Can we afford to wait around for the next Glenn Whelan though?
The clamour to play certain players based on u21 form was very amusing. Perez being the main cheer leader.
Do we need two Glenn Whelans now though with the current formation?
Has Glenn spawned yet?
Well Smallbone surely cannot be worse than what we have in midfield. Hes a certainty to be in senior team for September games in my opinion. Left back at Palace be worth a look too. Crying out for a left back.
Whoâs the Palace left back?
Glenn was built in a lab
They would compete physically, the 3 lads in there last night cannot.
What facets of midfield play do Cullen and Hendrick excel at exactly?
If we did it once we can do it again
In Hendricks case, shaping.
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We have too much of the ball for a team of our ability.
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Ah here, youâre advocating that a team with no guile and who canât score goals should stick two defenders into the centre of midfield so they can run around and kick lads, and we should see improvement as a resultâŚ
âŚActually you might be onto something here. Count me in.
That stood out last night. Ukraine were determined to pass out from the back from the start and we were full of energy and pressing them hard. We had some early joy and disrupted them and won the ball high up on the edge of their box. Nothing clear cut came from it but we had a few crosses turned behind, blocked shots etc. After a while they twigged they could just clip the ball over the initial press and even if they lost the ball in the process then we were shit and would give the ball to them in midfield and they could start building the play from there. Next thing theyâre getting on the ball in the middle third and knitting moves together and weâre totally baffled and uncertain.
Correct.
We are not a ball playing nation. Thatâs not to say football wonât break out during games but our first port of call should be making it as hard as possible for the opposition and turning them over up the field⌠Itâs fantasy to think we can go and play technical football and break teams down. Especially as year on year we are losing numbers playing football in top flight divisions. Iâd say for Euro 2012 we had 15/16 at top flight clubs, if not more. Where we at now, 5/6? Thatâs a huge reduction in 10 years.
The last thing any Republic of Ireland team needs is possession.
Tell that to the Off The Ball on Newstalk generation, pal.
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We should try coax Neil warnock out of retirement.
We need a manager who wants to play with an aggressive tempo and wants to get the ball in the box. Create chaos from crosses and route one football.
Fellas like Johnny ward and Dan McDonnell think you can play football like Brazil 1982 with a bunch of league one players.
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We need someone in the mould of Stephen Hunt to run around and win throw-ins high up the pitch.
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Sean dyche could be another one.
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And a throw-in coach to squeeze more out of those throw ins.