So after a tough night in Cologne, how did we rate Noel King’s team? Here you go…
After springing a very surprising selection on us we really didn’t know what to make of Noel King’s first Irish team.
In the end, the team lined up in an unconventional 3-5-2, with Wilson and Gibson holding a deep slot in midfield as Whelan, McCarthy and Doyle played further forward behind Stokes. We think it is safe to say it didn’t exactly come off as Germany had close to 80 per cent possession for the game, an extraordinary number, and the final score of 3-0 really doesn’t reflect the balance of play.
It is quite hard to judge players when they rarely touch the ball but here is how we rated them anyway
David Forde – 9
Clearly the Irish man of the match by some distance. He made a good save from Schürrle and an exceptional one from Muller in the first half. The one from Schweinsteiger on the hour mark was world class and he made countless other fine stops. Can’t be blamed for any of the goals, and was solid on crosses too. Without him it could have been very ugly indeed.
Seamus Coleman – 5
Captain, and birthday boy, he had his hands full with Schürrle all night. Rarely got forward as Ireland rarely got forward but did offer more in the final 15 minutes of the game and teed up a great chance for Stokes at the death.
Damien Delaney – 6
Probably our best defender, he made one great tackle on that man Schürrle just before he looked set to score in the first half. Good in the air and worked very hard to try and cut off Germany’s super slick passing all night. Tidy.
Stephen Kelly – 4
Guilty of a few aimless punts from defence, inviting yet more pressure on the defence, but he wasn’t alone in that. Hard to recall him doing much positive but he, like the rest, simply didn’t look comfortable in a back three. That eventually cost us as he played Schürrle onside for the second German goal
Ciaran Clark – 5
Shaky enough in an nervy display but he did hit the bar just before half-time with a fine header. Always looked likely to give away a penalty though as he clambered all over Germans at set pieces. Got away with it this time. Proved he is a real threat at Irish set-pieces though with another near miss in injury time.
Marc Wilson – 5
Another whose passing was way below the standard required. Caught in possession near the box on one occasion and gave the ball away, or played the wrong option, too often. Made one sharp burst forward in the second half, notable because of its rarity from an Irish midfielder.
Darron Gibson – 5
Started brightly and was involved in what can loosely be called out best attacking move of the first half early on. Faded after that as he became more and more frustrated with the way the game was going. Another player who was a victim of the system and was done by Ozil for the third.
Glenn Whelan – 5
Wide on the right, Whelan looked lost when asked to provide something in an attacking sense. Did his best to help out Coleman as the Germans romped down their flank all night. Did play one superb ball to set Stokes away first time in the second half.
James McCarthy – 5
A frustrating night chasing shadows for the Everton man as Germany played the ball over, around and through the Irish midfield. Played at the head of the midfield trio, he was too far removed form his team-mates and rarely had a chance to show what we know he can do.
Kevin Doyle – 6
Put in a shift, as always, and had a shot at goal early on that deflected away for a corner. Spent most of the game in his own half trying to stem wave after wave of German attack but he did tee up a chance for Stokes early in the second half with a fine header.
Anthony Stokes – 5
Gave away the ball for the first German goal and when a virtually open goal presented itself to him on the stroke of half-time he fluffed his lines badly. In the second half he started like a machine, shooting just wide and forcing a save from Neuer and he almost scored in Ireland’s best move of the second half. Fluffed another chance at the end of the game. An uneven showing to say the least.
Subs – 0
What subs…
Manager – 3
An eclectic first selection by Noel King simply didn’t work. Not sure what the plan was, but it seemed to be contain and hope for the best. At least that is what it looked like. Long balls, playing players out of position and no substitutions. Trap 2.0 it seems.
