Turkey vs ROI-- 23rd March

We are a totally fear based, reductive football team. In everything we do, the first thoughts of the players is clearly not what can be gained by making a pass or taking a player on, but what can be lost if they make a mistake or their teammate makes a mistake. So most players don't move to receive a ball from their teammates 90 percent of the time. Players turn their backs on the play, in the knowledge that the ball will be hoofed 60 yards away, and that now there is no danger of conceding a goal from that passage of play. 

Maccatacca wrote: NewtNewbie wrote: I can't recall us ever playing well using that system and I'm not sure if our players have the tactical flexibility and in-game intelligence to really make it work. McCarthy used that system when he first took over, that being the fashionable system at the time and the one he used at Millwall, only abandoning it after the Macedonia debacle, and we never looked comfortable using it. The other problem is that it would almost necessitate using Rice as a centre-half when, if we learnt nothing else from the other night, it's that, for the time being at least, Rice needs to play in midfield for us. That's just an excuse that we let our players away with.  Georgia and Wales both play 3-5-2 / 5-2-1-2. Regardless of Gareth Bale's influence on the Wales team, there is no real reason why Welsh footballers would be any more tactically flexible than Irish players. Especially considering that both teams select English born players who were brought through the same academies! I'm not saying that 3-5-2 is the answer to our problems, but if we're going to try it ever again, we'd be better off trying it with a bit of structure and ambition, there's no point half-arsing things.  I'd be willing to try Rice at centre-half if it meant that he might start giving the ball to our midfielders, as much as I highly rate Shane Duffy, he's never going to pass the ball around the back, he needs a calming influence alongside him.  With that being said, as talented as Declan looks, we can't place too much pressure on him. He's only 19 and will undoubtedly have a few poor performances for us.

Edited by NewtNewbie - 25 Mar 2018 at 1:55pm

DeclanDaly wrote: Just watched the match, and I’ve got to say it wasn’t as bad as I feared. Not a great performance, but in terms of a first match with a new cycle of players, a lot was learned. And wasn’t that the point? Declan Rice did more with his 20 mins in midfield than any player has done in that position for us in the last 10 years. Duffy was immense. A back three gives him space to dominate and stops him getting stranded in the channels where he can get shown up. Hogan and Maguire may be too similar to play together. Likewise Hendrick and Browne. Who-rihane is not the player we need to create things in the middle of the park. That is a vacancy that needs to be filled though. McClean: being a sound lad does not make you a good player. Long and Doyle looked like able deputies. I think you take that team and introduce some of our better ball players ( Brady for McClean, anybody for Hourihane) and we could have won the game. Don’t forget also that we were playing a good Turkish side. Except for their number 5 who was just Okay

I can't recall us ever playing well using that system and I'm not sure if our players have the tactical flexibility and in-game intelligence to really make it work.

When was the last time we say driving runs from one of our midfielders? Or instead of taking the simple pass backwards under pressure, he turned away from his man to play a forward pass? Definitely stood out because of performance in midfield IMO. He plays in a 3-5-2, but not necessarily in the midfield, with the odd exception.

Edited by The Huntacha - 25 Mar 2018 at 9:45am

dubstep wrote: Has an awful feel of Traps last campaign about the current situation.

I was saying the same last night. It's death by a thousand cuts.

Was optimistic before the game that there would be some change but unfortunately not. Really need to start getting Hourihane and Hendrick playing well. Great to see Rice doing well.

Just watched the match, and I’ve got to say it wasn’t as bad as I feared. Not a great performance, but in terms of a first match with a new cycle of players, a lot was learned. And wasn’t that the point?

Declan Rice did more with his 20 mins in midfield than any player has done in that position for us in the last 10 years. Duffy was immense. A back three gives him space to dominate and stops him getting stranded in the channels where he can get shown up. Hogan and Maguire may be too similar to play together. Likewise Hendrick and Browne. Who-rihane is not the player we need to create things in the middle of the park. That is a vacancy that needs to be filled though. McClean: being a sound lad does not make you a good player. Long and Doyle looked like able deputies.

I think you take that team and introduce some of our better ball players ( Brady for McClean, anybody for Hourihane) and we could have won the game. Don’t forget also that we were playing a good Turkish side. Except for their number 5 who was just Okay





Edited by DeclanDaly - 24 Mar 2018 at 5:16pm

We're in the long goodbye phase at the moment. It's over but nobody will admit it.