Republic of Ireland V Armenia - Tuesday, 11th October 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[Sullivinho]

I worry about a sending off as well if we get too stuck in. Andrews in particular comes to mind after some of his tasty tackles in Andorra.

I wouldn't want either Andrews or Whelan to do something silly or Rooneyesque (in the temperamental sense. They're more than welcome to score a screamer or two) but I hope they're more 'hands-on' than standoffish tbh. I'd be happy to see 'em making things uncomfortable for these fellas from the off. Within the rules of course.

[Straightstory]

Its all just so... predictable.

Cox was always going to get picked if Keane was injured, Trap loves him ever since the N. Ireland game. Kelly was always ahead of Coleman for the full-back slot. Naming the team early isn't really a problem, you could name the team for a game in 6 months if all you were told is who was injured.

The game will go (assuming nothing freak like a bad injury or Shay Given getting sent off early on):

First 15-20 minutes Ireland on top, Doyle misses a chance, McGeady gets a few crosses in. *Maybe* a goal, probably from a set piece.

20-30min- Armenia get back into it. Counter attack forces Given into a good block save.

Until half time Ireland on the back foot, defenders have to block shots, Given makes at least one save, commentators moan about not keeping possession.

2nd half: Armenia get going after 50 minutes. Cross field balls and wingers cutting inside cause Ireland problems. Andrews and Whelan anonymous.

Hunt for McGeady 60-65 minutes

Brief rally from Duff and Hunt swapping wings.

Long for Cox 70 minute ish

Teams level (1-1 or 0-0) at 75 minutes

Fahey on for whatever midfielder is on a yellow card in the last 10 minutes

Final whistle, play-offs.


Excellent prediction... Presumably followed by inevitable elimination in play-off.

[outspoken]

Really excited for this game any word on how many tickets have been sold?

[third policeman]

There is no shame or humiliation in qualifying for a major tournament.


Ask the French about that. The shame would be going there, not playing to our potential and confounding national expectations with a series of mediocre, defensive and ugly performances.

[OwlsFan]

A friend of mine has sent me the Armenian team:

Fabian - a star in the 60s but way past it now
Lesbian - good at one-on-one
Fallopian - defender who's always getting himself tied up in knots
Dystopian - a real enforcer in midfield
Utopian - always looking for the perfect pass
Agrarian - fairly agricultural defender
Authoritarian - midfield general
Draconian - don't mess with him
Cyprian - a plonker that once hung around with Bertie
Thespian - bit of a play actor.
Optician - great vision
Pedestrian - handy winger but dreadfully slow; good at crossing though

[Stuttgart88]

They haven't been the same since Gerryryan passed away.

Tonyryan can really fly when he gets going.

[Sullivinho]

Amphibian named on the bench. A slippery customer.

Barbarian is serving a suspension.

[jbyrne]

Really excited for this game any word on how many tickets have been sold?

all but 300 general tickets sold. id say premium will be half empty as usual. 45,000 id say

[Stuttgart88]

Barbarian is serving a suspension.

Disciplinarian has no such problems.

[Stuttgart88]

all but 300 general tickets sold. id say premium will be half empty as usual. 45,000 id say
I'd take that. Not bad given recent attendances.

[shakermaker1982]

Judgement day and no nerves yet. Must be sleep deprivation.

I just hope the Trap asks the team to trust themselves and try and keep the ball. Lumping it back to a team which loves the ball and who attack in waves is suicide. McGeady and Duff need to be on their A game. If we can get at their full backs, draw fouls and steal a goal or two from a set piece we should be fine.

[Stuttgart88]

My recollection from Yerevan is that we created 3 one-on-one's from simple hoofs up the pitch that went straight over their CBs' heads.

[lionelhutz]

I'd be pleasantly surprised if there were 45,000 there tonight. That would be more than the Slovakia game - which was on a Friday night. Unfortuantely I can't make this game but I really hope the crowd gets behind the team.

We won't have the ball for long periods but that shouldn't mean that the crowd get on their backs. Lets hope for proper support and a solid win - 2-0.

[BonnieShels]

all but 300 general tickets sold. id say premium will be half empty as usual. 45,000 id say

The Herald were giving away 50 tickets this week. I'd say the sold amount is a lot lower than the attendance.

[MagicMon]

My recollection from Yerevan is that we created 3 one-on-one's from simple hoofs up the pitch that went straight over their CBs' heads.

Would be the perfect tactic if Long was on the pitch, its all he seems to do for WBA

[Kingdom]

Re the back 4, I mentioned it in work yesterday that if it was me, I'd stick Kelly left full, as it would leave 3/4 of the back 4 in their usual positions together, rather than moving OShea and bringing in Kelly at RB. 1 change rather than 2 (or 2 changes rather than 3 if you include Richie Coming back).
Kelly is grand at LB. He'll be no different in how he approaches the game at LB than he will be at RB. Plus, and this isn't meant as an insult, when we don't have a measured passing style, being on his weaker foot won't make much of a difference to how we work our way into the game.
It has to be said as well, that Kelly is a smashing bloke and one of the games nice guys, so it's nice to see him getting game time.

About the atmosphere, it's as damp here in D2 as it is in the audience of a take that concert. Humid too, so the pitch should be quite greasy come kickoff which will lend itself to all sorts of capers. The Lansdowne end should look well tonight, I've heard there is going to be a plain green crowd cover for our end.

[Stuttgart88]

It has to be said as well, that Kelly is a smashing bloke and one of the games nice guys, so it's nice to see him getting game time. agree on that point.

[bennocelt]

He is rubbish though!

[jbyrne]

oshea has played LB many many times for man utd. far happier with him there than kelly. kelly will be decent at RB where he performed well away v russia

[Murfinator]

Would fancy Kelly as a much better LB than Ward in truth.

[Crosby87]

If we were Russian we would have already paid some of the Armenians off to take a dive. Thats what we should have been doing this week.

[Noelys Guitar]

Really looking forward to the game. A bit nervous but what an opportunity we have tonight to get to another play-off. We can get our foot in the door tonight and start to believe we can get to the 2012 finals. A team not too far away are looking forward to bringing in Ian Dowie. Phew!

[pineapple stu]

If we were Russian we would have already paid some of the Armenians off to take a dive. Thats what we should have been doing this week.
Why would the Armenians deliberately lose a match that they need to win, and which is the single most important game they've ever played?

[Wolfie]

Really looking forward to the game. A bit nervous but what an opportunity we have tonight to get to another play-off. We can get our foot in the door tonight and start to believe we can get to the 2012 finals. A team not too far away are looking forward to bringing in Ian Dowie. Phew!

Last post before I head to the game. Unbearable Pre Match Tension as usual.

Come on Ireland!!!

[geysir]

Josh is a nice bloke too , why can't he play at LB?

[Colbert Report]

He has a weak left foot

[dynamo kerry]

does anyone remember the turn of the century when arsenal were getting hockeyed away in europe..
opposition defences would watch with glee as the entire team ran forward

"is that their full backs in our half.. ok then"

they'd soak it up and belt back up the pitch, counter attacking at home - cue couple of goals.

I suspect this may be a pattern we see tonight

[Charlie Darwin]

Surely that would require Ireland to actually counter attack?

[Stuttgart88]

From rte.ie

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Mark Kinsella on Ireland being without Robbie Keane tonight:

"It will be a big blow. That is where the goals have been coming from the last couple of games".

Ehm, he didn't score in Andorra, and Ireland didn't score in the previous two games. Just saying like...

[bennocelt]

Stream working fine again, great, up early so get to hear the boyz in the studio - been a while i heard them
http://magic-tv.co/?page_id=1138

[SwanVsDalton]

Don't know if anyone posted it yet, but tonight's subs. They could yet be crucial:

Westwood; Coleman; Walters; Long; Hunt; Fahey; O'Dea

[AlaskaFox]

2-0. Cox 36, 57.

[theworm2345]

What a ****ing time for my internet to go to ****. ****ing **** piece of ****

[paul_oshea]

Ah worm updates committing quite a few forward.

[tricky_colour]

If we were Russian we would have already paid some of the Armenians off to take a dive. Thats what we should have been doing this week.

Ireland can't afford to pay them off!!

[SkStu]

one thing clear so far - the Armenians dont like Cox in their face.

[French Toasht]

They have spotted where our attacking threat comes from. Have two men on Duffer and McGeady every time they have the ball on the wings. Difficult to see where goals are going to come from.

[dr_peepee]

They're very good at shrewed little nudges whilst we're in posession in their half...

[tricky_colour]

Dam missed first 20 minutes, BBC said kick off was 7.45!!:mad:

[tricky_colour]

Yes!!!

[thischarmingman]

Sweeeet

[paul_oshea]

Very harsh on them.cox handled it first

[theworm2345]

Very harsh on them.cox handled it first
Yeah no question, though it was stupid of their keeper. I say replay the match.

[dr_peepee]

The replays aren't conclusive on the hand ball... looked like his chest to me at the first couple of veiws.

I'm almost dreading playing against 10 given how we play,,,, almost!!

[Closed Account]

Had a feeling we'd get a slice of luck. Lucky that the linesman didn't see Coxs handball first.

Now make the free kick count, roll back to Andrews, bang.

[backstothewall]

Replays inconclusive but probably more of a HB by Cox than their keeper. Karma for the rolling and getting on earlier maybe.

[thischarmingman]

Bit harsh I think. Then again, the way he raised his hands was stupid anyway, just asking for trouble.

[tricky_colour]

Hard to tel from replay, looked like it caught his arm pit/lower arm.
However he put his hands up.
Hard to tell on a stream.

[paul_oshea]

Ah its instinctive.can't punish for being instinctive

[shakermaker1982]

Handballs and Ireland seem to go hand in hand in the big games!! Just hope ref doesn't try to make amends for his error in 2nd half.