Play Off Predictions?

[Lionel Ritchie]

Had a dream the other night we lost 2-3 in Dublin and drew 2-2 over there.

Though the same night I dreamt a pals ex was out on the landing and I was genuinely afraid to go out for a whizz so I haven't read a great deal into it.

Believe.

[jbyrne]

have to keep them scoreless at CP no matter what and try to nick an away goal. only way i see us going through

[Junior]

Though the same night I dreamt a pals ex was out on the landing and I was genuinely afraid to go out for a whizz so I haven't read a great deal into it.

Believe.

What? you didnt go out and rattle her? I dont know........

[Fitzy]

Unfortunately I think the French will have too much for us over two legs. If it was a one-off game I think we'd have a chance, but the best side always wins over two legs. I'd feel more confident if we had a natural left back playing instead of Kilbane, as I feel the French will definitely expose him at some point. I know we haven't got many options in this area but if Finnan was fit and O'Shea at left back I'd feel happier. I also worry about the fact that we rely heavily on our wingers for creativity, and France may nullify this due to having excellent full backs in Sagna and Evra.

The major concern I have with Ireland is that we'll lack the belief that we can beat the French over two games. This is why I think it was so important to beat the Italians at Croke Park. We were never going to win the group as Italy were always going to beat Cyprus, but it would have given us the belief that we can actually beat one of the top nations in a competitve game. We have not beaten any top nation in a qualifier since 2001 so it's hard to understand people's confidence on here. A 1-0 win in Croke Park is essential to give us any chance in Paris. God knows I hope I'm wrong but if we beat the French over two legs it will surpass any of our previous achievements.

[SuperDave]

Had a dream the other night we lost 2-3 in Dublin and drew 2-2 over there.

Though the same night I dreamt a pals ex was out on the landing and I was genuinely afraid to go out for a whizz so I haven't read a great deal into it.

Believe.

Well I also had a dream that involved us leading 1-0 at half time in Dublin but us then winning the first leg 7-3 (!) overall. I spent the second half in a cramped room with a small window looking out onto the pitch.

In short, don't read too much into your dreams.

[paul_oshea]

Had a dream the other night we lost 2-3 in Dublin and drew 2-2 over there.

Though the same night I dreamt a pals ex was out on the landing and I was genuinely afraid to go out for a whizz so I haven't read a great deal into it.

Believe.

So it wasn't a wet dream then?!

[Scram]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie
Had a dream the other night we lost 2-3 in Dublin and drew 2-2 over there.

Though the same night I dreamt a pals ex was out on the landing and I was genuinely afraid to go out for a whizz so I haven't read a great deal into it.

Believe.


So it wasn't a wet dream then?!

Sounds like it may have been deppending where he "whizzed".

No sh!tting here, but about 2 weeks ago I had a dream of France scoring two in rapid succession within the first twenty minutes or so...don't know if we scored four in the second half of my dream though!

[Colbert Report]

Just looking at the odds for France to qualify, they are almost exactly the same price as Liverpool are to beat Birmingham today.

[youngirish]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie
Had a dream the other night we lost 2-3 in Dublin and drew 2-2 over there.

Though the same night I dreamt a pals ex was out on the landing and I was genuinely afraid to go out for a whizz so I haven't read a great deal into it.

Believe.



Sounds like it may have been deppending where he "whizzed".

No sh!tting here, but about 2 weeks ago I had a dream of France scoring two in rapid succession within the first twenty minutes or so...don't know if we scored four in the second half of my dream though!

Speaking of which I had a dream a few weeks ago of us winning in Paris after a draw in Dublin with an amazing performance when nobody gave us a hope.

[paul_oshea]

I had a dream....

I dreamed a dream.

Im hoping to have a dream like that, but while im awake!!!

[Brendan 82]

Lloris conceded 5 at the wknd.

Lloris
Gallas Abidal

Theirin lies our best chance of turning these kunts over

[SuperDave]

Lloris conceded 5 at the wknd.

Lloris
Gallas Abidal

Theirin lies our best chance of turning these kunts over

Arsenal have been conceding a few this season. More than (or the same as) Chelsea, United, Villa, Fulham, Birmingham and City. They have been a bit weak at the back although maybe largely down to not playing a strong defensive midfielder.

[elroy]

Lloris conceded 5 at the wknd.

Lloris
Gallas Abidal

Theirin lies our best chance of turning these kunts over

I agree, def the area of the field where we can exploit and set pieces too. I think we are at a par with Romania if not better and their two games were score draws.

Gallas should certainly be targeted, Arsenal are conceding alot this year and I think Vermalen has made Gallas look better than he actually is. Wouldnt it be sweet to see Gallas lose the plot again in paris!!

[carloz]

1-0 victory for us in Croker. Liam Lawrence free kick after 16 minutes. Constant pressure for us afterwards.
2-1 defeat in Paris. Concede two goals in the first half an hour. Trap works his magic. Leon Best scores in the 81st minute. Cue 15 minutes of severe squaky bum time where we even clear off the line.




Believe

[SkStu]

i dreamt a couple of nights ago that Leon Best scored to make it 1-1 in Paris. I dont know what that meant for qualification because before long i was on a magic carpet flying over London showering the city with cream cakes.

[Infadel]

Okay I know some of these players don't play with France but any French international defender/goalkeeper involved in this match looks suspecting after this scoreline:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/ligue-1/2009-2010/olympique-lyon-olympique-marseille-283997.html

Maybe we can take advantage of this

[SkStu]

the french are widely known as cheese eating surrender monkeys.

Maybe we can take advantage of this.

[LeBleu]

Bonsoir.

Well,
- we have good players
-but we have also the most incompetent (he has never won A SINGLE trophy during his carrier) and loony human coach on earth(although sometimes this ridiculous guy can be so funny, we've got lots of very laughin stories about him)
-we dont have supporters (especially at Paris)
-we love to be proud of our defeats

-Your players are techincally limited but brave
-Your coach is a genius
-Your supporters are like a green tide with high waves.

I wish a France's victory. 0-0 at Croke Park and 1-0 at Stade de France. I even hope of crazy match with 4 goals in a stadium in fusion (I'm waiting so long to watch a fuc***g France's match with thrills on my back and rage on my heart. ..arggggh . Maybe the nov 18 , who knows??)

But if Eire score only one goal at Paris I think it will be over for us.

Finally ..we would be forever rid of Domenech, that will be not so bad.


A bored but still faithful french supporter.




Blue cheese is so good.

[paul_oshea]

I dreamt that number 1 was gary breen. That number 2 was gary breen.

By the end of the dream it was a team full of gary breens,....weird

[OwenGoal]

Bonsoir.

Well,
- we have good players
-but we have also the most incompetent (he has never won A SINGLE trophy during his carrier) and loony human coach on earth(although sometimes this ridiculous guy can be so funny, we've got lots of very laughin stories about him)
-we dont have supporters (especially at Paris)
-we love to be proud of our defeats

-Your players are techincally limited but brave
-Your coach is a genius
-Your supporters are like a green tide with high waves.

I wish a France's victory. 0-0 at Croke Park and 1-0 at Stade de France. I even hope of crazy match with 4 goals in a stadium in fusion (I'm waiting so long to watch a fuc***g France's match with thrills on my back and rage on my heart. ..arggggh . Maybe the nov 18 , who knows??)

But if Eire score only one goal at Paris I think it will be over for us.

Finally ..we would be forever rid of Domenech, that will be not so bad.


A bored but still faithful french supporter.




Blue cheese is so good.

Ne t'inquiet pas. Vous allez gagnez sur 180 mins. Mais, Domenech! Le roi des cons. Il est notre seul espoir.

[Junior]

Okay I know some of these players don't play with France but any French international defender/goalkeeper involved in this match looks suspecting after this scoreline:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/ligue-1/2009-2010/olympique-lyon-olympique-marseille-283997.html

Maybe we can take advantage of this

5-5 with 5 goals coming in the last 9 minutes? As long as the lads remember it aint over till the fat heffer sings we have a chance

[geysir]

Unfortunately for les Bleus, using my wife's trusty Aleister Crowley tarot deck, I did the definitive 6-card "yes or no" tarot spread and received the most emphatic positive endorsement for Ireland.
But that result hasn't made any inroads into my overall state of negativity.

[geysir]

Ne t'inquiet pas. Vous allez gagnez sur 180 mins. Mais, Domenech! Le roi des cons. Il est notre seul espoir.

Ask him what's his opinion of the Andy Reid exile, framed for a crime he claims his innocence of.

[sheao]

Ireland in my opinion must win the home leg if they are to win the play off. It is possible if we can draw but it is realistic if we can manage to win Saturday night and taking an advantage going into the game in the Stade de France.

[Emmet7]

Bonsoir.

Well,
- we have good players
-but we have also the most incompetent (he has never won A SINGLE trophy during his carrier) and loony human coach on earth(although sometimes this ridiculous guy can be so funny, we've got lots of very laughin stories about him)
-we dont have supporters (especially at Paris)
-we love to be proud of our defeats

-Your players are techincally limited but brave
-Your coach is a genius
-Your supporters are like a green tide with high waves.

I wish a France's victory. 0-0 at Croke Park and 1-0 at Stade de France. I even hope of crazy match with 4 goals in a stadium in fusion (I'm waiting so long to watch a fuc***g France's match with thrills on my back and rage on my heart. ..arggggh . Maybe the nov 18 , who knows??)

But if Eire score only one goal at Paris I think it will be over for us.

Finally ..we would be forever rid of Domenech, that will be not so bad.


A bored but still faithful french supporter.




Blue cheese is so good.

This is someone pretending to be a French supporter surely.

He clearly overdoes it with with the "Blue cheese is so good" ending.

Good effort though.

I like this line, "We've got lots of very laughin stories about him".

Most French people are just as barmy as Domenech just as most English people are like Terry Venables, so I doubt this really is a French person.

[SkStu]

This is someone pretending to be an French supporter surely.

He clearly overdoes it with with the "Blue cheese is so good" ending.

Good effort though.

I like this line, "We've got lots of laughin stories about him".

Most French people are just as barmy as Domenech just as most English people are like Terry Venables, so I doubt this really is a French person.

nice edit.

i thought his blue cheese remark was a little dig at my earlier post.

Im pretty sure he is French. I dont see why someone would go to the trouble of making a pretend French person profile here...

Cymro, Montenegrin etc - do you doubt those posters too?

[Emmet7]

Ireland in my opinion must win the home leg if they are to win the play off. It is possible if we can draw but it is realistic if we can manage to win Saturday night and taking an advantage going into the game in the Stade de France.

The key in Croke Park is to keep it as tight as possible. I know that will frustrate everyone, the fans in Croker and at home, Dunphy, Giles, O'Herlihy, Ronnie Whelan, the newspaper journos and so on and so forth.

But an open expansive high scoring game would not be in our interests.

2 - 1 to Ireland from Croker would mean a French goal scored late in the Paris match would win the tie, that's if we decide to shut up shop in Paris, which I have a feeling Trap would be inclined to do, as that was his habit whenever Italy went ahead in important games.

0-0, 1-1, or 1-0 would be acceptable results. 2-0 to us in Dublin and I'd say the tie is ours.

2-1, 2-2, 1-2 or higher scores and the challenge will be much greater in Paris.

I expect the Croke Park game to be very tight with few chances, a very staid boring game. And no, Andy Reid wouldn't be of help, not when we need everything as tight as possible.

[LeBleu]

Ne t'inquiet pas. Vous allez gagnez sur 180 mins. Mais, Domenech! Le roi des cons. Il est notre seul espoir.

Si si je 'minquiète. I'm impatient to know the team composition

[QUOTE=Emmet7;1268984]


I like this line, "We've got lots of very laughin stories about him".

QUOTE]

Maybe you know some of this stories:

In the past, the rumour say that he choose player by zodiac signs.

After the defeat against Italy during the Euro 2008 he asked in marriage (?) his girlfriend live on "after match" tv interview.

At the beginning of the "Domenech era" Pirès was not chosen in the team because he had a "very, very, very close relationship" with the same girlfriend.

In the past Ludovic Giuly was not chosen because he sent "warm" sms at always the same girlfriend.

And I didn't talk about his wonderful sense of tactical. bah!

Sorry for my language.

LeBleu vous salut bien bas.

[OwlsFan]

0-1 for France at Croker and 1-1 away (we take the lead and the French equalise with 2 minutes to go - Kilbane giving the ball away and Henry scores).

Optimistic, eh? The team will come over to us and applaud us. We'll applaud them. More heart ache until the next qualification campaign begins but it remains there forever at the back of one's subconscious like the Turkey and Belgium play offs.

[Scram]

Si si je 'minquiète. I'm impatient to know the team composition

[QUOTE=Emmet7;1268984]


I like this line, "We've got lots of very laughin stories about him".

QUOTE]

Maybe you know some of this stories:

In the past, the rumour say that he choose player by zodiac signs.

After the defeat against Italy during the Euro 2008 he asked in marriage (?) his girlfriend live on "after match" tv interview.

At the beginning of the "Domenech era" Pirès was not chosen in the team because he had a "very, very, very close relationship" with the same girlfriend.

In the past Ludovic Giuly was not chosen because he sent "warm" sms at always the same girlfriend.

And I didn't talk about his wonderful sense of tactical. bah!

Sorry for my language.

LeBleu vous salut bien bas.

Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu, HILARIOUS, what a fruit cake or gateaux de fruit as les Bleus say.

[paul_oshea]

0-1 for France at Croker and 1-1 away (we take the lead and the French equalise with 2 minutes to go - Kilbane giving the ball away and Henry scores).

Optimistic, eh? The team will come over to us and applaud us. We'll applaud them. More heart ache until the next qualification campaign begins but it remains there forever at the back of one's subconscious like the Turkey and Belgium play offs.

I thanked your post, not in an insightful thank you for informing me, perhaps there should be an agreement button too?, because the last paragraph is what I agree with. Its always there...

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/triumph-and-disaster-1938431.html

[elroy]

Si si je 'minquiète. I'm impatient to know the team composition

[QUOTE=Emmet7;1268984]


I like this line, "We've got lots of very laughin stories about him".

QUOTE]

Maybe you know some of this stories:

In the past, the rumour say that he choose player by zodiac signs.

After the defeat against Italy during the Euro 2008 he asked in marriage (?) his girlfriend live on "after match" tv interview.

At the beginning of the "Domenech era" Pirès was not chosen in the team because he had a "very, very, very close relationship" with the same girlfriend.

In the past Ludovic Giuly was not chosen because he sent "warm" sms at always the same girlfriend.

And I didn't talk about his wonderful sense of tactical. bah!

Sorry for my language.

LeBleu vous salut bien bas.

LeBleu if that is your real name, i wish i shared your optimism, surely you guys have to be confident, yes not in your manager but in your team or at least certain individual players?

Any weaknesses in the team we should be looking out for?

We've a guy played left back, goes by the name of Kevin Kilbane, a legend in these parts......remember the name!! :D

[paul_oshea]

Be afraid be very afraid les bleus of said player.

He is just like Zidane, is our kevin kilbane.

Its just like watching zidane, our kevin kilbane.

[LeBleu]

Any weaknesses in the team we should be looking out for?

We've a guy played left back, goes by the name of Kevin Kilbane, a legend in these parts......remember the name!! :D


I'm very scared about the central defense particulary on high balls, but the real black spot is our defense on free kick and corner, lots of goals scored by opponents and Mr Domenech says it's useless to work this points at the training (maybe he has changed his point of view)

Often there's no link between offense and defense.


we have good goalkeepers but Lloris can fail under event's pressure.

Watch out about Gignac, these guy is very powerfull and he has a great fighting spirit on the field unlike Benzema who is so indolent.

Keep an eye on Govou, he is on big rush at the present time.

And if Gourcuff will be in good physicals conditions you could apreciate his impressive class and technique.

About Kilbane is not this player able to play everywhere on the field, isn't he ?

[paul_oshea]

I think you mean John Oshea.

But kilbane could also play everywhere. he is our secret weapon. We have kept him under wraps, and made it really unobvious by allowing him to score own goals to conceal his greatness. But be afraid, be very afraid in the two legs where he will be a shining light in a dark dark tunnel filled with fear and trepidation.

Unless you have a different meaning of "play" ;)

[youngirish]

If France have a bad day (2 days) I could see us sneaking the win over the two legs probably on away goals. However if they hit form they'll destroy our midfield and left side of defence. We are a very limited side no matter what many like to believe on here though Trap has made us well organised and difficult to play against.

I'd also worry about the ref giving them a helping hand in Paris with free-kicks, penalties, off side decisions, sending offs and the like.

[geysir]

We will be meeting a French team at its WC qualifier peak, just as we should be at our equivalent peak. If we win, it won't be sneaky, it will be entirely on merit.

[Scram]

We will be meeting a French team at its WC qualifier peak, just as we should be our equivalent peak. If we win, it won't be sneaky, it will be entirely on merit.

Can't say that we are at our peak!

[geysir]

Never said that.
I said WC qualifier peak.

[rebelmusic]

Dunno if this has been mentioned, but read in the paper today that france have never qualified for a WC when it was the start of a decade. They only appeared in 1930 when fifa invited them specifically. Nice omen!

[Metrostars]

1-0 to us at the Croker and 1-0 to us in Paris. First game will be decided by a 35th minute header from none other than Sean St Ledger off a corner kick. Baton down the hatches time but heroic defending by Dunne and O'Shea along with breathtaking goalkeeping from Shay preserve the slender lead.

The second game will be a tense affair and will get very nervy just before half time when Kilbane gets away with pulling down Henry in the penalty area. Two minutes after half time the reverse happens when Aiden McGeady takes a dive in the penalty area with the referee ruling that Gallas tripped him. Robbie makes it 2-0 on aggregate, Domenech in his wisdom substitutes Henry in the 66th and France's challenge ends rather meekly.

[stiffler]

1 nil at Croke, Dunne to score header, 58th min. (125/1 now lads- lump on).

Squeaky bum time in Paris but we pull through in the end.

[Hibernian]

I hope we do it I really do.

Il go 1-1 from first leg then 2-2 in second that will do.

We wont beat them but they wont beat us and we get through on away goals.

Ill take that

[Fixer82]

howya lads. My maiden post so go easy on me :)

I predict a 0-0 in Croker and 1-1 over there with some very tense final minutes for the boys in green. I would personally go for Lawrence and Duff in Croker. Lawrence is more defensive than McGeady and probably more consistent though obviously doesnt have as much flair.
McGeady can be brought on if that spark is needed. As can Hunt!

I think it would be good for us if we don't win at home but obviously don't concede. If we do they will be all guns blazing over there from the get-go and that could be disastrous for us!

[geysir]

France have never qualified for the Finals through the play offs before.

[Yard of Pace]

The world gives their predictions:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1131239.html#who+will+play+heroes

Nice to read messages from fellas in Italy and Argentina hoping we dump out France!

[FatGav]

A clean sheet at Croker is crucial. I don't fancy us if the French have their tails up with an away goal. I'd honestly nearly take 0-0 over a 2-1 win because if we go over there knowing we can go through with a score draw, we'd play with more confidence then if we defended with ten men for ninety minutes.

[paul_oshea]

are you saying france haven't played in the playoffs before/

[Hibernian]

Just thinking there this day next week ill be stuck in Luton airport after getting flight from Dublin waiting for flight next morning to Paris...hmm only 168 hours go then till that torture lol

[geysir]

are you saying france haven't played in the playoffs before/
That may be the reason for them not qualifying through the play offs.

We are experienced hands when it comes to doing play offs.