| Northern Ireland 18:49 - Jun 12 with 4440 views | BigDaveMyCock |
Defensively good and admirable effort but offensively one of the worse performances I have ever seen. Awful. You can't turn up at a tournament and just hope to hit a big man with every forward pass. [Post edited 12 Jun 2016 18:51]
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| Northern Ireland on 18:52 - Jun 12 with 4427 views | fitzochris |
Completely agree. When they switched to 442 and brought Washington on, I hoped for more, but it didn't come. |  |
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| Northern Ireland on 18:54 - Jun 12 with 4412 views | 1mark1 |
Yes I agree, and frankly got the result they deserved. There will be a lot of very happy Poles in my work tomorrow, maybe many with hangovers . |  |
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| Northern Ireland on 19:00 - Jun 12 with 4388 views | R17ALE |
For those who were fortunate enough to miss it, when fans talk about the Barrow era, the NI tactics today were what we watched for 3 seasons minus the effort.
And instead of Lafferty, we had Mark fooking Leonard! [Post edited 12 Jun 2016 19:02]
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| Northern Ireland on 19:10 - Jun 12 with 4362 views | 1mark1 |
| Northern Ireland on 19:00 - Jun 12 by R17ALE |
For those who were fortunate enough to miss it, when fans talk about the Barrow era, the NI tactics today were what we watched for 3 seasons minus the effort.
And instead of Lafferty, we had Mark fooking Leonard! [Post edited 12 Jun 2016 19:02]
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Yes, Barrowball at it's finest. Terrible to watch. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 19:10 - Jun 12 with 4361 views | BigDaveMyCock |
| Northern Ireland on 19:00 - Jun 12 by R17ALE |
For those who were fortunate enough to miss it, when fans talk about the Barrow era, the NI tactics today were what we watched for 3 seasons minus the effort.
And instead of Lafferty, we had Mark fooking Leonard! [Post edited 12 Jun 2016 19:02]
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Pundits get a fair bit of, mostly justified, stick but Rio Ferdinand seems to know his onions. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 19:48 - Jun 12 with 4301 views | 442Dale |
What doesn't make much sense is that teams like N.Ireland do so well to reach a tournament like this then go out to play so negatively. If you're going to go out, go out having a go.
Look where it got Wales. (though, yes, they have better players) |  |
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| Northern Ireland on 23:59 - Jun 12 with 4132 views | Yorkshire_Dale |
NI are just glad to be at the party......they're not really bothered about the results.
Pity , they should at least have a proper go at it. | | | |
| Northern Ireland on 05:21 - Jun 13 with 4094 views | D_Alien |
Not sure why everyone seems to be condemning their performance. They were simply doing the best they could, given their technical limitations. Unless someone has watched their qualifying games and seen them turn teams over with flowing, sophisticated football?
They lost 1-0 against a Poland side with significant international pedigree and whilst it wasn't pretty to watch, on another day they could've sneaked a draw. Maybe they'll take heart from that and perform creditably in their remaining games. |  |
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| Northern Ireland on 06:52 - Jun 13 with 4061 views | fitzochris |
| Northern Ireland on 05:21 - Jun 13 by D_Alien |
Not sure why everyone seems to be condemning their performance. They were simply doing the best they could, given their technical limitations. Unless someone has watched their qualifying games and seen them turn teams over with flowing, sophisticated football?
They lost 1-0 against a Poland side with significant international pedigree and whilst it wasn't pretty to watch, on another day they could've sneaked a draw. Maybe they'll take heart from that and perform creditably in their remaining games. |
I think we're all in agreement it was, defensively, a sound performance. The point being made is that offensively, the "hit it to the big man" tactic just didn't work. O'Neill recognised this by bringing Washington on, switching to 442 and trying to stretch the game, which, I believe, is how they played in qualifying most of the time. However, even then they failed to muster too much in the way of attack.
The interview with Lafferty after the game was telling. He was visibly annoyed. He knows Northern Ireland are better than that and felt it was an opportunity wasted, as they played within themselves.
Problem is, they've got Ukraine next, who looked a lot better than Poland in the first half against Germany last night. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 07:41 - Jun 13 with 4027 views | BigDaveMyCock |
| Northern Ireland on 06:52 - Jun 13 by fitzochris |
I think we're all in agreement it was, defensively, a sound performance. The point being made is that offensively, the "hit it to the big man" tactic just didn't work. O'Neill recognised this by bringing Washington on, switching to 442 and trying to stretch the game, which, I believe, is how they played in qualifying most of the time. However, even then they failed to muster too much in the way of attack.
The interview with Lafferty after the game was telling. He was visibly annoyed. He knows Northern Ireland are better than that and felt it was an opportunity wasted, as they played within themselves.
Problem is, they've got Ukraine next, who looked a lot better than Poland in the first half against Germany last night. |
Couldn't agree any more. It was self defeating because they were just surrendering possession as soon as they got it and it just led to wave after wave of Poland attacks. O'Neill clearly instructed them to do that for the first 60 odd minutes because every time they got the ball it was one touch and then launch. They may as well have at least tried to retain the ball for spells to at the very least give themselves some respite. Lafferty and Brunt pretty much admitted that as a tactic it just didn't work. We all know that they are probably the most limited team in the tournament but they may as well have a go at playing because if they continue like yesterday they're home anyway. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 10:02 - Jun 13 with 3915 views | D_Alien |
| Northern Ireland on 06:52 - Jun 13 by fitzochris |
I think we're all in agreement it was, defensively, a sound performance. The point being made is that offensively, the "hit it to the big man" tactic just didn't work. O'Neill recognised this by bringing Washington on, switching to 442 and trying to stretch the game, which, I believe, is how they played in qualifying most of the time. However, even then they failed to muster too much in the way of attack.
The interview with Lafferty after the game was telling. He was visibly annoyed. He knows Northern Ireland are better than that and felt it was an opportunity wasted, as they played within themselves.
Problem is, they've got Ukraine next, who looked a lot better than Poland in the first half against Germany last night. |
I'm not saying it wasn't a flawed performance - I think we can all agree on that...
O'Neill - who's got things very, very right so far in his tenure - treated it like an away fixture at a top of the league side, presumably to try and settle his lads into the tournament, something none of his players had previously experienced. Given the disparity between the relative skill sets, it's entirely possible that starting with 442 could've seen NI defeated by 3 or 4 and their squad totally disheartened.
As it stands, they now have a belief they can do better and at one goal against, still have a foothold in the tournament. At 0-1 and 442 they still failed to create anything resembling a decent chance from open play - the one opportunity came from a very clever free kick when the ball was played along the ground. A connection with that pass would've seen it 1-1 and O'Neill being praised to the skies.
Lafferty was visibly annoyed with the quality of the individual performances, which O'Neill may have sensed was coming as nervousness within the squad, hence his tactics. It's easy to be critical from the outside.
[Post edited 13 Jun 2016 10:04]
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| Northern Ireland on 14:18 - Jun 13 with 3803 views | Brierls |
There was a genuine feeling of deflation amongst the Northern Ireland fans after the game. Not because they'd lost, but because they didn't feel they'd given it a real go.
As said above, they are one of the more limited squads regarding quality, but they usually make up for it with solid tactics and determination. The tactics were off yesterday. McNair and Baird didn't seem to know where they were supposed to be playing, and McLaughlin and Ferguson had a torrid first half. I suppose thats what you get when you've got Fleetwood and Milwall players in your starting XI.
On the plus side, Washington looked a real threat when he came on, so there is some attacking capability there. And they can still defend very well as a unit. Hopefully more positive tactics against Ukraine will bring some sort of result before the expected defeat against Germany.
Terrible news that a Northern Ireland fan has died after an accident on the promenade last night/this morning. 24 years old and went to France for a party. So sad. [Post edited 13 Jun 2016 14:20]
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| Northern Ireland on 07:48 - Jun 15 with 3613 views | BigDaveMyCock |
Northern Ireland could no worse than take a leaf from Iceland. They went long when they had to but mixed it with passages of passing play and, most importantly, committed men forward once in a while. Didn't always work but they played pragmatically and found a way of playing within their limitations. Nothing that Iceland did that Northern Ireland couldn't at least try. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 12:18 - Jun 15 with 3542 views | D_Alien |
| Northern Ireland on 07:48 - Jun 15 by BigDaveMyCock |
Northern Ireland could no worse than take a leaf from Iceland. They went long when they had to but mixed it with passages of passing play and, most importantly, committed men forward once in a while. Didn't always work but they played pragmatically and found a way of playing within their limitations. Nothing that Iceland did that Northern Ireland couldn't at least try. |
And no doubt they will. It's a very steep learning curve (to coin a platitude) for all of them, players and coach.
There's a real sense of togetherness within the squad. If players were being truly critical of the tactics rather than their performance within the game plan, it'd be a public rebuke to Michael O'Neill. It'd be like Jim McNulty putting out a statement on Dale Player expressing his displeasure with zonal marking at corners during the first half of last season.
I just hope they don't go too far in the opposite direction - go gung ho - and get picked off. As you say, the Iceland approach would be the way forward.
[Post edited 15 Jun 2016 12:26]
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| Northern Ireland on 19:06 - Jun 16 with 3418 views | DevonDale |
Well, what a totally different performance that was - well done Northern Ireland! | | | |
| Northern Ireland on 19:20 - Jun 16 with 3395 views | D_Alien |
Five changes, and O'Neill has got something with the way he's handled it. It was his way of saying - I'm the boss, keep your gobs shut and just play.
Fantastic result, really pleased for them! | |
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| Northern Ireland on 19:58 - Jun 16 with 3329 views | fitzochris |
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| Northern Ireland on 20:26 - Jun 16 with 3276 views | BigDaveMyCock |
Really brave by O'Neill and it worked a treat. Good on them and him - who is them as well I suppose, you know what I mean. Barrow wouldn't have done that. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 05:42 - Jun 17 with 3121 views | ColDale |
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| Northern Ireland on 13:35 - Jun 21 with 2886 views | fitzochris |
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| Northern Ireland on 16:04 - Jun 21 with 2791 views | JimMcDonald |
If the GAWA catch themselves on ah might make the last 16 match so ah I might. |  |
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| Northern Ireland on 20:41 - Jun 21 with 2680 views | dingdangblue |
As it stands its going to be Wales v N.Ire in the group of 16.
At least we'll be guaranteed British representatives in the quarters!
Bit harsh on Italy though if they top their group as looks likely - they'll have Germany in the quarters and Belgium most probably Wales. |  |
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| Northern Ireland on 22:45 - Jun 21 with 2600 views | D_Alien |
| Northern Ireland on 20:41 - Jun 21 by dingdangblue |
As it stands its going to be Wales v N.Ire in the group of 16.
At least we'll be guaranteed British representatives in the quarters!
Bit harsh on Italy though if they top their group as looks likely - they'll have Germany in the quarters and Belgium most probably Wales. |
N. Ireland's progress to the knockout stages - on goal difference - fully vindicates Michael O'Neill's tactics in each group game.
After the tournament, i'd imagine he'll be in a great position (if he felt inclined) to accept a lucrative job offer at an English league club; not necessarily in the premier league but a club with genuine aspirations to get there. Like Hilly, he seems to thrive on working with players who don't have huge egos. | |
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| Northern Ireland on 20:31 - Jun 22 with 2347 views | BigDaveMyCock |
| Northern Ireland on 16:04 - Jun 21 by JimMcDonald |
If the GAWA catch themselves on ah might make the last 16 match so ah I might. |
Thanks very much for doing this. However, with the actual real Jim McDonald actor being hilarious I'm not sure you really need to bother.......so you don't. | |
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