His movement for that goal was pretty decent. He was walking out past the penalty spot when McGeady blocked the clearance. He reacted quicker than the defender and then threw him off with a little feign to drop for the pull back before rushing forward. It looks simple, and it is, but most strikers don’t have movement that good, even at international level.
Robbie 
I have been singing his praises for the bones of to years now but I really like the cut of young Jeff Hendrick. He is going to be a very tidy player in a couple of years.
Another fine goal by Robbie set up by young Jeff
Robbie again. Magnificent. Good pressing from Sammon and Keane initially then Hendrick did really well and a tidy finish from Keane.
:rolleyes:
Shane Long is a bizarre choice for man of the match.
God I hope Rob gets his hat trick
Eh, we’ve played very well.
It was target practice after the sending off, just like I said. They allowed us to look good.
Switched to ESPN for Germany USA, the commentators are fucking priceless.
Very good second half that. The sending off helped us but they just abandoned all notions of attacking and got 10 behind the ball and we still picked them apart with ease.
Didn’t think any of the defenders showed up well. They had few enough opportunities but they all saw plenty of the ball and the distribution from everyone was poor really, other than Dunne who actually had nothing to do. Keogh looked delighted with his goal and looked marginally better than Delaney but there wasn’t much in it. Thought Wilson looked very rusty. McShane did well enough and kept showing for it but he hasn’t learned how to become a creative full back overnight.
McCarthy looked decent in the first half. Hoolahan struggled with his role early on but got used to it and played well after the break until picking up an injury. Keogh was useless on the wing, McClean was much better on the other flank. Hendrick and McGeady both did quite well when introduced, particularly the former. Quinn didn’t do an awful lot in his short time.
Cox seemed more comfortable on the wing strangely. He was hopeless in the first half but more involved and more assured when be played wider in the second half, looking reasonable on both flanks. Got himself a goal from that role too.
Long was much sharper alongside Cox but really should have scored at least once. Keane was class when he came on. Two goals from two chances and linked things up nicely. Sammon put himself about adequately and his assist for Keane’s goal was straightforward but well executed.
You didn’t mention Hoolahan in there Rocko. What did you make of his performance? I thought second half he was excellent. He can track back and tackle as well, if not better, than Whelan and his two or three through balls and dinked passes out wide were far beyond anything Whelan, Andrews or even McCarthy (at the moment) are capable of. We need goals on Friday. He should start.
Long should have scored at least two or probably three times. Shocking wastefulness. We need someone to come through desperately because with Robbie, no matter how bad he was (and still is) playing, you always felt he had a goal in him, but Long seems to have days when you could nearly take him off after he misses his first decent chance because you just know it’s not going to be his day. If you know what I’m getting at.
(That said, his general play is excellent, and of course I’m exaggerating about taking him off).
Quinn and Hendrick at least looked assured on the ball for the brief moments they got it. I’ve seen Hendrick being called Hendricks during the week in the Irish Times match report and Kendrick yesterday by Brian Kerr (wasn’t there a Joe Kendrick who played LOI and went to Germany or something like that?) I’d say his family are getting a little pissed off at this stage.
[quote=“Thrawneen, post: 780903, member: 129”]You didn’t mention Hoolahan in there Rocko. What did you make of his performance? I thought second half he was excellent. He can track back and tackle as well, if not better, than Whelan and his two or three through balls and dinked passes out wide were far beyond anything Whelan, Andrews or even McCarthy (at the moment) are capable of. We need goals on Friday. He should start.
Long should have scored at least two or probably three times. Shocking wastefulness. We need someone to come through desperately because with Robbie, no matter how bad he was (and still is) playing, you always felt he had a goal in him, but Long seems to have days when you could nearly take him off after he misses his first decent chance because you just know it’s not going to be his day. If you know what I’m getting at.
(That said, his general play is excellent, and of course I’m exaggerating about taking him off).
Quinn and Hendrick at least looked assured on the ball for the brief moments they got it. I’ve seen Hendrick being called Hendricks during the week in the Irish Times match report and Kendrick yesterday by Brian Kerr (wasn’t there a Joe Kendrick who played LOI and went to Germany or something like that?) I’d say his family are getting a little pissed off at this stage.[/quote]
I mentioned him Thrawneen - start of the third paragraph. He played well. I don’t think he was great in the first half but it wasn’t a lack of effort or any real sloppiness, just the system didn’t seem to suit him. He was a big improvement in the second half though and was one of the main reasons we started moving it forward a bit better. Impressive performance. Not sure how serious the injury was - looked like maybe a hamstring or calf strain. I’d certainly consider starting him if he’s fit though I think Hendrick might actually be more likely now.
Apologies, I’ve a couple of cans of London Pride on board and I didn’t get much sleep last night. Shoddy by me.
Don’t worry about it. If it’s any consolation I intended to write about him a little more prominently and a little more positively but was on my phone and was getting a bit frustrated after the first couple of paragraphs.
Are you posting directly from the shitter?
I’m fed up using the phone there so I’ve taken to bringing the laptop with me.
Rumours of a demise have been greatly exaggerated 
Trap on Robbie becoming our most capped player
“Robbie was destined to do this,” said Trapattoni. “He started to play at 18-years old. He was the young creative player of Ireland. He played for the famous teams in Italy, Tottenham in England. Now he continues to show us his qualities.
“There are players who have the feel for the goal. Robbie is one of these players.”
Yesterday’s goals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EVLYLNe55E
Nice to see the enjoyment Richard Keogh got from scoring for Ireland.