-mid and left back for Bolton this season. As far as I can remember, his first start for Bolton was at left-back.
There's obviously a level of versatility there but he's certainly not an out and out winger. He likes a tackle, he's composed on the ball, fast enough to carry the ball but not lightning quick and he's a decent passer of the ball - my guess in the long run he ends up in centre-midfield.
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