The Irish Football Team Thread

One thing you should take out of tonight - what a * defender Coleman is. You all knkw what he can do going forward, in the defense tonight he was a class above anything tonight though

 

Stephen Ward is terrible and he looks like an anteater

 

Just came into this thread to say this guy is an absolute world beater. I think he could get a game with Real Madrid at right back.

 

I think Ireland need to find a new role for mcLean.

He has the engine for midfield.

 

Scotland were the better side on the night. Naismith, Maloney, Anya, Mulgrew and Brown performed much much better than their Irish counterparts.

 

There wasn't a lot between the teams, the Dublin game will be interesting. What do you think about Keane not playing? Must say, I was a lot more confident as soon as I saw that.

 

Ireland have a couple of abysmal players ward and that cm for example.

 

Hendricks a good little player. Too big an occasion for him last night though. He froze.

 

I'd play him left back, he can't be as bad as Ward

 

Keane isn't as good at running about and holding up play as Long and Walters. Still, he should have started. It's the first time he's been dropped in 13 years. He's still better than both Walters and Long. I'd have played Keane and Stokes but hey ho.

 

I don't think the game on Friday would have suited Keane, it was very physical and frantic and I think Long and Walters were more suitable.

In hindsight, MON should have played three in midfield. Gibson and Hendrick were completely overrun by Naismith, Brown and Mulgrew. Wasnt surprised either, Gibson has barely played any football in his career never mind this season and Hendrick is still very youn and only has a handful of experience in the Championship. Compare that to Naismith, Mulgrew and Brown. Naismith plays every week in the premier league for one of the better sides, Brown has an abundance of Champions League and Europa experience, has played in a lot of derbies and likewise with Mulgrew. No surprise at all we were outplayed in midfield.

I think it would have made a difference had we had the likes of McCarthy, Whelan and Hoolahan available. People like to slate Whelan, he isn't the best technical player but I don't think Naismith would have caused as much trouble as he did for us had he been on the pitch. Whelan is great at shielding the back four and it was in those pockets between the midfield and back four that Naismith was mainly causing us problems.

Scottish players were a lot cuter at winning free kicks and slowing the game down aswell, experience really showed.

 

Was at the match and was very disappointed in the result, we deserved a draw, Scotland were better on the night but barely. Firstly, this talk of Whelan making a difference is nonsense, he's a one dimensional donkey and should never play international football again, in my opinion.

Hat off to Maloney for the finish but i hope that the irish team find their pride again for the return leg as they are more than capable of beating that Scottish side.

 

I didn't think your central midfielders played that bad. McClean was non-existant on the wing though is the boy Brady not a better option ?

 

Really? I thought they were awful, both of them off the pace and can't remember them stringing more than 3 passes together. McClean was non existent but id put that down to bad service aswell. Maybe Brady is a better option, haven't seen that much of him tbh but McClean was motm for me against Germany and deserved to start.

 

Aye, spot on mate. I was looking for a big game from Hendricks following his great start to the season, but perhaps too much was asked of him. Gibson was a poor deputy next to him. He looked off the boil completely, couldn't get close to anyone or keep the ball for 2 seconds. He needs to play about 10 first team games before I'd consider him again for Ireland.

Meyler might not be a bad option in there, too. Assuming he gets first team football. So many of our players need games for their clubs, first and foremost. I'm glad the likes of Brady continue to shine, but there's just not enough doing it, atm. I feel sorry for MON and Keano.

 

To be fair we badly missed James McCarthy in central midfield but there is no doubt when you look at the current Irish squad from top to bottom it is in my opinion the weakest Irish squad in a long long time maybe since the 1970's.
What we are sadly seeing with Irish football is the fruits of the FAI's totaly abdication when it comes to developing our best young players. With the advent of the massive monies in the epl the days when epl teams would all have Irish players in their academy and some in the first team are over. Yet the FAI has done nothing and continues to do nothing to develop our own talent. This is leaving our better younger players behind technically and tactically when they try and move over the water and as a result they are falling further down the league structure and less and less Irish players are breaking through into the top level.
The FAI needs to set up an academy in Dublin with places for say 40 of the best 13-16 year olds throughout Ireland where they can train full time so that they are ready to make the grade when they make the move. To be fair the current local club structure will also need to change as they will need to support and be willing to give up their best players for the kind of full time residential programme which is needed.
Sadly there is absolutely no sign whatsoever of anything like this or anything else coming to fruitation. As I see things I hate to say it but I only see things getting worse in the short to medium term as there simply is no plan in place to develop and improve our young talent.

 

McClean was non existent going forward, but he put in a great defensive shift.

 

I thought mclean ran his * off with not much quality as well, to be honest i was really happy when i saw there line up before hand..

Was really surprised how basic Ireland played, long ball and flick ons were the order of the day..

 

Gibson should really go on loan to a lower PL side, or even an upper end Championship team where he will play every single week.I know he's been unlucky with injuries aswell but he's only played just over 100 games in his career and he's 27. He does have talent but really needs to buckle down and start playing football otherwise his career will just peter out.