Are you meant to come away from a World Cup qualifying win feeling disgusted with the manager and questioning if some of the players are all that bothered about whether they make it to a major tournament or not?
Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Armenia keeps Ireland’s hopes alive but there was absolutely nobody leaving the Aviva on Tuesday night declaring “we’re fucking back,baby”
The manager’s team selection continues to raise eyebrows. Jayson Molumby, Festy Ebosele and Seamus Coleman (what a man) were all overlooked for selection for the disastrous September window but started both the Portugal and Armenia games. All three were among Ireland’s better players in this window which calls into question Heimir’s reasoning for leaving them out in September.
Alas, it’s a waste of time dwelling on the past. Presently, it is barely believable that Heimir went with a back 5 from the start and even more unbelievable that he persisted with it even when the Armenian captain was sent off and with the knowledge that score difference is the key decider of this group.
A 103 ranked team coming to your home pitch and having more possession and passes than you isn’t going to get the fans on side or off their feet.
The players are also in need of a wake-up call in some respects too. They are too lax in most aspects of their game. Whether it be ambling over to take a throw in or a set piece, there is a distinct lack of urgency in how they do things. This seeps into the crowd and leads to the funeral-like atmosphere.
Coleman, on his 75th cap, set the terms of engagement in the second minute when he went full blooded into a tackle and won an attacking free kick in a good area. Unfortunately, this was an isolated example. Nathan Collins seems ponderous in possession when in an Ireland shirt, unrecognizable to the Brentford version of himself.
Positively, Evan Ferguson notched his third of the campaign and looks like he is now a reliable threat for us. It remains to be seen if Finn Azaz is the best link up player to play alongside him. Heimir could do worse than dial up Andrew Moran and see if he’s around in November.
So onto November then. Hungary’s late equalizer vs Portugal on Tuesday was not ideal. They are now on 5 heading into the final window with Ireland on 4. Portugal now head to Dublin needing a win to rubber stamp 1st spot in the group.
Interestingly, on November 13th Armenia vs Hungary kicks off at 5pm meaning Ireland will know before they kick off at 7:45 what has transpired in Yerevan. Should Hungary win, Ireland will need to draw against Portugal and would need at least a two goal margin of victory in Budapest on November 16th.
Should Hungary fail to beat Armenia, Ireland would have their destiny in their own hands heading to Budapest, regardless of how they do versus Portugal. Of course, a win against Portugal coupled with Hungary drawing or losing in Yerevan would mean we would only need a draw in our final game.
It’s as difficult and as easy as that.
Damn it, I’ve given myself hope again.