FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Main Street]

After all the belly aching about how we couldn't beat Khazakistan by at least 3 or 4. It turns out they are quite a decent team.

It's not the issue that we didn't beat them by 3 or 4, it's that the 6th seeded team gave us a football lesson or at least they tried to play football whereas we aimlessly hoofed it for 90 minutes and in the end were extremely fortunate with 2 goals from 2 chances, while the carving on the gravestone of our WC qualification prospects was all but written after 90 minutes football.

[EC Unique]

Norn Iron, Scotland, Wales and England almost managing to make Trap's Ireland team look like world beaters.

Let's not get carried away now!

[AZOffaly]

What was Stevie G sent off for?

Sent off for crass stupidity. Didn't see the first booking, was watching Ireland, but his second was a silly, clumsy lunge through the back of a lad after a poor touch. Knew it himself straight away.

[Denn Forever]

1st yellow got when he was in an aerial challenge and he came down on the Ukrainian player with his elbow which hit his apponent in the jaw/side of head.  Bit harsh.

[Minder]

1st yellow got when he was in an aerial challenge and he came down on the Ukrainian player with his elbow which hit his apponent in the jaw/side of head.  Bit harsh.

I saw a few English journos on Twitter saying he should have been sent off for his elbow that he was booked for.

[Denn Forever]

Anyone care to report on the Rep of Ireland game?

[Main Street]

You wouldn't need a report if you could have dragged yourself away from the England game

Trap's reserves played well against modest opponents. They kept the ball on the ground all the time, in complete contrast to the competitive games.
Both reserve goalies got 45 mins each, a welcome event in the post-Given cap-hogging era. Overall the team were disjointed but persisted in trying find shape with playing the ball through midfield.
From that team tonight, Wilson LB  Kelly/Coleman rb, McCarthy, Doyle and Long are first team players, Pearce who came on at ht looked okay - def good enough for the squad.  I don't know about Meyler just yet, at least not right now -  maybe once he gets a bit more club experience,
He only has to play good enough to dislodge Whelan.

[Denn Forever]

Was it on Terrestrial TV (non Sports packages)?

Thanks for the report.

[Capt Pat]

No mention of the main talking point of the night Brady. He has the talent for the level we were playing at tonight. So he deserves to get more game time in some of the bigger games. He has a great left foot and reminded me a bit of Georghe Hag for some reason.

The game itself was easy and open and free flowing. I thought Seamus Coleman did well and hope he brings an end to the Paul McShane era.

You wouldn't need a report if you could have dragged yourself away from the England game

Trap's reserves played well against modest opponents. They kept the ball on the ground all the time, in complete contrast to the competitive games.
Both reserve goalies got 45 mins each, a welcome event in the post-Given cap-hogging era. Overall the team were disjointed but persisted in trying find shape with playing the ball through midfield.
From that team tonight, Wilson LB  Kelly/Coleman rb, McCarthy, Doyle and Long are first team players, Pearce who came on at ht looked okay - def good enough for the squad.  I don't know about Meyler just yet, at least not right now -  maybe once he gets a bit more club experience,
He only has to play good enough to dislodge Whelan.

[Main Street]

I don't know about Coleman based on last night's game as he was all over the place positionally, as if he had a free role.
A full back generally has to curtail tendencies to roam around the midfield zone, especially when playing against a team like Germany
Brady looked a very good player but can't see him breaking into the 1st team  just yet, maybe next spring he will be a fixture in the squad.
Apparantly Trap has to mull over whether to play with 3 at CM/1 striker against Germany or go for another episode of the hoof game.

[johnneycool]

I don't know about Coleman based on last night's game as he was all over the place positionally, as if he had a free role.
A full back generally has to curtail tendencies to roam around the midfield zone, especially when playing against a team like Germany
Brady looked a very good player but can't see him breaking into the 1st team  just yet, maybe next spring he will be a fixture in the squad.
Apparantly Trap has to mull over whether to play with 3 at CM/1 striker against Germany or go for another episode of the hoof game.

Whilst he started out at right back for Everton, he hasn't played there in almost 2 years. He'd need to change the mindset a bit if he's to play right back against better opposition.

[J OGorman]

After all the belly aching about how we couldn't beat Khazakistan by at least 3 or 4. It turns out they are quite a decent team.

It's not the issue that we didn't beat them by 3 or 4, it's that the 6th seeded team gave us a football lesson or at least they tried to play football whereas we aimlessly hoofed it for 90 minutes and in the end were extremely fortunate with 2 goals from 2 chances, while the carving on the gravestone of our WC qualification prospects was all but written after 90 minutes football.

Bayern v Utd 1999?

[Main Street]

Well was it a surprise or has it any shock portent when a top team like Bayern or for that matter, Benfica/Athletic Bilbao/Porto/ Milan give Man U a football lesson in European competition?

[CitySlicker11]

http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/102740.html

Great news, looking forward to this one!

[Declan]

The fact that there are still tickets available for the game against Germany shows how disinterested people are in the team at the moment.