We need to find another striker badly. Don't think Idah is ever going to have it.Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Looking at the options for the future Parrot, Connolly, Oko-Flex, Odubeko, Ferguson, along with Robinson and Ogbene, we really need one of the former group to step up and show themselves as a good striker at top flight level.
I felt that we were quite disjointed in the first half and it was really, from my perspective, down to McClean on the left. His passing and touch was quite off in attack and we were caught out on his side on the break quite often too. I thought Coleman was poor too. And Duffy was all over the place at times. Gerson, Sinani and Borjes played brilliantly between the lines and it created issues at times in the first half and then havoc in the first 15 mins of the second until Knight was brought on for Idah who, let’s be honest, was very poor. Immediately, we changed. After that we controlled every inch of the park and Knights mobility and quality allowed Hendrick to find a quality performance in the last 30 mins. It also put Robbo into a more effective spot on the park. Knight clearly brought a lot more than just better shape though and I think is now undroppable… that was some performance from him. Really enjoyed the performances from Doherty, Cullen, Ogbene over the whole 90 mins but bringing Knight on worked on so many levels that Hendrick, Robinson and McClean all improved too. Great game management.
I'd put Connolly in the same boat as Idah tbh.
Hogan and Maguire are options too, albeit Maguire has a poor scoring record and both are close on 30 more, so while I think they should be there, they've another 4-5 years really.
But if there's friendlies in the spring, we need to use them to try new strikers for sure. Even Keane may be worth a try.
Ogbene has now two goals for Ireland. In 70 league games in England he has one.
The only thing I’d like to add to my post above is that Bazunu’s save was incredible.
Hogan needs to be rehabilitated, because too many of the current contenders either aren’t ready or are not good enough. Obafemi, if he ever sorts out his issues, could still be a contender. Love to see Ogbene playing at a higher level.
Idah for me needs to be getting half decent service and isn't going to get that in this irish team unless, ironically, knight is playing.
When we set up in our optimal defence and midfield, there isn't room for a classic number 9 to hang around waiting for passes. I'm not sure if idah is less mobile than knight but he definitely played higher up which meant we had less fluidity.
Connolly has different problems I think but I've not watched him enough...he will struggle to get back in this team...
Big winners from the campaign
Bazanu
Knight
McGrath
Omobamidele
Cullen
Ogbene
O'shea
Egan
Some impact
Parrot
Molumby
Idah
Collins
Not as much as I'd like
Connolly
Not much, hard to see a way back
Clark
Odowda
Yeah, if only we’d lost
Out for a spell, got neglected, lay on the bench unselected.
I felt very nervous around the 60 minute mark but have to say I'm buzzing now with the way the game finished up. Strong mentality shown to get our noses in front and then put it to bed with some aplomb. Fantastic second two goals of a kind Ireland never score. Excellent composure and team play from young Knight, what a lad. Credit to Kenny for his introduction. The future is bright.
The dude abides....
Knight was brilliant for the second and third goals.
Classic from Richard Dunne on TV3 just now. Losing to Luxembourg is not a sackable offence, so beating them shouldn’t guarantee a new contract ! Ok, I can see the point about no need to give a contract yet, but you can be damn sure that if we’d lost tonight Dunne would have very much considered it a sackable offence. ( and in fairness it would have been hard to argue against.
Out for a spell, got neglected, lay on the bench unselected.
I'm delighted for Kenny that we finished campaign so well. Even the most ardent fans of him were having doubts especially after the Luxembourg loss. We could see what he was trying to do but the results weren't coming. He could have tried to placate the critics and gone to the more pragmatic football of the past but he stuck to his principles and we've had some excellent performances. The best was ironically in the loss away to Portugal but I think that gave the players massive belief.
We were sloppy enough at times tonight but like what happens often with a better team against poorer opponents, they tired a bit and goals change games. He made the right sub and we were brilliant for last 20 mins.
Hes earned a new contract now and I'm excited going forward. We are not instantly going to back competing for top of groups but we are definitely more competitive again and now with a very young squad we will continue to grow
Theres definitely a player there with Connolly arguably the pick of the lot, but a shocking attitude will prevent him reaching his true potential.
Doherty, Cullen and Ogbene all brilliant tonight. Agreed. If I had to pick a stand out of the three, it would be Cullen. He really linked the play in midfield. I hate to tempt fate, but we are a different team now. We're setting off on the road towards constructive football. We are no Portugal or Serbia but we can defend and keep possession for a decent amount of time. Quite lacking upfront but hopefully that will change.
I would actually say the best was away to Azerbaijan, where we just went out with the attitude that we were better them and we knew it, and were just superior for the whole game.
Portugal away was good, but it was a more traditional 'backs to the wall' performance which we've seen many times from Ireland before, but Azerbaijan was a Kenny performance.
Exactly right. We never would have finished the game like that in previous years. Even with Trap, MON and Keane, and especially under McCarthy. If we scored a goal we retreated into our shells faster than you can say Stephen Kenny. Quite a nice change in attitude to be honest.
There were times in that game that we kept the ball well and created chances against much better opponents. I thought it was excellent at times.
No rice, we got Cullen. I'm fine with that
Lads can we also put to bed the question marks about Bazunu too. He is on his way to being World Class. His interview on Rte before the game was articulate and he seems like a very level headed and professional young fella.
Where is paul o shea
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