U21s v England

[Stuttgart88]

Had to admire the spirit in which Ireland set about the task. Much of the them displayed composure and confidence - certainly throughout the first half and for patches of the second.

Many of the Irish lads actually looked to have more ability for periods of the game.

The first goal turned the game and O'Halloran was unlucky in the manner in which it clipped off him into the net. Once England scored, the game opened up and they tormented us from the flanks. We'd pressed on to try and equalise and it was inevitable that they would punish us on the break.

Was very impressed with Garvan and thought Quinn had some good passages of play also.

Keogh's guilt edged chance at nil all could have dramatically altered the game. He's certainly not an out and out striker. Didn't think Stokes covered himself in glory either. He should never be allowed take a free from the wing again. His delivery is continually overhit and a wasted opportunity.

Not a fan of the "moral victory" when the cold facts show a 3 nil defeat. However, overall much to be encouraged about for the future if some of these players continue to develop and mature.

That's how I saw it too.

I was actually really impressed by parts of our performance last night.

I don’t understand the comments on Garvan. I thought he looked the real deal last night. In fact the biggest positive from last night was the performance of the midfield 3 who until they tired and the game got stretched were superb, more effective than their counterparts’ midfield. Huddlestone looked impressive for them , Noble and Muamba(?) less so.

However we just don’t have the players for 3 upfront. Clarke was totally anonymous throughout and was a waste of space sadly. Stokes and Keogh could make a good pairing but Stokes is wasted out wide. His attitude impressed me though, tackling back and being more inclusive than I’ve sometimes seen him.

I thought the Irish team showed great courage right from the start with the way they trusted their passing game and ball retention in midfield was impressive. Naturally it broke down in the final third. The key to 3 upfront is to have a predatory finisher flanked by two good wide men (Denmark’s was a good model when they used it: Tomasson flanked by Rommedahl and Lovenkrands). England had the pace out wide last night for the shape to work for them, we didn’t. Lennon was a class act and while I thought Walcott’s overall game was poor, his pace just by itself is a real asset.

Eddie Nolan impressed me. Good timing in the tackle, strong ball carrier but careless sometimes playing it up the line.

Lennon & Walcott made the difference but there were plenty of positives in the performance. O’Toole, Garvan & Quinn all have something to offer I reckon.

[ken foree]

Garvan roulette (from soccerpulse):
http://www.4shared.com/file/36953419..._roulette.html

ahh that's the one, bye-bye huddlestone, wheater, and gardner! if garvan had pulled it once more inside he was in because taylor(?) was totally committed to blocking garvan's left. thanks for posting

[Stuttgart88]

I can't view it. Was that the Zidane-spin? Superb. If he'd scored that clip would be doing the rounds all over europe I reckon.

[Wolfie]

I can't view it. Was that the Zidane-spin? Superb. If he'd scored that clip would be doing the rounds all over europe I reckon.

Great to see the confidence and ability to try that.

An audacity reminisent of a young Wolfie there!!

Should certainly get top billing on SKY's Soccer Saturday's "Showboat" segment.

[Paulie]

I don't think anyone has singled out O'Toole in midfield yet. I think he deserves a mention for his first half performance in particular. He broke up the play very well and without playing the killer pass that maybe Garvan is more capable of, his distribution was also quite good. I can't think of his name but the right full had a pretty decent night as well. To be honest where we let ourselves down was in the final third. We had more than enough chences to get a goal or two last night.

[tetsujin1979]

What type file is it?

It's an MPEG2 file, I'm compressing it down using Auto Gordian Knot - http://www.autogk.me.uk/ - to an Xvid, to 746MB, the plan then is to upload it to megaupload or one of these and make it available for whoever wants it

[tetsujin1979]

Should certainly get top billing on SKY's Soccer Saturday's "Showboat" segment.

Garvan was on Showboat about two weeks ago for flicking the ball into the air and catching it again, making the onrushing central midfielder look a right tool

[paul_oshea]

paulie: i mentioned otoole his 1-2s were brilliant, as he kept losing an english player in the process and making space for others. thought he was very good though he did tire, i thought he was the main link getting out of defence.

[Paulie]

paulie: i mentioned otoole his 1-2s were brilliant, as he kept losing an english player in the process and making space for others. thought he was very good though he did tire, i thought he was the main link getting out of defence.

Sorry, I missed that. Yeah, hopefully he continues to progress and we might see him lining out for the senior side in the future.

[Wolfie]

Garvan was on Showboat about two weeks ago for flicking the ball into the air and catching it again, making the onrushing central midfielder look a right tool

Quality - hope he never loses the will to try these things, when there's scope to try them obviously.

Theres nothing more infuriating than a player risking a piece of "skill" - (eg, a Robbie Keane back heel when it was painfully obvious it wasn't the time or place to try it) when a straightforward pass was the correct option.

The Garvan lads on fire at the minute though (not literally, mind!)

[OwlsFan]

I don't think anyone has singled out O'Toole in midfield yet. I think he deserves a mention for his first half performance in particular. He broke up the play very well and without playing the killer pass that maybe Garvan is more capable of, his distribution was also quite good. I can't think of his name but the right full had a pretty decent night as well. To be honest where we let ourselves down was in the final third. We had more than enough chences to get a goal or two last night.

Right full was Nolan and he had a good game. O'Toole also did well as did Garvan who, as well as his creative stuff, tackled back and helped out the defence.

Stokes: j'despair.

[Noelys Guitar]

Right full was Nolan and he had a good game. O'Toole also did well as did Garvan who, as well as his creative stuff, tackled back and helped out the defence.

Stokes: j'despair.

Agree with those three mentioned. A lot of our players seemed to hit the wall around the 60min mark.

[snookerloopy]

the stadium announcer may be getting his P45

[eirebhoy]

Garvan was on Showboat about two weeks ago for flicking the ball into the air and catching it again, making the onrushing central midfielder look a right tool

http://www.4shared.com/file/37045503/474e7ebb/garv.html

He didn't even seem to look to see the player coming. What a pass with his "bad" foot too.

[bellavistaman]

some pass alright.

[Dan K]

I was at the game and was heartened by the display. For long periods we played nice, neat tidy and fluid football - although lacked any real cutting edge up front.

Keogh seemed to me to have a bit of an ego on him though, which was a sour point as he was too ready to blame other players for what was usually his mistake/poor positioning - although he was better in the second half.

Garvan, for my money was the best Irish player on the pitch although the number 11 on the wing impressed also, along with Quinn (6?).

That said, England were faster, stronger and most tellingly, fitter. They're game plan was to play it over the top for Lennon (who was about three classes above anyone else on the pitch) and Walcott to use their pace and latch on to it. I do think it's no coincidence that all three goals came in the last 30 minutes, as it was about the time of the first goal that we seemed to start to drop off the pace.

Result was of course disappointing, but there was plenty there to build on, so all in all things don't look too bad at all.

[danonion]

Watched the whole game on TV and sorry if its been said but Garvan + higher level of fitness = a good premiership player

[finnpark]

FP did you watch the match?We missed a couple of chances at 0-0 and game could have been very different.There was no shortage of commitment or skill from the lads and they certainly did not roll over.OK in the end we got beat by a good team but 3-0 was harsh IMO and in the opinon of the English commentators.

Nope. Don't subscrribe to UK sports channels.

[tetsujin1979]

It's an MPEG2 file, I'm compressing it down using Auto Gordian Knot - http://www.autogk.me.uk/ - to an Xvid, to 746MB, the plan then is to upload it to megaupload or one of these and make it available for whoever wants it

Right, U-21 match video compressed down to 745 MB, really good quality too.

Anyone know where I can dump a file this size this online for free?

[tetsujin1979]

Nope. Don't subscrribe to UK sports channels.

If you don't subscribe to the channels, and didn't see the game, why did you say the players are a disgrace?
For all you know, they could have matched England until going behind to an unlucky deflection, then pushed forward for an equaliser leading to 2 goals on the break for the home side.