Czech Republic post match thread

**Soper** · 12/10/2006, 2:10 PM

Will Staunton learn?

Or will he revert back to putting O'Shea in midfield?

**passinginterest** · 12/10/2006, 2:17 PM

Just to clarify, he's obviously still unproven but he's playing regular football and has to represent a better option alongside Dunne than O'Brien, who's hardly played in a year. O'Shea should be the obvious choice but he continues to have Gary Breen like lapses in concentration. I'd probably keep him at left back though, he definitely improved against the Chzec's and maybe he got a real reality check in the Cyprus game. While McShane probably should have done more to stop Koller's shot, O'Shea gave away a silly free, then made no effort to get back in position, didn't even stand over the ball to delay it being taken, just at a time when the team needed to slow things down and keep composure. You'd think they would have learned a lesson after Cyprus!

**kingp35** · 12/10/2006, 2:18 PM

Surely having seen the difference in the performances in both games that he cant consider playing O' shea in midfield ahead of good ACTUAL midfield players like Carsley, Douglas etc. If he does then he really does need to walk. The reason the team played so much better last night was because the spine of the team was so much better and thus the team was more balanced.

**supasparx** · 12/10/2006, 2:22 PM

Originally Posted by DeNiro

I hope O'Shea looks around and realises that there are now plenty more options in the positions he used to occupy. Kelly at LB, McShane at CB, Carsley and Douglas in CM. That might concentrate his mind a bit. I reckon McShane and Dunne will be CB's (fitness permitting) when San Marino visit. Keane does need to get his act together, Doyle would have done a nice job up there tonight!

We've got a few to return to squad as well

McGeady, Kavanagh, Harte, Joey O'Brien, Miller, Doyle, Ireland, S Reid, Dunne, Elliott, Given.

Our strongest eleven out of the above and tonight's squad would probably be

Given

Carr - McShane - Dunne - Finnan

Duff - Carsley - S.Reid - McGeady

Keane - Doyle

Subs: Joey O'Brien, Ireland, A. Reid, Elliott, Kavanagh, Miller, O'Shea, Harte, Kenny, Alan O'Brien, Alan Lee, Henderson.

23 man squad.

No room for Kilbane in your squad?

**kingp35** · 12/10/2006, 2:26 PM

Originally Posted by supasparx

No room for Kilbane in your squad?

Or Douglas who played very well last night. Would have him ahead of Miller every time.

**Paddy Garcia** · 12/10/2006, 2:37 PM

..you can certainly include Kilbane and Douglas at the expense of Kavanagh & Alan O'Brien.

**casso36** · 12/10/2006, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by kingp35

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.

He did'nt get any flick ons!! Mcshane cleared nearly every ball.

**kingp35** · 12/10/2006, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by casso36

He did'nt get any flick ons!! Mcshane cleared nearly every ball.

Yes I realise that but it was expected that he would win flick ons and O' Shea was doing what he was told to do.

**tetsujin1979** · 12/10/2006, 2:57 PM

RTE have their post match interviews with McShane, Kilbane and Staunton as well as their Apres Match up on rte.ie here: http://www.rte.ie/sport/sports_video.html

**eirebhoy** · 12/10/2006, 3:02 PM

What a difference a central midfield makes aye?

Henderson - Did well, excellent distribution. There was only one man he could really kick it to that you'd expect to get his head to it, Kilbane, and he kicked it to him every time. I'd need to see it again but probably should have saved the goal.

Finnan - He seems to be lacking confidence this season. 1 or 2 nervy kick back passes to Henderson. It's not just with Ireland but he has made 1 or 2 mistakes with Liverpool. Hopefully it's just a blip.

Kelly - Had a great game considering he was out of position. I wouldn't play him on that side again though as he has no left foot at all.

O'Shea - Did well but that's relative to his usual performances. No better than Andy O'Brien and can't seem to follow the line.

McShane - Great game. Bossed Koller for the 90 minutes and looked like the more experienced player in the defence. Very, very similar to Fabio Cannavaro in his style of play.

Carsley - Made the Czechs know he was there from the first whistle. 3 fouls within the 1st 10 minutes but it was another hour or so before his 4th foul and the ref was waiting for it to book him. Exactly what we needed against Cyprus. Always there to take a pass and we won't be getting caught on the break easily with him in the team.

Douglas - He was given a license to get forward and only for a great save from Cech would have scored. Excellent off the ball and had to be with Rosicky in the Czech team.

Kilbane - His best performance in a long time. He was winning a lot in the air and most of his flick ons were falling to an Irish player. Did well on the ball too and good goal.

Duff - Still a bit predictable but he was been marked by 2 players at all times. The Czech team was a lot more defensive than usual and I'd say Duff is the reason. Kovac came into the team to man mark him. Did well and most of our chances came from him.

A.Reid - He must be the most intelligient player (in a football sense) we have. Him and Duff are on the same wavelength and I'd say Duff loves playing with him. Definitely unfit though so hopefully Dowies sorts him out. Excellent set pieces, his passing was good and he's not afraid to have a pop from long range. No coincedence that we lacked creativity in the last 20 minutes.

Keane - He can't really win. He ran all night but being the lone striker you'd prefer him to stay in the box. If he did stay in the box we'd be complaining that he wasn't putting in enough work.

Should have hit the target with that header late on but he played well and did lead by example. Less moaning than usual which is good.

A.Quinn looked really good on the ball. I'll be suprised if Alan O'Brien makes it at international or premiership level though. He rips up the wing and gets crosses in but that's pretty much all he does. At one stage he had an excellent chance to cut inside but he still tried to go further down the wing even though there was about 2 metres of grass left.

Staunton, whether through choice or otherwise, fielded the best team possible so top marks for that.

**pineapple stu** · 12/10/2006, 4:06 PM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

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

What's that?

**elroy** · 12/10/2006, 4:07 PM

One thing in particular that really impressed me about McShane was his composure on the ball. Many times he was comfortable with the ball at his feet and nearly always found a team mate.

**roversman** · 12/10/2006, 6:44 PM

where can i get to c the goals on internet

**dfx-** · 12/10/2006, 6:57 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

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?

The difference in class between the two sides meant that the Czechs didn't have to go at full pelt to get something. There was no urgency in their play, everything forward was laboured. They could win comfortably if they went for us, but they never really did. A draw wouldn't be too bad for them, as long as they didn't get beaten. The reason why they didn't was because they thought they could get through Ireland if they actually went for us. We'll not know whether they could because they never actually tried to. Even when they scored, they didn't push on like most teams would, they sat back, went 451 and settled for a point and got it easily enough. If they needed to win, it would've been a different situation - when we go away to them later on and they need the points...that team wouldn't live with them. It was a poor Czech performance - fine they had their best players there, but they were in no rush to do anything with them. Germany went for Ireland and won pretty convincingly, Cyprus went for Ireland and got five, the Czechs played poorly, looked for a point and got it comfortably enough.

The real test of Staunton is how they deal with the next side who are going for the win...probably away to Slovakia.

**Emmet** · 12/10/2006, 7:27 PM

Originally Posted by Istabraq

Lee Carsleys effect on the team and the performance cannot be underestimated. He set the tempo from the off and gave the fans the first cheer of the night with his determined tackle. When the rest of the players witnessed this hunger and the response of the crowd to it, they followed suit.

I'm not entirely sure about that ... I recall seeing several lunging tackles from Carsley in the first few minutes and he was fortunate that the ref was as lenient as he was. He steadied things down in general though and did not give the ball away repeatedly (!) so in that respect he was definitely an improvement in midfield!!

**Emmet** · 12/10/2006, 7:32 PM

Originally Posted by BradyIsMyHero

Finnan - Steve Carr to right full (Finnan to left full ? or O'Shea ?)

You'd play Carr over Finnan?

Finnan is miles better ... he holds down a regular place at Liverpool (which when you consider Benitez hasn't fielded an unchanged side for almost 100 consecutive matches is some achievement) and he isn't a good stone overweight!!

**oconghc2** · 12/10/2006, 8:52 PM

enjoyed the game - first one in a while - good excitement but was sick still at the end. We didnt win anything - just stopped a rot.

Can't help feeling that we're back to square one - staunton still in job and delaney safe for a bit longer, john o shea instrumental in a conceded goal! (sorry - don't want to make it a witch hunt!)

Staunton can take no praise for last night! will carsley now make way for ireland when he recovers from injury or kavanagh? Will McShane start the next game? will stevie carr or o shea move to full back? I hope to God he swallows his pride - i would just find it refreshing if he admitted his mistakes - maybe then he move on as he's always talking about.

**sligoman** · 12/10/2006, 9:21 PM

Was at the game. McShane and Carsley were great. O'Shea and Henderson also had good games. Couldn't really fault any of the players that started last night. Much better performance than Cyprus, by a mile!

**Thunderblaster** · 12/10/2006, 9:37 PM

Much happier than Saturday evening. Team had a shape, passed the ball better (still some hoofing though). Good performance in terms of passion and determination while the technical skills were modest. Paul McShane did really well and deserves another start. Stephen Kelly had a good hour and Jonathan Douglas was unlucky not to have scored. Robbie Keane seriously should be stripped off the captain's armband; he is no leader and he needs to perform for his country, not for himself. Remember Seamus McDonagh? He celebrated his international call up by coming to Ireland on the boat to retrace his ancestors crossing and reading the 1916 Proclaimation. Mr. Keane could learn a thing or two from that. Lee Carsley is not exactly a player I'd admire but added some steel to the middle of the park and Kevin Kilbane, a player that would be as gifted as average, found the net and did alright. Probably our best performance since St Denis in a competitive international two years ago. It's a step in the right direction but there is a lot more to do. Do not kid yourselves that it is the polished article.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 12/10/2006, 10:56 PM

Henderson had a good game, did well when called upon. Bit dodgy for the goal, couldn't really tell from where I was but I thought his positioning could have let him down.

Kelly had a great game a LB, won loads of tackles and looks like he could do a job there in future.

McShane was immense. He gave a good post match interview too. Future captain imo.

O'Shea had a much improved performance but he needs to stop trying these long passes. I only remember one finding the man.

Carsley was exactly what we have been lacking in the past few games. Broke up a few of the Czech's attacks and tidied things up when needed. Douglas did well alongside him, but I think he's only a squad player for the time being. Don't remember seing too much of Kilbane for some reason.

Andy Reid had a good enough game, seemed to be lacking match practice though. Duff did well when he got on the ball, caused the Czech full backs problems when he got to the end line.

Also Stan should stop persisiting with Alan O'Brien.