FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[David McKeown]

One thing I will say about last night is it was easily the best atmosphere I have ever experienced at a soccer game, mainly due to the number of Polish there.  It wouldn't be often you would be able to see two sets of fans mix as they did last night.

On the match itself Ireland were brutal for the first 50 minutes and luckily Poland were little better or the game could have been over by HT.  It was almost as if Ireland had too much respect/fear of a mediocre opponent.  Once Ireland lost that they were the far better side and deserved to win on the basis of the chances created.  Coleman really should have done better with his chance.  Going forward I think we need at least 5 points from the Scotland, Poland and Germany matches to have any chance of making it to France.  Looking at the other tables I wouldn't like to be finishing third either potential for some tricky playoffs

In terms of top class players, for me we only have one, Coleman who was superb last night and was my MoM

[AZOffaly]

Jaysus It's gas the way different people see different things. I thought Coleman was average, or even below average. He failed to deliver any good crosses that I could see and ran down blind alleys. I also thought Holohan was average and I can't understand the love affair the Irish media have with him. As I've said before, I think he's a grand, tidy player. But he's weak on the ball, and to even start to compare him with Xavi is crazy. Put it like this, if Holohan was English, and Sky Sports were saying the same sort of things about him that the Irish media do, we'd be wading in sarcasm on this board That's nothing against the lad himself, I think he deserves his place, and he can be useful behind the front two, but he is not and never will be, a top international player.

The disappointing thing for me was it took until about 40 minutes in before Ireland decided to even have a go. I'm not talking about Up and At 'Em launching balls into the box, but pressing high up the pitch and trying to disrupt them. Everyone knows Poland are not world beaters, but they'll be tidy and technically decent. If you stand off them they'll make you look stupid, and that's what was happening. Why this was not the instruction going out at the start, I can't understand. Also, you can't play Keane up front on his own. He doesn't have the legs for that, and Poland were just too comfortable until at least Walters went up there, and Holohan and McGeady switched positions. Also, why was Robbie Brady on dead balls all night. They were 90% muck. Glen Whelan offers very little attacking wise, but he is a good striker of a dead ball, so as soon as it was obvious Brady was struggling, Whelan should have been told to take the corners and free kicks in my opinion.

Wilson and O'Shea were decent last night I thought. McCarthy brought nothing to the proceedings. Whelan was quiet, but he always is and he does a decent bit of work as a spoiler. McGeady was at nothing on the left, but a bit better on the right. Walters is honest and awkward, and the game just passed Robbie Keane by, albeit he was on a hiding to nothing on his own up front for the first part of the game.

If they don't drop silly points, beat Scotland at home and get a draw in Warsaw, I think they'll be grand. They need intensity though.

[highorlow]

McCarthy brought nothing to the proceedings.

That's harsh. I thought he had an excellent 2nd half. Poor in the 1st alright.

[ballinaman]

I also thought Holohan was average and I can't understand the love affair the Irish media have with him. As I've said before, I think he's a grand, tidy player. But he's weak on the ball, and to even start to compare him with Xavi is crazy. Put it like this, if Holohan was English, and Sky Sports were saying the same sort of things about him that the Irish media do, we'd be wading in sarcasm on this board That's nothing against the lad himself, I think he deserves his place, and he can be useful behind the front two, but he is not and never will be, a top international player.

He's the best we have at the moment. Doubt any of our other midfielders with the exception of Gibson the odd time can play a through ball pass to get Coleman in behind like he did in the 1st half. Agreed he's not hectic but offers a bit more than others going forward....

[AZOffaly]

Ah yeah, I said he's worth his place, and he can be useful in that role, for exactly that reason. I'm not saying he should be left at home or anything. But the Irish media, not just Dunphy, seem to think he is some sort of top class midfield playmaker. He's not.

[Thewildcat]

you been a liverpool fan AZOffaly i'd say would have nothing to do as why you don't rate Coleman and Gibson.  fair play to gibson for going back in the way he was thread in euro 2012 when Paul fu..ing Green got on ahead of him. 

i think the team done well when you see the team that went out, and they go way over the top about wes Holohan Dunphy the gobshit Xavi, Messi, been small they are but they don't play championship football with Norwich city and thats the level Holohan is at,  McClean he will be league one next season withn wigan, Robbie Brady at left back but still a better player than Stephen Ward, could Wilson not play wing back and bring Aston Villas Ciaran Clarke into the centre.

[AZOffaly]

you been a liverpool fan AZOffaly i'd say would have nothing to do as why you don't rate Coleman and Gibson.  fair play to gibson for going back in the way he was thread in euro 2012 when Paul fu..ing Green got on ahead of him. 

i think the team done well when you see the team that went out, and they go way over the top about wes Holohan Dunphy the gobshit Xavi, Messi, been small they are but they don't play championship football with Norwich city and thats the level Holohan is at,  McClean he will be league one next season withn wigan, Robbie Brady at left back but still a better player than Stephen Ward, could Wilson not play wing back and bring Aston Villas Ciaran Clarke into the centre.

I rate Coleman, I think he's excellent. I just didn't think he played well last night. I didn't mention Gibson at all, but I think he's another solid midfielder.

[rodney trotter]

Coleman was quiet against Scotland too, very good player but doesn't seem to produce the club form at International level like McCarthy.

6 of the starting team was over 30. not a great sign for the future. Brady is talented but not a left back, only playing there due to ward being injured. Wilson could have been tried there.

[SHEEDY]

think some of the criticism of mccarthy is a bit over the top. he's a defensive midfielder for everton who breaks up the play and covers the defence, he's not a roy keane type player who is going to drive the team forward. a fit darron gibson would be a big addition to irelands midfield.
i thought robbie keane, mcgeady and brady were poor and offered very little. must win game now against the scots, which probably means another draw.

[rodney trotter]

Darren Gibson was poor against Scotland, himself and Jeff Hendrick overrun in the middle, he was coming back from injury but he wouldn't be  a major addition.

[ballinaman]

Darren Gibson was poor against Scotland, himself and Jeff Hendrick overrun in the middle, he was coming back from injury but he wouldn't be  a major addition.

Only a few weeks back after an ACL injury, not just a regular injury. Hendrick is a kid who let the occasion get to him. If Gibson gets a run in the Everton team he most certainly will be an addition IMO..

[laoislad]

Darren Gibson was poor against Scotland, himself and Jeff Hendrick overrun in the middle, he was coming back from injury but he wouldn't be  a major addition.

Only a few weeks back after an ACL injury, not just a regular injury. Hendrick is a kid who let the occasion get to him. If Gibson gets a run in the Everton team he most certainly will be an addition IMO..

The relegation scrap should harden Gibson up a bit alright.....

[rodney trotter]

Darren Gibson was poor against Scotland, himself and Jeff Hendrick overrun in the middle, he was coming back from injury but he wouldn't be  a major addition.

Only a few weeks back after an ACL injury, not just a regular injury. Hendrick is a kid who let the occasion get to him. If Gibson gets a run in the Everton team he most certainly will be an addition IMO..

He has good passing ability alright, would he be the difference against Scott Brown I doubt it.

[Thewildcat]

Darren Gibson was poor against Scotland, himself and Jeff Hendrick overrun in the middle, he was coming back from injury but he wouldn't be  a major addition.

Only a few weeks back after an ACL injury, not just a regular injury. Hendrick is a kid who let the occasion get to him. If Gibson gets a run in the Everton team he most certainly will be an addition IMO..

The relegation scrap should harden Gibson up a bit alright.....

yes and Real Madrid are after your liverpools Joe Allen 

[Thewildcat]

i could be wrong but would Gibson have what Stevie Slippy G has not a EPL Medal