Qatar v Republic of Ireland - Match Thread 30/3/21 K.O 7.45PM - RTE

tayto lover

Great ball there from Ali.

fyfe79

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Ya it's really highlighting how flat they were. The luxembourg game felt like a friendly in comparison to this.

Yep, this feels a lot more competitive than the other night. A good reaction from the players who weren't selected vs Lux.

johnnyryan89

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Ya it's really highlighting how flat they were. The luxembourg game felt like a friendly in comparison to this.

Yeah you'd think this is the qualifier and Luxembourg was the friendly.

Seems we're playing 3-4-3. I like this and think 3-4-3 is often better than 3-5-2.

Cypher_sounds

Wonder can Parrott copy what McLean did..

Faugheen

O’Shea already looks so much more comfortable when he’s taken out of the middle of a 3

The White Feather

Sorry for Brady but glad to see Parrott on

Francie Barrett

McClean has been immense.

johnnyryan89

If McClean tried that again he'd probably hurt himself. Done well to avoid not touching the ball.

Harry Palmr

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Anyone else missing the crowd noise effect? You'd think RTE would have that sorted by now

Nope. It's an abomination.

ShamoBuc

Very close by Long, he read it well.

namloc1980

Poor effort by Long there.

kksaints

Long should have buried that.

FixdePitchmark

Sums up Long

Did you smash it

Wasting a lot of openings in the final third.

johnnyryan89

Francie Barrett wrote: »

McClean has been immense.

The fact he does things with urgency is really standing out. Similar Horgan, who I believe was the same in the nation's league. When he played he'd work his socks off while others were going through the motions.

The White Feather

Francie Barrett wrote: »

McClean has been immense.

He is hyped up. He was really singing the anthem proudly/loudly which I noticed.

Sometimes that leads to him getting booked or sent off though!

siblers

Seems mad they've gone from Ireland to Serbia back to Ireland and then over to Hungary within a week. Must be quite gruelling, especially for Coleman

Mervyn Skidmore

Luxembourg 1 up

Francie Barrett

Duffy looking very rusty.

noodler

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Both of them were world weary men who held themselves up and deflected, Kenny looks broken when asked the most simple question and his players see that on TV even if they don't see it in the dressing room.

I'd have to agree.

Some might take the criticism to heart but SK just looks quite nervous and inarticulate.

I am sure it is something he will grow into.

The White Feather

Buzunu lucky to get away with that mistake

~Rebel~

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

The fact he does things with urgency is really standing out. Similar Horgan, who I believe was the same in the nation's league. When he played he'd work his socks off while others were going through the motions.

Horgan's looked good fairly consistently for Ireland alright, deserves to be in or around the first team for sure. Bit of energy, bit of cleverness to him.

The Big Easy

Had to get a few beers after d'announcement and an Ireland win would do wonders to soothe flagging morale.

If it wasn't for Kenny I'd be watching Wales against Czechia.

The Big Easy

noodler wrote: »

I'd have to agree.

Some might take the criticism to heart but SK just looks quite nervous and inarticulate.

I am sure it is something he will grow into.

He doesn't come across well in the media or on the touchline, never has.

Obviously in the more important aspects i.e. getting the message across to players; he is far more accomplished.

Faugheen

Despite Cunningham’s attempts to say otherwise, that ball has gone through Bazunu’s hands and hit him on the snout.

There was nothing intentional about that

Bridge93

I like Bazunu’s decisiveness. Yes he’s made a few iffy calls like that just there and the free/penalty. But it’s great to see a guy if his age not afraid to commit and not just hanging on his line

fyfe79

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Luxembourg 1 up

Yep, Rodrigues again with a great diving header. Just shows how valuable it is to have a Champions League striker.

Mervyn Skidmore

1-1 now in Luxembourg

fyfe79

Bridge93 wrote: »

I like Bazunu’s decisiveness. Yes he’s made a few iffy calls like that just there and the free/penalty. But it’s great to see a guy if his age not afraid to commit and not just hanging on his line

He's still very young and inexperienced, but already reminds me of Ederson at his parent club. He's got that quality, not afraid of making mistakes.

beertons

Thought Parrot was a model to score a few mins ago, with his quick 1-2, last pass was desperate.

Agent Coulson

Cunningham is terrible as pundit be it on the radio or TV and he also must be one of the worst colour men on commentary, How they hell does he get the work.

The White Feather

Great start but fairly poor since then. Hopefully they get going again in second half

Francie Barrett

Much better, other than Duffy who doesn't look fit, we've been excellent.

nullzero

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Cunningham is terrible as pundit be it on the radio or TV and he also must be one of the worst colour men on commentary, How they hell does he get the work.

To be fair, he has the most expressive eyebrows on TV.

JeffKenna

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

1-1 now in Luxembourg

Right before halftime.

TheCitizen

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Much better, other than Duffy who doesn't look fit, we've been excellent.

Duffy has been fine. Played really well. Not sure you're being serious?

tastyt

Well that is refreshing at least . Have to say McLean and Longs pace and intensity has made a difference.

Horgan and O Shea also doing well

noodler

TheCitizen wrote: »

Duffy has been fine. Played really well. Not sure you're being serious?

Looks very rusty.

Prisoner6409

What are these guys doing, can they not keep the ball, they are giving the ball back to the Qtaries ever chance they get.

TheCitizen

Need a win here of any kind. Qatar are a decent side. Obviously putting a big effort in to be decent for the World Cup in Qatar. They are taking this game seriously so if we can win it'll be a worthy win and hard fought.

KungPao

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Cunningham is terrible as pundit be it on the radio or TV and he also must be one of the worst colour men on commentary, How they hell does he get the work.

At this moment in time, I couldn't tell you.

Better than Stephen Kelly though. Seems a nice lad but doesn't have the voice or input needed, at least not at this moment in time.

I'd even have Ronnie Whelan over those two!

Bazunu I think will be a really good keeper he will learn from the few iffy things he's doing.

Parrott has actually made a few runs instead of standing static like a lot of people are when the likes of molomby have it and are looking to play forward.

Shane long while he butchered his chance has been very high energy as always.

TheCitizen

noodler wrote: »

Looks very rusty.

He's definitely rusty and his performance all the more admirable for that.

Brock Turnpike

sugarman wrote: »

Good move there but everyone ran into the exact same area for the cutback.

That was very frustrating!

Decent performance. A big step up from Saturday.

Not sure where Brady goes from here. He needs to get away from Burnley and get a good six months injury free first team run.

johnnyryan89

tastyt wrote: »

Have to say McLean and Longs pace and intensity has made a difference.

Stands out even more after Wednesday night. Said it before Kenny's first squad that McClean will be picked by Kenny for the work he puts in. That even though Dundalk were known as a good footballing team, they were a team that worked their socks off and could play football too.

Kermit.de.frog

Stephen Kenny celebrating like we've scored against Spain in the semi finals of the world cup.

TheCitizen

I like Karen as an analyst. Does her homework.

sterz

The White Feather wrote: »

Great start but fairly poor since then. Hopefully they get going again in second half

Yeah I think it's one of the worst performances yet. Not as bad as the game on Saturday but maybe that's partly down to most of the guys playing tonight having a longer rest period. There's a good bit more energy tonight but lacking the neat passing and solid shape from the game vs Serbia.

johnnyryan89

TheCitizen wrote: »

Need a win here of any kind. Qatar are a decent side. Obviously putting a big effort in to be decent for the World Cup in Qatar. They are taking this game seriously so if we can win it'll be a worthy win and hard fought.

Qatar's team are all home based too. These lads are probably all training together as a team every week.

noodler

TheCitizen wrote: »

He's definitely rusty and his performance all the more admirable for that.

I was being kind, i.e. he looks a bit laboured and sluggish.but there is a reason for it.