UNDERSTANDABLY, NOT MANY Irish players were in much of a mood for talking after last night’s hope-shattering 2-1 home defeat to Sweden.
A big feature of Seamus Coleman’s night was communicating his second-half frustration in the direction of Jonathan Walters.
Walters’ replacement Simon Cox rarely got close enough to the right wing for Coleman to get a point across. So the Donegal man was long finished talking by the time he emerged first from the dressing room and hurriedly ducked past the microphones.
Simon Cox soon followed, though he initially appeared to be looking for an alternate route out to the team bus before being ushered to the waiting press. His headphones remained lowered onto his neck, but his slow swagger made it clear that he didn’t have a view he wished to share.
James McCarthy did give up two minutes of his time, but Everton didn’t buy the midfielder for charismatic PR persona. The ex-Wigan man rested back onto the phrase ‘we need to get going again’ five times in three answers.
Overhead
McCarthy is arguably the biggest loser from the style of play Ireland employed last night.
With so many long passes directed at the undersized target man up front, the ball spent an evening flying over McCarthy’s head.
When Ireland did plot a route through the middle, McCarthy and Glenn Whelan found themselves outnumbered with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alex Kacaniklic happily lending their weight to the engine room tussle.
“At times it was difficult in the middle,” McCarthy says, “but obviously the centre-halves tried to get up as much as they could. It was difficult; it was one of those nights. They done well and we didn’t get on the ball as much as we would have wanted to.
“Each and every one of us is disappointed. We need to get going again and make amends on Tuesday.”
The later arriving experienced heads of the squad were also making noises of desperation the trip to Vienna.
“The great thing about football,” says Robbie Keane with a preview of the rallying cry his squad can expect today, “there’s always another game.
“It’s simple; we have to win the game. There are no ifs or buts, we have to win – You don’t need to tell the players. We have a game on Tuesday and if we don’t get anything out of it, it’s finito – simple as that.
“If they can’t get themselves up, knowing how important the game is, there’s a serious problem.”
My eight year old nephew asked me last night why do we keep giving to the goalkeeper to kick it up the field to Sweden.
The sooner this campaign is over the better and we can finally get rid of that old fart
Lets not get out our pitch forks and call for Trap’s head, Its runs far deeper then Trap. The LOI needs to be totally revamped. Christ its like banging your head against a wall, Chris Houghton or Martin O Neill dont have a magic wand, its our domestic league that’s the problem.
TOO too many small parochial clubs. New league, One team per county and 2 for Dublin (Like Glasgow or Manchester) build 4/5 academies around the country!
Agreed. Even more radical (and less likely) would be the rugby model; a Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht football team and an academy of excellence attached to each one. Scrap the LOI and Northern Irish League in its existing form, and then negotiate with the Scotland FA to have them play in a new Celtic Premiership with the rest of the current scottish premier league teams. (like the celtic league in Rugby)
The current irish and northern irish teams could merge to form the Celtic division 2 3 and 4 leagues.
That would keep a lot of talent in this country and generate huge income for the FAI here.
Obviously we would need 4 new stadia (25,000 seaters) in this country for that but the commercial potential could generate a home grown fan base to afford that over time.
Feedback anyone? Open to constructive criticism here.
and the current clubs and stadiums get mothballed? get real man
Then maybe we need to look at the way we train all these players coz the current system ain’t working.
Trap plays a system that completely limits us; we’re capable of playing far better football than last night. I think we need a very forward thinking coach with fresh ideas and someone that’s not on the usual hit-list. We also need to freshen up the FAI due to their approach to youth level. I just can’t see a dinosaur like Delany appointing someone inventive. Forget the experience; we need someone who can usher in a new way of thinking.
Time to face facts, were now a rugby playing nation. Just embrace it people.
LOL!
GAA all the way my friend. Football next followed by the minority sport of Rugby.
Football remains the highest participation sport in Ireland.
GAA has highest share of attendance. Ireland loves GAA and the proof is arses on seats. But yeah. Football is the game as well. Not Rugby I’m afraid.
There might be a nice rugby bandwagon but the playing numbers are tiny.
Not sure i understand those first 3 paragraphs
Hoof It!!
Problem is the fai will go in for Martin o Neil, we need a young manager trying to make a name for himself or Fergie, love to see him get it and i hated the man at united but you would have to ask.
Hopefully we get a bit of a spanking in Austria so Trap is either for to resign or his position becomes untenable. Would be good to give the new man almost a year to build before we start the qualifiers for the euros.