Serbia v Republic of Ireland Match Thread - K.O 19.45 24/03/21 - Mod Note in OP

kksaints

Good start but faded a bit in the last 15 minutes of the half. Excellent move for the goal. Cullen and Molumphy playing very well. Wouldn't blame Travers for their goal but he has looked shaky at times.

PTH2009

Decent first half but Serbia will come at us like a train and we need to be alert in the 2nd half

It's great to score a goal

McFly85

Decent first half. Lovely to get a goal, was well worked too. Serbia upped the tempo a bit and we got very scrappy, hopefully they can regain it for the second half

lawred2

Connolly is very disappointing

Francie Barrett

Coleman, Cullen, Browne and Robinson the standout players in that half. Browne took his goal really well, but has been key in trying to get us to press further up the pitch. Cullen is always looking for the ball and trying to play. Robinson a real threat up the front end and is creating chances. Coleman the stand out defender, really great anticipation at times.

The goal was a tough one to concede. I really don't think we were bad. It was rapid one touch football that the Serbs played, very hard to defend against, so I don't think the players can be faulted too much.

breezy1985

The pressing early on was the best thing I have seen from an Ireland team in a while now. Just need to calm the nerves on the ball

RonanG86

Re: The goal.

The following two statements don't have to be mutually exclusive:

1) It was a poor chance for the defence to give away.

2) Travers did not look convincing.

He didn't set himself properly and dived the wrong way. Is it a shot he should save? Probably not. Could he have given himself a better chance to save it? I would think so. The man's making me nervous. Not commanding the area and his distribution looks limited. I'll chalk it up to lack of recent game time at club level.

Ferris_Bueller

Not bad overall. Lost a bit of steam there from 35 mins on, in that sense half time came at a good time. The set up has potential to work, Cullen doing well and looking for the ball. Browne a bit sloppy but at least he is involved, Molumby has some work rate but question marks over his quality.

We would definitely have taken this so far anyway, hopefully we can go on to get a result from here.

Brock Turnpike

Cullen looked for the ball more in that first half than Hendrick and Hourihane have done in 3 years for Ireland.

tayto lover

I didn’t expect us to be in the game at half time so I’m pleasantly surprised.
This is a good Serbia team, full of quality and comfortable on the ball.
I like the way we’re set up but we’ll need substitutes fairly soon as we seem to be running out of steam.
Everyone is trying their best and that’s nice to see.

DJIMI TRARORE

lawred2 wrote:

Connolly is very disappointing

Think he should swap with Robbi and go LW

ShamNNspace

We're missing a commanding voice in defence, Travers doesn't look like a guy who would be shoutin at his defense to hold their positions

Oat23

RonanG86 wrote: »

The man's making me nervous. Not commanding the area and his distribution looks limited. I'll chalk it up to lack of recent game time at club level.

Bazunu at 19 has played more games for Rochdale this season alone than Travers has in his professional career. I'd much rather we had a keeper in goal who isn't rusty tbh. Too big a game.

johnnyryan89

Changes in the second half are going to be crucial as lads start to get tired.

crossman47

lawred2 wrote: »

Wouldn't be blaming the keeper at all

The defensive shape was all wrong!

I agree. Keeper did all he could. Can't see why people are blaming him.

tayto lover

I don’t like to see us playing too high a line. It makes it too easy for them to get in behind us and we’re not the quickest in defence,

sheroman01

Robinson is a breath of fresh air. I know he's a little inconsistent, but more flair to him than McClean.

Faugheen

Jesus this ref is very whistle-happy. Giving them everything.

lawred2

Lucky

lawred2

No penalty there anyway

Edit: on another angle not so sure

Mr.Nice Guy

Looked a pen on that rear-view angle. I'd like to see some more replays.

~Rebel~

Stonewall.

JeffKenna

Can't see how that wasn't a penalty.

Francie Barrett

Got the ball alright.

fullstop

Reg blowing for every ****ing fall except a stonewall penalty.

Playing some nice stuff again now.

~Rebel~

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Got the ball alright.

2nd angle looked like he didn’t.

mzungu

tayto lover wrote: »

I don’t like to see us playing too high a line. It makes it too easy for them to get in behind us and we’re not the quickest in defence,

Aye. We might get away with that against lesser teams, but these lads have the quality to exploit any lapses.

lawred2

Decent football again

tayto lover

Are our players wearing the wrong studs?
Falling all over the place and the Serbia players are not.

ionadnapokot

Nice play from Ireland

~Rebel~

Playing some reeeeally good stuff.

Looking a lot more like how Kenny’s 21’s did now.

Faugheen

I know people say Connolly hasn't been great but he is making some really nice runs. If only someone could find him.

Mantis Toboggan

Great opportunity to kick on here and get the 3 points, this lot aren't up to much.

artanevilla

It's amazing what you can do when your manager isn't telling you and everyone who will listen that you're not good enough to play football.

lawred2

Faugheen wrote: »

I know people say Connolly hasn't been great but he is making some really nice runs. If only someone could find him.

He fresh air kicked two decent balls into him

johnnyryan89

tayto lover wrote: »

Are our players wearing the wrong studs?
Falling all over the place and the Serbia players are not.

Starting to become worrying now with that Coleman slip in defence.

passremarkable

Pitch seems desperate
Ball bobbling and players slipping

We are playing decent here considering
Robinson giving it everything and Coleman leading at the back

PabloAndRoy

I want expect anything like such a good performance.

ionadnapokot

Ireland can win this.
Need to make a change up front

~Rebel~

Hendrick on for Molumby. I don’t feel good about this.

Mr.Nice Guy

Why Hendrick?

murpho999

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Got the ball alright.

~Rebel~ wrote: »

2nd angle looked like he didn’t.

Thought that wasn’t the rule anymore. If you take a player out then it’s a foul regardless if you get the ball or not.

My name is URL

Hendrick on??? We're ****ed now

tayto lover

Molumby was doing ok.

raclle

This is brilliant to watch. Best we've played in donkeys years

~Rebel~

murpho999 wrote: »

Thought that wasn’t the rule anymore. If you take a player out then it’s a foul regardless if you get the ball or not.

As long as it’s not dangerous, getting the ball first is fine, getting the ball second is a foul, not getting the ball at all is a foul.

tayto lover

Travers has not inspired me with confidence.

sheroman01

Actually thought the ref was letting a lot of fouls go. Didn't think he's whistle happy at all.

lawred2

murpho999 wrote: »

Thought that wasn’t the rule anymore. If you take a player out then it’s a foul regardless if you get the ball or not.

Don't think the theater helped either

sheroman01

I really wanna like Hendrick but he adds so little to the game.