Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B - General Discussion

**paul_oshea** · 06/02/2011, 9:27 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

A little bit, but they're mainly upset with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

I was aware of azerbaijan too, is it azerbaijan that has its border closed off to turkey?

Anyway point is, would irish players be bought? We are a very honest, catholic god fearing peoples though

**paul_oshea** · 06/02/2011, 9:29 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

Head up to the border Ardeebhoy. Remember the Azeri's regularly send in troops across the border and there are regular threats against Armenia from that side. The Armenians aren't blameless, they can be eejits as well, but the Azeri's really want to give them a tonking and are trying to outdo them in everything - the latest 2 are tennis and chess, mad as that sounds.

well at least its all sporting. we just need azerbajian to beat russia in a friendly then.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/02/2011, 9:33 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I was aware of azerbaijan too, is it azerbaijan that has its border closed off to turkey?

Anyway point is, would irish players be bought? We are a very honest, catholic god fearing peoples though

It'd have to be silly money. The Armenian players are mostly at second-tier Russian clubs with only a couple at big European teams. All of our players are on multi-million pound Premier League contracts.

**paul_oshea** · 06/02/2011, 9:39 PM

I know, i had a feeling you were going to say that, i was more speaking in the past or hypothetically speaking.

**mypost** · 07/02/2011, 1:50 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

It's really hard to gauge Armenia. We dealt with them very comfortably, I felt, but Slovakia were torn apart by them even though they seemed fairly solid when we played them.

Ah no, you can't say that. Apparantly according to most observers, we're useless, hopeless, gutless has-beens who couldn't kick snow off a rope, and Trap is on the brink.

The evidence for the assessment: A bad 60 minutes at home to Russia.

We're still well in contention for the group, and are perfectly capable of winning the next 3 games before going to Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia have to go to Armenia and Slovakia, and at least match the results we got.

**SkStu** · 07/02/2011, 3:19 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

Ah no, you can't say that. Apparantly according to most observers, we're useless, hopeless, gutless has-beens who couldn't kick snow off a rope, and Trap is on the brink.

The evidence for the assessment: A bad 60 minutes at home to Russia.

We're still well in contention for the group, and are perfectly capable of winning the next 3 games before going to Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia have to go to Armenia and Slovakia, and at least match the results we got.

lets see what happens in the next three games and then Moscow before you start rolling your eyes.

**Spudulika** · 07/02/2011, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I was aware of azerbaijan too, is it azerbaijan that has its border closed off to turkey?

Anyway point is, would irish players be bought? We are a very honest, catholic god fearing peoples though

No, Armenia's border has yet to re-open (note the political language, this is what the official statement is).

I'm with mypost on how Ireland's chances were written off after a poor hour against Russia. They were solid against a good Armenia side away, did the job against Andorra, and got their tactics wrong or froze or both against Russia. Russia are a poor side, I said it before and stick to it. They're flattering to deceive and should have lost to Macedonia, were dreadful against a poor Slovakia side, and against Andorra, it was almost embarrassing. Ireland have a chance, a big chance, I just hope they'll grab it.

**mypost** · 07/02/2011, 5:22 PM

I also still believe that the point won in Zilina was a good result, and may well stand to us over the next 8 months.

Whether we should have won or not is another matter, but we had to get out of there with something and did.

**Stuttgart88** · 07/02/2011, 5:41 PM

We'd have taken it when the draw was announced but given how the game went it was frustrating only to get one. We just need to shake off the "decent away win" hoodoo. Armenia was good, but not what I'm talking about.

**paul_oshea** · 07/02/2011, 5:53 PM

I hate this talk.we would have been happy with a point and that's the problem.a very weakened already over rated team who were torn apart by a one man Armenian team -as we proved-and ppl say its great to get a point.

**mypost** · 07/02/2011, 7:02 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

We'd have taken it when the draw was announced but given how the game went it was frustrating only to get one.

If we win our home games and get a point at all the others, we'd have 20 points. That's more than enough to make the top 2 in most groups. I wasn't disappointed to get the point, as we had to soak up a lot of pressure after half time, similiar to the point we got in Bulgaria 2 years ago.

We have lost one home game, so have Russia, but we went to Slovakia and got the point we needed to stay in touch with them. Now lets see if Russia can go and get 4 points in Armenia and Slovakia as we did. If they get them, they'll keep pace with us. If they don't, we're back in contention for direct qualification.

**Stuttgart88** · 07/02/2011, 7:06 PM

I'd be happy to match Russia's scrappy and fortunate 1-0 win in Macedonia.

**Junior** · 07/02/2011, 9:50 PM

A master stroke by Delaney - I expect a very spirited score draw between Russia and Armenia now.

4-6 points a must in March/June.

I'm feeling optimistic.

**Kingdom** · 07/02/2011, 10:16 PM

to hell with it, no looking past the next round of matches. Look after our own result one at a time and then see what happens to the others. We just need to beat Macedonia to keep the show on the road. Hopefully Armenia can nick something from the Russians, even a point as it will ensure that they go to Moscow still competitive in the group, something few would have thought to be likely when the fixtures were drawn up.

**osarusan** · 07/02/2011, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by mypost

Ah no, you can't say that. Apparantly according to most observers, we're useless, hopeless, gutless has-beens who couldn't kick snow off a rope, and Trap is on the brink.

The evidence for the assessment: A bad 60 minutes at home to Russia.

So you believe that prior to the defeat at home to Russia, nobody was levelling any such criticism at Trapattoni? It all started after that?

**mypost** · 08/02/2011, 9:01 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Hopefully Armenia can nick something from the Russians, even a point as it will ensure that they go to Moscow still competitive in the group, something few would have thought to be likely when the fixtures were drawn up.

Russia are home first. Have to play their home games sometime.

Originally Posted by osarusan

So you believe that prior to the defeat at home to Russia, nobody was levelling any such criticism at Trapattoni? It all started after that?

After the first 2 wins, most were content with how the team was doing. Most were saying how we could (we actually couldn't) put the Russians out of the running with a win here. Then we had a hard time against the Russians for a while and the toys have been fired out of the pram ever since. I was happy enough with the point in Zilina, if we'd lost there, you'd understand the aggro. There's 6 games to go and we're doing ok. Not perfect mind, but we'll be there or thereabouts c8pm on October 11.