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Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Player ratings: How the Boys in Green fared against Greece

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side were playing the second game of their Nations League campaign.

Caoimhin Kelleher: Was far less busy compared to Saturday. Did the basics well and could do little about either goal. 6

Andrew Omombamidele: Considering he was playing in the unfamiliar position of right back, Omobamidele did okay, showing good composure on the ball. However, he was clearly more comfortable on the defensive rather than the attacking side of the game. 6

Nathan Collins: Decent on the ball, but will disappointed at not being able to stop Tzolis for the killer second goal. 5

Dara O’Shea: His pinpoint crossfield balls caused the Greeks some problems but was part of an Irish backline that stood off and afforded Ioannidis far too much space for the opener. 6

Robbie Brady:  Slightly improved compared to Saturday but didn’t offer enough in attack, with his set-piece prowess not having the desired effect. 5

Chiedozie Ogbene: Linked up well with Will Smallbone on a couple of occasions and was desperately close to scoring a first-half goal but faded after half-time as the Greeks effectively combated his threat. 6

Jayson Molumby: No shortage of commitment to the cause as ever, but didn’t stamp his influence on the game often enough with the visitors winning the midfield battle. 5

Alan Browne: Blazed over a good chance in the first half and didn’t really do enough to justify his starting spot. 5

Jason Knight: His work-rate was part of the reason why the midfield looked a bit more secure compared to Saturday but like many Irish players, faded in the second half and gave away some silly free kicks. 5

Will Smallbone: Looked much more comfortable in an advanced role and was heavily involved in some of Ireland’s best attacking moves but couldn’t quite provide that killer instinct, unfortunately. 6

Sammie Szmodics: Looked lively at times and offered something different to Adam Idah but didn’t have many chances as he still awaits his first international goal. 5

Substitutes: The likes of Evan Ferguson and Kasey McAteer just couldn’t influence a tight game and didn’t have enough of the ball in the right areas. 5

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    Mute Niall Brady
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:03 PM

    I never want to see Matt Doherty in a green jersey again…. What a waster

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    Mute Joe Connolly
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:07 PM

    How is Matt Doherty even in the squad..dreadful commitment or basically no fu…… commitment. And Robert Brady offers nothing, no pace, no positional awareness and his so called set piecs prowess is non existentent !

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:19 PM

    @Joe Connolly: yeah, sick of hearing about Brady’s delivery from set pieces. Maybe about 10 years ago.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:03 PM

    These guys really ought to pack it in altogether, for they are no more able to play football than I am. A disgrace.

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:04 PM

    @Ray Ridge: and yet they are all millionaires from playing football…unlike you

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:06 PM

    @anthony davoren: That’s the most shocking part of it.

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    Mute Robert Clifford
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:07 PM

    @anthony davoren: Preposterous statement.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:08 PM

    @Ray Ridge: I told you easy win for Greece give me my credit now lol

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:10 PM

    @Shawn: You did, and I told you if an aging limited Greece team beat us easy then we ought to pack in the auld Soccer altogether. Lets look on the bright side, our up and coming under 21 stars managed to get a draw at home to Latvia.

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    Mute zoncolan
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:12 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Could be worse Ray. We could be investing loads of money in the national soccer team. Look at all the money invested in rugby and never won a knockout game at a world cup. Ever.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:16 PM

    @Ray Ridge: ya which show’s how bad we are i cant see us getting any points thats how bad we are

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    Mute zoncolan
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:26 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Nearly as bad as Argentina hammering ireland at the 2015 rugby world cup.

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    Mute Sean O'Maolain
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:12 PM

    Center midfield should NOT get more than a 2. The midfield is the major problem! Smallbone getting Motm is some joke. He was dreadful. Can’t pass, can’t tackle, couldn’t get into a position to receive the ball, couldn’t get forward to support attacks or get back to defend and yet he was our best midfielder. Someone please beg Kieran Dewsbury-Hall to declare for us. All those Greek players play with clubs around Europe or in Greece. Meanwhile wev Jake O’Brien who played week in week out in France and chose to go to Everton where he cannot get ahead of Michael Keane. Loool.

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    Mute Den
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:26 PM

    @Sean O’Maolain: Agree 110% Smallbone just floated around the pitch I watched him first the first half and he put in 2 contact tackles which one was a free to Greece…, Ireland can’t afford to be carrying players…. We’d been better off with the new coach having a clean sheet and not been influenced by people who haven’t got any experience in managing international football.
    The new coach has no balls should have started with his own coaching team at least we could see him doing something different and not the same old shiiiiiite .

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    Mute Wandering_Dazed
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:35 PM

    @Den: For me Smallbone is a 10, but that leaves us with nothing at all midfield wise.

    Agree with other comments that Doherty’s time is up. Basically jogging back while Collins was being turned inside and out.

    Note we have two Prem CBs who decided to retreat against Ioannidis their main threat!

    In short the squad needs changes but also the bloody mindset of players need a kick up the arris.

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    Mute Den
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    Sep 10th 2024, 11:11 PM

    @Wandering_Dazed: a 10 for Smallbone….. for what does he deserve a 10…. I strongly suggest if you have the stomach and watch the game again and track Smallbone you’ll then get what I’m saying …. He puts in NO Effort WHASOEVER in try to retrieve a ball or even put the opposition under pressure when they are in possession…. He makes gestures that he might tackle but no not for our smallbone …..
    Ireland need to play to their strengths and that being they are Fit and full time professional players…. We don’t have the luxury of any amount of skilled players so we revert to heart and willingness and fitness to play for the jersey…. I’m afraid we are not getting that out of this team….
    This is where you get a manager to manage a team to their strengths.

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    Mute ETH
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    Sep 11th 2024, 12:13 AM

    @Sean O’Maolain: I was at the game Sean and with 15 minutes to go we commented on how poor smallbone was in both games , litterely did nothing but to our amazement he was then given MOTM , I hearby retire from international football as I clearly know nothing about the game I’ve followed for the last fifty years

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    Mute Tony Metcalfe
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    Sep 11th 2024, 4:11 AM

    @Den: he wasn’t rating him 10 you cabbage, he was saying he sees him in the 10 role behind the striker not as a standard central midfielder. And he’s probably right

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Sep 11th 2024, 8:35 AM

    @Den: ah ffs hahahaha, watch at the match, it was turgid, at least that gave me a laugh Den

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    Mute Den
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    Sep 11th 2024, 11:08 AM

    @Tony Metcalfe: A mistake on my behalf but your reference to me as a CABBAGE can only be your inappropriate bad manners related to a PIG.
    BACON AND CABBAGE

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Sep 11th 2024, 11:27 AM

    @Den: it was funny though Den, but, I agree, no need for the insult, but, Tony was probably as frustrated as the rest of us were after the match.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:10 PM

    Such sad day’s now supporting the boy’s fair play to the 37 thousand turned up they are far better than me to be sure it was trully awfull performance again i dont know where we go from here its kind hard to care at this stage ah well

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:16 PM

    don’t know what that Stephen Kelly thinks he’s wearijg on RTE, big huge coat on him like Sherlock Holmes. bizarre man

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    Mute M C
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:26 PM

    Was at the match….at half time 3 groups of Irish subs were “warming up” in front of the home end, Scales, Ferguson, Tom Cannon (I think) group 1, Idah, Robinson, Doherty group 2, McAteer and Ebosele group 3 – Group 1 & Group 2 were doing flicks and tricks, laughing away taking the pi** absolutely zero interest in being there, at one stage Scales started doing step overs and tried a back heel pass and failed, group 3 were pinging the ball back and forth somewhat focused…..if the attitude of the subs is to go by anything, says a lot about the squad in general! Zero interest in representing the jersey.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Sep 11th 2024, 8:38 AM

    @M C: noticed that too, great auld craic for them, probably more focused on where they were going after the match.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:25 PM

    I thought Collins very poor on the night. How have we gotten so bad at basic stuff? The first goal was always going to be crucial and not closing down the Greek striker was criminal. Wasn’t too clever with the second goal either but the game was gone at that stage.
    A pity because parts of the first half were very promising. Better shape without the ball especially in the middle.
    Shootout between ourselves and Finland for relegation.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Sep 10th 2024, 11:50 PM

    I’ve a bad feeling about HH as manager . Seems like he wasn’t bothered to research the players and is leaning on O’Shea to make all the big calls. Its interesting how normally you see at least a short term improvement when a new manager comes in, instead we see further regression

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Sep 10th 2024, 10:11 PM

    They’re absolutely useless, waste of time watching them. Disgrace of a team

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