Ireland U23 V Slovakia U23

[see's it]

2-0 result.

Another example of the failure that is Don Givens

excuse my ignorance what you mean?

[Pablo]

he would consistently have a better squad at his disposal but couldnt but a result like that. He a useless coach/manager

[SkStu]

he would consistently have a better squad at his disposal but couldnt but a result like that. He a useless coach/manager

but what was the make-up of this Slovakian team? Is it a few of their younger fringe players and U21 team? In fairness it depends on the calibre of player that the slovakian team fielded.

Though i agree Givens is a useless tosser.

[Sheridan]

It was great to see a genuinely representative Irish team play probably for the first time since the old Olympic qualifying tournament. Ireland controlled the game from start to finish (bar maybe a ten minute spell in the second half) and should have won by four or more. The Slovaks were quite small but a little better technically. First goal was a far post header by Peers from a free-kick. Second goal by Brennan was a volleyed rebound which may or may not have crossed the line before the 'keeper grabbed it (lots of hometown decisions.) Behan had a header brilliantly saved, Mooney and Rowe missed some good chances. Keegan struck the bar with a long-range belter late on. Attendance was 2,200 apparently (would have thought closer to 3,000 myself.)

I'd rate the team as follows: Murphy 6, O'Brien 8, Powell 4, Kenna 5, Peers 7, Kelly 6, Brennan 9, Keegan 8, Rice 7, Mooney 7, Behan 8. Subs: O'Donnell 7, Rowe 7, Sammon 5, Kavanagh n/a.

[pineapple stu]

Attendance was 2,200 apparently (would have thought closer to 3,000 myself.)

I'd rate the team as follows: Murphy 6, O'Brien 8, Powell 4, Kenna 5, Peers 7, Kelly 6, Brennan 9, Keegan 8, Rice 7, Mooney 7, Behan 8. Subs: O'Donnell 7, Rowe 7, Sammon 5, Kavanagh n/a.

Only the Jodi was open (capacity 2700 or so), and there were plenty of gaps, so 2200 is about right.

Would agree more or less with your ratings too. Though not sure what Powell did (or didn't do) to get the 4. Back four were largely redundant all match really.

but what was the make-up of this Slovakian team? Is it a few of their younger fringe players and U21 team?

I think - although it wasn't mentioned at the match - that it was the national U-20 team.

[cavan_fan]

It was great to see a genuinely representative Irish team play probably for the first time since the old Olympic qualifying tournament. Ireland controlled the game from start to finish (bar maybe a ten minute spell in the second half) and should have won by four or more.

How is this any more representative than the senior side (I know I shouldnt rise to this.) By the way if eirebhoy's report of the england squad for this tournament is accurate (players from the conference) and other sides are treating it like this then we should walk the tournament. Anything less would be a disgrace.

[gspain]

Judging by the players' reactions the ball did appear to cross the line. The linesman who was in line gave it straight away.

Great performance. We must have areal chance of coming out of the grup now with NI a and Belgium h to come.

[Pablo]

No doubt the vultures will be circling at these games.

[tetsujin1979]

No doubt the vultures will be circling at these games.

From the match review in today's Independent: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-1218735.html

A healthy 2,200 attendance at Dalymount Park included a number of scouts from cross-channel clubs with bargains on their mind.

[Stuttgart88]

From the Irish Times:

"Interested parties [i.e., English club scouts] were busy preparing festive wish-lists but whether they saw enough to part with the readies remains to be seen."

From reading this you'd swear the sole purpose of this fixture was to flog some players. Next they'll be parading them at Goff's.

[Pablo]

From the Irish Times:

"Interested parties [i.e., English club scouts] were busy preparing festive wish-lists but whether they saw enough to part with the readies remains to be seen."

From reading this you'd swear the sole purpose of this fixture was to flog some players. Next they'll be parading them at Goff's.

No thats another underage managers job

[Dodge]

How is this any more representative than the senior side (I know I shouldnt rise to this.) By the way if eirebhoy's report of the england squad for this tournament is accurate (players from the conference) and other sides are treating it like this then we should walk the tournament. Anything less would be a disgrace.

England organised it FFS. As far as I can see no country has the same entry requirements for their team. Its a makey-up competition and I wouldn't be taking it too serious. Nice for the players though

[Sheridan]

How is this any more representative than the senior side (I know I shouldnt rise to this.) By the way if eirebhoy's report of the england squad for this tournament is accurate (players from the conference) and other sides are treating it like this then we should walk the tournament. Anything less would be a disgrace.

Of course it's more legitimate than the "senior" side, these are players who have actually contributed to football in Ireland and represent the strength of the Irish game. Ireland is basically an unrepresented territory in international football so it's great to see some kind of legitimate Ireland XI take the field (just as the Catalan team only plays about once a year.) It may be a contrived competition with arbitrary eligibility criteria (why are your kind only capable of judging anything by comparison to England, by the way?) but if you're a fan of Irish football it's the closest thing you have to a national team and that makes it important.

PS: Mods - I'd move this thread to the eL section or merge with the topic there, didn't realise it was in the Oireland section.

[pineapple stu]

Have to agree, to be honest. The notion that Irish people, once they leave the country, don't represent the country any more is baffling at best.

My gut reaction from Block C (i.e. half the pitch away) was that the ball did cross the line for the second goal. That said, the keeper caught it with his back to the linesman, who surely couldn't have seen the ball's exact position, yet it was he who flagged. So either (a) it was a long way over the line or (b) the linesman had a guess.

[Supreme feet]

I suppose Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Roy O'Donovan (and all the other former EL players who decided to move abroad to make the best of their talent) aren't Irish anymore then.

If I was working for the Wexford People or Limerick Leader, and National Geographic offered me a job in America, would I cease to be Irish if I took it? Should we discount James Joyce as an Irish writer because he lived in Paris for a while? I echo tet's (now deleted) sentiments.

[cavan_fan]

Of course it's more legitimate than the "senior" side, these are players who have actually contributed to football in Ireland and represent the strength of the Irish game. Ireland is basically an unrepresented territory in international football so it's great to see some kind of legitimate Ireland XI take the field (just as the Catalan team only plays about once a year.) It may be a contrived competition with arbitrary eligibility criteria (why are your kind only capable of judging anything by comparison to England, by the way?) but if you're a fan of Irish football it's the closest thing you have to a national team and that makes it important.

PS: Mods - I'd move this thread to the eL section or merge with the topic there, didn't realise it was in the Oireland section.

I'm interested to know what my kind are?

I stick by my comment that if as most people think the eL is on a par with the english championship, lower SPL and lower dutch leagues then if the other teams are putting out players at english conference level, it's a bit pointless.

By the way what's your definition of Oireland?

[pineapple stu]

I stick by my comment that if as most people think the eL is on a par with the english championship, lower SPL and lower dutch leagues then if the other teams are putting out players at english conference level, it's a bit pointless.

Dunno about the lower Dutch leagues (you'll find Dutch teams playing in front of 1500 at some level), but I doubt most people are arguing it's as strong as the lower SPL, and fewer arguing it's as strong as the Championship.

[Dodge]

I think it would be as strong as lower SPL but nowehere near the championship. League Two/Conference is our level, and apart from 5 clubs in Scotland I'd put the rest of them at that level too

Pointless debate though, can't understand why people want to compare leagues at all. They are what they are...

[gustavo]

Of course it's more legitimate than the "senior" side, these are players who have actually contributed to football in Ireland and represent the strength of the Irish game. Ireland is basically an unrepresented territory in international football so it's great to see some kind of legitimate Ireland XI take the field (just as the Catalan team only plays about once a year.) It may be a contrived competition with arbitrary eligibility criteria (why are your kind only capable of judging anything by comparison to England, by the way?) but if you're a fan of Irish football it's the closest thing you have to a national team and that makes it important.

PS: Mods - I'd move this thread to the eL section or merge with the topic there, didn't realise it was in the Oireland section.

Thats ridiculous Sheridan , its a sad fact that our players move abroad in order to fully reach their potential , I wish it wasnt so and hopefully one day we can have a league where only the very elite will feel the need to leave but to say that the Irish national side is unrepresentative is highly unfair , There's a good chance that 4-5 of that team last night will be playing abroad in a few months time ,Will they become unrepresentative of you then if they play for their country again?

[Guts&Glory]

England just call it their C Team.

This is their squad:

Lance Cronin - Ebbsfleet United
http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/...tory311241.asp

Good news for the shareholders of the club taken over by memebers on MYClub.com team, could be some money in transfer now that he is an international player!!