*Official* Euro 2012 Poland/Ukraine Tournament Thread

[odlum833]

Why should anyone go home? At least we are actually there unlike certain other places we could mention. The group stage is not over yet.

[plank007]

Originally Posted by odlum833

Why should anyone go home? At least we are actually there unlike certain other places we could mention. The group stage is not over yet.

You have to beat Spain and Italy to go through, a draw against Italy or a sneaky win is achievable but I think Spain will embarrassingly destroy Ireland (even without a striker) unless offcourse Traps puts 10 men on the goal line for 90 minutes.

Always great to see Ireland at a tournament, great support, great atmosphere but I think they are a slightly out of their depth. It was English Championship versus English Premiership quality last night. Maybe if a load of lads in Offaly and similar places stopped kicking a Gaelic balls around Ireland would actually have a decent team.

[odlum833]

Does not stand up when most of them play in the EPL. I thought Croatia were the better side. I also thought they were quite lucky. 1st goal was a fluke. 2nd - not only was Jelavic offside when the initial shot was played, St Ledger was kicked in the shin forcing a missed clearance, 3rd goal was an og by Given. Keane should have had a penalty. He gets that at 3 - 1 down and scores and it's a different game.


This is what football is about. Sometimes things go against you. We need a result against Spain and a win against Italy to progress. I don't know if that is possible. It depends how they react to last night's disappointment. More importantly Trapattoni has to make the changes he needs to make to the squad, stop playing defensively and just go for it. We need to play like we did in France. We are against it now so i'm more optimistic we will actually do that. Whether it's good enough against Spain, probably not, but they just have to go for it and be more positive. Nothing to lose now.

[plank007]

Exactly. It's all or nothing now. Hope they can do it.

[odlum833]

The most stunning thing last night was that he took McGeady off for a striker (fair enough) and then leaves McClean and Hunt on the bench, two gifted left wingers, and sticks on Simon Cox instead. Now I cannot understand that. Simon Cox, good striker, nice fella but on the wing!? The substitutions Trapattoni made last night were incredible. How can McClean be left on the bench? Why bring him to the tournament if you have no intention of playing him? We had four gifted left wingers all on the bench for the last 20 minutes when we were 3 - 1 down. Duff, Hunt, McGeady and McClean. I just don't understand that. I don't know what he thought that was going to achieve.


I would also drop Keane for the Spain match or have him as a sub and play Shane Long instead with Walters partnering him instead of Doyle. Doyle has been poor for a couple of seasons now. I don't think he should automatically start - I don't think he has earned a starting place.

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by odlum833

The most stunning thing last night was that he took McGeady off for a striker (fair enough) and then leaves McClean and Hunt on the bench, two gifted left wingers, and sticks on Simon Cox instead. Now I cannot understand that. Simon Cox, good striker, nice fella but on the wing!? The substitutions Trapattoni made last night were incredible. How can McClean be left on the bench? Why bring him to the tournament if you have no intention of playing him? We had four gifted left wingers all on the bench for the last 20 minutes when we were 3 - 1 down. Duff, Hunt, McGeady and McClean. I just don't understand that. I don't know what he thought that was going to achieve.


I would also drop Keane for the Spain match or have him as a sub and play Shane Long instead with Walters partnering him instead of Doyle. Doyle has been poor for a couple of seasons now. I don't think he should automatically start - I don't think he has earned a starting place.

Agreed, I was scratching my head at that one!

Basically, we have nothing to lose. On the basis of last night I think he needs to start Walters and Cox up front purely for physicality. McClean has to be on from the start also.

Not sure what to do with Whelan or Andrews. Maybe Gibson? I like hunt but I always think of him more as an impact sub. Long was completely misplayed on the wing but he might work as an AM sitting in front of the Mids.

As for the defence, again....not a whole lot of options, and I wouldn't fancy playing McShane. I guess we just have to hope they have a better game, but they were dreadful both against Croatia and Hungary!!

If he starts with the same 11 we may throw our hats into the ring1

C

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by plank007

Exactly. It's all or nothing now. Hope they can do it.

It really is, may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!

[odlum833]

Originally Posted by thebig C

Not sure what to do with Whelan or Andrews. Maybe Gibson?

C

I'd play Gibson instead of Whelan. Thought Whelan was unusually poor and lacklustre for Ireland last night. Andrews played well.

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by odlum833

I'd play Gibson instead of Whelan. Thought Whelan was unusually poor and lacklustre for Ireland last night. Andrews played well.

Yes Andrews wasn't bad, got a few headers from set pieces as well.

What starting 11 would you go for?

[thebig C]

I thought a draw was a decent result for England yesterday, and probably a fair result also. Neither team looked terribly impressive.

Great result for Ukraine. Sweden looked quite good but have it all to do now. Its hard to tell what way this group will go, you could put the Ukrainian result down to first match highs.

C

[JD47]

The best games have been the little ones. All the big games have been average apart from the Italy v Spain game. I am looking forward to the two games tonight. They should be class.

[thebig C]

Cracker of a game last night. I thought Poland were unlucky not to win, Błaszczykowski
scored the goal of the tournament so far!

[plank007]

Gary Lightbody defends football support.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-16171927.html

I can't believe people would actually attack him for this. I'm a Northern Ireland football supporter too but I'm also supporting the Republic of Ireland in this tournment. Just like I'm also supporting England aswell. Just like I want any nation from these islands to do well.

[thebig C]

Wow...didn't think I could get more depressed! So many problems I literally don't know where to start!

Surely, this should lead to a COMPLETE clean slate for World Cup 2014?! A young team built around the likes of McClean, McCarthy, Coleman etc etc. Young eager players. Even if we don't qualify we will at least start to build something. A few of the sacred cows such as Keane, Duff, Given and Dunne should be retired also. Furthermore, guys like Andrews, McShane etc who are free agents and can't even get a game shouldn't get near a green jersey!! I'd rather have a match fit, blooded determined League of Ireland chap then somebody who is getting splinters on his ass sitting on the bench of a Championship team!

[IrishMan2010]

Originally Posted by thebig C

Wow...didn't think I could get more depressed! So many problems I literally don't know where to start!

Surely, this should lead to a COMPLETE clean slate for World Cup 2014?! A young team built around the likes of McClean, McCarthy, Coleman etc etc. Young eager players. Even if we don't qualify we will at least start to build something. A few of the sacred cows such as Keane, Duff, Given and Dunne should be retired also. Furthermore, guys like Andrews, McShane etc who are free agents and can't even get a game shouldn't get near a green jersey!! I'd rather have a match fit, blooded determined League of Ireland chap then somebody who is getting splinters on his ass sitting on the bench of a Championship team!

I agree, Trap needs to look at the League of Ireland, there's some great hidden talents there and he needs to put more emphasis on it! Anyway great noise from our fans at the end, we were beaten by a stunning world class team.

[plank007]

Stop bringing the *Irish* English players over simply because they play for English Premiership clubs.

[spider74]

Murder on the gdansk floor........all we have is Katie Taylor now.

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by IrishMan2010

I agree, Trap needs to look at the League of Ireland, there's some great hidden talents there and he needs to put more emphasis on it! Anyway great noise from our fans at the end, we were beaten by a stunning world class team.

Tragically the fans have been by far and away the best thing about the tournament from an Irish perspective! Really proud of them!!

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by plank007

Stop bringing the *Irish* English players over simply because they play for English Premiership clubs.

TBH, I don't care where they are from as long as they are the best possible. ATM, players are picked based on how they fit into the "system"!!

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by spider74

Murder on the gdansk floor........all we have is Katie Taylor now.

Hopefully...she deserves it!!!!