Gibraltar vs Ireland, Euro 2020 qualifier, RTE2 & Sky Sports Football, 5pm

TheRiverman

No skill, awful stuff.We are very lucky to be in the lead.

CSF

Maguire doing wonders to validate the ridiculous LOI clamour for his inclusion tonight.

theoneeyedman

Time to shore it up for the last 20, pull a forward and add in an extra midfielder

francie81

Christy Browne wrote: »

Few fellas in this thread too used to playing FIFA and sitting on their arse watching Sky Sports.

There’s a mental wind out there, football is played in real life not on the telly. Doesn’t matter how good you are if the wind is swirling around and you can’t predict where the ball is going to go.

Relax.

So the excuse is against the elements opposed to being frustrated against a bunch of part-timers, seriously???

Idbatterim

super_furry wrote: »

It’s mad the way your brain lets you forget just how awful Ireland are to watch. There must be something like a pregnancy hormone that makes you forget what it’s like to suffer through their games, so that you do it time after time.

I like McCarthy and there is the nostalgia factor. But most of these Irish players are frauds. They are stealing a living in England!

Strumms

Father Hernandez wrote: »

Certainly wouldn't be used to playing windy conditions on an artificial pitch.

This isn't Wednesday night down the astro with the lads

Looking at this game, I think blaming conditions for the levels of non performance is sounding a little too O’Neill esque. It’s the same for both sides. Our play is littered with mistakes, nobody trying to make anything happen, no risk, invention or cohesive teamwork. Aka just shît.

edgecutter

TheRiverman wrote: »

No skill awful stuff.We are very lucky to be in the lead.

Hardly lucky, Gibraltar haven't done anything of note.

It hasn't been a good performance, but the time to judge will be on Tuesday when we play on a decent pitch and a team that will try and play.

gormdubhgorm

According to Transfermarkt the top team in Gibraltar lincoln Red Imps squad are worth twice as much as Bohs from the LOI

Lincoln Red Imps: €630k

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lincoln-fc/startseite/verein/38204


Bohs: €315k

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bohemian-football-club-dublin/startseite/verein/9211/saison_id/2018

When you throw in lads from other teams like West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC, St Joseph's FC in that Gibraltar side perhaps they deserve more respect?

Gibraltar national team:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gibraltar/startseite/verein/37574

Hitchens

will Tony O'Donoghue manage to get Mick wound up in the aftermatch interview?

GFish

TV director should cut to some scenery shots. Not many of us have been to Gibraltar but we've all seen this stuff before.

Neeson

It could easily be 1-1 with Ireland looking for the winner with 15 minutes to go!

OldMrBrennan83

It's inexplicable how much they're sitting off Gibraltar.

Strumms

edgecutter wrote: »

Hardly lucky, Gibraltar haven't done anything of note.

.

They almost and probably should have scored. They controlled significant parts of this game both with territory and possession.

MD1990

McGoldrick has been decent.

Rest have been poor.

McLean and Coleman past their best too. Pace is going .

fullstop

Walker has probably looked the best player in this, some lovely bits of play.

Hammer Archer

Strumms wrote: »

They almost and probably should have scored. They controlled significant parts of this game both with territory and possession.

They had one chance that was saved. We almost and probably should have scored another two at least. And they have not controlled significant parts of the game. Dunno why you'd come out with that as if no one else is actually watching the game.

Father Hernandez

Strumms wrote: »

Looking at this game, I think blaming conditions for the levels of non performance is sounding a little too O’Neill esque. It’s the same for both sides. Our play is littered with mistakes, nobody trying to make anything happen, no risk, invention or cohesive teamwork. Aka just shît.

Same for both sides yet we're been on top the whole game, winning 1-0. Yes it hasn't been pretty but if you're watching you can clearly see its windy as fook on a pitch players wouldn't be used to. These Gibraltar players play on these type of pitches and are used to it.

Andorra hosted Wales a few years ago on a similar pitch and they gave out yards about it ,only managed to win 2-1. Andorra had a few decent results (for them) that is down to conditions rather than the talent on offer.

I'd wait and reserve judgement until Tuesday when on a proper pitch

alchemist33

Wind isn't a valid excuse. Maybe if it was driving rain, hail or snow into their eyes it would, but not on a nice evening like that. Keep the ball on the ground or close to it and wind isn't a factor.

ERG89

GFish wrote: »

TV director should cut to some scenery shots. Not many of us have been to Gibraltar but we've all seen this stuff before.

Reading this morning I saw Gibraltar has the only wild monkey population in Europe. The wind is probably keeping them away mind.

Corholio

CSF wrote: »

Maguire doing wonders to validate the ridiculous LOI clamour for his inclusion tonight.

Was there a 'clamour' though? Or just for the sake of making a point? Long probably would have started if fit. Maguire has been starting up front for one of the most in form Championship teams in 2019, hardly a shock he might have a chance for starting. No one has had a great game out there in fairness.

CSF

alchemist33 wrote: »

Wind isn't a valid excuse. Maybe if it was driving rain, hail or snow into their eyes it would, but not on a nice evening like that. Keep the ball on the ground or close to it and wind isn't a factor.

Wind is always a factor. Even for possession based teams the ability to switch the play or play a diagonal is huge.

That doesn’t excuse how bad we’ve been with the ball at our feet, but the wind is always a leveled.

Neeson

They should have closed the roof...

Idbatterim

That joke there from mcgoldrick a wind issue too?!

CSF

Corholio wrote: »

Was there a 'clamour' though? Or just for the sake of making a point? Long probably would have started if fit. Maguire has been starting up front for one of the most in form Championship teams in 2019, hardly a shock he might have a chance for starting. No one has had a great game out there in fairness.

Huge clamour from what I have seen. It was Richie Towell before him and inevitably it will be somebody else after him.

OldMrBrennan83

CSF wrote: »

Huge clamour from what I have seen. It was Richie Towell before him and inevitably it will be somebody else after him.

Yeah the fellas brought up through your English system have been outstanding though, one and all.

Agent Coulson

The Irish lads should be well used to the wind most of them have played up and around Liverpool in there time in England.

Fann Linn

Really poor show here.

fullstop

Good to hear Delaney getting abuse from the Irish fans.

CSF

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Yeah the fellas brought up through your English system have been outstanding one and all though.

Jokes on you because I’m a fan of a LOI club home and away, I just don’t delude myself into thinking the standard of the league is something other than it is.

Strumms

Father Hernandez wrote: »

Same for both sides yet we're been on top the whole game, winning 1-0.

I'd wait and reserve judgement until Tuesday when on a proper pitch

I’d disagree about being on top the whole game... Gibraltar had a significant period of dominance.

Father Hernandez

Strumms wrote: »

I’d disagree about being on top the whole game... Gibraltar had a significant period of dominance.

When exactly?

Wind and pitch are undoubtedly factors, but it has not been an encouraging evening at all

Hammer Archer

Strumms wrote: »

I’d disagree about being on top the whole game... Gibraltar had a significant period of dominance.

Why do you keep saying this? You're wrong. Everyone can see that you are wrong.

Corholio

CSF wrote: »

Huge clamour from what I have seen. It was Richie Towell before him and inevitably it will be somebody else after him.

That was ages ago before Maguire ever played for Ireland, certainly not before this match. He's a squad player now who may or may not be a decent player at this level. The wanting to cut down anything LOI related and only give very short amounts of time is both sad and frustrating to be honest, and since your LOI anyway it just seems overcompensating for any 'bias'.

fullstop

Strumms wrote: »

I’d disagree about being on top the whole game... Gibraltar had a significant period of dominance.

They really didn’t bar the first 3 or 4 minutes.

OldMrBrennan83

CSF wrote: »

Jokes on you because I’m a fan of a LOI club home and away, I just don’t delude myself into thinking the standard of the league is something other than it is.

You'd probably be aware that Maguire has left the league then. A fair while at this stage.

Strumms

The rack was that ? Three players making runs into the box, a cross is delayed, then overhit. Yesh, bu bu but the wind.

whiskeyman

What the feck are we trying long ball in those conditions?

Idbatterim

This performance is a disgrace!

SteelyDanJalapeno

The anti LOI brigade is sickening in this thread

OldMrBrennan83

Gibraltar are actually more competent at passing the ball. It's shocking what putting on that jersey does to our players.

Father Hernandez

Hourihane again, what a ball

GFish

ERG89 wrote: »

Reading this morning I saw Gibraltar has the only wild monkey population in Europe. The wind is probably keeping them away mind.

That would be interesting to see.
I just saw a plane taking off in the background - that was interesting.
Did I miss anything?

Wind and Astroturf don't explain this - it's the same for both sides.
What is interesting is having a Yorkshire man back in charge win or not they add a bit of colour and a lot of personality.

TheRiverman

Man Of The Match.Is it April 1?

Hammer Archer

Biggest positive has been Hourihane's set piece deliveries. We should have had at least two more directly from them.

pjohnson

Stevens with a beautiful outside of the boot flick to McCarthy.

Neeson

Keep it tight now and get those 3 points boys.

CSF

Corholio wrote: »

That was ages ago before Maguire ever played for Ireland, certainly not before this match. He's a squad player now who may or may not be a decent player at this level. The wanting to cut down anything LOI related and only give very short amounts of time is both sad and frustrating to be honest.

It’s from when he was playing in the league that I’m referring to. Probably a controversial opinion but I don’t really think anyone should be a starter while playing in the league. I don’t believe in the magic airplane either but until the level of the squad regresses even a little more, players need to prove themselves at a higher level before going onto international football.

Ideally it wouldn’t be a squad full of championship players either but that is unavoidable given what is available to us.

CSF

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

You'd probably be aware that Maguire has left the league then. A fair while at this stage.

Nah I’d no idea. Thanks for the update.

Corholio

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Biggest positive has been Hourihane's set piece deliveries. We should have had at least two more directly from them.

Been very good with that all season at Villa even if I don't think his general play has been anywhere near as good.