FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[JoG2]

No shape in midfield compared to Thursday night. McCarthy and Whelan together is bad news. McClean seems to close his eyes and just hopes it'll open up for him when he starts dribbling.

Walters will be a serious loss for the 1st leg of the play off.

Has it ever worked? My heart sinks everytime I see Whelan's name on the teamsheet. I wouldn't be Giles, Dunphy and Brady's biggest fan, but they have a very valid point re Hoolahan. Hoolahan is far from world class, but he is the only midfielder we have with vision and an ability to hold the ball and bring others into play.  Himself and McCarthy (best match in an Irish shirt by a country mile against the Germans) work well together. As Packie said this morning on 909, there was plenty of graft but very little craft. Hoolahan brings the craft.

Poland are a very average team with a brilliant (albeit cheating, diving, simulating ) striker. For O'Neill to put out a team without Hoolahan, a team that continuously coughed up possession (as we all knew would happen),  allowing Poland to continuously counter with Lewandoski as the target was madness.

When you have a central midfield pairing who can retain possession, our wide men like Brady, Walters, Christie etc get involved more in an attacking, retaining sense, and dont play the whole game on the back foot allowing panic to set in.

A disappointing night, but we're in the hat for the qualifying draw. The worry is though, O'Neill will persist with his usual workhorse midfield and every game will be an absolute stress fest. If we do manage to get through, France 2016 will mirror 2012 for our boys unfortunately.

[Declan]

I think Martin O'Neill is too fond of the 20-min game - frustrate and harry and physical for 70 mins, then bring on some subs, change the shape a bit and go at them for the last 20.  So teams will go at us early and try to build something to protect late.  Poland are no better than us but they have Lewandowski, who is superb, and they know how to use him.  And we could have stolen it had the header fallen to anyone but Keogh.  All kind of predictable, really. 

The panel on RTE really are poor, nothing to offer except criticism of the manager (irrespective of the game, result, score) - I can listen to Brady who at least knows something about football, but Gilesy should be retired, and Dunphy is pathetic. 

+1 - You'd swear you knew something about the game Billy

[illdecide]

Really frustrating here...from diving from that bastid Lewandowski to shit players to listening to them 3 twats in the studio and then lads here blaming in on McGeady...FFS. Trap & MON both know the limited ability of the players we have and if we go out and play silky football against the big boys they'll tear us a new arse hole. Most of the players are playing in the Championship in England and we've some players who can't even get a game with their clubs.

23 Randolph (Was decent)
02 Coleman (Was decent)
05 Keogh (Average and should have scored)
04 O'Shea (Average Judo performance)
19 Brady (Terrible)
08 McCarthy (Poor)
06 Whelan (Brutal))
14 Walters (was poor but gives his all)
21 Hendrick (brutal)
11 McClean (BRUTAL )
09 Long (Only threat we had )

R Keane (Never touched Leather)
A McGeady (1 good Cross & at least one terrible one)
Hoolahan  ( the Messi love child of Dunphy didn't do much when he came on either)

[Bingo]

Anyone think that Dunphy got a telling off during the game after his prematch rant. I didn't see it live but watched the rant back afterwards after the twitter postings on it. He was away out of line and I think Daragh handled it well live but I'm sure he was fuming afterwards.

How many times does Dunphy play the "we played the game card" during a game. He's been out of the game longer than he played at this stage. I thought he was more reserved afterwards.

In the prematch analysis I don't think they showed a single clip of the game but maybe that was a ploy to get people to watch the highlights show.

On the game itself, the first 20/25 minutes where crazy and unpredictable which didn't suit Ireland. When the game settled Ireland done a lot better but still lack that creativity. When the chance fell it came to the wrong man.

Will take too massive efforts now in playoffs. I hope its one of Nordic countries that we get rather than a Baltic state.

[imtommygunn]

No shape in midfield compared to Thursday night. McCarthy and Whelan together is bad news. McClean seems to close his eyes and just hopes it'll open up for him when he starts dribbling.

Walters will be a serious loss for the 1st leg of the play off.

You quash half the effectiveness of McCarthy by playing Whelan. Really really bad move in my book and we were so much more offensive when he went off.  McClean is entirely predictable too. He goes at players. After the 3rd or 4th ball they have him sussed. At least coming from the bench he can go at tired legs.

illdecide are you Eamon Dunphy in disguise lol

[Bingo]

No shape in midfield compared to Thursday night. McCarthy and Whelan together is bad news. McClean seems to close his eyes and just hopes it'll open up for him when he starts dribbling.

Walters will be a serious loss for the 1st leg of the play off.

You quash half the effectiveness of McCarthy by playing Whelan. Really really bad move in my book and we were so much more offensive when he went off.  McClean is entirely predictable too. He goes at players. After the 3rd or 4th ball they have him sussed. At least coming from the bench he can go at tired legs.

illdecide are you Eamon Dunphy in disguise lol

Couldn't believe that McClean started. He is either running down bling alleys or giving away cheap fouls. Better off the bench alright.

Robbie Keane has had his day at this stage and the pace of the game is too much for him. Don't think he had one contribution of note when he came on.

[AZOffaly]

Anyone think that Dunphy got a telling off during the game after his prematch rant. I didn't see it live but watched the rant back afterwards after the twitter postings on it. He was away out of line and I think Daragh handled it well live but I'm sure he was fuming afterwards.

How many times does Dunphy play the "we played the game card" during a game. He's been out of the game longer than he played at this stage. I thought he was more reserved afterwards.

In the prematch analysis I don't think they showed a single clip of the game but maybe that was a ploy to get people to watch the highlights show.

On the game itself, the first 20/25 minutes where crazy and unpredictable which didn't suit Ireland. When the game settled Ireland done a lot better but still lack that creativity. When the chance fell it came to the wrong man.

Will take too massive efforts now in playoffs. I hope its one of Nordic countries that we get rather than a Baltic state.

I think Dunphy doesn't really do the 'we' played the game bit. It's like faux humble. He always says 'great players like these guys' no matter who is in the chair with him. He plays up his own averageness I think.

[Bingo]

Anyone think that Dunphy got a telling off during the game after his prematch rant. I didn't see it live but watched the rant back afterwards after the twitter postings on it. He was away out of line and I think Daragh handled it well live but I'm sure he was fuming afterwards.

How many times does Dunphy play the "we played the game card" during a game. He's been out of the game longer than he played at this stage. I thought he was more reserved afterwards.

In the prematch analysis I don't think they showed a single clip of the game but maybe that was a ploy to get people to watch the highlights show.

On the game itself, the first 20/25 minutes where crazy and unpredictable which didn't suit Ireland. When the game settled Ireland done a lot better but still lack that creativity. When the chance fell it came to the wrong man.

Will take too massive efforts now in playoffs. I hope its one of Nordic countries that we get rather than a Baltic state.

I think Dunphy doesn't really do the 'we' played the game bit. It's like faux humble. He always says 'great players like these guys' no matter who is in the chair with him. He plays up his own averageness I think.

"I played the game for 17 years a professional and so did these guys. You [Moloney] don't know what you're talking about."

Eamon Dunphy last night. He regularly throws it up to Daragh Maloney like this.

[Esmarelda]

Really frustrating here...from diving from that bastid Lewandowski to shit players to listening to them 3 t**ts in the studio and then lads here blaming in on McGeady...FFS. Trap & MON both know the limited ability of the players we have and if we go out and play silky football against the big boys they'll tear us a new arse hole. Most of the players are playing in the Championship in England and we've some players who can't even get a game with their clubs.

23 Randolph (Was decent)
02 Coleman (Was decent)
05 Keogh (Average and should have scored)
04 O'Shea (Average Judo performance)
19 Brady (Terrible)
08 McCarthy (Poor)
06 Whelan (Brutal))
14 Walters (was poor but gives his all)
21 Hendrick (brutal)
11 McClean (BRUTAL )
09 Long (Only threat we had )

R Keane (Never touched Leather)
A McGeady (1 good Cross & at least one terrible one)
Hoolahan  ( the Messi love child of Dunphy didn't do much when he came on either)

Who will Poland? We played McCarthy and a playmaker against Germany and regardless of the result in that game we tried to play football.

If Hoolahan wasn't fit to play last night then he should have put Brady central with Wilson at left back or started Gibson in midfield.

Dunphy goes way overboard but his and the other two lads' opinion is largely right. Go out and try to play football. McCarthy will break up plenty in midfield if that's all he's asked to do. When you put other non-playing midfielders with him it turns into long ball or the full backs knocking it down the channels to win. From either approach we get the odd free-kick and that's your lot for the game.

Nine of the eleven that started play in the premier league, albeit not all are regulars. We had Gibson, Wilson, McGeady and Hoolahan to add to that. So you're factually wrong about most of our players playing in the Championship.

[An Watcher]

MON comes on and said Hoolahan told him he couldn't start.  Dunphy totally ignores this though and continues to rant about he should be starting!!

[illdecide]

Really frustrating here...from diving from that bastid Lewandowski to shit players to listening to them 3 t**ts in the studio and then lads here blaming in on McGeady...FFS. Trap & MON both know the limited ability of the players we have and if we go out and play silky football against the big boys they'll tear us a new arse hole. Most of the players are playing in the Championship in England and we've some players who can't even get a game with their clubs.

23 Randolph (Was decent)
02 Coleman (Was decent)
05 Keogh (Average and should have scored)
04 O'Shea (Average Judo performance)
19 Brady (Terrible)
08 McCarthy (Poor)
06 Whelan (Brutal))
14 Walters (was poor but gives his all)
21 Hendrick (brutal)
11 McClean (BRUTAL )
09 Long (Only threat we had )

R Keane (Never touched Leather)
A McGeady (1 good Cross & at least one terrible one)
Hoolahan  ( the Messi love child of Dunphy didn't do much when he came on either)

Who will Poland? We played McCarthy and a playmaker against Germany and regardless of the result in that game we tried to play football.

If Hoolahan wasn't fit to play last night then he should have put Brady central with Wilson at left back or started Gibson in midfield.

Dunphy goes way overboard but his and the other two lads' opinion is largely right. Go out and try to play football. McCarthy will break up plenty in midfield if that's all he's asked to do. When you put other non-playing midfielders with him it turns into long ball or the full backs knocking it down the channels to win. From either approach we get the odd free-kick and that's your lot for the game.

Nine of the eleven that started play in the premier league, albeit not all are regulars. We had Gibson, Wilson, McGeady and Hoolahan to add to that. So you're factually wrong about most of our players playing in the Championship.

What...we had one chance against Germany and scored...the fecking result was a miracle. We play 11 men behind the ball no matter who we're playing because if we didn't we'd be beat, most people know that. The only time Ireland actually try to play football is when they're chasing a game and have nothing else to lose...

I'm not putting the boot in to the lads, i'm just trying to say we're not a good football team atm and we don't have the players to throw the ball about. We've a team of grafters with limited ability...Ohh yes we've got Wesley too

[ashman]

Georgia gave Germany bags of it last night .  The Germans were not great in this campaign.

[AZOffaly]

Anyone think that Dunphy got a telling off during the game after his prematch rant. I didn't see it live but watched the rant back afterwards after the twitter postings on it. He was away out of line and I think Daragh handled it well live but I'm sure he was fuming afterwards.

How many times does Dunphy play the "we played the game card" during a game. He's been out of the game longer than he played at this stage. I thought he was more reserved afterwards.

In the prematch analysis I don't think they showed a single clip of the game but maybe that was a ploy to get people to watch the highlights show.

On the game itself, the first 20/25 minutes where crazy and unpredictable which didn't suit Ireland. When the game settled Ireland done a lot better but still lack that creativity. When the chance fell it came to the wrong man.

Will take too massive efforts now in playoffs. I hope its one of Nordic countries that we get rather than a Baltic state.

I think Dunphy doesn't really do the 'we' played the game bit. It's like faux humble. He always says 'great players like these guys' no matter who is in the chair with him. He plays up his own averageness I think.

"I played the game for 17 years a professional and so did these guys. You [Moloney] don't know what you're talking about."

Eamon Dunphy last night. He regularly throws it up to Daragh Maloney like this.

I didn't hear that last night. Usually he downplays his own career and talks about Souness/Hamann/Giles/Brady/Whelan whoever as if they are legends. Mind you I haven't seen much of him with Maloney, maybe he doesn't get on with him.

[JoG2]

MON comes on and said Hoolahan told him he couldn't start.  Dunphy totally ignores this though and continues to rant about he should be starting!!

I didn't hear that bit. I heard him mention team rotation as there was a quick turnaround and because of the long flight (!). I'd be very surprised if a player carrying no injury asked a manager not to start him. But then again.....

[imtommygunn]

Really frustrating here...from diving from that bastid Lewandowski to shit players to listening to them 3 t**ts in the studio and then lads here blaming in on McGeady...FFS. Trap & MON both know the limited ability of the players we have and if we go out and play silky football against the big boys they'll tear us a new arse hole. Most of the players are playing in the Championship in England and we've some players who can't even get a game with their clubs.

23 Randolph (Was decent)
02 Coleman (Was decent)
05 Keogh (Average and should have scored)
04 O'Shea (Average Judo performance)
19 Brady (Terrible)
08 McCarthy (Poor)
06 Whelan (Brutal))
14 Walters (was poor but gives his all)
21 Hendrick (brutal)
11 McClean (BRUTAL )
09 Long (Only threat we had )

R Keane (Never touched Leather)
A McGeady (1 good Cross & at least one terrible one)
Hoolahan  ( the Messi love child of Dunphy didn't do much when he came on either)

Who will Poland? We played McCarthy and a playmaker against Germany and regardless of the result in that game we tried to play football.

If Hoolahan wasn't fit to play last night then he should have put Brady central with Wilson at left back or started Gibson in midfield.

Dunphy goes way overboard but his and the other two lads' opinion is largely right. Go out and try to play football. McCarthy will break up plenty in midfield if that's all he's asked to do. When you put other non-playing midfielders with him it turns into long ball or the full backs knocking it down the channels to win. From either approach we get the odd free-kick and that's your lot for the game.

Nine of the eleven that started play in the premier league, albeit not all are regulars. We had Gibson, Wilson, McGeady and Hoolahan to add to that. So you're factually wrong about most of our players playing in the Championship.

McCarthy was played in a much more defensive role against Germany. He spent his night breaking up play...