Ireland v Wales - Post Match Thread

**Soko** · 25/03/2007, 4:19 PM

Qualifying? We'll be thumped in Prague and Bratislava and be lucky to get anything in Cardiff. The pitch might save us on Wednesday but we are ****e. Complete and utter rubbsih because this bafoon of a manager doesn't know his arse from his elbow. Crappy wins like this only paper over the cracks

**Den Perry** · 25/03/2007, 4:22 PM

Originally Posted by barney

Keane plays regularly for Tottenham. A Premiership club. With and ahead of world class players like Berbatov and Defoe. McShane plays for West Brom. By all accounts he's struggled to even get into the team this year. Ferguson doesn't rate him. Nor, evidently do the 19 other Premiership managers. There's a reason for all that.

Just because McShane has gotten a lot of plaudits for his demeanour on the pitch, and Keane has taken the majority of criticism for the performances under Stan because he's a star (along with DUff) and captain doesn't obscure the fact that he is class and McShane will always be a journeyman pro.

Doyle's chance was created as a result of Keane's ingenuity (sp). It was a class touch. As was his pass for Ireland's goal. With the service he had, Keane did an awful lot.

Stephen Ireland was absolutely abysmal, save for the goal. The "barstoolers" behind you were absolutely right. Part of the reason he was crap was because he was played out of position.

Stephen Hunt did well and deserves a start. But don't expect him to turn in that sort of performance for 90 minutes of any game.

very good post! i cannot understand this hysteria with regard to McShane..he was if i'm harsh, at fault for the Czech goal and didnt cover himself in glory in San Marino either. Yet the Ole Oles rate him higher than Keane judging by some posts.....

**soccerc** · 25/03/2007, 4:31 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

The only time I saw him on the floor moaning was when he was through on the keeper and claimed a peno for a tackle from behind. Haven't seen the replay so I don't know whether the claim was justified.

This photo appears to show him taken from behind but you can also see his hand raised for the penalty claim.

One of the best views of the day

An this Lady nailing her views firmly

**Dublincelt67** · 25/03/2007, 4:44 PM

Originally Posted by Tir Oilean

I think a lot of posters on this thread are missing the point. You are venting your frustration at the players and manager. The blame clearly lies with Delaney. World class manager my foot. It has to be the only team in the world that appointed a manager with no experience.

Van Basten The Netherlands and also Rijkaard back in the day. Do you want anymore names because there is more

**Dublincelt67** · 25/03/2007, 4:48 PM

Originally Posted by Soko

You really have to stop this annoying you. It will not get any better with Staunton in charge. Its not possible. I gave away my tickets for the game today and will do so for all games that he is responsible for. I just can't bear that ****e

Well that is just great. One less of the Ole Ole brigade. You were probably one of the so called fans that walked out of lansdowne when 3 down to the spanish in 93. Or do you even remember that game. So called supporters like this we do not need

**McGinty** · 25/03/2007, 4:55 PM

thought is was a poor game, the performance in the last 15 mins was the only encouragement for Wednesday to be honest

the atmosphere was very slack on Saturday, but the Slovakia game on Wednesday under floodlights hopefully it'll be a different story!

i'm hoping stan will pick a decent front 2 against the slovaks, surely he cant be thinking about not starting Doyle anyway, match fit or not

**Qwerty** · 25/03/2007, 4:59 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Beat Wales and the Slovaks away.

We can beat Wales away but I really doubt we can beat the Slovaks. Getting a drraw away to the Czechs will be a challenge and beating the Germans at home is probably beyond us. I think we'll get no more than 9 points out of the remaining games, maybe 10.

**Noelys Guitar** · 25/03/2007, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

We can beat Wales away but I really doubt we can beat the Slovaks. Getting a drraw away to the Czechs will be a challenge and beating the Germans at home is probably beyond us. I think we'll get no more than 9 points out of the remaining games, maybe 10.

I have seen the Slovaks play and they are no better than Wales. They are like Macedonia. And yes I do remember what happened in those games. But I feel the way we are playing under Stan is now so cautious that we will be winning these type of games. Almost like boring the opposition into submission. It works. It is awful to watch but it works.

**lim abroad** · 25/03/2007, 5:55 PM

Originally Posted by Soko

The man is an idiot trying to create some siege mentality against the media when its his petulance and inept team selection which is ruining our football side. Today could have been a great day but instead it was a damp squib. He is a disgrace

I agree but can anybody on here honestly see him getting the sack?I for one can't but hopefully i'm wrong.

**Soko** · 25/03/2007, 6:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dublincelt67

Well that is just great. One less of the Ole Ole brigade. You were probably one of the so called fans that walked out of lansdowne when 3 down to the spanish in 93. Or do you even remember that game. So called supporters like this we do not need

No, I stayed in my west lower seat. Is this the first Ole Ole brigade reference in this thread? If so, congrats

**DeNiro** · 25/03/2007, 6:21 PM

Was at Croke Park yesterday. Strange atmosphere I felt, very different to the Lansdowne games. I think people are right when they say it was full of one dayers! I'll be there Wednesday again but I reckon a lot of what I saw yesterday won't!

As regards the game;
I think Staunton was worried about Wales, he played O'Shea and Finnan opposite positions to where they normally play. Logic is that you judge players on their best positions but he seems to want to mess things around alot. Equally Stephen Ireland, now one of our most creative players, was on the right. However, I get the feeling Staunton is riding his luck majorly, but as someone previously posted, he could freakishly get this team to second place in what is a very poor group. Wales are seriously average and we should beat them over there! If we win Wednesday and he's gets his act together before September, i.e. use friendlies to sort out a few things, we could be in with a shout. Wednesday is a big test though. The novelty is gone from the ground after one game. They have to lift it a bit more, but I don't think we have a player who can lift it anymore. However, Hunt, I feel, showed Duff how wing play should be done!

**Captain Tinrib** · 25/03/2007, 7:35 PM

The bottom line is we lost 5-2 to Cyprus, that in itself is unforgiven, Stan u havent a clue.. Slough are looking for a new manager, You should apply.

**stojkovic** · 25/03/2007, 7:41 PM

Robbieeeeeeeeeee is suspended on Wednesday.

Every cloud.....etc

**Captain Tinrib** · 25/03/2007, 7:42 PM

But Staunton will still be the manager, no bright side im afraid...untill he F**** Off

**pineapple stu** · 25/03/2007, 7:43 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

This photo appears to show him taken from behind but you can also see his hand raised for the penalty claim.

Bit harsh; if you're tackled like that - regardless of whether the tackle was good - your hand is going to go like that to try and control your fall and keep some sort of balance.

**TommyT** · 25/03/2007, 8:20 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

I have seen the Slovaks play and they are no better than Wales. They are like Macedonia. And yes I do remember what happened in those games. But I feel the way we are playing under Stan is now so cautious that we will be winning these type of games. Almost like boring the opposition into submission. It works. It is awful to watch but it works.

The Slovaks have some very good players, similar to Wales, but fewer bad ones. They are in better form too.

Staunton is not deliberately making the team ****e as some sort of master plan, the team was the opposite of cautious in Cyprus and was not cutious at all in San Marino, just appalling.

There's way too much condemnation of players on this thread, a lot of guys did all right considering the set up of the team and the fact that they were out of position.

Soko it's important for the game that we stay competitive throughout the group, we're still unlikely to qualify and Staunton will be gone soon enough.

**SUB of the day** · 25/03/2007, 8:23 PM

How flat was that? at the end of the game the sense of resignation among fans was palpable, 3 points, but so what?.We're going nowhere fast and we know it.We may not have the range of talents available as in previous years, but we are NOT this bad.A day I thought I would never see came and went, with a profound sense of anti-climax.Stan is so far out of his depth, its frightening, and sad.His team selection and formation yesterday actually defy belief.I don't have the time or stomach to list the myriad of reasons why stan should go, but go he must.Im sick of this car crash melo - drama, that is his tenure as our national manager.Please Stan, just go.

**citizenerased** · 25/03/2007, 8:30 PM

Disgrace, the fact that we only beat that atrocious welsh team 1-0 says alot,,there was no obvious game plan again, the midfield was a mess, all over the place.. and what about wrong siding both O'Shea and finnan, i would love to know the genius behind that thinking....Annoyed with some of the more reserved sections of the crowd..or the one dayers as someone reffered to them as!!

**gilberto_eire** · 25/03/2007, 9:00 PM

whats everyones problem or have we all forgot the past??.... most here seem to think we'r one of the big boys!!... we'r not!... we usually dont qualify for tournaments.... we made it to 4 in total, 3 world cups and 1 euro and we basically had the same team btw..... we've drawn before with liecheinstein(who are about as bad as san marino and with a stadium like a eircom 1st division team) and also with macedonia... i dont really mind the lads having a go at the players but its not stauntons fault, the players there are all we have, they train with there clubs all year, all an international manager does is picks the team basically and i can only say finnan and o'shea should have been swopd but maybe he wanted crosses curling into the goal area from his wing backs or maybe he taught o'shea would have done a better job on giggs on the right had he played left wing, we won the match, we should have won by 2 had keane buried that last effort. anyone whos on here saying ''they gave away tickets caz he's manager'' or jeered the players, or and i did meet a few the last day ''wouldnt go wednesday if we lost saturday'' then dont go and dont moan but you'll soon be back looking for tickets if we qualify for the finals like the rest of them. we'r a lil country with a p*ss poor population in sporting terms and then you have also the fact soccer isnt the number one sport in the country on top of that!.

**charliesboots** · 25/03/2007, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by gilberto_eire

w... i dont really mind the lads having a go at the players but its not stauntons fault, the players there are all we have, they train with there clubs all year, all an international manager does is picks the team

and he can't even pick the team right.

ever heard of motivation, prepararation, inspiration, tactical awareness. I'd like to have an international manager that can handle at least one of these.