It's France [Archive] - Page 5

Murfinator

20/10/2009, 12:42 PM

Benzema is overrated and off form, Ribery doesn't click for France like he does for Bayern. The rest of their midfield is relatively tame in an attacking sense although different to break down. Domenech is always liable to get his tactics wrong and having evra getting caught out of position at left back all the time while Abidal is not a natural central defender, he'll probably have a token unknown player who's total garbage somewhere on the field too, he always does. Plus there's the fact that he's chased Frey and Trezeguet into international retirement. There's not a lot I would fear there.

But Henry terrifies me. He'll be the most skillful player on the pitch by a mile and he most certainly gives a damn about his country. We outplayed France twice under Kerr but a single strike by him was what undid us, and it could be the same again I fear.

Wolfie

20/10/2009, 12:48 PM

But Henry terrifies me. He'll be the most skillful player on the pitch by a mile and he most certainly gives a damn about his country. We outplayed France twice under Kerr but a single strike by him was what undid us, and it could be the same again I fear.

Absolutely - he could easily do it to us again as well.

Preparation and tactics will get you so far but you can't completely prevent an isolated moment of brilliance.

peadar1987

20/10/2009, 12:49 PM

We should turn up in our droves with Tarot cards, milky ways, dolls with pins in them and inflatible planetary globes.

You can't beat a good Yorkie, in my opinion. We should bring them instead

shaneker

20/10/2009, 12:51 PM

I can't buy Crunchies over here, could you help me out in Paris?

Thanks.

as_i_say

20/10/2009, 12:54 PM

Benzema

Before representing France, Benzema was eligible for Algeria and was called up to the squad by the F�d�ration Alg�rienne de Football in December 2006,[57] but turned them down stating, "Algeria is my parents’ country and it is in my heart, but football-wise I will only play for the French national team."[

They are all a crowd of mercenaries as far as i can see. Reckon we have a great chance against them and that France in years to come will no longer be a world power. Agree re: Henry though, he does seem to actually care.

Noelys Guitar

20/10/2009, 1:08 PM

I like the look of Domo's new assistant manager/ess

http://www.fabulousmag.co.uk/images/content_images/horoscopes/mystic_meg_main_smaller.jpg

backstothewall

20/10/2009, 1:13 PM

He really is an idiot.

If the fans can help the players at all we should really go for it though. Bring St. Georges Cross's to the game. Chanting "Ing-ger-land, Ing-ger-land" and singing God Save the Queen for the 90 minutes.

I think i read that Reid and Finnan should both be available, but Folan will be out. I know Andrews has done well so far but I don't think you can have too much experience in a game like this.

IsMiseSean

20/10/2009, 1:24 PM

If England are to go through I think its essential they get a clean sheet in Dublin, which in my opinion makes McGeady a luxury for this leg. I think they also have to take a chance and throw Finnan and Reid straight back in to the mix, moving O'Shea to the left full slot.

My team would be

------------Given-------------
Finnan St. Ledger Dunne O'Shea
Lawrence Reid Whelan Duff
----------Keane Doyle---------

McGeady
Westwood
Kilbane
Hunt
Best
Andrews
O'Dea

I cant see Kilbane being dropped...
I agree with the McGeady being on the bench in the home game, I like the look of that midfield, lets hope Reid is fit!!
I'd take a 0-0 in Croke Park and play the tie over 90mins in Paris... Maybe thats negative but watching Ireland lately gives you that mentality :rolleyes:

weldoninhio

20/10/2009, 1:55 PM

Given - Lifford
O Shea - Ferrybank
Dunne - Tallaght
Ledger - Grandfather from Carlow
Kilbane - Both parents from Ireland
Duffer - Dublin
Andrews - Dublin
Whelan - Dublin
Hunt - Carrick on Suir
Doyle - Adamstown
Keane - Tallaght

So from our last starting line up, only two weren't born in Ireland, and Kilbanes whole family are Irish, and wont meet as proud an irish man as Kilbane. So only Ledger was in by the grandparent rule.

Its an old storey that does not stand up anymore. I never had a problem with it in the past, but it shows the ignorance of foreigners that they feel they need to throw it our way as some effort of an insult.

In the opposite way, a lot of the French players family back grounds are African or further a field. Look at some of their 1998 world cup winning team.....

Zidane, hailing from Algeria
Vierra born in Senegal
Desailly born in Ghana
Makelele born in Zaire
Thuram born in Gualeluope (west indies region)
Djorkaeff - born in france, Polish father, Armenian mother
Karembeu - New Caledonia - Southwest Pacific
(few other lesser known players to)

Raymond Domenech - From Spanish and Catalan descent...

Houghton - Glasgow
McCarthy - Yorkshire
McGeady - Scotland
Kilbane - England
Townsend - England
Coyle - Scotland
Gibson - Northern Ireland
Cascarino - no irish lineage at all.

Your arguement is ridiculous. You go through the Irish team from the last game, then bring up French players who haven't played in years, even including Djorkaeff, who WAS BORN IN FRANCE!!! Then you have the audacity to say 2 posts later to say you haven't read the article. And Trappatoni is ITALIAN!!

endabob1

20/10/2009, 2:13 PM

I'd make sure Folan was on the bench, it might get ugly

Stuttgart88

20/10/2009, 2:15 PM

I'd take a 0-0 in Croke Park and play the tie over 90mins in Paris... Maybe thats negative but watching Ireland lately gives you that mentality :rolleyes:Not conceding at home is a decent enough result in my opinion.

Duggie

20/10/2009, 2:17 PM

Not conceding at home is a decent enough result in my opinion.

it would be a great result. the fear of an away goal is massive and we will get at least a few chances in paris. id kill for a 0-0 right now at home.

osarusan

20/10/2009, 2:19 PM

I'd take a 0-0 in Croke Park and play the tie over 90mins in Paris...
If Ireland are to qualify, I think this is the most likely thing that will happen. I honestly don't see us beating them in either leg (though I pray we will), so we're looking at away goal. Keep it scoreless in Dublin, then we get a goal over there and they can't break us down twice. Not conceding in Dublin is the most important thing of all.

EastTerracer

20/10/2009, 2:28 PM

Houghton - Glasgow
McCarthy - Yorkshire
McGeady - Scotland
Kilbane - England
Townsend - England
Coyle - Scotland
Gibson - Northern Ireland
Cascarino - no irish lineage at all.

I can understand you trying to make a point about comparing like with like but you can't seem to stop yourself descending into an equally ridiculous argument.

Are you really willing to say that the adopted children of Irish people have no rights to represent Ireland (Cascarino's mother was adopted by an Irish father so legally and morally he is equally as qualified as others to represent Ireland)?

I won't even engage the broader point about the 2nd generation Irish players who have played for us. That topic has been covered many times on these forums and doesn't need repeating here.

Torn-Ado

20/10/2009, 2:30 PM

If Ireland are to qualify, I think this is the most likely thing that will happen. I honestly don't see us beating them in either leg (though I pray we will), so we're looking at away goal. Keep it scoreless in Dublin, then we get a goal over there and they can't break us down twice. Not conceding in Dublin is the most important thing of all.

Thats what I'm banking on. France will be relatively happy to come away with a draw in Dublin. Im sure they reckon we'll be easily turned over in Paris. Who knows, a set piece aimed towards big Dunney will cause havoc for the French.

SuperDave

20/10/2009, 2:51 PM

Sepp Blatter being a tosser again

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5640112,00.html

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted the seedings for the World Cup play-offs could have been handled better.

The decision to seed the draw was widely criticised, with Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni claiming it was a way of ensuring the more powerful teams, such as France and Portugal, were given an easier chance of reaching next year's tournament in South Africa.

Blatter told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We should have announced it from the start.

"There is something in the rules, but it isn't clear. If we learn, we'll change for 2014, but in 180 minutes anything is possible.

"There are all the best teams (at the World Cup), if someone has missed out it is because they haven't deserved it."

Blatter will stand for re-election in 2011, insisting "I have not yet achieved my mission in football."

The Swiss has held his position since 1998 when he took over from Joao Havelange and despite often being controversial, is currently in his third term.

However, the 73-year-old plans to continue for some time.

"I've not finished my mission in football yet," he said.

"I need more time. I hope that in 2011 the FIFA congress once more has faith in me, otherwise I'll go back to my village.

"Football is my life."

Or maybe cos someone made the rules up as they went along Sepp, eh?

Tosser.

punkrocket

20/10/2009, 2:53 PM

Gibson - Northern Ireland

:eek:

tetsujin1979

20/10/2009, 2:56 PM

It's not unreasonable that we could keep a clean sheet at home. We've only conceded more than 1 goal once at home in a competitive game under Trapattoni (VS Italy). France only scored more than one goal away from home once in the qualifiers, a 2-2 draw VS Romania, and they were 2-0 down at one point in that game.
The other games they only scored 1, 3-1 loss away to Austria, 1-0 VS Faroes and Lithuania, 1-1 VS group winners Serbia.

bwagner

20/10/2009, 3:53 PM

Houghton - Glasgow
McCarthy - Yorkshire
McGeady - Scotland
Kilbane - England
Townsend - England
Coyle - Scotland
Gibson - Northern Ireland
Cascarino - no irish lineage at all.

Your arguement is ridiculous. You go through the Irish team from the last game, then bring up French players who haven't played in years, even including Djorkaeff, who WAS BORN IN FRANCE!!! Then you have the audacity to say 2 posts later to say you haven't read the article. And Trappatoni is ITALIAN!!

How is it ridiculous ??- If the French manager wants to try and scrutinize the Irish players nationalilty , We hav every right to point out that nearly all the French players are not of direct French heritage.

There new keeper included.

GM11

20/10/2009, 4:06 PM

[QUOTE=Polster;1254094]Given - Lifford

Ledger - Grandfather from Carlow

have visited the forum for quite some time but never posted

just on st ledger - i was a couple of years above him at Peterborough many years ago - in training we always played Irish V English in 5 a side - sledge was always on the irish side and when asked he always said he was Irish - has always considered himself to be irish and hated anyone at Posh calling him English. Certainly not one who can be put in the same bracket of certain players who we have had over the years. ie. Townsend

paul_oshea

20/10/2009, 4:08 PM

France were crap during the 90 - 96 though werent they really papin, cantona, ginola and a few others but they weren't doing great, i reckon that could eb another period for them in the not too distant future.

Leeside Swagger

20/10/2009, 4:40 PM

France were crap during the 90 - 96 though werent they really papin, cantona, ginola and a few others but they weren't doing great, i reckon that could be another period for them in the not too distant future.

The period from october 14th to 18th would suit us fine!!:D

Razors left peg

20/10/2009, 5:09 PM

with the idea of keeping a clean sheet in Croker I wouldnt be surprised to see John O Shea starting in midfield if Finnan is fit and Steven Reid isnt

centre mid

20/10/2009, 5:12 PM

Id prefer O'Shea went and played along side Dunne.

Razors left peg

20/10/2009, 5:15 PM

Id prefer O'Shea went and played along side Dunne.

I would prefer if O Shea played at left back and Finnan on the right personally. I think St Ledger is doing ok

centre mid

20/10/2009, 5:19 PM

I think his poorest games for Ireland were all at left back. Those couple of games he played with Dunne I think were some of his best.

Acornvilla

20/10/2009, 5:22 PM

I think his poorest games for Ireland were all at left back. Those couple of games he played with Dunne I think were some of his best.
were just lucky hes good enough to play everywhere

Razors left peg

20/10/2009, 5:25 PM

Razors left peg

20/10/2009, 5:27 PM

I think his poorest games for Ireland were all at left back. Those couple of games he played with Dunne I think were some of his best.

I think though he has really stepped up a couple of levels since Trap has taken over. I just think the back four would look alot more secure with Kilbane taken out of it now

centre mid

20/10/2009, 5:29 PM

Its a while since he has played at left back in fairness and he is a far more solid player that a few years ago when he seemed to play there almost all the time.

back of the net

20/10/2009, 5:35 PM

Lets get ready to rumble!!! - am so f**king hyped for this

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12025_5640583,00.html

Real Madrid forward Benzema, who has 27 caps for France, is relishing the test that the Republic will bring, and is desperate for his team to reach the tournament next year.

"It is a very difficult draw, two big games await us for a place in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa," he said.

"It is very exciting and a game you are born to play in - it will be a battle and I want to be part of that.

"In Croke Park, Ireland will count on their fantastic fans to try and have the advantage but we will be ready - we all want to be part of the biggest football event of the world."

paul_oshea

20/10/2009, 5:46 PM

lets trick them and have the advantage at stade de france, by laods of french tickets even if just to leave empty seats!!!!

This croke park thing seems to be a big thing with all foreign teams in all codes :)

carloz

20/10/2009, 5:56 PM

backstothewall

20/10/2009, 5:57 PM

I think though he has really stepped up a couple of levels since Trap has taken over. I just think the back four would look alot more secure with Kilbane taken out of it now

LB probably isn't his position, but he is stronger there than Kilbane. A back 4 of Finnan, Dunne, Sledge and O'Shea makes me feel confident. I think it might be too much for Kilbane to have to deal with Govou and a full back overlapping. I love the guy to bits, but there have been mistakes from him playing at left back, and he is a makeshift full-back at best. Finnan coming back gives us a better option.

I understand some people might thing its too big a game to gamble on the inexperience of St. Ledger but he has found his feet quickly in international football, and Italy didn't phase him.

boysingreen

20/10/2009, 6:24 PM

Ledger's my new hero! lol Hope Domenech's remark spurs him to play like a man possessed.

irishultra

20/10/2009, 6:31 PM

Is that a compliment? I think Ireland is more like a C team.

EastTerracer

20/10/2009, 6:33 PM

This croke park thing seems to be a big thing with all foreign teams in all codes :)

I think its more the Irish fans rather than the stadium that players seem to respect. Remember when Zidane un-retired he said it was because he wanted to play in front of 50,000 Irish fans at Lansdowne Road (perhaps not realising that capacity was closer to 36,000 with the bucket seats). His brother's ghost (who told him to come out of retirement) mustn't have been up to date with UEFA stadium safety regulations.

irishultra

20/10/2009, 6:36 PM

I think what he means is that all our players play in English leagues, hence the 'English B team'

irishultra

20/10/2009, 6:40 PM

irishultra

20/10/2009, 6:42 PM

we should all go out and pretend we support english clubs and bring them to the game, and perhaps even have flags of english clubs at the game just to put it back in Domenech's face

boovidge

20/10/2009, 6:58 PM

Imagine if a fan put a Chelsea logo on a tricolour. That'd show 'em!

irishfan86

20/10/2009, 7:13 PM

we should all go out and pretend we support english clubs

:D lol

punkrocket

20/10/2009, 8:37 PM

Imagine if a fan put a Chelsea logo on a tricolour. That'd show 'em!

Or a Leeds smiley smirking down at him from the Hill

DannyInvincible

20/10/2009, 10:36 PM

Is this genuine?: http://www.viagogo.com/Sports-Tickets/Soccer/FIFA-World-Cup-Qualifications/FIFA-World-Cup-Qualifications-France-Tickets/E-233706

Tickets guaranteed for €80, supposedly.

DannyInvincible

20/10/2009, 10:40 PM

And for the game in Croke Park too: http://www.viagogo.com/Sports-Tickets/Soccer/FIFA-World-Cup-Qualifications/FIFA-World-Cup-Qualifications-France-Tickets/E-233703

:s

Morbo

20/10/2009, 11:27 PM

Domenech's England B team comments further confirm my belief that he is a crap manager, I'm glad he did it as I think it will make Trap's job of motivating the players even easier.

Emmet7

21/10/2009, 1:26 AM

Zidanne clearly thought Domenech was an idiot who knew nothing about football and showed him no respect at the 2006 World Cup. I have a feeling Zidanne was running the show at that World Cup, calling the shots and Domenech was only there for show.

I doubt much has changed and Domenech still doesn't know much about football.

The French players individually have great talent. With proper management they would have cruised through their group. Domenech is more a hindrance than a help to the French team.

Had France a competent manager, I'd fear them, but any team managed by Domenech is not to be feared.

irishfan86

21/10/2009, 7:14 AM

I laughed while reading this:

Speaking on radio station RTL yesterday, the French manager described it as the “first battle that needs to be won. It’s a bit of an appeal. The Irish are ahead of us on the internet. It’s up to us to be sharp so that the stadium won’t be green.”

Polster

21/10/2009, 7:35 AM

Houghton - Glasgow
McCarthy - Yorkshire
McGeady - Scotland
Kilbane - England
Townsend - England
Coyle - Scotland
Gibson - Northern Ireland
Cascarino - no irish lineage at all.

Your arguement is ridiculous. You go through the Irish team from the last game, then bring up French players who haven't played in years, even including Djorkaeff, who WAS BORN IN FRANCE!!! Then you have the audacity to say 2 posts later to say you haven't read the article. And Trappatoni is ITALIAN!!

Whats your point?

I admitted I misinterpretted a previous statement about us being Ireland B. When I thought Raymond was having a pop at where our players actually come from I was merely pointing out that when France won the world cup, they were largely born outside of France. I have no problem with where players are born or how they qualify. My post is irrelevant to the discussion once I understood what he was actually saying.