What would be an acceptable return from next 2 games ?

[davey]

4 points out of 6 would be excellent I think and well within our capabilitly. However this is tempered by years of disastrous away performances from the Boys in Green. I suppose 3 out of 6 wouldn't be too bad neither. What are you all expecting points wise over the next 2 games ?

[boovidge]

4 wouldnt be a disaster as there are no pushovers in the group and i expect all the sides to take points off each other. I reckon montenegro might get something out of the Bulgaria game.

[shakermaker1982]

4 minimum if we are serious about qualification. 6 and I'd be delirious. I think 22 points in total should get us 2nd spot. I think Stuttgart or maybe eirebhoy did some some in-depth analysis on what you normally need to qualify (points wise) from a campaign. Apologies if that is not correct!

[Jicked]

3 points would be a disasterous start to the campaign. If we're serious about qualifying, and we should be, 3 points against Georgia on neutral territory is a must, and then we're playing the bottom seeds of the group. Yes Montenegro are a strong enough side, but we shouldn't be losing to them, I'd be very surprised if they got results against Bulgaria or Italy.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Consistency is the key. I think win your home ones and don't lose away. 30 points up for grabs in this group (Italy, Bulgaria, Georgia, Montenegro and Cyprus). Personally I think we need 6pts off Georgia, Montenegro and Cyprus each and at least 4 off Bulgaria and a minimum of 2 off Italy.

If we want to be serious about qualification then we need to beat the teams that we are meant to be beating.
Any successful Irish campaign 1990, 1994, 1988 and 2002 we haven't slipped up away from home against lesser teams and got a minimum of a draw away from home against the top sides.

[Stuttgart88]

4 minimum if we are serious about qualification. 6 and I'd be delirious. I think 22 points in total should get us 2nd spot. I think Stuttgart or maybe eirebhoy did some some in-depth analysis on what you normally need to qualify (points wise) from a campaign. Apologies if that is not correct!That was me but I've changed jobs recently and I think I left the spreadsheet I used to compare points required to qualify across the last few campaigns at my last job!

[Stuttgart88]

4 minimum, but I'll be disappointed with less than 6. We need to outperform Bulgaria & Italy where they may lose points, we need to get early momentum and we need insurance against slip ups at home.

[gspain]

If we are serious about qualifying then 6 points is the target. Lets face if word comes through to Mainz that Bulgaria dreew 0-0 in Podgorica would you happy or upset? I know I'd be delighted if Bulgaria drop points on saturday.

Now neither game will be easy and 6 points would be a huge achievement but anything less will be a missed opportunity.

[mypost]

Consistency is the key. I think win your home ones and don't lose away.

Not good enough anymore. That's been the policy now for many years, and we've qualified for 1 tournament from the last 7. We were the only unbeaten team at home in the last campaign, which still led to our worst finish since '85.

Looking for 6 points from the 2 games coming up. We need to hit the ground running, and get off to the best possible start. We have the coaching team in place to expect no less.

[NeilMcD]

That was me but I've changed jobs recently and I think I left the spreadsheet I used to compare points required to qualify across the last few campaigns at my last job!

lets hope you did not save it to a shared server there Stutts.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Not good enough anymore. That's been the policy now for many years, and we've qualified for 1 tournament from the last 7. We were the only unbeaten team at home in the last campaign, which still led to our worst finish since '85.

Looking for 6 points from the 2 games coming up. We need to hit the ground running, and get off to the best possible start. We have the coaching team in place to expect no less.

My apologies, I went on to the next sentence saying that we needed to get a minimum of 6pts off Georgia, Montenegro and Cyrus . Sorry about 2 things

[mypost]

If we are serious about qualifying then 6 points is the target. Lets face if word comes through to Mainz that Bulgaria dreew 0-0 in Podgorica would you happy or upset? I know I'd be delighted if Bulgaria drop points on saturday.

Our game kicks off the group at the weekend. The Bulgaria game ko's after ours finishes.

[Ordinary Fan]

It has to be 6 points but it will be a big ask. Georgia will be driven by national pride and Montenegro full of enthusiasm. We have to start well and aim to top the group (very unlikely) to avoid the play-off lottery.
Italy are always slow starters and Bulgaria not great travellers, so if we can pick up away eins against Georgia, Montenegro and Cyrus it will give us a buffer if we fail to get anything in Italy or Bulgaria.

[NeilMcD]

But he will still be in Mainz.

[Wexford Delboy]

hope for 6points but 4 points wouldnt be a complete disaster...would expect us to beat georgia but montenegro are a relative unknown quantity

[Reality Bites]

Six points

[musicinmouth]

six points

[pateen]

Huge banana skins, but it you look at the 90 and 94 qualifying campaigns we dropped very few points against the so called weaker sides.

6 points, it has to be

[Claret Murph]

I think we will win on Saturday 2-1 and only manage a 1-1 draw with Monty so I have to go with 4 points and happy out .

I will say both Italy and Bul will drop points this weekend :ball::):ball:

[Dotsy]

IF we are serious about qualifying we have to expect to win on Sat at a neutral venue. A win in Montenegro would be fantasitic but I would be happy with a point. Min of 4 points, anything less is a disaster.

[NeilMcD]

4 is acceptable as there are times when you play well and just do not score etc so over two games 4 is acceptable but I will be hoping for 6 and expecting 4.

[finnpark]

Ireland will beat Georgia anyway, if they don't Trap should resign.

A draw minimum against Mont.

I expect 6 points from 6 but at least 4 points. Anything less than 4 means Ireland are out. They are supposed to be 2 of the weaker teams in the group so 6 points is a must and I think the lads will deliver.

[NeilMcD]

You sir are mad, he should resign after 1 match ha ha !!!!

[Claret Murph]

You sir are mad, he should resign after 1 match ha ha !!!!

I will say that Trap will become a legend as the first manager of Ireland to win the world cup ;):D;)

[OwlsFan]

I wouldn't be as confident (but then I never am) as many about the 3 pts against Georgia. They did afterall win away in Wales a few weeks ago and let's not fool ourselves, we aren't that much better than Wales player for player.

Montenegro - population not much greater than Norn Iron so on paper we should win there.

What do we need to qualify: 6 points.

What will we get: 4 max (if the ball runs for us) but likely 2.

I think we'll learn from these two games whether Trapp is the man or not.

[Newryrep]

I think we'll learn from these two games whether Trapp is the man or not.

Trap is the man, we will find out whether the team is up to it , you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

4 points minimum requirement

[Wolfie]

4 is the absolute minimum but I've a trademark bogey vibe about these two upcoming games.

Looking at the campaign as a whole, we currently can't make any assumptions about our home performances given our recent record. Croke Park is more like a neutral venue for most of the opposition who've played us there so far - with the possible exception of Serbia.

Ireland will need to be committed and fully motivated on Saturday. There will be no room for complacency. If the dreaded torpor sets into our play in the next 2 games we're done for.

[lionelhutz]

I think we should def be aiming for 6 points and I'd be very disappointed with anything less. Considering the Georgia game is in a neutral venue gives us an advantage which we should be able to capitalise on.

Montenegro are relatively unknown and we could read more into their ability after the Bulgaria game but I still expect Bulgaria to beat them and if that happens, it's a must win for us too.

[Greenforever]

Minimum Requirement for a top 2 finish

6 points against

Georgia, Montengro and Cyprus

4 points between Italy and Bulgaria

Total 22 points

[tetsujin1979]

I hope Trap beats into each and every one of the players that 6 points is the only result he will accept. Anything less, and they'll be dropped.

[Cymro]

You really should beat Georgia. We lost to them the other week but that was because a) they were lucky b) we had half our squad missing and c) most of our players looked like they couldn't really be arsed in the slightest.

I don't know much about Montenegro and haven't seen them play so they could be either pretty good or pretty bad. I don't think a draw would be the end of the world for you in that one though.

[NeilMcD]

4ole, we currently can't make any assumptions about our home performances given our recent record. Croke Park is more like a neutral venue for most of the opposition who've played us there so far - with the possible exception of Serbia.

r.
Why what was different about Serbia.

[boovidge]

Yeah the atmosphere was terrible at Serbia

[Supreme feet]

By my reckoning, if Ireland are to come at least second in the group, we can't drop any more than ten points over the campaign. For '98, we dropped 12, but still got through an abysmal group. For '00, we dropped 8 and almost topped the group. For '02, we dropped only 6 and finished above Holland. Then things went wrong. For '04, it was 13 (three points away from finishing second). '06, it was 13 (we were two points from finishing second). '08, it was the ghastly total of 19 (out of the running with two games to play).

So, given the reality of a tough trip to Cyprus and the double-headers against Bulgaria and Italy, where points will probably be lost, it's important to get maximum points from the nominally weaker teams. I think we're capable of six points, and will be slightly disappointed if we don't get them. We have a decent group of players, and if they can take Trap's guidance on board, we should be able to grind out wins in places like Podgorica.

[mjpcc]

We have been given a golden opportunity on Saturday. Neutral ground - with at least half the ticket allocation. Our away fans always get behind the team so this is as near to a home game as we will ever get away - does that make sense?

Anyway, my point is that unless we get three points on Saturday and at least one from Montenegro we are really on the back foot.

Still!! optomistic as ever and cannot wait for kickoff.

[mypost]

Our away fans always get behind the team so this is as near to a home game as we will ever get away - does that make sense?

San Marino away last year, was like a home game too. As indeed Cyprus 05 was too.

[Brendan 82]

The Georgia game is a must win really. It is a golden opportunity to beat them and it would give our team great confidence to get an away win right off the bat. 4 points is a safe return but 6 would really set us up nicely for the three upcoming home games.

I'll be keeping an eye on the Bulgaria/Monty game. It is their first competitive game as a nation, it is at home, and they will come out of the blocks raring to go. Watch out Bulgaria!

[Noelys Guitar]

6 points and 6 points only for us to have a realistic chance of qualifying.

[irishultra]

I wouldn't be as confident (but then I never am) as many about the 3 pts against Georgia. They did afterall win away in Wales a few weeks ago and let's not fool ourselves, we aren't that much better than Wales player for player.

Montenegro - population not much greater than Norn Iron so on paper we should win there.

What do we need to qualify: 6 points.

What will we get: 4 max (if the ball runs for us) but likely 2.

I think we'll learn from these two games whether Trapp is the man or not.

Player for player we are in a different League to Wales. I would take Bellamy and Bale(because he's a natural left back) and that would be it.

In Cardiff that day we dominated them, I actually thought we would destroy them that day.

[mjpcc]

San Marino away last year, was like a home game too. As indeed Cyprus 05 was too.

Yes, but the question was what do we need to take from the two games.

I'm hoping Trap's team will perform to a much higher level than our teams of the Staunton and Kerr eras and do not believe we will qualify if we do not take at least 4 points from the two games.

Futhermore I think we have a much better chance of winning the Georgia game than the Montenegro game bacause it is being played in Germany, in a small stadium and we have at least 50% of the support.

Surely, Trap is going to see this as an opportunuty and be more aggressive in pursuit of a win than he would be if the game was in Georgia.

[eirebhoy]

San Marino away last year, was like a home game too. As indeed Cyprus 05 was too.
As was Bratislava. But managers prepare differently for home and away games. I think Trap will treat the Georgia game as he would a home game and vice versa for the Georgian's.

[shakermaker1982]

lets hope you did not save it to a shared server there Stutts.

I think at the very least he should break into his old office and retrieve the file!!! :D

[Dun Laoire]

We really need the six and I think we will get the six. In fact i'm gonna stick my neck right out here and say i believe we will get 15 from 15 from our first 5 games, (crazy i know but i believe we can do it) it's the second half of it that the points will become scarce but with confidence sky high maybe we can keep up the good run.

I think we will get the 6 from the first two games, i also feel that if we do we will go on and win the following three home games leaving us in a fantastic position. However, it's the second half of the campaign where i feel points will become scarce.

[keenanboy]

I think 5 would be just fantastic :)

[Stuttgart88]

Player for player we are in a different League to Wales. I would take Bellamy and Bale(because he's a natural left back) and that would be it.

In Cardiff that day we dominated them, I actually thought we would destroy them that day.Koumas and Steven Reid would be a great CM pairing.

James Collins on the form of a year and a half ago would be an addition for us too.

By and large we have a better class of player than Wales alright, at senior level.

[Wolfie]

Why what was different about Serbia.


Yeah the atmosphere was terrible at Serbia

Yeah - Serbia was by no means a partisan atmosphere but then again, I was sat right next to a vocal minority of Serbians!! I was comparing this game to the morgue like atmosphere at the Wales game the weekend beforehand.

My point is that Croker currently doesn't hold much fear for the opposition.

On a separate point, it's quite feasible that Georgia consider us a "must win" game too. They'll consider Italy and Bulgaria the favourites and could well be quietly confident they can rattle us with our new high profile manager.

[Duggie]

6 points needed if were going to qualify 1st or second i reckon. we have to cut out the mistakes and get down to business in this campaign. first off i think we will get the 3 against georgia on sat.

[Kingdom]

If we are serious about qualifying then 6 points is the target. Lets face if word comes through to Mainz that Bulgaria dreew 0-0 in Podgorica would you happy or upset? I know I'd be delighted if Bulgaria drop points on saturday.

Now neither game will be easy and 6 points would be a huge achievement but anything less will be a missed opportunity.

I agree with Gary. I was thinking as well why not approach each game as it comes. Saturday must be a win. No qualms there. On the flipside of what some people have said, if we hear that Bulgaria have won in Podgorica would we still be happy with 4 points from 2 games? I wouldn't.

To win home and away versus Geo, Mon and Cyp, should be the minimum, 4 points from Bulgaria and 1 from Italy would be enough to see us through as far as I'm concerned.

[jbyrne]

ideally 6 but cant see more than 4 at best i'm afraid. id guess 1-0 on sat and 1 all v montenegro

[Voice of Reason]

I'd be aiming for 6.

4 certainly would not be 'excellent'.