Last competitive game against Bulgaria. Is it the finest Irish 11.

[NeilMcD]

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner (Celtic), McGrath (Manchester Utd), Moran (Manchester Utd), McCarthy (Celtic), Whelan (Liverpool), Houghton (Oxford), Lawrenson(Liverpool), Brady (West Ham), Galvin (Sheffield Wednesday), Stapleton (AJax), Aldridge (Liverpool). Substitutes: Byrne (QPR) for Galvin (77 mins), Quinn (Arsenal) for Aldridge (77 mins).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0325/1224243367339.html

Match report also. Any memories of this one.

[stojkovic]

Yes without a doubt.

It is the same XI that won at Hampden eight months earlier.

McGrath and Whelan as full-backs.

[Noelys Guitar]

What a team. That side would have won Euro 88. Pity Brady and Lawernson got injured before the tourney started.

[Razors left peg]

wow that was some team. Of todays players who would fit into it? Given, Duff and Robbie is about it I think

[thepiedpiper]

Great team. Given, McGeady and posasibly Dunne only players that would make it for me.

[Stuttgart88]

What a match. A dark grey afternoon in Dublin, Brady had a stormer and got a red card. Bulgarian guy dived to make sure he got the card. Brady gave him a very Italian " fcuk you" gesture, far more sophisticated than the two fingers we were used to in these parts.

Anyone else remember another 2-0 win on a dark Dublin day? I think I remember Moran scoring from a corner in that one too.

[stojkovic]

Anyone else remember another 2-0 win on a dark Dublin day? I think I remember Moran scoring from a corner in that one too.

Think it was a friendly v Yugoslavia (?).

McCarthy scored aswell.

Jack was questioned (again) in the press conference about his persistent pairing of McCarthy-Moran instead of McGrath-Lawrenson at centre back. He replied something like "they both scored today what f**king more do you want".

[geysir]

That 2 nil win against Bulgaria was not cold enough revenge, even getting the first place ahead of them in the group was not enough, to purge the memory of a most blatant case of referee corruption by a federation when Giles's team were denied a result way back. Payback has not been completed yet.
We were a better team than them in the 88 qualifiers and we are a better team than them now.

[howsyourtouch]

such a team...we should have got far with these ball players but for jack and his negative tactics

[RiffRaff]

That 2 nil win against Bulgaria was not cold enough revenge, even getting the first place ahead of them in the group was not enough, to purge the memory of a most blatant case of referee corruption by a federation when Giles's team were denied a result way back. Payback has not been completed yet.
We were a better team than them in the 88 qualifiers and we are a better team than them now.

That was the 2-1 defeat in 77(?). I remember watching it on tv, we were 1-0 down at half time and then the tv reception went and when it came back, it was 1-1. I dont know if I ever saw the equalising goal. Then we had one of our annual "disallowed goals". But I think it was a bad mistake that led to the Bulgarian winner. I would love to see the highlights of some of these games added to youtube!

[Stuttgart88]

What a team. That side would have won Euro 88. Pity Brady and Lawernson got injured before the tourney started.In fairness the team in 88 might have been a touch better, no? Hughton played LB, a better option than Whelan, who reverted to his best position in CM. McGrath moved to CM too and only Chris Morris was not of the standard required. Even he never let us down except when he got to the byline! Only problem was that with every passing year Stapleton lost a bit by that stage, the '87 model Frank was better than the 88 model Frank.


I don't remember Galvin as being an Owl. I do remember Dassaev's "tackle" on him though :(

[Stuttgart88]

That 2 nil win against Bulgaria was not cold enough revenge, even getting the first place ahead of them in the group was not enough, to purge the memory of a most blatant case of referee corruption by a federation when Giles's team were denied a result way back. Payback has not been completed yet.
We were a better team than them in the 88 qualifiers and we are a better team than them now.You hate them more than any other team don't you?

From Nov 2007, after a last minute winner against Bulgaria U21s in Athlone, by John-Joe O'Toole:


At long last, a deserved competitive win made all the sweeter with a last minute bullit header by debutant John Joe O´Toole ( a great name for an Irish grandson). A blessed baptism as an Irish International

http://fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2661

We can´t beat them Bulgarians often enough.

[geysir]

You have to admit, that header left an indelible sweet memory.


That IT link Neil posted is well worth reading, a very good example of an excellent match report

Jack
“This was easily the best result achieved by an Irish team since I became associated with them but, sadly, it is unlikely to be good enough to get us through,” said Charlton. “The odds are still very much against us but if the Scots can do us a few favours, all may not yet be lost."

[seanfhear]

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner (Celtic), McGrath (Manchester Utd), Moran (Manchester Utd), McCarthy (Celtic), Whelan (Liverpool), Houghton (Oxford), Lawrenson(Liverpool), Brady (West Ham), Galvin (Sheffield Wednesday), Stapleton (AJax), Aldridge (Liverpool). Substitutes: Byrne (QPR) for Galvin (77 mins), Quinn (Arsenal) for Aldridge (77 mins).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0325/1224243367339.html

Match report also. Any memories of this one.Probably is the best team ever to take the field for Ireland.

Off the top of my head I can only think of five other RoI Players that could possibly get in this team.

Shay Given
Johnny Giles
Robbie Keane for John Aldridge
Jeez I nearly forget Roy Keane but he was better for UTD than Ireland
Must also mention Steve Heighway but some might say he was at his best for Liverpool. I don't actually think that he got enough acclaim for his services to Liverpool.

I would love to have seen Robbie Keane partner Frank Stapleton.
That would be my dream ROI forward line

[The Fly]

Could someone, less lazy than myself, post the age of each respective member of that Irish side?
It'll give a better appreciation of that team's merits.

[Noelys Guitar]

That was the 2-1 defeat in 77(?). I remember watching it on tv, we were 1-0 down at half time and then the tv reception went and when it came back, it was 1-1. I dont know if I ever saw the equalising goal. Then we had one of our annual "disallowed goals". But I think it was a bad mistake that led to the Bulgarian winner. I would love to see the highlights of some of these games added to youtube!

I was told later that RTE had run over time with their ads. Match came back on at around the 46 min mark. Irish players are hugging each other heading back to the center circle! The worst decision of the entire match was the offside against Givens late in the second half. Givens had picked up the ball halfway inside the Irish half. He Broke clean through the Bulgarian defense and was one on one with their keeper when Givens was given offside by the ref. Just one of the many incredible decisions that night.

[BradyIsMyHero]

Choice of that team and today's team would be:

Given

McGrath Moran Dunne Whelan

Houghton Brady Lawrenson Duff

Stapleton Doyle

[pineapple stu]

People are doing John Aldridge a great disservice, I think. Yes, he struggled for goals at the start of his international career, but he has one of the greatest post-war goalscoring record in England, even despite being in Spain for a couple of years. I'd have him in ahead of Keane any day.

McGeady wouldn't get near that team either.

[Wolfie]

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner (Celtic), McGrath (Manchester Utd), Moran (Manchester Utd), McCarthy (Celtic), Whelan (Liverpool), Houghton (Oxford), Lawrenson(Liverpool), Brady (West Ham), Galvin (Sheffield Wednesday), Stapleton (AJax), Aldridge (Liverpool). Substitutes: Byrne (QPR) for Galvin (77 mins), Quinn (Arsenal) for Aldridge (77 mins).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0325/1224243367339.html

Match report also. Any memories of this one.

Very good match report - brings back a few memories alright.

I was 12 years of age for that game. It was the first campaign where I attended every match and I can still recall the tension of the 2nd half and the elation of that 2nd goal.

26,000 in attendance in October 87.

Things were about to dramatically change.

[fergalr]

Deffo the best ever XI.

The only current player would would impove that team is Shay Given.

[OwlsFan]

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner (Celtic), McGrath (Manchester Utd), Moran (Manchester Utd), McCarthy (Celtic), Whelan (Liverpool), Houghton (Oxford), Lawrenson(Liverpool), Brady (West Ham), Galvin (Sheffield Wednesday), Stapleton (AJax), Aldridge (Liverpool). Substitutes: Byrne (QPR) for Galvin (77 mins), Quinn (Arsenal) for Aldridge (77 mins).

Not sure about that. Bonner was an average enough keeper whose career was then destroyed by the back pass rule. McCarthy and Moran were blood and thunder centre halves, Brady was nearing the end of his career as was Stapleton while Galvin was an ordinary enough winger. These players are famous in retrospect because of their heroics under Jack but if we hadn't qualified for tournaments, they wouldn't be held in such high esteem.


such a team...we should have got far with these ball players but for jack and his negative tactics

"Got far" - hmmmm, never qualified for anything before Jack and we then qualified for 3 tournaments. We were within a few minutes of getting to the semi-final of Euro 88 against one of the best Dutch teams ever (having beaten England along the way and drawing against the Soviets who contested the final against the Dutch), last 8 in Italia 90 going out by one goal to the Italians in their own backyard in the quarters and then the last 16 in USA '94 with an ageing team but of course, we should have won all these tournaments but for Jack. I wonder how did England do with teams that were better on paper?

There had been good Irish teams for generations who had qualified for nothing. See the team below that Giles was manager of:

Michael Kearns; 2 Anthony Grealish, 3 James Holmes, 4 Mark Lawrenson, 5 Noel Synnott (60’ Ashley Grimes), 6 Liam Brady, 7 Gerry Daly, 8 Francis Stapleton, 9 Stephen Heighway, 10 John Giles, 11 Paul McGee (80’ Donald Givens).

[Fizzer]

Probably is the best team ever to take the field for Ireland.

Off the top of my head I can only think of five other RoI Players that could possibly get in this team.

Shay Given
Johnny Giles
Robbie Keane for John Aldridge
Jeez I nearly forget Roy Keane but he was better for UTD than Ireland
Must also mention Steve Heighway but some might say he was at his best for Liverpool. I don't actually think that he got enough acclaim for his services to Liverpool.

I would love to have seen Robbie Keane partner Frank Stapleton.
That would be my dream ROI forward line

Fantastic team!! The midfield options!! Imagine we had the likes of them now.

Any room for Denis Irwin in there in the all-time team? Maybe move McGrath in the centre for McCarthy,

[Stuttgart88]

Sheedy was another great player. In 1985 he'd have made any team anywhere.

[OwlsFan]

Dream team (at their prime):


-------------Given---------------
Dunne----McGrath--Lawrenson----Irwin
----Brady---Keane Roy--Giles----Houghton
----------Keane Robbie---Stapleton------

Have to fit in Brady, Giles and Roy Keane. Would like to have been able to include Whelan and Heighway as well.

[stojkovic]

Dream team (at their prime):


-------------Given---------------
Dunne----McGrath--Lawrenson----Irwin
----Brady---Keane Roy--Giles----Houghton
----------Keane Robbie---Stapleton------

Have to fit in Brady, Giles and Roy Keane. Would like to have been able to include Whelan and Heighway as well.

I would defo have Whelan IN for Houghton.

Cant argue with the rest.

Is that Richard Dunne or Tony Dunne ?

[OwlsFan]

I would defo have Whelan IN for Houghton.

Cant argue with the rest.

Is that Richard Dunne or Tony Dunne ?

Tony Dunne.

Ray Houghton was for me THE PLAYER of the Charlton era. Busy, constructive, always involved and of course the vital goals. A much underrated player. A human dynamo.