FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Hound]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team. Him and Duffy have been Irelands best players for the last 2/3 years.
I would be looking for more from the likes of Jeff Hendrick who has never got near to the form of the Euros a few years back. Also, where is Robbie Brady? One of our main men.

Hendrick and Hourihane both have bags of ability, but rarely show it! Hourihane put in a brilliant whipped cross early in the game (Egan hit the post) and then every other set piece was absolute muck.  You're really wishing them to do well but literally Whelan outplayed the both of them and he was mediocre.

McClean has limited ability but great heart and workrate. Gives the ball away a lot. He's extremely predictable, so easy enough to defend against.

Brady plays for Burnley reserves!

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/swiss-must-improve-mental-strength-against-ireland-says-petkovic-1.4049337

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was to the fore in the 1-0, producing a string of saves before and after Poulsen's winner.
His father, Peter, had encouraging words for Sommer afterwards, predicting that the Swiss would join his native Denmark as the two qualifiers from to the pool for the Euros.
"Switzerland will win against Ireland," said the former Manchester United custodian.
"I have seen Ireland play and they are so bad. "

[lurganblue]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team. Him and Duffy have been Irelands best players for the last 2/3 years.
I would be looking for more from the likes of Jeff Hendrick who has never got near to the form of the Euros a few years back. Also, where is Robbie Brady? One of our main men.

If you want to be a team that can keep the ball for a while then McClean cant play.  Cant fault the lad's work rate and desire.

[Itchy]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team. Him and Duffy have been Irelands best players for the last 2/3 years.
I would be looking for more from the likes of Jeff Hendrick who has never got near to the form of the Euros a few years back. Also, where is Robbie Brady? One of our main men.

If you want to be a team that can keep the ball for a while then McClean cant play.  Cant fault the lad's work rate and desire.

The reason Hourihane and Hendrick look so poor is down to the stifling tactics, asking lads to play for a draw against Georgia FFS.

[BennyCake]

Things are bad when you take a 35 year old Glenn Whelan out of retirement.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team.

Really? The lack of end product maybe?

[seafoid]

Things are bad when you take a 35 year old Glenn Whelan out of retirement.

https://youtu.be/ZwMVMbmQBug

[From the Bunker]

Things are bad when you take a 35 year old Glenn Whelan out of retirement.

He never retired, he was just dropped!

[Itchy]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team.

Really? The lack of end product maybe?

McClean was poor enough the last day but he still put more balls into the box than the two on the other wing and no one says anything about them?

[Baile Brigín 2]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team.

Really? The lack of end product maybe?

McClean was poor enough the last day but he still put more balls into the box than the two on the other wing and no one says anything about them?

Lots do, but Robinson isn'tan established first team player.. McClean has one assist this campaign after starting every game. Not a good enough return.

[BennyCake]

Things are bad when you take a 35 year old Glenn Whelan out of retirement.

He never retired, he was just dropped!

I remember last year there was a big hullabaloo at a home match when they said this was Whelans last game before retiring. Nearly sure he went off to a standing ovation as well.

Unless he fooled everybody just to get a big cake.

[oakleaf93]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team.

Really? The lack of end product maybe?

McClean was poor enough the last day but he still put more balls into the box than the two on the other wing and no one says anything about them?

Lots do, but Robinson isn'tan established first team player.. McClean has one assist this campaign after starting every game. Not a good enough return.

Given Ireland have scored a total of 6 goals I'd like to see all the other midfielders assist stats

[seafoid]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team.

Really? The lack of end product maybe?

McClean was poor enough the last day but he still put more balls into the box than the two on the other wing and no one says anything about them?

Lots do, but Robinson isn'tan established first team player.. McClean has one assist this campaign after starting every game. Not a good enough return.

Given Ireland have scored a total of 6 goals I'd like to see all the other midfielders assist stats

That goal stat  is atrocious

[shark]

Don't see how anyone can question McCleans place in the team.

Really? The lack of end product maybe?

McClean was poor enough the last day but he still put more balls into the box than the two on the other wing and no one says anything about them?

Lots do, but Robinson isn'tan established first team player.. McClean has one assist this campaign after starting every game. Not a good enough return.

Given Ireland have scored a total of 6 goals I'd like to see all the other midfielders assist stats

That goal stat  is atrocious

Would be glorious if we won one of the remaining games 1-0, and qualified with 7 goals from 8 games.

[red hander]

Things are bad when you take a 35 year old Glenn Whelan out of retirement.

He never retired, he was just dropped!

I remember last year there was a big hullabaloo at a home match when they said this was Whelans last game before retiring. Nearly sure he went off to a standing ovation as well.

Unless he fooled everybody just to get a big cake.

Whelan has since said that it was MoN who announced his retirement, not himself, that he was bounced into it in effect. Maybe MoN didn't realise that he was the one who'd be shown the door first.