Republic of Ireland V Russia

**Henry14** · 16/06/2006, 2:29 PM

The game is on at 7pm in Richmond Park

**CollegeTillIDie** · 22/06/2006, 6:14 PM

Originally Posted by Henry14

College til I die: How do you feel you know so much about these so called "thugball" players? If you knew as much as you think you did you woul know that Emma Mullen only began playing GAELIC FOOTBALL with Mayo (this year) when Mayo had reached the League Semi Final, BECAUSE she had been concentrating on her college SOCCER career. She had been focussing on soccer as her no1 sport in the hope that she might get a call up to Irish Senior Squad. I think she has again proven herself in the League as one of the top goalscorers. However its that ignorance that makes people think that she is focussed on as you call it "thugball". We should be complementing her ability to play 2 sports at the highest standard rather than discouraging her away from gaelic football.

1/I was the WFAI Delegate with an Under 17 International Women's team which included Emma Mullin in 2001 so I know her a while. She has won All-Ireland medals with Mayo, I've seen her in the final on television! She won her first all-Ireland medal at Gaelic football when she was 16.

2/ My antipathy towards "thugball" stems from one point. Several counties force their women players to sign contracts that they will not play soccer

We don't do that to stop players playing Gaelic... the Bloody Ban is back!

**Poor Student** · 22/06/2006, 8:00 PM

Well folks, what was the result?

**prinz** · 22/06/2006, 9:21 PM

is it time sharon boyle called it a day on the international scene she is not up to it

**Numero** · 23/06/2006, 9:33 AM

It is sad to see such comments posted and I'm not sure on what basis you are making your comments prinz. Also remember that the Irish women's national team are amateurs, not well-paid professionals who train every day and should be open to personal criticism of performance

**Countryripple** · 23/06/2006, 9:53 AM

I agree about the critisim there. Where are you drawing this from when she didnt even get on the pitch?

I for one was disappointed to a certain extent. At least 3 or 4 players on the pitch on the day were pretty hopeless and had no impact on the game whatsoever! Im more than sure that there were better, more eger players on the bench.......and probably a hundred more in the stand!!!!

To see these players stroll around the pitch with hardly a tackle or a pass really frustrated me. The other players on the pitch were busting their guts as im sure that they felt they were the team with less players!!!

As for the Russians, they didnt even seem to break a sweat. They let our girls come at them for the majority of the game, then at the end when our team were getting very tired they just seemed to step up and put the foot down for the final blow. They certainly seemed a good outfit, very organised and very tactical.

Cant wait to see the Germans!!!

**Numero** · 23/06/2006, 10:13 AM

Yeah I mean there appears to be a selection problem when it comes to the women's team - such as players who could do better not being picked and even players capable of international football not even being considered or really known about in those circles.

Regarding prinz's criticism it is odd that she is singling out a player who didn't play versus Russia! To a certain extent I think it's ok to offer opinions on individual performances in matches - particularly if a player's attitude was questionable - but they have to be specific and balanced

**Countryripple** · 23/06/2006, 11:44 AM

I know. I didnt name the players in my last post because I didnt want offend anyone. But now that I think of it, if it was the mens team, players would be named in any comments that would be made about their performance be it good or bad.

I have nothing against any of these girls, im just making my comment on the lack of performance.

Elaine O Connor.........I dont know what postition she was supposed to be playing and neither did anyone around me whom i asked. If it was right back, surely its a criminal offence to say that that is the best right back available in this country!!! I witnessed one half hearted challenge from her that didnt even result in her winning the ball!! If it was right midfield she was playing, I never saw one run, one decent pass, one cross of the ball into the box for our forwards!!!

Sonia Hughes........Sonia made a couple of tackles and a few good passes. She was very unlucky with her shot just skimming over the bar. But when it came to breaking down plays in the centre of field she was kind of non existant.

Laura Hislop..........Just looked lethargic and non interested. Was useless at taking on the opposing defenders and didnt ever threaten them.

All of these players looked un-fit, had no enthusiasm and looked very far from any match fitness and sharpness was just not there at all.

I can say that every other player on the pitch gave all they could. Ciara Grant was everywhere in the middle of the pitch and busted her guts to chase everything down. Oliva O Toole looked like she was playing lone striker on the day and didnt give up once, always snapping at heels looking for that break. The defenders i thought had a hard time of it because they were always under attack. But they did extremly well and battled all the way to the end.

If I give an opinion of everyones performance ill get no work done...so ill leave it at that for my rant.

**Numero** · 23/06/2006, 11:58 AM

Well if players looked unfit hopefully the manager has caught onto this - i hope players are given their own training regime to keep up with because that's the type of focus players need - cos let's face it, fitness work is boring and you need goals to be set in order to get through it. am not sure if the women's side are given such fitness goals, it wouldnt surprise me if they weren't.

Noel King also has to not be scared to drop 'stalwarts' - sometimes it's a good thing for players and just what they need in order to return to form

**Countryripple** · 23/06/2006, 1:39 PM

there is no way a player of international level should be lacking fitness and sharpness. if they do, they simply dont go on the pitch. there are an abundance of players out there that are at the peak of their fitness and would probably have more ability than some of those seen in the green shirts!

**Poor Student** · 23/06/2006, 1:49 PM

Hello? What was the score?

**Numero** · 23/06/2006, 1:53 PM

Am not making excuses for any players but the gap between international matches is just too much for some players. I'm not sure if all the internationals play summer football - it is possible that some of those based in the US actually don't play during summer cos they play during academic year. Again, this isn't right.

It's not acceptable to be unfit, but it doesn't really surprise me when you take into account how women's football is structured. Am not saying the FAI should dictate players' lives but surely during the summer the international squad should all come back to Ireland and play in matches every few weeks- maybe the FAI could utiliise them in coaching schemes etc/set them up in some football-related employment for summer- and let them take part in friendlies against the better women's club sides and even underage lads teams. This doesn't seem to happen. How do Germany do things? That's what people should be looking at.

**Numero** · 23/06/2006, 1:56 PM

Score was Ireland 0 Russia 2. You can get results on fai.ie

**Countryripple** · 23/06/2006, 3:16 PM

Copy and paste this link for some info on how the Germans do it!!! Amazing for a country that up until 1970 forbade women to play soccer!!!! and even when they uplifted that ban there were still alot of restrictions on how they played.

http://www.goethe.de/ins/au/prj/fbl/dst/en1168755.htm

**Numero** · 23/06/2006, 3:40 PM

Yeah very interesting. Am not surprised to hear that the German women sometimes train with men. It is something all women's sides who really want to achieve something need to incorporate into their training. The fact is that men are faster and stronger than women and it will push women above their limits. Ideally underage lads teams would be best - and am sure the lads would be given a run for their money by the better female sides. Also, the international women's team should play friendlies against the better female club sides. This would help their rythem of play and also give the Irish manager a chance to look at some players from the club side who may have been overlooked. But hey this is all so obvious.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 25/06/2006, 9:54 PM

Numero

The Secretary of the DWSL, Mal O'Reilly, and myself offered to give Noel Kings Republic Of Ireland Senior Selections training friendlies against a Dublin League Selection. To date this offer has not been taken up. At the time we made the offer, Rathfarnham had a decent Romanian player and Dutch player among their ranks and they were two of the players we had in mind for the League Selection.

**Numero** · 26/06/2006, 9:31 AM

Ok CTID, but by the way I think it would also be a better idea to get the international side to play the better club sides, instead of just a Dublin selection.

That's interesting about the foreign players although I'm not sure what point you are making

**CollegeTillIDie** · 26/06/2006, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by Numero

Ok CTID, but by the way I think it would also be a better idea to get the international side to play the better club sides, instead of just a Dublin selection.

That's interesting about the foreign players although I'm not sure what point you are making

The inclusion of the foreign players in the Dublin selection would have meant that Kinger would have had the option of selecting two more players for his " Ireland" selection than might otherwise have been the case. Given that the Romanian had been capped for her country previously , and the Dutch player was not living in Ireland long enough to be eligible for citizenship here.

**Numero** · 03/07/2006, 10:48 AM

Ok.

But CTID, with all due respect, who says that you and that other guy knows exactly which players are best for the Dublin selection?? If you are forming your own Dublin selection to take on the international side you are lessening the possibility of the international side taking on the top club sides - where all players with the top teams would be seen by the Irish set-up. This is also also being very Dublin-centric. I think you should think about that .

For example, I know a few quality players whose names aren't that well-known, but are very good players who perhaps you don't know too much about. Also, why should the international team take on a team that is just a selection and don't play together often? Why not take on the likes of Peamount, UCD, Raheny, Lifford, a Cork club team, team from the North etc

**greenumbro** · 03/07/2006, 1:18 PM

U make a fair point Numero... I agree with ya in that it would be a good idea for the international to play against a team, who are a team! Who play together week in, week out and who know eachothers games, strenghts and weaknesses, however... I don't know/think if this would be possible...
I'm not sure how this affects other teams but regards Raheny, if the international team was to play against them, the Raheny team, while still being very strong, would undoubtedly, be significantly weakened as the would be losing a number of the best players to the international team... At the moment the Raheny team have three players playing for the Irish senior team and many others playing for the the under age teams... I think Peamount would be in a similar position? They'd be missing Katie Taylor anyway... As I said, this would be a good idea if it'd work? Do any of the UCD team currently play on the Irish team, if not, I agree with Numero and think it'd be worth while... Y can play both - selection and club teams? Surely the more friendlies played, the better?