3-1.
Chawwk it down.
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I think we are as well off persevering with the 3-5-2 for the remainder of qualification. I think it suits the group of players we have as we donāt really have someone who can play as a lone striker and donāt have wingers who are comfortable in a three up top situation either so it suits us to have two strikers, three in midfield and three at the back.
The wing backs were really disappointing, but there arenāt really alternatives and they are two senior players. They both really need to up it. The back three did and midfield did about as well as could be expected and muddled through. You would hope with Egan back and a bit of continuity they may improve.
Still hard to see where goals will come from, the first goal was a lovely team goal but it was the only chance we created in the first half and taking out the brute force and ignorance approach from long for the second goal we never looked like creating another clear cut chance despite the game getting stretched and having a number of counter attacks to get at them.
Connolly had a few half chances, he stepped over a ball once that any striker worth his salt would have been ravenous to take on himself.
Iād say the two goals werenāt far off being our only two shots on target
Yeah, in fairness the Serbs had plenty of half breaks too and then final ball let them down. It happens, Connolly was a disappointment last night along with the keeper and wing backs. He seems to have no guile, just pace but not much else. Hopefully he can develop
McClean has played a fair amount at left wing back. Heād have a better engine than Brady for getting up and down. Iād keep Stevens though.
I love James, but holy fuck his final ball is as bad as its ever been. We couldnt afford those efforts he made last night. Much like we couldnt afford the dreadful dead balls from Brady. These are experienced players and they cant afford to make those mistakes at this stage of their careers.
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Again it is square pegs in round holes. Stevens and maybe Manning are the only options for left wing back and Doherty with Coleman at a push on the right. Putting Brady or McClean there doesnāt do them any favours and should only be considered if we have injuries
18 months ago i was sure Parrott, Obafemi, Connolly would all be massive options for us around now but it hasnt worked out that way. Jack Byrne looked another great option but the move to Cyprus was a strange one and he is injured at the moment. Hugely lacking quality in attacking areas. We badly need someone to break through even by September for the Serbia home game.
We need someone who can put in a cross.
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In fairness to the wing backs it is the most demanding position in that set up and they only had a day or two to work on it
I donāt think Coleman has the legs anymore to motor up and down the flank on his own. Not that Doherty has been great or anything, but Coleman did well enough in his new role last night. Iād keep him there.
Iād drop Travers, as he was all over the place for the entirety of the game. Heās third choice as it is and itās not like we need to persevere with him for the long run.
I thought Collins did well when he came on. Aside from being in position to slide tackle the ball into the goal, he had a few neat bits of link up play and nod downs in the final third. Most of the moves ended with someone delivering a shit cross but it wasnāt his fault.
That said, Connolly will hopefully be an important player for us for many years and Luxembourg at home is a good chance for him to get a goal. Sure heās got a ridiculous haircut, a bit of a strut & an annoying kind of head/demeanour but he has been injured recently so I wouldnāt hammer him for lack of fitness/sharpness last night. That 65 minutes should stand to him and Iād start him.
As others have said, Clark losing challenges for all three goals wasnāt ideal and thereās also the option to change it up in the midfield three. Iām not certain here. Iāve time for Robbie Brady alright and Molumby would be most at risk here, I think. I actually thought Cullen did pretty well last night. He was constantly on the move and making little sprints over and back to give the defence a passing option and he was able to get turned and get us moving forward on occasion. Didnāt he give it away for their last goal though? In his defence, the receiving player didnāt read his intentions and ran away for a ball over the top when he was trying to play it to feet.
Overall, I might just change the keeper and give everyone else another go. But Collins to be used before Long and Brady before Hendrick.
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Difficult to know who to blame for Cullens pass. long turned his back for the ball over the top which was on tbf but probably a lack of experience playing with each other. There was some poor defending afterwards as well so not entirely eithers fault.
I was impressed with Cullen. Like you said the simple act of taking a ball from a defender and turning around to see can we go forward is something we donāt often see with Ireland, Whelan was completely incapable of it. Iād stick with that mid three.
McKlan(e).
Just another American who saw too many movies as a child
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Connolly injured again. He has missed some amount of games for Ireland already
He should try getting himself fit.
A sick note.
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Fuck I thought it was just a nasty cramp or something. Did he return too soon or what? Gutting he is so blighted by injuries for one so young. Not good