Ireland vs. Slovakia

LuckyLloyd

leninbenjamin wrote:

utter sh1te. he started off talking about the positives and how its a good sign, but ended up really negative about the whole situation. I stopped listening.

Dunphy has had some very rational and reasonable things to say about the current state of affairs. I felt his comments after Saturday and last night's game were nothing other than realistic and objective.

eirebhoy

McGeady just needs one great game to settle, I'm certain of that. Hopefully the America trip is going ahead, FIFA seem to think so:
http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/fixtures/index/0,2525,0-IRL-F,00.html

Giving him his 2nd start in such a crucial game in front of 70,000 was maybe the wrong thing to do.

His game is all about confidence. Against Rangers you're almost guaranteed that McGeady will have a great game because there's no pressure. If he has a bad game Celtic fans, Rangers fans and the media know it was just an off day. With the Irish fans he has to prove himself and shíts himself. A bad game and he knows everyone is wondering what the fuss is about. I remember Duff was running up the pitch with a load of free space. McGeady was completely free on his right. If that was for Celtic he'd have been waving his hands for the pass. I know for a fact he didn't want the ball when Duff was running with it but he got it and fcked up.

Hopefully he can get over these problems otherwise he'll never do himself justice. If he does he could be as good as someone like Ribery who at this stage in his career was playing his 3rd season in the French 3rd division.

/edit - I see one of the papers said McGeady failed to offer defensive support, unlike Duff. It didn't seem like that to me but if he did stay forward it wasn't by choice. He'll always track back for Celtic.

PHB

He didn't offer any defensive support. O'Shea was being doubled up on a couple of times, and if it wasn't for some good defensive play, we could have been outdone on that side. One very exact memory is when Dunne intercepted a switching ball, if that had gone through, there was 4 players there against two Irish

eirebhoy

He definitely did track back quite a few times and put in a few sliding tackles (which he missed), I wasn't dreaming.

Anyway, here's Brian Kerr's analysis:

Victory relieves pressure on Staunton

Brian Kerr, Soccer Analyst

The most important aspect to be reflected upon this morning is Ireland have gained six points from two very awkward fixtures. On reflection, one poor performance will be overshadowed by last night's display.

It also looks like we have found a shape and structure that fits this team's make-up. It was a performance that must satisfy supporters and media alike.

The pressure is off for now.

The Steve Staunton system worked. It was the most impressive, cohesive first half of the manager's time in charge. Possession was protected, while the passing and movement was of the standard expected from an international team that holds high aspirations. Most importantly, they played with a familiarity previously lacking until last night.

The use of Stephen Ireland off Kevin Doyle with McGeady and Duff wide was key, while Stephen Hunt, again, made an immediate impact. Hunt has the mark of a man determined to nail down a starting role in this team.

The Mexican wave did eventually spread around Croke Park but it didn't last; the supporters had a football match to keep them entertained.

This was a far superior performance and that is primarily down to the balance the team discovered by playing Damien Duff on the left supported by Kevin Kilbane inside. A left-footed central midfielder will always ensure more creativity down that flank. This was a key selection.

Equally, the close control of McGeady and Stephen Ireland brought a real edge to the Irish attack where Doyle was a real handful. The Reading striker looks the best option if Staunton continues with one man up front. Martin Skrtel failed to jump with him for the goal, but it was expertly dispatched. His aerial threat was effective throughout.

Once Doyle scored, the Slovaks adopted an all-or-nothing approach in a desperate attempt to save their qualifications hopes and problems did appear.

Kilbane and Carsley found themselves under increasing pressure to hold the middle. Still, they survived with Kevin producing an energetic and inventive performance, technically superior to Jonathan Douglas last Saturday.

The pressure was heaped on the central midfielders by Duff and McGeady's lack of defensive responsibility but these two players cannot be criticised. It seemed like a tactical ploy for the wingers to keep alive the threat of a counter-attack.

Duff was back in the form last night that first endeared him to the Irish soccer public. The Slovaks were forced to push a second player over to cover his early inventive running.

McGeady, once the shackles were put on Duffer, upped his time on the ball considerably without quite producing the end product. It is clear to see how Slovakia have scored 15 goals in five games as they attacked in a kamikaze manner at times.

I counted six players in the Irish box for one cross before half-time. It is also apparent how the main group contenders, the Czechs and Germans, punished them so severely on the break.

Stephen Ireland faded out of the game in the second half as Duff and McGeady swapped wings, but still continued to support Doyle effectively.

The defence held well despite the Slovaks playing with four across the attack as they chased an equaliser. It became a backs-to-the-wall exercise for long periods in the second half but still posed questions in attack. A Paul McShane tackle on Martin Jakubko denied a certain goal (Mr Baskakov could have awarded a penalty). He continued to settle into international defending.

Richard Dunne put in a splendid performance, but he was outshone by McShane who just shaded the man of the match award in my book with several timely interventions.

What will be most pleasing will be the victory. But from a management perspective the manner in which the substitutions coincided with Ireland lifting the siege on Shay Given's goal was notable.

The energy Stephen Hunt and Shane Long brought to proceedings, along with McGeady inside, proved enough to avoid a late steal from the Slovaks. That would have been an injustice given the overall performances.

Hunt's persistence and a decent early cross to his club team-mate Shane Long really should have tied up the three points. It would have allowed Staunton to relax during a game for the first time. And that, I can assure, is a rare luxury in his job.

The crowd were magnificent last night, but they were led by they players' hunger and desire.

We go to Slovakia next where we hope they will not be as competitive as their chances of qualification now look over. Still, they remain a decent team. That is a double-edged sword though as we also need them to take points off their neighbours to get us back into the running.

We need Germany to run away with this group. The Czechs are the main rival now.

Overall, a good week for Stan.

Certainly not one he'll forget any time soon.
© 2007 The Irish Times

ninebeanrows

It was decent last night, lets not get carried away with ourselves. The first half was good, best performance from the lads for a long while, the second half was less desirable, we went extremely deep for long portions of the second half and just let the Slovaks pass it around and form an attack. The defence was very good but the mid field was disjointed at time and McGeady just doesn't have it at this level yet.

I think the optimism stems from the fact that it was the first decent performance in a long time. But lets get it in perspective, at home with home support of about 68,000 we scraped a 1-0 win against Slovakia.

Nonetheless Slovakia are no push overs and are much better than Georgia and Albania, mentioned earlier by someone.

The remaining fixtures must pan out like this for qualification.

Ire v Slovak (W/D)
Ire v Czech (W)
Ire V Cyp (W)
Ire V Ger (D)
Ire V Wales (W)

It's crucial we beat the Czechs away, would be better to beat them and draw to the Slovaks then vica-versa.

I reckon we will finish 3rd which isn't so bad.

We'll lose to the Czechs away and Germany at home.

Best thing for us would be for the Welsh to beat the Czechs in June, then we'd really have a decent chance of qualifcation

ButcherOfNog

Positives: We played with some belief, and Stephen Ireland looks the part as a midfield playmaker.

Negatives: McGeady was terrible yet again, hopefully thats the last we'll see of him in an Irish shirt for a while, we have other options out there. Hunt and OBrien from Newcastle couldn't be any worse options.


Edit: Who cares what Brian Kerr has to say, he had his chance and was better than Stan, but not by that much.

cournioni

I totally agree with the person that said we have crap songs. Apart from The Fields of Athenry, Come on you Boys in green, what had we to sing? Ole ole, stand up and Ireland clap clap clap.

We really need to start singing some decent songs about the players/managers past and present.

The_B_Man

well we need players we can sing about, or see if Stan will get Andy O'Brien back so we can sing the "andy o brien, andy o brien, andy andy andy o brien" song.

zAbbo

It's hard to see what the fuss about Aideninho is, he's clearly not consistent enough at this level, and needs either a run of games, or a less pressure game.

It doesn't help when the team is under scrutiny.

eirebhoy

ButcherOfNog wrote:

Edit: Who cares what Brian Kerr has to say

He has more knowledge in his left toe than any journalist in this country.

_blank_

PORNAPSTER wrote:

I totally agree with the person that said we have crap songs. Apart from The Fields of Athenry, Come on you Boys in green, what had we to sing? Ole ole, stand up and Ireland clap clap clap.

We really need to start singing some decent songs about the players/managers past and present.

This simply won't happen.

cooker3

Well pretty pleased with that.
First half performance was pretty good and possibly the best 45 minutes we had under the Staunton regime, the second half we returned to how we played on Saturday, sitting back too deep and giving away posession.

I am still not overly optimistic, I don't think we will qualify and I still want Staunton out, in my mind last night delayed the inevitable.

LuckyLloyd

ButcherOfNog wrote:

Edit: Who cares what Brian Kerr has to say, he had his chance and was better than Stan, but not by that much.

The charter of this forum prevents me from writing exactly what I think of such comments. Suffice to say, I disagree with you 100% and feel his analysis is quite relevant.

BaZmO*

seansouth wrote:

This simply won't happen.

Yeah, because by the time the next match comes around people will have forgotten that we only have a few songs so nothing will be done about it and you'll have everybody singing the usual few songs.

I really don't see what the big deal is. If the crowd is getting behind the team it's getting behind the team, what songs they sing is irrelevant imo.

shane86

tbh i think we have better chants/songs than most of Europe. Give it a Lash, Athenry, beats the ****e out of "in-ger-land" and poxy Vindaloo any day. Not fond of Stand Up though.

I dont know why but id assumed Slovakia would be a pushover. They are arguably the toughest opp we have faced imho. I think we can take the Germans at home, and get 4 points from the Czechs and Slovaks. Slovaks beat a wretched Wales 5-1 in Wales, Im sure we can do some business there,

Mind you, this all depends on Givens fitness.

Aquos76

Here was my view from the top of the cusack last night, I must say it was pretty high up.

smemon

list of our songs/chants off the top of my head

• fields of athenry
• comes on you buys in green
• stand up for the boys in green
• bang bang bang - Ireland
• bang, bang, bang bang bang, bang bang bang bang - Ireland
• you'll never beat the Irish
• Olé Olé

more than enough for 90mins.

Slovakia didn't have too much to offer, they were fairly noisy and lively though in fairness. Plus they joined in on the mexican wave unlike wales

cournioni

seansouth wrote:

This simply won't happen.

Oooh aaah Paul McGrath, say ooh aah Paul McGrath.

redspider

eirebhoy wrote:

There's Brian Kerr's analysis

Thanks for that. Its good to read Brian's analysis, a recent Irish manager. I would agree with most of what he has written above.

I would beg to differ on a few points. For one, yes Kilbane is left footed but more often than not he provided very little support to Damien, as in real support with linking play, intricate moves, etc. It was more a case of Duff saying, "just give me the ball - thanks".

McShane did have a good game, as he put in a lot of effort and did all that he could, but Dunne was equally as effective. Also, Finnan saved both Dunne and McShane a couple of times as well, nice quiet work. Even O'Shea who is oft berate managed to hold his own in the defensive stakes, so all 4 did well and its hard to split Dunne and McShane. McShane though deserves commendation as that should feed into his determination and future approach in games to come, hopefully.

Redspider

mickith

Oooh aaah Paul McGrath, say ooh aah Paul McGrath.

oooh aaah Paul McShane, say ooh aah Paul McShane

i agree think we could do with a few new songs or chants about the lads. would be good to have a few for different players. maybe even one for stan the man himself

we're all part of steveis army, we all wanna win this game............