When you're trying to bring young players through I'd argue that having someone like McClean who puts everything into every game isn't a bad thing. I'm not his biggest fan but he's useful in ways that are maybe underappreciated at times.
Ogbene is one if those players, that makes you scratch your head and wonder, how did this guy make it to international level.. but yet looks this biz at itOriginally Posted by TonyD
Great attitude
When you're trying to bring young players through I'd argue that having someone like McClean who puts everything into every game isn't a bad thing. I'm not his biggest fan but he's useful in ways that are maybe underappreciated at times.
Why are these ratings on RTE always so terrible? Giving Knight and Cullen both 5s. It’s just always so terrible from the two or three lads who write them for rte. Like we get beaten by Luxembourg and it’s all 6s and 7s and we put in a performance like tonight and only 3 of the starting 11 are more than a 6.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022...rom-the-front/
I’ll tell ya, the changes made during Ryle Nugent’s time, the people let go and the people hired, so much mediocrity (at best) from the national broadcaster.
The hype train has upped a gear after yesterday! Nice to get a draw against Belgium but for them it was a meaningless friendly while we were treating the game like a qualifier. Hopefully more players will get a run out against Lithuania. The game reminds me of the reaction after beating Italy in a friendly under Trapatoni. We won 2-0 but when we next met them in a competitive game, they brushed us aside.
We need to build on this and improve for competitive games. Ogbene is causing trouble with his pace, it would be nice to have Obafemi available also. Would like to see Parott get more minutes against Lithuania. They're a very poor team. Onwards and upwards.
BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!
What competitive game did Italy brush us aside?!
Actually forgot about poznan euro 2012
It was a worry when McGoldrick retired from the international game. His ability to play as a lone striker was key to how SK would set up. But in Ogbene now we have an even more mobile player, more pace and is a physical presence and grafts. He also has goals in him which McGoldrick lacked albeit he was important for more than just goals. There could be some healthy competition between the lads that will run the line. Someone mentioned above about delay in bringing on subs, that
seems to be a Kenny quirk as even at club level he seemed reluctant to change players early even if they were having a stinker. Plenty of rotation would be good next game.
I dont think people are losing the run of themselves over one result, but it cannot be denied that there has been a consistent trend of improvement especially in not looking terrified when playing out from the back while being pressured.
I think he'll be one of those that hits the ceiling at club level fairly quickly but for Ireland on a more irregular basis in terms of only a few games a year he'll keep turning in good performances for us
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
He must have nipped over to have a quiet word on the half hour mark.
Out for a spell, got neglected, lay on the bench unselected.
Would rather be on the hype train than the negativity express tbh.
Undoubtedly it wasn’t Belgium’s first team, or anything like it yesterday, but still a lot of good players. No one is saying the Irish team are world beaters, but the improvement in performances is thee for everyone to see. Your persistent refusal to give Stephen Kenny any sort of credit just looks extremely churlish at this stage. Now that Anthony Barry is gone, what’s your next position ? I suppose the new coach is actually running the team as well ? Don’t worry though, I’m sure we’ll get another poor result at some stage, and you can resume normal service.
Out for a spell, got neglected, lay on the bench unselected.
wasnt that 2 0 win with a very understrength irish team?
wasnt it also part of a three game run against italy were we drew with them twice in wc qualifiers when they were wc champions?
yes, our euro 2012 finals campaign was poor but italy went onto the final.
How do people generally rate Cullen's game against Belgium? I'm curious because I didn't get to watch the match.
It's a little worry that Coleman seems to be off the boil at an age where that might be permanent decline. There's plenty of experience in the back line though, and if Collins or O'Shea start in the second friendly, so much the better. It'd be good to take a look at longer term alternatives to Christie as Doherty's undestudy at right wing-back, though it's not urgent.
I'm glad to see Ogbene doing well. I liked the look of him from his debut: I especially like the positions he takes up. I feel like he might be a serious contender for that right forward spot, though left forward is still very much up for grabs. Maybe Ronan gets a shot there in the second friendly.
You can't spell failure without FAI
Did anyone read the interview with Mark Sykes father in the Indo yesterday? I was at the game and hoping he'd come on. His back story is utterly incredible.
I knew his father was present at the Sean Graham shooting in 1992 and was shot. I did not know he was shot 5 or 6 times. I also did not know that his mother's brother was killed at the age of 18 at the same shooting.
On top of all of that, I did not know he will be the first Belfast lad to play for Ireland in 76 years if and when he plays on Tuesday.
I hope he doesn't start so that he has to come on for a rip roaring reception.
I really enjoyed that and watching Ireland is a rewarding experience these days. From 5-30 minutes was poor but the rest, once we found our mojo, we were very good. I love how we look to work the ball in tight spaces and draw the opposition press. Cullen is so brave receiving the ball. I love what he brings to the team. Ogbene and Knight too. Hendrick is finally being used properly and he had a fine game, not for the first time lately. Egan was immense - I’d say he’s now CL quality - and Doc’s quality became increasingly evident as the game went on.
Not only are we scoring goals again, we’re scoring good goals. It’s pretty much what I expect these days, which is some leap from a year ago and even a few years before that too. I no longer sh1t myself when we mess about with it at the back. That’s clear progress!
I’d like to see a few fresh faces on Tuesday and a good dynamic front foot performance.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 27/03/2022 at 1:28 PM.
Same. Browne was the last player I’d have brought on!
Great attitude for sure. And to be honest great attitude and persistence from Robinson for the first goal and Ogbene for the second. There is a determination about this team that hasn't been there in quite a few years.
Agree with this completely. Coleman has nothing to prove anymore and we know what we get with him. Fantastic servant but he is on the decline now. James McClean is in a similar situation. Would love to see O'Shea and Collins start on Tuesday.
Two factors point towards Kenny's growing influence on the Irish team.
(a) he mentioned in press conference yesterday that "We're not having that," in reference to his defence sitting back and absorbing pressure. He said he wants the Irish team to 'affect' the game (in a positive manner) by putting high pressure on opponents in every area of the pitch.
(b) something I noticed in the previous game (Luxembourg) was the instructions to place three players right on the backsides of opposing defenders for their kick outs. That way the keeper has to kick it long and our big center halves are odds on to win it in the air and head the ball back towards our three advanced players. Technically superior teams hate this (I know, I played in a team that employed this tactic for years against better teams).
So Kenny does deserve a good amount of credit for changing things with quite positive results.
One of the interesting things yesterday was that Belgium's two centre midfielders dropped incredibly deep from kick outs or when the keeper had possession, so they basically had a 7 v 3 (including the keeper) and were always pretty comfortable. There was a moment after we scored to make it 1-1 where Hendrick and Cullen started having the confidence to really push up at follow their two centre midfielders from a kick out. Mignolet ended up telling the side to push up and pumping it long to the Irish centre halves instead.
It was really noticeable that during that spell of dominance in the first half, Belgium always had 2 centre-halves as an out ball. Because they were so good in possession and so comfortable under pressure in the midfield, the attackers were dropping back to try press and any time it felt like we were making progress, they just play it back to a centre half and switch sides.
Also when we were attacking, Belgium were incredibly comfortable getting out of trouble, they were able to find Batsuayi and he was able to make it stick. Saying that, we were the better side for probably half the match and we created the majority of the chance. Felt like Kelleher didn't really have a save to make. Just the first goal and the Duffy blocked shot which went out for a corner, which ended up with the second goal...
Also at 1-1 in the second half, from my view in the stadium, it looked a lot like handball from the McClean cross. Dunno what the TV conclusion was...
Thought Cullen was very good again. Robinson and Ogbene are rightly getting a lot of praise but I think Cullen is equally important to how we are playing now. He's been superb. Always there to take the ball, uses it well and he can tackle as well. We haven't had a player like him for a while.
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