I think we should hold fire for a while yet, last night was brutal yes, but the reaction is a bit OTT to say the least. if we are a bad team after one bad friendly, then we must be nearly World champions with our past record in friendlies.
There is no way an Irish team will go out there an collapse in Germany like they did last night. We need a best players back though that is for sure.
Liam Miller did have a few nice touches last night, but having said that gave it away carelessly a few times too. I thought going forward we were actually quite good, some very good balls into the middle but no one ever looked like getting on them
Kav did fine against Chile and has done well often enough for Wigan against class enough opposition. He has not demonstrated any consistancy in a green shirt, you just dont know what performance you are going to get.Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
I would still have him on the bench and consider to bring him on even after the other team have gone one or 2 up and we are chasing the game in 2nd half. Might be a common enough scenario.
Sitting in the stand last night was a sober experience. After all the years of hope and excitement I've never felt in such a subdued atmosphere. The writing is on the wall. We could pull out something in Germany. We're always capable of a surprise but other than that I don't hold out too much hope. We're at an awkward stage. Too many guys without the necessary experience. On a positive Kevin Doyle was good and has to start against the Germans. Morrison would nearly be as well off calling it a day. After all the fuss over him playing for Ireland in the first place! He got it too easy. International class my ass! Alan O'Brien could, with the right guidance, become an option. I do wonder though why Staunton chose Douglas and Daryl Murphy above the likes of Stephen McPhail and Kevin Nugent. Douglas offered no more than McPhail would have. Even getting Lee Carsley back would seem a boost. Carr might as well have not come over. Elliott is an absolute waste of time. Thank God Andy Reid didn't go to Sunderland, there seems to be a very negative vibe from Elliott. We don't need any more players with that!
We do need Carlsley back and Andy Reid fit...Andy Reid is the future. We can come up with a solid 11...only problem is we don't have the time.
Let's just hope Duff, Given, Robbie and Given are injury free for September the 2nd. Once that game is over - we need to find a decent CB to play with Dunne and a new central MF. The lad from Leicester needs a closer inspection.
why i am ashamed of my national team, the team that i love so well? like last night i watched the match and wondered why do i love this team so much. i wondered. but then i think back on past glories and i remember my reasons. now that is what i want, the good old days. team spirit and desire is what we need. we need to up our game in stuttgart. we need to. is there anyone at all who think that we have a chance to qualify?
In the same competition he was excellent in the 1-0 win against Arsenal. I don't really care about Kavanagh now tbh (there is incredible bias against him though, he was no worse than Reid last night). We have to look at someone else to partner Reid. As long as it isn't O'Shea or Kilbane I'll be happy.
Maybe put the second Given as CB
No points lost last night.
No damage done yet.
Everyone knows they need to raise their game, including Stan.
I heard news on the BBC that Robbie will be back declared fit to start Spurs first game, a week earlier than expected. Take it easy son.
Agreed and it's that simple!
Did you ever notice that in every painting of Adam & Eve, they have belly buttons. Think about that...take as long as you want.
Be honest, on your debut, at home, you're clean through with only the 'keeper to beat. You'd have shot too, wouldn't you??
If anything, he can be criticised for a lack of vision, more than selfishness
Ridiculuous post....Were we watching the same game? Elliott was the only player (bar maybe Finnan) that made any sort of impression on the first half. He was asked to cover an unfamiliar right wing role when McGeady drifted in and he always showed good touch and endeavour. Most importantly he was one of the few players that showed any heart and he was still closing down and chasing lost causes even when the 4th goal went in...
Hang on Dr Ogba. Were we watching the same game? Was this not Elliott who gifted Holland their second goal? If he was so good, why did everyone think Kevin Doyle really made an impression when he came on. His game is sloppy. He was decent in a few games under Kerr but on Wednesday he was shocking.
One mistake and a costly one at that, fair enough. His general play, touch, movement and commitment could not be faulted. He was lively throughout even though he was living on scraps, knockdowns and deflections from long balls....To say that he was giving a "negative vibe" is absolutely crazy given that he was one of the few Irish players that was constantly full of running and was always trying to close down the Dutch players....
And of course Doyle made an impression! Jaysus even I could have looked good playing out there if I had just come on for Morrisson!! (Just to clarify I'm not saying Doyle didn't play well but Morrisson was shocking!)
Sure, they're fair comments, but he'll be on the bench against Germany and Doyle (I think) will start. Which for me says that Doyle made a greater impact in 45 mins than Elliott did in 90. He'll be remembered for the pass that led to the goal. Why should a player be passing back anyway when there were options inside. I think there were a lot of schoolboy errors on Wednesday, particularly the offside failing, but Elliott's will be considered the greatest.
Agreed on Doyle, he'll have to start no doubt about it. I think he'll show this year that he'll be able to cut it at the highest level and hopefully himself and Keane will form a decent partnership. At this stage of the game I'd definitely have Elliott ahead of Morrisson on the bench though, I think he'd be more capable of having an impact than Clinton.
But , as you say, our problems run far deeper than who to pick up front against ze Germans....The offside trap and zonal marking thing has to be shelved asap...
but i wouldnt put my head down and run the ball out to touch
man i hope he isnt another andy reid!
Irish Indep says that Harte is very doubtful for Germany. Would have been handy on the dead ball end of things. When you think of Frings, Ballack, Klose et al, we really do need to get our act together. To think people are saying sack Staunton is crazy. Who else would take it? No one else looking for a job, bar O'Leary but he needs a big chequebook. He's a club manager and probably only will ever be that. He's turned down the Ireland job too many times. I see there's a 'B' game in November. They could be very important over coming years!
I hope he isn't another Tony Dailey - anyone remember him? Could beat any man down the left wing and just didn't have a clue what to do with the ball as soon as he was in or level with the box.
As stated before, at least O'Brien is going to be an understudy to Duff, so he will be learning how to improve his final ball from one of the best in the business. Not such a bad situation. Maybe he'll be a ready-made replacement for Duff when he retires. Time will tell.
Last edited by Irish_Praha; 18/08/2006 at 10:52 AM.
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