Ireland U21 vs England U21 in Turners Cross!

[Stuttgart88]

All that rubbish about Ireland doing well (in the past) because of their great team spirit is a load of old English media nonsense sh*te.

Couldn't agree more. Their default response to any good Irish performance is "great passion". Equally their default response to a bad English performance is "there was no passion" when actually they weren't good enough.

[youngirish]

Couldn't agree more. Their default response to any good Irish performance is "great passion". Equally their default response to a bad English performance is "there was no passion" when actually they weren't good enough.

The typical example to how biased the English media are for me is demonstrated by reading the tabloid rags over here (I know I should have more sense but I was bored) before the World Cup ridiculous, totally unrealistic claims that Ashely Cole was one of the best fullbacks in the world and Paul Robinson was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership. Paul Robinson is absolute garbage. I could list 15 better goalkeepers than him in the Premiership.

As for Ashley Cole? Arsenal had their best run defensively for years in the champions league last season before they played Barcelona in the final. I think they only conceeded one goal in 9 games or so. Ashely Cole was injured but came back for the final where they were beaten 2-1. Coincidence? Possibly but then he joined Chelsea the team with the best defence in the league two seasons running. This year they've been rubbish defensively. Ashley Cole is a poor player. I can't see what he offers a team. He can't cross the ball, doesn't score, can't pass very well, isn't great defensively (average at best) and is poor in the air. He does run up and down like a headless chicken though and is English so he must be good. Saying that he is better than JOS but that's hardly a glowing endorsement.

[Stuttgart88]

The typical example to how biased the English media are for me is demonstrated by reading ...totally unrealistic claims that Ashely Cole was one of the best fullbacks in the world and Paul Robinson was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership.

Where did you geat "one of the best" from? He was categorically THE best.

As for Robinson, the guy is a great reflex shot stopper and a superb ball kicker, though when he does parry the ball, 50% of the time it goes staright back into play.

However, give him a second to think and he's awful. He's the type of 'keeper the English ridiculed when I was growing up, a flashy shotstopper who'll flap & punch instead of catching (first goal in Croatia anyone?), the antithesis to the cool, measured & commanding goalkeeper they used to have in abundance.

Whatevever about the backpass in Croatia, how he got away with the first goal without his reputation in tatters is beyond me.

In the early 1990s there was a trivia challenge doing the rounds, to name 10 foreign keepers to have played in the Premiership / first divsion. Smeichel & Srnicek were exceptions. Now anyone under 16 would struggle to name 10 English keepers to have played in the top flight!

By the way, Beckham is the best wide midfielder in the world again, in case you hadn't noticed.

[youngirish]

Stutts, Robinson is a young David James all over again. Makes great saves every now and then but flaps at crosses, consistently makes mistakes and never seems to cut out any of the goals that he really should be expected to prevent. I think he's very poor. Foster is their best goalkeeper at the moment but he's not on the media radar at the moment so he's not in the English squad. Once he gets there he will automatically be promoted from nowhere to being the best goalkeeper on earth.

Oh yeah nearly forgot. Stephen Gerrard has consistently been the best midfielder in the world for the past 5 years. That Zidane fella was a load of old cobblers, wasn't he? They never learn.

[Pablo]

Great to see the Cross get these gams. Its now the best Soccer Ground in the country while Lansdowne is Closed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XutcEGTtxZI&e

Video from last weekends Cork City V Derry game of the newest stand.

[Paddy Garcia]

All that rubbish about Ireland doing well (in the past) because of their great team spirit is a load of old English media nonsense sh*te.

I don't agree.. at all. A never say die attitude was really important to our past success. Players were far more committed to the shirt than their counterparts in England. Even those who for years travelled around just to warm the bench.

The fact that the English media used this to undermine (& I agree they did) our success does not mean that we should feel we have to deny it.

We were good in the past because we had good players.

Totally agree with this. Don't though knock the passion - even Stan recognised its importance during Jack's reign.

[youngirish]

I don't agree.. at all. A never say die attitude was really important to our past success. Players were far more committed to the shirt than their counterparts in England. Even those who for years travelled around just to warm the bench.

The fact that the English media used this to undermine (& I agree they did) our success does not mean that we should feel we have to deny it.



Totally agree with this. Don't though knock the passion - even Stan recognised its importance during Jack's reign.

Never did deny it but it wasn't as important to us as the fact that we had very good players many of whom would have walked into the English International teams at the time. Passion and pride alone gets you nothing you need the players first and the passion and pride is the icing on the cake. San Marino play with passion and pride.

[geysir]

Great to see the Cross get these gams. Its now the best Soccer Ground in the country while Lansdowne is Closed.

Looks good, I don't think the seats will get too much wear.
Isn't the pitch size a good way on the small side?

[NeilMcD]

I would say that pride and passion are your starting point. As Johnny Giles says, your work ethic should be your starting point and from there you go about getting your players to play in a constructive manner.

[Risteard]

Yes.
A good thing imo entertainment-wise but doesn't suit Ricos football.

[Paddy Garcia]

Never did deny it but it wasn't as important to us as the fact that we had very good players many of whom would have walked into the English International teams at the time. Passion and pride alone gets you nothing you need the players first and the passion and pride is the icing on the cake. San Marino play with passion and pride.

Yeah I agree, great players actually.

[Pablo]

Looks good, I don't think the seats will get too much wear.
Isn't the pitch size a good way on the small side?

It used to be quite small. Thats why it used to be called "The Box" Its been extended over the years though while the various stands were being built. Its about average now, certainly not a big pitch Like Dalymount though.