Shels 1st leg review, 2nd leg preview

[Shelsman]

Well, who was at the game? I made the long drive up from Cork for the match and long drive back afterwards. I've a couple of points:

1. The result was good, maybe even great

2. The performance ( aesthetically ) was ****e

3. The performance ( defensively ) was excellent

4. Steau were technically better but no great shakes -although it is possible they will be a different team in Bucharest ( remember when Bohs were unlucky not to beat Rosenborg a few years back in Dalyer then Rosenborg went up three or four gears in the return leg and simply blew Bohs away ).

5. It was painful watching Shels hump the ball out of defence up to a lone striker who rarely won the ball ( and even if he did he would have no-one to head it to ). If he could've held up the ball that would be different although it is a bit much to expect this when it is 4v1 against him. It brought back memories of Croatia vs Ireland all those years ago although Shels were more solid.

6. David Crawley was my man of the match. He was ****e against Lille last year but has really improved this year. The other defenders were excellent too. Richie Baker had a terrible game ( normally excellent ), just hoofed it.

7. Judging by Owen Heary's comments of 'They'll have to come at us / the onus is on them' in the second leg we may be in for more excruciating 4-5-1 in the second leg. I was all against this last year as all we ever do is give the ball back to the opposition but to be fair the difference last night ( other than creating a brutal game ) was that Steau never really looked like scoring ( ok they had a good chance at the start and then a free header at the end but they never really looked continuosly dangerous as they were kept in their own half for a lot of the game ).

8. Steau said that the big pitch in the 2nd leg will suit them -it will suit Shels too ( remember how we held onto the ball in the 1st leg vs Deportivo? ).

I'm still hoping Shels will go for 4-4-2 in the 2nd leg.

[Slash/ED]

We have to keep possession, to do this we cannot play players not capable of keeping possession at this level, namely Baker and Crawley. Crawley was good defensively but the majority of long balls come from him, Heary was also guilty but is capable of better, Crawley is not. Baker just isn't upto it. I'd have included Cahill in that too but he played quite well and proved me wrong. Wherever the hell Ndo is, get him back and Hoolahan too. Those are the players who can make space for themselves and others and actually pass the ball around and they're the ones we should be relying on out in Romania to create chances for us as we do need to score, or win on penaltys but I can't see them not scoring so we'll need to score.

We need to play football and retain possession not hand it back to them every time we get it as if we do that in Romania we will be destroyed, simple as that.

[Shelsman]

We need to play football and retain possession not hand it back to them every time we get it as if we do that in Romania we will be destroyed, simple as that.

My point exactly. If Fenlon isn't prepared to do it and we are dumped out should we be looking to move on to a higher stage by looking at someone like Stephen Kenny?

[gustavo]

probably is another thread somewhere wishing ye luck but just like to wish ye all the best tonight hope to see a good performance from ye !

[pineapple stu]

(remember when Bohs were unlucky not to beat Rosenborg a few years back in Dalyer then Rosenborg went up three or four gears in the return leg and simply blew Bohs away).

Slightly off topic, but I don't remember that. I remember Rosenborg being in complete control in Dalyer and not being too surprised that they blew Bohs away in Norway.

[Slash/ED]

Bohs should have done alot better, Ryan was causing all sorts of problems but as ever couldn't put the end ball on it, if he had of they could have gotten a result to take to Norway.