Czech Republic post match thread

[casso36]

Robbie Keane was all over the pitch ran his heart out for the team!! Well Done!.

Thought duffer was pretty poor did'nt do an awful lot during game.

O'shea T w at! kept playing the them onside when rest pushed out!! Stocking of s hi te!!

Andy Reid Looks as fat as me, Lacks pace and it showed last night.

McShane excellent last night, until that T wa t ruined his night by giving the free kick away. Well done Mcshane great debut!!!

[elroy]

Ya was a bit bemused by Mick Byrne waving his hands in the air at the end alright. I dont think Stan did anything particularly wrong last night, remember we had 14 players missing. There's optimism for the future from last night, although we should've won! I think its a case of taking one game at a time and hopint that going in to the final 3 games we are in with some sort of realistic chance.
We really need for Germany to beat the Czechs home and away and if we are going to qualify we will need to beat the Czechs away........unlikely but not impossible.

As I said, one game at a time, next focus San Marino and three points.

[Dr. Ogba]

O'Shea was NOT at fault for the Czech goal. McShane let HIS man turn and score. I am no fan of O'Shea's but I thought he had an excellent game in the middle of the defence. O'Shea's foul was on the touchline. The Czech's took the free kick 15 yards infield and passed directly to Kohler. Whether O'Shea was running back facing the ball or with his back to the ball he wouldn't have been able to do anoything about it. If they had been made take the free from the right place he would have been back in position. Blame where blame is due..

Great post Owlsfan, agree with your point on O'Shea, I actually genuinely feared for us before the game when I heard he was playing CB (actually had more faith in McShane than O'Shea) but thought he put in his most consistent performance for us in a long time. However saying that, I'd go for McShane and Dunne (barring injuries) for the next match.

Delighted for Kilbane. Devasted that we dropped 3 points that should have been ours. Was not happy going home. 2001 since we last beat a major team at Lansdowne in a competitive game. The 3 points and a kick start to the campaign were there for the taking. Czech's illegal free kick and Robbie's miss at the end - a dagger in my heart.

Was right in line with Keane's miss at our end...I'm still lost for words

The match was there for the taking and we were the only team that looked like winning it which is even more disappointing.

Also maybe would have brought on Alan Lee instead of O'Brien for the last 10, definitely would have offered something different...

[Calcio Jack]

Calcio Jack, if that is your real name , I regularly disagree with you about the traitor, but that post is magnificent. I agree with every word especially with regard to sacking the gypo Mick Byrne.


However, I won't be surprised to see the traitor in charge for the WC campaign.

Well it's hardly my real name...sure doesn't the enigma fiction factor create a bit of crack on notice boards such as this...

As for calling Roy Keane a traitor...well now he and Mrs Quinn have moved on maybe we all should.

[McGinty]

i thought that once again Stephen Kelly showed he is not able to perform at International level. Panics when he gets the ball past the half way line, and takes stupid touches at the back. he's going to cost us goals if we continue to play him.

thought mcShane was magnificent, pity his concentration dropped after the goal but he put in a stellar display, has to start the next few qualifiers to see if he's up to scratch!

thought people expected too much of duff, everytime he got the ball, in the first half anyway, there were two men on him, they marked him out of the game, but still if duff doesnt beat 4 players and score its not good enough.

all in all i'm disappointed with the result, we should have won, and now staunton is stayin to add to the misery. best part of the night was the crowds reaction when we scored, havent experienced that in landsdown in years! people goine ape sh1t, we were only coming down from it when Koller (the biggest bitch i've seen play in landsdowne) put a good chance away

[kingp35]

be fore the team was announced for the Cyprus game I was screaming for Douglas to start in midfield. He has some limitations skill wise but he is 100% commited to the cause and puts in tackles all over the shop. I thought he was bloody excellent last night. He kept the ball on the deck and spread the play well, put in some solid tackles and won loads of headers. I think he was as good, if not better, than Carsley in what he did. Carsley is getting the attention because of all the press surrounding his inclusion. Douglas is a far better player that Liam Miller or Stephen Ireland and should be at least on the bench for games however I would start him. Miller was nothing compared to Douglas at Leeds last season and I really dont understand how many people on this thread have said that Douglas wouldnt even be in the squad for them but Miller would. Obviously none of you watch Championship football.

Another huge plus was the performance of Paul McShane. He was immense at the back bar the one slight lack of concentration for the Kohler goal. He looked like he was real leadership qualities and lead by example all night. I think the criticism being said of O' Shea on here is a bit harsh. I thought he did well and saying it was his fault for the goal is very harsh. Stephen Kelly did well but he obviously isnt a left back. He was great defensively but offered nothing going forward. Maybe he would have been better on the right.

Kilbane was excellent tonight. Its plain to all of us that he is not a central midfield player but when you play him on the left he give sit his all and will always cause the other team problems. He was committed from the off, put in some great tackles and scored the gaol. Im delighted for him. The entire midfield was much better and as soon as the team was announced I knew we would do much better because the team had a proper shape about it. Carsley would hold and help out the defense. Douglas would go from box to box. Kilabe would do his usual stuff and Duff could roam around a bit. I thought Duff had a quiet enough game but he still put in some great crosses and got another assist.

Andy Reid looked good but he was obviously lacking some match fitness due to being injured of late. If he gets himself fit then I think he will be very good playing in the hole. That was his best position at Forest when he was playing some great stuff. Robbie Keane put in plenty of running but again was largely ineffective. He should have scored at the death but I cant fault him too much.

The only disappointment was that we didnt win the game when we could have. It was a much better and spirited performance and Stan will have learned alot, especially about how to set up your midfield. Spirited performance and pride has been restored but there is still a long way to go for this team.

[kingp35]

O'shea T w at! kept playing the them onside when rest pushed out!! Stocking of s hi te!!

There was a valid reason for this. Ireland were afraid of Kohler winning flick ons and O' Shea was definitely told to drop off to cover any flick ons that were won.

[blobbyblob]

No offence to Henderson and Kenny but Given is irreplaceable for now. Come back soon.

Stephen Kelly was marvellous winning tackles he had to right to win and chasing and covering well when he had to. Finnan will never set a night on fire but he will do you a job and thats all we want back there.

Stan needs to be brave and stick with him for the next game. I dont see how any other player should be a shoe-in for the other centre half slot. Dunne, O'Shea, O Brien have a lot to prove between now and November.

The difference between Saturday and last night was Carsley. Not sure if it was visable on TV , from the first minute, he organised from front to back, roaring instructions and telling people where to pick up and where to cover. It was great to see and something thats been absent for quiet a while. A few scene setting tackles early on got the crowd going and more players reacted to this.

McGeady will lose out next time out. Kilbane will occupy the right with Duffer (who grew in confidence as the game went on) taking the left. Who will sit in with Carsley will be anyones guess. Well done to Douggie last night but but Stan wont be that brave.

As for Robbie - For all his endeavour his confidence looks shook. He always seemed to heistate for that millisecond that let the defenders cover back. Maybe San Marino will be the perfect game for him to get his confidence back. Doyle to partner him.

As for Staunton. The media have backed off. Cyprus still hurts. I just hope that last night wasnt just delaying the inevitable and could the path the greater glories for him and the team. I hope Carsley got an apology. We need players like him to build for the future. Also - the same fans should be selected in the same position apart from your man who punched me in the face celebrating the goal.

PS - Referee was a scum bag

[Paddy Garcia]

The difference between Saturday and last night was Carsley. Not sure if it was visable on TV , from the first minute, he organised from front to back, roaring instructions and telling people where to pick up and where to cover. It was great to see and something thats been absent for quiet a while.

Yes it was

Who will sit in with Carsley will be anyones guess.

Worth trying S Reid

As for Robbie - For all his endeavour his confidence looks shook.

Won't have been helped by Stauntons threat to drop hhim before the Cyprus game.

Also - the same fans should be selected in the same position apart from your man who punched me in the face celebrating the goal.

He also poked Kilbane in the eye. Were you sitting next to Stan ?

[geysir]

After McShane, I thought Kelly a lad making his comp. debut, out of position, did very well. Defensively, time and time again he made the right decisions, it's a long time since I could relax about what the LB was doing.
Other parts of his game were weaker but the bottom line performance of a LB was easily met.
O'Shea, after the soft foul was awarded, he continued to needlessly follow the ball instead of backtracking to pick up the nearest Czech in plenty of space who received the ball to set up Koller
It looked to me that he turned off completly for 5 seconds.It was a big starting point for the goal to happen.

[dfx-]

They were never going to be hammered and a 1-1 draw helps me financially ....but the cracks are nicely papered over.

The Czechs weren't that interested in going for the win, there was never any urgency about their play, they know the gulf in class is too big for Ireland to be a threat and when they scored, they still didn't go for it and went 451 and held out easily enough.

I'd be very disturbed by the amount of people with their faith restored and people even wondering about qualifying. One point out of nine. We couldn't beat a team at home who were quite negative. And for all Keane's chance waffle, Baros missed a sitter as well in the first. That could've changed it as well. I think people are just looking for any positive, desperate to regain any positive out of the game. If we had lost 0-3 but played with spirit blah blah, then faith would've been restored, I'm sure. Amazing how you can go from not wanted to manage this match to managing the entire tournament again with a 1-1 draw. Are things that bad?

I'd love to see how team might get on in Prague if the Czechs need the win. Or the Slovaks...or the Germans. Meanwhile, bagsy the front of the bandwagon - it might get a little crowded again.

[dynamo kerry]

last night- good game- the czechs were clearly up for it

pity abut the result we could indeed have won but then.. so could they

thought kelly did ok but he was a bit slow to release the ball

kilbane- solid stuff. pleased for him..

keane and duff - mmiddling games.. they can do better but I can't beleive some people calling for robbies head.. he was never going to be loooking fab as a lone striker.

andy o'brien.. mostly on this site has been referred to as someone who although not great in his lcub career has rarely let ireland down- until now.. give the guy a break. it's like gary breen everyone started saying he should be dropped for years but apart from macedonia he wasn't awful and in fact rarely made huge errors

and to suggest clinton morrison doesnt care is fairly silly. anyone who has watched the guy play live can tell he does

as for mcshane - great game

they all looked pretty composed though and looked like they were trying to play decent ball. really enjoyed the middle third of the game

[McGinty]

do people just forget about kelly losing the ball easily twice and giving the czechs what could have been a goal scoring opportunity?

[pineapple stu]

The Czechs weren't that interested in going for the win, there was never any urgency about their play, they know the gulf in class is too big for Ireland to be a threat and when they scored, they still didn't go for it and went 451 and held out easily enough.

That makes no sense. The Czechs realised that they were much better than us and could win comfortably but didn't? Ireland put in a decent performance for once, and it's down to the other team not wanting to win even though the could easily for some bizarre reason?

Here's those Guardian updates Pauro was on about earlier - quality!

[kingp35]

do people just forget about kelly losing the ball easily twice and giving the czechs what could have been a goal scoring opportunity?

Both occasions Kelly was totally isolated on the left hand side and had nobody moving for him and nobody to pass to. You have to look at the bigger picture when it comes to mistakes like Kelly made. It wasnt entirely his fault although he could have just ballooned it up the pitch.

[Fear Manach]

I think McShane shows the benefits of leaving a big club, going to a smaller one, but playing week in week out in a proper position. Just wish the likes of O;shea and Miller had done what he did

McShane has not been playing week in week out.

No. NAME GS SB G SH SG A FC FS YC RC

20 Paul McShane 5 0 0 1 0 0 5 6 2 1


GS: Games started, SB: Used as substitute, G: Goals, A: Assists, SH: Shots, SG: Shots on goal, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards, FC: Fouls Commited, FS: Fouls Suffered, SV: Saves, GC: Goals conceded, W: Wins, L: Losses, D: Draws

[Dun Laoire]

Last nights game was predictable. We can only up our games when we play against the better teams. If we drop a few seeds we'l have a better chance of qualifying. I know that sounds stupid but i actually believe that.

[Calcio Jack]

Last nights game was predictable. We can only up our games when we play against the better teams. If we drop a few seeds we'l have a better chance of qualifying. I know that sounds stupid but i actually believe that.

Well you said it yourself it is stupid... what next we let teams have a 1 goal lead just to get our boys motivated

[Billsthoughts]

Well you said it yourself it is stupid... what next we let teams have a 1 goal lead just to get our boys motivated

Have you sneaked a peak at "Stans Gameplan"?????

[passinginterest]

Looks like Staunton has stumbled on some quality players much like McCarthy in his early days, forced to experiment Cyprus was a disaster and Czech came good. If Staunton can learn quickly from his mistakes, he might make a manager yet. McShane was like Paul McGrath in disguise, great composure, hardly ever just hoofed it, took it down and played in simple and effective. O'Shea left him isolated for the goal, terrible lack of concentration by him. Had doubts about Kelly at left back, but he was exceptional. Carsley and Douglas always looked a stronger option than Ireland Kilbane and this proved to be the case. Kilbane regained some pride on the left, he's no central midfielder but he does an effective job on the left. Overall a decent performance, still a bit too direct from midfield at times, Keane needed more ball to feet. Worked some nice passing moves in last 15mins when we played it short, proved that there was more to the team than just a new found heart. Real potential, McShane beside Dunne should be first choice centre half. And so ends my first epic post!