Ireland 0-0 Germany- Post game thread

[mypost]

Does anyone else think we are turning into ENGLAND the way we critisize everthin the minute things go slightly wrong?

Sure it's not perfect but does anyone else think we are moving forward or am I on my own??

It's a good thing that we criticise. The "Give it a lash Jack" mentality, is long gone in Irish football. Regardless of his experience, Staunton's job is to get us to tournaments, and whenever his contract is up for renewal, what will decide it. It's Don Givens and other coaches jobs to develop young players for the senior team. Staunton has made appalling decisions in his time in charge, those decisions have failed to get us to Austria next year, and he will have to face the music from the Irish public for it.

[greendeiseboy]

Reid was exellent - his passing was top class - thought finnan had a good game also

Have to say keane and doyle were very disappointing - why does keane constantly play out of position and is always looking for excuses - how the fook did he miss that sitter - even then tried to blame the linesman - he's a fooking donkey and the sooner we get someone else the better

The germans had doyle in their back pockets for the whole match - he didn't make any meaningful contribution

Long did more in his few minutes than doyle did for his stint

overall though the team looked more composed than recent performances but i think the germans didn't exactly over exert themselves

[ifk101]

Stan is an easy target for criticism and rightly so because he is the manager. I've nothing personal against the man it's just that I don't think he has the attributes to lead the team.

We haven't moved forward since Kerr - if you ask me we have gone backwards. Kerr brought an air of professionalism into the squad which Stan has done away with. As it stands now, it's just a lads get together.

Stan hasn't brought any young players through. Fact of the matter is anyone with a Irish passport playing regularly in the Premiership is going to get a callup. Enter Stephen Ireland, Paul McShane, Joey O'Brien and Kevin Doyle. So he shouldn't get any credit in this regard. Put it like this, how many Irish players playing regularly in the Premiership have never been capped?

Stan was appointed on the premise that things would be better. But under Stan we have been humiliated by Cyprus and San Marino were robbed of a result against us. There's nothing to suggest that Stan can turn it around and if the FAI is consequent in its decisions with reference to its dealings with McCarthy and Kerr, Stan must go.

[Condex]

Boot out Staunton and take that long term under achieving captain with you...

We have the makings of a decent team, our players are at least as good as Scotland but we need a decent manger to mould them it a unit that believe that they can win a match...

Though Reid & O'Brien played well last night...

[Scratchy]

Stan is an easy target for criticism and rightly so because he is the manager. I've nothing personal against the man it's just that I don't think he has the attributes to lead the team.

We haven't moved forward since Kerr - if you ask me we have gone backwards. Kerr brought an air of professionalism into the squad which Stan has done away with. As it stands now, it's just a lads get together.

Stan hasn't brought any young players through. Fact of the matter is anyone with a Irish passport playing regularly in the Premiership is going to get a callup. Enter Stephen Ireland, Paul McShane, Joey O'Brien and Kevin Doyle. So he shouldn't get any credit in this regard. Put it like this, how many Irish players playing regularly in the Premiership have never been capped?

Stan was appointed on the premise that things would be better. But under Stan we have been humiliated by Cyprus and San Marino were robbed of a result against us. There's nothing to suggest that Stan can turn it around and if the FAI is consequent in its decisions with reference to its dealings with McCarthy and Kerr, Stan must go.

I fully concur with this. Unfortunately the only consistency that the FAI shows is its complete inconsistency with its decisions so Staunton will probably be given the World Cup qualifying campaign.

January 14 2006 to the present day=complete waste of time for Irish International football.

As for the game last night Germany did enough but no more than that and played within themselves in my opinion. I thought O'Brien did really well and I'm still wondering why a striker was picked to play on the right wing. Apart from that it was ok.

[eirebhoy]

I read a quote from Stan saying that the reason Reid didn't play in Slovakia was because of the bad pitch. Now I appreciate he'd know a lot more about that than me but surely a bad pitch would affect a dribber like McGeady and not Reid? I think it's an excuse and I'd love to know why he has to use it.

[McGeady10]

I am sure he is a lovely fellow,and he done ok in a cameo apperance tonight but in fairness, McGeady wouldn't kick snow off a rope,possibly one of the worst players at present to wear the Green. Well that's my opinion anyway.

Very good mate.. McGeady is playing for a team that's doing well in the Champoins League and is one of there most important creative players yet he's one of the worst players to wear the green when caps are being passed to guys like Jonathan Douglas and Andy Keogh like they are sweeties...

[bennocelt]

not a bad match at all, for a friendly

i mean lets be honest the germans could have had us if they cared

i was hoping to see germany win, cause a result like this just gives Stan more games and more time to "learn"
but in the end the result was even worse, as it shows that we have a half decent team that was wasted, and we should be going to euro 2008

i thought the german defence was excellent, but they had virtually no strikers, and Frings had an off day

for us.............Reid was excellent, Robbie might want to have a long hard look at himself and stop belieivng his own hype, and O Brien and keogh are good prospects for the future

Mcgeady? yeah, brill...he had a goo 10 minutes........still he will have to do a lot bloody more to convince irish fans after his last 2 rubbish games for ireland..................

[bennocelt]

Very good mate.. McGeady is playing for a team that's doing well in the Champoins League and is one of there most important creative players yet he's one of the worst players to wear the green when caps are being passed to guys like Jonathan Douglas and Andy Keogh like they are sweeties...

and John o Shea is playing for a team called Manure utd.................so whats your point?

did you see Mcgeady agaisnt Slovakia or Czech rep? somehow i doubt you did

[eirebhoy]

McGeady would have most likely been rubbish if he started. Dropping him to the bench was the best thing to do. It released the pressure. I know the mind of a confidence player inside out. He knows a lot of the fans think he's rubbish. When the manager still picks you when you don't deserve to be picked it does no good.

[OneRedArmy]

This thread is like one big wind-up.

Last night was mediocre at very best. The two Germans sat beside me were ashamed of their team, which puts our performance in context.

Keane is a useless waster who appears undroppable.

Reid carried the midfield going forward as we had two wingers who couldn't beat snow off a rope and a midfield partner who can't pass the ball longer than 5 yards.

As for McGeady, I couldn't give a monkies what he does against Gretna or some other bucket Scottish side or once a season in the Champions League, I've seen nothing from him at international level to show me that he will make the grade. His end product more often than not isn't good enough. Shane Long was much, much more effective.

[eirebhoy]

I've seen nothing from him at international level to show me that he will make the grade..

And that's no surprise. This confidence thing isn't an excuse.

I was impressed with Shane Long too actually.

[bellavistaman]

He's 21 already, should have broken into the first team already. A loan spell at Wolves might do him good.

He's rated at 59 in FIFA 2008!

He's 19 not 21. Im not just saying it cause i know him but surely from what we seen of him he is a better option than kelly, we need a left legged left back, some1 whos comfortable on the ball, and will show loads of heart, o'halloran will give us all that. Kelly isnt good enough IMO

[carloz]

I am just going to add to what almost everyone was saying her, that Reid was an absolute pleasure to watch. I would pay very good money if i ould get to see him play like that every week, he was a joy. I am really looking forward to seeing the two Reids in central midfield in the next campaign. I thought bringing on Murphy with about 1 minute to go was puzzling. We really needed to win the game so surely sending him on with at least 1o mins to go was essential. Our defense was excellent and if Stan showed any courage only McShane will replace the banned Dunne for the Cyprus game, O'Shea does not merit a place in that team. Again a bit disapointed in Robbie Keane, i get the feeling that he is just trying to hard. It seems like he hates taking the easy option also, tha attempted lob over Lehmann was a perfect example. Id like to see a different partnership up forward against Cyprus, maybe Long and Keogh or Murphy. Something different just to test it out. Also the sooner the captains armband is taken off Keane the better. Dunne, Given, Reid, Carsley and even Finnan and Kilbane are more deserving of it

[FarBeag]

not a bad match at all, for a friendly

i mean lets be honest the germans could have had us if they cared

i was hoping to see germany win, cause a result like this just gives Stan more games and more time to "learn"
but in the end the result was even worse, as it shows that we have a half decent team that was wasted, and we should be going to euro 2008

i thought the german defence was excellent, but they had virtually no strikers, and Frings had an off day

for us.............Reid was excellent, Robbie might want to have a long hard look at himself and stop belieivng his own hype, and O Brien and keogh are good prospects for the future

Mcgeady? yeah, brill...he had a goo 10 minutes........still he will have to do a lot bloody more to convince irish fans after his last 2 rubbish games for ireland..................

I see the German supporter is back. I am sure you’re delighted to be the first team to qualify for Euro 08. Funny how you refer to Ireland as ‘us’ .Maybe you are a little mixed up or had too much gargle last night in celebration that we are out.

We could easily have won that game last night. I thought we were the better team all round. Reidy was excellent as we know he is capable of. If he stays fit he the best player we have by far, intelligent, creative, determined. I had more faith in that back line than I have throughout the campaign bar Kelly who is not at all comfortable on the left.O’ Brien filled me with lots of confidence far more than Mac Shane even though he was played out of position. Doyle was terrible, no control, no positional sense etc. Don’t know what has happened to him? There is no point commenting on tactics used by Stan especially towards the end of a must win game but for now that just life.Its a shame because if you compare our team to that of Scotland we are the better side and look where they are.

[OneRedArmy]

Its a shame because if you compare our team to that of Scotland we are the better side and look where they are.

How are we the better side?!

The only possible reason I can think of is because, our players on average, play for higher placed English sides (not even sure if this is the case). That counts for sweet FA.

I'd prefer to look at how many points Scotland have had in an infinitely tougher pool. There's your answer.

[sligobhoy67]

and John o Shea is playing for a team called Manure utd.................so whats your point?

did you see Mcgeady agaisnt Slovakia or Czech rep? somehow i doubt you did

I saw him against the Czechs and Slovaks - he was poor - but no worse than Keogh was last night and I havent heard a word said about that.

However what is undeniable is the McGeady was the best player on the park when he came on last night and should have been given at least half an hour as Leogh was obviously flagging and ineffective in the second half

[conlonn]

Germans not up too much, they were playing for a draw, if they really wanted to score it would have been a differnet game.
Andy Keogh had a stinker, of the 25 about times he had the ball he have the ball away about 20 times. Should have been taken off at half time but Stan (ginger gimp) left him on. Shows how much he knows about football. Every German chance game down our right side and all our good play came down our left . McGeady was bit better when he came on. Still a bit of a headless chicken though but I think he will improve and has ability.
robbie keane if he was playing for Spurs would have score that chance. My granny would have scored it. He is a clown and should be slated for not scoring that chance but he will not be. O Brein did well, Shows how bad O Shea is.
Andy Reid was awesome, first touch brilliant and he lifts the head to see what is around him. Man of the match by a mile!
From the kickouts can we try something else than every time trying to hit Kilbane with every kicout to win a header. Again good German defenders that will not work ( prob will against Cyprus on Wed night though)

We now need 6 points from next two games to leave us on 21 points and improve our seeding. Nothing less is acceptable.

[eirebhoy]

How are we the better side?!

The only possible reason I can think of is because, our players on average, play for higher placed English sides (not even sure if this is the case). That counts for sweet FA.

It's more than that. Player for player we're certainly better than Scotland.

[pete]

This thread is like one big wind-up.

Last night was mediocre at very best. The two Germans sat beside me were ashamed of their team, which puts our performance in context.

Keane is a useless waster who appears undroppable.

Reid carried the midfield going forward as we had two wingers who couldn't beat snow off a rope and a midfield partner who can't pass the ball longer than 5 yards.

As for McGeady, I couldn't give a monkies what he does against Gretna or some other bucket Scottish side or once a season in the Champions League, I've seen nothing from him at international level to show me that he will make the grade. His end product more often than not isn't good enough. Shane Long was much, much more effective.

Well said.

Laughable to hear people say McGeady should have started when he was pathetic in last 2 International games. Any full back playing behind him will get destroyed by the way he gives possession away & cannot defend or take good defensive positions something I am sure he does not have to worry about against Gretna.

Germany were happy with a draw & did not want to get injured.

Hopeless plastic atmosphere. Muppets starting mexican waves