Estonia V Ireland - Friday, 11th November 2011 - Euro 2012 Play Off 1st Leg

[Kingdom]

Lads (and ladettes) my last post before the game - enjoy and fingers crossed for us all. Hopefully we'll be all celebrating under a bridge somewhere tonight!

[SkStu]

had a dream last night. It was 2-0 to us at half time and magically became 4-0 about a half second later so im pretty confident that that is whats going to happen tonight. I also dreamt i was project managing a huge multi-million dollar construction development so it was good to get a "heads up" on that.

[French Toasht]

RTE are still saying Walters is favourite but with RTE you never know if they have info or are just 2 days behind on the rumours.

Nevermind RTE. They are still reporting that Estonian striker, Sergei Zenjov is due to play Tuesday night, despite being pulled from the squad due to injury over two weeks ago.

I sooner rely on the fine establishment of journalism that is the Daily mail over RTE. Looks like its Cox. Would have loved to see Walters start, would have given us another dimension.

[legendz]

Far too much positive vibes going around for my liking. Doesn't feel like the day of an Irish game.
This place should be full of people giving out about formations and tactics and selections.

I'm going for a nervy 0-0 draw. With people complaining afterwards that we're boring.
The less hype between tonight and Tuesday the better. God help us if we get a positive result and the country gets into a frenzy over the weekend and the complacency rubs off on the players.


It could happen. The hype is being built. People are joining the bandwagon. They'll even be complaining after the first 20-25 minutes about the football being served up. I'm expecting a boring game. I think we'll win though, similar in some respect to Macedonia away.

[elroy]

Being twoing and froing between Walters and Cox and I think ive concluded that I think Cox should start. He has done well when he has played for us so far, man of the match the last day so seems to be little reason to drop him, with the exception of that he hasnt got much game time at WBA. He links well with Keane and also I think Walters is probably a better option off the bench for the last 20 mins and more likely to get us a goal from the bench if required.

Nerves are all over the place now. Im not likely the OTT optimisim on the RTE feed. I hope we win tonight and at least a score draw but this is not going to be easy by any means.

[legendz]

RTE are still saying Walters is favourite but with RTE you never know if they have info or are just 2 days behind on the rumours.

Ah jayz, this is predictable. RTE will start with a half hour of moaning over this decision. Macedonia away, the lads got the result. I'm hoping for the same tonight. RTE's panel were complaining after that match as well. I won't bother listening to them if that's their carry on. There's no need for it. I know they pride themselves on being honest and upfront unlike them across the water but they don't half moan when there's no need.

[legendz]

Being twoing and froing between Walters and Cox and I think ive concluded that I think Cox should start. He has done well when he has played for us so far, man of the match the last day so seems to be little reason to drop him, with the exception of that he hasnt got much game time at WBA. He links well with Keane and also I think Walters is probably a better option off the bench for the last 20 mins and more likely to get us a goal from the bench if required.

Nerves are all over the place now. Im not likely the OTT optimisim on the RTE feed. I hope we win tonight and at least a score draw but this is not going to be easy by any means.

Macedonia away has to be taken into account as well. It was an important win off the back of withdrawals etc. It was a game as well where Whelan-Andrews though not the creative forces at least showed up when the creative players stayed away.

[John83]

Reading the Guardian's live football blog they mentioned an interesting stat — Given has saved 4 of the last 23 penalties taken against him in the Premier League. That's an average of almost one save for every five penalties. I think we'd take Estonia if it came to a shootout though.
How many of them were misses? Because if all 19 he didn't save went in, that's well above average. Only something like 70% of penalties go in.

[drummerboy]

Having felt this nervous in many a year. Time for a bit of good news for our country.

[legendz]

Having felt this nervous in many a year. Time for a bit of good news for our country.

Were you not before France two years ago? Macedonia away in June was a big game at the time. Potential banana skin, was great to get the win there.

[DannyInvincible]

Just on for a few minutes as I'm rushing straight out again to get a prime viewing spot in the pub. Shaking like a leaf and running about like a child with excitement. Tickets arrived for Tuesday night, thank God. Hope everyone enjoys the game. C'mon you boys in green!

[French Toasht]

Just stuck a tenner on 4 draws. 109-1. Sure would be wrong not to!

[drummerboy]

Were you not before France two years ago? Macedonia away in June was a big game at the time. Potential banana skin, was great to get the win there.

In honesty, I wasn't expecting us to beat France two years ago, especially after the first leg.

[AlaskaFox]

Rising sons is already online somewhere, downloaded it just over a week ago but had to search on google for ages. will have a look now and see if i can find the link

Did you find it?

[punkrocket]

As today is 11/11/11 the score has to be 1-1.

[richieos]

Did you find it?

Afraid not mate sorry. i have it on the laptop and can upload it over the next couple of days if that helps, have to head out now though, some match on tonight apparantley :p

[Straightstory]

Ah jayz, this is predictable. RTE will start with a half hour of moaning over this decision. Macedonia away, the lads got the result. I'm hoping for the same tonight. RTE's panel were complaining after that match as well. I won't bother listening to them if that's their carry on. There's no need for it. I know they pride themselves on being honest and upfront unlike them across the water but they don't half moan when there's no need.

They have every right to moan. Ireland have been very poor in this group, and lucky to get this far. However, they'll beat Estonia handily enough. And by the law of averages, they might even be involved in a vaguely entertaining game tonight. (!!!!!!)

[zero]

i'm actually finding the walters v cox debate a welcome distraction from the game itself. if we knew the first 11 all we'd have left to ponder is how the game itself could go horribly wrong...

as it is, i just keep saying 'walters? cox?' over and over in my mind like a demented person.

thanks trap!

[lionelhutz]

Just going online to Paddys to back Ireland -1 at 4/1. I'm confident! Although I always am on the day of the game.

Still in the office, thankfully I've been kept busy with income tax season so I haven't been able to drive myself demented in the last few days like I usually would.

I really believe in this team, we have no Keane (Roy), McGrath or Giles but by God do these lads work for each other. They've put in four years of hard work and consistently good results. They deserve to qualify and I believe they will!

2-0 Ireland. Walters and Keane.

[IsMiseSean]

I had a dream last night Walters put us 1 up in the first 10mins, I woke up before the game ended though...
We were also wearing pink jerseys oddly enough!! I wonder which is most likely to happen tonight??

[elroy]

Just going online to Paddys to back Ireland -1 at 4/1. I'm confident! Although I always am on the day of the game.

Still in the office, thankfully I've been kept busy with income tax season so I haven't been able to drive myself demented in the last few days like I usually would.

I really believe in this team, we have no Keane (Roy), McGrath or Giles but by God do these lads work for each other. They've put in four years of hard work and consistently good results. They deserve to qualify and I believe they will!

2-0 Ireland. Walters and Keane.

God that is confidence. Not sure im liking alot of this confidence that is about, its not natural for us. Think we will do it but it is a two legged affair dont forget. Cant be won tonight but could be lost. A score draw or a win would be fantastic.

I believe in this team, I believe in the manager and his system. Lets do it lads, we need something to look forward to next summer. COME ON YBIG!!!

[back of the net]

I believe in this team, I believe in the manager and his system. Lets do it lads, we need something to look forward to next summer. COME ON YBIG!!!


F*cking Love it!!!!! COME ON IRELAND ......... THIS IS IT.....NO REGRETS

[Eirambler]

Estonian team named, here's what we're up against:

Sergei Pareiko - 34 yr old keeper, plays for Wisla Krakow (Polish Champions), looks of a decent standard

Enar Jääger - 26 yr old defender, plays for Aalesunds (9th in Norway), failed to make the grade in Serie B recently

Raio Piiroja - 32 yr old defender, recently signed for Vitesse (4th in Netherlands) from Fredrikstad (13th in Norway)

Ragnar Klavan - 26 yr old defender, plays for AZ Alkmaar (1st in the Netherlands), clearly their best available defender on paper

Andrei Stepanov - 32 yr old defender, plays for FC Gomel (3rd in Belarus) after a number of years of playing little first team football

Dmitri Kruglov - 27 yr old defender/midfielder, plays for Rostov (10th in Russia)

Martin Vunk - 27 yr old midfielder, plays for Nea Salamis Famagusta (5th in Cyprus)

Aleksandr Dmitrijev - 29 yr old midfielder, plays for FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast (8th in the Russian 2nd tier)

Konstantin Vassiljev - 27 yr old midfielder, recently signed for Amkar Perm (13th in Russia) from FC Koper (7th in Slovenia)

Tarmo Kink - 26 yr old forward, plays for Middlesbrough (3rd in English 2nd tier)

Jarmo Ahjupera - 27 yr old forward, plays for Gyor (2nd in Hungary)

[AlaskaFox]

Afraid not mate sorry. i have it on the laptop and can upload it over the next couple of days if that helps, have to head out now though, some match on tonight apparantley :p

Legend! Thanks.

[TrapAPony]

Walters starts according to SSN

[writerbk1969]

Great stats Eira...very nervous but no excuses. I don't expect it to be pretty but the bottom line is if we cant beat Estonia over 180 mins we dont deserve to be going to Euro 2012

[SkStu]

Walters starts according to SSN

yep, confirmed on BBC too. Thank the Lord!

[Eirambler]

Crafty from Trap, he waited for the Estonians to blink first and once he saw that the lad from FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast was playing he countered straight away with Walters...

[Colbert Report]

Any word on who's made the bench?

[PartySaint]

Westwood, McShane, Cox, Fahey, Keogh, Hunt

[Closed Account]

Right, I'm off, and don't expect to be sober again until Monday.
Come on you boys in green.

O'Dea is the 7th man on the bench

Westwood, McShane, Cox, Fahey, Keogh, Hunt, O'Dea

Missing out: Coleman, McCarthy, Gibson, Randolph

[Charlie Darwin]

Croatia 1-0 up on Turkey within 2 minutes. I'd take a bit of that tonight.

[Harry Tipper]

G'wan the Lads. 0-2. No bother!!

[sparky12345678]

any streams for the exiles?

[writerbk1969]

Turkey 1-0 down after 2 mins..delighted. Away goals rule counts?

[Philly]

any streams for the exiles?

There are a bunch of stream links here: http://www.freefootball.ws/upcoming.php

I just hope to find an RTE link for this one! Nerves kicking in now.

[TrapAPony]

Westwood, McShane, Cox, Fahey, Keogh, Hunt, O'Dea

Missing out: Coleman, McCarthy, Gibson, Randolph

Why????

[BonnieShels]

Come ooooooooooooooonnnnn!!!!!

[SkStu]

here we go! here we go! here we go! here we go! here we go!

[theworm2345]

Ahhh check out the 'stache on Walters...COME ON BOYS

[Paddy Garcia]

Cox singin the anthem - good lad!

[Closed Account]

Match thread worm?

[theworm2345]

Match thread worm?
What?

[SkStu]

Irska! Hrvatska!

[Closed Account]

will ya start a match thread? please.
makes it easier to catch up with.

[FarBeag]

http://sportingtv.eu/

[theworm2345]

will ya start a match thread? please.
makes it easier to catch up with.
OK
http://foot.ie/threads/159097-Ireland-vs-Estonia-(1st-Leg)-Match-Thread?p=1551736#post1551736

[ken foree]

walters is gonna be knackered at this rate

[BonnieShels]

What's with all the union jacks behind the Estonia goal?

[ken foree]

Yeeeeeeeeeesasssssssssssssssssssssssss