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

[French Toasht]

That one is lost on me . . .

Me also.

[theworm2345]

That one is lost on me . . .


Me also.
In America people getting bussed to "special education" ride the short bus. Must not be a thing in Ireland.

[paul_oshea]

It is.i got it.

[geysir]

It's a long stretch.

[theworm2345]

It's a long stretch.
I was joking because our midfield is ****, perhaps some of you lot should be on the short bus.

[tommy_c12000]

Oh right, it is just Minibuses have a wide variety of uses:

- In a public transport role, they can be used as fixed route transit buses, airport, flexible demand responsive transport vehicles, share taxis or large taxicabs. Accessible minibuses can also be used for paratransit type services, by local authorities, transit operators, hospitals or charities.
- Private uses of minibuses can include corporate transport, charter buses, tour buses. Schools, sports clubs, community groups and charities may also use minibuses for private transport. Individual owners may use reduced seating minibuses as cheap recreational vehicles.

So I didn't automatically make the connection between the minibus and people with learning disabilities. In retrospect, it required lateral thinking that proved beyond my intellect

[theworm2345]

Oh right, it is just Minibuses have a wide variety of uses:

Not here they don't, theres only one real use for them. Ah the cultural differences...

[Crosby87]

Some people call it the Tart Cart.

[pineapple stu]

So we've gone from midfielders to minibuses to mentally handicapped people to Molly Malone?

[geysir]

A 'tart cart' sounds more interesting.

[French Toasht]

It's a rather tasteless analogy if you ask me.

[theworm2345]

So we've gone from midfielders to minibuses to mentally handicapped people to Molly Malone?
Perhaps this is why most Americans just stick to fart jokes. Surely then I should do something with Cockles and Mussels.

[geysir]

It's a rather tasteless analogy if you ask me.

Were we not on the same track?


http://www.odlums.ie/uploads/images/AppTart.jpg

[SwanVsDalton]

Pilkington would accept a call up I feel. I hate saying it, but he is not the requisite standard for England, despite his recent rise to prominence.

You're probably right but Anthony might not agree!

[Kingdom]

Just on the ticket request, there was a genuine estonian on ybig last week and apparently they're only taking up 300/400 tickets, so there will be plenty of spares.
On other thing to consider... a few fellas have been ringing the ticket office, chancing the arm, and being offered tickets. It's worth a shot

[strangeirish]

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-11870311283124/shortbus-hoodie-black.gif

:nerd: 'Mon Ireland!

[SkStu]

so there will be plenty of spares.

are we still talking about the minibus?

[Littlest Hobo]

Right lads back to the match, sure isn't this what the thread is about!?

I have watched a load of highlights of Estonia on the net and am not in least bit concerned by them.
They were very poor against ukraine at home last month losing 0-2. Their defense was dodgy and conceded two soft goals.

I reckon they will field this team against us on friday. I have included their clubs and positions in that countries top division.

Pareiko (Wisla Krakow - Poland 6th) - Duff scored aginst him last week in the europa cup.:D

Stepanov (Gomel - Bulgaria Not in top division)
Piiroja (Vitesse - Holland 4th)
Kruglov (Rostov - Russia 10th)
Jaager (Aalesund - Norway 9th)

Puri (Papa - Hungary 10th)
Kink (Gyor - Hungary 2nd)
Vassijev (Amkar - Russia 12th)
Klavan (Az Alkmaar - Holland 1st)

Saag (Silkeborg - Denmark 8th)
Ahjupera (Gyor - Hungary 2nd)

They have a couple of decent players in Klavan and Vassijev. But I really believe we will have too much for them over both legs.

Confident of 1-0 win away and 2-1 at home.

:ball:

[pineapple stu]

Stepanov (Gomel - Bulgaria Not in top division)
Probably cos Gomel's in Belarus. ;) They're third in the top flight.

[Toolik]

Greetings from Estonia, lads.

Never mind the intrusion to your backyard. I've just been reading this thread for some time now and enjoyed it. I'll leave when our clash is over. Anyway, if you have any questions about our team or anything related to Estonia, you can post em' and I will try to answer (objectively!).

Glad we got Ireland. A nice set of fans you have! Also, your team is considered very playable by estonians: http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2011/10/15/estonians-celebrate-after-drawing-ireland-in-euro-2012-play-off/

Plus, I suggest you not to get overwhelmed about the friendly between Estonia and Ukraine. That wasn't our best squad out there and all the player's minds where on the Slovenia-Serbia game held on the same evening two hours later that would decide our fate in the qualifying group. Vassiljev couldn't even convert a penalty because of that as he said after the match. That game was forgotten before it started.

Little something from our forums:
http://www.reklaamiabi.eu/trappa.jpg

Cheers! :)

[tricky_colour]

Greetings Estonia. I think both sets of fans are pleased with the draw at the moment.
Do you have mini-buses in Estonia?

[French Toasht]

Hi Toolik, good to have you on board. Just a few questions for you about Friday night. Are we right to think you guys will play a 4-4-1-1 formation and try to keep things very tight in the first leg? Also with Vassiljev getting very little game time at club level, do you think he is lacking match fitness and will he start or come off the bench in the second half. Also what is the status of Joel Lindpere, is he officially back in the squad yet? A predicted first 11 would be great. I can tell you ours but as you probably know yourself, it picks itself really. Expect the exact same team as lined out against Armenia, with Keane replacing Doyle and Ward in for O'Shea.

Really, was there actual street parties "into the early hours of the morning" to celebrate Estonia drawing Ireland in the playoffs? I thought John Delaney (head of our Football Association) laughing when the draw was made was rather foolish, but this story seems to take arrogance to a whole new level.

[Yard of Pace]

I don't think that news article about street parties in Talinn is entirely serious, judging by some of the other articles on the site.

[paul_oshea]

Read the bloody url.

[Closed Account]

Final Squad Watch (http://a.snugboro.com/ireland)


Shay Given Started 90min
Keiren Westwood Started 90min
David Forde Started 90min


Stephen Ward Started 90min Goal
Richard Dunne Started 90min
Stephen Kelly Sub 45min
Paul McShane Unused Sub
Sean St Ledger Unused Sub
John O'Shea Injured
Darren O'Dea Injured


Aiden McGeady Started 90min Goal
Seamus Coleman Started 90min
Keith Andrews Started 90min
Stephen Hunt Started 90min
Keith Fahey Started 90min
Andy Keogh Started 76min
Damien Duff Started 71min
Glenn Whelan Started 69min
James McCarthy Unused Sub
Liam Lawrence Injured
Darron Gibson Injured


Kevin Doyle Started 90min
JonathanWalters Started 90min
Leon Best Started 73min
Simon Cox Started 71min
Shane Long Injured
Robbie Keane RSL 7th 02:00

Worryingly only 3 of our defenders saw game time, and our 1st defensive sub(McShane) hasn't seen gametime all season.

With other recent callups Foley and Delaney also injured, surely Kilbane, Clark or Wilson will be called up.

[Irwin3]

Final Squad Watch (http://a.snugboro.com/ireland)


Shay Given Started 90min
Keiren Westwood Started 90min
David Forde Started 90min


Stephen Ward Started 90min Goal
Richard Dunne Started 90min
Stephen Kelly Sub 45min
Paul McShane Unused Sub
Sean St Ledger Unused Sub
John O'Shea Injured
Darren O'Dea Injured


Aiden McGeady Started 90min Goal
Seamus Coleman Started 90min
Keith Andrews Started 90min
Stephen Hunt Started 90min
Keith Fahey Started 90min
Andy Keogh Started 76min
Damien Duff Started 71min
Glenn Whelan Started 69min
James McCarthy Unused Sub
Liam Lawrence Injured
Darron Gibson Injured


Kevin Doyle Started 90min
JonathanWalters Started 90min
Leon Best Started 73min
Simon Cox Started 71min
Shane Long Injured
Robbie Keane RSL 7th 02:00

Worryingly only 3 of our defenders saw game time, and our 1st defensive sub(McShane) hasn't seen gametime all season.

With other recent callups Foley and Delaney also injured, surely Kilbane, Clark or Wilson will be called up.

Also currently injured.

[Closed Account]

Also currently injured.Anyone have Alex Bruce's phone number?

[Paddy Garcia]

McShane's inclusion ahead of Clark and Wilson (missed today) is one of the great mysteries.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree with Joe.

I'm struggling to see how McShane won't be starting this Friday's game in Talinn.

Ward is suspended, KK not selected, JO'S injured. That probably means Kelly at LB with McShane playing RB. If DO'D is fit maybe he'll play LB, or a total wild card like Stephen Hunt. Will Trap be bold and pick Coleman at RB?

Put another way:

CBs pick themselves - Dunne & SSL.
RB options: Kelly, Coleman & McShane
LB options: Kelly, O'Dea

Trap likes Kelly, O'Dea and McShane. He trusts them. I'm not sure he trusts Coleman yet.

[tetsujin1979]

You sure Ward is suspended? Didn't he serve it vs Armenia?

[Stuttgart88]

Ah, that's where I've been getting muddled up. Thanks.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Anyone have Alex Bruce's phone number?

I suspect you're kidding Joe but in any event Alex Bruce hasn't been anywhere near a Leeds team that managed a very, very rare clean sheet today.

Welcome aboard Toolik. Good to have the input and banter with some Estonian supporters on here.

[shakermaker1982]

Talk about giving me a heart attack Stutts. I thought I had missed something when you were so sure McShane was gonna get the nod. Phew.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Anyone have Alex Bruce's phone number?
Not Brazil? Nigel Worthington?

[ArdeeBhoy]

McShane's inclusion ahead of Clark and Wilson (missed today) is one of the great mysteries.

It just proves Trap is as idiotic as some of his predecessors...
:(

[AlaskaFox]

You sure Ward is suspended? Didn't he serve it vs Armenia?

He did.

[geysir]

We could pick a team where the bulk of the players come from the glitter football teams of Stoke and Wolves. Times sure are hard.

I for one, am content that Wilson is not near the team, he's a good country mile (ability wise) behind Ward for that LB position.

[pineapple stu]

Anyway, if you have any questions about our team or anything related to Estonia, you can post em' and I will try to answer (objectively!).
Is there any any chance of getting tickets over there?

[IsMiseSean]

Ken Early saying Liam Lawrence is out of both games with an ankle injury
http://twitter.com/#!/kenearlys

[tetsujin1979]

While I'm never happy to see a player pull out of a squad with an injury, we still Duff, McGeady, Hunt and Coleman so we're reasonably well served on the wings

[Murfinator]

Shame to lose Liam, very good big game player. At least its a position we're well covered in.

Speaking of cover, we damn well better get Kilbane in.

[Closed Account]

Good update here.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfqlmhaugbey/rss2/

[Murfinator]

If Best is out whos next in line? Folan? Stokes?

[Hibs4Ever]

If Best is out whos next in line? Folan? Stokes?



Does there need to be anyone else brought in? Keane, Walters, Cox and Keogh already there, and Doyle for 2nd leg. Folan or Stokes would add nothing

[tetsujin1979]

Prognosis is not looking good: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1107/bestl_republicofireland.html
Confirmation in that article that Lawrence was sent back to his club after being assessed

[Toolik]

I think both sets of fans are pleased with the draw at the moment.
Do you have mini-buses in Estonia?


I don't think that news article about street parties in Talinn is entirely serious, judging by some of the other articles on the site.

I didn’t follow the mini-bus subject, so forgive me if I don’t get the irony, but I think you can find some of these over here.

Haven’t done any quality survey for the site I referred before, it could be rubbish as you mentioned. It was in english and in general, it reflects the confident mood the estonians had after the draw, since most people wanted to get Ireland. Let’s say that we have a modest amount of belief in our success. As for the street parties, I don’t live in Tallinn myself, so I couldn’t tell. I guess there was some celebrations here and there but maybe not in the scale as the article depicts. It indeed seems to be a bit exaggerated.


Hi Toolik, good to have you on board. Just a few questions for you about Friday night. Are we right to think you guys will play a 4-4-1-1 formation and try to keep things very tight in the first leg? Also with Vassiljev getting very little game time at club level, do you think he is lacking match fitness and will he start or come off the bench in the second half. Also what is the status of Joel Lindpere, is he officially back in the squad yet?

4-4-1-1 would be the most likely formation for the start of the game. We use our tall striker Jarmo Ahjupera to bring down high balls in front. Usually he gets substituted by another striker in the second half, so we will switch to 4-4-2. My predictions for the starting line-up would be as follows:
Pareiko

Jääger—Piiroja—Rähn—Klavan
Puri—Vassiljev—Dimitrjev—Kruglov
Kink


Ahjupera


Most likely substitutes to be used by Tarmo Rüütli would be Lindpere (MF), Vunk (MF), Saag (ST) and Purje (ST/MF).

Vassiljev will be as good as ever. I wouldn’t consider his lack of playing-time a factor to his form. As you guys maybe didn’t know, he came off the bench against NI because of an injury he had suffered 3 to 4 weeks earlier. These were his first competitive 25 minutes in 4 weeks and he scored two goals during those minutes . This time he’ll be on the pitch for 90+ minutes for sure!

Lindpere is back and I’m very certain that he’ll be included to the final play-off squad as well. He’s a Vassiljev-type creative player, that could really cause headackes to opposition defenders. The problem is, that he hasn’t played in the team for two years and would need sime time to adjust. I think he might come off the bench though.

Our mission is not to concede in the first leg obviously. How? By keeping the ball. That is our strength in my opinion, as surprising as it may sound. Our team is WAY better than the credentials of our indivuduals and Rüütli has done an excellent job of implementing the ball-controlling football, considering the talent (or the lack of it) he has.

Estonian team's football IQ is higher than the level of quality they actually produce. We create a descent amount of good chances against any team in Europe, but converting them has been and still is an issue. In my opinion, as much as I've seen the videos from last qualifiers, Ireland is pretty much the opposite in this category. Ireland's touches are quality, yet there's quite little creativity.

The worst thing the Irishmen could to for themselves, is to park a bus (or a mini-bus?) in front of the goal after they have scored. Estonia has strength to crack it open. They mostly do, as you might know (look at the amount of our second half goals or come-back wins in the qualifiers). Parking the bus is exactly what Ukraine didn’t do, keeping their domination throughout the game and winning comfortably. But then again, I’m confident that Trap would not be as smart as the Ukrainians. :)

I predict, as an estonian of course, 0-0 in Tallinn and 1-1 in Dublin (with Irish taking the lead).


Welcome aboard Toolik. Good to have the input and banter with some Estonian supporters on here.

Thank you for the warm reception!


Is there any any chance of getting tickets over there?

No chance whatsoever!

***

Am I only allowed to make one post a day?

[Crosby87]

James McCarthy must have splinters in his arse. Whats going on with that? The Great white hope of Wigan cant get off the bench anymore?

[Irwin3]

He missed last week's game through injury...

[shakermaker1982]

If anybody is feeling confident about the play offs then read this....

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/hoping-to-break-playoff-hoodoo-2927329.html

[eomurray]

I know this is a long shot, I was let down by my normally reliant FAI ticket source on Friday. I'm looking for 3 tickets for the home leg. Please let me know if anyone can help, Thanks